Chapter 708

Chapter 715: Borrowing Strength (Part 2)

"There are countless eyes watching us from inside and outside the court!" Lord Xu took Eleventh Lady's hand, "We must not panic at the slightest hint of trouble. Once we panic, it's easy to make mistakes. One mistake can easily give others a handle on us. Once they have a handle, even what we didn't do will be pinned on us." He smiled as he spoke, "We will remain calm and let them exhaust themselves. No matter which way the wind blows, we will stand firm."

Eleventh Lady had been married into the Yongping Marquis' residence for many years, one event after another, each seemingly small, but all eventually causing some level of turmoil. Regarding Jingge'er's matter, she naturally elevated it to a political level. Hearing Lord Xu's words, her focus shifted to matters of state.

"No matter which way the wind blows," she couldn't help but tease him with a smile, "Will the Marquis really remain completely still?" Her eyes sparkled, making her look very lively. Lord Xu laughed heartily, "As long as others see that I'm doing nothing!" This was truly Lord Xu!

Eleventh Lady smiled, pursing her lips.

Lord Xu then instructed her, "Keep an eye on Jingge'er these few days, don't let him go out. Since this matter involves Jingge'er, I fear someone might target him."

Eleventh Lady nodded, using the excuse of visiting Elder Madam Gan to keep Jingge'er with her. At first, Jingge'er was fine, standing quietly beside his mother while she talked with her sisters. But when everyone smiled warmly and pulled his hand, asking if he was betrothed, and most looked at him as if they were hungry people eyeing a plate of pastries, he could no longer hold back.

"I want to play cuju at home," when Eleventh Lady was about to take him to Twelfth Aunt, he finally burst out, "Princess said that if we lose, I'll have to run around the West Garden. I don't want to run!"

"Twelfth Aunt hasn't seen you since last year's New Year," Eleventh Lady tried to persuade him, "She always asks about you before every meeting. When you became the Commander of the Imperial Tombs Guard, your Twelfth Uncle even sent a gift. We should take this opportunity to thank Twelfth Aunt. How can you not go?"

"Since we'll meet on the third day of the New Year, why go before the New Year?" Jingge'er said indifferently, "I can thank Twelfth Aunt then, it won't be too late!" Lord Xu's cold gaze fell on him, and Jingge'er's heart quivered, his voice gradually lowering until it became a mumble, "Fine, I'll go, but after greeting Twelfth Aunt, we'll come back. Don't keep chatting with people, and go on and on..."

"Do you speak to your mother like that?" Lord Xu's face darkened, "If you find it tiresome to visit relatives, tell me, what do you find enjoyable?"

Jingge'er sensed his father's error, yet understood that any explanation would only prompt him to hasten the marriage arrangements... "It's my fault!" he apologized to Eleventh Lady, his voice laced with grievance. "I won't do it again!"

"That's enough, that's enough." Eleventh Lady stepped forward, smiling, and put her arm around her son's shoulder, turning to Lord Xu, "He's not unwilling to visit relatives with me; he's afraid others will ask if he's betrothed!" She came to Jingge'er's defense.

Jingge'er's face flushed red instantly.

Lord Xu raised his eyebrows in surprise, then laughed, "Our Jingge'er has grown up!"

Jingge's face turned even redder, stammering, "I'll go and check if the things for Twelfth Aunt are ready," before he darted away like a streak of smoke.

Lord Xu and Elven laughed heartily.

The curtain was suddenly pushed aside, and Jingge poked his head out, "Father, Mother, I don't want a wife. I want to be the commander at Jiayuguan!" With that, the curtain flickered, and Jingge ran off again, leaving Elven laughing uncontrollably.

Lord Xu also said, "This rascal, does getting married mean he can't be the commander at Jiayuguan anymore?" Before Elven and Jingge returned from Twelfth Aunt's place, the news had already spread.

The matriarch chuckled, "Our Jingge isn't a little boy anymore; it's time to talk about a match." Then she began to ponder with Second Lady, "We must choose well... He shouldn't look too bad, or our Jingge will be too pitiful... When choosing a wife, virtue is most important, but the dowry can be negotiated. The family background must be clean... Ideally, she should be one or two years older, so she knows how to care for others..." The more the matriarch spoke, the more excited she became, eager to find a suitable match for Jingge. She called for Du Mama, "As soon as Elven returns, have her come to me. I want to discuss this matter thoroughly."

Second Lady laughed beside her, "It's almost the New Year, and she has many things to do. Let's wait until after the tenth day! By then, every household will have lantern festivals, and we can take a good look at the girls." "We have to wait until after the tenth day!" The matriarch was disappointed, "There are still twenty days left!"

"Rushing won't get you hot tofu!" Second Lady smiled, "If we pick someone with a temper, there will be no time to regret it. A daughter takes after her mother. If the mother is virtuous, the daughter won't be far off! There are still twenty days. We can review all the families with virtuous reputations and daughters of the right age. We can focus on the best candidates and avoid being overwhelmed."

"That's a good idea!" The matriarch, hearing this, immediately perked up, enthusiastically calling for Zihong to grind the ink, and said to Second Lady, "Let's plan it out!"

How could Jingge's marriage be so simple?

Second Lady was merely keeping the matriarch company and making her happy.

