Chapter 52
When Xie Yunchu saw that the atmosphere in the hall was extremely depressing, without a trace of the festive atmosphere of New Year's Eve, he hurriedly asked Wang Shuqin what was going on.
Wang Shuqin helped her walk into the hall and found a secluded place to sit down.
"Something happened to the Liu family."
"What happened?"
Wang Shuqin was also surprised. "I also heard it from an old maid who is in charge of foreign affairs. She said that Madam Liu went to the temple to burn incense yesterday. When she came back, she told Lord Liu that Shuyi and Liu Zhuo were not compatible. She asked Liu Qiliang to find a way to cancel the marriage. Minister Liu was furious and said that my second brother was in a prosperous official career and the Wang family was of great status. Why should we cancel this good marriage because of some unfounded horoscopes? He absolutely refused."
"Old Madam Liu thought her daughter-in-law was too obsessed and worried that she would hinder the marriage, so she secretly sent someone to watch her. But after being scolded by Lord Liu, Madam Liu went to her niece's yard and hugged Chenxiang and cried. She accidentally called out "my poor son" during her speech. The nanny who followed her felt something was wrong and thought that Chenxiang's eyebrows resembled Lord Liu. She went back and told the old madam about it."
"The old lady was frightened. The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong. Why did Madam Liu treat her niece better than her own son? She also remembered that when Master Liu was born, some of the maids around Madam Liu died or were married off far away. It was very strange. Finally, she simply tied up Madam Liu's trusted nanny and beat her."
Wang Shuqin swallowed hard when she said this, "Does Second Sister-in-law know the truth?"
Xie Yunchu was shocked when he heard this, "Don't tell me that Liu Zhuo is not Madam Liu's biological son?"
"That's right," Wang Shuqin said with increasing excitement, "When Lord Liu was young, he was also very lustful. He had many concubines in his house. Madam Liu was very competitive and had often fought with these concubines for favors. She suffered a lot and her first pregnancy was not saved. It was a boy. It was pitiful. The doctor said it would be difficult for her to get pregnant again. Later, she finally got pregnant. Madam Liu was very cautious for fear that something would go wrong."
"At that time, the relationship between Old Lady Liu and Madam Liu was not harmonious, and the concubines in the mansion were also ready to make moves. Madam Liu's mother, Old Lady Shen, was worried that something might happen to her daughter, so she took her back to her parents' home, intending to bring her back when she was about to give birth. However, she had a miscarriage at her parents' home, and gave birth to a daughter in the middle of the night. Madam Liu fainted several times."
"Mrs. Shen was worried that her daughter would be rejected by the Liu family, so she was so bold that she actually tried to conceal the truth. When she saw that the daughter-in-law of the second branch of the Shen family was pregnant, she secretly gave her drugs to induce labor and replaced the son born by Mrs. Shen with Mrs. Liu."
"It is a good deal for a merchant to be transferred to an official family. That old lady Shen is also a person of character."
"The truth is out. Lord Liu spat out a mouthful of blood three feet away and fainted on the ground. The old lady almost had a stroke. Now Lord Liu is making a fuss about sending Madam Liu to the authorities and looking for trouble with the Shen family."
"It's a pity that Old Madam Shen has passed away for many years. Lord Liu couldn't get over this anger. He fell ill today and even missed the palace lunch."
After hearing this, Xie Yunchu was stunned for a long time, "There are really all kinds of strange things in this world."
Thinking back to her past life, she had nothing to do with the Liu family. She vaguely remembered that Young Master Liu married her cousin, and this secret had never been made public. In this life, nothing happened to the Duke, the Wang family was not in mourning, and the eldest princess was also interested in managing the marriages of her children and grandchildren. All of a sudden, Madam Liu's plans were overturned.
"So, what should we do about Shuyi's marriage?"
Wang Shuqin spread her hands and pointed to the small hall behind the beaded curtain. "Grandma and grandpa are still discussing it."
Wang Shuqin pouted at her mischievously, motioning Xie Yunchu to follow her over to eavesdrop. Xie Yunchu was also curious, so she followed her with her skirt lifted up. The two of them quietly moved to the wide chair outside the carved window and sat down.
While the Third Wife was still in the inner room discussing Wang Shuyi's marriage, the First Madam Miao took Wang Shuya and Xu Shiwei to prepare a banquet. The children were watched by several young masters and were playing in the warm room next door. The noise could be heard from time to time, disturbing the two of them so that they could not hear clearly. Wang Shuqin simply put her ear to the gap in the carved window.
The princess's meaning was very clear.
"I made the decision about this marriage, and it's my turn to cancel the engagement."
The Duke had a different idea. "I saw that child a few days ago. He saw my carriage on the road and insisted on getting off his horse to salute me. He is a handsome and kind-hearted young man. It is rare for an only child to be raised so kind and gentle. I have some judgment in judging people. That child is not bad. Although the Shen family is wrong, the child is innocent. One has to look at his character to make a living."
