"Ahem!
You haven't recovered yet.
Don't go to the New Year's banquet.
Stay in the mansion and recuperate! "
Jia Daishan coughed softly.
He said in a dignified voice.
"No!
My body has long … recovered … "Jia Xie thought that her father was really worried about her injury and replied straightforwardly.
However,
She saw her second brother next to her dressed in bright clothes.
He looked ready to go.
Only then did she realize that she was overthinking.
"Alright, Eldest Brother!
Your father sympathizes with you.
You should take a good rest! "
The eldest daughter-in-law is not in good health either.
It would be troublesome if something happened to her in the palace.
Shi Shi said with a benevolent smile.
But the meaning of his words was extremely vicious.
"Eldest Brother,
You and sister-in-law are not in good health.
Why don't you recuperate in the mansion? Don't overwork yourself.
Don't let Old Master and Old Madam down. "
Jia Zheng leaned forward and said sincerely.
"I … I …" Jia Xie looked past the Shi Clan, past Jia Zheng, and focused on Jia Daishan, which made him uncomfortable.
Jia Daishan flicked his sleeves irritably and got into the car.
"That's it!
Eldest Brother will stay in the mansion. Zheng'er will go to the palace on behalf of your eldest brother! "
"
"Second Brother's wife, help me get into the car!"
Seeing that Jia Daishan had left, the Shi Clan was too lazy to pretend to be a kind mother and filial son.
?
Fear?
Sincerity?
He Xian?
Yes.
Wang Clan held her hand.
Passing by the little Chang Clan,
He glanced at her pitifully and proudly.
So what if it was the eldest branch?
So what if it was the eldest son's grandson?
So what if it was the heir of Duke Rongguo?
No, it was another unfavored one.
Sooner or later, even the title would be hers!
The young member of the Chang Clan had no time to pay attention to her sister-in-law's complacent look. For her, going to the banquet in the palace was a blessing if she got it, but if she didn't, it was her fate. There was nothing she couldn't accept. She just looked at her husband worriedly.
Jia Xie patted Little Chang Clan's hand comfortingly and smiled bitterly.
He hadn't seen his father for decades, so he had forgotten that his father favored his second son. For a moment, he wasn't used to it.
Although Jia Hu didn't know what was going on, he still obediently held Xiao Jia Lian's hand and stood aside.
"Aren't you going to the palace?
Where are you going?
The Jia Lian looked strangely at the Jia Xie, who was crestfallen, leading his wife and son back.
He didn't want to bump into the Jia Daishan and the Shi Clan, so he stayed behind and planned to enter the palace after they left.
Anyway, it was still early, only 3: 30 in the afternoon.
The truly powerful and influential people would only enter the palace at four thirty in the afternoon (four thirty in the afternoon).
"Master took Second Son and his family to the palace and asked me to stay and recuperate."
Jia Xie said sarcastically.
"Tsk!"
The Jia Lian frowned.
"It's okay. Brother is resting at home. There's no need to put on a fake face to entertain those outsiders. I can't eat to my heart's content!"
Jia Xie pretended to smile generously, but his heart was bleeding.
"Oh?"
The Jia Lian saw that he was pretending to be generous and wanted to play a prank. He also pretended to say, "I was going to ask brother to take you to the palace.
Since brother doesn't have the patience to entertain guests, then brother will take sister-in-law and two nephews to the palace for the banquet!
"
As he spoke, he squatted down and picked up Jia Hu and Xiao Jia Lian. He turned to Little Chang Clan and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, come with me to the palace!
"
Little Chang Clan covered her mouth and laughed. She knew that the Jia Lian was deliberately teasing her husband. She cooperated and let go of Jia Xie's hand. She walked to the Jia Lian and nodded with a smile, "Then I'll have to trouble Little Uncle."
"
"Oh!
Don't! "
Jia Xie was confused. That's right!
Now it was different from his previous life. Second Son had the support of his father, and he also had a good brother to rely on!
He licked his lips and went forward, "Good brother, that … that … brother will go with you!"
He was not like his brother who wanted to enter the palace without any novelty. He wanted to enter the palace for the banquet!
It was a banquet set up by the Emperor himself!
What a great honor!!
His bad friends might not even be able to enter!!!
Entering the palace once was enough for him to brag about for several years!!!
"Brother, don't feel wronged. It doesn't matter if you enter the palace or not."
Jia Lian's eyes were smiling.
Jia Xie shook his head desperately, "I don't feel wronged!
I really don't feel wronged!!
It's brother's great honor to enter the palace!!!
"
Jia Lian hugged Jia Hu and Xiao Jia Lian, who were sensible and did not disturb them, and asked, "Hu 'er, Lian' er, do you think Little Uncle should bring your father into the palace?"
