Chapter 193 [VIP]
Upon entering the Golden Jade Pavilion, we were immediately ushered to the top floor.
The shopkeeper personally took out a wooden box with exquisite carvings, inside which was a gold hairpin.
Gold threads twine around the hairpin like flower branches, blooming at its tip. Each petal is hammered from gold, as thin as a cicada's wing, shimmering dazzlingly in the sunlight. Beads woven from gold threads cascade down, interspersed with tiny gemstones, as if hiding stars within. At first glance, the craftsmanship appears extremely time-consuming.
Gu Zhizhuo liked it more and more as he looked at it: "Cancan, when did you decide on this?"
Gu Yican counted on his fingers and said cheerfully, "March! Before I left the capital."
Gu Zhizhuo suddenly gripped the hairpin tightly, her fingers tightening for a moment as if afraid of damaging it, before immediately releasing it and cherishing it in her palms.
March.
In other words, after deciding on this hairpin, her Cancan went out of the capital to suppress bandits.
In her previous life, this parting was forever; they never saw each other again. She also didn't know that her Can Can, her brother, had prepared a coming-of-age ceremony for her.
In her previous life, she never saw this hairpin before she died.
Gu Zhizhuo's eyes immediately reddened.
My heart was burning hot, as if a raging fire was burning inside.
Gu Yican was stunned, and asked blankly, "Don't you like it?"
Did he cry because it was so ugly? It's actually quite pretty. He drew it himself, and it took him a long time to complete.
"like."
Gu Zhizhuo clasped his hands together and carefully held the contents in his palms.
"Would you like to try it on, young lady?" the shopkeeper asked. "If it doesn't fit properly, we can adjust it."
"I won't try it on." Gu Zhizhuo's fingers stroked the hairpin, the petals trembling slightly with her movements, like flowers in full bloom. "I'll wear it on my coming-of-age ceremony."
She looked at it again and again, reluctantly put it back in the box, and then tidied up all the tassels before closing the lid.
Her movements were both precious and careful, as if she were holding a rare treasure.
"I'll get it."
"No." Gu Zhizhuo held it in her arms, turned her head away, "It's mine, I won't give it to you."
Gu Yican: ?
Even with a younger sister he'd been with since birth, Gu Yican sometimes still couldn't understand girls' feelings. But that didn't matter; as long as his sister was happy!
I'll buy it for you next year!
Gu Zhizhuo: "I'll buy it the year after next, until I'm an old lady."
Okay!
Having happily left the Golden Jade Pavilion, Gu Zhizhuo, holding the precious hairpin in her hand, was no longer interested in browsing around, fearing that she might bump or damage it, and went straight home.
Everyone in the manor knew that Gu Yican would be returning today, and the Grand Madam had people waiting for him at the ceremonial gate well in advance.
Upon returning, she went straight to Ronghe Hall. Seeing the two of them enter together, the Grand Madam happily waved them over. First, she touched Gu Yican's face, then had him stand up and turn around to make sure that not a single hair had fallen out. The Grand Madam was relieved.
Is Xinjiang fun?
"Fun!"
"From now on," the old lady stroked his face, "you can only take on jobs like this, they're so prestigious. Don't go to dangerous places, understand?"
In the eyes of the Dowager Lady, Gu Yican's trip to the Western Frontier was really just to welcome the bride.
It's much more glamorous than suppressing bandits or quelling rebellions, mainly because it's safe.
Gu Yican smiled and agreed, "I'll stay in Beijing and play cards with my grandmother. I won't go anywhere else."
After defeating the Northern Barbarians, he stayed in the capital and never traveled around again.
The old lady squinted her eyes with delight: "Good girl, Can Can."
"Can I have that Persian dagger from Grandmother's storeroom?" Gu Yican blinked at him. "It's the one my great-uncle brought back from Persia."
Last year, the Jiang family's caravan went to Persia and brought back many rare Persian items, some of which were recently sent to the Grand Madam.
"Here you go!" The old lady instructed Granny Zhu to fetch them: "Bring them all over for Can Can to choose from. There are also Persian carpets; when the maids arrive in a little while, let them choose for themselves."
