Holding leverage was an important source of confidence that allowed the original owner to act recklessly and lawlessly at court.
When the system learned that Shen Du held no such leverage at all, it was almost driven to death of anger by this Shen Du who spent all day eating, drinking, and sleeping.
Furthermore, the imperial banquet was fast approaching, a minor Shura field in the original plot. The system certainly did not want Shen Du to be eliminated in the first round of the banquet, leaving it with the hassle of going through the process again to find a host, rebind, and restart the mission.
Running back and forth wasted far too much time.
Within the bounds permitted by the rules, the system did not mind turning a blind eye. After all, it had been a long time since it encountered such a pleasing host.
This year’s imperial banquet was personally overseen by Commander Kang, who led guards to inspect the palace gates. From daylight to deep night, until the palace lanterns illuminated the grounds, the Shen family carriage finally arrived in a leisurely manner.
Commander Kang had originally been patrolling with high vigilance, but upon spotting the Shen family carriage, he immediately stepped forward and even personally extended a hand to help Shen Du down from the vehicle.
“Lord Shen, everyone else has already arrived, and no abnormalities have been found.” Commander Kang had not originally held this position; at least when His Majesty ascended the throne, another commander had been in charge. It was only after a certain incident that the original owner elevated Commander Kang to the post.
Commander Kang was also a man who remembered kindness. Knowing full well that his status was merely that of a blade in His Majesty’s hands, he still chose to remain close to Shen Du and follow Shen Du’s directives.
“Good. Remember to deploy more guards around the banquet area. If any suspicious individuals appear, detain them immediately. I will take responsibility for the consequences,” Shen Du said softly, keeping his voice low so others wouldn’t overhear. Commander Kang nodded hurriedly in acknowledgment, then cast his gaze backward.
He saw Ming Qing and Ming Ling stepping down from the Shen family carriage. Shen Du’s lips curved slightly before he introduced them to the officer: “Commander Kang, this is my teacher, Elder Ming, and this is Elder Ming’s daughter, whose hand was bestowed by the late emperor’s personal decree to General Lu as his primary wife.”
Elder Ming hurriedly bowed to acknowledge Commander Kang, but upon hearing Shen Du address the old man as his teacher, Commander Kang quickly returned the courtesy. “Lord Ming is a pillar of the imperial court, and this subordinate has long admired him. It’s just that ever since taking office, official duties have kept me too busy to pay a visit. I hope Lord Ming will forgive me. Once Miss Ming is wed, this subordinate will surely send a generous wedding gift.”
Commander Kang then smiled faintly and nodded toward Ming Ling. Ming Ling curtsied gracefully, offered words of thanks to Commander Kang, and then dutifully remained standing behind Ming Qing.
Ming Qing waved his hand hastily upon hearing this. Commander Kang currently commanded the Imperial City Guard, and countless court officials had to grant him a measure of respect, to say nothing of Ming Qing himself, an old official who had long since retired from court.
“Thank you, Commander Kang, for keeping this old man in your thoughts. I am merely an old official permitted by the late emperor to retire and live out my years in the capital. When my daughter’s wedding takes place, I will surely have my steward personally deliver the invitation to your residence.”
As the group exchanged pleasantries with smiles, Shen Du checked the time, then led Ming Qing and Ming Ling into the banquet hall. The seating arrangement for the banquet had originally been set by the Empress Dowager, but Shen Du had taken one look at it and altered it entirely.
Now, Shen Du’s seat was positioned at the lower left of His Majesty, while the Empress Dowager sat directly across from Shen Du. Prince Lin’an and Lu Shu were seated further down below Shen Du and the Empress Dowager.
The seats for Ming Qing and Ming Ling had been arranged by Shen Du in advance, and palace maids escorted them to their places the moment they stepped inside.
Accompanying Shen Du closely was Head Eunuch Deshun.
After leading Shen Du back to his seat and taking the opportunity to pour wine, Deshun knelt behind Shen Du and whispered, “Lord Shen, a disturbance broke out in the Empress Dowager’s quarters today. I am afraid she might make a scene during the banquet. My godfather asked this servant to remind you to remain vigilant.”
Shen Du was well aware of this. The Empress Dowager had only found out about this seating arrangement today. She had originally intended to sit above His Majesty and have Prince Lin’an share the dais with the young emperor. Never had she expected Shen Du to rearrange everything.
To change the seating so that he and the Empress Dowager sat face-to-face was undoubtedly a way of telling the Empress Dowager that he truly stood beneath one person and above ten thousand, and that even the Empress Dowager could not trample over his head.
