Chapter 212 Don't believe her, the little white rabbit is faking it!
"His Majesty decreed that although the commoner Li Xian is listed in the Red Register of Criminals by the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, his youngest daughter is a direct descendant of the imperial clan and has now reached the coming-of-age ceremony. Following the custom for princesses and noblewomen of the imperial clan to come of age, a court painter shall be commissioned to paint a portrait of her and include it in the Imperial Clan Affairs' treasury..."
Miaozhen didn't keep them in suspense and announced it aloud.
The Imperial Clan Court was the agency responsible for the affairs of the imperial clan of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It was in charge of the clan register of the emperor's nine generations of relatives. Since the imperial family was the leading example for all families in the country, the rules and regulations for the imperial clan were naturally strict and numerous.
At present, having a portrait painted of a registered member of the imperial clan, such as Su Guo'er, added to the imperial archives should also comply with a certain cumbersome precedent.
But since this is the custom for princesses and noblewomen of the royal family to come of age, why did Su Guo'er wait until she was seventeen, long past the age of fifteen for her coming-of-age ceremony, before arriving so late?
It can only be said that regulations are rigid, but people are flexible.
Whether the rules are followed or not is not always important; what matters is finding out the attitude behind the person who uses the rule as an excuse.
Everyone's attention was drawn to Su Guo'er and the blank scroll in her hand.
Su Guo'er glanced down at the blank scroll, then slightly shifted her gaze out of the corner of her eye, and as if struck by a sudden inspiration, exchanged a glance with Ouyang Rong, who was not far away.
The latter seemed to realize that she was looking at him, and the young magistrate nodded almost imperceptibly.
When Miaozhen first saw Su Guo'er, she seemed somewhat surprised by her appearance and demeanor. She turned to look at her a few more times, and the coldness in her voice lessened slightly as she said:
"This is a gift from His Majesty. His Majesty heard from Princess Chang Le that his granddaughter, who lives far away in Longcheng, has grown up and looks remarkably like her when she was young. She also has a unique new makeup with plum blossoms on her forehead. His Majesty would like to take a look."
He was merely mentioned by someone below, and after taking a slight interest and glancing at it, he sent someone to make a copy of the painting, which was considered a tremendous gift.
Thunder and rain, all are the emperor's grace.
Seeing how his sister was treated, Su Dalang couldn't help but sigh with melancholy... That grandmother, whom he had never met, favored girls over boys and treated them differently, right?
After exchanging a knowing glance with Ouyang Rong, Su Guo'er lowered her head, faced north, and curtsied.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. My family is deeply grateful for Your Majesty's virtue and has completely reformed ourselves, wishing to become your subjects."
Li Xian followed suit, holding the jade in both hands, kneeling facing north, tears of gratitude streaming down his face, wiping his eyes with his sleeve:
"Your Majesty's grace is boundless. We, the sinful people, are filled with fear and remorse. Long live the Emperor!"
Seeing this, Ouyang Rong was also a little puzzled. He turned his head and looked north towards Luoyang, seemingly lost in thought.
He realized what was happening and turned to look at Miaozhen.
The latter stared straight ahead, silently watching the Li family, seemingly lost in thought, and did not look at Ouyang Rong again.
"This woman isn't as simple and reckless as I initially thought..." Ouyang Rong thought to himself.
Seeing that Li Xian and Su Guo'er had finished expressing their gratitude, Miao Zhen turned her head and said:
"Alright, start sketching as soon as possible."
An elderly court painter who was accompanying the group stepped forward, and the palace maids in white dresses gathered around him to serve him plates and brushes.
He painted on the spot.
At the entrance of the Su residence, a grand scene was quickly set up.
The old painter stroked his long, white beard and said to Su Guo'er, who sat gracefully on the embroidered stool like a lady:
"Your Highness, please remove your veil."
The veil, as smooth as milk, slid down the curves of her cheeks.
The old painter's brush, held between his fingers, froze in mid-air as he said, stunned:
"Your Highness, it would be best if you didn't wear makeup or draw your eyebrows. His Majesty wants to see what Your Highness looks like in real life."
Seemingly feeling uncomfortable under the spotlight, Su Guo'er lowered her eyes and frowned slightly.
"No makeup today."
She looked up and glanced ahead, somewhat misunderstanding, and said, "Can't I even wear the plum blossom makeup on my forehead? Then I'll go wash it off."
"Ah...no need, no need." The old painter was stunned and hurriedly waved his right hand, but accidentally splashed ink from his brush onto the white skirt of the palace maid next to him, leaving ink drops everywhere.
The old painter quickly stopped painting, looked around apologetically, and found that the palace maids around him were standing still, staring blankly at Su Guo'er, who had taken off her veil and was looking down with her eyes lowered. They did not notice that ink had been splashed on their bodies.
Not only them, but also Miaozhen and other palace envoys who had just arrived in Longcheng were all captivated by her unadorned face.
With arched eyebrows, bright red lips, and pearly white teeth, she possessed an ethereal beauty.
She looks far better than a beautifully made-up bride even without makeup.
Especially the touch of plum blossom makeup on her forehead made her usually aloof and unsmiling face appear more charming and lively, like the finishing touch on a masterpiece.
