Chapter 17: A Joyful Occasion at the Xu Manor
Chapter 17: A Joyful Occasion at the Xu Manor
Another five days passed.
The day before, Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan went to the Yingtian Prefecture office and met Wei Tai.
Wei Tai wore a mournful expression, his old face full of sorrow.
He prayed for the heavens to soak his eyes…
To freeze his heart…
So he would no longer desperately long for the truth, for it to come to him.
The constables sent to Luzhou Prefecture had found nothing. Luzhou Prefecture had not received any missing person reports. The Luzhou Prefect had also ordered investigations in the counties under his jurisdiction, but no useful clues were found.
As expected, the trail had gone cold again.
Emperor Xia had already inquired about the matter during the Morning Court Assembly, ordering him to solve the case at all costs and as quickly as possible. The whole Capital City was buzzing with talk, and Wei Tai felt immense pressure.
The ten thousand taels reward was also useless; not a single person had come forward with clues.
It was just as Xiao Rui had guessed, the matter was not that simple.
But Xiao Rui also believed that the System would not make him solve a case with no leads. There must be some clue he hadn’t discovered yet.
…
“Seventh Brother, are you free tonight?” Xiao Yan ran over and asked.
Xiao Rui had just finished practicing horseback archery. Hearing Xiao Yan’s question, he was wary. “What do you want now? I’m very busy, I don’t have time to fool around with you.”
Xiao Yan said resentfully, “Seventh Brother, is that how you see me in your mind? Tonight is a big event. Minister Xu’s son is getting married today. There’s a banquet tonight, even Father Emperor will attend. Aren’t you going?”
Xiao Rui was startled and asked, “Minister Xu? Which Minister Xu?”
Xiao Yan looked at him disdainfully. “Seventh Brother, you keep such a low profile you don’t even know Minister Xu? Who else has such great face that Father Emperor would attend personally?”
“Xu Xianyang!” Xiao Rui suddenly realized.
The political system of the Great Xia Kingdom was the Grand Secretariat and Six Ministries system. The emperor formed the Grand Secretariat to handle court affairs on his behalf. Members of the Grand Secretariat could state their opinions on memorials with Draft Rescripts. Then the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Ceremonial Directorate would add the Vermilion Endorsement and present it to the emperor, ensuring the Six Ministries were directly responsible to the emperor, achieving the emperor’s centralized power.
The current Emperor Xia valued the Grand Secretariat highly, so its authority was immense, and its status was naturally very high.
Xu Xianyang was one of the five Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, holding the titles of Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall and Minister of Works, a high official of the Second Realm. For his son’s wedding, it was fitting for Emperor Xia to attend personally, expressing his regard and trust for his subordinate.
As Imperial Princes, it was also natural to show their regards.
Xiao Rui originally didn’t want to go. He never attended the weddings or funerals of civil and military officials. But this time, even Emperor Xia was going in person, not just sending gifts. If he didn’t go, it would seem too aloof.
“Let’s go together after class,” Xiao Rui said.
Xiao Yan laughed. “Alright, I’ve also prepared your congratulatory gift for you. Father Emperor has given an order strictly forbidding officials from accepting bribes under the pretext of gifts. So I prepared two sets of famous calligraphy and paintings. Seventh Brother, you must not refuse.”
Xiao Yan knew he had no money, so he prepared the gift in advance. Xiao Rui felt warmed and smiled. “Then I’ll take advantage of my ninth brother’s kindness.”
“Hehe, we’re brothers, close as can be, your younger brother’s wife can be your elder brother’s…” Xiao Yan’s happy chatter wasn’t finished before Xiao Rui gave him a slap. He quickly swallowed the last part of the sentence.
After class, Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan took a carriage to the Xu Manor.
Three streets away, before even getting close to the Xu Manor, they were blocked by a long line of carriages. There were too many people. All the civil and military officials had to come to offer congratulations. Even if they didn’t come, they had to send gifts.
The Xu Manor’s steward was coordinating the traffic. He spotted the Ninth Prince’s carriage and immediately sent people to clear a passage.
Hearing the Ninth Prince’s carriage had arrived, the carriages blocking the way immediately pulled over to the side, making a path.
Arriving at the entrance of the Xu Manor, Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan got out of the carriage.
Xu Xianyang’s younger brother, Xu Xianda, came forward and said, “Your Highnesses grace us with your presence, we failed to greet you from afar, we beg your forgiveness.”
Xiao Rui smiled. “Today is a joyous day for the Xu Manor, we’ve come to impose. Where is Minister Xu?”
Xu Xianda said, “My elder brother is inside receiving guests. Your Highnesses, please follow me inside. The other seven Princes have already arrived and are chatting inside. The banquet won’t start for another couple of hours.”
Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan entered the Xu Manor and met Xu Xianyang and his son, Xu Haoran. After a few simple words of congratulations, they followed Xu Xianda’s guidance to the main hall of the neighboring mansion.
