Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 147 Shooting Over
The fifteenth day of June was the coming-of-age banquet for the granddaughter of Duke Zheng, and that day happened to be the hottest day of the year.

There were many noble ladies in the capital, and those who received the invitation would treat it seriously.

In the Taifu Mansion, Lu Xi looked at the dazzling jewellery in her dressing table in the diamond-shaped bronze mirror, her eyes full of impatience.

"It's so hot, why does grandma want me to go to the Duke of Zheng's mansion? It's really annoying."

She pulled off her earrings and threw them on the dressing table unhappily.
"That Miss Guo San is just a little girl who can't even touch the hem of Princess Pingle's skirt. She just got married, why is there such a grand fuss about it..."

Miss Guo San was younger and used to follow her brother Guo Zhaohuai. Because of her age, she was not as close to Pingle. In Lu Xi's eyes, Guo San was just a little follower of theirs and should not be given such a big face...

The maid Xiangyu was helping her with her makeup and gently advised, "I heard from the maid in Madam's room that there are many guests at the Duke of Zheng's mansion today, and the old lady wants to go to watch the ceremony in person. You should go, young lady, and don't upset the old lady..."

Lu Xi raised his eyes and said, "Then Princess Dai Pingle should give me that set of jeweled headwear..."

Xiangyu hesitated and said, "Miss, I'm afraid it's not appropriate."

Lu Xi frowned in dissatisfaction: "What's wrong with that? That headgear suits me best."

Xiangyu sighed.

The girl in their family has followed Princess Pingle since she was a child, and has been wholeheartedly imitating Princess Pingle's behavior. She regards Princess Pingle's words as if they were God, but has turned a deaf ear to the warnings of the elders in the family.

"Princess Pingle is now confined to the Princess's Mansion to copy scriptures. She has sent petitions to the palace several times to beg for mercy, but they were all rejected... There are a lot of rumors outside. Young lady, listen to the old master more and keep your distance from her..."

Lu Xi disagreed, "It's not the first time that Pingle has been confined. It's okay. Everyone knows that His Majesty loves Princess Pingle the most. She will be out in a few days. Anyone who offends her will suffer. If it weren't for my close relationship with the princess, how could my grandfather have been so successful in the court over the years?"

Xiangyu looked at the girl in the mirror with delicate makeup and didn't know how to persuade her for a moment.

After hesitating for a moment, he said, "It's not new that Princess Pingle is under house arrest, but it's unusual for His Majesty to ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to assist in the Ministry of Revenue. Miss, don't you realize which way the wind is blowing?"

Lu Xi was startled and his expression became serious.

That day, my grandfather came back from court and mentioned that the Crown Prince led the Eastern Palace Guards to rescue Concubine Wan and Princess Wenjia, and also publicly reprimanded the Xiao family in the Xuanzheng Hall. Although the emperor was displeased, he still rewarded the Crown Prince, and even executed Xiao Zhengyuan and exiled Xiao Jing.

How could Lu Xi not understand the profound meaning of his grandfather's words...

Princess Pingle did not allow her to marry the prince, but she looked down on the other candidates.

Lu Xi thought of Li Zhao's handsome face and bit his lip.

"So, your majesty's heart is leaning towards the prince?"

Xiangyu said: "Whether His Majesty is partial or not, the Crown Prince is still the Crown Prince. What the old lady is worried about is that after this incident, more people will be eyeing the position of Crown Princess. Miss Guo San from the Duke of Zheng's family has a good family background and outstanding looks..."

Lu Xi looked in the mirror and sneered, "Does she deserve it?"

Xiangyu hesitated to speak, "The old lady said that Miss Guo San was summoned by the Queen. When she went, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince happened to be in the Pepper Room to pay respects... The two of them met, and perhaps His Royal Highness was satisfied with Miss Guo San... Otherwise, the old lady wouldn't be so anxious."

Lu Xi's face changed suddenly.

Ever since she came of age, she has been determined that she is the only candidate for the Crown Princess.

Even if she doesn't want to marry Li Zhao, it wouldn't be the turn of that yellow-haired girl Guo Yunrong, right?
Seeing her gloomy expression, Xiangyu smiled and picked up the hairpin, coaxing her, "Girl, dress up and beat Miss Guo San. Let the ladies present see who should be the Crown Princess..."

Lu Xi frowned and looked at the gorgeously dressed person in the mirror.

"You are right. The headgear Princess Pingle gave me is indeed a bit old-fashioned."
-
After a night of light rain, the morning light shone. The Taihu stones in the back garden of Duke Zheng's mansion were covered with dark brown moss from the rain, but the clusters of peony flowers absorbed the moisture and bloomed exceptionally beautifully.

Xue Yuechen held Xue Sui's hand as they walked across the bluestone path, the pearls and jade on her hair swaying gracefully, shining brightly.

