Chapter 743

Chapter 750: Watching and Waiting (Part 1)

Despite Lord Xu's repeated reassurances, he couldn't dissuade the Elder Madam from her determination. In the end, with no other options, Lord Xu personally submitted the petition placard to request an audience with the Empress Dowager.

Neither the inner court nor *Cining Palace* dared to show the slightest neglect. The petition placard was submitted at noon, and within just an hour, Eunuch Lei personally led two attendants dressed in sixth-rank court attire to escort the Elder Madam. Lord Xu and Eleven Miss accompanied the Elder Madam into the palace.

Old Marquis Sun suddenly paid a visit.

"They've entered the palace..." The old gentleman sounded somewhat disappointed.

After the commotion in the fifth household lasted half the night, everyone could guess the purpose of Old Marquis Sun's visit.

Steward Bai respectfully invited Old Marquis Sun to wait in the outer study: "...They left almost an hour ago and should be back soon!" There were palace rules: meals were served only before noon, and in the afternoon, each palace would prepare some snacks in their small kitchens to curb hunger. Under such circumstances, there was naturally no such thing as being invited to stay for a meal. Moreover, since the inner palace gates were locked at curfew, they should have left the palace by late afternoon.

Old Marquis Sun glanced at the sky and followed Steward Bai to the study.

Xu Sishen hurried over at once.

"Grandfather, you've finally come." He hastily paid his respects to Old Marquis Sun and said urgently, "I want to go to Guizhou with Sixth Brother... He's only a year older than me, but now he's already the Earl of Wujin and Guizhou Commander. I can't keep lazing around at home like this. When it came to archery, he was no match for me before!"

Upon hearing this, Steward Bai quietly withdrew, even closing the door behind him for the grandfather and grandson.

"You are the eldest son and can later receive an official post through hereditary privilege. Your father is not like your fourth uncle—when the late emperor was alive, your fourth uncle had military achievements, and now he has the merit of recommending Gong Dongning... What will happen to your younger brother later?" Old Marquis Sun gently asked Xu Sishen.

His grandfather, who had always supported him, was now siding with his mother. Xu Sishen looked utterly surprised.

He couldn't help but lower his head in thought.

The room fell into silence.

Gradually, Xu Sishen's expression turned dejected.

Watching him, Old Marquis Sun sighed softly to himself.

This time, he had misjudged.

He knew Lord Xu's intention in sending Xu Sijin to Guizhou. He had originally planned to send Xu Sishen there later as well. But seeing Xu Sishen's still-childish face and thinking that he had only this one daughter, who in turn had only two sons, his heart softened. He thought it might be better to wait a few years until Xu Sijin had firmly established himself in the military camp, and until Xu Sishen was older and had improved his martial skills before sending him. It wouldn’t be too late then.

Who could have known that this moment of hesitation would lead to such earth-shattering changes?

First, Jiaozi headed south, and in less than two engagements, Fan Weigang was defeated, and Xuantong City fell. Ouyang Ming was appointed in a crisis but was severely wounded and fell into a coma. The emperor changed generals mid-campaign, transferring command to Gong Dongning. The emperor wanted to save Ouyang Ming's life, leaving him with twenty thousand troops to pursue and suppress Duoyan and claim a military merit, but Duoyan ambushed them. Xu Sijin, who had gone out with Ouyang Ming to rally the troops, was a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger—he called upon three thousand guards from the Yulin Guard to pursue Duoyan. The commander of the Yulin Guard was even more remarkable, actually handing over the troops to Xu Sijin just like that... The situation developed so rapidly it was dizzying. Before he could even make arrangements, news came that Xu Sijin had captured Duoyan alive.

In the end, Xu Sijin was appointed as the Earl of Wujin, while Ouyang Ming, whom the emperor had been determined to promote, ended with his entire family exiled.

If he had known it would turn out like this, he should have hardened his heart and sent Shen-ge'er to Guizhou back then!

Xu Sishen didn’t overthink it.

The same words, when spoken by his grandfather who had once held high office and directed state affairs, carried more weight than when they came from his mother, who only knew how to dote on his younger brother.

