Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 213 What Annamite woman? That's the Empress Dowager's adopted daughter! Your sister-in-law!

Yan Song frowned almost imperceptibly.

Zhang Cong, having weathered the storms of the Great Rites Controversy and dared to reform officialdom, was a man of considerable skill. This invitation, though seemingly ordinary, was actually a testament to his shrewd and experienced methods.

The small banquet for honoring the newly appointed officials was an unwritten rule in officialdom. As the Grand Secretary, Zhang Cong had no taboos about hosting banquets for newly appointed scholars. However, he would not usually have an official from the Ministry of Rites present invitations in public.

This move wasn't out of concern, but rather to wait and see Haiyue's reaction.

If accepted, Zhang Cong would treat him as the newly appointed runner-up, and he would have his own way of handling him at the banquet, making this junior who was new to officialdom obedient.
If refused, Zhang Cong would emphasize that the leader of the Yixin Society relies on His Majesty's favor, acts independently, and doesn't even respect the current Grand Secretary. Does he still have any distinction between superiors and inferiors in the officialdom?
In short, Haiyue is in a dilemma because she has two different and crucial identities.

As Yan Song frowned, the top scholar Lin Daqin, the third-ranked scholar Li Qidong, the top-ranked scholar Gao Jie, the second-ranked scholar Sang Qiao, and others all looked in Hai Yue's direction.

It is obvious that most of them are resistant to this approach, but they do not have the courage to refuse directly. They look to this person and unconsciously regard him as their leader.

Among the top-ranking scholars, only one person directly refused, and that was Hai Rui, who sat at the table quietly eating his food.

Compared to the unrestrained drinking and revelry of others, Hai Rui remained calm. At first, he focused his attention on his brother, ready to fend off any drinks. Later, realizing that he didn't need to worry about it, he began to eat his food slowly and deliberately.

"This humble official only attends formal banquets at court. Private exchanges are not the conduct of a subject, and I cannot comply."

When the invitation from the Grand Secretary was presented to him, Hai Rui shook his head without hesitation. With just one sentence, the other party slunk away in shock.

After Hai Rui refused, he didn't even look at Hai Yue, because he was confident that this wouldn't be difficult for his brother.

However, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Haiyue accepted the invitation.

'well……'

The scholars who were watching sighed silently, and Lin Daqin was even more surprised.

Did Mingwei give in?
'Ah! ’

The Ministry of Rites official breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the gazes around him, and immediately became smug.

Zhang Cong has been in charge of the Ministry of Rites for several years, and naturally has many confidants under his command who usually follow his lead. However, recently, Yan Song has entered the cabinet, and Hai Yue, the rising star of the Yixin Society, has also joined the cabinet. While the Grand Secretary remains calm, his subordinates have already sensed something amiss.

Taking down this unruly young runner-up now is also a way to make an example of him, to show others who really calls the shots in the court...

Before a smile could even form on his lips, Haiyue opened the invitation, glanced at the date, and then returned it with an apologetic smile: "Please tell Grand Secretary Zhang that unfortunately, I cannot attend!"

The Ministry of Rites official froze, almost doubting his own eyes: "Hai Bangyan, you...you are..."

Even those who refused to attend Xiao Enrong's banquet only declined politely. How could someone read the post and then refuse to go?
Haiyue said, "It is indeed unfortunate. My parents have arranged a marriage for me, and the banquet will be held on the day of the betrothal. I will not be attending the banquet."

The Ministry of Rites official finally realized what was happening and said in shock and anger, "Second Scholar Hai, you'd better think carefully about the consequences..."

Haiyue said calmly, "You can go and report to Grand Secretary Zhang yourself."

"Good! Good!"

The Ministry of Rites official gritted his teeth, clutching the invitation, and hurriedly entered the backyard. He slid and fell to the ground in front of Zhang Cong, shouting, "Your Excellency! Haiyue is going too far! She accepted the invitation first, and then refused it!"

Zhang Cong was quite surprised after hearing the story, but he didn't get angry. He asked directly, "What reason did he give for refusing?"

An official from the Ministry of Rites said, "He actually said he was not attending the banquet because he wanted to get engaged and pay his respects. Is he planning to marry a princess? This is utterly absurd!"

"A betrothal?"

Zhang Cong's heart skipped a beat: 'It seems it's true! The Empress Dowager is going to arrange for her newly adopted daughter to marry this newly appointed second-place scholar!'

As the chief minister, Zhang Cong naturally needed to be aware of the developments both inside and outside the court. He had already heard about the recent changes in the inner palace and only then did he learn the reason why His Majesty had not returned for so long during the palace examination.

Zhang Cong was unconcerned about secret societies. In his view, these kinds of traitors were like the White Lotus Sect among the common people, a minor ailment. As long as the new policies were implemented and the country became prosperous and the people lived in peace, there would naturally be no soil for their survival. If we focused our energy on eradicating these forces, it would be putting the cart before the horse, and the more we tried to eliminate them, the more traitors there would be.

However, the safety of the inner court is indeed important. Moreover, the princess's residence had already been in danger, and now there are even more twists and turns. Princess Fanglian from the outer vassal state has made one merit after another, and has truly won the favor of the Empress Dowager.

There were many intricacies involved in the Empress Dowager's adoption of a goddaughter.

If a formal ceremony were to be held to recognize Li Yuying as a princess, it would actually be a move to appease the foreign vassals. This would not be something that the Empress Dowager could decide on her own. It would require going through court procedures, having the Grand Secretariat draft a proposal, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs approve it, and then officially registering it in the Imperial Clan Register. After that, she would be granted the imperial surname and the honorary title of princess.