"
Jia Hu and Xiao Jia Lian, who were used to being hugged by Jia Lian, consciously wrapped their arms around the Jia Lian's neck.
Looking at her father's pitiful eyes, Jia Hu's little face flushed red. She bit her lower lip and felt a little embarrassed.
Was this what a strict father should do???
The New Year's banquet held in the palace was a banquet for Emperor Wen Of Zhou to invite officials of the lower third rank and above, as well as their family members. However, since they were entering the Forbidden Palace, each family limited the number of people who could enter based on their official position, nobility, family power, and imperial favor.
"Which family is it?"
Not far from the palace gate, a eunuch wearing a blue palace robe embroidered with a peacock and long boots leisurely fiddled with the teacup in his hand.
"Godfather, it's Chang Kun, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice."
A delicate looking eunuch beside him bowed and said.
"Oh, it's Fatty Chang!
Let them in! "
The eunuch said casually, tasting his tea with a satisfied expression.
The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, who was in charge of the world's laws and regulations, was only called Fatty Chang by this eunuch.
"Yes."
The eunuch waved his hand and signaled the guards to let Chang Kun and his family into the palace without having to search the carriage.
The Assistant Minister of Justice raised his hand from afar to express his gratitude.
Entering and exiting the palace to meet the nobles, who knew if there were any thieves who wanted to assassinate them?
In front of the palace gate, no matter who you were, you had to be searched at least once.
Even if you were a member of the family, you had to get off the carriage and be taken to the side by the palace maids for inspection. The other guards got on the carriage and knocked to see if there were any prohibited items.
After the Chang family's carriage slowly drove into the palace gate, another family's carriage followed closely behind.
"Godfather, the carriage of Zhou Junchen from the Ministry of Rites has arrived!"
The eunuch immediately reported to the eunuch. He did not even use the word "Lord" and used the word "Servant" instead, showing his deep disgust.
"Humph!"
The eunuch forcefully pulled down the lid of the teacup and snorted coldly, "Come!
Ask the Lord Zhou to get off the carriage! "
"Humph!"
This Zhou Junchen from the Ministry of Rites was the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites who, when Emperor Wen Of Zhou led his army back to the capital, led his subordinates to ruthlessly trample on the face of the Directorate of Rites in front of hundreds of officials.
Under the leadership of Ancestor Dai Quan, all the eunuchs in the palace had always been united against outsiders. Provoking one of them was equivalent to provoking eleven of them.
Moreover, the head eunuch of the Directorate of Rites, Liu He, had the softest temperament. He had a good relationship with everyone, and the other eunuchs had always protected him.
Zhou Junchen was bullying the internal court's Twelve Supervisors!
"Eunuch Bi …" Facing Bi Yu, Zhou Junchen did not dare to be as tyrannical as he had bullied Liu He. The person in front of him was not someone to be trifled with.
He hastily put on a kind smile, but before he could say anything, the imperial bodyguards had already pulled him off the carriage like wolves and tigers, and violently threw him to the side.
Two of the imperial bodyguards separated and pushed Zhou Junchen to the wall. One grabbed Zhou Junchen's hands, and the other patted Zhou Junchen's body non-stop, "checking" to see if he was carrying any weapons or other prohibited items.
One of the imperial bodyguards rushed onto the carriage and rummaged through the chests and boxes, throwing out all the snacks, coats, and other items from the hidden compartments, as if they were raiding a house.
"What are you doing?
My father is the Minister of Rites Zhou … Ah!
You dare to hit me? "
Behind Zhou Junchen's carriage, there was another carriage carrying Zhou Junchen's son and daughter. At this moment, the cry of Zhou Junchen's son rang out.
"Ah!!!
Let go of me!!
"
Seeing the imperial bodyguards showing off their power, the palace maids were unwilling to let the opportunity to show their faces in front of Eunuch Bi be snatched away. They were very enthusiastic, and in a flurry, they forcibly pulled Miss Zhou off the carriage. They did not care about her beautiful face, which was pale with fright, and roughly but carefully pushed her behind a screen under the shadow of the palace gate.
Where did the coachmen of the two carriages go?
Naturally, they were knocked to the ground by the imperial bodyguards as soon as they came face to face with each other.
This group of Imperial Bodyguards wearing the uniform of the Imperial Bodyguards from the Imperial Palace were actually foreigners that Bi Yun had specially borrowed from the Eastern Faction Guards. Naturally, they were not as timid as the ordinary Imperial Bodyguards when they acted. Instead, they were very aggressive.
