Chapter 210 In his youth, he was a famous handsome young man in Chang'an.
Luming Street, just past noon.
A loud clatter of hooves approached from afar, breaking the tranquility of the entire street.
At the main gate of the Su residence, the drowsy old gatekeeper jumped up and timidly peered out.
A short while later, the noise traveled from the main gate all the way along the winding corridor to the depths of the Su residence.
The clear, tinkling wind chimes that had been hung all over the pavilions and galleries of the Su family mansion as a birthday gift for a young lady were momentarily drowned out by the rushing footsteps below.
Just like a dormant artery being suddenly activated by a wildly beating heart, the blood flow accelerated... and the entire Su Mansion came back to life.
When the old steward, Uncle Shun, rushed to the fishing platform by the pond.
Li Xian was sitting on the steps at the edge of the platform, fishing with a rod in hand, nodding off as if he were dozing off, just like the fishing hook and float that occasionally bobbed on the water.
Shunbo hurriedly said, "Master, the envoy from the Luoyang court has arrived and is right outside the gate!"
Li Xian slowly opened his eyes, subconsciously glancing at the calm water where the fishing hook was in the distance. He turned his head, looked at Uncle Shun, whose old face was tense, and nodded.
Li Xian silently put down his fishing rod, stood up, and sighed.
"What's coming will come. Come, go out and receive the imperial decree."
"Yes, sir."
At this moment, Su Guo'er, Wei Mei, and Su Dalang also rushed over.
"Father!"
"Shichiro!"
Seeing the worry on his wife and children's faces, Li Xian waved his hand, his fingers trembling slightly, and managed a weak smile:
"Don't worry, didn't my nephew Lianghan, who was full of wisdom and strategy, say that our family is still useful to the Empress Dowager? We are not in the way of the Empress Dowager now, and we will not be forced to death as easily as my second brother did?"
Upon hearing this, Wei Mei and the others fell silent and sighed.
Li Xian was the third son of Empress Wei. He had two older brothers. Initially, his eldest brother was the crown prince, but he died young. His second brother succeeded him as crown prince, but because of his wisdom and intelligence, he aroused Empress Wei's suspicion. Later, he was deposed as a commoner on charges of treason and exiled to Bazhou. After Empress Wei became empress, he was forced to commit suicide by the cruel officials and female historians who were monitoring him.
It was only because of the accidents that Li Xian's two older brothers met one after another that he became the Crown Prince and regent by chance. Unfortunately, he was still no match for his shrewish mother. He had a "several-day tour of the emperor" and was then deposed, demoted, and banished from the capital. He ended up in this remote Jiangzhou in disgrace.
In a way, the fate of Li Xian's family is indeed very similar to that of the former crown prince's second brother's family, who was deposed and reduced to commoners, except that they were ultimately forced to commit suicide.
This is also why Li Xian was so pessimistic about the future before he met Ouyang Lianghan, whom he admired greatly, and before he overheard that ingenious strategy and plan.
Even the slightest disturbance from the Luoyang palace could send Li Xian into a state of panic and utter terror.
Because his mother had actually done such a thing; she wouldn't joke around with you like that.
Fortunately, he had just encountered a wise man in the wilderness, a peerless national hero... Ouyang Rong's leisurely and confident voice from that day still faintly echoed in his ears, and Li Xian's mind calmed down a little.
After comforting his wife and two children, he took the lead and headed straight for the main gate of the Su residence.
Near the gate of the mansion.
A group of servants from the Su family were seen crowding around the threshold, timidly looking out the door.
Through the figures of the crowd, one could vaguely see the various colored skirts and robes of the imperial envoys outside the gate, including those in shades of green, crimson, and blue.
It stands in stark contrast to the monotonous colors of the white walls and black tiles of the streets in the small county town of Jiangnan.
Just like their status as uninvited guests, they seemed out of place in every way.
Inside the threshold, Li Xian adjusted his hat, parted the crowd with his arm, and stepped out first.
"Guo'er, Dalang, you wait inside."
