"Many thanks for Your Highness's favor, but this student is not talented and is afraid of delaying Your Highness's official business. Please find someone else."
At the banquet, when Yu Shu was faced with Liu Yi's invitation to the Twin Yang Society, she had tactfully declined because she had sensed the depth of the situation. Even though her attitude was respectful, her unhesitant refusal in front of everyone still hurt the young and spoiled Eleventh Prince's face. Most people saw Liu Yi's unfriendly expression and sat up straight, waiting to watch a good show.
Of those who were able to attend the banquet at the Princess' fu tonight, who did not know in their hearts that the Daozi, who had lived in seclusion since childhood, had suddenly returned to the capital. He was greatly favored by the Emperor and would inevitably gain some power in the future. Logically speaking, he should be the target that the princes who were about to leave the palace and start their own manors would fight to win over. However, it was rumored that the Ninth Prince, Liu Tan, had been cultivating in a Daoist sect deep in the mountains due to his illness these past few years and was in the same sect as this Daozi Jing Chen. There were also people who heard that Jing Chen had been staying in the palace to accompany the monarch these past few days. Every time he left the palace, he would travel with Liu Tan. From this, they knew that the rumors were not false and that the two were already close friends.
Although the princes who had originally wanted to win over Jing Chen were wringing their hands, most of them did not give up on the idea of befriending Jing Chen. Before they came, they had investigated this Daozi in detail, wanting to curry favor with him. However, they knew very little and were worried about where to start. When Ning Wang had mentioned that Yu Shu had once defeated Ji Xingxuan of the Grand Historian's Library in the art of Yi, they had all sent out invitations. It was all because they valued the relationship between Yu Shu and Jing Chen and wanted to use her to get close to Jing Chen.
Otherwise, with just a nameless minor character like Yu Shu, even with a few 'good words' from Ning Wang and Liu Hao, these shrewd geniuses would not treat her differently.
Just now, when Liu Yi had snatched the initiative, the people at the banquet were dissatisfied, but because of some fear, they could not say anything. Who would have thought that this little examinee would dare to not buy Liu Yi's words and throw away Liu Yi's face? If it was someone else, perhaps they would have given face to the host of the banquet and not bicker with Yu Shu. But the one who had been rejected was Liu Yi. How could he be someone who would swallow insults?
As expected, Liu Yi slammed the wine cup in his hand down heavily on the table, making a 'peng' sound. He turned to look at Yu Shu and coldly said, "You are full of empty words. You are a woman. If you do not have any outstanding abilities, how could you have escorted Daozi safely back to the capital? I heard that Daozi had met with danger on the way and was only able to escape because of your rescue. Imperial Father had issued an edict to reward you. Now that I am inviting you to the Twin Yang Association, you are saying that you do not have the ability to do so. Could it be that the matter of you escorting Daozi is false? Could it be that you are deceiving the Emperor?"
As he said the last few words, Liu Yi's eyes shone with a murderous light. He did not care about Jing Chen, the host, and directly attacked Yu Shu!
Jing Chen frowned. Seeing Liu Yi's aggressive attitude towards Yu Shu, he was about to say something when Shui Yun, who was sitting next to him, touched his elbow under the table. He couldn't help but turn his head to look at her. In this moment of distraction, Yu Shu had already respectfully bowed in the direction of the distant Imperial City and left without waiting for anyone else. She said, "This commoner is terrified. To be able to assist Daozi on the way to the capital was due to luck. I do not dare to claim credit for this. However, His Majesty is benevolent and generous and bestowed a reward. If Your Highness has any doubts, then … "
She raised her head and looked at Liu Yi with a cautious attitude. Half of her face was respectful and the other half was embarrassed to speak. There was also a trace of craftiness hidden in her eyes. She stammered, "That, that is not something this commoner dares to casually discuss."
Liu Yi had used the Emperor's favor to find fault. Yu Shu did not stop him. If he wanted to find fault, then let him. As long as he had the guts to question his Emperor, if he said that she was deceiving the Emperor, then he would undoubtedly be offending his superior!
