Chapter 707

Chapter 714: Borrowing Strength (Part 1)

Lord Xu was speaking with the Grand Dowager when he saw Jingge'er enter and smiled, saying, "We were just talking about you!"

Jingge'er was taken aback, his heart pounding. "Talking about me? What did you say about me?" "Before the New Year, everyone was busy preparing for the holiday and returning home. After the New Year, people started coming to the capital for their reports. It's crowded everywhere. With so many people around, it's easy for trouble to arise." Lord Xu smiled, "I think you should stay at home these days. First, to keep me and your mother company, and second, to practice the boxing techniques Master Pang taught you. He said they are best suited for close combat."

Despite Lord Xu’s gentle and kind demeanor, Jingge'er’s heart beat even faster.

"Is that so?" He smiled at Lord Xu, repeatedly reminding himself to keep his smile natural, thinking that his father couldn’t possibly know the truth so soon.

Lord Xu chuckled and turned to discuss the upcoming palace audience with the Grand Dowager: "Her Majesty will issue an edict in the next few days exempting you from court appearances, so you can rest well on New Year's Day." The Grand Dowager nodded with a pleased expression.

Two days later, the imperial edict indeed arrived, not only excusing the Grand Dowager from the New Year's Day court appearance but also summoning Jingge'er to the palace.

Lord Xu assigned several of the most skilled guards from the Yongping Marquis estate to accompany Jingge'er. "Go quickly and come back quickly! If you encounter anyone, just pretend you didn't see them!"

Another veiled remark.

Daring not to say more, Jingge'er merely nodded in agreement.

Lord Xu laughed heartily. "Today, you're being so obedient!"

Without waiting for Jingge'er’s response, he smiled and left the room.

Jingge'er wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking about the upcoming palace visit. He quickly composed himself, carefully considering how he should speak once inside the palace.

Lord Xu lounged in his recliner in the study, waiting for Jingge'er to return.

As soon as Jingge'er returned, he went to see Lord Xu. "... It was the Eldest Princess who wanted to see me. She wanted to discuss the cuju match on the fourth day of the first month."

"Didn't she say anything else?" Lord Xu asked with a smile, looking at him.

"No," Jing hurriedly replied, "the Eldest Princess wants to win the competition."

Lord Xu responded with an indifferent "oh," and said, "Go and greet your mother and grandmother; they are worried about you!"

And that was it!

Jing had prepared so many things to say, but Lord Xu didn’t ask a single question, making him feel like he had punched into cotton.

He left the study room somewhat dejectedly and ran into Xu Siyu near the hanging flower gate.

Xu Siyu greeted him with a smile, "Sixth Brother is back? How was the palace visit?" as if it were a chance encounter.

Jing's spirits lifted, and he replied, "It was good!"

"Where have you been, Second Brother?" As he spoke, the two walked side by side back home.

"How did it go?" Xu Siyu whispered, "Did the Eldest Princess agree to let Prince Yong help choose a prince consort?"

This was what he cared about most.

"She agreed," Jing whispered back, "and more than that, when she heard about the physician’s nephew, she was furious and decided to tell His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince. She even said that rather than having Prince Yong help, she would prefer the Crown Prince’s assistance."

"What?" Xu Siyu exclaimed, "That won’t do! Prince Yong’s involvement is out of concern for his sister, but if the Crown Prince gets involved, the Emperor might suspect him of trying to curry favor with court officials." He frowned deeply and muttered, "It’s all my fault for not reminding you earlier. Now, who can we find to send a message to the Crown Prince?"

"Second Brother, don’t worry," Jing chuckled, "the Eldest Princess may seem reckless, but she’s quite clever when she puts her mind to it—she doesn’t plan to speak directly to the Crown Prince. Instead, she intends to talk to the Crown Princess!"

Xu Siyu couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

Jin Ge'er laughed and said, "The Eldest Princess also mentioned that if the Chen family just swallows this insult, it would be over. But if they really decide to file a complaint with the Emperor, she will ask Her Majesty the Empress to intervene."

Only then did Xu Siyu feel relieved.

The Empress doted on her nephew; even if he was in the wrong, what could they do? A few days later, the Xu household began distributing New Year’s red envelopes and pasting large red paper cuttings on the windows, making the festive atmosphere grow thicker.

A man who claimed to be a friend of the same cohort as “Grand Commissioner of Transport” Chen Bozhi, Scholar Gu Yan from the Hanlin Academy, came to visit Lord Xu.

Lord Xu was speaking with several senior managers at the time. Without lifting his head, he said, "I am not familiar with Chen Bozhi. Ask him what he wants and leave a calling card."

Steward Bai hesitated for a moment but still respectfully replied, "Yes," before returning to the reception hall.

One of the senior managers then spoke tactfully, "Our rice warehouse in Dezhou is involved in transport. I have had the honor of meeting this Grand Commissioner of Transport, and he is indeed a very generous person."

Lord Xu's response was straightforward, "How many people claim to be someone’s acquaintance? Our Xu family has so many businesses; if I were to meet everyone, I wouldn’t have time to do anything else!" He chuckled and glanced at the managers, "If Chen Bozhi really had something important, wouldn’t he come to see me himself? It’s clear that this Gu Yan is just using Chen Bozhi to seek favors. I detest such people the most, so there’s no need to see him!"

This remark quickly spread.

Gu Yan was so angry that he lay in bed for several days.

Jin Ge'er and Xu Siyu were stunned, especially Xu Siyu. In his memory, his father always cared about appearances; even if Gu Yan was a freeloader, he wouldn’t have directly slapped his face like that... No wonder Father already knew about Jin Ge'er’s conflict with Chen Ji... If so, Father’s actions seemed somewhat protective... Yet, it didn’t seem like Father’s usual style!

