Chapter 49: The Newly Minted Imperial Relatives

Li Xubai finally understood what these people were chattering about!
It turns out that he had soared to the skies overnight, transforming into an imperial relative and effortlessly leaping across class boundaries?!
He opened his mouth and uttered a silly remark: "Um, should we do a blood test to verify this? Just in case there is a mistake, wouldn't I be guilty of deceiving the Emperor?"

Zhao Yizhen was stunned, failing to understand how Li Xubai, who had been so sharp, unrestrained, and daring at the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas, seemed like a completely different person the moment he entered the palace.
Could this perhaps be a fake?
Upon hearing these words, Empress Dowager Wen dropped her last remaining shred of guard against this relative of the Imperial Noble Consort Chen.
As expected, poverty shortens ambition; the entire family reeked of a petty, unsophisticated poverty.
They were utterly unfit for major responsibilities, let alone crucial ones.

With this thought, the smile on Empress Dowager Wen's face grew even more genuine, clearly tinged with a distinct sense of intimacy: "The young lord is so thorough in his considerations, truly possessing the bearing of the royal house." She paused slightly, casting a glance at Li Xubai. In truth, with the Li family standing right here, any blood test was completely unnecessary; that face bore a striking resemblance to the former Imperial Noble Consort Chen at first glance.
Especially that pair of amorous, water-filled phoenix eyes, which were an exact replica of the Consort's.
The very eyes that had captivated the late Emperor back then, driving him to brave the scorn of the entire world and drag the Consort out of a Taoist temple.

Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Yang was also quietly observing Li Xubai and his group. Seeing that Empress Dowager Wen had stopped talking, she spoke up quite gently: "A blood test is unnecessary. Earlier, this old woman heard the Imperial Guard mention that the Imperial Noble Consort Chen had left behind a token, which is a dragon pendant split into three pieces. I wonder if the young lord has brought it with him?"
This remark was remarkably tactful.
It sounded as though she harbored no doubts about the identity of Li Xubai's party, but merely wished to substantiate it.
It was practically putting herself in Zhao Yizhen's shoes and thinking for him.

"I have it. Father indeed left behind the broken jade fragments, but not knowing what they were for and not daring to dispose of them casually, I have kept them close to me all this time." Li Xubai hurriedly took out the semi-new, bright yellow sachet, held it respectfully with both hands, and handed it to Zhao Yizhen, who had remained silent thus far.
Zhao Yizhen's expression stirred as he took it with a smile.

He first drew the two jade fragments from the sachet, his pupils contracting slightly before he turned to glance at Yu Zhong.
Yu Zhong understood instantly, took out another semi-old, bright yellow sachet, and walked forward, shaking out a character-engraved jade fragment.
The three jade fragments fit together seamlessly, forming a complete dragon pendant.
The front was carved with the three characters: "Qianbo Palace."
The reverse side was carved with the four characters: "Ninth Year of Fuxiang."
This was precisely the year when Imperial Noble Consort Chen was elevated to the rank of Wanyi and granted residence in Qianbo Palace.

Empress Dowager Wen and Empress Dowager Yang exchanged glances and nodded slightly.
Zhao Yizhen also breathed a sigh of relief, and just as he was about to speak, Empress Dowager Wen preempted him.
"Your Majesty, since they are the relatives of the Imperial Noble Consort Chen, they must undoubtedly be ennobled and rewarded. The Consort's late younger brother, Li Heyong, shall be posthumously conferred the title of Prince of Longxi, and his wife posthumously titled Princess Consort. His eldest son having already passed away, he shall be posthumously conferred the title of Duke of Xinan, with his posthumous title to be deliberated and submitted by the Ministry of Rites for Your Majesty to choose from. Li Xusheng's wife shall be conferred the title of Lady of Xinan. As for the children of Li Heyong..." Empress Dowager Wen slowly swept her gaze over those cowering faces and drawled slowly, "Sanlang is still too young and should not receive excessive titles, the Fourth Miss shall be conferred the title of Lady Xiurong, and Erlang shall be appointed as the Deputy Commander of the Martial Virtue Guard."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was startled.
Zhao Yizhen's expression darkened instantly.
He was dissatisfied with Empress Dowager Wen's arrangements for Li Xubai, but constrained by the fact that she had first posthumously ennobled Li Heyong as a Prince, then conferred a title upon Li Yunnuan as a Lady, and even granted extraordinary posthumous honors to the deceased eldest son Li Xusheng and his widow—for the relatives of a deceased imperial concubine, these were already boundless graces, leaving him with virtually no grounds for objection.

