Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 155 Entering the Palace for the Banquet
To avoid getting caught up in the personnel disputes in the capital, Zhang Dai stayed at his estate outside the city for several more days. It wasn't until mid-December, when the emperor went hunting in Fangxiuchuan, southwest of Luoyang, that he returned to the city.

When the Emperor returned to Luoyang, the end of the year was drawing near. Although the past year had not been peaceful and harmonious, the New Year still had to be celebrated, so the city of Luoyang was filled with a festive atmosphere.

Zhang Dai arrived in this world shortly after the Shangsi Festival at the beginning of the year. In the blink of an eye, more than half a year has passed, and he has integrated into this world. Moreover, his situation has changed dramatically since his initial arrival.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, the Zhang family mansion is bustling with various affairs, mainly involving ancestral worship and visiting relatives and friends. The Zhang family's ancestral home is in Hedong, where ancestral graves still exist. Therefore, several of Zhang Dai's cousins ​​have been sent to Hedong to perform some ancestral rites.

As for the clansmen who stayed at home, they were all busy, and everyone had assigned tasks.

What annoyed Zhang Dai was that his grandfather, Zhang Shuo, had relieved Zheng of her duties as housekeeper early on, allowing her to return to her quarters to rest and prepare for childbirth. Zhang Dai had originally been hoping that this woman would cause some trouble at the end of the year, but now he had no chance to see her make a fool of herself.

However, the Zheng family steward had accumulated a lot of resentment within the family over the past few months. In the past, people were somewhat unfamiliar with his style and didn't know his true nature, and they would still respect him because of his family background. But now, when he was mentioned, everyone shook their heads. Some of the clansmen who had suffered his harsh treatment couldn't help but curse him in secret.

On the contrary, Zhang Dai has become increasingly respected for his talent and academic achievements. In addition, he has helped the steward Zheng Shi make up for many oversights and helped the clansmen solve many problems. Now, everyone in the mansion speaks highly of him.

In particular, Zhang Dai kept his word. He would take some time to test the young students' studies at the clan school, distributing more than three thousand strings of cash and goods in a single day. Everyone received a prize, and the better they did, the more prizes they received. This directly boosted the admiration of the young people in his family for him.

If he is merely an outstanding student, he is nothing more than someone else's child in the eyes of other relatives, used as a benchmark to discipline their own sons.

But now he is not only outstanding himself, but he also gives money away in the clan school, which makes the younger students who are usually a little envious and jealous of him give him a thumbs up.

In short, Zhang Dai is no longer the nobody he once was in the Zhang family; his presence in the mansion is becoming increasingly prominent, and he is now clearly the most important person among the younger generation. Even his cousins, who have started their own families and taken up official positions, treat him with utmost respect.

During the Spring Festival, when relatives and friends gather, eating and drinking are inevitable. This was true not only for the Zhang family, but also for the imperial family.

Just two days before the Spring Festival, Zhang Dai, a member of the imperial family who had finally gained some recognition, also received an invitation from the palace. Consort Wu Hui ordered Niu Guier to lead him into the palace to attend a banquet.

So Zhang Dai immediately changed into a fine set of clothes, took some gifts that had been prepared in advance, and then went to the inner palace with Niu Guier.

At this time, there were also many imperial relatives queuing up near the Xuanwu Gate of the inner palace to enter the palace. Prince Ning, Prince Xue and their families were guided into the palace by trusted eunuchs such as Gao Lishi.

Since Consort Wu Hui was not yet the official head of the harem, and Zhang Dai was not considered a relative of her main family, they obediently lined up at the North Gate.

What brings Zhang Liu here?

He was standing in line when a slightly rough voice suddenly rang out from behind him. Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw a chubby-faced young man striding towards him. This young man was none other than Li Xia, the son of the Prince of Xin'an, who had previously served as the Prince of Qi's attendant and was the one who sang off-key.

"I was summoned to the palace to attend the banquet, and I presume Li Jiu was as well? Why are you here alone?"

Seeing that the procession ahead was moving slowly, Zhang Dai simply turned around and went to meet Li Xia, asking with a smile.

“My brother and I came together, and they met a friend on the way and stopped to chat. I came over first to see what was going on, and I found you!”

Having worked together as mourners for over a month, they had become quite familiar with each other. Li Xia stepped forward, put his arm around Zhang Dai's neck, and walked together to the foot of the palace wall. Then, with a complaining look on his face, he said, "We made a promise in Chang'an that we mourners would get together a few more times after we returned, but more than half a year has passed since we came back. I've heard so much about your achievements, but I haven't seen you anywhere! Is it because you've achieved success in the examinations and become famous that you look down on us fortunate fellow travelers?"

This lad is quite self-aware, knowing that being a pallbearer is a fortunate path. Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai smiled bitterly and said, "Since you've heard so much about my life, you should know that I've had very little free time since I returned home. I'm exhausted just dealing with the imperial examinations, so how could I have time to find friends and have fun!"

