Chapter 1575 Extra: The Duke of Jin is Very Busy (Part 1)
The seventeenth year of Yanhuang was destined to be a special year.
Just as the court officials were celebrating the capture of the fraud gang led by the 20th-rank Marquis, and the royal court had also taken down a group of old-era restorationists who were daydreaming all day long, a piece of news caught the entire court off guard. Some even couldn't help but look outside to see if the sun was rising in the west: "No, did I hear that right?"
"You heard it too?"
"Yes, yes, how could that be..."
Whether they have a grudge or not, they'll still gossip about it nearby.
They all doubted that they had heard correctly.
Shen Tang guessed what was going on and readily agreed.
Without saying a word, Qi Shan bowed and expressed his gratitude.
"Duke of Jin—"
As soon as the court session ended, Qi Shan hurried away without looking back, ignoring his colleagues who were calling after him. In the blink of an eye, everyone could only see a glimpse of his back. The officials, left far behind by Qi Shan, couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment, and some even murmured to themselves.
"Is Duke Jin so eager to use the restroom?"
"Which hothead said that? Are they out of their mind?!"
If the Duke of Jin were to act unpredictably and launch a surprise attack, and he heard this hothead say such a thing, he would definitely remember it.
Why did the Duke of Jin suddenly request another six months of annual leave?
This is why the civil and military officials were so shocked just now.
Since Gu Chi started it, a group of the founding fathers from back then seemed to be of one mind and began to take annual leave one after another, for periods ranging from six months to a year or even two years. Only these people had the courage to stay away from the center of power for such a long time. When they returned from their leave, they were able to quickly take control of the situation, regain control of their respective departments, and even get along well with the newcomers who came in during the gap period.
If it were them, they might not have the magnanimity and courage.
Qi Yuanliang had previously taken annual leave.
However, it's not a one-time invitation, and each visit is short.
Logically, everyone should be used to it by now that he's taken another year off. The reason for such a strong reaction is that it hasn't been long since Qi Shan returned to work after his last year's leave. He's already used up his previous year's leave, and this six-month leave is part of the next round.
In the past, when people asked for annual leave, they would be notified in advance so that everyone could be mentally prepared and the affairs of the Secretariat could be arranged in advance.
This was a completely spur-of-the-moment decision.
This phrase seems out of place when applied to Duke Jin.
This makes one wonder if a major incident had occurred at home, forcing him to submit a last-minute request for leave. However, on the other hand, Duke Jin was always diligent in his duties and had a simple household. What could have happened to him that caused him to become so distraught?
Only a few elders knew something.
The officials were curious and wanted to inquire, but several of them remained silent.
This made them even more anxious.
What exactly happened at the residence of Duke Jin/Prime Minister Qi/Grand Tutor?
Strictly speaking, they weren't really big issues; they were two minor matters.
The first thing his daughter did was write him a letter, telling him she would be home in a couple of days and that she had a surprise for him.
The second thing was that his friend wanted to say goodbye to him.
Qi Shan, his face ashen, tiptoed home, leaping over rooftops. The steward came out to greet him, only to see his master scale the wall above his head. The steward rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things. In all his years working for the household, he had never seen his master act so...so youthful. He ordered the gate closed again, pretending his master hadn't climbed over the wall in public.
Qi Shan: "Is he the surprise you were talking about?"
He pointed to the young man sitting in the hall, who seemed a little awkward.
Though described as a young person, he was more somewhere between adolescence and youth, his eyes still carrying the innocent naiveté of someone untouched by the harsh realities of life. But that wasn't the point; the point was that this person's appearance seemed vaguely familiar. Qi Shan rummaged through her memory and finally matched the face with the person's.
Don't ask him why he didn't recognize him immediately.
The last time he saw this face was more than 20 years ago.
Qi Miao replied, "Yes."
Qi Shan glanced at the two of them several times and sighed.
A man's infatuation can be explained, but a woman's infatuation cannot.
Qi Miao is a pure and kind person who takes relationships very seriously. Once she falls in love, it's hard for her to extricate herself. Although she has never said anything over the years, and has even tried to get to know outstanding men after Kang Nian's hints several times, she has been unable to take things any further.
Qi Shan hesitated several times before speaking.
At this moment, the young man spoke: "Prime Minister Qi—"
Qi Shan frowned impatiently: "Do you know who I am?"
If this young man in front of him wanted to use his daughter to climb the social ladder by any means necessary, he would not allow it, and he couldn't help but curse Kang Nian inwardly. If Kang Nian hadn't been so talkative, Jun Qiao wouldn't have forced her to go on blind dates, and now she's even indulging in stunt double literature.