Wei Mei reached out to stop Su Guo'er and Su Dalang, who wanted to follow.
Then, the mistress of the Su family composed herself, walked gracefully, and followed her husband out the door.
“Sister.” Su Dalang turned his head and glanced at Su Guo’er.
“Listen to Mother,” Su Guo’er said without turning her head, then added after a pause, “and trust his strategies and judgment.”
Today, she wore a sky-blue waist-length ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and a light blue veil covered the lower half of her pretty face.
Only a small red plum blossom pattern was visible between her eyebrows, two slanted red lines at her temples, and narrow, dark eyes with slightly upturned corners and a cold gaze.
Su Dalang swallowed his words, naturally understanding who the "he" his sister was referring to was.
The brother and sister looked together at their father and mother's backs as they sheltered them from the wind and rain.
At the same time, their gazes unconsciously shifted to the group of court envoys.
Where is Li Xian?
"This humble subject is here." Li Xian responded and stepped forward.
"The Wei family?"
“I am here.” Wei Mei followed closely behind.
Su Guo'er couldn't help but glance sideways, only to see that the person who asked the question first was a woman in palace attire leading the procession of palace servants and messengers.
She was around thirty or forty years old, and her bright red, luxurious palace dress made her stand out.
Two small dots of rouge were added between the dimples at the corners of her mouth, a popular makeup style in the Great Zhou court at the time.
These makeup and attire all clearly demonstrate the status of the ladies-in-waiting serving Her Majesty the Empress.
This must be the sixth-rank palace maid mentioned in the secret letter from the Prince's Mansion a few days ago... Su Guo'er thought to herself.
The questioning seemed to be a routine confirmation of identity. After Li Xian and Wei Mei bowed respectfully and replied, the woman in palace attire, who appeared to be a sixth-rank official, remained silent for a long time.
She stood at the very front of the group of envoys, slightly raising her chin, her gaze sweeping over the couple who had been reduced to commoners, without uttering a word.
Su Guo'er then heard her father respectfully step forward and say:
"The angel from Luoyang has come from afar. I, a humble subject, have been slightly negligent and am deeply humbled. May I ask the angel's name? And please allow me to grace your humble abode with your presence..."
Su Guo'er suddenly saw the woman in palace attire twitch her lips, as if she were letting out a soft "heh" laugh.
Before Su Guo'er could even frown, she saw her father, who had been looking up at her, suddenly fall silent, his expression one of utter astonishment. Her mother, behind her, seemed to be drawn in by the light laughter and, upon seeing the woman in palace attire, her breathing quickened, and she clenched her fists under her sleeves.
In front of everyone, the woman in palace attire nodded slightly and said, "Your Highness, have you forgotten my name? You must have a lot on your mind."
“You…you are…” Li Xian was a little unsteady on her feet.
"Miaozhen, it's you!" Wei Mei blurted out.
Miaozhen glanced at her sideways, "Why can't it be me? Hmm, perhaps His Majesty thinks we have a good relationship."
She nodded and said to Li Xian, whose expression was quite interesting:
"I have come on His Majesty's orders to deliver a seventeenth birthday gift to the princess of the imperial family. In addition, although His Majesty is busy with many affairs of state, he still thinks of Your Highness and has also chosen a small gift for me to deliver. Your Highness, please do not disappoint His Majesty's kindness."
Li Xian lowered his head slightly, hesitating to speak: "Miaozhen, I..."
"Your Highness, please don't delay any longer. Open the gifts yourself and prepare to express your gratitude. Someone, bring up the gifts for Your Highness and the Princess." Miao Zhen didn't look at him, but turned her head and gave the order indifferently.
These barbed words and cold attitude silenced everyone present.
Judging from his tone, there must be some grudge between them, and countless eyes fell on Su Xian.
The latter was also swaying and unsteady on her feet. She was supported by Wei Mei, who stepped forward. Wei Mei stared wide-eyed at Miao Zhen, who seemed completely unaffected.
"Uncle Shun, you used to be a palace servant, did your father and mother know this female official named Miaozhen?"
