Sima Hong kept talking to his mother, listening to Miao's gossip about the capital city, such as which family's youngest son was not making progress, which cockfighting and running dogs were reported by the censors, which family's new wife was disrespectful to her parents-in-law, and which family had a falling out. Regardless of whether Sima Hong liked to listen or not, he always smiled and looked serious, and occasionally asked at the right time: "And then?"
Miao felt emotional in her heart, thinking that her son had finally grown up. If it were in the past, he would not have been patient enough to listen to her nagging.
When the sun was setting, an uninvited guest came to the Anxi Marquis's mansion. The visitor was about 40 years old, with a medium to plump build and a well-trimmed moustache. He respectfully presented the host's business card and invited the Anxi Marquis to meet him in the lakeside pleasure boat in the evening.
Sima Hong couldn't help being slightly surprised when he saw the name on the name card. In a flash, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. However, in the end, facing the expectant and confident eyes of the visitor, he smiled and said, "It's rare that your highness values me. Hong will definitely attend the banquet on time."
After the visitor left, Sima Hong unfolded the name card. Inside the name card was a thin piece of paper with a few words written in tiny calligraphy, "I have long admired the reputation of the Marquis. I have prepared some wine by the Jingshui Lake and look forward to meeting you."
"Rui" is the name of the current second prince.
The current emperor has a total of seven sons. The eldest prince died young. Except for the second and third princes, the remaining four princes were all born after he sat on the throne. The eldest is only three years old now, while the second and third princes are seventeen or eighteen years old. Except for the second prince who was born to Concubine Xie, the eldest and third princes who died young were both born to the empress.
The emperor was no longer young, and the two princes were about to grow up. According to the rules of the Great Chu, except for the crown prince, the princes who had performed the coming-of-age ceremony and reached adulthood would be granted fiefdoms and were not allowed to enter the capital for the rest of their lives without the emperor's summons. They would be stationed in a certain area for the Great Chu.
But the problem is here. At this point, the emperor has no intention of appointing a crown prince. No one can figure out his mind. It is hard to tell which son he prefers. Although the second prince is not a legitimate son, the Xie family behind Concubine Xie is also a prominent family with complicated relationships. The third prince is a legitimate son. The emperor and the queen have always been in harmony and respect each other.
It was because they couldn't figure out who the emperor was going to choose as the next successor that the ministers in the court, who were eager to take sides, and the women in the harem were so anxious that their eyes turned red.
Not only the court officials were restless, but the two princes were even more restless. Who wouldn't want to sit in the highest position in the world? No matter how good the fiefdom was, could it be better than the capital where they grew up? Besides, judging from the irreconcilable relationship between the Queen and Concubine Xie, no matter who became the emperor, I'm afraid the rest of his days would not last long.
Sima Hong smiled slightly as he looked at the name card. This was quite interesting. In terms of title, he was just an idle marquis. In terms of military rank, he was barely a small general of the fourth rank. In any aspect, the Second Prince calling himself "Rui" in front of Sima Hong was enough to lower his status.
Is this respectful to the wise and humble? Sima Hong thought as he flipped through the name card in his hand.
Miao came out of the room after the visitor left. She took the name card from Sima Hong and looked at it. She couldn't tell whether she was happy or worried. She was happy that her son was promising and valued. She was worried that she didn't know whether it was a blessing or a curse. She grew up in the capital and had seen many such things. After sighing, she carefully warned Sima Hong: "Brother Bao, remember, our Sima family is only loyal to one person, and that is the emperor. Don't be blinded by the invisible glory and wealth! As long as you are safe and sound, the present life is enough. People live in the world, whether they are poor or rich, they still have three meals a day."
If you stand on the right side, there will be a smooth road ahead and the whole family will be able to ascend to heaven. If you stand on the wrong side... then the Sima family will really be extinct.
Sima Hong saw the worry in his mother's eyes and said with a smile, "Don't worry, mother. I know what to do." He did what his grandfather, father, and brother had done.
When night fell, Sima Hong got on a carriage and drove to the lakeside outside Beijing. On a summer night, the lake was cool and there were many lotus flowers planted in the shallow water near the shore. Several pleasure boats were slowly sailing on the lake. Before we got close, we could hear the sound of stringed instruments and the clear and melodious singing of singing girls from different pleasure boats. The largest pleasure boat had three floors and was brightly lit, making the entire lake sparkle and bright as day.
When the carriage stopped, Sima Hong jumped down nimbly. Wearing a white brocade robe, he drew a beautiful arc in the night.
"My Lord, you are so skilled! You are worthy of being the best man in the Great Chu!" A voice sounded from the side, congratulating. It was the middle-aged man who went to Sima's house to deliver the business card in the afternoon.
Sima Hong could probably guess that this middle-aged man should be the trusted steward of the Second Prince's residence. He clasped his fists and said politely, "Thank you for the compliment. It's just a small effort. I don't deserve such praise from you, sir."
The steward didn't bother to be polite with Sima Hong, he just stretched out his arm and said with a smile: "My Lord, please come this way."
Bai Hao wanted to follow, but was stopped by the steward without leaving a trace. He called out anxiously, "Master!"
Sima Hong looked back at him and saw that Baihao was stopped by the steward. He smiled and said, "Wait on the shore."