This move of borrowing force to attack force, Yu Shu could not be said to be lacking in eloquence. Just looking at Liu Yi's frozen expression, it could be seen.
Everyone present heard Yu Shu's words and couldn't help whispering. Liu Yi's expression was dark and he was momentarily speechless. He glanced sideways at Ning Wang, Liu Hao, who was sitting on his left. Liu Hao did not even look at him and did not speak up for him. He minded his own business and drank as if the person who had just started this matter was not him.
Liu Yi did not speak, so Yu Shu could only brace herself and stand. She had just offended an imperial prince. Although she could handle it, she was actually very nervous.
She, this fake ancient person, did not have much respect for the Imperial Family, but she would not think that she, a commoner, would be able to challenge an imperial prince. Before coming to the banquet, she had done a divination for herself and knew that tonight would not be smooth sailing. She needed to be accompanied by a noble person in order to be safe from danger.
Yu Shu's eyes slanted and she glanced at the youth sitting beside her. Coincidentally, that person's gaze also turned over and their eyes met.
Xue Rui held the exquisite and small magnolia wine cup in his hand. Because he was sitting close to her, he was able to see the minute changes on Yu Shu's face more clearly than the others. He saw the shrewdness in the depths of her eyes. Earlier, when he heard about the invitation to her, he was still a little gloomy. Now that he shook the clear wine in his cup, his face became handsome again in the blink of an eye.
"Since she has no intention of accepting the invitation, there is no need for Your Highness to force her. If we continue to pursue this matter, it will be unbecoming of us. After all, tonight is a banquet to welcome Daozi. It is not good to get angry." Xue Rui spoke amidst the whispers around him. This attracted everyone's attention. They all thought that Eldest Young Master Xue was going to speak up to smooth things over. They all stopped their discussions to see Liu Yi's reaction. " Liu Yi looked at Xue Rui's smiling face and did not dare to act up. He said in a strange tone, "Why would I lower myself to the same level as this unruly commoner?"
Xue Rui smiled and turned to signal to Yu Shu, who was still bowing with her head bowed. "There is no need to stand. Sit down."
Yu Shu understood and did not foolishly sit down. Instead, she bowed to Liu Yi, regardless of whether he paid her any attention. "This commoner has been rude. Many thanks for Your Highness's forgiveness."
After she finished speaking, she sat down. When she raised her head, she saw Jing Chen, who was sitting far away, looking at her with a worried expression. She secretly winked at him, indicating that she was fine.
After calming the small disturbance at the banquet, Xue Rui cleared his throat and said, "It is rare for us to gather together. On such a good occasion, why don't we talk about some interesting things?"
Prince Xiang's heir, Liu Jiong, and Xue Rui were cousins. The two of them had always been good friends. When he heard Liu Jiong's voice, Liu Jiong grinned and continued, "This Anling City is only so big. Throughout the year, there are only a few interesting things. Everyone's ears are tired of hearing it. Since Brother Rui said this, you must have something interesting to talk about. Don't keep us in suspense. Quickly tell us."
Xue Rui shook his head and declined, saying, "You know that I am currently working in the yamen and do not go to the teahouses and restaurants much. How can I have anything interesting to talk about. If I want to talk about it, I can only talk about some cases. It is boring to talk about, so it is better not to talk about it."
Unexpectedly, Liu Jiong became spirited and said with great interest, "Don't, don't. Just talk about cases. I like to listen to this. You are afraid that we will be bored. Do you not know how to pick strange and strange things to talk about? For example, unjust and false cases. Is there any? "
Xue Rui pretended to think and said in a low voice, "There really is a case that can be brought up to talk about. However, it is not a case in Jing City. It is in Gan Province, outside of Bai Li City."
"Official Xue is really well-informed. You can know about the matters in Gan Province just by sitting in Anling." Ning Wang suddenly interrupted with a laugh.