If someone had to make a sacrifice, it could only be him, the older brother.

"Grandfather," he raised his head, looking resolutely at Old Marquis Sun, "I will stay home. Let my younger brother go to Guizhou with Sixth Brother!"

Even at a time like this, he still knew to care for his younger brother... Old Marquis Sun nodded with relief.

The sound of a woman sobbing came from the doorway.

Both turned toward the sound and saw the Fifth Madame standing there, wiping her tears.

"Mother!" Xu Sishen hurried over, pulling out a handkerchief for Fifth Lady. "I was wrong. Please don't cry!"

Hearing this, Fifth Lady wept even more bitterly.

Both were her flesh and blood. Cheng Geer was younger, so she paid more attention to him, but that didn’t mean she didn’t care about her eldest son. Her eldest had always been more capable and resourceful than the younger one. Now, to have him give up his bright and clear future for his younger brother—how could her heart not ache?

"Alright, alright, don’t cry anymore!" Old Marquis Sun said with a smile. "I’ll discuss this matter with the Yongping Marquis. You just wait for the news."

With her father stepping in, everything would naturally be arranged properly.

Fifth Lady nodded through her sobs.

Steward Bai reported from behind the curtain, "Old Marquis, Fifth Lady, Seventh Young Master, the Elder Madam and the Marquis have returned with the Fourth Lady!"

Fifth Lady quickly tucked the handkerchief into her sleeve. "Father, please wait here for a moment. Shen Geer and I will go greet the Elder Madam."

Old Marquis Sun gave a hum of acknowledgment. Fifth Lady went to the Chuihua Gate, while Xu Sishen headed straight for the main gate.

The Second Madame, along with Jiang Shi and Ying Niang, were already waiting at the Chuihua Gate.

"I wonder what the Empress Dowager and Mother discussed?" Fifth Lady chatted casually with the Second Madame.

"Everything has its pros and cons," the Second Madame said calmly. "Even if the Emperor doesn’t agree, in two or three years, we can use this as an excuse to bring Jin Geer back to Yanjing. It might not be a bad thing. The Emperor can’t very well let a man be cut off from his descendants, can he?" Her demeanor was confident, clearly not taking the matter to heart.

Fifth Lady couldn’t help but smile. "Second Sister-in-law thinks far ahead. We don’t have your foresight." But inwardly, she thought, What if the Emperor doesn’t allow him to be transferred back then? I’ve heard that those who serve as Regional Commanders profit even more than county magistrates or prefects in Jiangnan. What if Jin Geer doesn’t want to come back then?

These thoughts remained unspoken, but Jiang Shi couldn’t help glancing at the Second Madame, feeling greatly impressed.

As each was lost in thought, the Elder Madam’s carriage stopped at the Chuihua Gate. Eleven Miss alighted first, then helped the Elder Madam down from the carriage.

Everyone saw that the Elder Madam was smiling so widely her eyes narrowed to slits. After the palace visit, she showed not a trace of fatigue but was instead full of energy, her face glowing with health—clearly, the trip had been worthwhile.

Everyone smiled and crowded around the Elder Madam, accompanying her through the Chuihua Gate.

"...I never expected even Consort Song to have her eye on our Jin Geer," the Elder Madam said rather proudly back in her rooms, as the Second Madame helped her change clothes, while she recounted the palace visit to Fifth Lady, Jiang Shi, and Ying Niang. "The Empress Dowager kept signaling for her to leave, but she insisted on staying, demanding a clear answer from Eleven Miss. If the Empress hadn’t bluntly told her to withdraw, we might have been delayed even longer before leaving the palace."

"Consort Song!" Fifth Lady looked to Eleven Miss for confirmation, but the Second Madame said, "She’s the birth mother of the Eighth Prince, isn’t she? I’ve heard the Song family were originally minor officials in Pengcheng. They were enfeoffed as Assistant Regional Commanders of Pengcheng only because their daughter was beautiful and won favor in the palace. I’m afraid that might not be suitable?" As she spoke, her gaze also settled on Eleven Miss.

