Chapter 78 might not be the case for Jiang Yu.
After hearing Jiang Yu's words, Marquis Anyuan lifted his eyelids to look at her, his gaze filled with scrutiny and slight pressure. Jiang Yu sat opposite him, her arm lightly resting on the armrest of her chair, meeting his gaze with a relaxed demeanor.
After a while, Marquis Anyuan smiled and said "good." Jiang Yu didn't understand what he meant by "good," so she didn't reply and waited for him to continue.
Then Marquis Anyuan said, "I don't have much contact with Marquis Jiangling, but one of his concubine's daughters married a concubine's son from Marquis Anyuan's household. Just let her go home."
His tone was very casual. Jiang Yu lowered his eyes slightly and said, "Let's hurry up. My grandfather and I both think that something bad will happen to the Jiangling Marquis's mansion soon."
Marquis Anyuan's face was somewhat solemn. "What news have you received?"
Jiang Yu shook her head, "I just feel that if we can find out something, others can too."
Even if she were very close to Marquis Anyuan, she would never tell Jiang Chengye about being framed for "smuggling salt."
After pondering for a moment, Marquis Anyuan nodded, "I will do it as soon as possible."
Jiang Yu nodded, and then heard Marquis Anyuan ask, "What are your grandfather's plans for your future?"
Jiang Yu paused for a moment, then said, "There have been too many things happening in the manor these days, and Grandfather hasn't told me yet."
Marquis Anyuan pondered for a long time before saying, "Since you've made up your mind, you might as well enter the court. Only with status can you truly have a voice."
He looked at her with earnestness and care, and Jiang Yu knew that he was genuinely planning for her future, so she said, "That's what I think too."
Marquis Anyuan hummed in agreement, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Your grandfather and I are both qualified to recommend officials. I will discuss with your grandfather how to proceed with this matter. Just be prepared."
Jiang Yu wasn't very clear about the process of recommending officials, so she asked, "What should I prepare?"
Marquis Anyuan put down his teacup. “The recommended officials must be examined by the Ministry of Personnel. You are a woman, and you were recommended by me and your grandfather. The Emperor and the officials of the Ministry of Personnel will likely examine you.”
Seeing that Jiang Yu was listening attentively, he added, "But you don't need to worry too much. It's just classics, history, philosophy, literature, and policy essays. It should be similar to the content of the imperial examinations."
Marquis Anyuan knew everything about her performance in the Imperial Study and trusted her to a certain extent, but he still asked, "What books did you read?"
Jiang Yu: "I have read all the classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections. Recently, I have been reading more history books."
Marquis Anyuan nodded, "Once we've finished with our current matters, I'll have your grandfather take you to visit the Tang family. The Tang family has produced great scholars, and their collection of books and connections are not to be underestimated."
Jiang Yu nodded again. The late Duchess of Chu was from the Tang family. The Duke of Chu had also received careful instruction from the Duchess of Chu's father before he passed the imperial examination.
Powerful families like the Duke of Chu's were generally recommended for official positions. However, those who were both powerful and wealthy, and who had passed the imperial examinations to become Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest level of the imperial examinations), were even more highly regarded. The Duke of Chu's ability to quickly establish himself among the civil officials was largely due to his status as a Jinshi. Of course, the Duke of Chu's family's network of connections also played a significant role.
If possible, Jiang Yu would also like to participate in the imperial examinations. However, the major imperial examinations are held only once every three years, and this year's examinations have just ended. If she wants to participate, she would have to wait three years. She can't afford to wait that long.
"Yes, I will try my best to prepare," Jiang Yu said.
The Duke of Chu hummed in agreement, then said, "Your mother is gentle by nature; you should try to guide and comfort her more often."
Jiang Yu nodded seriously, "Yes."
Marquis Anyuan was a good father to Lu Yifang.
The grandfather and grandson chatted for a while longer, mainly consisting of questions from Marquis Anyuan and answers from Jiang Yu. Marquis Anyuan also intended to test Jiang Yu, and of course, he was very satisfied with the result. At the same time, he sighed inwardly, wondering why Jiang Yu wasn't a man.
After their conversation, the two returned to the backyard together. Jiang Yu chatted with Lady Anyuan for a while longer before bidding farewell to Lu Yifang and heading home. There were still many matters to attend to at the Duke of Chu's residence.
After the mother and daughter boarded the carriage, Lu Yifang sighed and said, "An Yuan Marquis's illegitimate daughter married into Jiangling Marquis's family last year. I wonder if she will be willing to return home."
"Do you have any children?" Jiang Yu asked.
"No," Lu Yifang said. "Luckily, no. If she had given birth, it would have been even more difficult for her to go home."
With a look of sympathy on her face, Jiang Yu patted her hand and said, "At least your maternal grandparents will accept her back home, which is already a stroke of luck for her."
This is similar to modern women getting divorced. In some families with feudalistic ideas, divorce is considered shameful, and no matter how much their daughter suffers, they will not allow her to divorce. In other families, if a daughter gets divorced, her brothers and sisters-in-law will not allow her to return to her parents' home.
This is undoubtedly a second blow to women who are already unhappy in their marriages. However, if parents support women in unhappy marriages and provide them with the greatest possible help, these women can easily emerge from the shadow of their previous unhappy marriages.
Lu Yifang sighed again after hearing her words, "You're right, at least she has her parents' home to return to. Besides, a woman who returns home can remarry."
Given the status of the Marquis of Anyuan's family, even if a concubine's daughter returned home, she couldn't marry into a high-ranking family, but she could still marry into an ordinary family.
........
Anyuan Marquis's Mansion
Lady Anyuan and Marquis Anyuan were also discussing the matter of the concubine's daughter who had married into the Marquis of Jiangling's household. Lady Jiangling said, "I heard that Third Sister and her husband have a harmonious relationship. I wonder if she would like to return home."
“If she is unwilling to return home, then she will have no further connection with our Marquis Anyuan’s mansion,” Marquis Anyuan said directly.
As the patriarch, he considers the interests of the entire family and clan, and he doesn't give much thought to these trivial details.
Lady Anyuan was not a fool. She said, "I will talk to the second son's wife about this in a little while and ask her to persuade the third daughter. Even if she goes home, we will still make sure she has enough to eat and wear in the future."
Marquis Anyuan gave a casual "hmm" and then said, "The Duke of Chu intends to have Jiang Yu inherit the Duke of Chu's mansion. My idea is to have her enter the court as an official."
Lady Anyuan was startled upon hearing this, but she quickly regained her composure and asked, "What can I do?"
Marquis Anyuan looked at her and said, "When you go to the palace, you should meet the Empress Dowager and talk about the Duchess of Chu. Then you can mention that we want to recommend Jiang Yu for a government position."
Lady Anyuan nodded, "In all these years of hard work, no woman has entered the court to serve as an official. It is indeed not easy for Zhu'er to enter the court. If the Empress Dowager could put in a few words for her in front of the Emperor, it would be easier."
Marquis Anyuan nodded, "The Emperor values the Empress Dowager and is somewhat willing to listen to her words. The Duchess of Chu is a close friend of the Empress Dowager, so I think the Empress Dowager will give Jiang Yu a chance out of consideration for her."
"However, Zhu'er's future will be difficult." Lady Anyuan Marquis felt that with the status of their Anyuan Marquis Mansion and the Duke of Chu Mansion, even if Jiang Yu divorced, they could find her a good family to remarry into.
However, Marquis Anyuan said, "This matter is not easy for ordinary women, but it may not be for Jiang Yu."
Like the Duke of Chu, he thought highly of Jiang Yu.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