"Although his family background is not very good, it is possible that he values books and etiquette more because of this."
The Duke was born into a noble family, and has been held to the standards of an aristocratic family all his life, which is quite tiring. It is not a bad thing for Shuyi to live an ordinary life.
The princess frowned and said, "Isn't this as uncomfortable as swallowing a fly? Shuyi has a good family background, so why is she worried about not being able to find a good marriage? Don't worry, since I have taken on this matter, I will not give up. I will find a suitable husband for her later."
The Duke sighed and said, "Ask the child herself. Let her make the decision on her own."
At the last family banquet, Liu Zhuo came over. The Duke took a look at him from afar and felt that the two children had a good relationship.
The second master's only daughter had suffered two setbacks in her marriage and looked very depressed. "I'll go call Shuyi."
Not long after, the second master caught up with Jiang's mother and daughter and brought his daughter and wife back in.
Wang Shuyi's little face was red from tears. She sat at the bottom weakly with a dazed expression, unable to bear such a blow.
She was finally willing to open her heart and marry Liu Zhuo, but it turned out that Liu Zhuo was a fake gentleman.
The eldest princess asked, "Shuyi, what are you going to do about this marriage? According to grandma's wishes, cancel the engagement and I will find you a good match later."
Wang Shuyi twisted her neck and choked up, "Can I still find a good relative? Is my reputation completely ruined?"
The princess was very unhappy after hearing this. "What do you mean your reputation is ruined? What did you do wrong? You are innocent from the beginning to the end. Why do you want to put a shackle on yourself and think that you have a bad reputation? Just because you are a girl, you think you are inferior to others."
Wang Shuyi was confused by the princess's questions.
If an ordinary family breaks off an engagement, it is very disadvantageous to the woman.
The Duke asked her, "Child, do you like Liu Zhuo? Are you willing to live with him regardless of family background? Think about it and answer grandfather."
Wang Shuyi bit her lip, and the figure of Liu Zhuo appeared in her mind. He was tall and handsome, with a pair of peach blossom eyes and a very gentle smile. He treated her very well. However, she couldn't ignore her family background and origin for Liu Zhuo.
She took a deep breath and said, "Forget it, let's cancel the engagement."
Seeing that his granddaughter had made up her mind, the Duke had nothing to say. He smiled and said, "Okay, Grandfather and grandmother are sorry for you in this matter. We will take your marriage seriously."
Wang Shuyi was very brave this time. He knelt down in front of the princess and asked with his neck tilted high.
"Grandma, can your granddaughter choose her own marriage in the future?"
The eldest princess was choked by this question. She had made decisions for her children and grandchildren twice, causing her eldest granddaughter to be disliked by her husband's family and her youngest granddaughter to almost marry the wrong man. She naturally felt a little frustrated, but her authority could not be challenged.
"You must not act rashly. If you have chosen someone, you must inform the elders."
This gives Wang Shuyi some leeway.
Wang Shuyi looked better.
Just at this time, the doorman came to report that Liu Qiliang had come to apologize with a cane.
The princess ordered her eldest grandson Wang Shuzhao to go and fetch him. A moment later, the once powerful minister of the Ministry of Revenue hunched over and knelt before the princess, crying.
"I am sorry for the kindness of Her Royal Highness the Princess, and I have also failed the Duke's trust."
No one wants this to happen, let alone Liu Qiliang himself, who was the most hurt by this incident.
No matter how disappointed the princess was, she could not blame Liu Qiliang. She ordered someone to help him up and put him in an armchair. Overnight, Liu Qiliang had lost all his former spirit. His face became thin, his eye sockets were sunken, and his hair was gray. He looked like an old man at the end of his life.
The Duke comforted him with a few words, "You are still young, so you don't have to worry about not having children. As for the girl, take her back home and raise her well. She is a poor person just like you."
When Liu Qiliang remembered that the niece he had always despised was actually his own daughter, he felt a dull pain in his heart and the bloodiness of his throat once again. He could not speak with tears in his eyes.
Although Liu Qiliang was deeply shocked, he remained upright and personally returned the engagement letter to the Wang family. He also said that the betrothal gifts would not be returned and would be considered as compensation to Wang Shuyi. The Wang family would not take advantage of others, so they insisted on having the betrothal gifts sent to the Liu family.
After Liu Qiliang settled the marriage, he took good care of his wife and the Shen family. Madam Liu begged him to consider their years of relationship and not to make a big deal out of it and make the whole capital city laugh at the Liu family.
Liu Qiliang agreed not to take the case to court on the condition that Mrs. Liu committed suicide.
