Her guards

Chapter 184 People in front of the palace gate

On the eighteenth day of the second month, just as dawn broke, Marquis Yichun changed into new clothes, and his maids surrounded him, carefully tidying up his clothes and hair.

Chai Yuan examined the new clothes and nodded in satisfaction: "The new clothes that the Empress ordered the weavers to make for Father look even more dashing."

Marquis Yichun waved his hand to dismiss the maids: "Have you checked the details of the banquet?"

Even at royal banquets, when it comes to food and travel, Marquis Yichun is very careful.

Chai Yuan nodded: "We have arranged for trusted people to handle the imperial cuisine. Your meals are specially prepared for you, Father. However, we haven't found out what His Majesty has arranged for your birthday gift. He even kept it from the Empress, saying it was a surprise and that it was packed in a large cabinet."

He lowered his voice as he said this.

"Should we try to open it and take a look?"

Marquis Yichun smiled and waved his hand: "No need. It's a joyous occasion; let His Majesty be happy." He then asked, "What about the Duke of Ding'an..."

Chai Yuan said, "He sent someone back to say that he had persuaded that lowly maid to attend the banquet. As for the rest, he said he knew and that we would arrange everything." He then snorted coldly, "If you ask me, there's no need to tell him. He wouldn't dare disobey us when we ask."

"It's something that's good for everyone," said Marquis Yichun. "Let's tell him, so we can share the joy."

After saying this, he put on his hat and examined himself in the bronze mirror for a moment.

"Okay, let's go."

Chai Yuan hurriedly stepped forward to open the door. Outside, Old Madam Chai and a group of her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren were lined up waiting. When they saw Marquis Yichun come out, they all offered their congratulations.

"May Your Excellency enjoy boundless happiness and longevity."

Marquis Yichun accepted the greeting with a smile.

Three more eunuchs approached with smiles, bowed respectfully, and then invited them in.

"My lord, please get in the carriage. His Majesty and the Empress are waiting in the palace."

Marquis Yichun nodded and boarded the magnificent carriage outside the Marquis's residence with his wife. Guards cleared the way, eunuchs surrounded them, and family members followed. The grand procession headed towards the imperial city amidst the crowds watching from the streets.

The area in front of the imperial city gate was bustling with carriages and horses.

Although the emperor held a birthday banquet for the Marquis of Yichun under the guise of a family banquet, which was opposed and resisted by officials such as the censors, many officials, in addition to imperial relatives, still brought their children and family members to attend the banquet.

After all, most of the civil and military officials had fought alongside Marquis Yichun. Some were comrades, old friends, or relatives by marriage; some had received favors from Marquis Yichun; and others wanted to curry favor with him.

Zhu Yunxiao is probably a different case. There was a grudge between them, but this time he came to resolve it, so it's not surprising that everyone saw him.

"That's right." Several familiar officials said earnestly, "Don't let those little things really create distance between you. The future of the Marquis of Yongwu depends entirely on you."

After all, the next emperor was the grandson of the Chai family.

Zhu Yunxiao listened to their conversation with a smile when he suddenly noticed a group of young ladies getting off the bus.

He knew that the princess's companions had also been invited, but he didn't care. What he cared about was that Miss Yang was no longer a companion, and as for Jiang Rui, she was staying home to recover from her illness. As the thought crossed his mind, he was about to look away when he suddenly saw a familiar figure among the group of companions.

How can this be?

Zhu Yunxiao's usually calm face showed surprise.

……

……

"Ah Rui!"

Hearing the call, Jiang Rui turned her head and saw Zhu Yunxiao striding over.

The girls who were accompanying the students around them smiled and made way.

Jiang Rui smiled at Zhu Yunxiao and said, "Yunxiao, you've arrived."

Of course he was going to come, but why was she coming? And he didn't even know.

Zhu Yunxiao frowned at her: "Why are you here? Weren't you sick? Didn't I tell you not to go out?"

Just as Jiang Rui was about to say something, a female voice came from behind her.

"Miss Jiang is much better. She specifically went to see a doctor, who said she can go out and that going out for walks will help her recover."

Zhu Yunxiao walked past Jiang Rui and saw a somewhat unfamiliar girl standing behind her...

“This is Liu Chan,” Jiang Rui said to Zhu Yunxiao, then looked at Zhu Yunxiao again, “Don’t worry, I’ve asked the doctor.”

This isn't about whether or not to ask a doctor; it's that she actually ignored him...

Zhu Yunxiao looked at Jiang Rui: "Rui, in this kind of situation..."

Jiang Rui grabbed his arm and interrupted him softly, "Since the princess has invited me, I cannot refuse because of my own affairs. Since I have taken the exam to become a companion, I must live up to this responsibility."

