Chapter 99: The Emperor Holds a Banquet, Officials Attend in Attendance

Page 1 of 3

The moment Yan Dong entered the hall, his body sank, and his knees struck the floor as though nailed there. Holding the tray aloft with both hands, he remained utterly motionless. His voice rose sharply with delight as he cried, “This old servant offers His Majesty his congratulations! The Earl of Chang’an’s method has succeeded. From five pounds of poisonous salt, three and a half pounds of pure salt have been obtained. This old servant has tested it himself. It is harmless!”

The instant those final words were spoken, all the assembled ministers prostrated themselves and cried in unison, “Your servants congratulate Your Majesty and congratulate the Great Tang!”

“Excellent, excellent! Rise, all of you. You may stand!”

Li Shimin’s face shone with delight, and even his voice sounded far more spirited than before. He strode down from the imperial throne, seized a handful of salt, and rubbed it vigorously between his fingers. Satisfied, he flicked the grains from his hand and climbed the steps again before announcing, “Issue my decree. When the Earl of Chang’an returns to the capital, the Crown Prince shall lead Master Li and Yuchi Gong thirty miles beyond the city to welcome him. I shall host a banquet at the imperial palace, with all the officials in attendance.”

“Your servants obey the decree!”

The ministers answered in unison. Yet many of them felt uneasy. Cai Cong’s reputation was bound to grow more illustrious by the day. Even so, beneath their discomfort lay a measure of admiration. He was no sycophant who had risen by currying favor; everything he possessed today had been earned through his own efforts.

This could not go on. Once they returned home, they would have to discipline their own sons. Other people’s children were accomplishing extraordinary things before they even knew who their fathers were. How could they be so capable? They did not demand the same level of brilliance—one-tenth would suffice. No, even one-hundredth would do!

Every man present was thinking along those lines. That night, Chang’an was destined to become a city of tears and bloodshed for countless noble young masters.

At Cai Family Village, Cai Jie carried her son’s letter to the academy. No one in the Cai family’s ancestral graveyard had ever been buried as a literate man, and Cai Jie was afraid that if she sought out one of the children studying basic lessons, they might not understand the letter.

The other teachers at the academy were all lecturing. Only Zhao Zhujie was sitting there with a bamboo slip in hand, pondering the deeds of an assassin from the Spring and Autumn period.

“Cai Jie pays her respects to Grandfather Zhao!”

At the doorway, Lady Jie’er curtsied gracefully. After several months of training, she had acquired ever more of a noblewoman’s bearing; every movement she made conformed perfectly to propriety.

“So it is Jie’er! What brings you here to visit these old bones today? Has the palace lady assigned to you not been forcing you to practice your etiquette?” Zhao Zhujie asked with a broad smile.

At the words “palace lady,” Cai Jie’s heart trembled with fear. She instinctively glanced from side to side before sticking out her tongue and saying, “I sneaked out. Cong’er has sent a letter, Grandfather Zhao. Could you please tell me what it says?”

Cai Jie was studying as well. The palace lady was not merely teaching her etiquette; she was also teaching her to read and write—in short, everything a noble family’s daughter-in-law ought to know. This showed how much attention the Empress was paying to Cai Cong. For an ordinary newly ennobled noblewoman, the tutors would teach only the etiquette required when meeting the Emperor and Empress. As for everything else, no one would care. If she embarrassed herself, that was her own affair.

“A trivial matter. Bring it here and let me see.”

Page 2 of 3

Smiling, Zhao Zhujie accepted the letter and squinted at it. His eyesight had deteriorated with age, while Cai Cong’s handwriting was exceedingly small. Only after a long while did he raise his head and exclaim, “What a righteous man!”

“Cai Cong was attacked by rebels in Gongyi and found himself in grave danger. The enemy had a master archer. Just as Cai Cong was about to be shot, Gan Xinda threw himself forward to save his lord. He was pierced through by a dozen arrows and died, while Cai Cong emerged unharmed. Afterward, the soldiers removed no fewer than eight arrowheads from Gan Xinda’s body.

“Cai Cong says that without Gan Xinda’s self-sacrifice, he would certainly have died. He hopes you will send five thousand strings of cash to Gan Xinda’s family and see whether they require any other assistance.”

“He saved my son’s life! Dongzhu, take my token to the treasury and withdraw five thousand strings of cash. Qiu Yue, go ask Weiguo where Gan Xinda’s home is. He delivered New Year’s gifts there before, so he should know.”

The two women answered and hurried away. Only then did Cai Jie sink weakly to the ground. Raising her pale face, she asked in bewilderment, “Grandfather Zhao, what exactly has Cong’er gone off to do? Why are so many people trying to kill him?”

