Chapter 91 The glory, too, has been beyond my control for some time now…
The atmosphere in the study was heavy, mixed with an awkward sense of suffocation. Jian Shan closed his eyes resignedly. These days, the princess wasn't tired, but he was.
Today is indeed different from any other day, but it is precisely because of the special nature of your birthday that His Highness is even less inclined to see you!
Although Jian Shan thought these words to himself, he couldn't show any emotion on the surface. He remained respectful and motionless, trying to make the couple forget his presence.
Princess Liu, the wife of Prince Huan, could not maintain her smile for long. She rested her left hand on the table, her knuckles turning slightly white. "Your Highness is not holding a banquet today. I thought you really had no intention of celebrating your birthday."
Jiang Yu looked up and saw that her usually dignified and gentle face now had a mocking smile on her lips. He only glanced at her before returning to his official duties: "Leave when you're done talking. Don't come in unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Your Highness—"
Liu was unwilling and wanted to say something more, but when Jiang Yu looked up at her again, his eyes had changed. Seeing the impatience and disgust in her husband's eyes, it was as if a thorny vine was constantly wrapping around her, tearing her flesh inch by inch, and shattering her sincere heart into ruin.
This time, Jiang Yu said nothing, but Liu Shi no longer felt the jealousy she had just felt. Seeing that the situation was about right, Shan stepped forward and respectfully invited Liu Shi out.
The study door opened and closed, and the vermilion brush in his hand fell onto the table with a clatter. Jiang Yu came back to his senses and pressed his throbbing temples.
Perhaps it was because he was too tired, or perhaps he really hadn't eaten all day, but at this moment he saw double vision and heard some auditory hallucinations. After a bout of dizziness, Jiang Yu got up and left the study.
As he left the courtyard of the study, he glanced indifferently at the guards at the door: "If it happens again, leave the palace immediately."
Upon hearing this, the two guards knelt down with a thud. Before they could even utter a word in their defense, they saw King Huan decisively leave. As expected of King Huan, who held a high position, a single, casual remark was enough to send chills down their spines in the early spring air.
The Prince Huan's study is a forbidden area of the manor, a consensus among everyone in the manor. Lord Jianshan has also repeatedly instructed them that outsiders are not allowed to enter the study without permission. However, the Princess Consort is, after all, the mistress of the manor, and besides, she has been to the study before. It is unknown why she has caused the Prince such displeasure today.
The two guards didn't want to speculate too much about the matter between the King and his wife, so they just noted it down. If the Queen came again, they would have to respectfully ask her to leave.
There was no other way; one's own future was always more important. The prince didn't interfere much in the affairs of the inner quarters, and conversely, the princess's attitude couldn't control the affairs of the front courtyard. The fact that His Highness hadn't asked them to leave the mansion immediately was already a sign of respect for the princess.
Jiang Yu walked along the path from the study entrance, seemingly aimlessly, but after many twists and turns, he arrived at a secluded courtyard. This place was locked all year round, and if it weren't for the elders of the mansion, they would never know that there was such a courtyard behind the study.
Outside the courtyard, a thicket of bamboo groves blocked the view. It took walking a while to glimpse the gate. Due to neglect, the lock on the gate was covered in patina. Jiang Yu slowly bent down and began to feel around. The lock had a unique design and did not require a key, but because it had been there for so long, he had to use quite a bit of force to open it.
The courtyard gate slowly opened, revealing a dilapidated interior. The courtyard resembled a small, cold palace, showing no trace of its former vitality.
Jiang Yu stood at the door for a long time before finally going in. The sun was setting, and the courtyard and pavilions were deserted. The light and shadow on the walls were dappled and dancing, reflecting the quiet ruins that had been neglected for years. He ran his fingers over the dusty stone railing, trying to feel the lingering warmth from thousands of days and nights ago, but unfortunately, all that fell into his palm was cold dust.
When the Huanwang Mansion was first built, he was only twelve years old and had not yet been granted the title of king. At that time, the place was called Zhanyun Mansion, and this courtyard was the center of the mansion, named Xiawei Pavilion.