Zhu Yunxiao swallowed back what he was about to say. Now that the person had arrived, it was impossible to persuade them to go back.

"Then take care of yourself," he said softly. "If you feel unwell, don't push yourself. Have someone come and get me immediately."

Jiang Rui nodded: "I know."

Liu Chan, standing behind her, spoke again: "Miss Jiang, let's go quickly." The young ladies-in-waiting did not come with their families; they were led and looked after separately by eunuchs arranged by Princess Heisei.

Seeing that the eunuchs had arrived and the young ladies-in-waiting were heading in that direction, Zhu Yunxiao smiled at Jiang Rui and said, "Go ahead."

He stood there watching Jiang Rui leave, his eyes growing heavy.

How did Jiang Rui manage to break free from his plans?
Did she really come on her own?

Jiang Rui turned around to look for Zhu Yunxiao, but before she could see him clearly, she was pulled back by the voice of the person next to her.

"How was it? Did you speak as I instructed? Prince Zhu won't blame you or insist that you go back, right?"

Jiang Rui turned her gaze to the girl beside her, Liu Chan.

“Right, if you say you came because you were worried that the young master and the Marquis of Yichun would clash at the banquet and that the young master would be troubled by rumors, then the young master would definitely be worried and guilty. Even if he didn’t attend the banquet, he would still send you back.” Liu Chan continued, “But if you say it’s because you can’t refuse due to your own affairs, then he won’t be able to say anything.”

He smiled after saying that.

"After all, the Crown Prince has been so good to you, and he doesn't want you to be put in a difficult position in front of the Princess."

Yes, Yunxiao is indeed like that. He considers her in everything he does and is most afraid that she will worry about him. Jiang Rui nodded: "Thank you for reminding me. Otherwise, I would still be stuck at home, unable to do anything."

Now that she's out there, she can defend Yunxiao when people criticize her.

Liu Chan is right. Besides not letting Yunxiao worry, she should also take the initiative to relieve his worries.

She looked at the girl beside her, gratitude appearing on her usually cold and indifferent face.

Liu Chan chuckled, a hint of trepidation in her voice: "Miss Arui, please don't be so polite. I also have my own reasons. This is my first time entering the capital. Now that Miss Yang and her maid are no longer with us, I'm quite scared on my own. With you here, I feel more at ease."

After saying that, he took Jiang Rui's arm.

"Miss Arui, I must follow you tonight."

Although Zhen Liuchan also came from a humble family in another place, her temperament was much better than that of the maid Asheng and the somewhat unpredictable Miss Yang.

Jiang Rui nodded with a smile and squeezed Liu Chan's hand: "Don't worry, you can stay with me."

The two chatted and laughed as they followed the other young ladies-in-waiting. Just as they were about to pass through the palace gate, a commotion arose behind them, as if countless people and horses were rushing towards them.

Has the Marquis of Yichun arrived?
Everyone turned to look and saw a procession of embroidered-clad figures approaching in black, which dispersed the chaotic carriages and horses in front of the palace gate.

It is an embroidered garment.

Wei Jiao is here too?
The women in embroidered robes parted at the palace gate, revealing the carriages behind them.

At the same time, the palace attendants in front of the palace gates all rushed toward the carriages and horses.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a maidservant got out first, followed by a beautifully dressed young woman.

The surroundings fell silent for a moment, then a low murmur arose.

The girls accompanying the students had complicated and somewhat amusing expressions.

They were familiar with this scene; Miss Yang had arrived from the imperial palace in a similarly exaggerated manner.

Although she no longer lived in the imperial palace and no longer had royal carriages, she actually used embroidered clothes again.

"She's really daring," one of the companions whispered.

But then a low voice came from my ear.

"...Your Majesty really allows it."

Your Majesty, is permission granted? The companion girls subconsciously looked to the side. The speaker was also a familiar face; it was Qin Ying, who had participated in the companion girl selection process with them.

Qin Ying looked at Miss Yang who was walking over with sparkling eyes.

"Without His Majesty's permission, how could she have done this..." she murmured, "and even have Wei Jiao as her guard..."

Wei Jiao and the accompanying girls looked over there again and saw another person getting off the car. He was tall and slender, dressed in black embroidered clothes, with a fair and radiant face.

It was Wei Jiao, whom we hadn't seen in a long time.

Miss Yang walked slowly with her maid in front of the palace gate, led by eunuchs on both sides, with Wei Jiao following behind...

"She looks like a princess," Qin Ying murmured.

These words reached everyone's ears, and they were all stunned once again.

It really does look alike.

Moreover, she was no ordinary princess, because Wei Jiao did not pay attention to other princesses, except for Princess Heisei.

The Marquis of Yichun's carriage stopped not far away, watching this scene in front of the palace gate.

He gave a soft, cold snort and lowered the carriage curtain.

(End of this chapter)