GBP Chapter 176: To be his slave, working like a beast of burden for that man surnamed Yang?
Chapter 176: To be his slave, working like a beast of burden for that man surnamed Yang?
Xu Zhendong eventually returned to Beijing.
After being punched by Magistrate Yang, neither Magistrate Yang nor Chen Zhong, the eunuch sent by Emperor Zhu Chongba, could allow Xu Zhendong to stay in Ningyang County.
As for Magistrate Yang, the reason things have escalated to this point is entirely because Xu Zhendong deliberately provoked him first and then subtly mocked him. Now that they've already broken off relations, there's no need for reconciliation.
As for Chen Zhong, the eunuch sent by Zhu Chongba, it wasn't wrong to use some tricks to torment Yang Shaofeng. The mistake was that Xu Zhendong, that idiot, shouldn't have secretly mocked Yang Shaofeng.
When Xu Zhendong told Yang Shaofeng to arrange for a boy to carry the chicken and to prepare a reward, he was not only mocking Yang Shaofeng, a county magistrate of the sixth rank, but also extending his sarcasm to the imperial family.
Even if Magistrate Yang punched him once, or even punched him several more times, Xu Zhendong would still be in the wrong in the end.
With Xu Zhendong's departure, the remaining officials of the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs became more docile, and many unnecessary rituals and ceremonies were reduced. In the end, it was decided to follow the rules of the Zhou Dynasty.
Then, Magistrate Yang's path to marriage stopped at the first step.
Accepting betrothal gifts.
The so-called "Nacai" is the process by which the man sends an envoy to the woman's family to propose marriage. During this process, the man must bring two geese, one male and one female, as a gift.
So here's the problem: geese fly south to spend the winter after autumn, and it's currently the cold winter season before the new year, so Yang Shaofeng really has nowhere to get geese as a gift.
Besides, Magistrate Yang was a bachelor who only cared about himself and had no relatives. He didn't know who to send as an envoy to discuss marriage.
It's impossible to expect Magistrate Yang to carry two geese all the way to the capital to discuss marriage, is it?
Then, after he had learned almost all the etiquette for various occasions, Magistrate Yang began to completely give up.
“You agreed to use the Zhou rites, so you should also handle the matter of sending envoys to discuss marriage. In any case, I can’t find any relatives who can discuss marriage on my behalf.”
Yang Shaofeng spread his hands and said directly to Chen Zhong and the officials of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs and the Ministry of Rites: "As for the wild geese, Ningyang County can't catch any anyway, and it's not certain that they will be able to catch any after the spring. You'd better try to find a way to get a few for me to raise in Jiangnan."
"Oh, by the way, remember to get me a few more, I'll need them later for the auspicious rites and the wedding ceremony."
"I will also have to trouble you all with the deer skins used for tax collection, since there are no deer in this wretched place of Ningyang County, and I am not as resourceful as you all."
"That's settled then. I'm busy with official duties in the county, please excuse me."
After saying that, Magistrate Yang strode away, leaving Chen Zhong, the Director of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, and the Assistant Director of the Ministry of Rites staring at each other blankly.
After a long silence, the Director of the Imperial Clan Court finally looked at Chen Zhong and said, "Husband Chen, about this matter..."
Chen Zhong sighed deeply, his face full of sorrow: "It's all over, everything is over!"
No, how did it turn out like this?
They had already planned how to torment the man surnamed Yang and make him suffer in silence, but now, not only can they no longer torment him, they have to turn around and serve him like slaves!
What's even more infuriating is that not only do we have no one to reason with, but we also have to obediently follow Mr. Yang's instructions to find geese and deer hides for him.
Because that guy surnamed Yang dared to slack off, but none of us dared to joke about the princess's wedding date!
Besides, how did Emperor Zhu Chongba and the Ming Dynasty's Executive Vice Emperor treat that man surnamed Yang?
Even disregarding Emperor Zhu and his vice-emperor, how did Empress Ma treat that man surnamed Yang?
The more Chen Zhong thought about it, the angrier and more frightened he became. He couldn't help but spit out a hateful "Damn Xu Zhendong! If he hadn't angered Magistrate Yang, things wouldn't have turned out like this!"
As Chen Zhong finished speaking, the Director of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs and the Assistant Director of the Ministry of Rites exchanged glances, having already made their decisions.
Since they failed to properly deal with the Yang family member, someone has to take the blame. Among the three people present, Chen Zhong is a palace eunuch, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he is a confidant of Emperor Zhu Chongba. He certainly won't take the blame.
The remaining position of the Director of the Imperial Clan Court would certainly not be mentioned, since the Directorate of the Imperial Clan Court could be considered a private royal institution, and a fifth-rank official would be considered a confidant of Emperor Zhu.
The only one left was a fifth-rank official who was suitable to take the blame, but he was unwilling to do so, since the blame was too great and not something a fifth-rank official could bear.
Therefore, the most suitable person to take the blame is Xu Zhendong, the head of the Department of Ceremonial Affairs of the Ministry of Rites, who had already been sent back to the capital by Chen Zhong.
Having made his decision, the Director of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs stroked his beard and said, "It's no wonder things have turned out this way. After all, the county is busy with official duties, and Xu Zhendong has created all sorts of messy formalities. It's understandable that Magistrate Yang is angry."
The official from the Ministry of Rites chimed in, "Indeed, Magistrate Yang is very busy with official duties, and we should indeed lend a hand with his mundane affairs."
After a slight pause, seeing that neither Chen Zhong nor the Clan Court official spoke, the Ministry of Rites official had no choice but to continue, "How about this, I'll take care of the task of finding wild geese for Magistrate Yang. Once we return to the capital, I'll find a way to have someone catch a few wild geese."
Chen Zhong then said, "Alright, we'll take care of the deerskin."
The official in charge of the Imperial Clan Court was furious upon hearing this.
You two bastards, one wants to get wild geese and the other wants to get deerskin, so all that's left for me to figure out is how to find a marriage envoy for that Yang family during the betrothal process.
What the hell is Yang's reputation in the capital?
It's not that he's so infamous that he's already stinking to high heaven, but he's certainly notorious among the officials. Which official or scholar in the entire capital would be willing to step forward as his marriage envoy?
Of course, nobles like Xu Da and Chang Yuchun might be willing, since Yang was rescued by Chang Yuchun's soldiers and later had many interactions with Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, so persuading Xu Da and Chang Yuchun to come forward shouldn't be difficult.
The problem is that Xu Da and Chang Yuchun are still leading troops in battle, and they may not even be able to go home for the New Year. As a mere member of the Imperial Clan Court, how much face do I have to persuade Xu Da and Chang Yuchun to act as marriage envoys for the Yang family?
The more he thought about it, the more his head ached. The official in charge of the Imperial Clan Court simply looked at Chen Zhong and asked, "In your opinion, Mr. Chen, who in the capital is suitable to act as the marriage negotiation envoy in place of Magistrate Yang?"