A life of two souls traveling through time

Chapter 162 Palace Banquet

After Li Yunye returned to Liangdu, Mu Liang hurriedly asked An Yun to go to Zhuo Mansion to report his safety, and also asked Lao Zhou to go to Fengqifang to inform Hong Qing.

An Yun informed Madam Zhuo at Zhuo's residence that the young master had suffered some minor injuries and would come to see the old lady after he recovered. But Madam Zhuo was very worried when she heard this and felt sorry for her nephew and grandson. After such an incident, she was not at ease to let Li Yunye live outside. She immediately asked the housekeeper to prepare a carriage and she wanted to personally take her nephew and grandson to Zhuo's residence to recuperate.

Old Madam Zhuo came in person, and no matter how reluctant Li Yunye was, he could not refuse the kindness of his great-aunt. He also heard from his brother Mu Liang that when he was missing, his cousin went to the government office in person to report the case for him. Thinking that he still owed this great favor, he followed Old Madam Zhuo into the carriage.

Mu Liang naturally felt that his brother-in-law would be much safer living in the Zhuo Mansion than following him. With the protection of the Zhuo family, he would not have to worry about his brother-in-law all day long. Secondly, his brother-in-law was not interested in learning how to do business. Instead of watching him wandering around the cloth shop like a ghost, it would be better to let him get to know some children of officials in the capital through the Zhuo family. This would also be good for the famous Li from Jiangnan.

After Li Yunye moved into the Zhuo Mansion with Madam Zhuo, he gradually relaxed from his initial nervousness under the warm care of Madam Zhuo and the servants of the Zhuo Mansion. After the injuries on his hands and feet healed, he had already gotten used to living there. Except for occasionally seeing his serious cousin, he still felt a little awkward. But compared to seeing Master Li at the Li Mansion in Qile City, he still preferred to see this cousin. At least his cousin didn't care much about him and wouldn't scold him for every turn.

"Yunye, there's a banquet in the palace tonight. I have a poor appetite and am too lazy to move. You should go with your cousin and take this opportunity to see the world in the palace." After noon that day, Old Madam Zhuo took Li Yunye's hand and instructed.

"Aunt grandmother, you're not feeling well. I'd better stay and take care of you." Li Yunye also grabbed Madam Zhuo's hand and said worriedly. Caring about Madam Zhuo was naturally one of the reasons, but the more important thing was that when he heard about the palace banquet, he had already rejected it in his heart. He couldn't imagine how helpless he would be squeezed in a group of dignitaries in an unfamiliar place. Besides, his cousin had always been cold to him, so how could he expect to be taken care of by him?

"My uncle and grandmother are very happy that you are so filial. However, the palace banquet is very unusual, and the families of officials also have to go. It's not convenient for me, so you have to go!" Seeing that Li Yunye was so filial to her, Mrs. Zhuo was naturally very pleased, but she still advised.

"Why is there a banquet in the palace today?" Having said that, Li Yunye had no reason to refuse, so he could only agree reluctantly, and then asked curiously.

"It's not an important banquet, but the emperor recently gave birth to a little prince, Concubine Xiao is happy, so she wants to hold a banquet to liven it up."

Li Yunye understood. After staying in the capital for several months, he had learned some information about the situation in the palace. The emperor Gong Liangying was born to an ordinary concubine. Because the previous queen had no children, she adopted him into her own palace. Gong Liangying naturally became the crown prince and the emperor of Jingsong Kingdom. Now the emperor is middle-aged and the empress dowager passed away long ago. Although Gong Liangying's biological mother, Concubine Xiao, did not have the title of empress dowager, she had long enjoyed the power of the empress dowager in the harem.

"I know you will feel restrained if you go alone, and your cousin has to deal with his colleagues and may not have time to take care of you, so I will let the girl from the Liu family take care of you." Just as Madam Zhuo finished speaking, the talented woman from the capital, Liu Jiangxi, had already arrived in the courtyard.

