The old man of the Xu family has always been afraid of my father, but this time he was not afraid at all. He snorted with disdain, "Father, you think too much. You work so hard, what for? Look at Jiang Songwen in front, and then look at the Xia family, why did they fall to this point? Although I am not an official, I know that it would be difficult to maintain if I rely on myself alone. Moreover, in our family, as you said, I don't think I am a material for being an official. Counting down, my younger brothers are also very ordinary, with limited qualifications. The only one who is still okay is just a prefect outside. I don't know how many years it will take for him to make achievements."
He glanced at his father and saw that Xu Anying seemed to be listening and did not interrupt him, which was rare. He seemed to be encouraged and continued, "How long will it take to train him? How long can you hold on, father? My son wants to marry into the Linjiang Palace, which is originally a happy thing. As you said, relying on women's connections will not last long. It is not a way for the family to prosper. But we don't rely solely on women's connections. Take the Queen Ruiyuan of the previous dynasty for example. Didn't their family also have a queen and capable ministers and generals? I'm just leaving a way out for our family."
Seeing that Xu Anying just frowned and didn't speak, he felt more confident in his heart. He called him father and said patiently: "It's not that my son is selfish, it's really... Such a good thing has been ruined like this, which makes people feel unwilling."
Xu Anying had no expression on her face. She snorted coldly and glared at him, throwing down her pen and scolding him, "You think your father knows nothing! What do you mean by a good thing turned out like this for no reason? Again, you were born by me, what exactly are you going to do, and can you hide it from me? You promised Princess Linjiang to work for her behind my back, and you call this a good thing? Apart from anything else, you agreed to the princess's plan to plot against Shen Chen and kill Prince Zheng, that's stupid!"
Xu Anying sneered: "What is Shen Chen's identity? King Linjiang treats him as his own son. Do you know that besides Chu Jingwu, King Linjiang's people in the capital recognize him as their own son? Chu Jingwu even regards his words as the golden rule. However, for your own selfish interests, you made such a stupid decision and offended him so thoroughly..."
After talking about it, they decided to go back. Uncle Xu could no longer bear it: "Father! This is absolutely wrong. It's already happened. You beat your son to death, but Shen Chen can't just pretend it never happened. He wanted to teach us a lesson, so he was so cruel. He said that a girl's future is gone. Are we just going to let him bully us like this?!"
Xu Anying didn't say anything.
After staring at him for a long time, he said in a cold voice: "Useless thing, the lives of so many people in your family will be destroyed in your hands sooner or later if you don't know how to live or die!"
He didn't say whether he was willing or not.
The eldest master of the Xu family did not sleep well that night. He felt aggrieved and angry that his father did not speak. However, his father was an important minister in the cabinet, and now that Prince Linjiang began to take up a position in the Ministry of War, his father became even busier, and he did not dare to bother him.
Even though Zhang Weixun had asked Wei Yangqing to go back outside the manor, there was still no movement from his side, which made him extremely anxious.
In comparison, the Wei family had a rare few days of peace.
Although he had been waiting at the dock for several days and had not received a call from King Zheng, things on Wei Yangqing's side were gradually making some progress.
Zhang Weixun invited Wei Yangqing out several times. It was not obvious at first, but later it became more and more blatant. He just wanted to force women on Wei Yangqing.
Wei Yangqing was watching from the sidelines and could see through Zhang Weixun's purpose. He was a man who was uncomfortable seeing others living too well and wanted to force a concubine on him.
These days he has been dealing with Zhang Weixun perfunctorily. The girls Zhang Weixun called were all kinds of girls, fat and thin. Once he showed his attitude, people could see through him.
He had gone to the Marquis of Ping'an's mansion before and said bad things about them, just to drive a wedge between the two mansions.
Wei Yangqing came to pay his respects to Old Madam Wei. He first talked to Ming Jing and others for a while before telling Old Madam Wei: "Zhang Weixun has mean intentions. First, he wants to win me over. Second, he wants to laugh at me and can't bear to see me have an easy life. I heard that their family has been in turmoil recently. They finally got a grandson, but I don't know why the whole family is so uneasy..."
Old Mrs. Wei frowned in disbelief: "He did it just for this?"
Wei Yangqing blushed and said, "I'm afraid there is another reason. It's because I'm in charge of the river bank now. The officials have to report the numbers through me. He may have a prejudice and dissatisfaction with me because of this."
If it was because of this reason, then it was somewhat believable, but the means were too despicable and not up to standard. Old Madam Wei raised her eyebrows and said without comment: "What do you say?"
"My son has already refused." Wei Yangqing looked at Old Lady Wei and said, "My son said that the Ping'an Marquis's Mansion has a misunderstanding because of my son's recent promiscuity. If this continues, I'm afraid that the candidate for the wife who was finally found will also fall out. Please ask him to show mercy and not invite me to social events... He burst into tears and said that what he did was really unbearable..."
This kind of drama really sounds a bit exaggerated. A man who has been in officialdom for many years and can hold the position of a fourth-rank minister can use such low-level means and admit his mistakes so readily. It is weird no matter how you look at it.
She didn't say anything. She thought for a while before looking at him. "You should be careful with your words and actions. This matter is too trifling. No matter how you look at it, it seems wrong. Although Ping'an Marquis Mansion said that they didn't say anything else except provoking a few words, I always feel that this is not the whole story."
Wei Yangqing replied respectfully, and after talking for a while, he saw that it was getting late, so he said goodbye to Old Madam Wei: "Although it is a day off today, I have to go out of the city, so I will leave first."
Old Madam Wei nodded and was about to say something when she heard Feicui hurriedly asking Qingyu outside: "Is the Fifth Master still in there? Is it Nanny Hua who is serving him?"
Mrs. Wei and her son looked at each other and said in a loud voice, "Fei Cui, come in and tell me what you want to say."
Feicui responded and hurriedly lifted the curtain to come in. Her red face from the cold became even redder after being smoked by the floor dragon. With joy in her eyes, she knelt down in front of Old Madam Wei and Wei Yangqing and said, "Old Madam, Fifth Master, Prince Zheng has returned to the capital. He has been picked up and I heard that he has gone to the palace first." (To be continued)