Mo Sang – CH 277

Chapter 277. Watching the Show

Li Sangrou returned to her lodgings. Before even turning into the alley, she saw a large crowd craning their necks to watch the commotion at the alley entrance.

Standing in the middle of the crowd, Li Sangrou craned her neck to look into the alley. She did not see anything particularly exciting, only a steady stream of porters emerging from her small courtyard, carrying their carrying poles and walking out in twos and threes.

Li Sangrou went to meet the porters, entering the courtyard, just as Datou came out.

“Nanny Zhang brought back quite a bit of silver. Brother Ma said we should lock the gate,” Datou said, pointing inside. Before he finished speaking, he exclaimed, “Where’s Ah Ying?”

“I left her at the yamen to learn etiquette,” Li Sangrou replied, instructing as she walked in. “No need to lock the gate. What’s the use of locking it if someone’s really going to steal or rob? Just do what you always do.”

“That’s fine then,” Datou said, casually closing the gate behind him and turning to go inside.

His family only had the habit of closing the door, not bolting it.

Li Sangrou turned through the second gate and saw neatly arranged stacks of gleaming silver ingots under the eaves.

Li Sangrou walked to a stack of silver ingots, picked up the top one, weighed it in her hand, and examined it carefully.

These silver ingots appeared to have been newly cast specifically for the Tengwang Pavilion event. They were all in the shape of writing brushes and Ruyi scepters, with the three characters “Tengwang Pavilion” engraved on the bottom and an auspicious pattern of “passing the imperial examinations three times” raised on the top.

“It was really urgent, so I decided on the design myself,” Nanny Zhang hurried out from inside.

“Very good, beautiful, auspicious. I probably could not think of casting such beautiful silver ingots, so I’d just take out silver cakes,” Li Sangrou said with a smile as she carefully placed the silver ingots down.

Nanny Zhang chuckled.

“That would not look good.

There are nine packs here. These seven packs each hold two thousand taels, totaling fourteen thousand taels. Each pack can hold a maximum of two thousand taels; any more than that and it will be too heavy and difficult to lift. This pack holds one thousand taels, and this one holds five hundred taels.

It’s been finished for four or five days, but you have not returned. I dared not carry it back. We need it tomorrow, and I was extremely anxious. If you did not return soon, these silver ingots would have to be moved from the silver shop. What would that look like?” Nanny Zhang said, pointing to the ingots as she walked.

Hearing Nanny Zhang say, “What would that look like?” Li Sangrou raised an eyebrow at her. Nanny Zhang immediately smiled and said, “The silver we pay for has to be carried out of our shop.”

Li Sangrou chuckled.

Nanny Zhang’s temper was exactly like her mistress’s.

“I heard Governor Luo has made quite a show of things?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Nanny Zhang after her smile.

“Not entirely, Governor Luo’s arrangement,” Nanny Zhang said, her sigh fading before she laughed. “They say the envoy will arrive in Yuzhang City today or tomorrow. They said a letter came from the capital half a month ago, but I do not know who wrote it; I only overheard it.”

Hearing the word “envoy,” Li Sangrou paused for a moment, then chuckled.

Hmm, this envoy was not that kind of envoy.

“This envoy, you mean the imperial envoy? What’s he coming for?” Li Sangrou asked casually, descending the steps to wash her hands and face in the courtyard, preparing for dinner.

“I do not know. He did not tell me. I overheard Governor Luo and Steward Gao talking. They did not seem to care about anyone, and they looked quite happy. At least it cannot be a bad thing.” Nanny Zhang, standing close to Li Sangrou, washed her hands while keeping her voice low, turning serious business into gossip.

“Will Governor Luo and his men be in charge of everything tomorrow?” Li Sangrou sat down, ladling a bowl of pork rib and lotus root soup as she spoke.

“They’ve definitely arranged it all. They say Advisor Zhang from the Commander’s Mansion is in charge. These past few days, whatever’s going on, Advisor Zhang’s the one giving the orders.

Advisor Zhang has asked me countless times, ‘Where does the Boss want to sit? Where do Master Chang and the others want to sit?’ How would I know?

He asks once, and I say I do not know. He asks again, and I just say I do not know again. I do not know how they arrange things.” Nanny Zhang also ladled a bowl of soup.

“They say it depends on the Boss’s wishes. Except for the Imperial Envoy’s chair, anywhere else is fine. Wherever the Boss wants to sit, they will just add a chair there tomorrow. Anyway, all the chairs are ready.” Meng Yanqing picked up a large steamed bun and added.

He had just returned from the Commander’s Mansion.

“We will just watch the excitement from downstairs. Going up there will make it even more exciting,” Li Sangrou casually remarked.

“Then we’d better get there early to secure a spot,” Nanny Zhang chuckled. “Governor Luo is very considerate. Tomorrow morning, when they welcome the imperial envoy and announce the top three winners, they have not arranged for them to be in the Tengwang Pavilion. The Tengwang Pavilion faces the Yangtze River; it is not convenient for watching the spectacle.

