Chapter 567: Su Da’s Engagement Banquet

Chapter 567: Su Da's Engagement Banquet

The Mid-Autumn Festival passed swiftly in three days, and immediately after, Su Da's engagement banquet followed.

Today, the eighteenth of August, was chosen as an auspicious even-numbered day for betrothal. The morning autumn breeze carried the rich fragrance of the season, lifting spirits and drawing an irrepressible smile, crinkling the corners of the eyes.

The mood was one of boundless joy.

Even the weather was perfect—blue skies dotted with white clouds, blending seamlessly into the newly risen sun, creating a dazzling backdrop.

Early in the morning, General Su personally led his sons and grandsons to the Liu residence to formalize Su Da’s marriage proposal.

Su Rao and Yun Ji, Su Rao’s intended, also joined them.

After all, this was the betrothal banquet of Su Rao's eldest brother, a major life event—Su Rao naturally had to be present to offer her blessings.

As for Yun Ji, though their marriage wasn’t yet official, the Su family already treated him like family. It was only fitting that he attend as well.

This time, when visiting the Liu residence, Yun Ji did not hide his identity. Su Rao insisted he appear openly before the people of Yun County. Whether anyone recognized him as Prince Yun Ji or not, it didn’t matter—she wanted him to stand proudly beside her in the sunlight.

The procession processed in grandeur, more magnificent than even a formal wedding entourage. They arrived at the Liu residence by the end of the morning, and by mid-morning, the ceremonial "Presenting the Wild Goose" ritual took place.

The wild geese used in the ritual were personally hunted by Su Da on his way back from Danliang—a pair of live geese with red ribbons around their necks, brought along with the other betrothal gifts to the Liu residence.

For today’s banquet, nearly every prominent figure in Yun County who had received an invitation arrived in succession. Even those who hadn’t been invited showed up uninvited to offer congratulations on the union of the Su and Liu families, celebrating the joining of two households into one.

With guests arriving bearing gifts, it would have been rude to refuse them, even without invitations. Those who arrived earlier and were recognizable, well-meaning guests were welcomed inside with their gifts. Soon after, however, it became harder to distinguish who should be admitted.

Especially when the arriving guest had come from the capital—a newly promoted official in the emperor’s favor.

At the entrance of the Liu residence, Su Wu, who was receiving guests on behalf of the Su family, noticed from a distance the young man approaching under the guidance of their own attendant.

He rode high on a royal horse, arriving with grandeur. Though only a year had passed since their last meeting, it felt like an eternity—no longer the same Mu Mingjin who had once played cricket battles with him and Xiao Ba.

"Fifth Brother, if you don’t want to see him, go inside. I’ll handle this."

Su Rao, who had been inside with Yun Ji and Su San receiving guests, happened to catch sight of Mu Mingjin’s arrival from the corner of her eye—along with their family attendant.

Why had Mu Mingjin come to Yun County now? And why under their attendant’s guidance?

A thought flickered in her mind, and she strode out immediately.

Mu Mingjin must have gone to the Su residence first before being led here. Had he come under Yun Mujing’s orders, or of his own accord?

She moved to intercept him before Su Wu could.

"Little Sister, stay here and greet the guests. Fifth Brother will have a word with Marquis Mu—men’s matters."

Su Wu grabbed Su Rao’s wrist, stopping her from intervening.

Though later arrivals shouldn’t be treated differently from earlier guests, not everyone was welcome at this banquet.

Striding down the steps, Su Wu pulled Mu Mingjin down from his horse before he could dismount. He tossed the hastily prepared gift—clearly bought from some shop—into the hands of the accompanying attendant, then locked an arm around Mu Mingjin’s neck and dragged him away from the Liu residence’s entrance.

The entire motion was seamless, leaving Mu Mingjin no time to react, let alone speak.

By the time Su Wu had hauled Mu Mingjin away, other arriving guests were still processing what had happened.

Those who recognized the newcomer felt a momentary unease but quickly composed themselves. They gave their gifts to the attendants at the door, exchanged polite nods with Su Rao, Yun Ji (who had followed her out), and the two Liu brothers receiving guests, then followed the ushers inside.