“Zhuo’er,” the old lady said with a smile, holding her hand, “You will be of marriageable age in a few days. Your grandmother has prepared a hairpin for you. It was left by your great-grandmother. Take a look and see if you like it.”
She handed her a phoenix hairpin.
The phoenix hairpin is priceless and its beauty is beyond compare.
"I have one." Gu Zhizhuo sat on the footstool, showing off her new gold hairpin. "Grandmother, look, isn't it beautiful? It's a picture that Cancan drew herself. It's for her coming-of-age ceremony."
“I want what my grandmother gave me.”
She happily accepted the phoenix hairpin. Who would complain about having too many hairpins, right?
"Does Grandmother have anything else?"
"Here, here, take it all."
The matriarch only had one daughter. Ever since Gu Liaoliao came of age, the family had not held a coming-of-age ceremony. Now that she finally had a granddaughter who had grown up, the matriarch was very fond of her.
Before long, several tables were set up in the main room, filled with jewelry, short knives, and even Persian carpets had to be piled up to the side.
The Dowager Madam even specially asked Granny Zhu to bring over the catalog of the storeroom containing jewelry and headwear, so that Gu Zhizhu could choose for himself.
Gu Zhizhuo would order one item and have someone fetch it, filling two tables.
The old lady sat upstairs, watching with a smile.
Her warehouse is almost overflowing, take it all, take it all.
"Madam."
Just as they were getting into the selection process, a head maid came in from the front courtyard and announced, "His Majesty has decreed that a banquet will be held tonight to welcome the eldest prince and princess of Liang Kingdom. The prince and the eldest daughter are to be summoned to the palace."
Gu Yican: "Are you going?"
"I don't want to go." Gu Zhizhuo happily played with a gold hairpin shaped like a butterfly playing with flowers, without even looking up.
Gu Yican: "I don't want to go either."
The old lady's face hardened: "The palace has already summoned you. You have no say in whether you want to go or not. If you want to be obedient, hurry up and get ready. Granny Zhu, have someone prepare the carriage. Can Can, you're still tired from just getting back, so you're not allowed to ride a horse. You can sleep for a while in the carriage. Hurry up, don't be late."
Gu Zhizhuo looked at the table full of jewelry with reluctance.
"It's all yours."
Gu Yican, like her younger sister, stared longingly at the Persian and Mongolian short swords covering the table.
The Dowager Lady: "...Only one person is allowed to choose one."
Alright. Gu Yican picked one out for his sister too, and they ran off hand in hand. When they met Gu Yique outside, he didn't forget to say, "Hurry inside, Grandmother has brought out all the Persian daggers that Uncle sent, go and choose one."
"Grandma, Grandma! I want one too."
Gu Yique rushed inside.
Gu Zhizhuo really didn't want to go to the palace, especially palace banquets and the like; just hearing about them made her feel exhausted.
She slowly did her makeup, while Chenmao squatted at the door watching her.
Gu Zhizhuo casually scooped it up and took it with her. When they arrived at the ceremonial gate, Gu Yican had already finished dozing in the carriage. Seeing her sister arrive, she took the initiative to lift the curtain for her.
Gu Zhizhuo sat down next to him.
"Let's go."
Gu Yican looked her up and down, feeling that something was off about her younger sister.
It wasn't until they got off the carriage that they realized what was on their sister's waist... the Persian dagger they had just begged for?
Is that... a cat on your shoulder?
Gu Zhizhuo turned around and smiled at him, looking completely innocent.
Gu Yican whispered, "Should we hide it better?"
Apart from the imperial bodyguards, no one is allowed to bring weapons into the palace.
"It's alright, the Emperor is blind and can't see."
Carrying a short knife with him has been a habit Gu Zhizhuo has developed since his rebirth; he feels uncomfortable without it.
"Is this a matter of whether the Emperor can see it or not?"
The two bickered as they walked toward the palace gate. The eunuch waiting in front of the gate greeted them obsequiously, his gaze sweeping over the short sword at Gu Zhizhuo's waist as if he were blind, and he even stepped aside to block the Imperial Guards for her.
Looking at the cat, he even took out some dried fish as a gift.
Gu Yican: ?
Do you have to carry dried fish with you when you serve in the palace now?
He stroked his chin, lost in thought. His knife was still on the carriage; he wondered if it would be too late to go back and get it.
