Chapter 221.1: Coming-of Age Ceremony Start

Speaking of the Head Cabinet Minister, at the imperial summer residence, in the latter half of the time, he all didn't show his face. Everyone all thought, he most likely won't be able to make it, and after returning to the capital, if not him submitting a memorandum for retirement, then it was just Le Cheng Emperor directly firing him from his official post.

But who knew, after returning to the capital, he didn't continue staying silent, instead gradually beginning to show his face again. And his spirit was getting better by the day, just like as if the capital's water and soil suited him more, very much nourishing. Now, he was able to control the inner cabinet in high spirits again, and on Le Cheng Emperor's side, he seemingly didn't have the intention of letting him get lost either. Then again, Ruan Rui Zhong has always been in the Emperor's faction, wholeheartedly just listening to the Emperor's decree. He was loyal and his ability was also strong. There wasn't a better option than this one.

At the imperial summer residence, Ruan Rui Zhong didn't show his face and also severed all contact with Le Cheng Emperor? Of course not. From time to time, he would write a memorandum, reminiscing old affections from the past, narrating the bond between ruler and minister, and then, appropriately state some proposals regarding the flood, preserving the relationship, and at the same time, letting Le Cheng Emperor know of his capabilities. And at appropriate times, he would also express that he was recuperating his body currently, for the sake of better displaying his loyalty to his Majesty. How his body's situation was, Le Cheng Emperor was actually very clear about. After all, it was always the imperial physician taking Ruan Rui Zhong's pulse. As for those memorandums, why were the other princes unaware of? It's not like Le Cheng Emperor was a puppet emperor. He naturally had his own channels and methods. Otherwise, if all matters were known clearly by his sons, then he also didn't need to continue living.

(T/N: There's a phrase in this paragraph that I thought was an idiom, so I looked it up and accidentally stumbled across a rebirth BL novel about a minister and his emperor, now I can't get the image of Ruan Rui Zhong writing love letters to Le Cheng Emperor out of my head.)

After learning about the condition of Ruan Rui Zhong's body, Le Cheng Emperor didn't plan on dismissing him. Even if he wanted to deceive himself, telling himself that his sons were harmonious and happy, in the bottom of his heart, he was still very clear, the mutual bickering on the surface was just a cover, 'political views not conforming' was actually just mutually suppressing one another, and further don't need to mention the places he can't see. That was definitely overflowing with undercurrents, even filled with foul wind and bloody rain. In this kind of state, changing out the Head Cabinet Minister will definitely be a great war with flying blades, and the person to sit up there in the end may not necessarily match with his intentions. In this case, why the need to change? In any case, that bit of mater of the Ruan family's, he didn't take seriously. In fact, no one would take it seriously either. Originally, everything all originated from Ruan Fang Fei, and she was even the 'victim'. It's not like it was they themselves causing some big disturbance. As such, if one really wanted to pin an excuse to dismiss on Ruan Rui Zhong, it really wasn't that easy.

Le Cheng Emperor didn't change the person, and Ruan Rui Zhong himself was also cautious. Unable to catch anything against him, could the others even be able to have him pulled down?

And at this time, the one with blisters on the mouth was probably just Rui Qinwang. Others perhaps just inwardly regretted that this piece of fatty meat was still firmly held in Ruan Rui Zhong's hands, not spitting out, but Rui Qinwang wasn't the same. After all, his own mother had thoroughly offended the person. He originally thought that this old thing was certain to never crawl up again, but who knew.............

He was the Head of the Inner Cabinet. Memorandums of major matters in the world all needed to go through his hands. Even if the inner cabinet still has three other cabinet ministers, he similarly can soundlessly influence many things. He didn't need to lean towards anyone, just needing to target against Rui Qinwang in certain areas a little, and he'll be able to make Rui Qinwang suffer a big loss. In fact, no one will even detect anything wrong.

Precisely because he was very clear of this bit, how could Rui Qinwang not be anxious.

