Chapter 34 Becoming an Apprentice
Upon hearing this, Su Chengniang's pretty face darkened. She was about to tell him to leave alone, but remembering what her daughter had told her, she held back and remained silent. Fine, she would talk to him properly when no one was around.
So the father and his two daughters stayed in Liuli Lane that night. Yu Qingci and Qingbai each had their own courtyard. Yu Qingci was going to go back to her own courtyard to sleep, but Su Chengniang stopped her: "Qingci, sleep with your mother tonight, let's have a good chat."
So Yu Jingsheng could only pitifully go to the front yard to sleep alone.
The next day, after the three of them had breakfast with Su Chengniang, Yu Jingsheng instructed his children to stay and spend more time with their mother for the next few days before taking a carriage back to the Earl's residence to report to Madam Zhang.
Yu Jingsheng naturally wouldn't tell the truth to Madam Zhang. He only said how Chengniang was sensible and considerate of the Earl's Mansion. Despite his reluctance to part with his daughter, he finally nodded in agreement to the marriage.
“Chengniang is very sincere to her son. Feeling guilty, her son decided to let Qingci and Qingbai stay with Chengniang for the next few days to keep her company. After all, Qingci probably won’t have many opportunities to return to her parents’ home after she gets married.”
Seeing her son's sincere words and the fact that he had acted first and informed her later, Madam Zhang couldn't say anything more. Only when she could successfully resolve this marriage and prevent their Nanping Marquisate from being constantly watched and scrutinized, could she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Yu Jingsheng then mentioned that Qingbai was about to become an apprentice, which was a good thing and there was no need to hide it.
As expected, when Madam Zhang heard that the person she was paying homage to was none other than Li Daru, the former tutor of the Crown Prince, she was overjoyed and hurriedly asked what had happened. Yu Jingsheng then recounted the story.
Of course, he didn't mention that Qingci had secretly visited Li Daru at Taijue Temple without the knowledge of Qiao Shi and the others. Instead, he directly blamed Su Chengniang, saying that Su Chengniang had done this for her son.
Hearing this, Madam Zhang was pleased, and her dislike for Su Chengniang lessened slightly. However, she quickly thought of her eldest grandson, Yu Qingyun, who was currently studying at the Imperial Academy. After some thought, she said to Yu Jingsheng:
“Li Daru is a renowned teacher of our time. It is a dream come true for all students to study under him. This time, he is actually willing to examine the children of my Nanping Marquis’s family. This is truly a blessing from heaven. In my opinion, such an important opportunity would be more suitable for Qingyun.”
Qingbai is still young, so there's no rush for him to become an apprentice. Even if we bring him to Li Daru, it's unlikely to work out. What if he thinks that our Earl's Mansion doesn't value this matter and brings a mere child to become an apprentice, thus creating a bad impression of our mansion? Wouldn't that be terrible?
Qingyun is different. He is your eldest son and has been studying at the Imperial Academy for many years. His essays are often praised by his teachers. His teacher even asked him to prepare for next year's autumn imperial examination, which shows that the teacher has high hopes for this child.
Now that our Earl's Mansion has such a good opportunity, we should naturally prioritize Qingyun.
Yu Jingsheng couldn't help but smile wryly upon hearing his mother's analysis. He could only remind her once again that it wasn't Li Daru who had taken a liking to the Earl's family's children and grandchildren, but rather Cheng Niang who had found a way to get them for her son.
But Madam Zhang didn't take it seriously and insisted on giving this opportunity to her eldest grandson, Yu Qingyun. Once the old woman made up her mind, she was like a stubborn person stuck in a rut. The more you tried to persuade her, the more troublesome things became. Yu Jingsheng simply stopped saying anything. In his heart, however, he planned to take Qingbai to become an apprentice as soon as possible, lest things get complicated.
A day later, Yu Jingsheng asked his boss for leave and rushed to Liuli Lane. He took Yu Qingbai and the apprenticeship gifts prepared by Su Chengniang to visit Mr. Li at Jiyun Mountain.
The mother and daughter waited anxiously at home for news, and it wasn't until it was almost dark that they finally saw the father and son return.
Su Chengniang went up to her and asked repeatedly, "How did it go? Why did it take you so long to come back? What did the old man say?"
Yu Qingbai straightened his chest and said loudly, "Mother, sister, the teacher has agreed to teach me."
Yu Jingsheng also said with joy, "Yes, Mr. Li agreed to examine Qingbai for a period of time. As for whether they will become master and disciple in the end, it depends on the boy's own efforts. This trip has really not been easy."
Overjoyed at their initial success, the mother and daughter were immediately filled with delight. Su Cheng's mother was so happy that she kept asking Yu Qingbai about his apprenticeship ceremony, while Yu Qingci smiled and reminded her:
"Mother, let Father and my younger brother wash up and eat first."
"Yes, yes, I'm so happy I'm practically dumbfounded. Let's eat first, and then we can talk slowly."
While everyone in Liuli Lane was enjoying themselves, in the Nanping Earl's Mansion, Madam Zhang was also concerned about her eldest grandson's apprenticeship. She was happy for two days but waited in vain for news. In her anxiety, she revealed the matter to her daughter-in-law, Madam Qiao.
Upon hearing this, Madam Qiao was overjoyed and repeatedly prayed for the Bodhisattva's blessing. After discussing it for a while, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law decided that they should wait until the Earl returned tonight and urge him to put this matter on the agenda as soon as possible. They also wanted to tell Qingyun to prepare for the apprenticeship in advance.
Thinking of this, Madam Qiao immediately sent a servant to the Imperial Academy to summon the eldest son back so that he would know about the matter.
Although all the tutors in the Imperial Academy were among the most outstanding scholars of the dynasty, the name of Master Li was renowned. Just because he had been the tutor of the Crown Prince, which scholar in the world did not admire him, and which did not hope to study under the same mentor as the current emperor?
The servant who was sent out had just stepped out of the Earl's mansion when he bumped into Yu Jingsheng, who was returning from outside.
When Yu Jingsheng saw that his mother had actually spread the news, his joy immediately diminished, and he went to Shouyin Hall with a headache and a furrowed brow.
As expected, when Madam Zhang heard that her son had taken Qingbai to become an apprentice of Master Li without her consent, she immediately became furious.
"You're really something, aren't you? You're starting to act like a prince more and more like a prince, and you don't even listen to your old mother anymore. Qingyun is your eldest son, and instead of taking good care of him, you're always thinking about that Su family's child. How can you face my painstaking efforts and the century-old foundation of our princely family?"
Although Mrs. Qiao didn't say anything, her face was noticeably dark.
Yu Jingsheng had to patiently explain to the two that it wasn't that Li Daru had taken a liking to the younger generation of the Earl's family. In short, this matter was something that Chengniang herself had paved for her son, and it actually had nothing to do with the Earl's family.
Furthermore, Qingci is about to get married, and if the Earl's Mansion goes too far, it will inevitably chill the hearts of the mother and her two children.
Qiao listened silently without interrupting, a mocking smile playing on her lips, her expression growing increasingly cold.
That bitch Su Chengniang dared to steal my son's good fortune! I'll let you have your fun for a few more days. After your daughter marries in place of mine, we'll settle the score slowly!
Just as she finished making a ruthless decision, a loud clap of thunder suddenly rang out, startling Qiao Shi. Before she could figure out what was happening, a series of claps of thunder, accompanied by several flashes of lightning, exploded in the sky, illuminating the already dark night as if it were daytime.
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