The palace gates closed behind me. Well, it seems there's no time to make it.
"Miss Gu, are you tired? The sedan chair is ready, would you like to sit down?"
"No, let's skip Hanzhang Palace and go straight to our seats."
"Yes, please."
The young eunuch was attentive and respectful.
Shen Mao felt like she was coming home when she entered the palace. She perched on Gu Zhizhuo's shoulder and swished her tail freely.
Instead of going to the inner palace to pay his respects to the Empress as usual, Gu Zhizhuo went directly to Huazhang Hall with Gu Yican to take their seats.
The siblings arrived at the perfect time, neither too early nor too late.
The Prince of Zhenbei's residence was prestigious enough that their seats were very high up. As soon as they sat down, a eunuch brought them fruit syrup to moisten their mouths.
After sitting for a while, the others arrived one after another and took their seats in turn.
Some acquaintances also came over to chat for a while.
Today, there was no separation of men and women at the banquet, but apart from Gu Zhizhuo, who had been officially appointed by the court and held military power in the Thousand Machine Battalion, and was qualified to stand outside the court, only a few unmarried princesses and princes from the royal palaces came.
Xie Danling was delighted to see the two of them and ran over.
"I want to sit here."
She asked the eunuch to move her to a different seat, and the eunuch glanced at Gu Zhizhuo and happily agreed.
“Cat, you’re here too.” As soon as she sat down, she picked up the cat and kissed it, saying, “Her Majesty the Empress said that she wanted to host a welcome dinner for the Princess of Xiliang, and asked us to come and greet her.” The “we” she referred to were the princesses.
The two leaned their heads together, and Gu Zhizhuo showed off the coming-of-age gift he had received. Xie Danling spread her hands towards Gu Yican, and before she could speak, Gu Yican also spread his hands towards her: "Sister, this is my birthday gift."
Gu Zhizhuo imitated him: "Birthday gift."
Xie Danling: ?
"I am only three days older than you all!"
Even three days is a big deal.
"Exactly. Why don't you call me 'sister'?"
"I'll teach you to cheat!" Xie Danling pounced on her, and the three of them laughed and joked around.
When Xie Yingchen entered, his gaze lingered on her for a long time. When he reached his seat, he was only one rank lower than the emperor's.
Music and dance filled the hall.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The emperor and empress entered, surrounded by eunuchs, palace maids, and other attendants.
The emperor was extremely thin. He had just reached the age of forty, but his temples were already gray, and his sunken cheeks made him look exceptionally old.
He hadn't appeared in public for a long time, and upon seeing him, everyone around him gasped in surprise.
Gu Zhizhuo had heard Xie Yingchen say that the emperor's eyesight was failing.
The emperor probably didn't want to appear weak, so even though he couldn't see it, he didn't make it public. Apart from his personal attendants, no one knew. He walked steadily, and apart from his ears habitually tilting towards the direction of the sound, only Li Deshun, who was supporting the emperor, would occasionally lower his head and say a few words.
"Steps... lift your foot... and fall..."
Gu Yican read the lips and whispered to his sister, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and said, "It's Xie Yan."
Gu Zhizhuo then noticed a small figure following among the princes.
The emperor didn't mention it, and Prince Li just pretended to have forgotten. Xie Yan still doesn't have a title or be included in the imperial genealogy. Even though the emperor brought him out, he didn't wear the imperial robes of a prince. He walked with his head down among the crowd, looking out of place.
The emperor sat down, his expression unreadable, and raised his hand, saying, "No need for formalities."
The Liang people entered with the emperor, and after they took their seats, many people secretly observed the two members of the Liang royal family.
"Today, I am hosting a welcoming banquet for the Crown Prince and Princess of Liang, and I wish that our two countries may forge an everlasting alliance..."
The emperor spoke some grand and dignified words, which lasted for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.
He cleared his throat, already somewhat exhausted, and quickly got to the point: "The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has chosen October 14th as an auspicious day for the marriage of my third prince and Princess Jiaye."
"Issue my decree."
The emperor could only see a blurry light and faced the direction where Xie Yingchen was sitting: "I hereby confer upon the Third Prince the title of Prince Rui."
The Minister of Rites looked at Xie Yingchen, and only after seeing him nod did he bow in agreement.
