"Inside the southern gate of the North Palace of Luoyang, an extremely harmonious scene appeared:"
After Cao Rui signaled to the ladies, he walked straight into the palace. Maopin and Sun Xiaoyi seemed to have exchanged some secret codes as they naturally followed him from the crowd, one on his left and one on his right.
The three of them chatted and laughed as they walked inward. Not far from the departure of the emperor, Empress Guo stern-facedly began to instruct a group of concubines to return to their respective quarters.
Returning to the North Palace felt like going home. The current scene could indeed be described as "left holding and right carrying." However, Cao Rui was not as anxious as Empress Guo had imagined. After entering the hall, the first thing he did was lean against the armchair.
"Come, you two, massage me," Cao Rui's smile curved up a bit: "Big Tiger is behind, Yan'er is in front."
Ma Yan and Sun Lubaan exchanged a glance, smiling shyly or sweetly, and then each found her own place, beginning to knead Cao Rui's forehead while gently tapping on his legs at the same time.
"The emperor has suffered outside, and he will be fine when he returns to the palace, where we can both serve him as sisters," Sun Lubaan's white, delicate fingers gently touched his temple while her body leaned against Cao Rui's back, lowering her head to whisper in his ear.
Ma Yan raised her left sleeve to hide her smile, and then lowered it, changing from light tapping to rubbing with the palm.
"From Luoyang to Xiangping alone is four thousand miles, and I've also been to many places like Xuanchang, Yanmen, and Dai Prefecture. The journey has long exceeded ten thousand miles," said Emperor Cao Rui with his eyes closed, his expression relaxed. "After so many battles, it's about time I enjoyed some leisure."
"I remember when I left Luoyang, you two didn't call each other sisters," said the emperor.
Ma Yan smiled softly and said, "Your Majesty has been away from Luoyang for so long that when I have leisure, I can only chat with Big Tiger to alleviate my boredom. Gradually, our relationship has become closer, and we naturally call each other sisters."
Just now, when Sun Lubaan received Cao Yan during his arrival, she lowered Cao Yan and let him run up to her first. Emperor Cao Rui saw this, but did not remind or point it out.
Compared to the cunning and mysterious struggles in politics, the subtle schemes and tricks in the palace are as childish as a child's play. Even though Emperor Cao Rui noticed them, he merely laughed it off. Such minor matters, let her be.
"Your two relations are harmonious, and I think it's good," said Emperor Cao Rui softly. "I haven't seen Su Huan come to welcome you. Is she still recuperating?"
"The emperor is right," said Emperor Cao Rui with a low tone. Ma Yan also lowered her voice: "Su beauty is delicate and still recovering in the palace. The doctor said she couldn't see the wind or people, and it may take another month to recover."
"There are many things to attend to in Luoyang, and I'll go see her tomorrow," said Emperor Cao Rui. "Tonight, there's also a banquet." He continued, "Do you know the Jing family of Wuji?"
Sun Lubaan spoke softly from behind: "I know, the Jing family of Wuji is the emperor's mother's family."
Cao Rui said, "After the funeral of the Empress Dowager Wu Xuan, I appointed Wan Lan of the Ban family as the Commander of Foot Soldiers in Yecheng to succeed Duan Zhao. Before setting out from Yecheng, I also appointed Zhen Xiang of the Zhen family as the Commander of the Crossbow Cavalry; he is also my cousin."
"Nowadays, the concubines who give birth to heirs in the palace, I can reward them with several official positions in their homes."
Cao Rui opened his eyes and looked at Ma Yan: "Where is your brother Mao Zeng now? Is he in Luoyang or Henan?"
Ma Yan became more cautious in her words upon being asked about her family: "Your Majesty, Mao Zeng entered the Taixue in the seventh year of the Huangchu reign. After graduating last year, he temporarily stayed in Luoyang to be a gentleman-at-arms. After the New Year, he wrote to me asking if I could arrange an official post for him, saying that there were no government departments for him in Luoyang."
"Such matters, the lady dares not make decisions or act on her own, so she sent Mao Zeng back to Henan," said Cao Rui.
Cao Rui licked his lips: "He's nineteen, right?"
Ma Yan nodded: "He's nineteen, and he can wear the formal cap next year."
Cao Rui scoffed and smiled: "Yan'er, do you know that the sons of some high-ranking officials in the court became clerks at the state office at the age of twenty-two? My sister's husband, nineteen years old, was kept a secret as an outsider and had no foothold in Luoyang."
"You will write a letter tonight and send it out. Tell Mao Zeng to come to Luoyang to see me, without any delay."
The position of a prefectural official is not something that just anyone can achieve. It requires someone of great virtue and talent who is well-respected in the state. How can someone be promoted to such a position at the age of twenty-two?"
Ma Yan, being considerate, did not pursue this question. She nodded slightly and the decorative pendulum on her hairpin swayed with her gesture: "The lady understands. I will call him to come to Luoyang."
Cao Rui asked again, "How is your father's health?"
