The Rich and Powerful Chang An Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Twenty years ago, Xu Chang An's father in one stroke passed brilliantly and later retained a post in the capital. After ten years, his government official moved to be a petty official under Minister of Ministry of Ceremonies, then afterwards no other improvement. Now, a large number of family member still lived inside the house that was bought at the time when Xu Chang An's mother got married.

Knowing that today was the day of the bride first visit to the parental home with the husband, even if Xu's large family members were unwilling, they still waited at the entrance early in the morning. Looked and repeatedly looked, still did not see the expected people came over, also not dared to leave from there. With great difficulty, they caught a sight of Wang Residence's horse carriage arrived. Each and everyone of them did not know whether to feel glad or not.

“Chen, Xu Yongnian and my whole family paying respect to His Highness Xián Wáng, paying respect to Xián Wang Fei.” Xu's large family members did obeisance without hesitation but they were not that willing to. They were the subjects, paying respect to the Xián Wáng monarch was a matter of course. But today it was the Xián Wáng who brought Xu Family's son for 'the first visit of bride to her parental home'. In the ordinary course of event, even if their greetings were only for appearance, the Xiàn Wáng should have a moment ago in any way exempt them from really kneeling down.

"Xu Dàrén¹ please rise up.” Xián Wáng, Xiao Qing Yan did not stopped and exempted everyone's courteous rituals, on the contrary he looked as if he was in deep interest glancing at the people kneeling down and only let them rose up.

¹Address to an elder man; Your Excellency; adult

In fact, it was not surprising for Xiao Qing Yan to be curious about this very small fourth rank petty official's home. Only wife and children but unexpectedly had dozens of people. This Xu Yongnian however was not a local, had no foundation inside the capital and also could not benefit in the imperial court assembly. His small official salary probably would not even support to raise this large number of family members.

Xian Wang 'not at all easy' called to rise, and even if Xu Yongnian was dissatisfied in his heart, he could only stack his face with a smiling expression. He took advantage of Xiao Qing Yan walking ahead and ferociously glared straight at the 'kept silent' son. Who would have thought that, that unfilial son unexpectedly bluntly returned with: “Father, every word and deed need to take cautious. This is what you said to this child. How could you forget it?”

Xu Yongnian at first was stupefied, then startled and scared, immediately looked at Xiao Qing Yan with a guilty conscience but later found out that Xiao Qing Yan had no any reaction. Only anger from his heart rose up. He wondered which day he must seek an excuse to make this little bastard came back to properly teach him a lesson at once.

This behaviour just now was not what Xiao Qing Yan wished-for, only for the sake of blocking up the mouth of observant and conscientious people, he had no choice but to go through the motion. Once entering Xu Residence and gave the things they brought, Xiao Qing Yan simply wanted to leave. Only passed a brief of ‘one small cup of tea' period of time, both people used an excuse of being occupied and left.

Xiao Qing Yan from the start of entering the door had not regarded Xu Yongnian as his father-in-law. Xu Yongnian naturally did not dare to put on airs. They wanted to leave, and Xu Family's large family members naturally followed the people and hastily went to escort out. After waiting until the Wang's horse carriage was finally invisible, Xu Yongnian suddenly got rid of the scholarly appearance. He spitted 'pei' with a mouthful of spittle. Then spitting another mouthful of filthy languages.

"I originally thought you were really a non-local talented person with an alienated appearance. As it turns out it is your nature." Today, Xu Chang An's treatment to the Xu Family people, Xiao Qing Yan took it all in completely. As it turned out that Xu Chang An was born with a cold temper. Family members were also treated in 'a matter of no concern' manner.

“My mother … did not died of illness.” Himself did not know why he was able to speak to him, the words he spoke were also as peaceful as no waves and billows. As if just talking about what kind of side dishes he liked on an ordinary days. At his side, Xiao Qing Yan however all of a sudden sat upright, facing him and threw a glance that could probe into another eyes.

"Made Wang Ye laughed at me." After talking only then knew regret. But regret could not be put on the face, could only pretended to be of lacking manners and smiling in apologetic.

Withdrawing his measuring glance, Xiao Qing Yan not uttered a brief remark. The two people also continuously did not speak again. Only finally arrived at Wang Residence and Xu Chang An was ready to return to his courtyard, only then Xiao Qing Yan called to stop.

“Let's go to the antechamber."

“Yes, Wang Ye.” Going to the antechamber with Xiao Qing Yan, it must be to let himself as Wang Fei be seen by the Wang Residence's people. Xu Chang An knew that this Wang Fei meet would inevitably took till to the end of the day, but the time still unlikely be too long, therefore concerning to the authority of the monarch residence's dedicated woman manager actually made no difference. But now that Xiao Qing Yan had intention to, he would gladly accept it and could make himself live well. Why look for mistreatment? With Xiao Qing Yan's acknowledgement, at least in this Wang Residence, no one except for Xiao Qing Yan could mistreated him.

“Your humble slaves (maidservants) paying respect to Wang Fei.”

