https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-160-Qianqian-Sympathizes-with-the-Grand-Commandant/12585578/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-162-Hand-in-Hand-I-ll-Take-You-Home/12587599/
Chapter 161: Father and Son
Chapter 161: Father and Son
Meng Qianqian felt that something was off after hearing her cousin's words.
Would Lu Yuan appreciate Xun Yu's articles? Lu Yuan was an avid reader, devouring any book he could get his hands on, even the storybooks Lady Lu had bought, which he scoffed at but read cover to cover.
While the world might scorn him as an illiterate fool, was that truly the case?
"Cousin, who transcribed this? The handwriting has even more spirit than Xun, the top scholar."
Yu Li admired the article in his hands, his expression filled with reverence.
"I don't know. It's always been in the study. Perhaps it was transcribed by one of the Hanlin scholars."
Meng Qianqian decided not to tell her cousin that it was Lu Yuan's handwriting from when he was drunk.
Yu Li held the article, engrossed to the point of forgetting himself. Previously, he had admired the article for its meaning, but tonight, he was completely captivated by the calligraphy. Moreover, it seemed that with this set of calligraphy, the depth of the article had also elevated.
It not only possessed the spirit of a scholar but also embodied the ambition to benefit the world and save the common people.
Yu Li read with his heart stirred, and Meng Qianqian had to call out to him several times before he responded.
Meng Qianqian shook her head. "Cousin, you continue reading. I'll go and rest."
Yu Li stayed in the study the entire night, until dawn, before reluctantly placing the article neatly on the table. He rubbed his eyes, which had turned red from lack of sleep, and gazed at the morning sun. In that moment, all the puzzles in his mind were suddenly solved.
"Cousin! Cousin, I understand now!"
Like an excited child, Yu Li rushed towards Meng Qianqian's room.
Li Mama, carrying a basin of water, collided with him, exclaiming in surprise, "Young Master Yu!"
"It's fine, it's fine!"
Yu Li quickly assured her, realizing his abruptness, and turned his back, "Cousin, I apologize!"
"Cousin, I'm here."
In the courtyard, Meng Qianqian, who had just finished practicing her swordplay, wiped the sweat from her brow and smiled gently at Yu Li.
Yu Li gazed at his cousin, radiant in the morning light, and felt as if he had found a ray of light to guide him out of his confusion, just like the article he had read through the night.
"Cousin."
He descended the steps and grasped Meng Qianqian's wrist. "I want to take the imperial examination!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Meng Qianqian's eyes.
The Yu family was a scholarly family, and regardless of gender, all the children were educated in the clan school. Among them, Yu Li was the most outstanding of his generation.
The Yu family had urged Yu Li to take the imperial examination several times, but he had only taken the preliminary exam and then refused to participate further.
"It's boring. I just like studying and don't want to do anything else."
These were Yu Li's exact words.
Even entering the Imperial College was merely for the sake of academic pursuit.
Who would have thought that after reading Lu Yuan's article written in a drunken state, her cousin would be inspired to take the imperial examination?
Meng Qianqian smiled. "That's great."
Yu Li and Meng Qianqian went to Tinglan Court to have breakfast with Lady Lu and Baoshi. Afterward, Yu Li returned to the Imperial College.
Yu Li's household was registered in Youzhou, and Meng Qianqian wasn't sure if he could take the county exam in the capital. She decided to ask Lu Yuan about it later.
Speaking of Lu Yuan, he hadn't returned all night. She wondered what he had been up to.
"Fish."
Baoshi wobbled over and tugged on Meng Qianqian's hand, leading her outside.
There was a small pond in Fengshui Hutong, filled with plump koi carp. Baoshi would always spend half her day playing by the pond whenever she visited.
Meng Qianqian thought Baoshi wanted to go to Fengshui Hutong to see the fish, but to her surprise, Baoshi pointed towards the direction of the back mountain and said, "Fish."
Were there fish there?
Meng Qianqian held Baoshi's hand and walked towards the back mountain.
They passed through a winding path lined with pebble stones, and a small garden came into view.
On the left side of the garden was a vegetable plot, and on the right was a fish pond with a tiny waterwheel that channeled water from the pond to irrigate the crops.
Moreover, the water in the fish pond was flowing water diverted from the canal.