Entering the room, Xiao Rui saw his six elder brothers and one younger brother.
The Eldest Prince, Xiao Lie, 25 years old, gentle and scholarly.
The Second Prince, Xiao Yiheng, 24 years old, cold and arrogant, with a willful air.
The Third Prince, Xiao Ze, 22 years old, easygoing and casual, somewhat lazy.
The Fourth Prince, Xiao Feng, 21 years old, highly skilled in martial arts but rash in character.
The Fifth Prince, Xiao Yuan, 20 years old, suspicious in nature, fond of speculation.
The Sixth Prince, Xiao Ming, 20 years old, hot-tempered and fond of beautiful women.
The Eighth Prince, Xiao Jing, 16 years old, proud and self-righteous.
This was Xiao Rui’s impression of the seven Princes. He hadn’t interacted with them much, so he hadn’t yet figured out their true characters.
Along with Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan, all nine of Emperor Xia’s Imperial Princes were present.
When they entered, the seven Princes all looked over.
The Eldest Prince, Xiao Lie, smiled. “Little Seven, Little Nine are here.”
The Third Prince, Xiao Ze, teased, “Especially Little Seven. Amidst your busy schedule, it’s rare to see you attend an event.”
The other Princes did not speak.
Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan cupped their hands and greeted each as “Brother.”
Xiao Rui said shyly, “I was dragged here by Little Nine.”
Xiao Yan chimed in, “Yeah, if I hadn’t said anything, Seventh Brother wouldn’t even have known Minister Xu’s son was getting married.”
The two took their seats. With nine Imperial Princes together in one room, making small talk, the atmosphere was indescribably stifling.
Xiao Rui hadn’t sat for a quarter of an hour before he found an excuse to slip out.
Of course, his follower Xiao Yan came out with him.
The two wandered around the Xu Manor. As the residence of a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, the Xu Manor’s scale was no less than that of Prince Duan’s Mansion, complete with all the pavilions, terraces, and towers one would expect. As Xiao Yan and Xiao Rui strolled about, they actually ran into Zhang Lianchuan and Tian Boguang.
They were chatting with a group of young men. Judging by their attire, they were all sons of military families.
When Zhang Lianchuan saw Xiao Rui, he opened his mouth to call out “brother-in-law,” frightening Xiao Rui so much he quickly covered his mouth and said, “Young Marquis, don’t shout that. There are many people and many mouths. Do me a favor.”
Zhang Lianchuan pouted and called out aggrievedly, “Your Highness!”
Tian Boguang also came to pay his respects, then introduced the others to Xiao Rui.
There was the son of the Marquis of Xiaoyong, the son of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, the son of the Marquis of Pingbo, the son of the Marquis of Baizhan…
Indeed, birds of a feather flock together. Ten of the sons of the Twelve Marquises of War were present.
The Young Marquises cupped their hands and paid respects to Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan. The two Princes didn’t want to interrupt the Young Marquises’ awkward small talk, so after a few brief words, they left.
Wandering to another mansion, they saw another group of talented young men. Xiao Rui spotted Ding Jian among them.
Xiao Yan said this group were the children of the heads of the Six Ministries.
Continuing their stroll, Xiao Rui saw the upright scholars of the Censorate.
He saw the great Confucian scholars and literati of the Capital City.
He saw the Vice Ministers and officials of the Ministry of War, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Rites, and Ministry of Revenue.
He heard that several of the Grand Secretariat’s senior members had also come, but he didn’t see them.
…
That night, almost all the power and influence in the Capital City had gathered.
Half an hour later, Emperor Xia arrived in person.
This was the first time in nearly five years that Emperor Xia had left the palace to attend a joyous event held at a senior minister’s home, showing his favor and trust in Xu Xianyang.
Emperor Xia took his seat. Xiao Rui also sat down with the other Princes. Only two tables were set in the main hall. Emperor Xia, several Imperial Princes, and four Grand Secretaries sat at one table. The nine Imperial Princes sat at another.
The other civil and military officials were in the side rooms.
Officials below the Fifth Realm couldn’t even get seats inside the rooms; they had to sit in the courtyard.
At this time, the wedding ceremony was about to begin.
Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan couldn’t stand the oppressive atmosphere in the main hall any longer and secretly slipped out to watch the wedding ceremony. Emperor Xia was a guest, so naturally he didn’t stop them.
The one Xu Menghao was marrying was a Commandery Princess from the household of the Prince of Ruyang. Among the four great Commandery Princes, the Prince of Ruyang was the boldest; he even dared to confront the current Emperor Xia.
So Xiao Rui suspected that Emperor Xia’s personal attendance at the wedding wasn’t due to favor for Xu Xianyang, but fear of being pointed at and scolded by the Prince of Ruyang.
Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan stood in a corner watching the wedding ceremony. Looking at the groom, Xu Haoran, Xiao Rui always felt there was something odd about this groom.