Peace Order-Chapter 1550 - 17: Eminent Officials and Jumping Clowns
Within the imperial city of the Central State, it remains as harmonious as ever.
Or perhaps, it may be even more harmonious than before, considering the chaos of the world three years prior, when the formidable figures tore at each other and fought incessantly, naturally neglecting the ’tribute’ to the Central State.
But now, it is different; the gray wolves and fierce tigers of the world have retreated, allowing these great men to become active again, stretching their limbs and doing what they ought to be doing.
The Central State once again becomes bustling, with trading companies lively, people coming and going.
A daughter is born to the Red Emperor Ji Zichang of the Central State, and the eminent officials plan to celebrate grandly for Ji Zichang’s daughter to usher in a new [Golden Age], yet Ji Zichang is not happy about this.
He holds Noble Consort Wen’s arm, looking at the luxurious and gilded invitations on the desk, and the list of gifts, his expression melancholic, reminiscences of his son who lived for seven years and one hundred thirty-two days, and of his several daughters.
Three years ago, he told Li Guanyi he had several daughters, which were in fact two.
Only within the past few years, the eldest daughter had been promised a marriage but drowned and passed away, while the second daughter grew weak from illness, with the Taoist Sect showing mercy, personally visiting her but ultimately advising she should not be among royalty, and enabled her to leave the palace for a life of spiritual practice.
All these events occurred three years ago, during Marquis Qin Wu’s uprising, and subsequent departure to the Western Regions, as Ji Zichang tried to leverage this great situation to gradually reclaim authority, after which these events transpired.
In such chaotic times, the daughters of the royal family, the noble lineage of the world, are like leaves in the wind, mere chips on a table; Ji Zichang was intractably tormented, even as he sought revenge, fully understanding everything before wielding his blade to slay the murderer, sentenced by Ling Chi.
But, killing one person, a group of people.
Blood drips down upon the earth.
The officials bow their heads in salute, a silence without end.
Yet, as he looks at the countless people below, some even connected by blood or kin.
They bow with folded hands beneath the palace, the depths of their eyes resembling the deep gaze of a wolf.
Their ancestors once fought valiantly under tremendous pressure, uprising amidst chaos for the people, yet after hundreds of years, they have become like this.
Is this what the end of an imperial era looks like?
Amidst this ploy, Ji Zichang feels as though trapped in a mire, his every move bound by myriad threads, that even slight movement would provoke all surrounding forces.
Noble Consort Wen watches him with some worry, softly saying:
"They say it is to celebrate the child’s birth..."
The child has been born for several months, and many royal nobles, ministers, and marquises wish to congratulate together; Ji Zichang silently agrees after a long pause, faced with overwhelming circumstances, he grips Noble Consort Wen’s hand gently, saying: "I will protect the child..."
Noble Consort Wen gently holds his hand.
Ji Zichang and Noble Consort Wen together go to visit their child, the little baby is no longer like a newborn, its face slightly wrinkled, now looking quite adorable.
Ji Zichang gently and cautiously touches his daughter’s cheeks with his fingers.
Even if a monarch, at this moment, he is only a father worried for his child, Ji Zichang’s heart, once battling monsters in this waning dynasty, softens.
In this moment, he feels willing to give everything for his daughter, with an uncontrollable faint pain in his heart, delicately and deeply spreading.
On the following day, the emperor departs for the other palace, with Noble Consort Wen and the princess to arrive at the royal courtyard, Ji Zichang carries the Divine Weapon of the Red Emperor, never straying from the trio’s side, surrounded by the Imperial Army in strict formation.
Ministers and officials all come bearing gifts, congratulating the princess’s birth with stores filled with tokens, the ministers cheerful, dance and music abound, fostering a dazed sense of prosperity and peace.
Zither sound, dancing, and the aroma of wine intoxicate.
Amidst the banquet, suddenly a Marquis rises, after offering formal tea without fault, he suddenly laughs, raises his cup and speaks: "Today, the world is settled, the princess is born, indeed a sign of auspiciousness."
"I have a grandson too, just two years old, born fair and beautiful, hahaha, I wonder if there’s an opportunity with the princess of our Red Emperor lineage, hehe, for a good marriage!"
Ji Zichang, holding wine, halts, his brow slightly drawn.
Noble Consort Wen tightens her hand within her sleeve.
Another slams a cup upon the table, rises angrily: "How bold! What nonsense you speak, your grandson, coarse in appearance, inherited none of his mother’s beauty, yet perfectly mirrored his father’s face!"
"Does he deserve our Red Emperor lineage’s princess!"
The former elder trembles with rage: "You, you!"
"Brutes, uncivilized!!!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
The elder who rose disregards this, merely turns to bow with hands folded, says: "Your Majesty, my grandson, now five, already literate, reciting poetry, grasping a sword and swinging, with skill in the Red Emperor swordsmanship, even grasping three parts mastery."
Ji Zichang says indifferently: "Mengyun Uncle, your family once married a daughter from my Ji clan."
