The timing of the Turkic delegation's arrival in the capital was neither particularly good nor particularly bad.
It was already December.
Throughout the capital, from ordinary citizens to officials and even those in the imperial harem, everyone was caught up in a flurry of activity.
The people are busy celebrating the New Year and getting married.
Officials are preparing for their holidays and conducting year-end reviews.
Some officials who were stationed in other areas would either return to Beijing to report on their work or go home for the Spring Festival at the end of the year.
Winter was also a traditionally accepted wedding season in ancient times.
For ordinary people or farmers, after a year of hard work, winter is the only time they can finally take a break.
During the winter off-season, with extra money and time, those who should get married should get married, and those who should marry off their daughters should marry off their daughters.
For officials, the only time they often have is at the end of the year.
Therefore, ever since the winter solstice, there have been a series of joyous events in the capital.
Especially for those prominent families, with many marriage alliances, there are an extra number of happy events.
On auspicious days considered "suitable for marriage," there is an opportunity to drink celebratory wine.
Of course, eligible men and women also became the focus of attention.
The Marquis of Jingbei's residence.
"Ah Chen, you're not getting any younger, it's time to get married."
"You are about the same age as the Sage, and the Sage has the auspicious sign of two dragons and phoenixes, but you don't even have a wife!"
"Your mother specially found you an excellent young lady. She comes from a noble family, is both talented and beautiful, and most importantly, she has the appearance of being able to bear a son."
The Prince of Guangling was around fifty years old.
He was the late emperor's cousin, neither good at literature nor martial arts, and spent his days holding onto his family's royal title, drinking, and keeping a woman.
He wasn't particularly wicked; he was just an ordinary playboy from the capital.
To be fair, he wasn't such a terrible father.
At least he didn't deny everything after the fact, and he also ensured that the humble Helian Chen and his sister were included in the family genealogy.
It wasn't too bad, but it wasn't too good either.
Helian Chen and his sister suffered many grievances at the Prince's Mansion.
After Helian Jue was deposed, Helian Chen, who refused to sever ties with the deposed crown prince, was kicked out of the house by the cowardly Prince of Guangling.
However, the Prince of Guangling did not think he had done anything wrong.
Besides, he was dividing the family property for his son, not expelling him from the clan.
At least on the Helian royal family's jade register, Helian Chen was still the son of the Prince of Guangling.
Therefore, Helian Jue made a powerful comeback, and Helian Chen rose to prominence along with him.
Princess Consort of Guangling was terrified, but Prince Guangling showed no sign of guilt.
On the contrary, he could brazenly go to his son's mansion and interfere in his marriage.
Helian Chen: ...
Seeing his father's self-righteous attitude, he just found it funny.
They've already separated him from everyone else, yet he still has the nerve to act like a "benevolent father."
Do you really think he's still that lowly illegitimate son who was bullied back then?
"The daughter of a noble family? Haha, could it be that the princess has chosen her own niece without any regard for kinship?"
"Tsk tsk, I'm not good enough for the daughter of the Bu Liuhu family!"
The Bu Liuhu family, now renamed the Lu family, is known for its daughters who are known for their fierceness.
At most, they are only slightly inferior to the Dugu family next door.
However, they were all daughters of former noble Xianbei officials, so no matter how gentle they were, they couldn't be that gentle.
Helian Chen is twenty-two years old this year. A few years ago, under the care of Helian Jue, he was engaged to a woman.
Unfortunately, less than a year later, his fiancée passed away from a cold.
Princess Guangling was already jealous of Helian Chen's favor with the Crown Prince. Seeing Helian Chen "misfortune," she gloated and did not forget to spread rumors.
He bluntly stated that Helian Chen's birth mother was merely a lowly Hu woman, lacking any good fortune.
He was fortunate enough to gain the favor of a noble person, but he was also a jinx who would bring misfortune to his wife.
These kinds of rumors, which have a touch of metaphysics, are the most popular.
Helian Chen's reputation was affected.
Helian Chen's marriage was thus delayed.
Not long after, Helian Jue was deposed, and Helian Chen was exiled to Lingnan with him, which made it even less likely that they would have a suitable opportunity to discuss marriage.
It wasn't until a few months ago, when he returned to Beijing, that things settled down and Helian Chen was granted a title.
Some families in the capital began to take notice of him as a "meritorious official who helped the emperor rise to power."
"It's not Bu Liuhu, oh no, he changed his surname to Han a long time ago."
The Prince of Guangling was getting old and began to gain weight.
He shook his large, fleshy head and corrected, "Besides, she's not a daughter of the Lu family!"
"Qiu Muling, also known as the Mu clan, you know him, right!"
Helian Chen raised an eyebrow, "From the Mu Jialan family?"
This person was just sent to Chang'an by the Emperor.
Tsk tsk, building a new city will definitely take three to five years to complete!
However, considering what Mu Jialan did, this outcome is already a testament to the saint's mercy.
Let alone Helian Chen, even Mu Jialan and his family could only feel gratitude.
"Yes! It's from the Mu Jialan family!"
When the Prince of Guangling heard his son say this, he assumed that the Prince was pleased with the Mu family.
Come to think of it, the Qiumuling clan was once one of the eight great noble families of the Xianbei.
Their family has produced several generations of Pillar of the State Generals.
If the late emperor hadn't consolidated military power, Mu Jialan would have been a Pillar of State General.
Although they lost most of their military power, the Mu family remained a prominent family in the capital.
Therefore, the Prince of Guangling felt that his wife's choice of a daughter from the Mu family as Helian Chen's wife was also a sign of a loving mother's heart.
"Speaking of which, that young lady is Mu Jialan's cousin."
The Prince of Guangling began to explain the woman's situation in detail.
Helian Chen raised his eyebrows, "Mu Jialan is already over forty years old, isn't she!"
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