Chapter 21 The Twenty-First Palace Banquet
If the Jiang family hadn't been looted of all their valuables, the previous raid would have seemed like it never happened.
Lu Huantang was still young and had never experienced such a humiliating thing. He said, "The laws of Sui are strict. So many eyes were watching that day. The regent confiscated the property without cause. Merchants do not fight with officials, but we can submit the evidence to the emperor. The emperor is eager to have his handle."
Jiang Linzhi didn't seem to care much. She lifted her robe and sat down on the bed, which was now just a mattress. She looked around the empty room and said, "During the great chaos more than ten years ago, most of the Crimson Flower Garden was burned. That year, the Wu Kingdom launched a surprise attack. Guess how the military funds came about?"
Lu Huantang, of course, was unaware of the secrets behind this, and listened attentively with his head bowed.
Jiang Linzhi calmly said, "Officials and the emperor reported that there was still a large amount of brass available for sale, so they sold it to several merchants, forcing them to sign official documents. With money in the national treasury, the front lines were secured. Although brass was hard to buy, it could still be used for ceremonial objects, jewelry, pots and pans, and swords, so those wealthy merchants wouldn't lose money. The following spring, when Wu withdrew its troops, those wealthy merchants had their homes confiscated. As for the reason, just listen to it for fun. The officials said that the weapons and armor made by Wu contained copper, and these wealthy merchants were the culprits who sold their goods to the enemy country, allowing the enemy to attack us, and thus committed the crime of treason."
Qi Lingjun was very efficient. As he spoke, he had the maid restore the room's furnishings and then sat down to look at the accounts. Jiang Linzhi stretched out his arms and turned around, saying, "You see, as long as people are alive, they can always make a comeback. As long as people are alive, let's be happy."
Jiang Linzhi said to Lu Huantang, "You'll be accompanying me to the palace banquet in a few days. You should first get yourself a decent set of clothes and practice your sword dance."
Lu Huantang glanced at Qi Lingjun, who calmly sorted out the accounts. He respectfully agreed and left.
Once the person left, Jiang Linzhi carefully examined Qi Lingjun, and after confirming that he was unharmed, he smiled and said, "He really cares about you; he didn't make things difficult for you at all."
Qi Lingjun paused for a moment, then quickly resumed writing. Without even looking up, he said, "If it weren't for his kindness towards me, how could I, who was left behind to clean up the mess, have ever seen Miss again?"
The content was sarcastic and jealous, but the tone was completely indifferent. Jiang Linzhi leaned over and scratched Qi Lingjun's chin, saying, "There's nothing I can do. Wherever I go, Miss, I can't take you with me."
Upon hearing this, Qi Lingjun's already deep eyes became even more unfathomable. He knew his place in her heart; asking would not only humiliate him but also destroy any semblance of romance.
On the day of the banquet, Jiang Linzhi wore a string of antidotes for various poisons in his belt.
Qi Lingjun gave Lu Huantang a deep look, and Lu Huantang nodded without saying a word. The two men thus confirmed their understanding—Jiang Linzhi's life must be saved.
Merchants took a side path, and after being searched, palace servants led the way. Jiang Linzhi seemed oblivious to the sidelong glances and disdain of the officials, and walked forward with great interest.
The moment I stepped into the magnificent hall, I heard a voice say, "Oh, a change of personnel?"
The voice seemed to be a spell that immobilized Lu Huantang, cooling the blood in his body. He tried to pretend he couldn't hear it and led Jiang Linzhi to a seat.
But Jiang Linzhi had already turned around. She bowed to the woman who was as beautiful as a bright red peony and said, "It's been a long time. Your Highness looks even more beautiful than before."
The visitor was Nan Jinping, the only daughter of the Prince of Nanyang and the most beautiful woman in the capital. Several years ago, some people compared her to Jiang Linzhi, causing a great uproar, and the princess remembered Jiang Linzhi. Later, Nan Jinping's fiancé broke off their engagement and pursued Jiang Linzhi, which made the feud even bigger.
Ultimately, no matter how meritocratic the system, those in official positions and those selling goods are still separated by the established doctrines and social circles. When later generations dismantle what their predecessors established, countless people on those pedestals will be hurt, and those in higher positions will naturally be the most furious.
It's understandable, isn't it?
Jiang Linzhi expressed his complete understanding and didn't care about Nan Jinping's sarcastic remarks, saying, "Lingjun is busy with something, so he sent a new person to accompany him."
Nan Jinping scoffed, then, recognizing the people following them, became even more smug. She circled Jiang and Lu, then, smiling, stared at Jiang Linzhi, saying, "Weren't you used to be able to bewitch men? Why are you using a man I've already been with this time?"
Lu Huantang obtained the official's recommendation token only after having a one-night stand with Nan Jinping. The Regent knew this, and Jiang Linzhi could naturally find out as well, so she didn't feel humiliated at all. Instead, she feigned regret and said, "Alas, the princess is so lucky. She's born to enjoy life. She uses milk for bathing and Shu brocade to wipe her feet. Such a brilliant mind and skillful hands are only fit to be the princess's lover."
The sarcasm in those words was unmistakable. Even the spoiled Nan Jinping understood this sense of wastefulness. She glanced at Jiang Linzhi's seat, sat down, and picked up a large cherry. Winter cherries were something even concubines of the second rank or higher might not be able to afford; this was clearly an overstepping of boundaries. Nan Jinping laughed, "Of course not as good as you. You make the most of everything, using them until they die. Otherwise, how could you have this wealth and cherries to eat?"