But what Empress Dowager Jiang is doing now is not participating in the outer court ceremony, but only recognizing the relatives in the inner palace. The eunuchs check the woman's background, and then the female officials are responsible for the physical examination. It is a simplified form of inner court review, and the ceremony is completed.

Li Yuying, a princess from a fallen vassal state, has transformed into the adopted daughter of the current Empress Dowager.

'A Hainanese man and an Annamite woman, they've already made a name for themselves!' Zhang Cong remained silent for a moment, then picked up the invitation: 'The marriage of the second-ranked scholar from Hainan is indeed of great importance. If you can't attend the banquet, then so be it.'

"what?"

The Ministry of Rites official was suddenly stunned: "Your Excellency, are we just going to let him do this...?"

The banquet was originally meant to display power and win people's hearts, but now that Haiyue is hosting it, it's not just that she won't go!

'well!'

Zhang Cong also felt some regret. He realized that Yan Song's entry into the cabinet had caused him to lose his composure. Now, his schemes against others had failed, and he had been publicly humiliated. He couldn't retaliate unless he dared to offend the Empress Dowager...

That would be a complete loss.

It is worth noting that Empress Dowager Jiang had a very good impression of Zhang Cong in history. After Zhang Cong was demoted and sent to a post outside the capital for slandering Xia Yan, she would often ask Jiajing where the old man Zhang who had spoken up for her and her son when he first came to the capital had gone. As a result, Jiajing remembered Zhang Cong's good deeds and summoned him back.

Although this incident has not yet occurred, Zhang Cong would never dare to risk losing more than he gains.

Thinking that Haiyue, a mere newly graduated scholar, could actually take the wife route, he smiled wryly and waved his hand: "Don't say anything more, let him be!"

"Yes……"

The officials from the Ministry of Rites were puzzled, but they knew the situation was hopeless, so they walked out dejectedly.

As expected, with Haiyue stepping forward, the newly appointed scholars, who were already unwilling to attend the banquet, naturally refused and gathered around it.

Haiyue acted as if she had done something insignificant, without any arrogance, and continued to talk about the topics that should be discussed at the Qionglin Banquet, without bringing up Zhang Cong, the chief minister, at all.

But no one dared to ignore what had just happened, and they all followed his lead.

Upon seeing this, Yan Song's eyes flickered slightly. After the banquet ended and he returned home, he immediately went to his son's room.

Compared to Zhang Cong's long-standing influence, Yan Song, who had just entered the cabinet, had far fewer sources of information. He had only vaguely obtained some information and could not be completely certain of it. Now he had to confirm it with his son.

When Yan Shifan saw the old man enter, he quickly held up the Book of Changes in his hand: "Father! Your son is preparing for the exams!"

Yan Song glanced at it, ignoring the first page he had just turned to, and asked directly, "Do you know which family Hemingway is getting married to, and which bride he chose?"

"Mingwei is getting married too? That's great news!"

Yan Shifan became interested: "As for which lady, Mingwei does have a lover, it's Princess Li of Annam, who came to the capital with him. The two often exchange letters..."

Yan Song understood: "Have you seen her before?"

"no!"

Yan Shifan said, "I remember that big case at the Princess's residence. A maid came to Mingwei early in the morning, saying that it was Princess Li who asked him to do it. It turned out that it was someone from the palace who wanted to trick him! Ha! This woman is ultimately a troublesome one. If it were me, I would have kept my distance long ago. Annam is about to perish, why bother with a princess?"

Yan Song looked at his son and suddenly laughed: "So you think Haiyue has bad taste in choosing a wife, even worse than you?"

Yan Shifan had indeed thought so before, but ever since he was scolded to his face that night, he dared not admit it. He forced a smile and said, "No, Mingwei has a good eye. I was just eager to make a name for myself and did something stupid. I will never do it again!"

"I won't dare again... I won't dare again..."

Yan Song, with his deep-seated cunning, was so enraged by the thought of his daughter-in-law who had almost married into the family that he slapped her again, cursing as he hit her: "They've shared hardships and joys, one of them achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations and entered the Hanlin Academy, while the other was favored by the Empress Dowager in the inner court. I wonder how much benefit they can bring to their careers! And look at you, and look at you!"

Yan Shifan skillfully covered his head, groaning and crying out, hoping to call Ouyang Shi in and stop his furious father. He kept saying, "I was wrong! I was wrong!"

Yan Song quickly regained his composure, stopped what he was doing, and said in a deep voice, "There is news from the palace that Lady Li has been adopted as a goddaughter by the Empress Dowager. I wasn't sure before, but now it seems to be true. Even Princess Yongchun can't enter the palace all the time, but she can. What an extraordinary opportunity! Even a domineering person like Zhang Luofeng doesn't dare to say a word against this marriage, for fear that it will reach the Empress Dowager's ears and displease her!"

Yan Shifan was dumbfounded: "The Annamite woman has risen to prominence?"

"What Annamese woman? That's your sister-in-law!"

Yan Song glanced at the scriptures in his son's hand again and snorted coldly: "You are Hemingway's best friend. You should do your best in your marriage. What use is it if you only study at home?"

Yan Shifan: "..."

You're the one who made me prepare for the next imperial examination! You're also the one who sent me out to cultivate connections!

What exactly do you want?

Can you give me a definite answer?
(End of this chapter)