"Sixth sister, did you see it? The girl with two buns, a plain wooden hairpin, and a goose yellow skirt is the granddaughter of Duke Zheng, Miss Guo San..."

Xue Sui stopped and looked in the direction she pointed.

In the waterside pavilion, the young girl was surrounded by several other girls, walking towards the east room with laughter and joy.

She had an emerald ruyi hanging around her waist, which made her waist look as narrow as a willow. Although she looked young and immature, she already had the demeanor of a lady from a wealthy family.

She chuckled, "She's quite a beauty."

Xue Yuechen said: "The coming-of-age ceremony is very complicated. It requires three additions, three bows, and the bestowal of a name by the elders. There are also banquets, music and dances. It will be lively for most of the day..."

At this point, she seemed to remember something, and hurriedly covered the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, looking at Xue Sui with a little embarrassment.

"Sister, you've spoken out of turn. When Sixth Sister came of age, she was alone and there was no one to preside over the ceremony. Now there is no chance to make up for it..."

Xue Sui smiled faintly, raising a clear arc.

"Don't worry, Princess. I don't care."

"Meet Princess Duan..."

With a low laugh, Lu Xi walked gracefully up the path and bowed to Xue Yuechen.

There was a smile in the corner of her eyes, but she didn't look at Xue Sui directly.

Xue Yuechen smiled and raised her hand to indicate that she didn't need to be polite, and then introduced her to Xue Sui: "Sixth sister, this is the granddaughter of Master Lu, Miss Lu Er."

Xue Sui looked at Lu Xi, and suddenly felt a dull pain in the old scar on his wrist.

That year, this group of noble ladies from aristocratic families pushed her into an abandoned water tank and ordered the servants to throw in a dead rat to scare her...

Among them was Lu Xi.

She smiled and bowed slightly, "Excuse me, Miss Lu."

Lu Xi looked at Xue Sui's calm appearance from a close distance and felt disdainful in his heart.

Ten years ago, she used charcoal to draw a turtle on Xue Liu's face, wantonly humiliating and mocking him, but she didn't dare to say a word...

Unexpectedly, this lowly concubine's daughter actually became the favorite concubine of Prince Duan's Mansion.

Ah……

A hint of mockery flashed in Lu Xi's eyes. He suddenly threw the crabapple flowers in his hand to the ground and stepped on them.
"This flower is too gaudy to be of the eyes."

"Don't be so presumptuous." An old and majestic voice came from the corridor.

Following the sound, I saw an old lady in simple clothes walking slowly towards me. The Buddhist beads on her wrist rang softly with her steps and her face was kind.

She is the old master's wife.

The old lady noticed her granddaughter's rudeness towards Xue Sui, frowned slightly, and then put on a smile.

"I am late, and I am sorry to have embarrassed you, Princess."

After that, she looked at Xue Sui's face, "This must be Madam Ping An, right? I've heard that Minister Xue's family is upright, he has a good way of raising his daughters, and all his daughters are outstanding in appearance. Seeing her today, she is indeed a beauty."

Xue Yuechen said: "The second Miss Lu from the Taifu Mansion has bright eyes and white teeth, is quirky and unique."

She had a smile on her face.

It implies that Lu Xi's words and actions just now were inappropriate and his words were immoral.

After all, Xue Liu is now a member of Prince Duan's Mansion. Not giving her face would be ignoring the face of Princess Duan and Prince Duan.

Madam Taifu glared at Lu Xi and said, "Hurry up and apologize to the princess and Madam Ping'an!"

Lu Xi's body froze, unwilling in her heart, but she did not dare to disobey her grandmother's wishes, and reluctantly bowed. Xue Sui felt the kindness released by the Grand Tutor's wife, and bowed gracefully in return, smiling gently, "Old Madam, you are too kind, Miss Lu is just a lively person, there is nothing wrong with her."

Seeing how graceful and elegant she was, Mrs. Taifu showed some approval in her eyes.

"This girl has been spoiled and has no rules. When I return home, I will ask her mother to discipline her strictly."

This was truly spoken from the bottom of her heart. The second girl had followed Princess Pingle since she was young and had been brought up to be very willful. However, the Taifu Mansion wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Eastern Palace, and there was really no more suitable girl.

Xue Yuechen smiled and said a few polite words, and the matter was over.

"Let's go inside. It's very hot outside. Don't get caught in the heat."

The wife of the Grand Tutor responded with a smile and exchanged pleasantries with them along the way. She walked inside, and then the eldest lady of the Zhengguo Mansion, Guo Yunrong's biological mother, Luo, came over with a smile to greet the guests.

"Today is my daughter's coming of age. Thank you all for your presence. Please come in and take a seat."

The banquet was held in the spacious main hall with all the carved lattice doors open.

Except for the father and brother who could go to the east steps to watch the ceremony, all the people at the table were women.

