Chapter 858 - 861: Summon
Chapter 858: Chapter 861: Summon
Niu Hai’an was considered to be in the best health among them. He spoke with a booming voice, "This is what they call ’the tables have turned.’ We managed them when they were young, and now they manage us when we’re old, keeping us on a tight leash.
"Even what we eat has to be approved by these little brats! Why don’t us brothers set a time to have a good drink together?"
The young man walking behind his sedan chair turned pale. He thought, "Patriarch, you actually dare to arrange such a dinner? Do you think the Niu Family has been living too peacefully and want to make enemies with the other families just for fun?"
While he was fraught with anxiety, the old men were in high spirits. They all agreed to the idea and actually began discussing a venue while the eunuchs carried them forward.
The younger generation accompanying them into the palace all wore bitter expressions. The elders had just complained about not being allowed out, but with their knack for stirring up trouble, who could bear the consequences? They thought they should have made clear inquiries before leaving the house today to avoid running into the other patriarchs.
The young men were all on the same page. They exchanged a glance, silently agreeing that when leaving the palace later, they absolutely had to separate the patriarchs no matter what.
The old men chatted and laughed on their soft sedan chairs, but as they neared their destination, they fell silent. Entering the palace today brought up a complex mix of emotions. The Supreme Emperor’s early abdication was largely due to his exhaustion from overwork. Given his age, ruling for another twenty years would have been perfectly reasonable.
Having followed him since the dynasty’s founding, no one understood better than them the massive mess the late Emperor had left for the Supreme Emperor. No one knew better than these old ministers just how much heart and soul the Supreme Emperor had poured into getting the entire court in perfect order.
Supported by their juniors and the eunuchs, the elderly men tremblingly bowed to pay their formal respects.
Hua Shunming quickly told them to dispense with the formalities and rise. "You’re all just a bunch of old bones now, yet you still try to act tough in front of me.
"Hurry up and sit down! Today, we will only talk about family matters, not about the rules between monarch and ministers."
Having dealt with him for decades, Liu Donglai and the others knew he meant it, so they went ahead and sat down.
"I didn’t expect that we, monarch and ministers, would meet again in this way. I just don’t know if there will be another chance next time," Hua Shunming said with a smile.
No sooner had Liu Donglai and the rest sat down than they shot right back up to their feet. "May the Supreme Emperor enjoy peace and good health!"
"May we all enjoy good health. Sit! Sit! I had you come to the palace to chat with me, not to torture you." Hua Shunming picked up the cup of health-nourishing tea from the table and addressed the old ministers present. "In this life of mine, if not for the assistance of you capable ministers, my seat on the throne would never have been secure. I offer you a toast, substituting tea for wine."
"You praise us too highly, Supreme Emperor," Liu Donglai replied. "Being able to follow the Supreme Emperor is this old minister’s true blessing."
The others quickly echoed his sentiments. They had flattered the Supreme Emperor their entire lives, and they hadn’t expected to have to continue doing so in their old age.
True to his word, Hua Shunming didn’t bring up state affairs at all, opting instead to chat with everyone about family matters. As they talked, the topic inevitably drifted to their children’s marriages. This caused Liu Donglai and the others to tense up. It was well known that there were still several Commandery Princes who were unmarried, but the ministers truly had no such presumptuous ambitions. Niu Hai’an and Zhang Daji, in particular, who both had legitimate granddaughters of marriageable age at home, practically wished they could turn invisible.
The political situation was now clear. Under the Supreme Emperor’s watchful eye, Hua Zhang’s throne was undoubtedly secure. The other Princes had been granted the title of Commandery Prince; speaking objectively, marrying one of them would be considered an excellent match.
However, everyone present was shrewd. How could being a daughter-in-law to the Royal Family be an easy task? Furthermore, those Princes didn’t seem like honest men, and they were at odds with the new emperor. The ministers had absolutely no desire to wade into those muddy waters again.
