Chapter 88 088 "Why didn't you attend the Left Prime Minister's birthday celebration today?..."
On the eighth day of the ninth lunar month, it was the sixtieth birthday of the Left Chancellor Yang Shengqing. Emperor Xianping specially granted the Left Chancellor a day off for his birthday and allowed the civil and military officials who were invited to celebrate the Left Chancellor's birthday to go off duty at the hour of Si (9-11 AM) and return to their offices at the hour of Wei (1-3 PM). There were two full hours in between, enough for the host and guests to leisurely enjoy a birthday feast.
The Marquis of Zhongyi's residence is related to the Prime Minister's residence by marriage. Luo Fu and her daughters-in-law, along with their children, arrived early with Yang Yanzhen. As the female guests arrived one after another, Luo Fu and Li Huaiyun would help entertain them, ensuring that every guest felt comfortable and at ease.
Yang Sheng wore a brand-new dark purple brocade robe, his gray hair and long beard were neatly combed, and he smiled kindly at the Xiao family's children. He even picked up the youngest, Hong Ge'er, and teased him, saying, "You look like a little immortal. You can learn your father's talents in the future, but don't learn his way of speaking."
Hongge asked, puzzled, "Why can't I imitate Father's speech?"
Deng bluntly exposed her own son's shortcomings: "Because your father speaks very harshly, your grandfather and I both dislike him."
Hongge looked at his mother: "My mother..."
Luo Fu: "Even I don't like to hear it. Man'er will understand when he grows up."
Standing beside them, the Left Prime Minister's wife, Madam Xu, and the Yang family's children and grandchildren all smiled.
The female guests and children, who were not required to perform duties, arrived very early. After 9:00 AM, Yang Sheng, along with his two sons and elderly grandchildren, went to wait in the first courtyard. Not long after, Right Chancellor Xue Chang, accompanied by the Ministers of the Six Ministries, the Censor-in-Chief, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, two Vice Ministers of the Secretariat, and a large group of fourth and fifth-rank officials who had worked with him for a long time and were familiar with each other, appeared at the end of the alley in a grand procession. There were also some young officials of low rank who were appreciated by the Left Chancellor.
When the two groups met, it was like a small court assembly in front of the Qian Yuan Hall. One after another, the birthday celebrants offered their congratulations, and Yang Sheng, who was celebrating his birthday, could hardly keep up with the conversation. He could only humbly express his gratitude.
After sending a large group of civil officials inside, military officers from both inside and outside the city arrived one after another on horseback. Xiao Rong, who was free from official duties, also specially ran out from inside to help his in-laws entertain the dukes and high-ranking military officers he was familiar with. He smiled particularly warmly at his other in-law, Duke Dingguo, Li Wei.
Xiao Yu entered with the civil officials and found that the Left Prime Minister had arranged the seating for guests according to the official documents. Only the heads of the various government offices and a group of dukes and marquises were seated in the main hall. Xiao Yu, who held the rank of fifth-grade official and was the head of the Censorate, sat at the same large table in the courtyard with the two vice ministers, two heads of the Censorate, and two famous censors. His brother-in-law, Pei Xingshu, sat at the table of the Ministry of Personnel.
"That's good. Everyone at the table is a familiar face, so there's less formality and everyone can eat and drink more comfortably."
Similar praises came from several tables, but at Xiao Yu's table, the other six people exchanged glances and then simultaneously glanced at Xiao Yu, who was leisurely sipping his tea. Xiao Yu was undoubtedly a dutiful and good censor, but he was by no means a likable colleague. No one in the Censorate wanted to dine with Xiao Yu!
Amidst laughter and conversation, Yang Sheng led the last group of military officers back, and everyone rose once again to wish the Left Prime Minister a happy birthday.
Yang Sheng was genuinely happy, his smile never fading. After saying some polite words, he told everyone to enjoy tea and fruit first, and that the main banquet would begin after Emperor Xianping, whom he had already been invited to, arrived.
The officials arrived early and were not hungry. After watching the Left Prime Minister enter the main hall where important officials were gathered, everyone took their seats and continued their conversation.
Around noon, the servant sent by the Yang family to keep watch on the imperial procession ran back excitedly, saying that the imperial procession would soon enter the gate of Xingdao Ward, where the Yang family lived.