There was no sharper torture than breaking someone’s spirit like this.
Shen Du was rather curious to see what kind of expression the Empress Dowager would wear once she arrived and saw the seating layout. It was bound to be quite a sight.
When the Empress Dowager and Prince Lin’an arrived, all the officials rose to bow and pay respects, yet Shen Du remained seated in his place, motionless.
The Empress Dowager gritted her teeth in fury, but did not dare to voice her anger directly. Clearly, she was still restrained by the memory of Shen Du sending the Imperial City Guard barging into her quarters to make arrests last time, and thus lacked the courage to act rashly.
Prince Lin’an, on the other hand, paid no mind to his mother’s thoughts. He picked up his wine cup and walked straight toward Shen Du’s direction, a warm and gentle smile gracing his face, making him look very much like an erudite scholar.
“Shen Du, long time no see.” Xie Zhen looked at Shen Du, his gaze locked unblinkingly upon him.
Shen Du’s facial features were exquisite. Although he was still young, the contours of his future appearance were already visible. Back when he was a child in the palace, Prince Lin’an had actually quite enjoyed playing with Shen Du.
Shen Du was handsome and possessed a soft, dough-like gentleness, looking precisely like a little rice dumpling. Prince Lin’an never expected that as he grew up, his frame would stretch out and his temperament would turn even colder than it had been in childhood.
Yet this only served to hook deeper into Prince Lin’an’s heart.
“Xie Zhen, it certainly has been a long time.” Shen Du merely gave a slight nod, offering a perfunctory reply while his gaze remained fixed on the entrance of the banquet hall.
Xie Zhen still wanted to say something, but the sharp voice of Eunuch De sounded from outside.
The shrill announcement instantly subdued the murmurs and chatter of the court officials inside the banquet hall. Everyone hurried back to their respective seats to bow and kowtow in greeting to His Majesty.
Shen Du stood up and bowed his head slightly, showing his respect for the young emperor.
Shen Du’s attitude toward the young emperor was vastly superior to the demeanor he had shown when the Empress Dowager appeared moments earlier.
Standing beside Shen Du, Xie Zhen observed Shen Du’s expression with absolute clarity. It was not until Xie Min walked up to the highest seat that Shen Du heard Xie Min’s steady voice ring out: “My lords, please rise.”
“Today’s imperial banquet celebrates the arrival of the new year. Everyone, feel free to relax.”
Satisfaction filled Shen Du’s heart. This was Xie Min’s first imperial banquet since ascending the throne, and it absolutely could not afford any flaws.
Initially, Shen Du had harbored some anxieties, but looking at it now, every single action and word of Xie Min was flawless.
After Shen Du sat back down, he paid Xie Zhen no further heed. With a helpless expression, Xie Zhen could only return to his own seat.
The banquet commenced with melodious music and graceful dances. Palace maids shuttled back and forth serving dishes to the guests, and the sound of social pleasantries among the officials gradually grew louder.
The most conspicuous spot among them was undoubtedly Lu Shu’s table.
While dealing with the surrounding ministers who came to toast him, Lu Shu kept scanning the area, searching for Ming Ling’s designated seat as pointed out by the eunuch earlier.
However, the section reserved for female guests was shielded by folding screens, and after searching for a long time, Lu Shu failed to catch sight of the person he wished to see. Instead, his absent-mindedness was noticed by a nearby court official.
“I wonder which noble lady General Lu is searching for with such focus?” the minister joked, not really expecting an answer from Lu Shu. After all, under the watchful eyes of the public, voicing such thoughts would only invite idle speculation.
Little did the ministers expect that this casual remark would be overheard by Shen Du. Shen Du laughed aloud and said clearly, “Naturally, it is General Lu’s unwed bride.”
Shen Du’s interjection instantly reminded everyone present that Lu Shu still held a betrothal decree bestowed by the late emperor.
Yet this marriage engagement had been delayed time and time again, eventually becoming a running joke among the populace.
Who would have thought that Lu Shu actually intended to fulfill the engagement after all?
Shen Du nodded toward Xie Min, and the young emperor immediately spoke in a deep, resonant voice, “General Lu has journeyed far to the border, serving for three whole years and securing repeated victories. It is the fortune of our dynasty. Eunuch De.”
Xie Min turned his head slightly and watched as Eunuch De produced an imperial decree. “His Majesty has an edict!”
