With the addition of Gu Yanchen and Ouyang Wen, a perfectly good reunion banquet took a turn. However, Cheng Beizheng was in good spirits. Lu Nianfu's words had been like a wake-up call, and he felt a sense of enlightenment, his gloomy eyes brightening considerably.
Thus, the meal concluded rather successfully.
After the meal, the five individuals returned to their respective homes.
Lu Nianfu looked at Gu Yanchen, who had followed her back to her room, with a hint of surprise. "Aren't you going to Dali Temple this afternoon?"
"I am, just a bit later won't hurt. Why did Cheng Beizheng come all the way to the capital?"
"Business matters, I suppose."
"Hmph, isn't it obvious he's looking for a backer? What's there to hide."
Lu Nianfu: "…You knew, yet you still asked?"
Gu Yanchen scoffed, "I just wanted to see if you were being honest. The fact is, whenever it concerns Cheng Beizheng, you tend to be secretive."
Who was to blame? Lu Nianfu rolled her eyes. "If you weren't so petty and always sounded so sarcastic whenever his name came up, would I have to?"
Gu Yanchen pointed at his nose, incredulous. "You call me petty? Lu Nianfu, do you have a heart? If I were petty, would you be able to open your own shop, or be allowed to make friends freely outside?"
That was indeed not the case.
When the enemy is strong, I am weak. Hearing his voice crack with emotion, Lu Nianfu quickly relented. "I was wrong, I was wrong. You are the most magnanimous husband in the world."
As she apologized, she expertly massaged his shoulders.
Gu Yanchen grunted. "Don't try that with me, it's useless."
But his expression indicated he quite enjoyed it.
Regarding the fall of Jiangnan, the court soon reached a decision. Just as Gu Yanchen had predicted, Emperor Changwu ordered Situ Jue to atone for his crimes. The Noble Consort's faction became remarkably quiet this time, with the Marquis Qi Ying's manor even offering to donate a substantial sum of money for military supplies for Jiangnan.
However, before the supplies could reach Jiangnan, two more villages were plundered.
After that, the defenses of Jiangnan seemed to have become porous, with breaches occurring intermittently. The people of Jiangnan lived in constant fear, terrified that they would be the next to be raided by the Japanese pirates.
The urgent dispatches, sent at eight hundred li per day, never ceased.
The morning court sessions became livelier because of this. The Empress's faction became aggressive, while the Noble Consort's faction remained subdued. A tacit understanding had been reached; until Prince Ning secured a great victory, they would likely have to tread carefully.
It was at this time that Lu Nianfu received the invitation for the reaffirmation of kinship banquet at the Pingning Earl's manor.
She insisted that she was still in mourning and therefore would not allow for a grand feast. Moreover, with the Japanese pirates rampaging so wildly, Emperor Changwu was already vexed. Even if the Earl of Pingning had the courage, he wouldn't dare to hold a lavish event at such a time.
Therefore, only a few close families were invited to join in the merriment.
It was primarily a gesture of acknowledging her.
On the twelfth day of the second month, Lu Nianfu was received back at the Earl's manor as the legitimate eldest daughter of the Pingning Earl's family. An eight-man sedan chair was out of the question, but a four-man sedan chair, which looked quite grand, showed that effort had been made.
The sedan chair paraded through the streets, attracting much discussion from passersby.
Ever since her arrival in the capital, Lu Nianfu had been a constant topic of conversation among the city's elite. Many had predicted that she would be divorced within a few years, as a merchant's daughter was not worthy of a third-rank official.
Especially since Gu Yanchen was so young and had a high probability of promotion.
But who would have thought that a merchant's daughter could suddenly become the legitimate daughter of an Earl? Although the Pingning Earl's manor was not particularly favored by the Emperor, they were, after all, Earls.
In the Great Yin Dynasty, military prowess was always valued over civilian achievements, with opportunities for ennoblement and generalship reserved for warriors. It was difficult for civil officials to advance, let alone receive titles and honors.
As soon as she stepped through the manor gates, the servants began to call out in unison, "The eldest young lady has returned to the manor."
As a family renowned for medicine, the Pingning Earl's manor had always been active in processing medicinal herbs, hence the entire residence was filled with the scent of medicine. This was true even of the ancestral hall. Everyone was gathered here now, transforming the usually quiet ancestral hall into a lively place. The direct lineage of the Pingning Earl's family was in decline, with only a single heir in the current generation of Earls. Therefore, the number of attendees for the ceremony was much larger than the principal family.
Since coming to the capital, Lu Nianfu had lived a secluded life. Even when she ventured out, no one recognized her. Now, with everyone gathered together, their curiosity about the appearance of this merchant's daughter was piqued.
They wondered what she looked like to have captivated a man like Lord Gu. It was said that his inner chambers were very clean, with no concubines or even maids serving as mistresses.
The first thing Lu Nianfu did upon returning to the manor was to acknowledge her ancestors. Hearing the sound, Zeng Weiyang greeted her warmly and personally led Lu Nianfu inside. As she was still in mourning, Lu Nianfu's attire was simple and elegant. Yet, the moment she entered, she left everyone speechless, with only one thought lingering in their minds.
She was too beautiful, no wonder she could capture the heart of a man like Gu Yanchen.
Some with darker thoughts mused, "No matter how beautiful she is, her merchant background means her upbringing cannot be changed. Who knows how unrefined she might be."
To their disappointment, they were proven wrong. Lu Nianfu walked with grace, her steps light, like a willow swaying in the spring breeze. The pearl earrings at her ears remained still. Facing the room full of people, she maintained her composure, showing no signs of timidity.
A maid brought over a bowl containing half a bowl of clear water.
The Earl of Pingning was the first to prick his middle finger, letting a drop of blood fall into the water. He then said to Lu Nianfu, "Xixi, let's follow the procedure. After the blood identification, you can offer incense to our ancestors."
Lu Nianfu complied, pricking her own middle finger.
The two drops of blood merged easily in the water. The Earl of Pingning was overjoyed and personally handed her a stick of incense.
After so many years, the name "Zeng Weixi" remained on the Zeng family's genealogy, so no significant changes were needed.