Chapter 177: Things Aren’t That Simple

Chapter 177: Things Aren't That Simple

After chatting with Lady Xiang for a while, Tang Shuyi bid farewell and returned home, leaving Xiao Yuming to continue his duties as a personal attendant in the General's residence.

Once Tang Shuyi was back, Steward Zhao came to report, "Madam, Miss Wu from the second household has died."

Tang Shuyi paused mid-sip, then composedly remarked, "The Second Prince acts swiftly."

Steward Zhao nodded in agreement, then continued, "Young Master Zhang from the fifth household seeks to annul his engagement with the eldest Miss Zhao. The reason cited by the Zhao family is due to an illicit affair between Miss Wu and Young Master Zhang.

"After our Young Master called off the engagement with Miss Wu, her reputation has been tarnished. Moreover, Young Master Zhang's mother threatened suicide to oppose their union. Given these circumstances, Miss Wu could no longer stay in her boudoir. She chose to become a nun at the Chongguang Temple."

Tang Shuyi raised an eyebrow. So, she went to Chongguang Temple to become a nun, intending to rise again where she had fallen?

"And then?" she inquired.

Steward Zhao continued, "After becoming a nun, Young Master Zhang visited her daily. Last night, a fire broke out in Miss Wu's room. She didn't escape and perished in the flames. Upon hearing the news, Young Master Zhang attempted to immolate himself in grief but was stopped by his mother."

Tang Shuyi was speechless...

"Well, she simply couldn't fathom the thought processes of someone smitten in love."

"How are things with Xiao Yiyuan now?" Tang Shuyi inquired.

Steward Zhao replied, "Nothing unusual has been detected so far, but the Second Prince's men are still keeping a watchful eye."

Tang Shuyi hummed a note of dismissal to Steward Zhao, allowing him to leave. She sat on the brocade couch, lost in thought for a while, before resuming her usual activities. After all, Wu Jingyun was just a passing figure in her life.

However, the situation at Xiao Yiyuan's end was not as uneventful as Steward Zhao had described. He had received a letter, one inexplicably placed beneath his bedding. At this moment, he stared blankly at the words on the paper, which shockingly read: "The Old Marquis of Yongning Hou Mansion is named Xiao Chengkun."

The name Xiao Chengkun was all too familiar to him, a name his grandmother had uttered throughout half her life. They all believed he was dead, but to their surprise, he had been ennobled and had remarried.

His emotions were in turmoil, and "heart in disarray" was the only phrase that could encapsulate his current feelings.

He was no stranger to the title 'Marquis of Yongning' either. On his first day arriving in the capital with his cousin, they had encountered the young master of the Yongning Hou Mansion right at the city gate. It was because his horse had startled his cousin, causing a fall, that the young master nonchalantly tossed them ten taels of silver.

Ten taels of silver! That was the annual expenditure for his entire family.

Later, when he sought an audience with Master Fang Darru, he pleaded with the young servant at the gate for a long time but couldn't gain entrance. Meanwhile, the heir of the Yongning Hou Mansion hadn’t even reached the doorstep when the young servant greeted him with bows and smiles.

It was only now that he realized those two distinguished young masters from the Xiao family shared his surname.

With frustration brewing inside him, he wanted to vent but found himself unable to. He put away the letter and thought of going out for a walk when the door of his room was pushed open, and Tang Zi’ang, his roommate, returned.

Upon seeing him, Tang Zi’ang said, "Yiyuan, Master Fang is planning to attend a gathering in a few days and intends to bring a few students along. Are you one of them?"

Xiao Yiyuan shook his head. "The teacher has not mentioned it to me."

"Then you must strive for it!" Tang Zi’ang exclaimed excitedly. "Do you know who initiated this gathering?"

Xiao Yiyuan shook his head again.

With a look that said 'I knew you wouldn't know,' Tang Zi’ang continued, "It’s none other than the Grand Scholar Qi from the Imperial Cabinet."

