Chapter 8 (8) The Imperial Decree Has Been Issued, but Its Origin is Suspected
Ask him about this first?
The fact that Bai Kang had brought back an actor from Liangzhou was known to many people. After all, many of the officials sent by Emperor Jianguang had seen Lianzhi following him closely—it seemed as if she knew they were about to return to the capital, and fearing that Bai Kang would abandon him in Liangzhou, she followed him everywhere.
Sometimes when Bai Kang had important matters to tell his subordinates, Lianzhi would follow him, as if it was a matter of course, as if asking him to stay away was an unforgivable sin.
I don't know how he developed this temperament.
"It's true." Bai Kang replied with his head still lowered.
Hearing this, Emperor Jianguang chuckled. Bai Kang was still unsure why he had brought this up, so the Emperor changed the subject and began questioning him about Liang Province. Bai Kang had already prepared his response, reporting everything he had seen and heard since arriving in Liang Province, except for the fact that the Liang Province governor had hosted a banquet for him and Chang Yuzhu and taken them to Chunfeng Tower.
As for how he met Lianzhi, Bai Kang only said that when he was visiting the people in the city, he happened to see Lianzhi being bullied by several actors. He couldn't bear to see it and couldn't help but step forward to help.
This statement was half true and half false. Even if Emperor Jianguang asked someone to verify it, he could not say that he was lying. Could it be that the other party also suspected Lianzhi's origin, afraid that he would forge an identity for Lianzhi and falsely claim that she was brought back from Liangzhou? If the other party wanted to take Lianzhi for interrogation... Bai Kang's heart was in turmoil. With Lianzhi's delicate appearance, she might not be able to withstand the interrogation and would be scared to tears. If Emperor Jianguang really became suspicious, then he would take full responsibility. Bai Kang was thinking in his heart, when Emperor Jianguang suddenly asked mysteriously: "I heard that the actor really has... a face like that?"
Bai Kang was stunned.
"I wanted to arrange a marriage for you before, but I couldn't find a suitable candidate. The few people I gave you show that you don't like them either." Emperor Jianguang said.
"I dare not." Bo Kang immediately knelt again, "The person Your Majesty bestows upon me is naturally a good one."
Emperor Jianguang waved his hand and said with a smile, "Now that my dear minister has brought back the person he loves, I will make the decision and give that person to you. Xiaoluzi, bring me the imperial edict."
Bai Kang was completely stunned, having not expected him to say such a thing. Eunuch Lu had already retrieved the blank imperial edict and presented it with both hands, his eyes tinged with mockery as he looked at Bai Kang. Emperor Jianguang wrote a few words with a flourish, affixed the imperial seal, and tossed the edict to Eunuch Lu.
"Master Bai, please accept the decree..." Eunuch Lu shouted, revealing a smile that seemed like a winner. Bai Kang was still not in the right state, and he had some guesses about the content of the decree in his mind.
"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: I have heard that the Su family of Liangzhou is respectful, obedient, serene, upright, and virtuous; they are devoted to Heaven, and diligent day and night. Now, there is an official of the Ministry of Rites, Bai Kang, who has reached the age of marriage. I hereby betroth Su to you. All ceremonies shall be kept simple, and an auspicious date shall be chosen for the wedding. I decree this."
Betrothal?
Get married?
Bai Kang's mind was in turmoil, and for the first time, he didn't have time to respond, and he became much quieter. It was the first time that Eunuch Lu had seen Bai Kang so calm, and he couldn't help but smirk, waving the whisk in his hand: "Your Majesty granting the marriage is a great grace! Lord Bai, why don't you accept the decree?"
Bai Kang subconsciously reached out and took the inexplicable imperial decree granting marriage. After a few seconds of silence, he finally remembered to express his gratitude: "I thank Your Majesty for granting me marriage."
Even when he left the palace and got on the carriage, there was still a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
A marriage? His Majesty summoned him to the palace, didn't ask him about government affairs, and only briefly glossed over the Liang Province incident, but instead granted him a marriage. In the past, Emperor Jianguang always tried to inquire about his feelings for Chen Fenglian, intentionally or unintentionally bringing someone who looked like Chen Fenglian to him, then silently observing his reaction.
As he rewarded the three men, he had a vague feeling that His Majesty was losing control. Three years into Emperor Jianguang's reign, he had been criticized by some of the older officials in the court for his unjustified rise to the throne, and the rumors persisted to this day. The late emperor had few close confidants, and even fewer of his old ministers steadfastly defended him. However, because Chen Fenglian was the legitimate heir, even those old officials, no matter how much they disliked him, supported his legitimacy and orthodoxy.
As for the dispute between Emperor Jianguang and the Empress Dowager, even he, who was then a minor official in the Ministry of Rites, had heard of it. Emperor Jianguang had been willing to promote him because of his lowly birth and lack of support. Promoting a lowly official like him would earn him a good reputation and silence the old officials.
Over the years, he hadn't messed up the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. Although the old men disliked his flamboyance, they simply supervised him and didn't try to trip him up. Instead, he allowed Bai Kang to secretly connect with the old officials, cultivate his own power, and further secure his position as Minister of Rites.
Do you think he's hard to control?
By the way, who is Su?
Bai Kang read the imperial edict over and over again, and combined with the words of Emperor Jianguang, he realized that Su should be Lianzhi.
The prefect of Liangzhou also seemed to have the surname Su.
When he brought Lianzhi back, Bai Kang thought he'd let him go as soon as he got back to the capital, and then have someone secretly keep an eye on him, so he wouldn't be under his nose. But it seemed that Emperor Jianguang had already figured out Lianzhi's background. Perhaps Emperor Jianguang had already learned about this shortly after he rescued Lianzhi.