After Noble Consort Su learned of this matter, she also could only say 'miscalculated'. Aside from this, there was nothing else she could do, and she further can't mention a single word in front of Le Cheng Emperor. Noble Consort Su was favored, but far from being able to interfere in politics.

Thus, after Ruan Rui Zhong learned where he'd offended Luo Pei Shan, it naturally was just looking for an opportunity to apologize and make amends. However, this kind of thing, it naturally wasn't good to openly state. But, for these old foxes of the court, even in casual conversation, they were able to take several turns in their stomach, so for matters they were clear about inside, just by vaguely mentioning, one was just able to figure out everything.

Afterwards, after meaningfully chatting a few words, heh, seems to be all working for the same person.

Alright, since that one from your family has already been taken care of, and moreover, even having been kept in the dark for that many years, to be miserable to this extent, one will just magnanimously not bicker with you.

During the banquet, Luo Pei Shan's great-grandson was brought out for everyone to see, reaping a pile of praises. Just a tiny beansprout, who didn't know anything at all, was just praised as clever and quick-witted, having the fortune of great talent, and in the future, will certainly become a pillar of the country, and so on. Everyone all knew these were just flattering words, and under normal circumstances, who would pay attention to. But it couldn't be helped, Luo Pei Shan, after becoming a great-grandfather, was in a good mood, so naturally just accepted without question. When the child was carried back, he took with him a pile of good things. One has to know, previously, he'd already collected from the female guests' side once.

By the time this little guy's full moon banquet was over with, it was time to prepare for Jing Wan's coming-of-age ceremony.

The sixth of the ninth month. There was still ten to twenty days. However, for large wealthy families, when preparing these things, they won't disdain the time for being too long, only feeling it's not enough. If replaced with the imperial family, it would only be even more complicated, especially when involving that esteemed Emperor. Just like, for instance, his birthday and whatnot. That needed to be prepared at least three months in advance.

Invitations were sent out to the families of the numerous high officials and noble personages in the capital. Although the officials in the capital were numerous to the point of where if a horizontal inscribed board were to fall, hitting three people, perhaps two out of the three were officials, but the ones with enough qualifications to visit the home of a first rank high official, the number really wasn't very high. Those that were third rank and lower probably can only be relatives.

Jing Wan's status was displayed there, having the Grand Elder Princess and Jin Qinwang, these two layers of connection. Her coming-of-age ceremony, compared to the Luo family's first branch's eldest grandson's full moon banquet, this level of grandness, needed to be at least several times more grand. Because the Grand Elder Princess will be present, the other qin-wangfeis and jun-wangfeis naturally will also come, and further don't need to mention those madams and old madams of duke manors and marquis manors.

For the Luo family right now, perhaps only when it's Luo Pei Shan's zhengshou[1] can it be comparable.

Sure enough, just as they'd previously anticipated, after learning about Jing Wan's coming-of-age ceremony, quite a few people asked around about who the zanzhe and yousi candidates were. Although clearly knowing that in the end, they probably won't get picked, they still couldn't help but fantasize for a moment. If nothing else, with the Grand Elder Princess as the guest of honor, if one were to get praised by her, their status will immediately raise by a chunk. That's right, towards the candidate for the guest of honor, no one had a different opinion.

The Luo family rather didn't suspend them on this matter, directly announcing to the outside that they've already chosen the people, and moreover, already obtained the other party's consent. That's why, for those that had the thought, since they didn't receive any news, then it just had nothing to do with them.

Although they didn't directly make public who those people were, one still was able to find out after investigating. After all, it wasn't that secretive of a matter.

However, this final outcome made quiet a few people feel a bit peculiar inside. There were younger sisters in one's own family, and if say, too small and unsuited, wasn't there one that was just a year younger? Otherwise, there was still the female cousins, yet ultimately chose an outsider, what should one say......

[1] Zhengshou - '整寿', specifically one's 60, 70, 80, 90th birthday, so every ten after 50 is called this because whole numbers are auspicious. 整寿 roughly translates to 'whole birthday'.