Tiger Guards

Chapter 110 Clan Private Banquet
Afterwards, in addition to Zhao Ji, four people began to discuss the posthumous honoring of the heroes who had moved east.

They included General Wei Dong Cheng, General Fuguo Fu Wan, Palace Attendants Ding Chong, Zhong Ji, Liu Ai, Tai Chong, and Zhao Yan; Chief Censor Yang Zhong, Censor Dong Fen; Secretaries Pei Mao and Guo Pu, and Secretaries Han Bin; Counselors Luo Shao and Zhao Rui, Palace Servant Fu De, and Yellow Gate Assistant Minister Zhong Yao.

There were sixteen people in total who were marquises, and those with titles would have their fiefs increased.

Another attendant, Zhong Ji, and the Grand Herald Han Rong were staying in Hanoi to carry out activities, and the General of the Guards, Dong Cheng, was repairing the Luoyang Palace. In addition, among the Nine Ministers, there was Zhao Qi who was sent as an envoy to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Gongsun Zan to urge all parties to reconcile and send troops to welcome the emperor; Ma Ritian also went as an envoy to Yuan Shu with a special authority.

Yang Qi and Yang Biao already had titles, and no one wanted to provoke Zhao Ji, so they just passed them over and gave Yang Zhong, who had no title, a chance.

Anyway, Yang Zhong's descendants died early, and the title given to Yang Zhong is difficult to inherit at his current age.

In this reward, except for Dong Cheng and Fu Wan who were county marquises, the rest were pavilion marquises, and the size of their fiefs ranged from 300 to 500 households.

Zhao Yan declined for a while, but was given a fief of 300 households and was granted the title of Marquis of Dong'an Pavilion.

Conferring a title of nobility is a trivial yet important matter. The court had already had a plan for this matter, and it was only slightly modified and quickly passed.

After the meeting, Zhao Yan, seeing that it was getting late, suggested, "Let's discuss this tomorrow morning. Does Aji want to return to the camp to lead the troops?"

"Right on my mind."

Zhao Ji added, "I don't trust them."

"Alright."

Zhao Yan stood up and Zhao Ji came over to support him. There was no need to say goodbye to the emperor. The resolution discussed today would definitely be sent to the emperor for review.

The other three people also stood up and made room, watching Zhao Yan being supported and walked towards the threshold. The three of them looked at each other with puzzled expressions, unable to interpret each other's gaze and expressions.

In the corridor outside the door, the newly appointed Zhongshu Jian, Zhao Rui, was waiting. He came forward and said, "Lord Yuan Ming, my nephew has prepared a family feast. Please move in."

Zhao Yan glanced at Zhao Ji and said, "Military affairs are very busy, and it's difficult for Aji to be here."

"It won't take much time."

Zhao Rui supported Zhao Yan from the other side, which made Zhao Yan very uncomfortable. Then he heard Zhao Rui say: "You can ask the carriage to wait and have a meal before returning to the camp."

Without giving Zhao Ji a chance to refuse, Zhao Rui asked again, "When will Aji have his coming-of-age ceremony?"

Zhao Yan frowned and replied, "Just recently."

He had begun to waver about whether to adopt Zhao Ji. He really wanted to adopt Zhao Ji under the name of his deceased eldest son, but this would bring hidden dangers.

If he is adopted by his half-brother's eldest son Zhao Yu as his heir, then Zhao Ji will be able to avoid mourning in the future... This is a very crucial matter.

At this point, the Zhao family of Langya has no way out.

Zhao Ji was adopted by his nephew Zhao Yu, and Zhao Yu's former officials were also able to come to the court to assist Zhao Ji.

As for myself, I can choose someone from among Zhao Ji's descendants to adopt and directly adopt him under the name of his eldest grandson.

Zhao Yan was thinking about something when he was led by Zhao Rui to a remote and narrow courtyard in the backyard of the county magistrate's mansion.

The loess wall was cracked, and there were only two Hedong Tiger Guards on duty at the gate.

