Back at Zhefang Courtyard, the sky outside soon darkened.
Qin Sheng was sitting by the window reading a book when she looked up and saw the gloomy sky outside. Her thoughts drifted away without her realizing it.
That's how it was in her past life. Old Madam Yin put her in charge of the household, but she also kept her in the dark, not letting her know the household's annual income and some of the accounts.
Qin Sheng always thought that her mother-in-law and husband didn't want her to worry, so they kept it a secret.
When Qin Sheng needed money to renovate the clan school and manage her husband's social connections, she would secretly take money from her dowry. In order not to arouse suspicion from her mother-in-law and husband, she never dared to let them know, thus maintaining their pitiful and laughable self-esteem.
Thinking of his foolish self in his past life, Qin Sheng subconsciously tightened his grip on the book.
Some people's true colors can't be changed. Yin Wenxiao wanted to climb the social ladder by using her family's connections, but he was also afraid of being accused of being a gigolo. So he treated her coldly, as if she deserved to be treated like a slave by the Yin family after marrying into the family.
In this life, that mother and son still want to save money to spend on Yin Wenxiao's future as they did in their previous life? Don't even think about it!
...
Yin Wenxiao went out for a while.
He went out on horseback, and when he returned it rained heavily. The rain poured down, instantly soaking the hurried pedestrians on the road, including Yin Wenxiao.
He changed his clothes in the front yard before going to see Old Madam Yin.
Although Yin Wenxiao had changed his clothes, his hair was still half-dry when he arrived at Songliu Courtyard.
"My child, did you get caught in the rain?" Old Madam Yin was startled and quickly called for Granny Shi to prepare ginger soup.
"It's nothing." Yin Wenxiao forced a smile and reassured his mother, "I just got a little wet at the gate of the mansion, don't worry."
In a few words between the mother and son, Yu Rou quickly brought in a bowl of ginger soup.
Unlike the other maids in the mansion, she wore simple and elegant dresses instead of the uniform maids' clothes.
Yu Rou said softly, "I added something to this ginger soup without permission, but don't worry, Your Highness, I guarantee you won't catch a cold after drinking it."
Her grandfather was a doctor, and when Yu Rou was a child, she followed her grandfather to get medicine and learned some of it.
"Thank you for your kindness." Yin Wenxiao glanced at her, picked up the bowl, blew on it gently, and drank it all in one gulp.
After finishing her drink, Yu Rou curtsied and took the bowl outside.
Madam Yin asked with concern, "Didn't you go to your colleague's invitation for drinks? How did it go? Did you find out anything?"
Yin Wenxiao nodded, then his expression darkened. "The Regent intends to build a new academy."
"..."
Madam Yin's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that what Qin Sheng said was true?
She quickly asked, "Where will the new school be built? Do you know who is in charge?"
Yin Wenxiao's expression darkened further. "The site is right next to the Imperial Academy. I heard it's still in the planning stage, but His Majesty has been summoning me frequently lately... My father-in-law and Grand Commandant He have come to the palace, so it seems that they are in charge of this matter."
After hearing this, Madam Yin also clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
If, as Qin Sheng said, His Majesty and the Regent intend to select suitable children from the eligible young men of various noble families to be trained in the academy after it is built, then all the noble families must have already received the news.
The most urgent task for each family is probably to either renovate and expand their clan school or rack their brains to find famous and talented teachers for their children.
"Mother, is the clan school really going to be renovated?" Yin Wenxiao asked.
“Of course, you can’t catch a wolf without risking your cub!” Old Madam Yin’s eyes sharpened.
Since her husband's passing, the Yin family has declined, and over the years, Old Madam Yin has experienced the full spectrum of human emotions.
Over the years, she has gritted her teeth and supported this family, all in the hope that one day the Yin family can be restored to its former prosperity and glory.
Just as Qin Sheng thought, they wanted to rely on the Yue family, but they were afraid that outsiders would say that Yin Wenxiao relied on the Yue family for everything, and they were even more afraid that the Regent and His Majesty would think so, so they overlooked Wenxiao's talent.
Madam Yin continued, "Since the matter of the academy is not yet completely settled, let Asheng handle things for you. She comes from a prestigious family. Although Old Master Qin has been gone for many years, he was the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince back then. When the late Emperor was still the Crown Prince, he and Old Master Qin had a deep friendship. Asheng is the eldest daughter of the Qin family. With her in the presence of those noble people in the inner quarters, no matter which family it is, they will all give her some face."
"..."
Yin Wenxiao picked up his cup and drank his tea.
He initially refused when he learned that his mother wanted him to marry Qin Sheng, but later his mother patiently explained the situation of the Yin family to him, and when she spoke of the sad parts, she burst into tears.
As a son, how could he truly break his mother's heart?
So Yin Wenxiao agreed.
But he already had someone he loved, and no matter how beautiful Qin Sheng was, he didn't care. He just wanted to marry a wife to appease his mother.
So he kept ignoring Qin Sheng, thinking to himself that sooner or later he would bring his beloved daughter into the mansion.
As for Qin Sheng, he was willing to give her the title of his legal wife, but that was all.
Yin Wenxiao's heart has always belonged to Jiaoniang alone.
The mother and son soon turned their conversation to the Second Master, Yin Wenqu.
Madam Yin said, "Your second uncle is probably going to take up a post in the Ministry of Personnel next month. The Emperor has bestowed a new mansion upon him. Once he enters the Ministry of Personnel, his whole family will move out."
"..."
Mentioning his second uncle gave Yin Wenxiao a headache.
He had been to his second uncle's yard since that incident, but his second aunt always said that his second uncle had gone out to see friends.
However, when Yin Wenxiao asked the gatekeeper, they said they hadn't seen his second uncle go out at all.
In other words, my second uncle didn't go out; he clearly didn't want to see me and just wanted my second aunt to get rid of him!
"you……"
Madam Yin wanted to tell him not to forget to keep in touch with Duo Duo and the second branch of the family, but remembering what happened last time, she swallowed her words.
Fortunately, Qin Sheng had a good relationship with the second wife and the two young ladies of the second wife's family.
With Qin Sheng's help, and by saying a few good words to the Second Madam, it should be the same.
Thinking about it this way, Old Madam Yin was even more satisfied with Qin Sheng as her daughter-in-law.
Although she couldn't win her husband's heart, she handled all matters, big and small, with great skill. Since she married into the family, I've enjoyed a period of comfortable life.
Thinking of this, Old Madam Yin called in Granny Shi and asked her to invite the lady over for dinner.
As soon as Granny Shi left, Yin Wenxiao was about to leave as well, but his mother stopped him, saying, "Sit down."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