Su family.
It turns out that he is not just a little orphan.
It was dusk when he returned to the mansion. The housekeeper was still waiting at the door, anxiously awaiting Bai Kang's return. The capital was unlike a small frontier town. Bai Kang was a man of integrity, without a strong family background, and with a large staff to support him, he could only afford a slightly secluded house. As soon as he got out of the car, he handed the imperial edict to the housekeeper: "Your Majesty's imperial edict granting marriage, keep it."
The housekeeper bowed and agreed. Bai Kang continued, "Go check on the child we brought back today, the one called Lianzhi... I don't think he's called that by that name. Start by checking around the Liangzhou prefect. Report any news you have to me."
The butler nodded again. His expression changed, and he hesitated to say, "Sir..."
"Hmm?" Bo Kang looked at him.
"The young master you brought back today..." He addressed Lianzhi as "young master," unsure how to begin. Bai Kang, anxious to return, heard him remain silent for a long time, so he went through the main door first. As he entered the study, he bumped into someone. The person groaned and fell to the ground.
"Who!" Bo Kang asked in alarm. Seeing who was sitting on the ground, he became even more frightened. "Who let you in?"
The person sitting on the ground was Lianzhi. He rubbed his sore waist and said aggrievedly: "The housekeeper said you would be back soon, I wanted to wait for you!"
"He let you in?" Bai Kang continued to ask. The butler was now too old and his eyesight was blurry. He actually let such a grown man in!
Lianzhi nodded, wiped the two tears that had squeezed out, and said pitifully, "Help me up quickly!"
He said it as if it was a matter of course, as if he didn't realize that Bai Kang was doubting him. Bai Kang looked at him suspiciously. Lianzhi waited for a while, but when he didn't make the next move, she complained again: "I fell down, why didn't you come to help me, or pick me up? The ground is so cold."
Bai Kang looked him up and down, and began to doubt his judgment again. Could such a delicate person really be a spy? He cried out in pain after just being bumped by me. If he were to be a spy, he probably wouldn't be able to find out anything.
"Can you stand up?" Finally, Bo Kang reached out and helped him up. Lian Zhi took his hand and stood up: "I even prepared mung bean soup for you. The housekeeper said it was your favorite, and you were so mean to me. If I had known you would be like this, I would not have returned to the capital with you."
Didn't you beg me to come back? Bo Kang didn't know what to say. He waved his hand and said, "You can go out. I have something else to do. If you really have nothing to do, call the housekeeper."
Lianzhi stood still, her beautiful, sparkling eyes rolling around, staring at him without blinking.
"What's wrong?" Bo Kang asked, feeling like he had truly brought back a little ancestor. Seeing that he was no longer angry, Lianzhi ran over to him and held up the bowl of mung bean soup like a treasure: "I prepared this especially for you! Drink it!"
"You did it?" asked Bo Kang.
This little guy asked the housekeeper about his hobbies, was he trying to please him, or was he afraid of being kicked out? In fact, he didn't have to go to such lengths, and he couldn't kick him out now. Just as he was thinking of a reason to get rid of him, he heard Lianzhi say, "Of course I didn't do it! I can't cook it, the cooks did it."
"And you said you prepared it?" Bai Kang said helplessly.
"I asked them to make it, so of course it's my preparation." Lianzhi smiled. His hands were a little red from the burn, and his jade-white fingertips were slightly pink, looking like they were smeared with rouge.
There were also a few tears in those bright eyes, as if telling how wronged and hard-working he felt.
How delicate. Bai Kang touched the rim of the bowl with the back of his hand, which only reinforced this impression. The soup was almost cold, but the lotus stems were still too hot.
He tried a bite and was finally relieved to confirm that it tasted like what the kitchen had made. But when he thought of the imperial edict, he became irritated again.
Choosing an auspicious day for marriage, when is considered an auspicious day?
Your Majesty really wants him to marry Lianzhi?
"Is your last name Su?" Bai Kang asked casually.
"I don't know. I'm an orphan and I don't have a father." Lianzhi's eyes widened. "But my adoptive father's surname is Su. But I didn't take his last name. Now I'm Lianzhi. If you like, I'll take your last name."
Hearing the last sentence, Bai Kang almost choked. He coughed lightly and asked, "Who is your godfather?"
"The Liangzhou prefect." Lianzhi sold out the Liangzhou prefect without hesitation. Bai Kang would eventually investigate their relationship anyway, so he had to leave a good impression on him now. If the Liangzhou prefect didn't help him much, he could still use Bai Kang.
It's quite refreshing.
Bo Kang nodded, "I'm done drinking, you can go."
Lianzhi still wanted to find a reason to stay, but this time Bai Kang was firm in his attitude, so he had to leave in anger. As soon as he left the house, the tears in his eyes disappeared, and he became arrogant again, saying to the housekeeper outside the door: "Master Bai wants you to come in."
As the housekeeper raised his foot, he said again: "I want to live with Master Bai."
When he first arrived, the housekeeper thought he was another servant sent by the emperor, and wanted to give him a place to live with Lianzi. But Lianzhi was unlikely to agree. They had no choice but to ask him to compromise himself to please Baikang, and not only did they not give him a separate room, they also made him live with others.
He made such a big fuss that the housekeeper was helpless and delayed allocating him accommodation.
"This..." The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had already read the contents of the imperial edict and knew that the young master before him was probably the other owner of the Shangshu Mansion. They dared not disobey His Majesty's imperial edict, but the butler was also very worried about letting him live with the master.
"If you're unsure, go ask him." Seeing the butler didn't answer, Lianzhi continued, "First tell me where he lives, and I'll go there myself."
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