At this moment, an eerie silence fell over the gates of the Su residence.
Of course, Ouyang Rong, who had met the beauty many times, as well as her family members Li Xian, Wei Mei, Su Dalang and others who were familiar with her, were all used to it.
The palace maids frequently glanced at them.
"A single glance could topple a city, a second glance could topple a nation; the ancients were truly right." The old painter stroked his white beard and sighed.
"Indeed, he resembles His Majesty." Miaozhen nodded slightly.
She was even more beautiful than Su Guo'er, after all, Su Guo'er was sixteen or seventeen years old, so she must have been incredibly youthful and radiant.
Of course, Miaozhen couldn't say anything about His Majesty's affairs; she could only think about it in her heart.
The old painter reminded him, "This forehead ornament called 'Falling Plum Blossom Makeup' doesn't need to be washed off. His Majesty also wants to see the young prince in this makeup."
Su Guo'er nodded, without smiling throughout.
Some palace maids were attracted by the plum blossom makeup on her forehead and whispered among themselves.
The old painter took a deep breath, concentrated intently, and with a serious expression, began to paint.
Unbeknownst to the old painter and the palace maids, including Miaozhen, the portrait of the young prince with the plum blossom makeup was swiftly sent back to the Luoyang palace and gradually spread, becoming popular among noblewomen and palace maids. The entire palace vied to imitate it, making the plum blossom makeup a fashionable daily makeup style in the Forbidden City. It even later spread to the common people, becoming a fashionable makeup style that was eagerly imitated by women of all social classes, daughters of officials, and singers and dancers...
Ouyang Rong was of course unaware of all this at the moment. He noticed the words and reactions of Miaozhen, the old painter, and other palace women in Luoyang. He couldn't help but glance at the well-behaved young lady on the embroidered stool, who was knowledgeable, reasonable, and had a ladylike temperament. His eyes twitched slightly, and he was speechless.
"Hey, don't be fooled by her appearance. She's not a docile little rabbit; it's all an act. You haven't seen what she's like in private. She dares to say anything bold, and her inner personality is sharper and more fierce than a man's..."
Ouyang Rong sighed softly.
But then he suddenly remembered the identities of the Su family that had been exposed, and he fell silent again.
...
Just past noon, Luming Street was bustling with activity due to the unexpected visit of the envoy from Luoyang.
They were unaware that a new family had moved into Luming Street today.
This newlywed family consists of only two people.
One was a young man with peach-blossom eyes, dressed in a purple black robe and a tight-fitting outfit; the other was a man in a short-sleeved hemp robe, with small braids on his temples like those of the Xianbei people, and carrying a long wooden box on his back.
Having just disembarked from the large ship at Penglang Ferry, the two, resembling master and disciple, left the palace procession and headed straight for Luming Street.
They even arrived at Luming Street faster than Miaozhen and the others.
Similarly, Wei Shaoxuan and Qiu Qi passed by the Longcheng County Government Office, which was responsible for maintaining order in the area, without even glancing at it.
Not far from the Su residence, there was a large house whose doors had been closed for a long time. Today, the main gate suddenly opened wide, and soon two unfamiliar figures arrived. With a creak, the gate closed again.
Wei Shaoxuan and Qiu Qi stepped into the courtyard.
In the open space of the courtyard, a Persian merchant who had secretly bought the house long ago greeted them with a radiant smile.
Not only in the courtyard, but throughout the entire mansion, there were no maids or servants.
The three of them met.
“Mr. Qiu, Sixth Young Master… what do you think of this elegant residence? Not only is it extremely close to the Su residence, right across the street, but it is also very quiet and safe. I have already had people decorate it inside and out…”
The Persian merchant spoke incessantly, flattering and ingratiating himself.
After entering, Wei Shaoxuan looked around. He then spotted a tall building not far from the back courtyard, towering significantly above the outer wall. Without stopping, he walked straight past the Persian merchant, tossing out a single sentence without turning back:
"Not bad, Boss Li. Come on, let's go watch the show. The show is about to begin. They say enemies meet on a narrow road. Boss Li, let's go see if our Sister Miaozhen will take advantage of this and do something unexpected. Heh, this will save us from having to take action later. We've run into such a good thing."
Wei Shaoxuan was in a good mood and walked with Qiu Qi toward the high-rise building in the back of the mansion.
Mr. Li was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed.
After an incense stick has burned, on the top floor of a tall building, a carved wooden window was partially opened and peered through.
The view from here is indeed excellent.
Beside the half-open window, Wei Shaoxuan lowered his eyelids, glanced down, nodded, and a satisfied look appeared on his face.
Below, the entire scene on Luming Street in front of the Su Mansion is clearly visible.
A short while later, Wei Shaoxuan, Qiu Qi, and Boss Li saw with their own eyes Miao Zhen and a group of Luoyang palace servants rushing over and blocking the gate of the Su residence.
Wei Shaoxuan watched with great interest from above.