Li Xubai was dumbfounded as well.
He didn't entirely understand the significance and function of this official title, but that didn't prevent him from realizing that he had become an official.
"Oh my, look how overjoyed Erlang is! From now on, Erlang is a proper official. Why don't you hurry and express your gratitude?" Empress Dowager Yang quickly smoothed things over, reminding Li Xubai and the others, "The Fourth Miss is now a Lady; in the future, you must often come into the palace to pay visits."

Recovering from his shock, Li Xubai hurriedly knelt down to express his gratitude.
Song Shiyu pulled Li Yunnuan, and the two of them knelt down side by side.
As for Li Xuzhang, since he was unable to walk properly, kneeling was excused.

Li Xuzhang and Li Yunnuan understood all too well the chasm-like gap between themselves and imperial relatives, but due to their youth, their awe of imperial power was not that deep, and they quickly grew close to the kind and gentle Empress Dowager Yang.
Zhao Yizhen's expression remained somewhat poor, his mood rather gloomy.
Empress Dowager Wen knew very well why he was melancholy, but said nothing more. After exchanging just a few words with Li Xubai and Song Shiyu, she leaned on Shaoyin's arm and returned to the Chuihua Palace.

"Your Ladyship, the Martial Virtue Guard is the agency most trusted and closest to His Majesty. Your servant does not understand why Your Ladyship made such an arrangement," Shaoyin asked in bewilderment.
"You will understand in time." Empress Dowager Wen pressed her lips together, smiled without answering, and maintained an inscrutable expression.

Zhao Yizhen had felt an instant affinity with Li Xubai from the start, and now that blood ties existed between them—coupled with Zhao Yizhen's eager drive to make up for the regret of never being able to acknowledge his birth mother—he kept the Li family to dine with him, bestowing countless gold and silver upon them. In his high spirits, he even wanted to award them a mansion and servants on the spot.

Fully aware that soaring high leads to a hard fall, Li Xubai promptly changed the subject: "Your Majesty, may I ask how much silver a Deputy Commander of the Martial Virtue Guard receives in a month?"
Not understanding the underlying intent, Zhao Yizhen looked toward Yu Zhong.
Yu Zhong hurriedly gave a light cough, bowed, and replied, "A Deputy Commander is of the sixth rank, with an annual stipend of eighty guan, supplemented by a reward of one hundred and twenty guan, along with sacrificial items including three sacrificial beasts, three qian of gold, six qian of silver, half a bolt of silk, and two catties of incense."

Li Xubai didn't quite catch all of that, twitched the corner of his mouth, and asked bluntly: "Uh, Chief Yu, I just want to ask: with this little salary of mine, can I afford to maintain such a large mansion and so many attendants? I'd better make sure I can feed myself first."
"......" Yu Zhong was bewildered.
"What my cousin said truly makes me ashamed." Zhao Yizhen finally understood, bursting into loud laughter and completely abandoning the notion of rewarding them with a mansion and servants.
He also realized that Li Xubai was definitely a clever person who played the fool while knowing the truth.
He liked dealing with clever people.

Li Xubai grinned as well: "Your Majesty shows compassion to me and wishes to bestow generous rewards, which I shouldn't decline. However, my family is small in number, and we've never been accustomed to having so many people wait on us. If a bunch of strangers suddenly appeared at home, my younger siblings and I would certainly feel awkward. If things ever get too busy at home, I will ask Your Majesty for a reward then."
Recalling the plots of historical television dramas and the tiny bit of classical Chinese he had studied, he weighed every word carefully to speak in a refined manner, finding the endeavor thoroughly exhausting.