Xue Rui paused, as if he did not hear this joke. Seeing that everyone at the table was waiting with interest to listen to him, he continued, "A few days ago, the Supreme Court received an edict to sort out the old cases in the treasury. Two colleagues and I accepted this task. After several days of investigation, we really did discover a few cases that had no beginning or end. Among them, there was a strange case that came from Gan Province. "
The case that Xue Rui was talking about happened in the early winter two years ago. In a city in Gan Province, there was a merchant family with the surname Wang. In one night, nineteen people in the residence were all murdered. All of them were killed with their throats slit with a sharp weapon. There was not a single chicken or dog left in the residence. It was such a shocking and tragic case of family extermination that the yamen investigated for three months without any clues. In the end, they could only report it to the Supreme Court and hastily close the case.
"… From the case files, when the nineteen people of the Wang family were murdered, most of them died on their beds. They lost their lives in their sleep and did not even have the chance to struggle. Not a single cat or dog in the residence was spared. They were all dead.
If it was robbery, there was not a penny missing from the family. If it was revenge, Old Master Wang was a kind person and close to the villagers. He did not have any enemies. From anyone's point of view, the annihilation of the Wang family in one night was an undeserved calamity. After half a year, the yamen's investigation was fruitless. Unfortunately, the murderer is still at large. "
Xue Rui finished narrating the case in detail. He ordered the servants behind him to refill the wine and tea. He sighed lightly and did not speak anymore, leaving everyone to speculate and discuss.
Ning Wang silently tightened his grip on the wine cup in his hand. He expressionlessly swept across Xue Rui's cultured face and a thread of wariness appeared in his heart.
Yu Shu saw that the attention of the crowd had shifted away from her. She finally turned her stiff neck and wiped away the sweat at the tip of her nose. She poured herself a cup of thick wine and slowly drank it. It was so spicy that she narrowed her eyes. She felt much better and was about to take another cup when the place where the wine pot had been placed had been replaced by a purple silk teapot. When she touched it, there was a layer of heat that burned her fingertips.
She stared at the teapot that had appeared out of nowhere for a moment and her brows gradually relaxed.
Just as Yu Shu was sipping on a cup of hot tea, Princess Xi Wen, who was at the same table, was looking at her and secretly gritting her teeth. The two of them had quarreled during the Lantern Festival. This little princess of the Xiang Wang fu was also on good terms with Ji Xingxuan and naturally could not bear to see her live a good life.
Not long after, the imperial edict was delivered. Following the loud announcement outside the door, a group of eunuchs and servants from the palace rushed into the banquet hall. The person at the front was holding a bright yellow banner. Everyone stood up. Jing Chen and the princes left their seats and went forward to kneel to listen to the edict.
"The late Emperor's eldest daughter, Princess Lu Yue, was filial and kind, virtuous and wise. When she was on her deathbed, she entrusted her only son with her mother's wish and sent him to cultivate in seclusion. He worshipped the Three Pure Ones for more than ten years. Today, he has returned. Zhen will take good care of him and announce it to the world. He will be conferred the title of Daozi and be bestowed the name Zhuo Ran. All officials below the fifth rank must bow when they see him. His salary is equal to that of a prince's heir. Moreover, he is specially permitted to walk in the front court.
This imperial edict was voluminous and clear. It was to rectify Jing Chen's name, confer a title and announce it to the world. It was enough to show the Emperor's love for him.
The sound of the imperial edict was still echoing in the richly ornamented beams and painted rafters. For a moment, the minds of everyone at the banquet were spinning. Looking at the tall white figure who received the imperial edict, some were shocked, some were envious, and some were flattering.
After Jing Chen had received the imperial edict, the people from the palace left. Following that, a group of guests swarmed forward and surrounded Jing Chen, congratulating him generously.
In the distance, Yu Shu stood behind the crowd and looked at Jing Chen, who was surrounded by people and was getting further and further away from her. Not only did she feel a sense of loss, but she also felt a sense of worry.
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