The group travelled in silence, enjoying the mountain views and scenery along the way. After a full day, they arrived at Yizhou City around three quarters past three in the afternoon.
Old Huang navigated several streets and soon reached the alley behind the prefectural yamen. As they turned into the lane and approached the rear of the yamen, two constables stepped forward with hands on their sabres. “Who goes there? This is restricted yamen ground. If you have taken a wrong turn, leave at once!”
Before Old Huang could speak, the door curtain ahead was lifted, and Du Yueyao appeared. “Old He, it is me.”
“Miss!” The lead constable started in surprise, then immediately released his sabre hilt and bowed repeatedly. “Greetings, eldest miss. I shall inform the prefect at once!”
He directed the younger constable behind him to guide the carriage, then dashed through the yamen’s rear gate.
Moments later, Old Huang and Yue Honghai were shown to a side courtyard to settle in. As Lu Zheng and the other three entered the rear courtyard, they saw Du Yuru and Madam Du approaching together.
“Lu lang has arrived! And Miss Liu, Miss Shen, come in quickly!” Madam Du first glanced at Du Yueyao with delight, then hurried forward, taking Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying each by the hand and leading them towards the inner hall.
Du Yuru nodded to Du Yueyao, then walked shoulder to shoulder with Lu Zheng. “How is it that Lu lang has time to visit today?”
“A friend is getting married. I thought it has also been a while since I paid respects to Uncle Du, so I came a day early to impose for one day.” Lu Zheng smiled.
“Good, good, good!” Du Yuru nodded with a laugh. “How can it be called imposing? The rear courtyard usually has only my wife and me, with plenty of space. Make yourselves at home.”
The group soon reached the inner hall and took seats as host and guests. Lu Zheng briefly explained the matter of Zhao Wenrong.
“So it is the third son of the Zhao family.” Du Yuru nodded in understanding.
Having served as prefect of Yizhou for several years, he might not know every detail about the prominent households in the prefecture, but he was certainly familiar with them. The Zhao family, as one of the leading clans in Yizhou, was naturally known to him.
Madam Du interjected from the side. “The Zhao family did send an invitation a few days ago, but I already replied that my lord is occupied with official duties and would not attend.”
Du Yuru was an upright official who never accepted invitations from the prefecture’s great households. Though each family would routinely send invitations for events, Du Yuru never attended.
But since it was a friend of Lu Zheng…
“Uncle Du need not concern himself. Even Yueyao is not going.” Lu Zheng smiled. “We have already entrusted me to deliver the wedding gift.”
“A pair of exquisite jade mandarin ducks.” Du Yueyao smiled.
“That settles it then.” Du Yuru nodded and did not press further. He summoned his personal elderly servant and instructed him to reserve a table at Fengqing Restaurant, to be delivered for dinner.
“As for wine, there is no need. I brought several jars for Uncle Du.” Lu Zheng patted his gourd, and a wine jar appeared from thin air.
Du Yuru laughed. “Lu lang is thoughtful. The ones you had Yueyao bring last time, I have not yet finished.”
“No matter. Wine keeps. You can drink it slowly. By the way, where is the wine storage room? Have someone show me.” Lu Zheng said.
“Young Master Lu, just leave them here. We will take them over.” A guard at the door spoke up.
Du Yuru’s personal elderly servant and the several guards in the inner courtyard were all trusted retainers who had followed him for years. Having experienced the broken temple wall-painting incident, they knew Lu Zheng was an extraordinary person, so they were not surprised by his ability to produce wine from nowhere.
“Very well.” Lu Zheng nodded, patted his gourd, and took out several jars of Wuliangye and huadiao wine, placing them on the ground. He pointed to one jar of Wuliangye. “This jar is for you brothers to share.”
The guards’ eyes all lit up. “Many thanks, Young Master Lu!”
…
The next day, Lu Zheng did not rush to take Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying to the Zhao residence. After all, they were not required to participate in the various wedding ceremonies for Zhao Wenrong. They were simply there to present gifts and attend the banquet, and the bowing ceremony would not take place until evening.
So he left Du Yueyao to chat with Madam Du. After the three had breakfast, with Yue Honghai following at a distance, they went out to stroll the streets.
“Hmm? These pastries taste rather good. Weigh two jin for me.”
“Eh? This fan actually depicts the Peach Blossom Immortal? How much is it? Give me one.”
“These flowers are quite fresh. Get us two baskets and tie red silk ribbons on them. We are heading to a friend’s wedding banquet shortly.”
…
The three wandered and shopped along the way, even buying two baskets of fresh flowers. For lunch, they did not return to disturb the Du family’s reunion, instead finding a time-honoured restaurant in town. In the afternoon, they continued strolling.
As the hour approached five in the evening, the three leisurely made their way towards the Zhao residence.
Arriving at the Zhao family’s main gate, they saw the entrance adorned with red decorations and bustling with activity. Many guests were arriving one after another, presenting invitations and entering cheerfully. Inside the mansion, voices rose in a hubbub. Even from afar, Lu Zheng and the others could see the festive smoke and fireworks rising from the Zhao estate.
“Come on. Perfect timing for Zhao Wenrong’s bowing ceremony.” Lu Zheng smiled.
Having traversed to ancient times only a few years ago, Lu Zheng had not experienced much else, but he had already attended the weddings of Zhu Yushan, Liu Qingyan’s cousin Huangfu Ning, and Hu Zhou. He was thoroughly familiar with the procedures, short of going through the entire process himself.
“Old Yue!” Lu Zheng beckoned to Yue Honghai, who trotted over eagerly.
Truth be told, Yue Honghai had already been quite obedient before, but after Si Lingxi’s temporary stay in Tonglin County, his loyalty to Lu Zheng had soared to maximum, and his sycophancy now rivalled that of Li Bo and Old Huang. For a time, Lu Zheng found it somewhat unaccustomed.
“Young master, what are your orders?”
Lu Zheng cast an illusion spell, patted his gourd, and took out the two wooden boxes containing the gifts prepared by Du Yueyao and himself, handing them to Yue Honghai. “Carry these. Come, let us go to the Zhao family for the banquet!”
“Right away!” Yue Honghai took the boxes and nodded repeatedly.
Then, with Yue Honghai following behind, Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying on either side, each holding a flower basket, they followed Lu Zheng towards the Zhao mansion.
Seeing that Lu Zheng and his party were unfamiliar, the steward at the gate asked hesitantly, “May I ask who the honoured guests are…”
Lu Zheng drew out the invitation with a flick and handed it to the steward. “We are friends of Young Master Zhao from Tonglin County, here specially for the wedding banquet.”
Seeing the invitation and hearing they were from Tonglin County, the steward immediately stepped aside and gestured invitingly. “Please enter, honoured guests!”
Lu Zheng nodded and led the two women and Yue Honghai into the Zhao mansion. They soon spotted the gift-recording area to one side of the courtyard, where several attendants were busy recording and announcing gifts.
The four approached. At Lu Zheng’s signal, Yue Honghai set down the two wooden boxes and opened them. Lu Zheng nodded and calmly introduced the two gifts to the attendants.
“From friend Du Yueyao of Tonglin County: a pair of exquisite jade mandarin ducks.”
“From friend Lu Zheng of Tonglin County: one crystal intertwined swans ornament.”
The jade mandarin ducks in the first box were fine enough, but when Yue Honghai lifted out the crystal intertwined swans ornament, fully thirty centimetres tall, gasps rose all around.
A modern masterpiece of craftsmanship, reborn in the jianghu!
