Just as Empress Ma, within her chambers, appealed to Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang with emotion and reason, gradually persuading him.
And just as Zhu Yuanzhang finally relented, preparing to spare the officials of the Huaixi faction.
On the other side!
For Yang Xian, this was perhaps the most important day of the year.
No other reason than that Yang Xian, who had temporarily taken charge of the Zhongshu Sheng and might soon be promoted to Left Prime Minister, greatly valued his birthday.
Because this particular birthday fell on a day of auspicious fortune in Feng Shui.
Yang Xian was also quite proud of the timing of his birthday, feeling somewhat like a "chosen one."
In short, this day presented the perfect opportunity for officials in the court who sought to curry favor with Yang Xian.
Furthermore, this event also drew the attention of many observant individuals.
This was originally a minor matter. The capital was teeming with officials, and every birthday would see individuals inviting friends and family to celebrate.
However, most officials did not make a grand display of their birthdays, fearing too much attention might provide their political rivals with an opportunity, not only ruining their celebration but also causing them trouble.
But Yang Xian was, after all, the future Left Prime Minister, and most of his political opponents had already been dealt with.
Therefore, he did the exact opposite, going against the prevailing trend.
He not only invited most of the "Yang Party" officials to his mansion for the celebration but also hosted hundreds of tables, creating a significant stir, as if to ensure the entire world knew he was celebrating his birthday.
Yang Xian's actions naturally led to much discussion among the court officials, with many, for the sake of their future prospects, flocking to Yang's mansion to flatter him.
Of course, some expressed their disdain and contempt in private. People's hearts are varied, and the world's affairs are always so.
However, Yang Xian had his own considerations and plans.
As his status and power grew, so did the number of his faction members.
Yet, due to various reasons, Yang Xian felt he could not truly control these officials within the Yang Party.
Yang Xian also felt a sense of unease, having to rely on several core officials to relay orders and manage affairs remotely.
Now, with his promotion to Left Prime Minister imminent, he needed to select a portion of the "Yang Party" officials for focused cultivation.
These specially nurtured "Yang Party" officials would form the future core strength of the faction.
Therefore, Yang Xian had to personally meet and speak with them, emphasizing his presence, bestowing favors, and further solidifying his control.
Unbeknownst to him, time had flown by.
Given Yang Xian's current status and influence, this event was indeed a grand occasion in the capital's officialdom, drawing the gaze of countless people.
Especially after Li Shanchang fanned the flames and intervened, this birthday banquet was destined to be grand and lively.
For many officials, the most important task of the day was not attending to official duties but participating in Yang Xian's birthday banquet and seizing the opportunity to deepen their relationship with him, thus seeking his patronage.
At this moment, Yang's mansion was already bustling with activity, with guests arriving in droves.
Yang Xian did not dare to delay. He first warmly responded to the congratulations of the guests and then instructed his servants to serve the pre-prepared delicacies to the banquet tables.
After all this was done, Yang Xian took his position at the front courtyard of his mansion, taking on the role of welcoming guests.
The guests who arrived early at Yang's mansion were mostly his own faction members and some minor officials, whom Yang Xian did not pay much attention to.
The most important guests, however, usually arrived last and required Yang Xian's personal reception.
These guests, holding extremely high official positions and noble status, arrived one by one, rather than all at once.
"Lord Wang Dong, Left Censor of the Censorate, has arrived..."
"Young Tutor Lu Feng has arrived..."
"Minister of the Dali Temple, Lord Dai, has arrived..."
The pronouncements of the steward at the entrance signaled the arrival of each weighty guest at Yang's mansion.
Soon, Zheng Kaiwei, the Minister of War, personally arrived at Yang's mansion to congratulate Yang Xian on his birthday.
He also presented two large chests of gifts, valued at over ten thousand taels of silver.
After exchanging a few polite official pleasantries with Zheng Kaiwei, Yang Xian ushered him inside.
Just as Zheng Kaiwei was welcomed into the mansion, the sedan chair of Sun Yang, the Minister of Justice, stopped before Yang's mansion, also presenting two large chests of gifts.
After Yang Xian finally managed to welcome Sun Yang in, Zhang Boxuan, the Minister of Works, arrived with gifts, and not just two, but three large chests...
Cui Yongbao, the Minister of Rites, brought only a painting, but it was an original copy of the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival."
From Fengxiang, the Minister of Personnel, also arrived, bringing three boxes of gifts with full sincerity...
The Minister of Revenue, appearing last, directly brought five large chests of gifts worth over one hundred thousand taels of silver.
This day, Yang Xian was utterly swamped.
He had to play the role of the birthday celebrant and participate in the banquet proceedings, as well as the role of a successful politician, entertaining guests, exchanging information, and inevitably felt overwhelmed.