A breeze blew over, bringing with it waves of fragrance, and the pearls and jade on the temples of the ladies jingled against each other.

The feast was extremely sumptuous, with table after table filled with delicacies.

Xue Sui and Princess Duan sat together in the west viewing booth, quietly watching the various scenes at the banquet.

She noticed that Lu Xi on the east side was holding a round fan, half covering his face, talking in a low voice with two close friends beside him, and his eyes occasionally glanced at the guest of honor seat.

A moment later, the eldest lady of the Zhengguo Mansion, Mrs. Luo, and Miss Guo San appeared and saluted the guests.

After three chimes were sounded, the coming-of-age ceremony began.

The master of ceremonies held a tray with a green jade hairpin on it, which made a clear and pleasant sound.

"When I first put on my hairpin, I announced it to the world!"

Guo Yunrong knelt on the cushion, the tips of her ears slightly red from the sound of the rituals.

Lady Zheng, with her hands trembling slightly, carefully pinned her granddaughter's hair into a bun.

"...on the auspicious day of the month, you can start to wear clothes of the Yuan Dynasty. If you abandon your ambition, you will become virtuous..."

Amid the solemn singing, some ladies at the table began to discuss in low voices.

"I heard from Madam Zhang the other day that the Queen summoned Miss Guo San... and she also met with the Crown Prince..."

"After reaching the age of 15, I'm afraid we'll have to discuss marriage..."

"Then is she the future Crown Princess?"

Lu Xi couldn't help but sneer when he heard a few sensitive words.

"She is the daughter of a military commander, after all. She is short-sighted. Wearing such a hairpin at the age of 15 does not look like a royal family... However, it also makes Guo San look petty..."

Madam Taifu was hard of hearing and didn't hear clearly. She smiled and said, "Not bad, not bad... She is a well-behaved and clever girl..."

Xue Sui sat close by, with a faint smile on his lips.

"Two plus hairpins and crowns, both virtue and appearance."

The old lady held a mahogany comb in her hand and gently combed Guo Yunrong's hair into a high bun and put on a golden filigree crown...

"Three plus formal attire, adulthood..."

After putting on a wide-sleeved shirt with gold peony embroidery, Guo Yunrong's pretty face looked even more charming.

"Serve your parents with filial piety, take care of your children with kindness... cultivate yourself and your family, be virtuous and tolerant..."

The guests presented gifts and after three bows, the Duke of Zheng solemnly gave Miss Guo San a name, and the coming-of-age ceremony was over.

The nanny in charge of ceremonies struck the silver chime and said, "The feast begins!"

Everyone started feasting, drinking, and dancing, and the scene became increasingly lively as they toasted each other.

After three rounds of drinks, amidst laughter and joy, Lu Xi made a proposal.

"Betting on pots and drinking wine is boring, why don't we play a game of shooting covers?"

Several noble ladies responded one after another.

Guo Yunrong had the heart of a young girl, and today was her coming-of-age banquet, so she wanted the guests to have a great time. So she asked her grandmother to add some prizes, and to make it fair, she asked the master of ceremonies to come and preside over the game.

All the women went to the courtyard.

A vermilion lacquered table had been placed in the courtyard, polished to a radiant shine.

When Xue Sui walked past the flower hall, he was stopped by Lu Xi.

"I heard that Madam Ping An is very smart, why don't you come and play with us?"

Xue Sui took a look and said, "You can't beat me."

Upon hearing this, none of the women were convinced.

"Come on, Madam Ping An, come and compete with us."

Xue Sui shook his head, "No."

Lu Xi said mockingly, "I heard that Madam Ping'an's biological mother was proficient in the Huxuan dance. Madam doesn't want to play the game of guessing the cover. Could it be that she wants to perform for Miss Guo San to liven up the atmosphere?"

Xue Sui narrowed his eyes slightly, curled his lips and said, "Okay. But Miss Lu, don't regret it."

Shefu is a game of guessing what other people hide. The object or a piece of paper is hidden under an upside-down container, and a cryptic message is read out orally for people to guess. If the guess is correct, there is a prize, and if the guess is wrong, there is a penalty of drinking.

The maidservants from Duke Zheng's mansion brought three vermilion lacquer boxes covered with a layer of soft smoke gauze.

"Please shoot the first question!"

Nanny Si Li smiled and pointed at the vermilion lacquered box.

"The prize is in the box. The archer will write the metaphorical poem on the jade paper. The first one to hit the target wins the prize. The one who misses the target——"

She deliberately dragged out the ending note by three minutes.

"Three glasses of cold absinthe."

The noble ladies around whispered to each other when they heard this.

I don't know what the prize is, but you have to drink three cups of wine and not get drunk.

Madam Si Li cleared her throat and smiled as she stated the question:

[Ice Soul Holding Light Lying in the Brocade Palace]

Xue Sui: Just look at mine~~

Li Zhao: What about me?