After the provincial examination next year, regardless of whether I pass or not, I will prepare a banquet at home and invite all my old friends to drink until we're completely drunk!

“This is the Zhang Liu I know! I’ve remembered what you said. I’ll spread the word for you in a few days. If you don’t ask, you’ll be sorry!” After saying this, Li Xia looked around again and then leaned closer to Zhang Dai and whispered, “I’ve heard about the dispute you had with the local officials in Qinghuafang and the poems you wrote mocking them.”

Originally, this was just a small matter. We spirited young men only fight over who is the best, and we will draw our swords against each other even for the slightest grudge. What's more, Zhang Liu, you only wrote a poem to mock him, and that poem was written with great spirit!
But those provincial candidates from the capital prefecture were all arrogant and haughty, each with a family background to boast about. They had the potential to enter officialdom through imperial favor, but instead, they insisted on using their literary and artistic talents to deceive the world and steal the quota of the poor scholars... Uh, Zhang Liu, although you also want to become a scholar, you do have real talent after all..."

Okay, you're better off not adding that sentence at all. I'm the real fraudster.

Zhang Dai thought to himself, and at the same time he couldn't help but feel deeply moved. Indeed, no matter what kind of group it is, it has its own sense of honor and moral integrity.

Even a member of the imperial family like Li Xia, who waits to become an official through family connections, looks down on those who rely on their family background and privileges to enter the relatively fair imperial examination track and squeeze out the quota of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). Isn't this a kind of code of honor even among thieves?

"In short, you should be more careful. Although you are talented and unafraid of people's difficulties in the arts, it is not only the arts that can block a person's future. I have heard from private gatherings with friends in the capital that some important figures dislike your arrogance."

Li Xia continued in a low voice, saying that he admired Zhang Dai's deeds and talent and considered him a friend. Therefore, when he heard some unfavorable opinions about Zhang Dai, he couldn't help but remind him.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai nodded, understanding the situation somewhat. "The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind." Regardless of whether he was truly talented, what he had shown far surpassed his peers, making it inevitable that he would attract attention.

High public attention inevitably attracts criticism. Moreover, his family's influence is currently declining, and targeting him personally with denigration and suppression could lead people to underestimate the Zhang family's future political potential and accelerate the decline of their camp.

His grandfather is currently at a disadvantage, yet he is still gathering his followers to prepare for a counterattack. How can other political forces that have gained the upper hand be unprepared for this?
Zhang Dai's path to the imperial examinations was destined to be more than just a test of talent; it was bound to be accompanied by various personnel disputes.

Because in essence, this is not his personal path to promotion, but rather the preservation of the embers and power of a political group that has been ousted from the decision-making level.

This was already evident in the previous prefectural examination. Although he overcame those obstacles with his amazing talent, he faced a different situation and rules at the provincial examination level.

Even in fantasy novels, new enemies and challenges appear when the map changes. Although his path to the imperial examination is not so obvious and direct, the inside story is even more complicated.

Take the situation Li Xia told me, for example. It was just some young people who didn't like each other and attacked each other, each spouting a few arrogant words. Even if Zhang Dai's two lines of poetry were a bit hurtful, it was still within the scope of a battle of egos. What was there to make a big shot pay attention to and comment on?
The reason is quite simple: some people in the court are unwilling to allow the factions of Prime Minister Du Xian and Zhang Shuo to merge closely, thus leading to new personnel changes.

While hype may not prevent them from cooperating, it can sow seeds of resentment between them. When faced with strong pressure and challenges, this resentment can develop into suspicion, estrangement, and conflict. This is why strategies to sow discord throughout history and across cultures have often been highly effective.

Li Xia may not be aware of the profound personnel connections involved, but even he can realize that these personnel situations may have a certain negative impact on Zhang Dai. It is conceivable that the important figures involved must be extraordinary, probably not just his grandfather's political enemies in the court.

Li Xia had come to warn him after hearing some rumors, which was already a favor. However, he didn't specify who the important person was, either because he didn't know much about it himself, or because the identities of those so-called important people were not something he could reveal.

If Zhang Dai pressed him further, it would put him in a difficult position. He wouldn't take advantage of others' kindness to act recklessly and without restraint, so after a moment's thought, he changed the subject and inquired about the recent situation of the other friends who were also serving as mourners.

As the two chatted idly, another group of people strode towards Xuanwu Gate. Leading the way was a middle-aged man in his fifties, dressed in a brocade robe. The man had a square face and an imposing demeanor, making him the center of attention in the crowd.

"Here I am!"

Upon seeing this, Li Xia muttered something and then quickly walked towards the group of people.

Upon hearing that the dignified middle-aged man was none other than Prince Xin'an, Li Yi, Zhang Dai felt a deep sense of respect. He and Li Xia hurriedly stepped forward to greet him, standing by the roadside and bowing respectfully to the approaching Prince Xin'an, saying, "I am Zhang Dai, and I have long admired the virtuous reputation of Your Majesty. It is a great honor to meet you today!"

(End of this chapter)