It wasn't just one scholar who said this; some may have been joking, but Nangong Zeyue understood perfectly. The scholars' admiration for Yue Niang's talent was evident in their words.
If the scholars knew that Yue Niang lived in the Jiang residence, they might actually go and propose marriage.
You really shouldn't say that.
"How are you doing in the palace, Uncle-Master? Did the Imperial Medical Academy's assessment go smoothly today?" Nangong Zeyue changed the subject.
"Uncle Lin is doing well. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be able to hold a minor official position in the Imperial Hospital."
The two walked side by side toward the flower hall of Xingyue Courtyard, talking as they went.
After Nangong Zeyue sat down, Lan'er brought her tea.
Jiang Shuyue went back to the inner room and changed into a comfortable dress before coming out.
With her jewelry removed, her smooth, black hair was loosely tied back with a silk ribbon, giving her a refreshing and flowing look.
Nangong Zeyue quickly looked away after just one glance, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and placed it opposite her.
Jiang Shuyue walked over and sat down, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and smiled, "It's a pity it's just the two of us. It would be better if Du Yutong were here too; it would be more lively with more people."
"Won't it get lively when Su Jin and Su Nan arrive?"
"Nangong Zeyue, what do you think of Miss Du?"
Nangong Zeyue's fox-like eyes were full of vigilance. "What does what she does have to do with me?"
He then turned to Lan'er and said, "Young Master should be playing in the garden right now. Bring him over for dinner."
"Don't change the subject. Just tell me if you two are a good match?"
“I’ve only met her once, when she came to your clinic. We weren’t familiar with each other, so it wasn’t appropriate.”
Jiang Shuyue looked at Nangong Zeyue as if she were an idiot. "Who says you can't be together if you're not familiar with each other? You know what love at first sight is, right?"
"You're kidding me. That was clearly lust at first sight. If anyone tells you they fell in love at first sight, don't believe them. I'm a man, so of course I understand men's minds best. There are countless ugly women on the street, but I've never seen anyone go up to them and say they fell in love at first sight."
Jiang Shuyue: "..." It seems to make sense.
"What's truly suitable is love that develops over time, just like..."
"Mother, does Father like wild apples?"
Before Nangong Zeyue could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Sui Sui, who rushed in.
The soft, cuddly little dumpling nestled into her arms, and Jiang Shuyue's heart melted. She picked up her son and gave him a quick kiss.
"Your mother didn't get to see your father taste it, but he'll definitely like it." Jiang Shuyue never lied to her son, though there were exceptions, and those were always related to that person.
“Uncle Nangong ate wild apples for dinner yesterday; Father will surely like them.”
Just as Jiang Shuyue was about to bring her son to sit beside her, Sui Sui broke free, saying, "Boys and girls should sit together. I will sit with Uncle Nangong."
With a serious expression, she walked to the other side, picked up Sui Sui, and skillfully placed her beside him.
Jiang Shuyue was speechless. When the little guy wanted to cling to her, he was like a leech, sticking to her like glue, and then he would say that boys and girls are different.
Seeing Jiang Shuyue facepalm, Nangong Zeyue chuckled and said, "He has to grow up eventually, and it's a good thing for him to become independent early."
“When did he become independent? He slept next door with you last night, don’t think I don’t know.” Jiang Shuyue glared at Nangong Zeyue in annoyance.
“Uncle Nangong is a man, and I am also a man. I can live in the same room as Uncle Nangong.”
Nangong Zeyue suppressed a laugh. He wouldn't tell anyone that Sui Sui would habitually pull on his nightgown and hold it in her hand while sleeping at night.
A short while later, Qiuju led her maid to bring wine and dishes.
Jiang Shuyue slept soundly that night.
...
The Grand Commandant's mansion was still brightly lit. Grand Commandant Wu hadn't even had time to change out of his official robes when the old lady summoned him over.
When Wu Taiwei entered the room, he saw that his two legitimate sons and one illegitimate son were all inside.
"Mother, what are you doing..." Wu Taiwei was puzzled as to why his mother had asked the children to come over so late.
He bowed and sat down below the old lady.
"I know everything about what happened to the Wei family today. The Emperor was merciful; he confiscated the Wei family's property but did not exile their family members. I just want to ask, will his affairs implicate us?"
Madam Wu stared intently at Wu Taiwei, scrutinizing every trace on his face, fearing he might lie to avoid upsetting her.
"No, I know what I'm doing. Although I've done him favors before, they were just things I did in the first place."
Seeing her son's resolute words, Old Madam Wu closed her eyes slightly and took a deep breath.
She had worried for nothing all day, but now she can finally relax.
After a moment, Madam Wu looked seriously at her son and three grandsons below her.
“Listen up, all of you. Times have changed. We can’t afford to form cliques and engage in favoritism anymore.”
Wu Taiwei said, "My son would not. In the past, it was only because of the circumstances. Besides, my aunt, the Empress Dowager, had the upper hand over Empress Wei. The favors I did for her were all trivial matters."
Madam Wu nodded in satisfaction. "That's good."
"Grandmother, don't worry, I won't either. Yesterday, a friend asked me if I could help him with the imperial examination this year, but I resolutely refused." Wu Lin, the second son of the Wu family, was born out of wedlock, and he was the first to express his opinion.
Wu Taiwei arranged a job for Wu Lin at the Ministry of Rites. This year's imperial examination was still to be held at the Gongyuan, and the Ministry of Rites sent people there to prepare for the examination. Wu Lin was among them.
Wu Kai, the eldest son of the Wu family, also stood up and bowed: "Grandmother, rest assured, I did have some private plans at the Court of State Ceremonial, but everyone has restrained themselves since the new emperor ascended the throne."
The Court of State Ceremonial was responsible for receiving foreign envoys. The lucrative positions there were mostly held by powerful families. In the past, the management was chaotic, and few people there were honest and upright.
Wu Taiwei glared at Wu Kai and said, "Be more careful when you're on duty in the future. Don't be fooled by the Emperor's youth; he's not a simple man."
Wu Kai cupped his hands and said, "I understand. Take the matter of the Prime Minister taking weapons for granted, for example. His Majesty's judgment was very fair. If the sentence had been more severe, the Wei family could have been charged with the crime of privately raising assassins with ill intentions."
Wu Laosan (Wu Xu) raised an eyebrow and chuckled, “Big brother, you and Father still underestimated the Emperor.”
Wu Taiwei was not angry at all. His third son worked in the Ministry of War. He seemed like a rough man, but he was more thoughtful than his other two sons.
Recalling the new people the Emperor had recently promoted, among them were people from his wife's family, the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion.
He frowned slightly: "Third brother, do you mean the Emperor intends to suppress veteran officials and promote new favorites?"
"That's only one aspect. We should be careful and cautious in the future. We don't seek merit, but only to avoid mistakes. Especially Father, if the Emperor intends to appoint someone as Prime Minister, Father must give his full support to show his loyalty."
Grand Commandant Wu understood immediately. "I understand. As long as we are loyal to the Emperor, he will not target the Wu family."
"The Wei family members were not exiled, but their dispersal is inevitable. If any of the Wei family members end up in brothels, you must not lay a finger on them." As Madam Wu said this, a hint of unease flashed across her face.
Wu Taiwei turned to his three sons and said sternly, "Have you remembered your grandmother's words?"
Wu Kai: "..."
Wu Lin: "..."
Wu Xu quickly glanced at his two older brothers and said shrewdly, “Grandmother, don’t worry, I will keep an eye on you two and never do anything to kick someone when they’re down.”
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