“Rise up.” It really was to see the servants of the Wang Residence and let them recognized him as another master. Xu Chang An was naturally happy to see Xiao Qing Yan's arrangement. But why did Xiao Qing Yan do this? No matter why he also could not understand. Was not Xiao Qing Yan disliking him?

Did he doing like this was the same as yesterday's accompanying him the first visit, just in order to block out the preposterous mouths of the crowds outside?

The so-called 'cut the weeds and dig up the toots'². Now that Xiao Qing Yan did not inherit the qualifications of Datong, but he was the eldest son of the Empress Yuan³ and the formal wife's eldest prince of the Imperial Family. He probably had everyday encountered other people who always would be a threat.

²(idiom) stamp out the source of trouble

³Original/First Empress

“Wang still have matters to attend. You can do as you sees fit here.”

“Yes, Wang Ye.” Xiao Qing Yan was sent away and Xu Chang An was more comfortable alone. However, not waiting for Xu Chang An to speak, the steward stepped forward and said: "Wang Fei, the Wang Residence's account book this Laonuⁿ will later give to Wang Fei, send to your courtyard. The slave contracts of the Wang Residence's servants are always in Wang Ye custody. But the key to Wang Residence's storehouse is with this Laonu here, in a while Laonu will bring Wang Fei to go to the storehouse to check things.

In addition, Wang Ye now still did not have a courtyard for a status of concubine living space, but there are two personal yatous that was sent from the palace when Wang Ye reached adulthood. Do Wang Fei want to meet?” Only personal yatous with no status to speak of, even no qualification to come and serve Wang Fei tea to receive Wang Fei approval. However, Xiao Qing Yan now only had these two personal yatous, guanjia naturally wanted to put forward to talk about it.

ⁿyatou = girl; slave girl; maid

ⁿguanjia = steward/butler/manager of a household

“Call over then.” Xiao Qing Yan's women, even if there were no status, Xu Chang An would like to meet. Since Xiao Qing Yan's reached adulthood, it's been several years. For so many years Xiao Qing Yan had not dismissed them, presumably he liked them. He also by chance wanted to take a look at what kind of woman Xiao Qing Yan liked, whether he wanted or not to let Xiao Qing Yan to choose two concubines. It looked like him helping his husband choosing a woman was the duty of the formal wife.

“That's right. Yesterday, His Highness received a Wang title. This is a great happy event. The whole residents will be given a reward. Guanjia, in a moment every competent yatous, old woman servants and Guanjia in this residence, each person will be given ten taels of silver. The rest will be given five taels of silver per person. I'll go first. You let everyone go receive the reward. Afterwards bring Wang Ye's two personal yatous to come and meet me." This matter came suddenly. Yang Momo did not beforehand tell him and Xu Chang An himself did not know if he had done the right thing or not. Merely remembered briefly when Liu Shi's son had given birth, father had gave such reward. But the amount he had said just now was a far cry differed. Xu Residence could not be compared to Wang Residence. There should be no problem with the amount of rewards he gave just now.

Supposedly Xu Chang An was holding too much. If worst come to worst, he thought of his own allowance money. Then feared that giving less at the beginning would provoke the whole residents displeasure. Although he was Wang Fei, his basic necessities were delivered to him by the people in this residence. They liked him better on good terms than resentment.

The people in the official residence were indeed all happy. Generally, the servants in Wang residence were all house slaves and also they were a numerous number. Each time when a reward was given, only the guanjia at most got five taelsⁿ of silver. The lower rank people would simply get two taels of silver. Now, all the servant of the lowest rank in Wang Residence would be able to hold up to five taels of silver, naturally it would make everyone delighted.

ⁿunit for silver/money

The newly married Wang Fei's 'man' identity, they had already let go to the side. Only with Wang Fei's gentleness and generous were good to get along with the master. In the future, they wanted to serve wholeheartedly.

Xiao Qing Yan's two personal yatous; Ziyue and Jiao Ziyan, were from the inner palace. The given names were also chosen by the master of the inner palace.

“The slaves are paying respect to Wang Fei."

"Please, get up." The two people together gave Xu Chang An a kowtow. Xu Chang An was not good at dealing with women and was not intend to keep them. Calling them over was only because he wanted to give them a bit of things as rewards.

“I'm a man serving Wang Ye, naturally not in that way make thing convenient for him. On ordinary days, I may have to trouble all of you with Wang Ye.” Well women, they liked gold and silver, jewelry and beautiful clothes. Xu Chang An rewarded the two people a lot. Lastly, he as well told the two people to look forward to their works.

Although the two people were surprised by Wang Fei's frankness, unexpectedly able to frankly admit his identity was not good to serve in the bedroom with an easy of mind. However, as a matter of fact, the two people did care for it, thereupon in a good mood accepted the rewards and went back.

Xu Chang An's series of actions, naturally someone would report it to Xiao Qing Yan. Last heard, the guanjia also did not know whether last time his master checking on Wang Fei was satisfied or dissatisfied. The master did not have any expression also not issued an opinion. It looked as if he should most unlikely be dissatisfied. Afterwards, he had to check on Wang Fei a little diligently.

<

Chapter end