This call made the surrounding chatter fall silent.
Other than congratulating His Majesty, this was Huang Cheng's first time speaking at the banquet.
And instead of addressing the Duke of Chengguo, he called out to the young, inexperienced Hanlin Editor.
But it was precisely this rank six or seven minor editor who was leading the banquet at this time.
If not for his one kneel and that congratulatory shout, the Duke of Chengguo might still be isolated outside the Imperial City.
Huang Cheng's hatred for the Duke of Chengguo was undeniable, but at this moment, his hatred for Ning Yunzhao was possibly even greater, and he felt some regret.
He truly shouldn't have been deceived by this boy's timid honesty. At the time, he should have disregarded His Majesty's mercy and magnanimity, gone against the rule of not pursuing a cornered enemy, pushed the Ning Family to desperation, and driven this boy out of the capital to Diannan.
However, it is not too late now; it's just a cub who's shown its teeth.
Huang Cheng looked at Ning Yunzhao, smiling slightly.
Ning Yunzhao looked over at the call, his expression calm, bearing a fitting smile.
"Lord Huang," he greeted with a bow.
"Lord Ning must be very pleased," Huang Cheng said, twirling the wine cup in his hand and glancing at the Duke of Chengguo beside him, "After all, as he wished, the Duke of Chengguo has returned in triumph, so he didn't lose his position in vain."
Upon hearing this, the people present felt complicated, their eyes uneasily turning to the emperor.
Huang Cheng, being older, was increasingly bold in his attacks.
His comment just transformed today's imperial favor to the Duke of Chengguo into Ning Yan's. After all, Ning Yan was dismissed for staunchly defending the Duke of Chengguo.
Now, with the Duke of Chengguo returning so gloriously, it proved Ning Yan was right, thus implying the emperor was wrong.
How could the emperor tolerate this?
The emperor displayed several signs of unease on his face.
"Speaking of which, Lord Ning…." His demeanor was kind and concerned as he spoke.
But Ning Yunzhao took the initiative to follow up.
"My uncle is not pleased," he said with a light sigh.
Youngster!
Many present inwardly exclaimed, isn't he too impulsive?
Some felt anxious, others rejoiced in the potential misstep.
Now is not the time to pursue a victory and seek to overturn your uncle's case, it's not an opportune moment.
The Duke of Chengguo also turned his gaze, his expression gentle, neither worried nor surprised.
"His objection was to the peace agreement, unrelated to Duke of Chengguo as a person," Ning Yunzhao continued, looking at the emperor, "Now that peace have been made and the Duke of Chengguo has safely returned, with hundreds of thousands of citizens safe and the nation stabilized, none of what he feared has happened, he's all the more perturbed."
He gave a wry smile as he said this.
"Your Majesty, please pardon my uncle's stubborn temper, people get old and are just unwilling to admit their mistakes," he said, bowing after he finished.
Oh, so that's how it is... The expressions of those present turned peculiar, finding it so simple.
Despite the simplicity of his words, it was very effective, as the emperor already smiled.
"State affairs inherently come with differing views, Lord Ning is loyal to the monarch and the country, how could I blame him?" he laughed, "Moreover, Lord Ning only debated with me about state affairs, he was never disrespectful, nor did he suffocate my pigeons."
During the Tang Dynasty, Minister Wei Zheng harshly admonished the emperor, and Emperor Taizong, afraid that playing with pigeons would be seen as misguided indulgence, smothered the pigeons in his arms.
At this moment the emperor used this as an example, leaving those present astonished.
This was likening Ning Yan to a significant minister like Wei Zheng, though everyone knew the emperor intended to liken himself to Emperor Taizong, it was still quite unexpected.
"Your Majesty, your wisdom and strength surpass Yao and Shun," Ning Yunzhao immediately said, bowing once more, "Even Emperor Taizong was no more than this."
Flatterer!
In unison, the attendees inwardly cursed, for though they too spoke highly of the emperor, those of true learning and noble principles ought to maintain some integrity, not speak so blatantly like uninformed eunuchs.
This Ning Yunzhao truly does not seem like one from the Ning Family.
Evidently, the emperor was also somewhat abashed by such remarks.
"Editor Ning, your words are excessive, I dare not assume such praise," he laughed.
Although still kneeling, Ning Yunzhao's back remained straight as he raised his head with an air of calmness and not a hint of servility or fawning.
"I am but a young man, speaking whatever comes to mind without much consideration," he said, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
The emperor laughed heartily again.
"Why would I blame you," he said, "let alone in court where honest conversations are welcome, I am not one to forbid people from speaking freely in private either."
Hearing this, the other ministers could no longer feign ignorance and, along with Ning Yunzhao, bowed and kowtowed.
"Your Majesty is wise."
Within the hall, officials kneeled en masse to offer blessings, a lively atmosphere filling the room.
Huang Cheng also naturally bowed to offer his congratulations, though the anger in his lowered eyes was unmistakable.
Very well, very well, young man, to be so shameless is indeed a skill.
........
...…
The banquet concluded in the afternoon, and the emperor returned to the palace to rest, with officials filing out in succession.
Huang Cheng no longer intended to approach the emperor for further discourse, as it was not the right time, with the emperor in high spirits buoyed by the cheers from the northern refugees and Ning Yunzhao.
Knowing when to act and when to refrain is equally important, a secret to his endurance through three reigns.
With a sombre face, Huang Cheng walked amidst a throng of officials; this meticulously planned mission was a complete failure, leaving everyone feeling both furious and uneasy.
"Completely unaware of those refugee matters."
"It's indeed spoiled due to them."
"Rest assured, my lord, we will investigate immediately."
They whispered softly.
Investigate, and what will it yield now that such an opportunity is lost?
It's not just the northern refugees, but also Ning Yunzhao, seizing the chance I prepared to shine in front of the emperor, that little rascal.
Huang Cheng couldn't help but sigh softly.
"There truly are too many troublesome folk," he said.
The officials around him looked ashamed.
"It's all due to our incompetence," they said.
Huang Cheng smiled lightly.
"No matter, no hurry, find and deal with the troublemakers, one by one," he said, raising his sleeve to cover his mouth as he coughed a few times.
Despite his age, he didn't fear the middle-aged and young ones. He survived through many a middle-aged, young, and youthful person alike; what's so remarkable about youth?
"Lord Huang."
Exiting the Imperial City, the crowd on Imperial Street had dispersed, returning everything to its usual solemnity. As people began to mount horses and take carriages to leave, someone called out to Huang Cheng.
People turned back to look, surprised.
The Duke of Chengguo was the caller.
The Duke of Chengguo actually called out to Huang Cheng? Rationally, he should have called Ning Yunzhao instead since today's brightest were these two acting in tandem, mutually benefitting.
Watching the Duke of Chengguo approach, the officials seemed a bit tense.
"What do you intend to do?" someone blurted out harshly to question.
Huang Cheng let out a hum of acknowledgment.
"The Duke of Chengguo isn't some ferocious beast, don't behave like this," he said benevolently.
The Duke of Chengguo approached, standing firm.
"Lord Huang, was it your arrangement to have me hindered as I entered the city?" he asked.
His voice was gentle, his demeanor serene, as if bathed in a gentle spring breeze, his comportment rivaling any cultured bureaucrat or scholar.
Yet his words cut like a sharp blade, at once brutally honest like a boor, and as unabashedly naive as a child.
The expressions of the officials present changed.
**********
It's hard to get enough with just one update a day. Feel free to save up the chapters, my apologies indeed.