Her guards

Chapter 154 News from Before the New Year

The Ji Ying case made the Lunar New Year lively, but for many families, these matters were not important, as they were none of their business.

Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, a noisy commotion arose from the Jiang family's courtyard.

"Something's not right about the price of the drinks."

"This is the wine used for sacrificial rites to the ancestors of the Jiang family! I know best what the Jiang family likes to drink! This is the kind we have to buy! That's why it's so expensive!"

"Heavens above, ancestors, look at this! We've done our utmost for the Jiang family, but they only care about their own money and think we're greedy—"

“Sister-in-law, the Marquis of Yongwu’s marriage to Arui is only due to the marriage agreement. Even if you send all the money of the Jiang family as a dowry, they will not look up to our Jiang family.”

"Don't you dare bully my mother! Take this!"

"Hey, you little brat! Get out of here—you're as good as water spilled out sooner or later! What do you have to do with my Jiang family!"

"A-Meng—"

"Her second uncle and second aunt, stop making a scene! We won't check the accounts anymore, just take them away!"

Zhu Yunxiao stood outside the Jiang family's gate. The tall courtyard wall and heavy gate could not block out the noise coming from inside. He looked up at the two characters "威武" (majestic) bestowed by the emperor on the plaque, which looked somewhat dim, perhaps because the paint had been forgotten to be repainted this year.

A hint of mockery flashed across Zhu Yunxiao's lips.

"Prince Zhu has arrived."

A greeting came from behind me.

The Jiang family's residence was bestowed by the emperor, and the surrounding families were all wealthy and noble.

Zhu Yunxiao turned around, lowered his eyes, and bowed to the neighbors who came out to hang peach charms on both sides: "Please bear with me and take good care of me."

The neighbors returned the greetings one after another: "Young Master," "How is Your Excellency?" "Congratulations on your promotion, Young Master." "Like father, like son."

The laughter drowned out the noise inside until the door was opened.

"Uncle."

The doorman smiled obsequiously.

Inside, Jiang Rui was also rushing over.

"Why did you come at this time?" she asked, forcing a smile.

"I can't spend the New Year at home this year, so I came back today to visit, and I'll leave tomorrow," Zhu Yunxiao said, gesturing to the servants behind him. "My mother asked me to send some New Year's gifts."

Jiang Rui quickly replied, "Auntie already sent it over earlier."

Zhu Yunxiao smiled: "Who said you can't give it twice?" He then lowered his voice, "These are clothes and jewelry specially for you and A-Meng for the New Year."

Jiang Rui looked at him, her eyes red, her expression a mixture of grievance and gratitude.

Zhu Yunxiao stopped her from speaking and went inside with her. The gatekeeper and the servants hiding in the courtyard rushed to receive the gifts, but were driven away by Zhu Yunxiao's servants...

The neighbors outside watched this scene with expressions of envy and regret.

"What a fine prince."

"Miss Jiang is so lucky. She lost her father, but she has a good husband."

"Once you get married, Miss Jiang will be able to escape this quagmire and live a good life."

……

.......
Zhu Yunxiao sat in the hall of the Jiang family's house, took the tea but did not drink it, only held it in his hand.

Because Jiang's mother was so angry that she fainted, and she didn't want to force herself to see Zhu Yunxiao, she asked Jiang Rui to entertain him.

Jiang Rui didn't want to keep talking to Zhu Yunxiao about her family troubles, but she knew Yunxiao would care. However, she rarely went out, so she didn't have anything to talk about. Luckily, she suddenly remembered what happened at Qin Ying Restaurant earlier...

“I remembered your instructions to testify for that Miss Yang,” she said. “But then the big incident in Jiying happened, and no one cared about this little thing anymore. Let’s just let it go.”

Zhu Yunxiao smiled, nodded, then shook his head: "This matter..."

He was about to say something, but then stopped.

"...Not necessarily, let's see after the New Year, but it shouldn't be anything serious."

He chuckled again at this point.

Looking pleased, Jiang Rui breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to say something, the steward rushed in from outside: "Miss, news has just arrived from the palace that this year's palace banquet has been cancelled."

The palace banquet has been cancelled?
Jiang Rui stood up, looking surprised.

Since the new emperor ascended the throne, he has held a banquet every January. Officials of rank and their wives, along with their children, would enter the palace on that day to attend the banquet and enjoy the festivities with the emperor and empress.

The Jiang family was also qualified to enter the palace, and the emperor would specially invite the Jiang family mother and daughter to come forward and greet them.

This was also one of the few opportunities that Jiang and her daughter had to meet with the emperor.

"They said they wouldn't be hosting a banquet in the palace this year, but would instead hold a martial arts banquet at the imperial hunting grounds. Because it's a martial arts event, only imperial relatives and designated civil and military officials are allowed to attend, along with their sons and nephews."

A martial arts banquet?
Jiang Rui looked at Zhu Yunxiao.

Zhu Yunxiao nodded slightly: "The army did receive the news last night, which is why they won't be coming back for the New Year this year; they need to prepare to protect the emperor."

