Chapter 28: The Birthday Banquet (Part 1)

The morning breeze was cool, and a thin veil of mist draped over the houses and courtyards, gradually fading away under the sunlight. In the courtyard, red silk ribbons fluttered among the trees and corridors, while potted flowers bloomed in a vibrant display of colors, competing for attention.

The male and female servants, dressed in fresh, uniformed attire, bustled about the various courtyards, each performing their duties with orderliness and precision.

All the family members rose early, dressed in their finest attire, and prepared cheerfully for the busy day ahead.

Madam Tong and Madam Li were the first to arrive, and Madam Qin warmly greeted her in-laws. Before long, members of the Wen family, Qin family, and others arrived one after another.

By the late morning hours, the gate of the Xiao residence saw a constant flow of vehicles and guests. General Xiao’s comrades and subordinates, his sons’ colleagues and close friends, as well as relatives and old acquaintances, arrived in batches, one group after another.

When the auspicious time arrived, General Xiao, dressed in a rich purple robe adorned with auspicious patterns, sat upright in the main hall. His four sons and daughters-in-law knelt and kowtowed before him. Next were his grandchildren—six grandsons and two granddaughters. The youngest granddaughter, Xiao Yuan, managed to kneel properly with the help of her nursemaid and Xiao Yao, bowing and wishing her grandfather a happy birthday.

Everyone praised the Xiao family’s children and grandchildren for their outstanding appearance and harmonious relationships. Since the morning, General Xiao’s face had been glowing with joy.

He felt incredibly proud and fulfilled to have such excellent descendants.

The generals and subordinates who had followed General Xiao for many years also stepped forward to offer their congratulations, wishing him “boundless blessings like the Eastern Sea and a life as enduring as the Southern Mountains.” Seeing his old comrades who had once shared life-and-death moments with him, General Xiao was overcome with emotion—grateful for those who were still by his side, and nostalgic for those who had passed away.

Amid the lively birthday celebrations, a voice suddenly called out from outside, “An imperial decree has arrived!”

An incense table was set up, and the eunuch who had come to deliver the decree was invited in. General Xiao knelt at the forefront, followed by everyone else behind him. The eunuch read, “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: General Xiao Hu has guarded the borders for over a decade with diligence and devotion. Considering his advancing years, the Emperor permits his return to the capital to enjoy his twilight years. He is granted the honorary title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, along with a reward of one thousand taels of gold and one hundred bolts of silk…”

After the Xiao family expressed their gratitude, the eunuch brought out another decree, this one addressed to Xiao Jingkang, appointing him as the Vice Minister of Works.

Most people present understood the implicit message in these decrees. General Xiao’s departure from the northern border effectively meant relinquishing his military power. Unless war broke out again, his role was now limited to retirement and leisure. On the other hand, Xiao Jingkang’s promotion was a tangible rise in rank. The Emperor’s balancing act was evident in these two decrees.

After the eunuch departed, the birthday banquet officially began. Maids entered in a steady stream, serving exquisite dishes to the guests. Melodious music filled the air as performers sang and danced, creating an atmosphere of joy and celebration.

The younger children were deemed unsuitable for such occasions, so Tong Mingyu decided to send them back to the inner courtyard. However, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qi were upset, feeling it unfair to be sent away just as the dishes were being served. They stubbornly refused to go inside their rooms even after being sent back to the courtyard.

Xiao Yao, disliking such crowded events, left swiftly. Xiao Jun, seeing a military officer who had once held him as a child, wanted to reconnect and build rapport, but his father sternly dissuaded him, leaving him no choice but to leave reluctantly.

The three daughters-in-law of the Xiao family worked tirelessly, barely finding time to sip tea. Older ladies praised them incessantly, and Madam Qin was equally pleased. She instructed the servants to pour wine for Madam Tong and Madam Li and personally raised a toast to thank them for marrying such outstanding daughters into the Xiao family.