They’ve set up a temporary platform nearby. Has the Boss checked it out? It is over there. The platform is a bit small, but it is high enough. How high? Facing the city gate, it can accommodate as many people as they want to watch the spectacle—it’s all about the excitement.”

“We have to get up really early tomorrow to grab a spot,” Hei Ma said, looking at Xiao Lu and the others.

Xiao Lu and the others quickly nodded. “Then we have to go to bed early. We have to leave before dawn, rush out as soon as the city gates open, and ideally be the first ones out!”

They were experts at watching a spectacle.

The people at the table chatted and laughed as they finished dinner, each preparing for the next day’s spectacle.

Nanny Zhang and Meng Yanqing inspected the silver ingot one last time, then hung lanterns everywhere, illuminating the ingot and the surrounding area.

Meng Yanqing arranged for about ten men to watch over the silver ingot, each for an hour, taking turns on night watch.

The next morning, as expected, Hei Ma, Xiao Lu, and their group got up before dawn. As soon as the city gates opened, they rushed out to grab a spot.

The Old Yunmeng Guards, who loved a good spectacle, joined Hei Ma and his group, getting up early and rushing out as soon as the city gates opened. Those who were late only missed a short time to eat breakfast on the way, following the crowd, rushing off in small groups, each finding their own good spot.

Nanny Zhang, Meng Yanqing, and Dong Chao watched as the guards from the Commander’s Mansion counted the silver ingots, watched them carry them away, clapped their hands, and went back for breakfast.

Da Chang returned with breakfast, and Li Sangrou did everything as usual. By the time she got up, Nanny Zhang had already hurriedly eaten and left; the Commander’s Mansion had assigned her a task, and she had to hurry over.

Li Sangrou, Da Chang, Meng Yanqing, and Dong Chao leisurely ate their breakfast. Seeing that it was almost time, they went out to see the spectacle.

The four of them could not even squeeze through the city gate. From the gate opening, except for a narrow passage in the middle that could only accommodate two horses, the rest of the area was a sea of ​​people, a dense, dark mass of heads. However, this did not hinder the loud, clear cries of vendors, rising and falling, echoing from one side to the other in the blink of an eye.

Li Sangrou looked at the dense crowd and listened to the hawkers’ cries, full of admiration.

To be able to do business so smoothly amidst such a crowd—well, doing even such a small business required skill.

“We should have come out earlier,” Dong Chao thought, looking left and right, seeing nothing but heads, a little regretful.

“Let’s go watch the excitement from the city wall over there,” Li Sangrou said, turning her head to look around and pointing to the extended watchtower.

“That’s a great place! Let’s go!” Meng Yanqing clicked his tongue in admiration, quickly turned around, and followed Li Sangrou.

The overall coordinator of today’s grand spectacle within the city was Advisor Zhang, Governor Luo’s most trusted advisor, who was directing operations from the newly erected lookout tower nearby.

Li Sangrou found him at the foot of the lookout tower. Upon hearing that Li Sangrou wanted to watch the festivities from the corner tower, Advisor Zhang, without a word or even seeking Governor Luo’s instructions, directly took a small command token and ordered a servant to take a few people up to the city tower.

Just as Li Sangrou and her group reached the corner tower and found a good spot, a clear gong sounded from within the city gate, growing louder as it approached. Leading the way were the brightly dressed guards of the Governor Luo’s residence, followed by Governor Luo, the Grand Canal Commissioner, and other high-ranking officials of Hongzhou, slowly approaching on horseback.”

Behind Governor Luo’s group of horses and men came a troupe of scholars, including Imperial Scholar Huang, mounted on horseback. Behind them followed two large blue silk carriages, open on all sides, carrying Fourth Madam Wu née Wei, Fu Wan-niang, and two others.

Behind the carriages, Ah Ying, dressed as a maid, walked among Fourth Madam Wu née Wei’s close maids and the head stewardess.

Further behind were the top three finishers from the ten-day essay competition, walking in pairs or groups, each dressed in bright clothes, most carrying folding fans, walking with considerable poise.

Li Sangrou followed the procession, looking out from inside the city gate.

After the long procession had exited the city gate, half an hour later, three cannon shots rang out from the direction of the city’s post station, followed by the sound of gongs. The idle people, who had thought the excitement had reached outside the city, were stunned by the noise and rushed back into the city.

The area near the post station, which had been quiet, was suddenly filled with a commotion. Behind the four constables who were banging gongs and shouting for them to leave, pairs of imperial guards on horseback, carrying flags proclaiming the imperial envoy and imperial decree, emerged from the post station with an air of solemnity.

As soon as this procession of envoys appeared, the surrounding area erupted in commotion. The people, who had not expected imperial envoys to be staying at the post station, excitedly helped the young and old, calling out to their friends and family, their screams filling the air.

This procession of imperial envoys was something one might only encounter once in a lifetime!

Moreover, this time, each and every one of the imperial envoys was so young and handsome!

