Chapter 382 Merchant Banquet
Jia Cong did not come back today, and he really encountered some problems. He originally planned to go to the military camp outside the city to work and return home before noon, but he was stopped as soon as he entered the city.
"We have met the Marquis!"
When Jia Cong saw the people blocking the road ahead, he couldn't help but feel a little strange, because he didn't know these people, and these people were dressed in gorgeous clothes and were not very old. It was obvious that they were the sons of some family.
"What do you want to see me about?" Jia Cong asked.
" I am Shang Fang, the son of the Zhongwu Earl of Dingguo Marquis's Mansion. My old master wants to invite you to our house for a banquet!" The leader said, "Originally, my old master wanted to send you an invitation first, but he just came back from Shandong yesterday. He was eager to see you, so he was impolite. Please forgive me, Marquis."
Jia Cong was slightly startled. The Dingguo Marquis Mansion was actually a merchant house, the Empress' maiden home.
The old man mentioned by the housekeeper must be the Queen's father, the father-in-law of the current emperor. I am familiar with the brothers Shang Xin and Shang Yan, but I have never met this old man. Why is he so anxious to see me after just returning to Beijing?
However, since it was this old man who invited me, I couldn't refuse. Not to mention that the Queen treated me very well, when I suppressed the White Lotus Sect in Jiangnan, the Shandong Camp led by Shang Xin never held me back and helped me a lot. Of course, I have to remember this favor.
Besides, given the status of this old man, as a junior, I can't refuse for no reason. Maybe this old man has something to do, so he is in a hurry to let me go over.
"Then I shall return home and change my robes, and then proceed to the worship house?"
The merchant bowed and said, "The old master said that the Marquis is also a family member of our family, so there is no need to be so polite. The banquet is ready, and the Marquis can go directly."
Jia Cong shrugged helplessly. He didn't expect that this old man was so impatient.
"Okay, I'll trouble you, Brother Shi, to lead the way."
The merchant nodded respectfully, turned around, mounted his horse with his brothers, and led Jia Cong towards the Dingguo Marquis Mansion.
The Dingguo Marquis Mansion was also located in the northern part of the city, not far from the Ning and Rong Mansions. Jia Cong and his brothers from the Shangfang walked for about half an hour before arriving at the gate of the Dingguo Marquis Mansion.
The main gate of the Marquis's mansion was wide open. In addition to a few servants waiting outside the door, there were also many servants waiting in two rows inside the door.
Jia Cong got off his horse and was suspicious when he saw this scene. His status was indeed not low, but it was not worthy of such courtesy from this old man. With this old man's status, even if Meng Zong, the Duke of Qing, came, he would have to be respectful. After all, having an emperor as a son-in-law, one's back is naturally very strong. What's more, the merchants nowadays are obviously different from before.
Ever since the incident at Tiewang Mountain, Emperor Longxing obviously intended to make use of the Shang family. The two Shang brothers, one controlled the Shandong camp and the other controlled the Longjinwei. Their power was unparalleled at the time. In addition, there was a queen sitting in the palace, and the queen and the emperor supported each other. Who would not be in awe of the Dingguo Marquis' Mansion?
"My Lord, please!"
Shang Fang said to Jia Cong respectfully that although this situation made Jia Cong a little confused, he might as well make the best of it. Now he could only go and see what this old man was up to.
Although this is only a marquis' mansion, it was obviously specially ordered by Emperor Longxing, so the regulations of the entire mansion are not much different from those of the two duke's mansions of Ning and Rong.
Jia Cong followed his brothers forward. Wherever they passed, all the servants in the mansion bowed and saluted, "Greetings to the Marquis of Guanjun!"
Originally, Jia Cong thought they were going to the front hall, after all, this was a place in the mansion to meet outside guests, but he didn't expect that they would lead him directly through the front hall and head towards the back house.
After passing through the front hall, I saw the commander of the Dragon Guards, Zhongwu Earl Shang Yan, standing outside the inner ceremonial gate waiting.
In fact, Shang Yan was more confused than Jia Cong at this moment. Originally, he was mostly in Longjinwei and only came back during his days off. However, yesterday, the old man came back from Shandong without any warning, so as a son, of course he had to come back to welcome his father.
After returning home, he discovered that not only had the old man returned, but he had also brought Kong Wan back with him.
Shang Yan had also heard about some of the things between his father and Aunt Wan, but since the old man was happy, he really didn't dare to say anything. Otherwise, if he said one more word, it would be a problem whether he could go on duty tomorrow.
Besides, my mother had died many years ago, and Aunt Wan was gentle and virtuous. If she could become my father's second wife, my two brothers would feel more at ease. After all, when you get old, don't you just need a companion and someone to take care of you?
He had a good drink with his father last night. He wanted to go to work early this morning, but was stopped by his father.
The old man spoke directly and asked him to send someone to invite Jia Cong to the banquet.
It is not surprising to invite Jia Cong to the banquet. With Jia Cong's current status, he is still a favorite in the eyes of the emperor, and his own business can be considered as the same kind of people as Jia Cong.
Shang Yan immediately agreed and planned to have someone write a letter to invite Jia Cong to his house for a banquet.
As the saying goes, three days is for an invitation, two days is for a call, and one day is for a reminder! The ancients paid more attention to etiquette. If you want to invite someone to a banquet, you have to send an invitation at least three days in advance. Otherwise, it would be impolite.
However, Shang Yan, who had just picked up the pen, was slapped by the old man.
"We are all family, why are we being so polite? Just ask where the guy is and have someone call him over."
Shang Yan grinned, "Dad, he is a first-class marquis, and his family background is even higher than ours. If we just go and call him, wouldn't that be impolite?"
"Bullshit, you know more etiquette than me? Why don't you go to heaven? Just go if I tell you to. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll beat you up!"
Facing his father's hegemony, what could Shang Yan do? He could only say with a bitter face, "Then I will go now."
"What are you going to do? Let Shang Fang and his brothers go!"
In fact, it was not that the old man did not value Jia Cong, but in his opinion, this was his own grandson, a real one, so why bother with all these false ceremonies? As for Shang Yan, he was an uncle, so it was not appropriate for him to go to greet the younger generation. It was just right to let the grandsons go, and they were brothers of the same generation as Jia Cong, wasn't it?
The old man’s words made Shang Yan a little overwhelmed. It seemed that his father was simply trying to offend people.
He is a first-class champion marquis, so it is normal for him to host a banquet at home, but it would be reasonable for at least the two brothers, or even the old man to personally send out invitations. Now, not only did they not send out invitations in advance, but they only let a few juniors go. Isn't this offending people?