They nodded slightly to Zhao Ji, but Zhao Ji said nothing. He still needed to study more about how to guard the emperor.

At this time, Zhao Fan came to the door and bowed: "Greetings, Lord Zhao."

Zhao Fan bowed, and Zhao Yan accepted. He then extended his arm and introduced Zhao Ji: "This is Minister Zhao Fan, courtesy name Zikai. He is from the same clan as us. Aji, you can call Zikai uncle."

At this time, he pointed at Zhao Rui and said, "This is Zhao Zimao, an acquaintance of Aji. You can call him uncle."

Zhao Ji nodded and bowed to Zhao Rui and Zhao Fan respectively: "Greetings, uncle."

Although Zhao Rui is younger than Old Zhao, Zhao Yan is obviously building a new clan relationship and intends to exclude Old Zhao.

If possible, Zhao Ji also wanted to do so, allowing the Zhao family to stay at the foot of Jishan and live a stable life and gradually develop their family.

Zhao Rui chuckled, supported Zhao Ji, and said, "We've been busy today, so we can only eat a little. When the city is stable, we can have a family dinner to discuss Aji's coming-of-age ceremony and marriage another day."

Zhao Ji neither objected nor agreed.

Zhao Rui didn't think there was anything wrong. Zhao Ji and Zhao Yan had never met before, so how could he suddenly have any feelings for them?
As Zhao Yan and Zhao Ji entered, the Emperor's Grand Chamberlain stood at the doorway. He smiled softly and bowed, "Congratulations to Lord Yuanming for having a successor. When the situation stabilizes, I'll be here to ask for a toast."

"I dare not forget."

Zhao Yan returned the greeting slightly, not seeming to be very happy to pay attention to the other party. The Grand Chamberlain then bowed to Zhao Ji and said, "Little Minister Zhao, I am also from Hedong, and my name is Shi Qian."

He had a name that meant thief, but he had a dignified face, a broad body and a big frame. He also had a thin face and was about three or four years older than Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji suspected that this guy was a prisoner captured by Dong Zhuo and Zhao Qian, so he was executed. If he didn't die, he would be sent to the palace to serve as a servant and laborer.

Too many people died, so this guy took over.

Zhao Ji was not too happy about getting too close, so he bowed and asked, "I heard it was a family dinner, why is the Grand Chamberlain here?"

Shi Qian smiled and said, "Miss Zhao is here too." Then he turned to look at Zhao Yan and said, "Lord Zhao, please don't delay until curfew."

Zhao Yan did not refute, nor did he agree.

Even though Shi Qian was a member of the poor scholar class before he was exterminated, after the eunuchs were executed, the court officials and eunuchs needed to work out a new relationship.

Zhao Yan neither showed any displeasure towards Shi Qian nor approached him to show any enthusiasm. They just greeted each other out of understanding.

After getting rid of Shi Qian, Zhao Rui led them to the front hall to sit down. After Zhao Yan sat down, he asked, "Aji, have you heard of the 'Empress respects her parents' proposal'?"

Zhao Ji sat down and adjusted the hilt of his sword at his left waist, then said, "I've never heard of that. Could it be that there's still controversy about the Empress respecting her parents?"

"It is like this. When the court pays homage to the Empress, she kneels before her father, Marquis Buqi, in the front of the temple hall, performing the ritual of monarch and subject homage. Then, when she enters the back hall, the Empress kneels again before Marquis Buqi, performing the ritual of father and son homage."

Zhao Yan spoke slowly as he recounted the case of the previous year. "At the time, the officials were arguing over four points of view. I believe that in public, we should follow the etiquette of ruler and subject, while in private, we should follow the etiquette of father and son. Later, Lady Zhao will arrive, and Aji will address her as sister."

As for outside, in public, Concubine Zhao's status was not worthy of kneeling. She could not squeeze next to the emperor. Like Zhao Yan and Zhao Ji, she was a subject of the emperor and his wife.

