Chapter 9 I entrust this to you.
When Fu Mingzi returned to the Duke of Jingguo's mansion, she found it quite lively today. It seemed that guests had come to the back courtyard, and the front courtyard was also affected.
However, Fu Mingzi ignored him and went straight back to his study.
But to his surprise, the excitement came to him even though he didn't want to join in the fun. As soon as he returned to his courtyard, a maid came to report that the First Madam wanted him to come to the main room after his return.
It doesn't matter if it's someone else, but Fu Mingzi couldn't possibly disobey his sister-in-law. After thinking for a moment, he still went up to the upper room.
I wonder who came this time. My sister-in-law actually let him come to greet guests. She should know his personality very well; he doesn't like these kinds of occasions at all.
As Fu Mingzi pondered this, he went to the main room, lifted the curtain and went in, only to see an unfamiliar woman talking to Madam Wen. The two seemed to be getting along very well.
"Mingzi is back. Come here quickly. This is your Aunt Yang. Do you still recognize her?"
Fu Mingzi was taken aback. The Yang family? Was it the Yang family he was thinking of?
But he didn't have time to think about it now, and hurriedly bowed his head and said, "Greetings, Auntie, greetings, Sister-in-law."
Madam Wen smiled warmly: "You child, you're even busier than your older brother these days. You've only just returned. Your Aunt Yang has been waiting for you for a long time."
Fu Mingzi was suspicious. She glanced at Madam Yang and saw that Madam Yang had a smile on her face, but her eyes seemed to be looking her up and down.
Fu Mingzi was increasingly puzzled, but she still had to maintain proper etiquette on the surface.
"It was Mingzi who was rude."
Madam Yang smiled and said, "Young Master Fu is a talented young man, and now that His Majesty values him, it's only right that he's busy."
Fu Mingzi felt a little guilty after hearing this. The word "talent" really had nothing to do with him. He really didn't know what kind of eyes this Madam Yang had. Didn't she know his reputation in the capital?
Madam Wen's smile grew even brighter at Madam Yang's praise: "You flatter me. He's just a child, how could he deserve such praise? He only has a job to make a living, but he's not as good as the Yang family, which has been producing officials for generations. I heard that the young master of the Yang family will be participating in the imperial examination this year. He is a true hero."
The sedan chair, carried by people, created an extremely harmonious scene.
Fu Mingzi finally realized that the Yang family of this Madam Yang was indeed the family he had been thinking of. The Yang family of Luoyang was a prominent family with generations of officials and nobles. Even in the present-day Great Wei, the Yang family had produced many important officials.
For example, Yang Yuanzhen, the current Governor-General of Liangjiang, comes from the seventh branch of the Yang clan. He is only in his early forties and has already become a high-ranking official. In the capital region, Yang Yuanbai, from the second branch of the Yang clan, was promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue just last year.
This honor is extremely rare even in the Great Wei Dynasty.
Judging from her demeanor and speech, the Madam Yang we are seeing today should be the wife of this Vice Minister Yang.
It's just unknown why Madam Yang suddenly visited the Fu family. You see, although the Fu family is also a wealthy family, they are of noble birth and have never been part of the same system as these refined scholars. And as far as Fu Mingzi knows, they have no connection with the Yang family.
These doubts lingered in Fu Mingzi's mind, but he didn't show them on his face. He simply sat on the other side, listening to Madam Wen and Madam Yang chatting about everyday matters.
However, Fu Mingzi was still young, and after sitting there for a while, he became a little impatient.
Wen knew him well. Seeing him frown, she smiled and said, "Alright, I know you can't sit still. Go on, your elder brother seems to have something to say to you."
Fu Mingzi breathed a sigh of relief, got up, said annoyed to Madam Wen and Madam Yang, and then took his leave.
Once outside the Wen family's courtyard, Fu Mingzi realized something was amiss. Why did the Wen family insist on having him listen in on their conversation? He was young and an outsider, and usually, even when there were guests, he would simply go in to greet them. Today was truly strange.
However, Fu Mingzi didn't think much of it and followed Wen's instructions to go to the front yard to find his elder brother.
When Fu Mingzi entered Fu Mingsong's study, Fu Mingsong was writing a letter. Upon seeing him, he said, "Please sit down first. I'll talk to you after I finish writing."
Fu Mingzi sat obediently on the chair next to him. The servant brought him tea, which he drank half-heartedly, but his eyes were fixed on Fu Mingsong's hand as he wrote, trying to discern some clues.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the talent for it and couldn't figure it out even after looking at it for a long time.
Fu Mingsong finally finished writing his letter, put down his pen, sealed it in an envelope, and placed it on the table.
"I have two things to discuss with you today." Fu Mingsong got straight to the point: "First, the old man is going to arrange a marriage for you. The chosen one is the sixth daughter of the seventh branch of the Yang family. She is a good match for you. It's just that the wedding procession will take place a little further away, but that's not a big deal. If you have no objections, then the matter is settled."
"I...I...I...I..." Fu Mingzi was dumbfounded; he never expected this to happen.
"Big brother, you..." Fu Mingzi's face turned bright red: "I've never even met that sixth young lady! What are you doing?! You're asking for my opinion? I'm not getting married!"