Mrs. Liu couldn't bear to part with her daughter Chenxiang, so she held her child and cried for a day and a night. Finally, she swallowed gold and died. The rest of the Shen family members involved were also dealt with by Liu Qiliang. Unfortunately, the culprit, Mrs. Shen, had passed away long ago. Liu Qiliang had no way to vent his anger, so he became devastated and fell ill in bed.
Let's talk about Liu Zhuo. He fell from a noble son of a minister to a son of a merchant. He was distraught and almost collapsed. The Shen family was wiped out by Liu Qiliang. He didn't want to go back, and it was impossible for him to stay in the Liu Mansion. He originally planned to stay away from the capital, but when he saw his adoptive father lying ill on the bed, he felt ashamed and knelt in front of his bed to serve him medicine. Everyone who saw this was heartbroken and shed tears.
On the 16th day of the first lunar month, Liu Qiliang resigned from the post of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, which caused a huge uproar in the court.
You have to know that it took Liu Qiliang fifteen years of hard work to rise from an unknown minor official to a third-rank official. It can be seen how big a blow he suffered when he suddenly gave up. Although everyone sympathized with him, they also racked their brains to fight for the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
The Prince's Party, the King of Han's Party, and even Prince Xin were secretly involved.
The eldest princess wanted to recommend someone to the Ministry of Revenue, but unfortunately she had no one available. There was an unwritten rule among the officials of the six ministries of the Jin Dynasty that they must be Jinshi graduates. The eldest master had limited ability and insufficient qualifications, and he was not a Jinshi graduate, so it was difficult for him to take on this job. The third master had good qualifications in all aspects and was also a Jinshi graduate, but unfortunately he had just been promoted to Deputy Censor-in-Chief and was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue as a Vice Minister so quickly, which worried the court's criticism.
Besides, the third master has been rooted in the Censorate for many years and has been the eldest princess's mouthpiece in the court. He is extremely useful, and the eldest princess is unwilling to move him easily.
The fourth master was born into a family of officials and could not serve as a hall official.
However, while the court was arguing endlessly and no conclusion was reached,
Wang Shuhuai suddenly returned to the capital.
It was already early February, the weather was still chilly and the fragrance of plum blossoms was everywhere.
The young and noble man walked into the Fengtian Hall with a dignified manner and reported the results of the land survey in Jiangnan in front of all the court officials. In just less than a year, Wang Shuhuai had powerfully intimidated the Jiangnan wealthy families and helped the court clear out a lot of hidden people and land. This astonishing feat was enough to be passed down through the ages and made all the civil and military officials in the court astonished.
The day after Wang Shuhuai returned to Beijing, Liu Qiliang wrote a letter proposing that Wang Shuhuai take over the post of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. That night, the emperor summoned Wang Shuhuai to the Fengtian Palace and invited the eldest princess. It was unknown how long the three of them conspired, but at the court meeting the next day, the emperor ordered Wang Shuhuai to act as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and be fully responsible for the implementation of state affairs.
The use of the word "acting" was actually to prevent court officials from attacking Wang Shuhuai for his lack of qualifications. As he was a top scholar in the dynasty and had such heavy achievements, he was only acting as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, which seemed impeccable.
The treasury was empty and the enemy was eyeing it covetously. At this time, it was time to appoint talented people without any restrictions, quickly implement new taxes, and fill the treasury. Wang Shuhuai was obviously the best choice. The censors symbolically handed in a few memorials and made a few indifferent comments. The appointment was successfully passed by the cabinet and reached the Ministry of Revenue.
In this way, Wang Shuhuai became the youngest official of the Six Ministries in the history of the Great Jin Dynasty.
Congratulations are pouring in.
Wang Shuhuai was being complimented, and his handsome face was as if covered with a layer of frost, and he did not look happy at all.
After returning to Beijing, he passed by his home without entering, always feeling a sense of emptiness and even sadness as he was homesick.
He hadn't seen Xie Yunchu for more than two months.
On the day the imperial edict was issued, Prince Zhu, Master Zheng and others all pulled Wang Shuhuai and insisted that he treat them to a drink. The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the Minister also hosted a welcome party for him. In one night, he went to three drinking parties and did not return home until midnight.
Qi Wei knew that he had returned to Beijing, so he deliberately left a light on in the open hall. To the front of the open hall was the study, and to the back was Chunjing Hall.
But the tall man in a scarlet official robe was standing in the shadow outside the sloping corridor, looking indifferently in the direction of Chunjing Hall.
Qi Wei followed his gaze, then quietly walked over and whispered,
"Second Master, don't look. Madam is not at home."
Wang Shuhuai's cold eyes almost slashed at him, "Where can she go when she's pregnant?"
Qi Wei blinked and thought to himself, you still know that the young mistress is pregnant.
After muttering a few words in his mind, Qi Wei pointed outside the courtyard.
"My fifth aunt took me away for a spring outing at the hot spring resort outside the city."
Wang Shuhuai: …
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