“If he wishes to establish a great and powerful household, how could he avoid making enemies? Whatever Cong’er does, you are his mother. All you need to do is support him. Do not become a burden at his back.”

Uncle Master slowly entered the room and addressed Cai Jie sternly. Since ancient times, indulgent mothers had ruined their sons. Cai Cong was gifted, intelligent, and self-reliant; only because of that had he avoided being ruined by Cai Jie’s excessive tenderness. Uncle Master had no wish to see her become an obstacle to the Cai family’s rise.

“Elder Brother Zhao, forgive her. This girl simply loves her son and has lost her composure,” Uncle Master said with a laugh.

Cai Jie hurriedly rose. In this world, the person she loved most was her son, and the person she feared most was the old man standing before her.

“Brother Cai, what are you saying? This child is pure-hearted and kind by nature. I am delighted whenever I look at her. By the way, Cai Cong said he wished to send money to Gan Xinda’s family. You may handle the matter openly and honorably. Let the people of Chang’an know that your Cai family repays every debt of gratitude; it will spread your good name as well.”

Zhao Zhujie spoke plainly and briskly. The old gentleman knew only a few of the largest written characters, yet he insisted on affecting an air of refinement and speaking in ornate, scholarly phrases. At times, his words were neither one thing nor the other—not only inviting laughter, but leaving everyone unable to understand him. After a while, people simply spoke to him in plain language for the sake of convenience.

A flicker of temptation passed through the old gentleman’s eyes, but he immediately suppressed it. In his simple, earnest manner, he said, “Brother, that will not do. Gratitude should remain pure and untainted. If we mix it with self-interest and trickery, how could we ever face our ancestors in the world below? Besides, our old Cai family already owes the Xinda household a debt of shame. If we exploit them at a time like this, would we still be human?”

“Hahahaha! Brother Cai, for those words alone, you are a hundred times more noble than those great aristocratic clans. With a worthy man like you in the family, and a remarkable hero like Cai Cong, your Cai family is destined to prosper!”

Zhao Zhujie laughed heartily. He liked people such as this far more than those aristocratic houses steeped in corruption and hidden filth.

“Thank you for your kind words, Elder Brother. Jie’er, you may go. That man gave his life for Cong’er. You must treat his family with due courtesy. Do not grow careless or condescending merely because you have become a noblewoman. Do you understand?”

“Your grandniece understands. Please rest assured. Grandfather Zhao, Cai Jie takes her leave.”

After curtsying, Lady Jie’er withdrew in small, measured steps.

Page 3 of 3

Zhao Zhujie laughed and said, “I do not know why, but I still prefer the Cai Jie who was bold and energetic, the one who would take her maids and charge into military camps whenever she wanted to see her son. Seeing the girl like this now is truly awkward.”

“Indeed, Elder Brother. Yet gain and sacrifice always go together. Once one has obtained something, one must give something in return. That is the law of Heaven.”

“Brother Cai, do not think that because you know little of books, you lack wisdom. Your insight is extraordinary! Come, let us have some tea. I must say, the tea Cai Cong came up with is excellent. When you are tired, a strong cup restores you; when you are idle, a light one brings comfort. How delightful!”

Five thousand taels of silver filled an entire carriage. Several additional carts were loaded with grain, meat, tonics, and anything else Cai Jie could think of. No amount of repayment could ever be excessive for a life-saving kindness.

They set out early the next morning. The Gan family lived in the western market of Chang’an. Guided by Weiguo, Cai Jie arrived there shortly before noon and stopped outside a small courtyard.

The Gan family had long since fallen into ruin. When Gan Xinda’s father was young, he had yearned for the life of a wandering knight-errant and traveled throughout the world, squandering his vast ancestral estate. Only after seeing his wife and children fall into hardship did he finally awaken to reality. He joined the army and earned military merit, eventually saving enough to purchase the house before them.

Qiu Yue stepped forward and knocked. The door opened a crack, and a little girl poked out her head. Blinking, she asked, “Whom are you looking for?”

Qiu Yue handed her a calling card and said with a smile, “Little sister, Lady Xiaojia has come to pay her respects to Uncle and Aunt Gan. Are they at home?”

The little girl accepted the card and pretended to examine it before smiling. “They are. Please wait a moment. I will go tell my grandfather.”

With a creak, the door closed again. Before long, hurried footsteps sounded from within. A sturdy middle-aged man came out and said, “I, Gan Wenxing, together with my wife and daughter, respectfully welcome Lady Xiaojia. My lady, please come inside.”

End of Chapter