Although Meng Qianqian had never farmed before, she could understand the principle of water diversion.
She couldn't help but think of Xun Yu's water diversion project in the Western Regions.
Were all these coincidences truly coincidences?
Baoshi went to play with the waterwheel and got splashed in the face, angering her so much that she wailed and argued with the waterwheel for an entire morning.
Finally, Meng Qianqian cut off the water supply, bringing the waterwheel to a halt.
Baoshi, feeling triumphant, tossed her head and strutted away.
At lunchtime, Lu Yuan still hadn't returned to the mansion.
The elderly madam's appetite waned as she wondered, "Where is my great-grandson-in-law?"
Meng Qianqian softly replied, "He's busy with official business and will be back soon."
The old madam gazed longingly at the osmanthus cake on the table, her mouth watering, but she restrained herself, saving it for her great-grandson-in-law.
Meng Qianqian, too, was puzzled by Lu Yuan's prolonged absence.
By dinnertime, with Lu Yuan still absent from the table, the old madam grew restless. "I'm going to find my great-grandson-in-law! I don't care, I'm going!"
"Alright, alright, I'll accompany you!"
Tan'er escorted the old madam out of the mansion, intending only to stroll in the nearby area and not actually take her too far.
With Qing Shuang, Shangguan Ling, and Yu Zichuan all away, Meng Qianqian could think of only one person to turn to—Ceng, the estate manager.
"Madame, you called for me?" Ceng bowed respectfully.
"Ceng, where has the Grand Marshal gone?" Meng Qianqian asked.
"Well..." Ceng hesitated.
Meng Qianqian fixed him with a steady gaze. "If it's inconvenient to say..."
Ceng quickly added, "It's not that it's inconvenient. I truly don't know where the Grand Marshal has gone."
"Did he attend court today?" Meng Qianqian inquired further.
"His Majesty has suspended court for two days," Ceng informed her.
It was understandable for the Imperial College to take a break, but the suspension of court sessions was perplexing. The return of the Prime Minister to the capital was a significant event, and it was customary to announce such news to the civil and military officials without delay. When Lu Yuan had returned victorious from the border, he had abstained from attending court, but the Emperor had not suspended court sessions.
Meng Qianqian had a sneaking suspicion that something major was about to happen at the court.
"Ceng, may I ask a presumptuous question? Are the Grand Marshal and the Prime Minister in the same camp?"
Ceng pondered for a moment before answering Meng Qianqian's question. Instead, he asked her, "Madame, has the Grand Marshal ever mentioned anything about his past?"
Meng Qianqian shook her head. "I only know that his mother was a lady from Miaojiang, and he has Miao blood flowing in his veins. Beyond that, I know nothing."
"The Grand Marshal has Miao blood, but he grew up in the Central Plains," Ceng explained. "The Prime Minister is his foster father."
Meng Qianqian was taken aback.
In all her calculations, she had never anticipated this connection between the two men. No wonder Lu Yuan had personally gone out of the city to welcome the Prime Minister.
Ceng continued, "The Grand Marshal was separated from his mother at a young age, and it was the Prime Minister who took him in. Initially, the Grand Marshal was just an ordinary horse boy in the Xun household. Later, the Prime Minister discovered that the boy could read and was clever and quick-witted, so he made him a scribe for his son. As he grew older, the Grand Marshal became the Prime Minister's foster son. Not many people know about this."
Meng Qianqian wondered if becoming a foster son came with conditions. If so, what were those conditions?
Her gaze fell on the articles Lu Yuan had written while drunk. Was it because of these writings?
"I understand now, Ceng," she said.
Ceng smiled. "Madame is a wise person. It's a blessing for the Grand Marshal to have married you."
Meng Qianqian shook her head. "It's too early to say such things. I don't even know if I've brought fortune or calamity to your master."
Ceng seemed unconcerned about fortune or calamity. "Madame, no matter what happens next, please trust the Grand Marshal. He is a wise man and would not act without certainty."
Meng Qianqian looked deeply into his eyes. "What does he plan to do?"
Ceng hesitated once more. "That..."
Meng Qianqian spoke firmly. "Take me to him. If you don't, I'll move out of the Grand Marshal's mansion."
It's time for them to unite and face this together! Let's cheer them on!
(End of Chapter)
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