Li Sangrou, perched on the city wall, watched the procession of envoys approaching from the direction of the post station: the horses strutting about with an air of nonchalance; the incredibly handsome guards on horseback; and behind the guards, the even more handsome young imperial envoy, laughing incessantly.

This must be some Emperor’s twisted sense of humor! This was not an imperial decree; it was a fashion show!

Advisor Zhang, the city’s liaison officer, had somewhat anticipated this, but he never expected the imperial envoy to bring so many imperial guards! And these guards were all young, handsome, and dashing!

Yesterday, when he accompanied Governor Luo and others to pay their respects to the imperial envoy, he was already surprised by the envoy’s youth and good looks. Fortunately, he had been somewhat prepared then!

He had not expected the envoy to bring imperial guards, and he certainly had not expected such a grand display, walking with such flair!

The spectacle was far beyond his expectations.

Fortunately, Advisor Zhang was experienced and reacted quickly, with ample manpower. He quickly mobilized the garrison troops, who, hand in hand, blocked the excited, screaming onlookers along the street.

Li Sangrou looked out from inside the city gate again, laughing incessantly.

She truly loved the liveliness, the vibrant screams!

………………………………

Beside the Tengwang Pavilion, beneath the newly erected embroidered platform, Lady Wei, Wei Jingming, Fu Wannian, and Liu Rui, all dressed in their finest attire, stood ramrod straight, holding their breath.

Hearing the gong sound approaching again, Liu Rui took a deep breath and whispered to Fu Wannian, “I am a little scared.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? Come here with me!” Wei Jingming’s eyes shone brightly, clearly excited.

“Do not be afraid.” Fu Wannian nudged Liu Rui forward, gently patting her, her voice trembling slightly as she said this.

She was not afraid, just very nervous.

“It’s nothing, just going up, kneeling, and receiving the imperial decree—there will be people to help you; do not worry,” Lady Wei said in a low voice.

“We women, becoming scholars, have never been done before, have we?” Liu Rui looked at Wei Jingming, her cheeks flushed.

“It’s not that there have not been any. In previous dynasties, and even earlier ones, there were female scholars. However, those female scholars were all palace officials. If a palace official became a female scholar, she was still a palace scholar. It seems these female scholars never left the palace.” Fu Wan-niang was a bit talkative.

Talking made her less nervous.

“We are not palace scholars; we are scholars just like men,” Wei Jingming said, raising her head. “I wonder what kind of scholars we are. Hopefully, it is not something like ‘Graceful’ or ‘Humble.'”

“You are being picky!” Fourth Madam Wu née Wei rolled her eyes at Wei Jingming, then laughed. “If she were a scholar of the Wenhua Hall, your aunt would be overjoyed.” Fourth Madam Wu née Wei walked past Wei Jingming and Liu Rui, laughing at Fu Wan-niang.

Fu Wan-niang burst out laughing.

Her father-in-law, Minister Zhou, was a scholar of the Wenhua Hall. If she were also granted the title of scholar of the Wenhua Hall, her aunt would definitely bring it up to her father-in-law ten or eight times a day.

“No way! If we really become scholars of the Wenhua Hall, that’s terrifying!” Liu Rui’s eyes widened.

“Terrifying? We can handle it!” Wei Jingming raised his chin.

“You silly girl, where’s your modesty?” Fourth Madam Wu née Wei lightly patted Wei Jingming on the back.

“Sigh! I’ve never dared to think of this before, so allow me to be proud for once,” Wei Jingming sighed.

Liu Rui chuckled.

At the top of the stairs leading to Jinxiu Terrace, the servant guarding the stairs clapped his hands lightly. A servant standing not far behind Fourth Madam Wu née Wei immediately signaled, “Noble ones, it is time to go up.”

“Alright, do not be nervous; follow me,” Fourth Madam Wu née Wei turned and instructed, her throat tightening.

About ten paces away from Lady Wei and her three companions, amidst a line of maids and servants, Ah Ying stood close to Qing-Yan, Lady Wei’s head maid, her eyes dazzled by the sights.

Li Sangrou, standing in the corner tower, faced the newly erected embroidered platform.

Li Sangrou leaned over the edge of the platform, watching the imperial envoy first raise the gilded plaque inscribed with the Emperor’s own calligraphy of the Tengwang Pavilion, then watching as the envoy presented a second imperial decree, loudly proclaiming it to the kneeling Lady Wei and her three companions.

Li Sangrou did not hear it clearly, but it meant that Lady Wei and the other three, based on their scholarship and character, were being promoted to Grand Scholars of the Yunlang Hall.

Li Sangrou rested her chin on her hand, smiling as she watched the four elegantly dressed women on the platform.

Grand Scholars of the Yunlang Hall, hmm, sounded impressive.

“In the Yanfu Palace, where the late Empress Zhang lived, there was a warm pavilion called Yunlang Pavilion, which was said to be the late Empress Zhang’s study,” Meng Yanqing said to Li Sangrou with emotion, looking at the brocade platform in the distance.