Yang Sheng immediately led a group of officials out to greet the emperor, including his wife, Madam Xu, who led the female guests to kneel behind him.
Emperor Xianping dismounted from his imperial carriage, first exempting everyone from the formalities, and then bestowed upon Yang Sheng a birthday plaque and couplet personally inscribed by him.
To receive a personal visit from the emperor to offer birthday wishes is an honor that any subject would dream of. Yang Sheng knelt and held the imperial inscription plaque and couplet, his eyes filled with tears.
Emperor Xianping helped him up, and the emperor and his ministers led the way to the main courtyard where the banquet was being held.
Emperor Xianping could not possibly stay and finish the entire banquet with everyone. After the banquet began, he offered a cup of wine to the birthday celebrant, Yang Sheng, and tasted a couple of dishes before preparing to return to the palace. Before stepping out of the main hall, he specifically ordered the officials in the courtyard to continue eating, forbidding them from the grand send-off ceremony that was held as when he was welcomed. Emperor Xianping did not like such a large and chaotic procession.
Since the Emperor had issued such an edict, the officials at each table dared not disobey. They simply put down their chopsticks, sat steadily, and respectfully watched Emperor Xianping depart.
Yang Sheng's familiar face was also Emperor Xianping's familiar face. When Emperor Xianping entered, the officials were still following behind and had not yet taken their seats. At this moment, Emperor Xianping came out of the main hall and noticed that the officials were seated according to the arrangement of the government offices. The table closest to the entrance of the main hall was occupied by the Secretariat, with two Vice Ministers of the Secretariat and six... no, only five Secretariat Attendants. Chen Ruliang, who had just entered the capital, was missing.
The emperor's glance was quick and fleeting, and no one noticed anything amiss. Once the emperor's carriage had left and Yang Sheng and the others had returned, everyone happily enjoyed the feast.
Upon returning to the palace, Emperor Xianping's expression turned grim. While still walking along the palace path, he first sent someone to the Secretariat to summon Chen Ruliang to wait at the Qianyuan Hall.
Chen Ruliang arrived almost as soon as Emperor Xianping stepped into the central hall.
"Come in!" Ignoring Eunuch Xue's message, Emperor Xianping shouted directly to the outside, his anger palpable to anyone who heard it.
Chen Ruliang entered cautiously, and after quickly glancing at the emperor opposite him, he immediately lowered his gaze.
Chen Ruliang's father had served as the Vice Minister of Rites during the reign of the previous emperor, and his grandfather and great-grandfather had also served as officials in the previous dynasty. Therefore, the Chen family was a true scholarly family, but they had never produced any high-ranking officials such as prime ministers or ministers of the six ministries. This was also the reason why the old Duke of Dingguo chose a second wife for his eldest son who had lost his wife from the Chen family. The Duke of Dingguo's title was already high enough, and he also held military power. It was not appropriate for him to marry into another family with such a prominent background.
Chen Ruliang is forty-eight years old this year. He has regular features and is refined and cultured. He was probably promoted from a prefectural governor. He is not confident in his position as a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat, so since he came to the capital, he has rarely looked directly at any high-ranking official or colleague. He speaks timidly, afraid of offending someone by accident.
Emperor Xianping was angered by his behavior and asked directly, "Why didn't you attend the Left Chancellor's birthday celebration today?"
Chen Ruliang seemed surprised that the emperor would ask this question. He paused for a moment before showing a bitter expression and lowering his head, saying, "I have just arrived in the capital and have no personal relationship with the Left Prime Minister, so I did not receive an invitation from him."
Emperor Xianping had already guessed it, and now that he heard Chen Ruliang's confirmation with his own ears, he grabbed the teacup on the table and threw it hard to the ground: "I have already given him a way out, but he knew that I wanted to use you, yet he deliberately embarrassed you in front of the entire court in the Secretariat. What is his true intention!"
Did he really think he wanted to celebrate that old scoundrel's birthday? It was Xiao Yu who reminded him to consider how the officials and people of the capital would view him, which is why Emperor Xianping took the initiative to concede. Yang Sheng, on the other hand, was so grateful in front of him, but afterwards he wouldn't even give his man a birthday banquet invitation! Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. Did Yang Sheng even respect him?