As for those who hadn't guessed the newcomer's identity, the sight of Mu Mingjin's robes made of top-quality Yun-embroidered brocade alone signaled his extraordinary status. They quickly masked their stunned expressions, hurriedly presented their gifts, and entered the mansion.

The Liu family was a long-established aristocratic family in Yun Commandery. Those who attended the banquet at the Liu residence uninvited were hardly ordinary—they were all prominent families of Yun Commandery, if not the top-tier clans, then certainly among the third or fourth most prestigious.

There were also wealthy merchants. Though merchants ranked lowest in the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and traders, they had little but wealth—and with wealth came connections, and with connections came status and influence.

Moreover, Yun Commandery was now the ancestral home of the royal family. Many of its aristocratic families, who had not followed the royal court's relocation to Langjing, were hundred-year-old clans from the vassal state era of Yun Lang. They were unwilling to leave their homeland or abandon their roots.

Even families like the Zhaos, who had moved to Langjing with the royal court, still maintained their ancestral homes in Yun Commandery. The older generations of the Zhao clan and their side branches remained in Yun Commandery—their roots and connections were here, and their influence as a hundred-year-old family persisted unchanged.

The glory Zhao Guogong (Duke of Zhao) pursued in Langjing as the foremost family was also the glory of maintaining the Zhao family's dominance in Yun Commandery—their prestige unshaken.

Otherwise, why would Emperor Yu demote and confine the Seventh Princess, Yun Luoling, to Yun Commandery? And why would Yun Luoling coincidentally encounter Su San on the streets of Yun Commandery?

Her demotion was real, but the so-called "confinement" was merely a public excuse. Yun Luoling had always been free in Yun Commandery—no one truly imprisoned her.

She was of royal bloodline. Though her mother had also been demoted, she still held her position as a consort. She was also Zhao Guogong's granddaughter. Even without the title of Seventh Princess, she had other means to throw her weight around.

Throughout the day's reception, after Mu Mingjin's arrival from Langjing, a stream of guests connected to the capital appeared—not additional envoys from the capital, but representatives from nearby prefectures and counties, sent by their clans to offer congratulations.

Amid the banquet, through offhand remarks with Su San's uncle and aunt and other inquisitive guests, it became known that Mu Mingjin had not come on behalf of the new emperor. He was merely attending in his capacity as the Young Lord of the Marquisate of Yin Gonghou to congratulate his cousin Su Da on his engagement.

The Su and Mu families were related by marriage. As the maternal relatives of Mother Su, how could the Mu family not attend the betrothal of their grandson?

Moreover, invitations had long been sent.

Whether others believed Su San's uncle and aunt's explanation was unclear, but Su Rao did not.

It was true that invitations had been sent, but the visitor should not have been Mu Mingjin. Mu Mingjin served under the new emperor as a right-hand man. The Su family had retreated to Yun Commandery, with no male heirs left in official posts. If this were merely a congratulatory visit from the Mu family, Mu Mingjin would not have been the one sent.

Furthermore, not long after Su Wu took Mu Mingjin away, Ying Ying—who had been tasked by Su Rao to keep Yun Muyue confined in Su Wu's courtyard to prevent him from disrupting her elder brother's happy occasion—came to report. He informed Su Rao that Su Wu had taken Mu Mingjin back to their residence, where he and Yun Muyue had jointly beaten Mu Mingjin until he was beaten black and blue.

"Miss, while Fifth Young Master was striking Marquis Mu, he accidentally tugged at his collar. I caught a glimpse of an imperial dragon motif on the inner lining of his robe..."

This whispered remark made Su Rao snap her attention to Ying Ying.

An imperial dragon motif—Mu Mingjin had brought an imperial edict.

What edict?

What scheme was Yun Mujing up to now?

"Rao Rao, this could very well be good news!"

Yun Ji grasped Su Rao's hand, he said cryptically. Whether it was because he understood his younger brother Yun Mujing too well or because he already had his own insight, his words carried a knowing undertone.