The steward took out a bamboo whistle from his sleeve and blew it gently. Immediately, a small boat came over from the shore and took Sima Hong on board. Bai Hao looked at Sima Hong worriedly, watching him step onto the boat with his hands behind his back. The boatman rowed the boat, and the boat sailed quickly but steadily towards the pleasure boat in the lake.
Sima Hong originally thought that the second prince would be in the largest pleasure boat in the lake, but unexpectedly the boat rowed straight towards an inconspicuous pleasure boat. After stopping, Sima Hong jumped onto the pleasure boat.
The lights in the pleasure boat were bright, and through the fine gauze on the boat, one could vaguely see people swaying inside, and the sounds of stringed instruments and singing were endless.
The boatman quickly bolted the boat to the pleasure boat, bowed to Sima Hong, and then lifted the curtain to report. After a while, a young man in gorgeous clothes came out with a smile on his face. He stepped forward and grabbed Sima Hong, laughing and said, "Sima Hong, you are finally here!"
Sima Hong never expected that the Second Prince would come to greet him personally. He was about to kneel down to pay his respects to the Second Prince, but the Second Prince quickly stopped him and said with a friendly smile, "No need to be polite. I just wanted to get together with you today. Why bother with these conventional etiquettes? It will only make us feel alienated!"
After the Second Prince said this, Sima Hong could no longer be polite. He smiled and bowed to the Second Prince, "Thank you, Your Highness."
After following the Second Prince into the pleasure boat, Sima Hong saw that, although the boat looked inconspicuous on the outside, it was quite spacious inside and luxuriously decorated. The floor was covered with soft and fine tiger skin, and there were ice basins in the four corners to keep it cool. Outside the pearl curtain, several women were playing musical instruments; the sound was not loud, but it was just right to add to the fun.
The seats behind the several small tables in the middle were filled with people, most of them were men in fine clothes who were about the same age as the Second Prince. Sima Hong recognized some of them, from when he was young, when he followed his wife back to the capital to visit relatives and they used to fight cocks and run errands together. Some of them were unfamiliar to him, and he thought they were the new nobles who had just arrived in Beijing in recent years.
"Come on." The second prince stood in the middle, with a generous demeanor, quite like a host. He patted Sima Hong on the shoulder and smiled at the people present: "Let me introduce you to everyone. This is the famous Lord Anxi Sima Hong, who killed so many Tartars that he could not find his way north and promoted the prestige of our Great Chu!"
As soon as the Second Prince opened his mouth, the music stopped. Sima Hong glanced at the people present. They should have known that the Second Prince would invite him tonight, but they all showed surprise. Sima Hong clasped his fists towards everyone and said with a smile, "Your Highness, you are too kind. The killing of the Tartars was due to Commander Lu's good command and the unity of all the soldiers. It was not just Sima Hong's work!"
"Don't be so polite!" A young man who was familiar with Sima Hong laughed, "It's rare for Ah Hong to come back. Thank you, Your Highness. Otherwise, it would be rare for us brothers to get together! Come, Ah Hong, sit over here."
Sima Hong smiled, bowed to the Second Prince again, and then sat down next to that person. Sima Hong was very familiar with this person. He was the beloved grandson of his maternal grandfather, his cousin Miao Shu.
Miao Shu is a typical dandy who grew up in honey. Compared with him, Sima Hong feels that his past absurd deeds are not worthy of being compared with him. When Sima Hong came to the capital when he was a child, Miao Shu often took this cousin of similar age to do whatever he wanted. If it weren't for Miao's close watch and strict supervision, Miao Shu would have wanted to take this rare cousin of his to brothels to have some meat.
However, the Miao family has three grandsons, and the one that old man Miao values the most is Miao Shu, who does nothing right.
After Sima Hong sat down, the sound of stringed instruments began again. Miao Shu became a little tipsy as the wine was clinking and the food was being drunk. However, Sima Hong just moistened his lips slightly, his eyes were clear, and he listened to the speeches at the table with a smile.
Miao Shu glanced at him, smiled secretly and shook his head, patted his hands quietly, and whispered: "You have to drink a little, otherwise when people start to persuade you to drink, it will be embarrassing for you or others." With a person like him, it is obvious that he is about to fall asleep on the table. When everyone gets drunk, who will come to get him drunk
Sima Hong also laughed softly and said, "My cousin is always smart!"
Miao Shu sneered at his cousin's flattery, pretended to be drunk and moved closer to Sima Hong, saying: "No matter what you think in your heart, you must not cause any trouble with His Highness today. You are far away in the northwest, and he is in the capital. If he holds a grudge and makes a move, you will have no chance of turning things around."
Sima Hong's heart suddenly shuddered. He was actually not good at these intricate political schemes. After entering the military camp, he inevitably came into contact with a lot of them, forcing himself to adapt and explore. He did not expect that after leaving the military camp and coming to the capital, he still could not avoid these troubles.
"Miao Shu, what were you talking about with Ahong? So secretive, and you didn't even let us hear you?" A young man sitting next to the Second Prince shouted with a smile. His voice was not loud, but just loud enough for everyone in the pleasure boat to hear clearly.
Sima Hong was about to speak when he saw Miao Shu's face flushed, as if he was drunk, and he shouted with a big tongue: "My grandfather wants him to give birth to a son quickly. Look at me, my son will run all over the floor!"