Yuan Yutong’s father, also a general stationed in a distant region, was unable to attend due to the long journey. However, representatives from the Yuan family, whose roots were in the capital, came to extend their congratulations. Madam Qin also toasted the woman representing the Yuan family.

Most of the families attending the banquet shared some connection with the Xiao family, though there were inevitably a few with ulterior motives.

“Mother, I saw him! I saw him!” exclaimed a girl with sharp, upward-tilted eyes and a pointed chin, tugging at the sleeve of a stern-looking noblewoman beside her. The two bore such a striking resemblance that their mother-daughter relationship was unmistakable.

“Calm yourself! Do you realize what day it is? You absolutely must not act recklessly. Whatever it is, we’ll discuss it at home,” the noblewoman whispered harshly.

“Discuss it at home? Would you and Father even agree to propose marriage on my behalf?” the young lady retorted haughtily.

The noblewoman wanted to cover her daughter’s mouth on the spot. She realized she had spoiled her daughter, who now spoke recklessly and lacked any sense of propriety. Raising her delicately had turned her into someone difficult to marry off.

To make matters worse, this little troublemaker had her eyes set on the Xiao family’s Fourth Master, declaring that she would marry no one else. Wasn’t it said that the Fourth Master had been away from home for two years? Why had he suddenly appeared today, of all days, and caught her daughter’s eye? Truly, it was a disaster.

“Go back to your seat and behave yourself! Xiangcao, keep a close eye on your mistress. If anything happens today, you’ll answer to me!” Unable to scold her precious daughter, the noblewoman turned her wrath on the young lady’s maid, Xiangcao.

Xiangcao flinched and weakly nodded. She dared not disobey her mistress’s mother, but she knew she had no real control over her headstrong mistress. Resigned, she could only accept her fate.

A nearby official’s wife teased, “Madam Yu, you and your daughter are so close. Even at home, it seems you can’t get enough of each other’s company. Now you can’t bear to part even at a banquet. Those of us without daughters are truly envious!”

Madam Yu cast a final warning glance at her daughter before returning to her seat. Miss Yu, however, showed no intention of taking her mother’s caution to heart. Xiangcao glanced up at the sun outside, wondering if this might be the last time she ever saw it.

This mother and daughter pair were none other than the wife and daughter of Yu Daren, a minister at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Madam Yu and their daughter, Yu Xianrong.

After everyone took their seats, Tong Mingyu and her sisters-in-law finally had a moment to catch their breath.

Tong Mingyu’s elder sister, Tong Minglan, had returned from Anyang just a few days ago. The sisters’ temperaments were quite different—Tong Mingyu was elegant and composed, while Tong Minglan exuded a serene and refined air, likely influenced by the scholarly atmosphere of the Wen family. The more Tong Minglan carried herself with ethereal grace, the more Tong Mingyu felt like an ordinary person by comparison.

“Have you settled everything in Anyang?” Tong Mingyu asked.

“Yes, it’s all taken care of. Your brother-in-law and I can finally rest for a while.”

“The clan school in the capital is planning to hire a few reputable female teachers. In a couple of years, you can send Ping’an there,” Tong Minglan suggested.

Tong Mingyu hesitated, then leaned close to her sister to whisper about her daughter’s injuries. Shaking her head regretfully, she said, “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. In her condition, I’ll have to hire a teacher to come to our home. I can’t let her go out to study.”

“This poor child…” Tong Minglan felt a pang of heartache.

“Don’t worry. If I find suitable candidates, I’ll arrange for Ping’an to learn from the best teachers at home. Even if she stays home, she can still excel in her studies,” Tong Minglan reassured her.

“Thank you, elder sister.”

“Come now, no need for such formalities between us. Leave this to me.”

“Take your time finding someone. For now, I think it’s best to focus on her recovery. Once she’s fully healed, we can consider hiring a teacher.”

“You think finding good teachers is easy? I’ll need time to look. Besides, Ping’an is still young. A couple of years won’t make much difference, will it?”

“That’s exactly what I mean.”

After a brief exchange, Tong Mingyu was called away again. It was destined to be a busy day for her.