The music and dance started again, and people toasted each other, enjoying themselves immensely.
The emperor and Duoleng chatted about everything under the sun. Duoleng had been on the border for a long time and talked about the customs and people of the Qiliang border. He spoke eloquently and the emperor praised him repeatedly.
Just like the two countries have never fought to the death.
The people below the table occasionally chimed in, and the atmosphere became lively amidst the music and dance.
Gu Zhizhuo placed a shrimp on the cat's plate. This was specially prepared for the cat by the imperial kitchen, which was boiled in water, peeled, and then served.
Xie Danling filled the cup in front of her with a small silver pot, and Gu Zhizhuo smelled a faint aroma of wine.
Where did it come from?
Xie Danling smiled at her: "It's newly arrived tribute, fruit wine, sweet and delicious."
Gu Zhizhuo took a small bite, and it was indeed sweet!
"It tastes good."
The cat brought its little head over to sniff, then patted the wine pot in dissatisfaction. Gu Zhizhuo then had someone bring it a small bowl of warm goat milk.
The dance ended.
Several musicians carrying pipa came up, their pipa music like pearls rolling on a jade plate.
Gu Zhizhuo listened intently, while Xie Danling said sweetly, "My mother and the Princess of Fu'an completed the incomplete score together. The piece seems to be called 'Lanting Si,' which was composed a hundred years ago after the Lady of the Former Court and her husband divorced. I heard my mother play it, and it made me want to cry."
Her little face was slightly flushed, and when she saw her little cousin looking at her, the corners of her mouth curved into a sweet smile.
Drunk?
Gu Zhizhuo pinched her cheek, and it was indeed a little hot.
Gu Zhizhuo gave the cat, who was licking its paws after eating its fill of goat milk and shrimp, to hold, and replaced the fruit wine in front of her with fruit syrup.
The cat stared wide-eyed at the flowing sleeves fluttering in the air, its paws opening and closing as if it were eager to try.
"...Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty, please!"
He speaks standard Mandarin with a lot of embellishments.
After several rounds of drinks, he stood up to offer a toast, downing three cups in a row. Li Deshun leaned over and spoke to the emperor, who repeatedly praised him and also drank a cup.
After paying respects to the Emperor and Empress, Duoleng turned to Xie Yingchen and said, "Your Highness, it's been a long time. You are as charming as ever."
"Come on, you have to drink three cups!"
Gu Zhizhuo raised his eyebrows.
Duo Leng came out with a wine glass and walked towards Xie Yingchen. He laughed heartily, his small braid hanging over his shoulder, and made a toasting gesture towards Xie Yingchen.
Xie Yingchen returned the gesture by drinking it down in one gulp; it was warm water.
Yao Yao forbade him to drink alcohol, and apart from that time he drank with Shen Xu, he didn't touch a drop.
"Your grandson looks much healthier now, unlike before when you were in the capital, unable to mount a horse, lift a sword, or draw a bow... you were just a useless piece of trash."
He said this in a sarcastic tone, taking advantage of the fact that others couldn't understand him.
After all, he was "visiting" Daqi, and he couldn't bring himself to do something as foolish as openly humiliating the crown prince of Daqi.
The recent repeated attacks by Daqi have disrupted his plans on the border. The weak and incompetent emperor of Daqi must be Xie Yingchen's doing. This man is frail and sickly, having been ill for six years since arriving in Liang, yet he is full of wicked schemes, having instigated two changes of rulers in Liang in just six years.
Duo Leng raised his glass, making a toasting gesture, his face beaming with a hearty smile, as if he were merely offering words of encouragement to drink.
"Trash should stay where trash should stay. Don't get in the way."
What do you think?
After saying that, he switched back to Daqi Mandarin and offered a toast, saying, "Please."
*Smack*
Gu Zhizhuo put down his wine glass.
She could understand Liang language. In her previous life, when the young master instigated a power struggle between Duo Leng and the King of Liang, she stayed by his side, and the young master personally taught her.
"Even if I can't wield a knife or draw a bow, I can still blow your head off."
As soon as Gu Zhizhuo uttered his standard sarcastic remark, Duo Leng looked over sharply.
She smiled broadly: "Your head's going to explode!"
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