At that time, he was the eldest son cherished by his father and the elder brother relied upon by his younger brother. He was the future first regent in the eyes of all the civil and military officials. He would become Jiang Yu's powerful arm and a wise and powerful minister in the future of the Great Xia Dynasty.
According to ancestral teachings, princes could only establish their own residences outside the palace after marriage. He was the only precedent in the dynasty. At that time, he was truly favored and enjoyed boundless glory. Ah Jiao once joked that in the capital city of Xia at that time, there was no other young man as spirited as him.
That's true. Those were probably the most flamboyant years of his life. As a young man, he had people around him to share his joys and sorrows. This courtyard held too many beautiful memories, so much so that many years later, he didn't even dare to set foot there again.
Jiang Yu came here today hoping to find some solace in the scenery of that day, but after sitting on the stone bench for a long time, the jade pendant in his hand gradually grew cold, yet his eyes remained unmoved. The past brightness seemed to be covered with a thick layer of dust, just like this stone table, and even if he wanted to look back, he could no longer clearly see the scene from back then.
It's like... he doesn't know when it started, but he no longer has control over his own life.
The sunlight was completely obscured by the darkness, and the old courtyard was locked again. Under the cold moonlight, the departing person was as lonely as the courtyard itself. Only a corner of dust was wiped off the stone table in the courtyard, indicating that someone had visited today.
The night breeze, carrying a chill, swirled around that spot, blowing the dust that had been wiped aside to the ground. Without any obstruction, a line of childishly carved characters was revealed: "Looking up at the clouds at sunrise, the clouds rise and the rosy clouds gather."
"What are you looking at?"
Seeing Shen Yujiao intently focused on the dressing table, Jiang Chen stepped forward and draped a blanket over her: "Why don't you take this bracelet and study it? It's by the window, so you won't get cold later."
“Look,” Shen Yujiao handed the bracelet to Jiang Chen. Under the candlelight, the mutton fat jade showed a warm and delicate luster, as beautiful and charming as a beauty under the lamp. She pointed to one of the spots on the inside: “Here.”
“Clouds rise and rosy clouds gather…” Jiang Chen reached out and touched it a few times. The fine brushwork was truly exquisite. To dare to carve words on such precious jade and to carve the words so finely and neatly was truly rare.
"What's this?"
"It was found in Miss Shen's study, hidden under a violet. But since I brought it back from Jiangnan, I haven't had time to examine it closely. Today, while tidying up my makeup box, I picked it up and accidentally discovered that it was engraved with words."
Upon hearing her words, Jiang Chen suddenly remembered that they had acted in a hurry that day and he hadn't had time to ask in detail, but the bracelet related to Miss Shen... he couldn't help but think of the special circumstances of today.
"I'll have someone look up its meaning later. It's too late tonight, let's rest first."
Shen Yujiao took the bracelet from his hand, nodded, and carefully put it away. But then she seemed to remember something, and the closed makeup box was opened again. Before she could reach for it, Jiang Chen hugged her from behind.
"Jiaojiao..."
The soft, almost coquettish murmur sent shivers down Shen Yujiao's spine. She struggled a few times, but found herself unable to break free. Amused, she ruffled Jiang Chen's hair and asked, "What's this? Are you sleepy?"
"Will Jiaojiao lull me to sleep?"
"How old are you?!"
One second she was feeling helpless, the next she was lifted up in a horizontal embrace. Shen Yujiao's exclamation was silenced by a light kiss. She could only cling to Jiang Chen's neck with both arms to avoid falling to the ground.
As the curtains fell, Jiang Chen gently placed the person on the bed. Seeing the bewildered look on the person's face and the rosy cheeks, a smug smile appeared on his lips, like a child who had stolen a piece of candy.
The candlelight went out, and the light in the inner room dissipated in a wisp of smoke.