Xiao Yiyuan, having only recently arrived in the capital, had no idea who the Grand Scholar Qi was, and his face betrayed his confusion.

Seeing his puzzled expression, Tang Zi’ang leaned closer and whispered, "This Grand Scholar Qi is no ordinary man. Born into a prestigious family, he became the top scholar at the age of 19. Normally, he should have entered the Hanlin Academy, but he didn’t. Instead, he joined the Ministry of Revenue, starting as an eighth-rank official, and in just a few years, he rose to be the Minister of Revenue. Recently, he even joined the Imperial Cabinet."

After finishing his explanation, Tang Zi’ang sighed, "Such people are only to be looked up to by us! Those with great family backgrounds are just different from us ordinary folks!"

Xiao Yiyuan’s fists clenched slightly upon hearing Tang Zi’ang’s words. At that moment, Tang Zi’ang added, "Do you know where Grand Scholar Qi has set the gathering? At the Hu Guang Pavilion."

Xiao Yiyuan's face once again showed confusion. What is Huguangxie?

Tang Zi'ang went on to explain: "This Huguangxie, it's said to have been built by the carefree Prince while admiring the beautiful scenery of Langyue Lake. After the Prince passed away, somehow, this residence fell into the hands of the Yongning Marquis's household.

The Yongning Marquis's household and the Qi household joined forces and opened a clubhouse at Huguangxie, exclusively catering to gatherings and entertainment for nobles and dignitaries. I’ve heard that Huguangxie makes a fortune every day. The Yongning Marquis's household was already extremely wealthy, and now it's even more so, sigh, we really can't compare with them."

As he spoke, Tang Zi'ang leaned closer to Xiao Yiyuan and whispered: "We’ve almost exhausted all our connections and nearly spent all our family’s savings just to get into Shanglin Academy. Do you know? The second son of the Yongning Marquis’s family, ignorant and incompetent, there’s not a soul in the capital who doesn’t know his nickname. Yet, even so, he started studying at Shanglin Academy when he was six or seven years old."

Xiao Yiyuan's eyes were downcast, and he didn't speak. Tang Zi'ang glanced at him and continued: "The eldest son of the Yongning Marquis's family, that is, the crown prince of Yongning, is slightly better in terms of academics than the second son, but his scholarship is also mediocre, far from matching yours. But do you know? He is personally tutored by Master Fang and has even taken the cabinet scholar, Minister Qi, as his teacher."

Tang Zi'ang heaved a deep sigh, then patted Xiao Yiyuan on the shoulder, "We just have to accept our fate. If you had the birth of a Yongning Marquis's son, who knows, you might even become a marquis or prime minister in the future."

"Brother Zi'ang, mind your words," Xiao Yiyuan immediately admonished.

Tang Zi'ang chuckled, "I’m just rambling, speaking off the cuff."

Xiao Yiyuan nodded at him, "I have some matters to attend to, I'll take my leave first."

"Oh, go ahead with your business," Tang Zi'ang waved his hands hastily.

Xiao Yiyuan stepped out of the dormitory, a gust of wind lifting the hem of his robe. He slightly tilted his head, casting a sidelong glance at Tang Zi'ang with the corner of his eye, then strode away. He needed to find a quiet place to think things through properly.

After reading that letter, his feelings were indeed unsettled. Over the years, his family had struggled to make ends meet, and before leaving home, his cousin had never even tasted a white steamed bun. Then he thought of his grandfather, who had been conferred the title of marquis, remarried, and lived in utmost wealth and comfort. He couldn’t help but care.

But Tang Zi'ang's words made him realize that things were not so simple.

He received a letter out of the blue, and his relationship with Tang Zi'ang was not particularly close. They didn’t talk much on a daily basis, but today Tang Zi'ang had spoken a lot to him, repeatedly mentioning the Yongning Marquis's household, and hinting at what might be if he had been born into a better station.

Clearly, someone wanted to use his connection to the Yongning Marquis's household for their own agenda.

PS: A male lead's mind is never ordinary.