The Marquis said, “Shao’er, you are now a mother and over thirty years old. We can’t just grow old without becoming wise, right? Sixing didn’t pass the exam because his knowledge wasn’t good enough to pass it. If he doesn’t pass this time, he can study hard for another three years. Why worry about not passing?”
Xu Shao cried and said, "Father, our Sixing is already sixteen years old. People his age have all been engaged. We were hoping that he would pass the imperial examination this time and find a good marriage, but it didn't happen. Father, what should we do about Sixing's marriage?"
The Marquis said, “Shao’er, whether it’s finding a wife or a husband, we have to find someone the child is willing to marry. Don’t always focus on family background. If two people don’t have a good relationship, how can they live together? Listen to your father. There’s no need to rush Si Xing’s marriage. Let Si Xing have some time to settle down. If it really doesn’t work out, go to Tai’an, to your sister Ru’s house, and study with Qing Chuan for a couple of years. Qing Chuan was a third-place scholar back then, and there are already quite a few people from their academy who have passed the imperial examinations.”
Hearing her father say that about Xu Ru, Xu Shao secretly pursed her lips. She would only be willing to let her child study in the countryside.
The Marquis earnestly said, "Shao'er, listen to your father. Don't put too much pressure on Sixing. Let Sixing go out and see the world. Di'er was able to pass the imperial examination at such a young age because he went to Hexi with Rao'er and helped Rao'er with some things on a daily basis. No matter what a person learns, he must have an open mind."
When Xu Shao heard the Marquis mention Xu Di, she said impatiently, "Father, our Sixing is the legitimate son of the Marquis's heir, and he is not the same as the children of those illegitimate sons."
The Marquis was so enraged by these words that he nearly fell over. He pointed at Xu Shao with a trembling finger for a long time before finally sighing, getting up, and leaving.
Xu Shao watched the Marquis leave with some confusion, then quickly sat down opposite Madam Wu and asked, "Mother, what does Father mean by this?"
Wu finally managed to calm herself down. When Xu Shao asked her, she said irritably, "What do you mean? That family is your father's darling now. You can't just say anything about them. And you, why are you saying these things? Your half-brother is the most powerful person in the family now."
Wu's words were sarcastic. Xu Shao rolled her eyes, moved closer to Wu, and whispered, "Mother, what kind of talk is this? Xu Rao is just a county magistrate of the seventh rank who passed the imperial examination. No matter how capable he is, can he be more capable than our master? Our master is a fourth-rank military officer now."
Zhao Ziqi, the heir of the Marquis of Yongping, is currently a deputy commander of the Five Cities Military Command, a fourth-rank military officer with little real power. Many sons of noble families receive such sinecures from a young age, and their rank increases with age, but it's only for show.
Madam Wu glanced at Xu Shao and said, "Shao'er, the job of the Prince Zhao is different from that of Xu Rao. He is the magistrate of a county. I heard that last winter, the Prince of Wei was able to defeat the Northern Di, which was also due to Xu Rao's great efforts. If nothing unexpected happens, Xu Rao will only get better and better in the future."
Xu Shao said, "Our family treats illegitimate sons so well. Look at other families' illegitimate sons, and then look at ours. Other families' illegitimate sons are afraid for half a day just from a glance from their legal mothers. But you are different. I have never seen your illegitimate daughter-in-law come to pay her respects to you."
Madam Wu said, "That family has won the old lady's favor. I haven't even done anything yet, and they've already started making a fuss over there. Shao'er, your mother's health is deteriorating day by day. I just want to live a quiet life like this. You shouldn't argue with your mother-in-law anymore. You won't get anything out of it. In the future, when you separate from your uncles, won't the Marquis's mansion still belong to you?"
Xu Shao said, "Oh dear, my mother, you don't know, that old hag has emptied our manor's storeroom. What we'll get in the future is just an empty shell. What good will that do us?"
Madam Wu said, "It can't be that bad. There are many things in your household that are passed down to the eldest son of the main wife. If she moves them away, how will you explain it to the elders in the future?"
Xu Shao said, "I asked around in that old woman's yard. After she moved out, she put some fake things in there. She kept the real ones for her two youngest sons."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wu clutched her chest, breathing heavily with anger, and said, "I told you back then that your mother-in-law wouldn't be easy to deal with, that she wouldn't let you marry into their family, but you were like a man possessed, insisting on marrying into it. Now look what's happened, Shao'er. Since it's like this, you need to make your own plans. Listen to your mother, go back and keep a close eye on your dowry. Try to get back the money your mother-in-law borrowed from you. Your household is already in such a state. From now on, you and your husband will be raising the children together. Why bother fighting with them over such a small amount of money?"
Xu Shao said, "Those things should still be ours in the first place. Why should we give them to them? Mother, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to get them back. If all else fails, I will go to the yamen to sue them. They are trying to steal our family's wealth."
Wu pointed angrily at Xu Shao and said, "Listen to what you're saying! Going to the yamen to file a complaint? How are your children supposed to survive in the capital? You have a dowry and a family to rely on, why worry about your future? Sixing is a promising child. He didn't pass the provincial examination this time, so don't put too much pressure on him. Your father is right. Let Sixing go out and see the world. Let him study at your sister Ru's house for two years. It will be good for Sixing."
Xu Shao said impatiently, "Oh, Mother, I know. I won't be having lunch at home. My mother-in-law knows that Si Xing failed the provincial examination, so she invited some relatives to have lunch at home. I have to go back and not ruin it. I also have to make sure they can't have a proper meal."
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