章 63: Chapter 20 Rise fast like a magical horse
fēi huáng téng dá to achieve meteoric success in one's career
Days in the Xue Kingdom passed on unpeacefully for some households. High-ranking ministers were captured in broad daylight and sentenced. Some were beheaded due to evidences of corruption and some had their entire household of 9 generations become commoners and banished to the borders. This was equivalent to sending them to the death's door, as the borders at the time was a perilous area, filled with bandits, Cai soldiers, and deadly plague.
One of such powerful family that fell to the bad predicament was the previous arrogant Right Minister, father of Lin Concubine, grandfather of the royal 10th prince, and father to an inept son, the previous governor of Peace Swallow City. It was due to such a son that had caused the downfall of the family, an established native East tribal family who gave up military and adopted literary. When the previous Right Minister found out about their son's abscondment of Peace Swallow City, it was already too late.
Lin Concubine had knelt in front of the emperor's palace for the entire night and day when she received news of her father's imprisonment. She had kept her son, the 10th prince, within her palace, when the latter wanted to begged for leniency towards his maternal family. Lin Concubine worried the emperor's disdain towards her entire family would implicate her son. Not only he would lose the chance to become crown prince, he might also lose his royal prince status.
That next morning, Xue Emperor would only tell the attendants to bring unconscious Lin Concubine back to her palace, and went to his morning court as usual. It was declared that the previous governor of Peace Swallow Town had done a treasonous act and sentenced to beheading, the Right Minister, due to his loyalty to the kingdom, was pardoned from death and would be common civilians banished to the borders. Lin Concubine, daughter of Right Minister, would be sent to the monastery to pray for the welfare of the country.
Then it was announced, Yan YiZi, a previous top scorer for literary exams, had proved his capabilities of handling the distribution of medical herbs to arrive at the Peace Swallow Town in a timely manner, would be promoted to become the next Right Minister, and assist the government.
The announcement had surprised many officials, including Yan YiZi himself.
Yan YiZi, even though a minor official, had kept a low profile and never bootlicked other more influential officials to further his own career. Even when the royal family called him to the palace to thank him and his daughter, Yan ZhiRuo, years ago for saving the 9th prince, Yan YiZi did not dare to ask for more and only asked to stay back in the countryside to help the residents.
In the end, Yan ZhiRuo was given a ladyship title. Even though it was the lowest title, it was still considered a privilege and was above a commoner, causing envy amongst those who eyed their family closely.
Yan YiZi had carefully trudged the political circle to secure safety for his own family, slowly rising ranks and into the inner palace. This sudden shot to prominence rendered Yan YiZi to be without words, until another official had to nudge him, before he woke from his stupor and knelt to thank the emperor of the bestowment and that he would do his upmost not to disappoint the emperor.
"Husband, we have received many boxes from many households, some even sent matchmakers for Ruo-er," Yan YiZi's wife said incredulously, pointing at crates, which their housekeeper was busy in recording them down.
Yan YiZi had just stepped into his residence, for his wife to grab unto him to lead him into the inner manor to sit, while she poured him a cup of tea and told him, which households had done what.
The tired Yan YiZi merely smiled and patted her hand, while he listened to her. It could be seen that Yan YiZi had a good relationship with his wife and he gave a mysterious small smile towards her when the housekeeper rushed into the manor to announce the eunuch's arrival.
All the family members and workers of Yan YiZi's household came out in proper attire and knelt down at the eunuch carrying the royal missive. The eunuch announced Yan YiZi's new official title as Xue Kingdom's Right Minister and they were awarded with money, and a new residence to move into, nearer to the palace.
After the eunuch left, the newly minted Yan Right Minister laughed at his wife and daughter, Yan ZhiRou, confused faces. "That was how this minister felt in the palace too!"
Within the Dugu Empress palace, 1st prince, Xue ShiZheng, and the 4th princess, Xue ShiYan, were seated together with their royal mother, having lunch.
"Mother, Yan YiZi was known to be an honest and staunch in character, do you think you have made the right choice choosing him to take over old Lin Right Minister seat?" the 19 year old 1st prince Xue ShiZheng, placed his royal mother's favourite steamed fish, which he had carefully picked the bones out, onto her bowl.
Dugu empress smiled, and looked at the 3rd princess, who had turned 12 and was like a pretty flower, bending her head, trying to pick bones with her chopstick. The 3rd princess had always looked up at her eldest brother, so when 1st prince Xue ShiZheng had gave their mother fish, she also want to follow suit and pick bones for her mother. Their family hardly had much of these intimate meals together and 3rd Princess Xue ShiYan really treasure the time together.
"No matter how upright they are, once they know the meaning of power, the more they are scared of losing what they have. You just have to know how to hold on to their weaknesses." Dugu empress elegantly take few grains of rice to put into her mouth and slowly munch her food.
"Announcing the emperor's arrival," a not-so feminine voice piped outside Dugu palace and the residents within stood up to greet the emperor.
"FuHuang (Emperor father) you have worked so hard lately, have you eaten lunch? We just started our lunch, why don't we eat together?" 3rd Princess Xue ShiYan sweetly asked her royal father and looked at him expectantly.
Emperor Xue RenGui was well known to be tough on his sons and doted on his daughters, he broke into a rare smile, looking at his filial daughter, and took a seat on the table. A new bowl, chopsticks and more warm food were sent into the empress palace to accommodate the emperor. The emperor gestured for the attendants to leave the room, while he and his small family continued their lunch.
3rd Princess Xue ShiYan gave the fish meat that she had finally picked finish the bones, and placed in in her father's bowl, earning her a soft pat on head.
Holding her silk handkerchief to cover her moving lips, Dugu empress spoke to her earnest daughter, "Yan-er, Yan YiZi has a daughter your age. Since mother had cancelled the previous banquet, this time mother will make a small gathering for the ladies to bring their children to show their talents, to make up for the previous cancelled banquet, why don't you see how Yan YiZi's daughter, Lady ZhiRou, is?"
Both father and son looked up at Dugu empress, but both did not say anything, back palace matters were solely the empress matters. 1st prince Xue ShiZheng was already 19 and yet Dugu empress had yet to betroth him an official wife, both father and son were perplexed if she chose a 12year old girl to match her son, he would have to wait till she turn 15.
By that time, 1st prince will be at an old age of 22 for him to welcome his official wife into his palace as his WangFei. Emperor Xue RenGui and Dugu empress themselves were married when he was 19 and her at 16.
While the happy family were thinking about double happiness, another set of mother and sons, were discussing their own happy news.
"So, it's true that 9th brother is going to be sent to Sheng kingdom. I wonder why not send 1st brother for such an important occasion? Or I actually would volunteer to go, so I can also see how Sheng Kingdom is like." 7th prince Xue ShiHuan thoughtfully said.
"I'm not sure if I should applause for your stupidity. To go through Sheng, you still have to spend few days in Peace Swallow city. That is one place that we should avoid." His elder brother, 4th prince, popped a grape into his mouth and spat the seeds into a small bowl.
"Even though he survives the disease, who knows he maybe scarred physically, now that will be a sight I can't wait to see!" 4th prince, Xue ShiKuang laughed thinking Xue ShiMing marring his pretty face.
"Huan-er, I'm sure there would be a chance for you to become an emissary to visit Sheng one day, and if you want experience to lead people, you can visit your grandfather up south, there you can train with the soldiers, and hone your skills. Both of you are brothers and should work together. Your grandfather is getting old now, and none of your cousins are as capable as both of you. In future, one of you should wield military might to support each other."
Unfortunately for Ru concubine, the saying 'blood is thicker than water' did not apply for royal families.
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