Qiu Qi suddenly spoke:
"When the prince inadvertently revealed to His Majesty that the court officials, including Master Di, had given gifts to Li Xian's young daughter on her birthday, His Majesty was not only not angry, but also sent palace servants to bestow gifts upon Li Xian's family. This family, which had been forgotten in the north and south, has once again come to the attention of His Majesty. This is not a good sign."
Wei Shaoxuan's expression turned serious, and he asked thoughtfully, "Does Godfather think there's more to this than meets the eye?"
"It's about the rebellion in Yingzhou. His Majesty's attitude may have changed," Qiu Qi said coldly.
Wei Shaoxuan stopped looking at the amusement on the street below for a moment. He put away his nonchalant expression and frowned slightly.
"The situation in the court is indeed delicate right now. His Majesty's attitude is unclear. On the surface, everything seems calm, but underneath, undercurrents are surging and various tests are being conducted. No one can say for sure whether the matter concerning the Li family is also a test, a test by His Majesty against my father and the Prince of Xiang..."
Qiu Qi crossed his arms and suddenly said, "The scales in His Majesty's hands are about to tip."
Wei Shaoxuan looked up: "Therefore, this cauldron sword is becoming increasingly crucial."
The godfather and son exchanged a glance and nodded in tacit agreement.
Boss Li, standing to the side, cautiously observed the expressions on the two gentlemen's faces. He couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Does the Sixth Young Master mean that the Li Xian family still has a chance? Does His Majesty have other intentions?"
“Opportunity?” Wei Shaoxuan turned to look at the Persian merchant Li Li, and suddenly smiled: “There may be, there may not be, but now that my godfather and I are here, they definitely don’t have it anymore.”
"Uh, Sixth Young Master, why is that?" Boss Li frowned and pondered.
Wei Shaoxuan turned his head, looked down at the Su residence, patted the railing lightly, and said leisurely, "Heh, isn't this young master here to deliver a gift on behalf of my father? This is quite a generous gift, so let's send them off. It's just a small token of my appreciation."
Wei Shaoxuan sighed.
Boss Li shrugged slightly: "But wouldn't it be too... too bold of us to take action? Has His Majesty tacitly approved it? Won't it provoke the wrath of the court and the public?"
Wei Shaoxuan looked at Boss Li with a strange expression and asked in confusion:
"Hey, what does this have to do with us? What's with all this talk of being furious?"
"Boss Li, think about it. One day, a strange phenomenon suddenly appeared in Longcheng. A cauldron sword appeared, triggering thunder and flash floods. The whole city was thrown into chaos. The county government failed to manage the situation properly, and refugees fled in all directions. The Li family fled the flood in panic, but unfortunately died at the hands of the rioters and thieves. This remote and impoverished place is always prone to floods. The Li family is so wealthy, yet they were targeted by villains who stole their belongings and dumped their bodies in the wilderness. Isn't this a common occurrence during disasters in this remote corner of Jiangnan?"
Wei Shaoxuan patted Boss Li's shoulder, the pat getting heavier and heavier, his tone becoming increasingly somber.
Boss Li couldn't help but shudder, his eyes darting around. His expression showed slight worry as he added:
“With Mr. Qiu and the Sixth Young Master taking action, their family is certainly doomed. But disguising themselves as bandits to rob and kill for money is still not enough... What if His Majesty and his ministers become suspicious and send the Yin-Yang School Qi Refiners in the palace to investigate and relentlessly pursue them, and they find even the slightest clue? These Qi Refiners are too difficult to deal with.”
Qiu Qisheng suddenly said coldly, "Take the Ding Sword first, then destroy the Su family."
“My godfather is right.”
Wei Shaoxuan nodded and smiled at Boss Li:
“The birth of every Ding Sword is recorded in history, because in the past, only a unified dynasty at the height of its power had enough fortune and the ability to export stable resources to create Ding Swords. Therefore, it is a symbol of a prosperous dynasty. If our Wei family can present a brand new Ding Sword, and the swordsman is a member of the Wei family, what is it if not a mandate from heaven? Her Majesty is also surnamed Wei and has always loved auspicious omens. She will like this gift from her father. This is truly a mandate from heaven!”
He shook his head and sighed again:
"The current situation is very unfavorable for the Wei family. His Majesty may have to make a decision regarding the Yingzhou Rebellion. However, if we can bring out the Dingjian, not only can my father completely turn the tide and eliminate the forces of Prince Xiang and the Baoli faction, but we can also take the opportunity to offset the impact of the 'accidental death' of the Li Xian family. His Majesty will not investigate it. As for the other people in the court, who dares to investigate them in detail?"
"I understand," Boss Li replied respectfully, his expression hardening.
Who is this?
Standing by the window, Wei Shaoxuan, who was glancing down at the scene below every now and then, suddenly let out a soft "Eh," and pointed to a tall, slender young man on the street below, asking a question.
Boss Li stepped forward, following Wei Shaoxuan's gaze, and couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile:
"It's Ouyang Lianghan, the local magistrate... He's caused a lot of trouble for the Liu family we've been supporting, almost affecting the sword-making at the sword shop. Liu Zi'an now wishes he could tear him to pieces..."
P.S.: I'm currently traveling in Nanchang, writing from a hotel, which isn't very convenient.
(End of this chapter)
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