She smiled in agreement, took up the brush, and sat by the kang table, discussing the backgrounds of various families with the matriarch...

All the memorials impeaching Lord Xu were retained by the Emperor without being issued, and the people at the Censorate also saw the situation clearly. Some thought it was just a case of the pot calling the kettle black, not worth mentioning in the imperial court, and felt disdainful, finding it boring to watch; some believed that the Yongping Marquis' contempt for the censor's impeachment made it even less forgivable, and their language in the memorials grew increasingly harsh; some thought that in terms of arrogance, the Grand Commissioner of the Grand Canal was even worse than the Yongping Marquis, and Chen Bozhi was simply using the river clearance project to use the Yongping Marquis as a stepping stone to establish his own stern reputation, to intimidate his subordinates and solidify his absolute authority over the Grand Canal, so they also submitted memorials to impeach Chen Bozhi; some read the emperor's mood and began to feign deafness and blindness; and there were those who had always been troublemakers, now feeling uncertain and indecisive.

Regardless of the situation, the year 20 of Yonghe arrived on schedule, accompanied by the sound of firecrackers.

Fang Yi withdrew his gaze from the snow outside the window, picked up the sweet white porcelain chrysanthemum wine cup filled with Daughter Red, and sipped it gently. The rich and smooth flavor made him sigh contentedly, "Wenming, I must say, your father's move was truly brilliant."

Civilization is the courtesy name Mr. Jiang gave to Xu Siyu.

Xu Siyu, however, was not as optimistic as Fang Yi: "I fear the matter will come to a head in mid-February—unless I'm mistaken, Chen Bozhi will be coming to Yanjing for his official report!"

Fang Yi burst into laughter: "That's why I say, your old man—instead of arguing with the Censorate now, he might as well wait until Chen Bozhi comes to Yanjing and then cry injustice!"

Xu Siyu could hardly suppress a smile: "The way you talk, it sounds like you have nothing to do with the Censorate?"

Fang Yi only smiled without a word.

A thought struck Xu Siyu: "Are you changing posts?"

Fang Yi nodded and laughed: "Guess where I'm going?"

Xu Siyu thought for a moment and smiled: "Huguang!"

Fang Yi clapped his hands: "Civilization leaves no room for error!"

"Don't try to dodge me!" Xu Siyu laughed, "Where are you really going?"

"Deputy Magistrate of Wuchang Prefecture."

"Congratulations, congratulations," Xu Siyu raised his wine glass, "a step up to the sixth rank."

"It's not quite the same as being the chief magistrate of a region," though happy, Fang Yi was not overly proud, "to rise further, I fear it will be difficult without experience as a county or prefectural magistrate. When the time comes, you must lend me a hand!" He treated Xu Siyu as a friend and did not stand on ceremony.

"Of course."

Xu Siyu also hoped for a smooth path for Fang Yi's career, "I'll write to my father-in-law right away."

"Not yet," Fang Yi smiled. "We'll wait until there's an opening."

"Very well!" Since Fang Yi had his own plans, he would just need to cooperate. Xu Siyu smiled and said, "When the time comes, just let me know."

Fang Yi nodded and whispered a name, "Stubborn and self-willed, but a good pawn." Then he mentioned another name, "Hates evil like an enemy, can be useful too."

Xu Siyu clasped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Fang."

"No need to thank me, no need to thank me!" Fang Yi raised his cup, drained it in one go, and they continued discussing poetry and literature until dusk fell, then they parted ways.

Xu Siyu rinsed his mouth and immediately went to Lord Xu.

Lord Xu and Lady Shunwang had just returned from Prince Shun’s residence. Lord Xu looked as usual, while Lady Shunwang, who had drunk some wine, had rosy cheeks.

The father and son spoke in the eastern chamber.

Xu Siyu relayed Fang Yi’s words, and Lord Xu merely nodded, saying, "I understand," with a rather indifferent expression. Xu Siyu couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed, bowed, and prepared to leave. As he reached the door, he heard his father call him, "Wenming, I know you take care of your brother, that’s very good!"

To hear his courtesy name from his father...

Xu Siyu was stunned, feeling a lump in his throat, and his vision blurred. He quickly lowered his head, "I am the elder brother, it’s my duty." He performed a bow and hurried away.

Lord Xu sat behind the large desk, silent for a long time.

Back in the inner chambers, the youngest son had already returned from the palace and was whispering to his mother, "... Several times, they aimed at me, but luckily I was quick enough not to catch it, and it hit that guy on the head instead. But the Eighth Prince wasn’t so lucky; the First Princess glared at him as if she wanted to eat him alive. That guy has a good temper, didn’t get angry even after being hit, and he’s quite handsome. I saw the First Princess blushing and hiding behind me, speaking in a soft voice. She must have a crush on him!"

Lady Shunwang hugged her son, "You know all this?"

"I’m not stupid!" Jingge pouted. Seeing his father enter, he quickly stood up, "Father, when did you come in? You didn’t make a sound, you scared us!"

Lord Xu nodded slightly, "Did you see Her Majesty the Empress?"

"Yes!" Jingge sat down next to Lady Shunwang, noticing his father’s gaze on his shoulder, he moved a bit away, leaving a fist’s distance between them, "She also gave me four gold ingots inscribed with 'First Rank Scholar.' She asked me to visit the palace again on the sixth day of the month."