At today’s banquet, Lu Shu was not the only general attending; the deputy generals and officers who had returned alongside him were present as well.
The emperor’s rewards flowed like water toward these military commanders. They had risked their lives for everyone at the border, and the court naturally would not forget to honor them.
Even the soldiers who had been disabled or injured in battle were granted generous rewards by Shen Du, allowing them to return to their hometowns in glory and prosperity.
The commanders deserving of promotions received them, and those worthy of rewards received their share without omission.
Lu Shu himself was directly conferred the title of Great General Defending the Country, alongside gifts of fertile lands, gold, and silver, creating a magnificent spectacle that captured all eyes.
“The marriage between General Lu and Miss Ming was bestowed by the late emperor and must not be treated lightly. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has long since selected an auspicious date. This old servant hereby congratulates General Lu on your double blessings today!” Eunuch De beamed, bowing to offer his congratulations to Lu Shu.
“Lu Shu kowtows to thank His Majesty for this boundless grace! Long live His Majesty, long live, long live his majesty!” Lu Shu dropped to his knees and kowtowed. This scene caused the Empress Dowager, who was already displeased, to feel an even sharper pang of heartache.
She had not expected Xie Min to disregard the political balance of the court and allow Ming Ling and Lu Shu to complete their marriage. Regardless of future developments, Lu Shu would likely become part of the emperor’s faction from this point onward. Still, it was merely a marriage decree, she thought to herself.
The court officials were stunned. Those who had still harbored thoughts of marrying their own daughters into the Lu household froze in place. They had assumed that engagement was dead and buried after three long years, never imagining it would be brought up again today, and raised by His Majesty himself. What an immense honor this was.
The previously isolated seat of Elder Ming gradually grew crowded as officials hurried over one after another, raising their cups and offering congratulatory toasts.
Only Elder Ming knew that these people were paying court solely for Lu Shu’s sake.
“General Lu, Elder Sister Ling is my adoptive older sister. You had better treat her well, or else I won’t mind letting General Lu experience my methods firsthand.”
Shen Du’s sudden declaration instantly stunned the ministers, whose hidden motives were left spinning. Earlier, they had merely been surprised by whether the emperor’s promotions and rewards were overly lavish.
Yet Shen Du’s remark directly anchored Lu Shu and Ming Ling firmly to his own faction.
An adoptive older sister, combined with the fact that Ming Qing was Shen Du’s teacher.
Whose side Lu Shu would stand on from now on went without saying.
“Lord Shen, rest assured. I, Lu Shu, will never fail Ming Ling. With His Majesty as our witness, should there ever come a day when Lu Shu breaks this oath, may heaven and earth strike me down and let man and god alike forsake me!”
The Empress Dowager’s sharp gaze landed on Shen Du, only to see the very person who had nearly upended all her schemes lazily tilt his wine cup toward her before draining it in a single gulp.
This was both a provocation and a warning.
In the women’s seating area, the eyes of everyone present were fixed upon Ming Ling, their hearts filled with envy at how overwhelmingly fortunate she was.
Who could have imagined that the female protagonist whose marriage was treated as a joke not too long ago would overnight become someone they needed to curry favor with?
Her fiancé was the newly titled Great General Defending the Country, Lu Shu, and her adoptive younger brother was the imperial tutor holding power over all others, Shen Du. With such a background, who would ever dare ridicule Ming Ling again?
“My heartfelt congratulations to Elder Sister Ling on your impending nuptials. In a few days, my mother is hosting a plum-blossom viewing banquet for the noble ladies of the capital at our estate, and she specifically asked me to invite you. Sister, you simply must come.”
“Indeed, Sister Ming Ling, we never knew Lord Shen was your adoptive younger brother…”
The young noblewomen spoke with practiced familiarity, as though they frequently socialized together on ordinary days.
“Du’er is my father’s student, and he has called me Elder Sister Ling since we were children. These are all matters of the past, so there is no need to make such a grand fuss over them.”
Ming Ling nodded toward the crowd, choosing not to dig up past grievances to settle accounts one by one. She had to consider Shen Du, who was bolstering her standing, as well as her future husband.
Although noble daughters held no real political power, there was no telling which minister’s wife any of them might become in the future.
Cultivating good relations was always better than making enemies.
[What? The wine in Minmin’s cup is poisoned?!] Shen Du was still internally marveling at his own resourcefulness, having secured two powerful backers in one stroke, which was practically perfection, when he was suddenly startled awake by the system’s warning, instantly jolted out of his pleasant daydream.