Song Jingran's study is located in the northwest corner of the Song family's outer courtyard. When you push open the window lattice, you can see a pomegranate tree planted between two pieces of Taihu stone and a few clumps of green bamboo in the corner of the wall.
It was May now, the bamboos were emerald green, and the pomegranate flowers were in full bloom, creating a beautiful scene with a bright spring breeze.
Cheng Chi felt as if he had turned over a mixed bag of emotions.
He didn't want to get involved in the dispute over the succession.
Except for the Fourth Prince, it makes no difference to him who becomes emperor.
But once he becomes the Crown Prince's teacher, his future fate will inevitably be linked with the Crown Prince's. What's more, there is Zhou Shaojin's "prophecy" that the Crown Prince will die early.
He could not help but remain silent for a moment, and then asked, "Is there no change in this matter?"
Song Jingran was puzzled and said, "Zichuan, what are you worried about? If it's your eldest brother, you don't have to worry about it. There are many people who have different opinions on government affairs among brothers, and I believe that Elder Cheng is not a narrow-minded person. If you are worried about our Dalang, then you don't have to worry about it. Although he is only a few years younger than you, his ways of doing things are very different from yours. It will be impossible for him to be independent without ten years, and I have at most fifteen years. By then, our Dalang will still need your support..." There was another sentence he didn't say.
Cheng Jing is about the same age as him, but Cheng Xu is an official in a foreign post. Even if Cheng Jing works for him in Beijing, he won't be able to return to Beijing for 15 or 16 years. By the time Cheng Xu returns, Cheng Jing will have retired. Cheng Xu has been away for so long that it's impossible for him to adapt to the officialdom in Beijing all at once. If he wants to gain a foothold in the officialdom, he may not be as fast as Song Mu. At Cheng Chi's age, he can still be an official in Beijing for at least 20 years. If he is in good health, 30 years is not impossible.
To whom does Cheng Jing entrust his connections
To Cheng Xu
Can Cheng Xu afford it
To Cheng Chi
Yun'er had grown up by then and was in the prime of his life.
Unless Yun'er is a person who cannot be helped, who would leave their connections to their nephew instead of their son
By that time, I'm afraid there will be nothing left for Cheng Xu to do in the officialdom of this dynasty...
He knows it, and Cheng Jing knows it even better!
By helping him to preserve his connections in official circles, isn't Cheng Chi also expanding Cheng Chi's own influence
Now Cheng Chi has gained a reputation for being honest and upright because of his impeachment of Qu Yuan, and he also has a reputation as a capable official. When Cheng Jing retires, he may have no choice but to hand over his connections to Cheng Chi even if Cheng Jing doesn't want to!
In addition, Cheng Chi once defended the city for him. It would be fine if Song Mu could not reach a high position. But even if he could reach a high position one day, he would have to be respectful in front of Cheng Chi, and he would have to help Yun Ge'er when he became an official.
For Cheng Chi, this has only a hundred advantages and no disadvantages.
But some things can only be said briefly.
Song Jingran looked at Cheng Chi with sharp eyes.
He believed Cheng Chi could understand what he meant.
Cheng Chi felt both amused and confused.
If you don’t even have your life left, how can you even think about becoming a prime minister or joining the cabinet
But things have come to this point. If he doesn't teach the Crown Prince numerology, and considering Cheng Shao's friendship with the Emperor, can he draw a clear line between himself and the Crown Prince
It is true that man proposes, God disposes.
He could only say, "I thank Lord Song for the recommendation. Has the Eastern Palace agreed on when the class will start? How long will the class last?"
This means I agree.
But why is the tone so faint
Song Jingran couldn't help but say, "You should at least put down your airs in front of the Crown Prince. This is something that others can only ask for. Don't take it lightly. Losing your job is a small matter, but leaving the Crown Prince with the impression that you are unruly will be troublesome. After all, he is the future crown prince!"
That also requires being able to ascend the throne.
Cheng Chi muttered to himself and responded to Song Jingran indifferently.
Song Jingran sighed.
Cheng Zichuan was good in everything except that he got his official title too easily and didn't know how to cherish it. Back then, he had spent a lot of time trying to show his face in front of the Crown Prince, but in the end, he didn't even get to teach the Crown Prince a lesson, but Cheng Chi got the advantage. From this point of view, Cheng Chi was indeed very lucky.
He told Cheng Chi: "I have arranged the courses with the East Palace two days ago. Every Friday afternoon, I will teach the Crown Prince two hours of numerology. It's too late today, so let's start on the fifth day of next month! The Emperor has personally told the East Palace about this matter."
Cheng Chi nodded and asked about the situation of the Crown Prince.
A servant came in and reported: "Master Yuan and Master Cheng are here."
Song Jingran couldn't help but look towards Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi said: "It was me who notified the elder brother!"
I just didn’t expect Yuan Weichang would come too.
The two said that there was nothing they could do and went to the funeral home together.
After burning incense for Old Master Song, Song Jingran invited Yuan Weichang, Cheng Jing and others to sit in the study.
Cheng Chi fell a few steps behind and told Huaishan: "We are going to deal with the Crown Prince, you should find out the situation over there."
Huaishan said "hmm" and soon disappeared.
Zhou Shaojin cried for several times with Mrs. Song, and his eyes were a little swollen when he went back.
Cheng Chi had someone boil eggs to apply to her eyes and laughed at her: "You are too naive. Birth, aging, illness and death are all normal. Besides, all the wishes of Old Master Song have been fulfilled. He passed away peacefully. What is there to cry about?"
"I know that too." Zhou Shaojin blushed and said, "But when I saw Madam Song crying, I couldn't help but cry too."