Not everyone in Dongchang was an imperial bodyguard. Many of the foreigners or low-level officials were recruited from ordinary people who had no parents and were ruthless enough.
"Bi Yu, you traitor!
What do you want to do to my children!?
I, I, I will definitely unite with the officials to execute your entire family!!! "
When Zhou Junchen saw that his son was beaten and his daughter was taken to who knows where, he angrily glared at Bi Yu and gritted his teeth.
Seeing that Zhou Junchen was itching to tear him apart, Bi Yu was happy. He slowly picked up the teacup and said coldly, "Lord Zhou, what are you saying?
The palace maids and imperial bodyguards are just taking Young Master Zhou and Young Miss Zhou to a secluded place for a careful inspection.
Thanks to His Majesty's kindness, we are responsible for the security of the palace gate today. We naturally have to be loyal to His Majesty and do our best until our deaths. No matter what, we have to protect this palace for His Majesty.
His Majesty is responsible for the safety of the world, so no matter how careful we are, it is not too much!
Does Lord Zhou also think the same? "
"
Zhou Junchen was angered by Bi Yu's sarcastic words, "Bi Yu!
I have no enmity with you today, and I have no grievances in the past!
Why are you making things difficult for my family!? "
"
Bi Yu snorted disdainfully. Even though he was surrounded by his own people, he didn't want to give himself an excuse. He said bluntly, "Lord Zhou, a noble person is forgetful, but that is only a small matter. You don't have to take it to heart.
I am completely loyal to my duty. You have to believe that I am really doing this for His Majesty, for Da Zhou, and for the safety of the world! "
Zhou Junchen was just a third-rank assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites. If he hadn't mindlessly slapped the Minister of Design in the face, how could he have any enmity with him?
Dream on!
At this moment, the carriage with the Rongguo Mansion's symbol stopped in front of the palace gate.
Jia Daishan saw the chaos in front of him and didn't know what was going on. He told the Shi Clan and got off the carriage.
"Eunuch Bi, what happened to Lord Zhou?"
Jia Daishan raised his hand and asked in confusion.
They were all officials in the court, so he recognized Zhou Junchen's face.
"Oh!
It's Duke Rongguo. "
Bi Yu, who had been sitting arrogantly in his chair, immediately stood up. He didn't answer Jia Daishan's question. Instead, he looked behind Jia Daishan and saw two carriages stop not far away.
"We haven't seen each other for half a month. Is the little General Jia doing well?"
Bi Yu asked with a smile.
Jia Daishan couldn't understand Bi Yu's thoughts and replied hesitantly, "Thank you, Eunuch Bi, for your concern … My son … is naturally doing well."
"Yes."
Bi Yu was a little impatient and said directly, "I won't hide it from Duke Rongguo. The little General Jia and I have some friendship in the past. Why don't we invite him out to talk about the old days!"
Rongguo Mansion had been in decline for a long time. This time, the Emperor had only rewarded him with some land and property. He didn't even get a real position.
If he wasn't a Jia Lian, how could such a 'down-and-out family' be worthy of the courtesy of the head eunuch of the Imperial Treasures Directorate?
Jia Daishan said politely, "My son … is still in the mansion reflecting on his mistakes. I'm afraid he won't be able to listen to Eunuch Bi's admonition."
Bi Yu was one of the eleven most powerful eunuchs, so he couldn't afford to offend him.
Moreover, he was counting on these eunuchs to put in a good word for him in front of the Emperor so that he could get a real position again.
"What?"
Bi Yu frowned. "Early this morning, the Emperor sent someone to Rongguo Mansion to pass on the message that the little General Jia was exempted from reflecting on his mistakes.
Doesn't Duke Rongguo know about this?
"
"This …" Jia Daishan was at a loss for words.
He hadn't seen his youngest son in a long time since the day he had a falling out with the Jia Lian.
"Master, the Old Madam is worried that something might have happened, so she sent her son here to take a look."
Jia Zheng gracefully bowed.
In fact, the Shi Clan saw that Jia Daishan seemed to be talking with other high-ranking officials, so they specially sent their beloved son, Jia Zheng, to come over.
She was very confident that with her second son's character and talent, he would be able to win the favor of the other officials and leave a deep impression on them. In the future, whether it was inheriting a title or becoming an official, his career would be smooth sailing.
"Eunuch Bi, this is this old man's second son.
Zheng'er, why aren't you greeting Eunuch Bi? "
Jia Daishan motioned for Jia Zheng to salute.
"… Yes, Master."
Jia Zheng really wanted to refuse. He was a dignified scholar, how could he bow down to a eunuch!?
However, Jia Daishan kept signaling him with his eyes. Of all virtues, filial piety was the most important. Jia Zheng could only make himself suffer and reluctantly half-bow.
