bayedsolid Chapter 178 Chang'an's Gift!
Chapter 178 Chang'an's Gift!
The Fourth Prince's triumphant return caused a great sensation throughout the court. The Emperor immediately issued an edict to confer upon the Fourth Prince the title of Prince Yongle, ordered the construction of a mansion for him in the capital, and bestowed upon him a great deal of gold and silver.
The Emperor's gifts weren't enough; the Crown Prince also sent many congratulatory gifts.
Once the Crown Prince sent a gift, the other princes, such as Prince Ming and Prince Kang, naturally had to make a gesture as well. If the princes made their gestures, how could the other powerful ministers not do the same?
So, ever since the Fourth Prince returned to the capital, there hasn't been a single day of peace! Fortunately, the Fourth Prince has many capable people around him, and the welcoming and sending off of guests has been managed quite well.
As the Minister of Works, Mu Chang'an held a relatively high rank, so he naturally had to personally offer his congratulations. However, he was having trouble choosing a gift.
"Anuan, do you think this is too insignificant as a gift?" Mu Chang'an asked, looking at the gift that Mu Xin Nuan had carefully chosen for him.
The gift Mu Xin Nuan prepared for him was an antique called the Arrow Man Plate.
This arrow-shaped plate has a high, circular foot and two handles on either side, and is dignified and ornate. The inscription, totaling 375 characters, is cast on the inner bottom of the plate. It is an extremely precious antique. The calligraphy on the bottom is simple and majestic, with bold and unrestrained strokes, thick and rounded, magnificent and varied. It possesses the solemnity of bronze inscriptions and the fluidity of cursive script. Mu Chang'an, being a civil official, naturally recognized its beauty, but gifting it to the fourth prince, a military general, seemed somewhat inappropriate.
"Father, rest assured, this plate is most suitable for you. The inscription on the bottom has both a sense of composure and a hint of arrogance. Doesn't it suggest that you are proficient in both literature and martial arts? Although the Fourth Prince went to war three years ago and only returned to the capital today, his literary talent back then was in no way inferior to any student of the Imperial Academy."
Mu Chang'an nodded, "That's true. The Fourth Prince is a man of both literary and martial talents, and this item is a perfect match for him."
"Although this item is not as magnificent and precious as those treasures, it is still a rare and fine piece. I believe the Fourth Prince will certainly like it."
Mu Xin Nuan had one more thing to say that she hadn't mentioned: the inscription on the bottom of the object was an admonition to be patient and conceal one's shortcomings. This was also a hint to the Fourth Prince not to be too proud or arrogant, lest he bring disaster upon himself.
If Mu Chang'an were to present this item, even if someone were to find out what he gave to the Fourth Prince in the future, no one would believe that he was trying his best to curry favor with the Fourth Prince! Moreover, whether it was the Emperor's or the Crown Prince's people, once they learned that he had given this item, they would definitely feel much more at ease with him.
Mu Xin Nuan saw Mu Chang An out of the mansion, then turned and went to Jin Yuan.
All the way, Mu Xin Nuan wondered how the Fourth Prince would react to the gift her father had given her. If he was a smart man, he should know what to do and how to express his opinion. If he simply disdained the gift, then all that could be said was that he was unlucky.
Throughout history, none of those who have been in power have been free from suspicion and distrust!
The current Emperor is no exception! Although His Majesty can still be considered a wise ruler, he is, after all, getting on in years. Moreover, the Crown Prince has always been steady and reliable, and can be considered to have inherited His Majesty's true qualities. Now, the Crown Prince's power is secure, but the Fourth Prince, at such a young age, has achieved such a remarkable feat—truly an unparalleled achievement!
If the fourth prince were born to a concubine, the emperor would naturally have an easier time dealing with him. However, he happens to be the emperor and empress's biological son, and also the crown prince's half-brother. This, on the contrary, has caused the emperor to have many thoughts and suspicions.
Isn't this precisely the purpose behind the Emperor's constant bestowal of various jewels?
Mu Xin Nuan raised an eyebrow. Seeing the words "Jin Yuan," she stopped thinking about these troublesome matters. These were ultimately matters for her father and other court officials to worry about. She only needed to help her mother manage the inner quarters, and that would be enough.
Inside the house, Li was watching Mu Qingyang chasing a little rabbit back and forth.
The little rabbit was sent over by Li Haoran when he came earlier. It was pure white, without a single stray hair. Mu Qingyang was immediately captivated by the little rabbit when he saw it!
At this moment, Li had someone bring a rope and tied it to one of the rabbit's legs. The other end of the rope was tied to the leg of an eight-immortal table so that Mu Qingyang could tease and play with it.
"Sister, hug me. Hug me." As soon as Mu Qingyang saw Mu Xinnuan come in, he immediately stopped chasing the rabbit and opened his arms to rush towards Mu Xinnuan.
Seeing Mu Xin Nuan happily pick him up, Li Shi couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You child, you're already so big, and you still let your older sister carry you, aren't you ashamed?"
"Don't be ashamed. Don't be ashamed." Mu Qingyang said, rubbing his little face against Mu Xinnuan's neck, his two short arms clinging tightly to her shoulders, as if afraid that she would put him down.
"Anuan, put him down quickly, he's very heavy now. Look how fat he is, his baby face is bigger than yours, don't tire yourself out."
"Don't worry, Mother."
After Mu Xin Nuan put him down, Li Shi had the wet nurse take Mu Qing Yang out, leaving only the mother and son inside to talk.
"Mother, have you gone to the west wing?"
Li's face darkened, and anger welled up in her eyes. "I've been there. This old lady is so biased. The decorations and furnishings in the house are all the best. It's only been a few days, and the amount of money spent from the public funds has already exceeded 15,000 taels."
"We've only just begun. Second Uncle and his family haven't returned yet. If they do, we'll probably need to buy more things. Mother, have you thought about what you'll do then?"
"What else can I do?" Although Li was unhappy, she couldn't ignore what her mother-in-law said. She couldn't let people say she was unfilial, could she? Besides, seeing her husband caught in the middle, she couldn't bear it.
"Mother, I heard that Second Uncle's position in the capital wasn't very high. Now that he's back in the capital to report on his duties, do you know what rank he holds?"
“Your second uncle was originally a fourth-rank prefect. Now, according to your father, he should be transferred to a lateral position. However, because of what he did before, he offended the prime minister. Although he has made up for all the money, there is a high chance that he will be demoted.”
"Demotion?"
"I heard that the two most likely official positions he will be appointed to right now are either the fifth-rank official, the Councilor of the Court of State Affairs, or the fourth-rank official, the Grand Master of the Court of State Affairs."
Upon hearing this, Mu Xin Nuan was slightly taken aback, but then smiled as she curved her lips into a smile!
The one with the lower rank still held some authority, while the one with the higher rank was merely a civil official with no real power, only receiving a slightly higher salary.
She wanted to see what her beloved second uncle, whom she hadn't seen for many years, would choose.