Fu Mingsong remained expressionless: "Your sister-in-law has met me before. She said she is gentle and beautiful, and a perfect match for you."
"Match my foot! I won't get married!" Fu Mingzi stomped his feet in anger, but he vaguely thought of Zhou Xiaoyan's appearance. No matter how beautiful someone was, could they be as beautiful as Zhou Xiaoyan? He wouldn't get married unless he looked like Zhou Xiaoyan.
"Nonsense!" Fu Mingsong gave Fu Mingzi a rare cold look: "This matter was arranged by Father. He has already exchanged tokens with the Yang family. There is no room for negotiation. Even if you are unwilling, you have no choice. Madam Yang came to the mansion today to see you. If you are smart, you should know what's good for you."
Fu Mingzi was furious. He had always had a smooth life in the Fu family since he was a child, but he never expected to be tricked by his own father and brother in his marriage. This was simply unacceptable.
“I don’t want to, you can’t force me to go through with the wedding.” Fu Mingzi flung his sleeves and decided to act like a rogue.
Fu Mingsong frowned as he looked at him, his tone slightly harsh: "Mingzi, whatever you did before, your older brother let you have your way, but not this one. The Yang family isn't a family without a foundation. Since the old man has made the decision, you can't change it. If you're worried, we can arrange for the two of you to meet. As for anything else, don't even think about it. Even if we have to force you, this marriage must go through!"
Fu Mingzi's heart sank. He felt that this marriage was probably not so simple. He knew the personalities of Fu Mingsong and the Duke of Jingguo. They would not be so resolute in such matters. For example, the Duke of Jingguo had tried to arrange a marriage for him before, but he had fooled him by acting cute and silly. This time, he was so determined. Could there be something else besides marriage?
Fu Mingzi frowned and looked at Fu Mingsong: "Brother, just tell me straight, what's so special about this sixth daughter of the Yang family that you insist on forcing me to marry her?"
Fu Mingsong pursed his lips, his expression somewhat heavy, and after a long while said, "This is an agreement between Father and the Yang family, and it must be kept."
Fu Mingzi was speechless. Fu Mingsong's attitude left him utterly speechless.
However, Fu Mingsong seemed oblivious to Fu Mingzi's anger and continued, "The second thing is that I need you to deliver these letters to Mingbai."
Fu Mingsong tapped the letters he had just placed on the table. The letters were in kraft paper envelopes, sealed with a special potion unique to the Duke of Jingguo's mansion, completely eliminating the possibility of eavesdropping.
"My second brother is at the Yuntai camp. It will probably take a whole day to go there and back. Why not send him with the guards from home?" Although Fu Mingzi was annoyed by Fu Mingsong and the Duke of Jingguo's unauthorized actions, he was still a little cautious about Fu Mingsong's unusual order.
The Fu family had five sons, three of whom were legitimate sons: the eldest son Fu Mingsong, the second son Fu Mingbai, and the youngest son Fu Mingzi.
Fu Mingsong took the civil service route, but Fu Mingbai entered the Five Military Commands and became a military general, currently training troops at the Yuntai Camp on the outskirts of Beijing.
"This matter is of utmost importance. I don't trust anyone but you. I will help you submit a note to the palace to request sick leave. Go back and pack your things, change into your guard uniform, and leave before the city gates close." Fu Mingsong's tone was very serious, not at all like he was bluffing.
"Take this jade pendant. When you get to the camp, give it to the guards, and they will let you in." Fu Mingsong took out a jade pendant from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"Big brother! What's going on?!" Fu Mingzi finally sensed something unusual.
Fu Mingsong lowered his eyes and said after a long while, "The storm is brewing. As a tutor in the palace, haven't you felt it? Our family is in such a precarious position, we should be more cautious. This letter is my instruction to your second brother. It's not anything life-threatening, but your second brother is straightforward and honest. There are some things that he won't listen to if you don't explain them clearly, so I added a few words that were meant to hurt him. This letter must not be left unsaid. You must make sure your second brother burns it." Fu Mingsong deliberately picked out a letter and placed it on top of the list.
Fu Mingzi didn't even look at it, and put the letter directly into his pocket, while stuffing the other two into his sleeve.
“If that’s the case, then I won’t hide it. Hiding it would only make me look worse. I’ll leave now. You can just say that I was fooling around and took the job of delivering the message. I’m a playboy by nature, and it’s normal for me to do some outrageous things.”
Fu Mingzi's expression was cold and stern; the anger he had shown earlier was no longer visible on his face.
Fu Mingsong was stunned. After a long while, he slowly leaned back in his chair and said, "You've grown up, but I've grown old."
Fu Mingzi smiled and said, "Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? You're in your prime right now. After I deliver the letter, I'm not done with you about the Yang family's affairs yet."
Fu Mingsong looked at Fu Mingzi and finally smiled, but it was a smile of relief.
"Go ahead," he said, waving his hand gently.
Fu Mingzi turned and left, but her heart grew heavier.
Even the eldest brother is so nervous about the current changes in the palace. I really don't know what the emperor wants to do.
Why can't the Crown Prince just be a good Crown Prince? Why does he have to stir up this storm and make everyone tremble with fear?
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