Jia Daishan knew that his son had a good character and was a typical scholar who didn't like eunuchs.
Seeing that Jia Zheng had to make himself suffer for his son, he couldn't help but feel sorry for him. The balance in his heart that was already tilted even more towards Jia Zheng's side.
When Bi Yu saw Jia Zheng's arrival, he thought about the things he had heard about the Rongguo Mansion that had to be said. He could already guess what had happened.
Since the Jia Lian wasn't here, he didn't have to give face to the Jia Lian's family who didn't have a good relationship with him. He ignored Jia Zheng's bowing posture and sat down.
"You, you, you, you four, call a few palace maids to search Duke Rongguo's carriage. You should know that the Duke Rongguo was once a general. You must be careful not to miss any weapons!"
Bi Yu arrogantly ordered.
The foreigners who were seconded by Dongchang were all shrewd people. Naturally, they could tell that Bi Yu intended to deal with the Rongguo Mansion. However, they couldn't do it the way they did to Zhou Junchen's family. Therefore, although they continued to act quickly, ruthlessly, and accurately, they still restrained themselves.
However, even if they restrained themselves, it was still enough to make the Shi Clan and Wang Clan who were still sitting in the carriage go crazy.
"How dare you!
I am a first-rank titled madam. How dare you be so rude to me!!?? "
The Shi Clan and Wang Clan were forcibly "helped" out of the carriage by several palace maids. The other guards made a mess inside the carriage, making it look like it wasn't fit for people to sit in.
"How dare you!
A eunuch dares to bully a court official and a first-rank titled madam. Do you have any respect for the law?!
When we enter the palace later, I will definitely report you to the Emperor and have him punish you. That way, there will be justice in the court! "
Jia Zheng saw that Zhou Junchen, who was wearing a second-rank, third-rank civil official's uniform, was pushed to the ground. His mother, the Shi Clan, who supported him the most, was also kicked out of the carriage. He hurriedly straightened up and angrily pointed at Bi Yu's nose and shouted.
He thought that his actions were righteous and awe-inspiring. He didn't fear power, stood up for his mother, and was filial to the heavens. He thought that he would definitely be recognized by the second-rank, third-rank official, and become famous in the scholarly circle. He would have a meteoric rise, and his father and mother would favor him more.
His thoughts were beautiful, but reality was cruel.
"Slap him!"
Bi Yu's eyes were wide open and his face was red. He fiercely squeezed out these two words.
Naturally, the guards swarmed forward.
"Wait!"
Jia Daishan hurriedly stood in front of Jia Zheng and said with an ugly expression, "Eunuch Bi, this child is ignorant. Today, for this old man's sake, please forgive him this once!"
Zheng 'er was the son of the first-rank, first-rank Duke Rongguo. He was a noble scholar. How could a eunuch punish him?!
This eunuch was too arrogant!!
Jia Daishan's expression was ugly, and Bi Yu's expression was even uglier.
He had entered the palace when the late Emperor had just ascended the throne. He first served in the construction warehouse and then was promoted to a servant. Because of his vigilance, he was taken in by the late Emperor's chief eunuch and sent to the Imperial Study Hall to study.
Later, he was transferred to the Bureau of Rites. Because of his diligence, he was trusted by the late Emperor and was promoted to be in charge of the Bureau of Treasures.
The current Emperor also trusted him a lot and gave him the position of Chief Eunuch of the Bureau of Treasures.
Outsiders generally called the eunuchs in the palace "eunuchs," but eunuchs were actually the highest rank among the eunuchs.
Whether it was the Baohe Hall's Grand Scholar Jingtai or the princes, everyone was very polite when they saw him.
Even if they had a falling out, Zhou Junchen would not dare to directly call him a eunuch in front of him.
But now, a junior!
Actually dared to point at his nose and call him a eunuch in front of him!
Did he really think that he, Bi Yu, was easy to bully because of his temperament in recent years?!
When Bi Yu was promoted to be in charge of the Bureau of Treasures, Jia Daishan had just inherited his title. Therefore, in terms of seniority, Jia Daishan was many times inferior to him!
It was even more difficult to talk about Jia Zheng.
Bi Yu did not pay attention to Jia Daishan. Seeing that the guards did not move for a long time, he gave them a gloomy look. "What?
Do you think I'm a eunuch?
Is nobody listening to you? "
The guards, who were actually Dongchang foreigners, were so frightened that they hurriedly pushed Jia Daishan away and firmly grabbed hold of Jia Zheng.
Jia Daishan looked at Bi Yu furiously and said, "You dare!?
You dare! "