Inside the gates of the Su residence, Su Guo'er, who was hiding behind the crowd, turned around and asked the head steward, Shunbo, who had a worried expression.
"It seems like there's some old grudge between him and his parents, and it looks like it's quite serious," Su Dalang couldn't help but frown.
"Miss, young master, where should we begin with this entanglement...?"
Uncle Shun smiled bitterly and sighed:
"This lady-in-waiting named Miaozhen was one of Empress Wei's favorite maids in Xingqing Palace when she was young. Back when the master was still the seventh prince, he would occasionally come and go from Xingqing Palace. For some reason, Miaozhen developed feelings for the master. But later... well, in the words of the madam, this woman did not abide by the palace rules and seduced the master. As a result, the master naturally rejected her as soon as possible."
"After all, at that time, the master had already married his wife as the princess, and they had a deep and devoted relationship. Moreover, the master and the queen were not very close, so he naturally kept his distance from the palace servants around her."
"If that's the case, then it's nothing. After all, when you were young, you were a famous handsome man in Chang'an, and countless women had sought your affections."
"But this Miaozhen seems to have had her pride hurt, and was ridiculed by the lady who somehow learned about this matter, and she held a grudge."
"I heard from the palace servants that this woman later often slandered the Lady behind the Empress Dowager's back, taking every opportunity to say bad things. The deterioration of the relationship between the Lady Dowager and the Empress Dowager must have been partly due to this woman's 'contribution'. It's possible that she was also involved in the plan that led to the dethronement of the Master as the Prince of Xunyang."
Speaking of the past, Uncle Shun's eyes showed reminiscence, he sighed with melancholy, and shook his head.
"Isn't that a rival in love?" Su Guo'er frowned slightly and murmured:
"She has a deep grudge against her mother for taking her husband away, and she probably also has a deep resentment towards her father. The female officials in the palace may seem glamorous, but like the eunuchs, they are locked up in the palace. Unless they are favored by the emperor or given to a prince by the empress or concubines, they will be ascetic palace women for the rest of their lives."
"A famous handsome young man in Chang'an? How handsome was Father?" Su Dalang, with a stubble-covered face, asked curiously, his focus slightly different.
Shunbo's expression froze for a moment, then he said in a low voice, "He's about the same as Young Master Ouyang, who was chosen as the third-ranked scholar."
"Brother, don't interrupt," Su Guo'er said irritably.
Su Dalang scratched his head, his expression turning serious.
At this moment, the unusual noise outside immediately drew the attention of the brother and sister.
The Deer Cry Street outside the Su Mansion has been sealed off and cleared by a group of elite soldiers from the Zhechong Prefecture.
In the center of the open space, Miaozhen nodded slightly to the palace servants behind her. With a calm expression, she stepped aside to make way, and eight palace maids in white dresses escorted a palace servant in blue to step forward.
A palace maid in green held a carved brocade box in both hands, raised it to eyebrow level, and bowed to present it to Li Xian.
Li Xian was stunned.
Miao Zhen stared at his vaguely familiar face and said coldly:
"Your Highness, please. His Majesty has instructed that you open this personally."
Li Xian stood frozen in place.
The entire venue fell into a silent, unspoken silence.
Countless gazes fell upon Li Xian and the brocade box in front of him.
As everyone knows, the gifts from the current emperor are never so easy to receive.
It's possible that the gift is a rare treasure.
It's also possible that what they're sending is an empty box, a pot of poisoned wine, or a foot of white water chestnuts.
It's a presentable gift.
As for what you would do if you were to ask, if it really was this “dignity trilogy” that you were given, and you pretended not to understand, acted stupid, or ran away, which would be disgraceful.
That's the purpose of sending Miaozhen, a sixth-rank palace maid, and the soldiers of the Zhechong Prefecture.
Before meeting Miaozhen, the Li Xian couple wouldn't have thought so much or worried so much.