He pondered this as Xu Siquin and Xu Sijian arrived. Xu Siyu was surprised and welcomed them into the study.

Xu Sijian paused at the door of the study to look at the ginkgo tree he had planted when he was young before entering the room.

Xu Siquin and Xu Siyu were already talking.

"I heard from Jian Ge'er that everyone in the Five City Military and Police Office is spreading the word that Jin Ge'er beat the son of the Grand Commissioner of Transport, Chen Bozhi, until he was bedridden." His expression was anxious, "How could such rumors spread? Is there some misunderstanding here? That Grand Commissioner of Transport is one of the Emperor’s favorites. Not long ago, his only son was appointed as a Deputy Commander-in-Chief due to the Emperor’s favor!" "Yes!" Xu Sijian, who had just stepped into the study, interjected before Xu Siquin could speak, his voice grave, "The story is being told with great detail. I think we should mention this to Uncle Fourth."

Some things cannot be said by anyone.

Xu Siyu smiled bitterly in his heart but was surprised to say, "A few days ago, the sixth brother got into a fight with a rogue from out of town and saved a father and daughter who were singing for a living. Could that rogue have been Chen Bozhi's son?"

"Ah! There was such an incident!" Xu Sijian became excited upon hearing this and called out to the maid, "Quickly go and invite the sixth young master here; we need to talk to him." Xu Siqin shook his head, "When will you get rid of your habit of overstepping when you're happy?"

"Isn't this at Second Brother's place?" Xu Sijian laughed, "I always follow the rules outside."

After some laughter and jokes, Jingge'er arrived and asked about the situation again. Xu Siyu vividly recounted the entire story. Seeing it was getting late, they went to pay their respects to the Grand Lady, Lady Shier, and Fifth Lady. The brothers had lunch at Jingge'er’s place. Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian returned home, while Jingge'er and Xu Siyu talked for nearly an hour before Jingge'er went back to his room. A few days later, the news that the son of the Grand Commissioner of Transport, newly appointed as a Deputy Commander, had been beaten on the street for harassing a singing duo by the sixth son of Yongping Marquis, newly appointed as the Commander of Xiaoling Guard, began to spread widely. Even Yu Yiqing was alarmed and came to ask what had happened.

"I don't know exactly what happened either!" Lord Xu said to Yu Yiqing in the small study, "No one from the Chen family has come to me about this. I think it's mostly just rumors. Even if it did happen, how can we, as elders, interfere in the affairs of the younger generation!" Then he smiled, "You've worked hard on the rivers in Jiangnan these past few years. It's rare for us to gather like this. I'll have Lady Shier prepare a feast, and we can drink and chat. Let's not worry about these baseless rumors."

Yu Yiqing thought that since he became a Minister of Works, he indeed rarely drank and chatted with Lord Xu. He smiled and agreed, drinking until he was thoroughly drunk and had to be helped onto the carriage by a servant.

As soon as he left, Fang Ji arrived.

"I heard someone from the Censorate wrote a memorial to impeach the Marquis, accusing him of failing to discipline his children. It says that the youngest son, Xu Sijin, is rampant in Yanjing, even daring to beat up a newly appointed Deputy Commander, showing great audacity and arrogance. They are asking the Emperor to punish the Marquis and Xu Sijin."

Xu Siyu's face changed slightly.

He knew this was no longer something he could handle.

Xu Siyu took Fang Ji to see Lord Xu.

"…The truth will come out through debate," Lord Xu said after thanking Fang Ji, smiling, "It will always be beneficial to clarify things."

From his tone, it seemed he intended to argue the case before the Emperor!

Fang Yi put his mind at ease and exchanged some pleasantries with Lord Xu before taking his leave.

In no time, the memorials impeaching Lord Xu and Brother Jing grew in number, yet Lord Xu showed no reaction at all. Fang Yi couldn't help but worry secretly and asked Xu Siyu, "Do you know what the Marquis plans to do?"

Xu Siyu shook his head: "I tried several times to talk to Father, but he always cut me off." He also seemed troubled, "I have no idea how Father arranged it."

In that case, it wouldn’t be proper to ask.

Fang Yi had no choice but to return to his residence and wait to see how events would unfold.

Some said the Emperor was enraged upon hearing the news and wanted to seize Lord Xu's iron voucher; others claimed that the Emperor said it was almost the New Year and any matters should be postponed until after the holiday; still others reported that the Emperor intended to punish Lord Xu and his son, but military commanders submitted petitions on Lord Xu's behalf, leaving the Emperor in a difficult position and deciding not to pursue the matter further... The news eventually reached Lady Shier's ears. "Did Jinx really hit someone?" she asked Lord Xu suspiciously, "Or is someone trying to frame the Marquis?"

"Chen Bo is at least a third-rank official of the court and one of the Emperor's favorites. If our Jinx really did hit him, wouldn't they come to our house demanding an explanation!" Lord Xu laughed, "As for implicating me in wrongdoing? There's no evidence yet; we need to investigate thoroughly to find out."

Eleventh Lady grew anxious. "Should I go to the palace to sound out Her Majesty the Empress?"

"No need!" Lord Xu smiled, "Going to the palace at this time would be like protesting too much. Let's just enjoy our New Year's celebrations. I have my own plans for this matter; you don't need to worry about it." He then gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing against the corner of her eye, "Didn't you say yesterday that women who worry too much age quickly? Look, there are already fine lines at the corners of your eyes." "Really!" Eleventh Miss immediately found a hand mirror and walked to the eaves outside to take a look.

In the sunlight, nothing could be seen!

She knew she had been teased by Lord Xu again.

Couldn't help but smile.