Chapter 692 - 253: The Envoy Enters the Capital
Chapter 692: Chapter 253: The Envoy Enters the Capital
On this day, low murmurs of someone begging for mercy drifted from Wangyue Inn.
The voice was faint, however. Listening closely, it sounded more like the intimate whispers of a married couple, leaving anyone who overheard unsure of what was actually happening. Ultimately, no one was curious enough to pry into the matter, and it passed without a ripple.
After the Xinglin Banquets, the new Advanced Scholars were expected to return to their hometowns to pay respects to their ancestors or visit their relatives. This was both a demonstration of personal filial piety and a way for the court to bestow its grace.
But this year was an exception.
The court had postponed this "vacation." The reason came down to His Majesty’s upcoming crowning ceremony and the Empress Dowager’s impending fortieth birthday celebrations.
It would have been fine if this were merely a bustling internal affair for the court. But late last year, the barbarians and tribute countries had sent envoys one after another, asking for permission to travel and congratulate His Majesty and the Empress Dowager.
The court had no reason to refuse, and those barbarians were highly enthusiastic. Starting in March, they had been arriving in Capital City in a steady stream.
It was now mid-April, not far from May. At this time, having the new Advanced Scholars around meant a significant boost in much-needed manpower. Letting them return home to honor their ancestors at such a critical juncture was simply impossible; they would have to wait until this busy period passed.
And so, Zhao Jing’s previously laid plans were completely ruined.
After resting at home for only a few days, he officially took up his post at the Hanlin Academy. Xu Yanhe, being a Second Class Advanced Scholar, hadn’t been directly appointed to an official position. Instead, he accompanied the rest of the Advanced Scholars to "observe politics" at various government offices. This period was also known as an apprenticeship.
Once the apprenticeship concluded, the court would hold an "official selection examination" to assign specific roles to the Advanced Scholars.
Of course, this had nothing to do with Zhao Jing.
Before heading to the Hanlin Academy, Zhao Jing had discussed matters with Chen Wanqing and subsequently asked the Xu family to send someone to Xinghuai Prefecture to pick up Mrs. Zhao and Xiang’er. Now that he had assumed office, there was no telling when the court would grant him permission to return home. Given the circumstances, the natural choice was to bring Mrs. Zhao and Xiang’er over as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the weather was neither too hot nor too cold, making it a perfect time to travel. With a little extra care on the road, they should be able to arrive safely in Capital City before Chen Wanqing gave birth.
On the day Zhao Jing assumed his post at the Hanlin Academy, Chen Wanqing and her mother went out to the bustling streets. She was six months pregnant. If she didn’t take advantage of her current mobility to walk around, she wouldn’t even be able to leave the house in another month or two when her belly grew as round as a drum.
It wasn’t just Chen Wanqing and Xu Su Ying going out this time. The old madam, Mrs. Guo, Miss Huang, Chang Yao, Changsi, Chang Nian, Miss Huang’s younger sister, and Sheng Saya had rarely gathered together so completely, so they simply decided to head out as a large group.
The streets had been incredibly lively lately, swarming with countless traveling merchants from the north and south. As they strolled along, they frequently overheard arguments in various dialects and spotted many foreign faces from the barbarians.
Xu Su Ying was a social butterfly who loved interacting with people. Whether she knew them or not, she could easily strike up a conversation with anyone she met. This aggressive level of socializing frequently made the old madam sweat in secondhand embarrassment.
"I didn’t teach her any of this," the old madam complained to the rest of the group. "She’s always had a mind of her own since she was little. If I tried to lecture her, she had a whole sack full of theories ready to argue back. When I couldn’t win, I’d ask your grandfather to discipline her. Unfortunately, he was only fierce in appearance. The moment your mother whined and called him ’Dad,’ he would surrender faster than anyone else."
The old madam irritably muttered, "So unreliable," before glancing back at her daughter, who was casually chatting up a foreign merchant. Finding the scene simply too embarrassing to watch, she hurriedly ushered her daughters-in-law, granddaughters, and granddaughters-in-law into a nearby teahouse.
Xu Su Ying soon returned. She didn’t come back empty-handed; she carried a box containing a beautifully crafted blanket.
The old madam took one look and said, "It’s certainly pretty enough, but what use is it? If you drape it over yourself, it’s not as fine as silk or satin. If you lay it on the floor as a rug, it feels like a waste of something so nice."
Xu Su Ying smiled and replied, "If you think it’s a waste of a good item, why not just use a lower-quality one for your feet? As for the good ones, wouldn’t they look nice hung up in the room as decoration?"
The old madam and Mrs. Guo leaned in together. "It’s pretty, yes, but it completely clashes with our rooms."
Chang Yao and Chen Wanqing were young women, however, so they were far more open-minded.
"It really is beautiful," they said. "Even if it doesn’t match the room, I’d still be willing to buy one to keep inside. It’s such a novelty and the colors are so vibrant. Just having it sitting there would make me happy to look at."
Xu Su Ying clapped her hands together. "Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease! It proves that there’s a real market for this business."