However, upon seeing their "old acquaintance" Miaozhen, even though the words of Lianghan's nephew were still ringing in their ears, the Li Xian couple couldn't help but feel their hearts pounding wildly as they faced the carved brocade box sent from afar by the capricious Empress Wei.
Even if we take a step back and say that it's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings, it's still easier to get along with him.
Empress Wei happened to choose an old enemy of the couple to come here, even if the gift was normal, even if it was just a routine warning.
But what if Miaozhen seizes the opportunity, makes a mountain out of a molehill, and uses the opportunity to force the two to their deaths?
At this moment, Su Xian felt as if time had stopped. All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind. He felt his shirt was soaked through, and a wet, cold sensation came over him. A series of cold shivers ran through his stiff body like electric currents.
"Your Highness, please open this yourself."
Miaozhen's cold voice came again, urging them on.
Su Xian looked up, glanced at the calm expression on Miao Zhen's face, then at the gloating palace servants behind her, and at the indifferent soldiers blocking the street in front of the Su residence.
Li Xian suddenly felt the whole world was extremely cold. He looked at the blind box-like carved brocade box and slowly raised his hand.
"etc."
Just then, a clear, youthful voice suddenly rang out on the field:
"Make way! I am the magistrate of Longcheng County. This is my official seal and insignia. This area is under my jurisdiction. You soldiers of the Zhechong Prefecture, please show me your transfer documents. These are mandatory. I have some experience, so don't let yourselves be led astray and run around aimlessly, only to be impeached by the imperial censor and unwittingly labeled as rebels..."
"Also, please make way. I need to see the imperial envoy from Luoyang. By the way, do you have any official documents from the Ministry of Personnel or an imperial edict? Don't be trespassing... I'm sorry, but in poor and remote places, there are many swindlers. Although this place is small, there are plenty of fraudsters. I have no choice but to conduct this routine inspection. Please be aware of fraud prevention..."
Everyone in the room was stunned and turned to look in the direction of the sound.
A young man in a light green official robe with cuffed sleeves walked over with a somewhat embarrassed expression. He earnestly explained the law while walking straight through the crowd, looking around curiously, and finally stood between Su Xian and his wife and Miao Zhen.
With his back to Su Xian and his wife, Ouyang Rong inadvertently blocked the way for Miao Zhen's palace envoys.
He instantly attracted everyone's attention. Su Guo'er, who was hiding behind the crowd inside the door, stared intently at his tall and slender back.
Ouyang Rong first looked Miaozhen up and down, then slowly clasped his hands in a respectful bow:
"May I ask, sir, what brings you here? Why are you blocking the door of a law-abiding citizen of my Great Zhou? Have you traveled all this way to confiscate my property? Do you have an imperial decree?"
Miao Zhen narrowed her eyes and looked at the young magistrate who was pretending to be stupid. After a moment, she suddenly reached into her sleeve, pulled out a stack of official documents and a token, and handed them over.
Is this enough?
She certainly had the necessary travel documents, travel permits, and even the troop mobilization token presented by the smiling governor of Jiangzhou. But who dared to thoroughly investigate Miaozhen's journey from Guanzhong in the north to Jiangnan in the south? It was all just a formality.
Ouyang Rong smiled apologetically: "Don't rush, wait a moment. I'm a little nearsighted and my eyesight is failing. Let me take a good look..."
Ouyang Rong lowered his head and squinted, seemingly carefully examining each document row by row, but his peripheral vision was silently surveying his surroundings, especially the carved brocade box not far away.
Miaozhen stared at the slow-moving young magistrate for a while, surprisingly without urging him. After a moment, she suddenly asked:
"You are Ouyang Lianghan? The Jinshi Tanhua of the first year of the Jiushi era?"
"It is indeed me." Ouyang Rong was slightly surprised.
Miaozhen nodded and said gently, "I know you."
The entire room fell silent.
...
Waaaaah, I'm so sorry, my good brothers. It's all my fault for being useless. I couldn't finish writing this in the early hours of the morning. I was stuck on the script for most of the day. It was so frustrating. (bows and apologizes)
(End of this chapter)
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