The situation in the northern frontier was not as bad as He Zhiju had imagined. Although the army, from top to bottom, needed to be temporarily integrated, they were all veterans, and the border defense was not so vulnerable. Perhaps it was because the Xia army's reinforcements arrived in time, but the Northern Di actually set up camp on the opposite side of the border and did not show any signs of attack for more than a month.
The imperial examination began amidst great anticipation. For the first time, Jiang Chen was working seriously with Grand Tutor Chu. He dared not slack off in front of this great scholar. Grand Tutor Chu was also very satisfied with the Crown Prince because of the previous praise from Chu Rou and the Ministry of Works.
Grand Tutor Chu had many students, including many high-ranking officials. Seeing Grand Tutor Chu's attitude, these people became even more respectful to Jiang Chen, and their praise spread. The students taking the exam already regarded Grand Tutor Chu as a great master, and now that they heard that the Crown Prince was highly praised by Grand Tutor Chu, they were all excited about becoming a disciple of the Hidden Dragon after passing the exam.
Students of the emperor and disciples of the crown prince are far more precious than those of previous generations of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). Therefore, before the results were announced, everyone was determined to become the most highly regarded Jinshi since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty.
And the results did not disappoint them. On the day the results were announced, after the top three were paraded through the streets, all the Jinshi in the second rank were given important positions. Unlike in the past, when they started as local officials, the top-ranked Jinshi in this year's cohort started as officials in the capital as soon as they entered officialdom. A large number of fresh blood immediately poured into the Six Ministries, Three Departments and Five Courts.
After the morning court session that day, Jiang Chen was stopped in his tracks before he could leave the palace. He looked up at the person who had come, a hint of impatient amusement in his eyes: "Big brother received praise from Father, why didn't Fourth Brother go to congratulate him? What are you doing here?"
The military situation in the northern frontier gradually stabilized. In addition to the merits of the two generals, Prince Huan, who was in charge of the grain and supplies in the capital, was also rewarded by the emperor. Unlike Prince Wu, who was new to the battlefield, he only received a nominal title and honor on this trip to the north. Prince Huan was the real beneficiary.
He established his own household at a young age and was not yet crowned a prince. His rank had already reached its limit. This time, for his military achievements, the emperor added three layers of fiefdom to his estate. Among the princes, apart from the crown prince, he was the most honorable. Originally, the status of the princes was similar, but after this conferment, the weight of the title "Prince Huan" was extraordinary.
King Zhao naturally understood the significance of this, so he spoke to Jiang Chen with more confidence: "Of course I congratulate you. With the military situation in the northern frontier stable, the capital can finally breathe a sigh of relief and no longer be as tense as before. The day after tomorrow is my birthday, and I would like to ask if the Crown Prince can spare some time to attend?"
Jiang Chen maintained his forced smile: "Originally, I was certain I would attend Fourth Brother's birthday celebration, but unfortunately, the day after tomorrow is not a good time. The Chengguo Duke's entourage will be arriving in the capital soon, and the Crown Princess and I have been preparing diligently. We will most likely have to go out of the city to welcome them the day after tomorrow, so..."
Seeing Zhao Wang's expression stiffen, Jiang Chen's smile became more genuine: "Although he cannot be present, the Crown Prince's congratulatory gift will definitely be delivered on time. This is all thanks to the Crown Princess's meticulousness in preparing it early in the morning. I hope Fourth Brother will be satisfied."
After saying this, Jiang Chen patted King Zhao on the shoulder and left. At this moment, the person who was smiling insincerely had become King Zhao. He turned around and looked at Jiang Chen's departing figure, his face gradually becoming solemn.
They were careless; not a single person remembered that the Duke of Cheng and his wife were about to go to the capital. The Duke of Cheng was also going to the capital to receive an award. Didn't that mean that they had just overtaken the Crown Prince? Would the Crown Prince regain power because of the Crown Princess before this situation was over?
Thinking of this, King Zhao couldn't help but sneer. The Crown Prince had really made a good marriage. Marrying Shen Yujiao not only secured his position as Crown Prince, but also gave his future in-laws a significant advantage over others.
"very good......"
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