Ma Yan said: "Thanks to the emperor's blessings, my father's health is good and does not require Your Majesty's concern."
Cao Rui nodded slightly: "I remember that your family is in Bo Ping Village of Ye Wang County, Yelin District in Henan Province, right?"
Ma Yan thought for a moment before softly laughing: "When I was in the palace, I mentioned it to the emperor once, and I haven't mentioned it since. It seems the emperor still remembers."
"I remember," said Cao Rui. "When someone is granted a title, it is most honored to be given the title in their hometown. I will grant him the title of Bo Ping Village Duke and grant him 800 households."
"Liege," Ma Yan looked at Cao Rui with a pair of soft eyes, not declining nor thanking him immediately, but blinking her eyes and saying, "Your subject is somewhat confused."
Cao Rui extended his right hand to gently touch Ma Yan's side face and said, "There's nothing for Yan'er to understand. As one loves, everything else follows. Is this how you like it?"
Ma Yan gracefully rose, bowed to the ground and bowed, "My subject thanks the emperor for his generous gifts on behalf of her father!"
Cao Rui made a sound of disapproval: "Why bow? Come here and rub my legs for me."
"Yes," Ma Yan's cheeks faintly flushed, and she stood up to return to her previous position. Behind her, Sun Lubaan massaged Cao Rui's legs while slowing down her actions, perhaps because she was somewhat distracted.
Cao Rui did not ask Sun Lubaan but looked at Ma Yan and said: "The late emperor was suspicious of the family of the empress's family, merely to prevent the old events of the Han Dynasty when the prime minister held power. When Mao Zeng comes to Luoyang, I will arrange a position for him in the Ministry of Lessers, either overseeing horses or managing ceremonial processions. It should not be that he can't even eat a mouthful of Wei's rations."
Ma Yan bit her lip, and her eyes began to glisten slightly. Though she was in the royal palace, seeing her own brother disliked and even suffering from the mockery of scholars in Luoyang was unsettling. Now that her husband had returned to Luoyang, she felt a sense of stability. In less than half an hour, with his words of gold and grace, everything had turned for the better.
"And Yan'er's father," Cao Rui paused for a moment, "is still the maternal grandfather of the crown prince. Given his talents are not suited for official positions, a title of a Duke is enough to bring peace to his ancestors."
Ma Yan paused her movements, stopped the massage, and then embraced Emperor Cao Rui's right arm with her arms, leaning her whole body against his side: "As Your Majesty commands."
Sun Lubaan did not receive any orders, so she couldn't stop her movements. Seeing the scene before her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dissatisfaction.
Not only because of the rewards for Ma Yan's father and brother, but also because her family was the number one enemy of Wei. Moreover, it was due to Ma Yan's tactics - she was gradually pushing herself onto half of the emperor's body!
What was the trick she had played at the South Gate just now compared to this?
……
In the evening, the Chongde Palace was brightly lit, as if it were daylight. Hua Xin was unable to attend due to illness, but all the remaining ministers and officials were present.
In the evening, the Chongde Hall was brightly lit as if it were day. Guoxiang from the west pavilion, Sima Yi and Wei Zhen from the east pavilion, all nine-minute officials present, including Cao Zhi, a newly appointed Grand Master of Emissaries. The six departments of Shangshu - Wei Jiu, Fu Xun, Wu Zhou, Yang Ji, Xu Xuan, and Xu Miang were all there. Liusai right supervisor Liu Ye and left supervisor Wang Guan were also present. The home-staying Weijun General Cao Hong, Gongweng General Gao Tanglong and Zhongwen General Zhi Chang were also here.
Xin Bi and Pei Qian, the two stewards, were also present.
The Xiao Ying General Wang Ling's ten thousand foot soldiers under his command were still on the road from Datong to Luoyang and had not yet arrived at the banquet.
It can be said that, except for the full Meng who was still on his way back, all the high officials in Luoyang had arrived.
As the banquet gradually began, congratulatory words were inevitable. Drink after drink was poured and consumed, and the atmosphere quickly became lively. Thanks to the process of the Cao family rising from obscurity to prominence, whether it was Cao Cao, Cao Pi, or now Emperor Cao Rui, they were able to enjoy drinking with their subjects to their heart's content.
It was not as though the emperor in the Han court isolated himself from his subjects.
When the atmosphere became lively with drinking, Emperor Cao Rui raised his right hand with the wine vessel and looked at Guo Zhao's direction with a smile: "Why doesn't Guo-public not drink? I just saw you drinking wine without pouring, is it fake?"
The emperor was never one to change his face abruptly. When the emperor is smiling, it's perfectly fine for ministers to smile alongside him.
Guo Zhao, slightly helpless, stood up and bowed his hands. He poured the wine into his cup and drank it clean, then turned the cup upside down to show that he had finished drinking.
Emperor Cao Rui laughed and slapped the table: "I ask Guo Zhao, Guo Zhao has just drunk, this is not appropriate. It seems that I must add some responsibilities to Guo Zhao!" (This chapter ends)
