Chapter 35: Bribery
"Okay! Come again!"
There was a burst of cheers coming from the backyard of the Ye Mansion.
In the martial arts training ground, Ye Qiongying was wearing a gray shorts suit, her long hair tied up high, and holding a spear in her hand.
Opposite her was the gray-haired Uncle Ye, dressed similarly and holding the same weapon.
The spears in the two men's hands collided with each other with a "ping-pong-pong" sound, making a crisp sound. The people around them could only see their movements from the conspicuous red tassels.
Everyone knows Uncle Ye. He looks quite old, but in fact, there are few people in the mansion who can fight with him.
What no one expected was that the young lady would be so powerful.
The two of them fought back and forth in a very lively manner. The people around them were so excited that they almost forgot that these were the eldest daughter and the housekeeper of the mansion. They could only applaud and cheer, and they really wanted to take up a knife and try their luck.
Just when they were playing fiercely, a servant suddenly came running over and stopped the practice.
"What? Someone's coming from the palace?"
Ye Qiongying looked confused.
Not only her, Uncle Yang also found it strange.
It has been a long time since the emperor in the palace ascended the throne and summoned anyone alone.
Three years ago, when the Ye family encountered trouble, His Majesty only issued an imperial decree to help bury the Ye family members. This was considered as a statement of His Majesty's stance, proving that although the Ye family had no male heirs, they were still in His Majesty's heart.
Why are you suddenly sending people here at this time?
Somehow, Ye Qiongying thought of the situation when Yin Xu was suddenly called away on the day of the divorce.
No matter what, the envoy cannot be neglected.
Ye Qiongying didn't dare to delay, wiped the sweat off her forehead and hurried to the front yard.
Old Madam Ye and Madam Hua had received the news and arrived here in advance. When Ye Qiongying arrived, she saw an old man with a white face and no beard sitting on a chair drinking tea. Old Madam Ye and the others were also sitting there, and the atmosphere seemed to be quite harmonious.
When he saw Ye Qiongying coming, the old man stood up with a smile and said:
"Miss Ye is here. Well, I am here to pass on a message to His Majesty..."
His voice was somewhat sharp, and one could tell who he was as soon as he heard it. Seeing Ye Qiongying about to kneel down to receive the order, he hurriedly said:
“No need, no need. His Majesty said it was just a verbal message. Miss Ye doesn’t need to kneel. I have already told the old lady about it before. Just listen to it.
A summer solstice banquet will be held in the palace at the end of the month, and His Majesty has specially invited a small number of distinguished guests to attend the banquet.
The Ye family has made great contributions and is loyal and brave, so they are naturally included in this list.
Previously, because Miss Ye married into the Mansion of Marquis Zhongyong, I sent the invitation there, but I only found out recently... So, today this old servant made a special trip again.
Young lady, this is the invitation for the Summer Solstice Banquet. When the time comes, you can bring your relatives to the palace."
Ye Qiongying took the note and thanked the other party.
According to convention, a reward of silver should be given at this time.
Fortunately, she had made preparations just now, and she quickly took out a purse filled with silver and handed it over.
From Yin Xu’s failed “bribery” attempt last time, we know the current rules in the palace.
The one who came to deliver the imperial edict today was Liang Dehai, the chief steward who served beside the emperor!
Logically speaking, he should have been more cautious about this.
Unexpectedly, Liang Dehai did not refuse, but took the purse, said goodbye to the Ye family with a smile, and left and returned to the palace.
When Mrs. Hua saw Liang Dehai leave, she sighed:
"This eunuch is a kind man with a good temper. You really can't tell that he is a subordinate of the tyrant."
"Pa!" Madam Ye slapped Madam Hua's palm. "What nonsense are you talking about? Even in the mansion, you should be more careful with your words. How can you say such words casually? You deserve to be beaten!"
Ye Qiongying took the red post in her hand and looked around.
This thing is very exquisitely made, with the content and time of the banquet, as well as the identities of the invitees written on it.
The handwriting was so sharp and precise that it penetrated deeply into the wood. The sharpness of the writer could be seen in the strokes of the pen.
But I don’t know which Hanlin wrote it.
"That day, you aunt and nephew will go,"
Madam Ye sighed.
"I am an old woman, and I really don't want to move around. It's better not to bother me with such a banquet. Although the current emperor has a bad reputation, he is actually a reasonable person. As long as you don't take the initiative to cause trouble, there will be no trouble. You must be careful in what you say and do. Of course, the Ye family is not spineless, and you don't have to worry if someone really offends you. At most, I will explain to the emperor afterwards, and you must not wrong yourself."
"Yes, grandmother."
"Mom, we know, don't worry. If you don't go, Alu will ask you to take care of her. This girl is very naughty, don't tire yourself out."
Madam Ye smiled and pinched Madam Hua:
"What a mouth you have! A-Lu is now well behaved and much easier to take care of than when you were a child. Don't talk nonsense here. All right, all right, get busy. I think the banquet is almost here, so you two should hurry up and prepare your clothes. Jinxiu Pavilion should have new styles soon, so go and order a few each."
Ye Qiongying smiled and said:
"It just so happens that I ordered a dress from him last time. It's quite formal and I can wear it to the banquet that day. I don't need to buy another one."
Mrs. Hua grabbed Ye Qiongying and said:
"You girl, you've bought it, but I'm not ready yet! Come on, go wash up, change your clothes and go out with me."
Since she returned to her parents' home three years ago, she has been practicing Buddhism with her hair untied. Naturally, she wears simple daily clothes. She has not made new clothes in the past few years, so she really needs to go out and make new ones.
Naturally, Ye Qiongying could not refuse her aunt's request.
After a delay, the aunt and niece went out, got on the carriage, and soon arrived at the street where Jinxiu Pavilion was located.
The two of them seldom went out in the past three years. Ye Qiongying at least went out to do business or socialize with others, but Mrs. Hua really stayed indoors. Now she found everything new and kept looking out with the curtain of the carriage half lifted.
Just as the carriage drove into the street, Mrs. Hua suddenly pointed to a shop and asked:
"Hey? There's actually a clothing store here? It's called... Jinyifang? What's the relationship between this store and Jinxiu Pavilion?"
Even before she saw the shop clearly, Ye Qiongying guessed based on the location that it was most likely the shop opened by Leng Qianqian.
Unexpectedly, she was able to start operating it in such a short time?
The shop spent fifteen thousand taels of silver out of two thousand taels. Ye Qiongying didn't believe that the clothes in her shop could be that good.
Leng Qianqian had offended Jinxiu Pavilion from the very beginning, and now she had opened a shop with a similar name nearby.
Unless she has a special weaving garden to provide her with materials, she can only purchase them from outside at a high price.
Not to mention the remaining 500 taels, even if Yin Xu was crazy and gave her more silver, with the current wealth of the Loyal and Brave Marquis's Mansion, the amount can be imagined...
In the eyes of ordinary people, those things are good enough.
But I have to wear it to attend the banquet in the palace...
It’s better to be cautious.
Ye Qiongying said:
"Let's go to Jinxiu Pavilion to order clothes first. If you are interested, can we come over and have a look?"