"All is well, old lady." After Liu Jiangxi bowed to Old Madam Zhuo, he just glanced at Li Yunye lightly, with arrogance still in his eyes.

Li Yunye was in front of Old Madam Zhuo, so although he was reluctant, he still politely greeted Liu Jiangxi. He sighed helplessly in his heart: It’s better for me to follow my cousin than to expect this proud and talented woman to lead me.

Not long after, the cousin also came to pay his respects to Madam Zhuo. Knowing that his mother was unwell, although he had asked a doctor to see her, he still asked the maid to take good care of her. After expressing his concern for his mother for a few more words, he led Li Yunye and Liu Jiangxi out of the house and got on the carriage.

An Yun also sat outside the carriage. The spacious carriage was mostly quiet. Only Zhuo Yanzheng occasionally chatted with Liu Jiangxi, asking what books he had read recently, what poems he had written, and how his father was doing in the Hanlin Academy. Anyway, these were all topics that Li Yunye could not get into.

The carriage went from the inner city to the outer city of the imperial palace, and finally entered the inner city of the imperial palace. Outside the palace gate, there was a lot of traffic, and the officials and their families were all dressed up. Li Yunye was dressed in a jade crown, brocade clothes, and jade waist as usual, still handsome and charming, attracting many people's attention. Seeing him following the Imperial Censor, they all whispered:

"So this is Madam Zhuo's nephew's grandson. He is really good-looking."

"I never thought that Master Zhuo had no descendants, and his Zhuo family didn't even have any close relatives or descendants. Otherwise, how could a distant relative like him get the chance to enter the Zhuo Mansion?"

"But he is the son of the richest man in Jiangnan after all, so he is not trying to climb too high."

"That's right. Look at this satin. She is only a little inferior in social status, but her family is well-off and wealthy!"

It was still hot and humid in the early summer, but fortunately the palace gate was surrounded by greenery. Li Yunye looked at the gorgeous silk gauze of other young ladies, and then looked at Liu Jiangxi beside him, who was dressed in plain clothes, calm and generous, like a big sister. She was indeed a talented woman with a rich spiritual world. No wonder these young men did not dare to approach her.

The towering red palace gate was suddenly opened slowly by the imperial guards. The officials and their families entered the palace under the guidance of the eunuchs. An Yun, like other servants, could only wait outside the palace.

Although Jiang Siyao had visited the ruins of the imperial palace in modern times, the environment he was in was different and his mood was also different. Moreover, ruins are just ruins, which always give future generations a sense of haziness and vicissitudes of history. It is nowhere as real as what is in front of him. The palaces, big and small, are all magnificent, majestic and dazzling, exuding the luxurious and exquisite royal nobility everywhere.

It was still early, and the palace banquet had not started yet. Everyone was strolling in the garden outside. Zhuo Yan was surrounded by several adults after he gave Li Yunye a few instructions. Li Yunye was bored and had to follow Liu Jiangxi. Liu Jiangxi didn't seem to like this messy environment, so he walked towards the pavilion on the lake where there was no one.

"Why don't you stay with Uncle Zhuo?" Seeing that Li Yunye was still following him, Liu Jiangxi frowned somewhat unhappily.

"How can my cousin have time to pay attention to me?" Li Yunye didn't want to follow her, but he was really bored. In addition, he saw several ladies frequently casting curious glances at him, so he didn't dare to stay alone.

"You can also go and get to know those gentlemen. Why would you follow a girl like me?"

"My great-aunt asked me to follow you!" Li Yunye looked back at the group of pretentious young men and became even less interested. He continued to follow them with confidence and then took the initiative to ask, "Why don't you see your father?"

"My father has never liked this kind of scene, so he found an excuse to go to the Hanlin Academy." Although Liu Jiangxi disliked Li Yunye, he answered the question.

"You are a talented woman in the capital. I hope you won't be asked to compose poetry at the banquet later?" Li Yunye asked curiously.

Liu Jiangxi rolled his eyes speechlessly at Li Yunye, then quickened his pace towards the pavilion.