Cheng Chi said, "Then don't go there for now, or you'll cry every time you go and your eyes will almost close. Second uncle is getting married soon, so that's more important."
Zhou Shaojin nodded. His throat was sore from crying. He drank two cups of tea before asking about what Song Jingran said, "Do you really want to teach the crown prince numerology? I heard that the crown prince was very smart. He was well versed in astronomy, geography, and various schools of thought. Before he died, he even presided over the reconstruction of the perpetual calendar at the Imperial Astronomical Observatory. Everyone said that the crown prince was almost a demon, so... he died of illness very early."
"Oh?!" This was the first time Cheng Chi had heard such a statement. He raised his eyebrows and said, "Are you sure it's not just flattery from those people?"
"That shouldn't be the case!" Zhou Shaojin pondered, "My brother-in-law also said that the Crown Prince is very smart..."
In other words, the Crown Prince cannot be treated as an ordinary child!
Cheng Chi decided to give the Crown Prince a test to test his ability.
Zhou Shaojin had another worry: "What if he really died young?"
Cheng Chilang smiled and said, "If he is really so smart that he is almost a demon, then it is worth my teaching him. Maybe I can talk to the Crown Prince about the Fourth Prince."
Let them fight each other.
This would give him some free time to send Xu Mu from the Jinsha Gang to Qiongzhou and build a house for him there.
There is also Xiao Zhenhai. He has been idle these days, so let him go back to Changbai Mountain. In case the Cheng family cannot escape the disaster, it would not be bad to live in seclusion in Changbai Mountain for a while.
Thinking of this, he was somewhat thankful for Shao Jin's quiet nature. No matter where she lived, as long as the house was decorated cozy and comfortable, she would be able to get used to it.
Cheng Chi suddenly became busy.
The news that he was going to give a lecture to the Crown Prince also spread.
Yuan couldn't help but feel a little sour: "There are so many scholars in the court. I didn't expect that your fourth uncle could gain a foothold in the court with his business skills."
Cheng Xu pretended not to hear.
Min Jia couldn't bear to hear it, and smiled at Yuan, "I heard that they originally wanted to let Song Gelao go, but Old Master Song passed away. Do you think our fourth uncle will become a famous minister like Song Gelao?"
Yuan's expression suddenly changed, and she said, "Is there no brother who is as good as the elder in this world?!"
Min Jia didn't say anything, but she disagreed in her heart.
It is definitely not possible for them to serve as cabinet ministers together, but what if one is in front and the other is behind
When will things in this world remain unchanged
Since Yuan Shi had been hurt, Min Jia's goal had been achieved, so she stopped talking about it and talked about the Min family's farewell to Cheng Xu: "… It's scheduled for the fourth day of May, and the matter with the second great-uncle has just come to an end. The Sixth Madam wants to ask mother to do us a favor and go to the opera together."
Min Jia has a grandmother and great-grandmother. Her biological mother is serving the elders in Fujian and is not in the capital. The Min family in the capital is managed by Min Jia's sixth aunt.
Yuan responded absentmindedly and went to Shuangyu Hutong with Min Jia and Cheng Xu.
Chang's dowry had already been spread out in the middle of the yard. Although there were only sixty-four loads, many of them were gifts from the inner palace or even from the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Emperor, so it was quite decent.
The lucky woman invited by the Cheng family was still the third daughter-in-law of Lord Wu from the Hanlin Academy.
After sending off the bed-making staff sent by the Chang family, everyone had lunch the next day, and Cheng Chi led the group to marry Chang into the family with great fanfare. The next day, they recognized each other as relatives, and on the third day, they returned to their parents' homes. Shuangyu Hutong returned to its former tranquility. Cheng Xu and others also began to visit various families, and arranged for carriages and horses to leave the capital.
Cheng Chi went to the East Palace and began to teach mathematics to the Crown Prince.
Zhou Shaojin's eyelids were twitching violently. He was afraid that the Crown Prince would look down on Cheng Chi's teaching, and he was also afraid that Cheng Chi would be attracted by his talent and help the Crown Prince win the throne without regard for the consequences.
Ji Ying, who had brought some fresh water chestnuts and lotus seeds to visit Yun Ge'er, rolled her eyes and said, "If Cheng Zichuan can't even do this, what's the use of him? You should just stay at home peacefully and stop worrying about it."
"I know that, too." Zhou Shaojin said in astonishment, "But I don't know why, I just can't let it go."
Believing in him is one thing, not worrying about him is another.
Seeing that Zhou Shaojin wouldn't listen, Ji Ying ignored her and went straight to play with Yun Ge'er.
Yun Ge'er still remembers that Ji Ying took him to the tree to see the bird's nest. When he saw her, he clapped his hands and called "Auntie", asking her to hold him.
Jiying was extremely happy, hugged Yunge'er and said, "The weather is so hot, let's go swimming."
The servants in the room were so frightened that their faces turned pale and they hurried to tell Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin thought it was okay.
Jiying has always been cautious in her actions. Cheng Chi doesn't have much time to play with Yunger, and she has a gentle personality. It would be nice if Yunger could learn some boyish skills from Jiying.
She rushed to the lake and asked several women who knew how to swim to row the boat and wait by the side just in case.
Madam Guo laughed and said to Madam Lu, "I used to be afraid that Yun'er's mother was timid and cowardly, but I didn't expect that although she was weak in character, she was very knowledgeable. She knew she was not capable of it, so she asked others to help discipline Yun'er. This is a hundred times better than Yuan's, who controls everything and no one else can touch her."
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Hey guys, today's update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)