It could be said that on this day, Yang's mansion nearly gathered all the important officials of the capital's central government. Excluding those officials who were irreconcilably opposed to Yang Xian, nearly all the powerful officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital were present.
Even though Zhu Yuanzhang did not personally appear, he wielded his imperial brush and dispatched Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Li Shanchang to deliver a precious plaque.
Amidst the throng of guests, Yang Xian, though busy welcoming and seeing off visitors, was also at the peak of his glory.
Finally, with the arrival of Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Li Shanchang at Yang's mansion, the atmosphere reached its zenith.
Coupled with the presence of the six ministers from earlier, Yang Xian had personally welcomed all the great officials, which was a rare occurrence in the official world.
This, in turn, sufficiently demonstrated the immense influence Yang Xian wielded at this moment.
Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Li Shanchang were the last weighty guests to arrive at Yang's mansion. Therefore, after receiving them, Yang Xian no longer personally welcomed guests.
He followed closely behind Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Li Shanchang as they proceeded into the mansion.
As they walked, the surrounding guests offered him flattering congratulations. Yang Xian, shedding his usual cold and stern demeanor, wore a kindly and approachable expression, constantly smiling and cupping his hands in return.
Next, Yang Xian said to Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Li Shanchang: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Prime Minister, it is truly a thrice-in-a-lifetime fortune for this humble minister to have you both grace my birthday celebration today."
For Yang Xian, Li Shanchang was insignificant, like a piece of dead wood, lacking real power and liable to perish at any moment.
However, Zhu Biao was different. Establishing a connection with Zhu Biao was akin to having close contact with the future emperor.
...
Just as Yang Xian was about to say something more, Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Li Shanchang exchanged a glance.
"An imperial edict arrives! Left Minister of the Zhongshu Sheng, receive the decree!"
Hearing Zhu Biao's command and seeing the imperial edict in his hand, everyone in Yang's mansion was greatly surprised.
At the entrance of Yang's mansion, dozens of eunuchs carrying various items swaggered into the premises.
Evidently, Zhu Yuanzhang's birthday gifts had arrived.
The guests immediately ceased their chatter, and Yang's mansion quickly fell silent. Yang Xian hurried to the front of Crown Prince Zhu Biao and knelt to receive the decree.
Crown Prince Zhu Biao unfurled the imperial edict and announced loudly: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The nation has operated for many years, with corrupt officials becoming increasingly prevalent. Yang Xian, Left Minister of the Zhongshu Sheng, has severely punished corruption and made great contributions, upholding integrity and purity. I am most pleased. I hereby bestow upon you a calligraphy plaque in my own hand, and promote you to Zide Dafu, with one hundred pearls... By imperial order!"
Upon hearing the content of the imperial edict, everyone present was deeply moved.
Zhu Yuanzhang's rewards were more astonishing than imagined!
The bestowal of a calligraphy plaque and one hundred pearls was already significant, and now he was also promoted to Zide Dafu.
Zide Dafu was an extremely honorable title.
Zide Dafu was a conferred honorary title of the second rank in the Ming Dynasty.
These honorary titles, symbolic of status, had three grades within each rank. The grade was the same as the substantive rank.
For instance, upon becoming Left Minister of the Zhongshu Sheng, Yang Xian would simultaneously become Zishan Dafu, the lowest level of the second rank.
Zishan Dafu was the lowest tier of the second rank honorary titles. Only after making outstanding contributions could one be promoted to Zide Dafu.
To advance further, in addition to outstanding merit, one must possess deep seniority, a stellar reputation, and the recognition of a hundred officials before being conferred the title of Zizheng Dafu.
Now, Zhu Yuanzhang directly conferred upon Yang Xian the title of Zide Dafu, not only acknowledging Yang Xian's achievements in recent years but also bestowing upon him immense honor.
It was worth noting that among the officials of the second rank, only Yang Xian had received the distinguished honor of Zide Dafu.
This implied that, aside from Yang Xian, he had become the foremost official among those of the second rank.
However, while the guests were filled with envy, Yang Xian himself was ecstatic.
He appeared overcome with gratitude and bowed, saying, "This minister receives the decree and thanks Your Majesty!"
As Yang Xian reached out to accept the imperial edict, Crown Prince Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Lord Yang, come and see the calligraphy plaque His Majesty has bestowed upon you!"
With that, two young eunuchs carefully carried a plaque covered by a red cloth to Yang Xian.
Yang Xian reached out and lifted the red cloth, revealing four large black characters inscribed on the plaque.
"Integrity and Righteousness"!
...
With the arrival of the imperial plaque inscribed by Zhu Yuanzhang, the atmosphere in Yang's mansion reached another peak.
Upon seeing the four characters "Integrity and Righteousness" on the plaque, the guests gathered around Yang Xian.