Only after giving birth to a prince will Concubine Zhao's status be higher.

Zhao Ji was puzzled as he listened to the Queen's story: "Hasn't there ever been a Queen paying respect to her biological father before? Why has it caused such controversy in this dynasty?"

At this moment, Zhao Yan and Zhao Rui looked at Zhao Ji at the same time. Zhao Yan restrained his expression and Zhao Rui asked, "What does Aji think?"

"Since there is a dispute, it shows that the etiquette was vague before, and there was no such thing as the queen paying respects to her biological father."

Zhao Ji analyzed the situation and couldn't help but sigh, "The Queen is truly a remarkable woman, no less than a real man. She dares to do things that her predecessors dared not do."

At this time, footsteps were heard, and Lady Zhao, with her face painted white and a light green dress with curved hems, walked out from behind the screen. She was thin and tall, like a stick insect.

She came slowly and sat down on the low couch opposite Zhao Ji. Her expression remained unchanged. "Greetings, great-uncle, uncle."

She also looked at Zhao Ji and bowed, "Aji, are you willing to acknowledge me as your sister?"

"If you treat me as your brother, I will treat you as my sister."

Zhao Ji also bowed, without any embarrassment: "Most of my companions are from different families, yet we can still become brothers, not to mention that you and I are from the same clan and have close blood."

"Brothers."

Concubine Zhao called out, picked up a newly sewn set of clothes from a wooden tray held by a palace maid behind her, and handed it to her with both hands: "I don't have any other valuables, please don't despise it, brother Aji."

"Don't dare."

Zhao Ji took it with both hands, feeling a little embarrassed, as he had no habit of carrying gold and jade with him.

He had never had any of them before. After he destroyed the Hou and Wei manors and looted them, although there were gold and jade utensils, he did not take them with him.

So he went to see Zhao Yan, who took off a white magatama adorning his waist and handed it to him, admonishing him: "Aji, a gentleman should wear jade."

"Yes."

Zhao Ji took it with both hands and turned to hand it to Lady Zhao. "Keep it, sister. The Hedong clan is domineering and will not submit easily. After I conquer their fortress and manor, I will find gold and jade jewelry for you."

Lady Zhao also took the white magatama with both hands. She did not tire of Zhao Ji's narration, but only warned him: "Warfare is dangerous, my brother, you must be cautious and take care of yourself."

"Yes."

Zhao Ji agreed. At this time, the Grand Chamberlain Shi Qian floated to the door like a shadow, and Concubine Zhao also tactfully asked to leave.

However, Zhao Yan and Zhao Rui had no intention of standing up to see them off. However, Zhao Ji stood up and followed them for more than ten steps to see Concubine Zhao, Shi Qian, and the palace maid out of the courtyard.

Concubine Zhao was very important to the Zhao family, but before she gave birth to the prince, she was not that important.

The huge change in the Zhao family's status was not caused by Concubine Zhao, but by Zhao Ji.

Seeing Zhao Ji coming back, Zhao Yan didn't know what to say, so he said, "Hurry up and eat. I will stay here tonight."

"Yes."

Zhao Ji agreed. Compared with saying "yes", Zhao Ji's family prefers to say "yes" because cultural customs vary from place to place.

The meal was not very sumptuous, just rare white rice, roasted horse meat slices, leeks fried with mutton fat, and a bowl of fish soup.

There were three thin slices of horse meat on Zhao Ji's low table, garnished with a small piece of water celery. I can only say that the presentation of the dish was very artistic.

Even the fried leeks are rich in oil. Only under the light, the leeks are neatly stacked, shiny and oily, and look moist.

There was no fish in the fish soup, only three small pieces of tofu and two green leafy vegetables floating in it.

Despite his refined life, Zhao Ji could never get enough to eat.

Although Zhao Yan, Zhao Rui and Zhao Fan were very restrained, they chewed their food slowly and carefully like silkworms eating mulberry leaves, and they would eat half a bowl of rice without paying attention.

(End of this chapter)