Thinking back to how he had just visited the Yang residence and even toasted Yang Sheng with a smile in front of all the important officials who knew that Yang Sheng hadn't invited Chen Ruliang, Emperor Xianping wished he could go there again and stab that old scoundrel in the chest with his sword!
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Facing the shattered porcelain shards, Chen Ruliang knelt down with a thud, his forehead touching the ground as he trembled and wept, "It's all my fault for being useless. I haven't achieved any remarkable political achievements in the provinces, and during my time in the Secretariat, I've been clumsy and often made mistakes. So the Left Chancellor only dislikes that I, with my mediocre talent, have gained Your Majesty's favor through marriage, and it's absolutely not directed at Your Majesty..."
Emperor Xianping, who had been pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, paused and stared at the kneeling man, asking, "Do you often make mistakes in the Secretariat?"
Chen Ruliang said with shame, "Yes, Your Majesty, I do not know how to draft imperial edicts and decrees. When I first reviewed the memorials submitted by the Ministry of Works, I could not distinguish the priorities..."
Emperor Xianping: "You have just entered the Secretariat. The two prime ministers should have personally or arranged for a vice minister or attendant to guide you for a period of time. Has no one taught you for so long?"
Chen Ruliang shook his head twice, then immediately nodded and said, "Yes, yes, it's just that I'm dull and can't learn it well."
It would be strange if Emperor Xianping believed it; it must be that the Left Chancellor was unhappy with his insistence on promoting Chen Ruliang and deliberately made things difficult for Chen Ruliang!
Enraged, Emperor Xianping smashed another teacup. He walked to the window and stared intently in the direction of the Yang residence for a long time before his rapidly heaving chest calmed down. Without looking at Chen Ruliang, he coldly ordered, "Today is the Left Chancellor's birthday celebration. Considering his diligence during his more than ten years as chancellor, I will not hold this matter against him. However, you must keep a close eye on him in the Secretariat. If the Left Chancellor neglects his duties again, no matter how minor or major, you must report to me immediately."
Chen Ruliang hesitated timidly for a moment before replying weakly.
Emperor Xianping glanced at him and said, "This empire belongs to me, and the Secretariat also belongs to me. The Left Chancellor is only assisting me in managing the Secretariat. Don't mistake your master."
Chen Ruliang shuddered suddenly, realizing something. He raised his head, met Emperor Xianping's icy gaze, and said with a sense of desperation, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I know what to do!"
Emperor Xianping casually waved his hand, dismissing him.
Chen Ruliang bowed and backed away. After leaving the Qianyuan Hall, he hurried back to the Zhongshu Province's dining hall to continue eating the meal he had only half-eaten. The young eunuch on duty in the dining hall glanced at the now empty hall and inexplicably felt sorry for Lord Chen. He stepped forward and asked, "Your food is cold, sir. Shall I get you a hot one?"
Chen Ruliang was both surprised and touched. Holding the bowl, he smiled at the young eunuch and said, "It's alright. When I was in the countryside, I often ate cold rice when I was busy. I'm used to it."
The young eunuch thought that Lord Chen had a very gentle smile and must be a good official. It was just a pity that he had never served in the capital, which was why he was ostracized by the Left Chancellor and other officials in the Secretariat. That was the Left Chancellor, after all. If the Left Chancellor didn't give Lord Chen a good face, which of the lower officials would dare to help Lord Chen without permission?
After finishing his meal, Chen Ruliang returned to his duty room and buried himself in organizing the official documents in his hands.
Around 1:15 PM, the two vice ministers and five secretaries who had gone to the Yang residence for the banquet returned. Five of the secretaries shared the same duty room with Chen Ruliang.
Seeing Chen Ruliang greet them with a slightly nervous expression, and then continue working diligently, the five servants exchanged a silent glance.
Like most officials in the capital, these five attendants were also dissatisfied with Chen Ruliang's political achievements and his ability to easily become their equal. However, after entering the Secretariat, Chen Ruliang remained honest and unassuming. He did not complain even when deliberately criticized by the Left Chancellor, and he did not go to the emperor to complain because he had a favored niece. This kind of hardworking nature aroused their sympathy.
Unfortunately, despite their sympathy, they couldn't possibly oppose the leftists for Chen Ruliang's sake.
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Author's Note: The officialdom is treacherous; [pitiful]
100 little red envelopes, goodnight!
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