In that case, the women don't need to go.

Jiang Rui thought to herself, although the Jiang family were military families, she and her sister were both daughters...

"That's good. You and your aunt can rest now and don't need to go to the palace for social engagements," Zhu Yunxiao said.

The annual palace banquet was also a torment for her mother. Seeing other families with many children and grandchildren always saddened her. Jiang Rui nodded and agreed.

Zhu Yunxiao didn't linger and took his leave. As he reached the door, he heard the voices of Jiang's second uncle and aunt behind him.

"Heavens! They're not even qualified to attend a palace banquet?"

"If we don't attend the palace banquet, our Jiang family will be forgotten by the emperor sooner or later!"

"Why don't you ask your good son-in-law to help you out and take you with him?"

Hearing the commotion behind her, Jiang Rui blushed and gestured to Zhu Yunxiao, "You should go back first."

The door was closed, shutting out the noise inside.

Zhu Yunxiao spurred his horse and left the Jiang family's residence without looking back.

The messenger who delivered the message last night said that the emperor was very angry because of the rampant bandits in Baima Town, so he wanted to use martial arts drills to urge everyone to fulfill their duties and not to be negligent or lax.

After the White Horse Town incident, there was much discussion in the city and among the army.

He finally gleaned some information from these discussions.

The previous speculations have finally been answered.

Zhu Yunxiao looked ahead and saw the Yang family's young lady, the one who was dead and the one who was alive; indeed, their identities were extraordinary.

……

.......
"That's wonderful! It's so good that we're not holding a palace banquet!"

Duke Ding'an clapped his hands in delight.

The Duke of Ding'an was neither a military general nor a member of the imperial family. Moreover, the emperor would not have specifically designated him to attend this time. To be precise, he felt that the reason for not holding a palace banquet and instead holding a martial arts banquet was to specifically prevent him from attending.

“Now we don’t have to bring our children to the palace, and His Majesty won’t have to see her whom he doesn’t want to see.”

Lady Ding'an had guessed it too; in fact, the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree even deliberately revealed that it was the Empress's suggestion.

The Empress did not want to see them, and even less did she want to see Yang Luo, so she absolutely forbade them from entering the imperial city.

Lady Ding'an couldn't help but sigh, feeling somewhat aggrieved.

She's been secluded for so long, it's almost like she's practicing asceticism in a temple.

Everything else is fine, but I really want to go to the palace banquet.

Yang Hui had been waiting for a while.

As a result, this news came in the last two days of the Lunar New Year holiday.

“Even if we were to hold a palace banquet,” she couldn’t help but say, “we wouldn’t bring Yang Luo along.”

"You think you can just decide not to bring her?" Duke Ding'an glared. "Don't forget she's the princess's companion and also the disciple of the chief priest. What if that girl makes a scene..."

Ever since Yang Luo entered our home, countless unexpected things have happened.

It's still safer if His Majesty's word is law and no one else goes.

Ding'an Gong patted his chest and leaned back in his chair: "Now I can have a peaceful New Year."

He had barely finished speaking when a steward stumbled in, crying, "My lord—it's terrible—Embroidered Robe is here—"

What? What are they doing here? Has the Emperor finally decided to get rid of them? The Duke of Ding'an hurriedly got up and almost fell. A clear voice came from outside the hall, followed by the steward.

"My lord, don't be afraid, it's not something we've confiscated."

Wei Jiao, dressed in flowing black robes, walked in with a smile, then glared at the butler.

"Did I come here just to confiscate your property? Don't forget, I'm also a relative of yours."

"Relatives??" The Duke and Duchess of Ding'an stared wide-eyed at the handsome young man before them. What relatives? Where did these relatives come from?
“Your Yang Luo is my junior sister,” Wei Jiao said with a smile. “My junior sister’s uncle is also my uncle.”

He exclaimed "Oh dear!"

"I'm sorry, I forgot to bring gifts for my uncle and aunt when I visited during the holidays."

As he spoke, he turned to ask the row of embroidered figures already standing in the hall.

"Whose house did they raid recently? What good stuff did they find? Bring it to Duke Ding'an, no, my uncle and aunt, and present it to them."

The Duke of Ding'an and his wife turned red in the face, and their ears were ringing.

This is terrifying! What is all this nonsense? It's definitely not something a normal person would say!

That madman!
"Commander, please stop joking," the Duke of Ding'an stammered. "But what are His Majesty's orders?"

Wei Jiao sat down directly in the main seat: "I am not here on His Majesty's behalf today, but to run an errand for my teacher and deliver some good news to my junior sister."

teacher?

The chief priest?

That must be about studies. Duke Ding'an breathed a sigh of relief. It was about reading and writing. Good, good. It would be more peaceful to read and write at home behind closed doors.

"What is it...?" he asked hastily.

Wei Jiao looked at him and smiled slightly: "Please invite Junior Sister to His Majesty's martial arts banquet at the imperial palace this year."

Attend the martial arts banquet.

Duke Ding'an couldn't catch his breath.

Help!

(End of this chapter)