Chapter 182 Trying to Reach the Top in One Step

Tong Shiqing and Princess Jia Hui got engaged without telling Ye Yunshu.

The people of the capital were all surprised.

Wasn't this top scholar childhood sweethearts with the young lady from the Ye family? How come he's engaged to Princess Jia Hui, who just arrived in the capital?

Is this the Tong family trying to climb the social ladder, or is Princess Jia Hui stealing someone else's love?

Although the Tong family has always claimed that the marriage was arranged by Prince Zhuang who went to the palace to request it, and that it was a marriage bestowed by His Majesty, leaving the Tong family with no choice but to accept it, many people in the capital still scoff at the idea.

Especially those families who were on good terms with the Ye family, their contempt was undisguised.

"What talk of scholarly integrity? In the end, he's just another one who climbs the social ladder."

"Heh, they're opportunists and treacherous opportunists. They'll regret it later."

"He's gone crazy with the desire to get rich quick!"

Ye Yunshu, the key figure, was only a little surprised at first, but not upset.

She always believed that what is yours will be yours, and what is not yours cannot be forced.

Since Tong Shiqing wants to marry Princess Jiahui, then it's the path he chose himself.

And so, Tong Shiqing and Princess Jia Hui got married.

King Zhuang felt sorry for his daughter and specially asked his brother to build a princess's mansion for Princess Jia Hui in the capital.

Tong Shiqing thus became the son-in-law of the emperor.

The Tong family was also quite happy, as Princess Jia Hui was His Majesty's niece and Prince Zhuang was now His Majesty's only brother.

Tong Shiqing's future is definitely bright.

After all, Chun Buwan's former mistress, Princess Fushun, also married a top scholar.

The top scholar from the Wei family had a very successful career after marrying Princess Fushun, eventually rising to the position of Minister of Justice.

Tong Shiqing was also the top scholar in the imperial examination, and Princess Jia Hui's status was second only to the princess, so her future path would certainly not be bad.

Who knows...

Tong Shiqing did not receive important positions from the imperial family after his marriage.

On the contrary, he was reprimanded and sent to the Hanlin Academy for some minor offenses, and Grand Secretary Tong was also dismissed from office for some minor mistakes.

Later... it seems His Majesty forgot there was such a top scholar in the Hanlin Academy...

...

Tong Shiqing's thoughts drifted a little far away.

Many things that I couldn't understand before suddenly became clear.

Why does Ye Yunshu always look down on material possessions?

Even the most valuable writing implements were worth no more than five coins in her eyes...

It's not that she doesn't know how to appreciate things; she's just seen too much of it!

If she wanted it, all the good things in the world would be delivered to her.

Tong Shiqing thought back to the words that Shen Yunshan, the eldest son of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, had said to him with disdain when he had just become engaged to Princess Jia Hui.

"Tong Shiqing, you're the dumbest one. Blindness is an illness; you should really see a doctor!"

More importantly, Tong Shiqing discovered something very important.

I didn't think I performed that well in the palace examination, but I still managed to become the top scholar.

I couldn't understand it before, but now I can.

Ye Yunshu was the daughter of the late Empress and the Crown Prince's biological sister.

His Majesty, thinking of Ye Yunshu's sake, rewarded himself with the title of top scholar, so that Ye Yunshu could save face.

Later, he married Princess Jia Hui, so in His Majesty's eyes, his status as the top scholar was essentially gone...

Tong Shiqing was filled with regret.

If Princess Shang hadn't been there, wouldn't the Tong family be in a completely different situation now?

With his father being a Grand Secretary, himself being transferred to a post outside the capital and rising through the ranks, and Ye Yunshu being the Minister of the Censorate, isn't this family a newly rich family?

Tong Shiqing truly regretted it!

I have nothing now, not even my body.

Tong Shiqing gripped his hair tightly, his eyes reddening.

Just then, a faint sound of laughter and playfulness came from the neighboring courtyard.

"Why is it so noisy? Who dares to make such a racket in the Princess's residence?" Tong Shiqing demanded sternly.

After a while, the servant guarding outside said, "It is... two male concubines sent by Princess Shou Kang to Princess Jia Hui."

Tong Shiqing...

...

It took a while for the noise from next door to stop.

Tong Shiqing sat in the corner of the study, wondering when this kind of life would end.

The study door was pushed open, and Princess Jia Hui slowly walked in.

She looked at Tong Shiqing's dejected appearance and sighed softly.

Why did you do this? Or are you only now regretting it?

Tong Shiqing, I didn't know about your childhood friendship with that Lord Ye when we were discussing marriage.

I thought... if you really had someone in your heart, you definitely wouldn't have agreed to this marriage!

But... you agreed!

You were thinking of achieving instant success, weren't you?

Now you know you chose the wrong ladder!

This is fate; if it's fate, then we have to accept it!

Tong Shiqing didn't speak, he just looked at Princess Jia Hui.

Princess Jiahui smiled and glanced at the neighboring courtyard again.

"I'm angry with those two people. There's nothing I can do. Although I'm a princess, the daughter of Prince Zhuang, I still have my own helplessness in the capital."

Those two people were sent by Princess Shou Kang.

Who knows if she was deliberately humiliating us? When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. I had no choice but to accept those two.

My husband, it's all fate!

Your life or my life!

Tong Shiqing grabbed his hair hard and screamed a few times.

This shouldn't be his life, his path shouldn't be like this. One wrong step leads to another!

...

The news that Princess Shou Kang had given two male concubines to Princess Jia Hui quickly spread throughout the capital.

Everyone knows that this must be Princess Shou Kang venting her anger for the newly born legitimate princess!

When Ye Yunshu learned about this, she just smiled and didn't say anything more.

That's all in the past. She's long forgotten about Tong Shiqing. Only a few close friends and family members still feel indignant about what happened back then.

...

"The students from both academies will be going to the capital tomorrow."

The matter concerning Lord Shangguan, which had previously cooled down, will be brought up again by everyone.

His Majesty's decree should arrive in the next couple of days.

The investigation into the Minjitang case is almost complete. It turns out that it was Wu Wang who colluded with the owner of Minjitang.

In addition, Cai Boju, whom you killed, was also involved in a lot of things.

As for whether King Zhao was feigning deafness and pretending not to see it, that's hard to say.

In short, I will write all of this down in a memorial and send it to His Majesty.

There's another matter concerning your third uncle's family.

I've also made some progress in my investigation.

As for what to do next, Song Zhimian, I'd like to hear your thoughts!

Ye Yunshu looked at Song Zhimian.

Song Zhimian was stunned for a moment.

"Have you found a lead?"

"Yes, I found it in the accounts. I checked the accounts of all the post stations in the north and finally found a few discrepancies at the time you mentioned."

"We can focus our attention on Wu Jiande right now," Ye Yunshu said seriously.

"Wu Jiande? Is that the same Wu Lieutenant General?" Song Zhimian immediately thought of the old man she had almost married.