Lu Huantang carefully observed Jiang Linzhi's expression from the side. Seeing that Jiang Linzhi didn't care about his relationship with Nan Jinping, he didn't feel relieved. Instead, he felt a tightness in his chest.
Jiang Linzhi suddenly tripped, spilling a plate of cherries and knocking the cherry out of Nan Jinping's hand.
Cherries rolled all over the floor, like fine rubies scattered in a golden box, attracting the attention of many. Palace servants immediately stepped forward to clean them up. Jiang Linzhi said, "It's alright, they can still be eaten after washing. I'm a merchant, I don't care about these things."
The regent, seated below the emperor, gave the palace attendant a cold glance and continued exchanging pleasantries with the officials.
Lu Huantang noticed that the palace servant was very quick and efficient. Seeing that the performance had not yet started, he followed her.
The palace servant went around in a big circle before finally throwing the cherry into the braziers around the main hall. It was quite interesting that such a fine, intact fruit wasn't taken back as instructed, nor was it divided up by the servants or thrown into the slop bucket; instead, it was thrown into the braziers.
Having found his answer, Lu Huantang quickly returned and found that someone had already served new fruit—ordinary bayberries. Before the emperor arrived, Nan Jinping ate several, made a few sarcastic remarks to Jiang Linzhi, and then got up and returned to her seat.
Jiang Linzhi handed Lu Huantang a bayberry and asked casually, "Throwing it away?"
"It was thrown into the brazier."
Jiang Linzhi sighed, "What a pity, such good cherries, we can only wait until next summer." As she spoke, she poured a cup of wine and raised it to the Regent from afar. Seeing that the Regent's face darkened, she smiled and drank it down, then said to Lu Huantang, "Be more polite to the Princess in the future. You were impolite today."
Yes, he forgot to greet Nan Jinping today because he was afraid Jiang Linzhi would harbor resentment. If it weren't for Nan Jinping, Jiang Linzhi would already be poisoned.
With the announcement "The Emperor has arrived," everyone in the hall returned to their places and knelt down.
A young voice came from the center of the hall: "All of you, rise."
As he stood up, Lu Huantang glanced at the emperor through the rows of people in front of him. This young emperor, who was on par with the regent, did have the majesty of an emperor, but his face was still immature, and even though he was wearing a well-fitting dragon robe, he looked like a child wearing adult clothes.
The emperor said a few polite words, and then the banquet began.
The atmosphere at the banquet was relaxed. After a few songs and dances, the officials began to toast each other and chat in small groups.
Several members of the regent's faction were already quite drunk and started wrestling in the main hall.
The regent did not stop them, watching with great interest, and even led the cheering.
Although the Regent's subordinates were highly competitive, including self-serving and calculating individuals like Huo Zhuo, there were many more capable and loyal veterans who had followed him from humble beginnings to the present day, serving as his iron-willed arms.
Dismantling them wouldn't be a quick task; gaining Jiang Linzhi's trust and then obtaining Zhu Yan's secret would be a more reliable approach. Thinking this way, Lu Huantang realized that being abandoned by the Regent might not be such a bad option.
Suddenly, someone couldn't sit still any longer. After all, it was quite improper for the Regent's men to be making such a ruckus in the solemn hall. Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, "They really are country bumpkins, they don't know any manners. What kind of behavior is this in the main hall?"
Several royalist officials sneered in hushed tones.
There were many female officials and their families at the banquet, and it was indeed inconsiderate for them to wrestle shirtless. But Jiang Jinyi would not let it go after his people had been humiliated. He suddenly pointed at Jiang Linzhi and said loudly, "Miss Jiang, the dance you did the other day was quite good. Give Lord Zhang a more elegant performance."
Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell silent.
This sentence has seven or eight meanings, and even the naive Nan Jinping understood one or two of them, looking nervously at the target of everyone's criticism.
Jiang Linzhi rose and calmly performed a deep bow, then smiled and said, "Your Highness flatters me. I merely accompanied the dancers of the Music Bureau, which is nothing to boast about and would be an insult to Your Majesty. However, I recently saved a young scholar who was on his way to the capital to participate in the martial arts examination. He does have some skill, so perhaps he could be appointed as a scholar for the esteemed officials."
The crowd burst into laughter at Jiang Linzhi's half-classical and half-vernacular speech, but the Regent's face turned cold at the introduction. He clenched his hands on his knees and said, "Any Tom, Dick, or Harry can get in? Do you think this is some kind of place?"
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold. The officials from the Regent's faction were all burly and imposing, their glares resembling a pack of wolves. Several civil officials immediately turned their heads away, avoiding their gaze.
Those royalist officials were indeed tough nuts to crack, and they were eager to start a fight. After all, no matter how domineering the regent and his faction were, they wouldn't dare to eliminate dissidents directly in the main hall with real weapons. Their power was not yet strong enough to overwhelm the imperial authority.
Fortunately, before the civil officials could speak, the emperor said, "On such a good day, we should share the joy with the people. Let me see what this young man is capable of."
In an instant, Lu Huantang understood the meaning behind Jiang Linzhi's request for him to practice sword dance that day. Shocked by his perfect prediction, he quickly glanced at Jiang Linzhi, then stepped forward and bowed to the emperor, saying, "This humble servant dares to compose a limerick to entertain everyone."
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