Eleven Miss could only smile wryly. "The Empress herself saw us out of the Cining Palace. As we knelt to take our leave, she reminded me to visit the Zhou family more often. Lady Zhou had mentioned some time ago during a palace visit about her younger cousins’ marriages and also noted that I hadn’t visited the Zhou family in a while."

Some things could only be understood, not spelled out.

Both the Second Madame and Fifth Lady were taken aback.

The Elder Madam, however, waved her hand dismissively. "There’s no need to rush. The imperial decree won’t come until after the New Year anyway. We’ll take our time to pick a good match for Jin Geer." A dreamy expression crossed her face. "Then we can ask the Empress Dowager to bestow a marriage upon Jin Geer. We’ll hold a lively wedding for him, and perhaps by next New Year, I’ll be holding a great-grandchild!"

It’s still early days, and she was already talking about great-grandchildren!

Eleven Miss found it both amusing and exasperating.

The Elder Madam had already turned to ask the Second Madame, "Do you think I should spruce up and make a couple of new outfits? That way, I can go with Eleven Miss to help Jin Geer choose a wife!"

"Of course you should!" the Second Madame coaxed the Elder Madam. "The bridges you’ve crossed are more than the roads we’ve walked. With you overseeing Jin Geer’s marriage, there’s no way it could go wrong."

"That’s what I think too!" the Elder Madam nodded without modesty. "I’ve thought it over. Consort Song is definitely out. The Zhou family isn’t good either—with the Empress in between, how can a couple live without disagreements? If a Zhou daughter relied on the fact that the marriage was facilitated by the Empress, our Jin Geer would be at a disadvantage..." The Elder Madam rubbed her forehead. "I need to think this through carefully!"

Seeing the Elder Madam’s troubled expression, Eleven Miss smiled. "In choosing a wife, virtue is what matters. As long as the woman’s character is good, that’s enough. Our Jin Geer isn’t without flaws either..."

"This isn’t in front of outsiders—no need for false modesty!" the Elder Madam said with some displeasure. "In my opinion, our Jin Geer has no flaws at all. Not only is he handsome, but he’s also filial and considerate, mild-tempered, polite and courteous to others, generous and open-hearted. Wherever he goes, he never forgets to bring gifts back for the family..."

Every parent thinks their own child is the best, and this was especially evident in the elder madam.

Elevenniang could only murmur in agreement and later recounted the conversation to Lord Xu.

Lord Xu laughed heartily and asked her, "How about having Zhong Ran act as a matchmaker?"

"Our eldest son-in-law?" Elevenniang was taken aback.

"He will eventually set up his own establishment, so it would be best to find him a daughter from a military family," Lord Xu mused. "We don’t necessarily need a daughter-in-law from a highly prestigious family, but she must be capable, virtuous, and come from a family with many brothers."

Kin stands by kin. Coming from a military family would mean her relatives were all serving in the army. As long as they weren’t completely incompetent, Lord Xu could help promote a few of them. With the support of his brothers-in-law, Xu Sijin would have a strong backing, and others would think twice before crossing him simply due to their numbers.

"I’m just worried the young lady might also have a martial temperament," Elevenniang expressed her concern. "Jin Geer is impulsive and yields to persuasion but not to force..."

"You and Zhenjie can help take a good look," Lord Xu said, pleased that Elevenniang had agreed in principle. "I’ll write to Zhong Ran later and ask him to help keep an eye out." Before he could finish his sentence, a young servant rushed in: "Lord, Madam, Mo Zhu from the second young master’s household has returned to the capital. He said he was sent by the second young master to pay his respects to you and Madam, and to deliver some items to the sixth young master. He has just arrived, and the steward sent me to inform you."

Due to the defeat in the northern war, the court, fearing that the Japanese pirates in Fujian might take advantage of the situation to launch a surprise attack, had blocked news to the Jiangnan region. By the time Xu Siyu learned that personnel from the Guizhou Regional Military Commission had been ordered to Xuan Tong and wrote to inquire about the details regarding Jin Geer, Jin Geer had already captured Duoyan, and communication had only just resumed.

Considering the timeline, Xu Siyu had likely only just heard about the ceremony of the captives being presented at the Meridian Gate.