Seeing them shrink back, Hua Shunming felt a flare of irritation. How dare these people look down on his Princes?
Liu Donglai, whose age had only sharpened his cunning, suddenly began chuckling in his seat.
The junior standing behind him repeatedly apologized, "The Patriarch is old now and frequently spaces out. Please forgive his breach of etiquette, Supreme Emperor."
Having been ill himself for a time, Hua Shunming understood the helplessness of a failing body. He looked at Liu Donglai with sympathetic eyes. "The Old Prime Minister was such a wise man; to think even he couldn’t escape the ravages of illness."
Liu Donglai suddenly shouted, "I caught a fish!"
Bewildered, everyone turned their gazes to the man standing behind Liu Donglai, waiting for his junior to explain.
"The Patriarch might be recalling some past events. He’ll be fine in just a moment," he answered tremulously under everyone’s stares. Everyone always said that following the Patriarch into the palace was a great opportunity to show one’s face. He had moved heaven and earth just to snatch this errand, but now he was consumed with regret. He just wanted to leave the palace...
Niu Hai’an and Zhang Daji, on the other hand, felt a surge of gratitude. Liu Donglai was indirectly helping them out of a tight spot; otherwise, it would have been truly difficult for them to answer the Supreme Emperor’s question.
Hua Shunming sighed inwardly at seeing the once resourceful Old Prime Minister reduced to such a state. It struck him once again that they were all getting old, so he didn’t press the matter any further. He had only brought up the topic of marriage in passing today because these old ministers had excellent family traditions. The descendants they raised wouldn’t be half bad, so he had thought of bringing them into his own family.
Now that he thought about it, it was just wishful thinking on his part. He decided to let it go. These old fellows had always yielded to him; this time, he would let them have their way.
Having figured this out, Hua Shunming didn’t mention the matter again. Instead, he led the old ministers in an afternoon of eating, drinking, and chatting in the harem, only sending them out of the palace right before the gates were about to be locked.
That night, the mansions of all four old ministers quietly summoned their residence doctors, but no one dared to make a fuss about it.
***
Gu Wenheng finished packing his bags. After repeatedly instructing Gu Benluo and his brother to take good care of their mother, he finally departed with a group of personal attendants.
Jin Qianqian’s brows were tightly knit, and her mood was quite low.
Gu Benluo and his brother exchanged a glance. Gu Ben Can walked over and said, "Mother, I have no idea when that plot of land of mine on the mountain will be ready for harvest. How about you go help me take a look?"
Jin Qianqian cast a sideways glance at him. "Didn’t I check the seeds for you before? Once they’ve grown enough, they can be harvested.
"Your mother isn’t as skilled at farming as those seasoned farmhands. Asking me isn’t as good as asking them directly."
Gu Ben Can was rendered speechless.
Gu Benluo pulled his younger brother aside and offered a gentle smile. "Mother, you’ve been hovering around Father these past few days. Now that Father has gone on his trip, shouldn’t you look after us two brothers a bit?"
Jin Qianqian glared at him in exasperation. "You two brothers are already so grown up, how am I supposed to look after you?
"I think once the mourning period is over, it’ll be time to find you a wife. Then I can let your wife look after you."
Gu Benluo was also rendered speechless.
Both brothers simultaneously thought, "What’s wrong with Mother? Did she take too big of a shock?"
Jin Qianqian suddenly burst out laughing. "Alright, I know what you two are trying to do.
"I am a bit worried about your father going to Shangjing alone this time, but life must go on. What do you two want to eat today? Mother will personally cook up a feast for you."
The two brothers clutched their chests at the same time, putting on exaggerated expressions. "Mother, you really scared us just now.
"There’s no need for you to do it yourself; let us brothers handle the cooking."
Gu Benluo hadn’t been in the kitchen for a long time either. In their family, even the head of the household, Gu Wenheng, occasionally cooked, let alone them. They might not be able to whip up any grand banquet dishes, but making a few side dishes was well within the brothers’ capabilities.