The young man's appearance was quite similar to that of Zheng Yu back then.
Qi Shan wondered if Qi Miao might want this son to marry into her family.
This silly child—
Didn't you say you'd let go of it before?
The young man said, "Although more than twenty years have passed, Prime Minister Qi's radiance remains as before, and I can recognize him at a glance."
Qi Shan: "..."
He noticed something odd about the young man's words.
He subconsciously looked at Qi Miao, his eyes asking for an answer.
Qi Shan is truly protective of his own.
How could he not feel heartache for this daughter he had treated as his own, who had been with him for two or three decades? He knew that Qi Miao had some feelings for Zheng Yu, and seeing that she had been single for many years, he secretly sounded out the master—was Zheng Yu really on the "Investiture of the Gods" list?
If you make the list, your past relationship can be rekindled.
Just like Ning Yan and Yan An.
The answer from the Lord disappointed him.
Zheng Yu is not on the list.
That's why, when Qi Shan first saw the young man, she didn't think of him as Zheng Yu, simply assuming that they looked similar.
What's going on with this scene?
Qi Miao: "Daughter was just about to explain to Father."
Qi Shan waved for the young man Zheng Yu to sit down: "You speak."
He wanted to hear what strange story was behind this.
Actually, it wasn't that strange.
After Zheng Yu's death, the royal court posthumously conferred upon him a grand funeral, but without the pillar of the family, his widowed mother was left to struggle alone. At that time, Qi Miao and Zheng Yu only had feelings for each other, but had not yet pledged their love or made a marriage agreement. She could only occasionally take care of Zheng Yu's widowed mother as a friend.
To heal the pain of losing her only child and to escape the exploitation of her deceased relatives, the widowed mother by chance took a job at the charity charitable organization under Qi Miao's name. While caring for the abandoned infants at the charity, Zheng Yu's widowed mother also went to the national temple to offer incense and pray for her son, and even spent money to make offerings for his memorial tablet.
I only hope my son has a long and peaceful life in the afterlife.
Zheng Yu's widowed mother was an ordinary person. In her early years, she fled several times, had several difficult childbirths, and lost her only son in middle age. These blows made her health deteriorate. She was already in poor health in the seventh year of Yanhuang. When she passed away, she was still holding her only son's memorial tablet in her arms.
Qi Miao didn't have the memorial tablet buried with Zheng Yu's widowed mother. Instead, she had a new grave built for both mother and son, and went to the national temple to request memorial tablets for each of them, hoping that the mother and son could be reunited in another world and live a peaceful life. That's where the problem lies.
Qi Shan: "You mean this memorial tablet..."
Qi Miao knew what he was asking and shook her head: "No."
It has nothing to do with the memorial tablets and incense sold at the temple.
The key lies in the good fortune she has accumulated over the years.
A few days ago, she entered her dream as usual, entering the Temple of Healers for further study—as she had done for the past twenty years. This time, however, was different. The spirits of the Temple of Healers unusually spoke to her, asking if she had any wishes given that she had accumulated much merit through years of medical practice. Qi Miao replied that she wished for her family to be healthy.
The spirit said that her family was blessed with good fortune, so this wish didn't count.
Qi Miao also expressed her hope that the group of adopted daughters with the surname Qi were doing well.
The spirits said these children were destined to die young and violently, and most of their mothers would also die in childbirth, but they were all saved by the miraculous prayers. It should be known that those who survive great calamities are destined for good fortune; having survived this ordeal, these people will generally have a peaceful and stable life in the future.
Therefore, this wish does not count.
Qi Miao couldn't think of anything else she wanted.
Not long after, I woke up from the dream.
She was also annoyed that her idle chatter had delayed her studies.
She quickly forgot about this incident.
Unexpectedly, the very next day, they received a report of a woman who had drowned during childbirth. The person who brought her to the hospital was a young man who looked remarkably like the man from their past. At first glance, Qi Miao was momentarily stunned, but she quickly recovered and swiftly ordered the delivery room to be prepared.
Naturally, no one noticed the young man's astonished expression.
Finally, mother and daughter are safe and sound.
When the new mother's family arrived after receiving the news, their attitude changed drastically upon learning that it was a daughter without cultivation talent. By the time Qi Miao finished cleaning up and came out, the new mother had already been taken away by her family, and the young man was holding the familiar swaddling clothes with a bewildered expression.
They abandoned the child.
The young man jumped up from the corner, trying to explain.
They were afraid of being misunderstood as kidnapping the child.
Qi Miao's expression remained unchanged. She removed her mask and calmly instructed the village wet nurse to take the child away: "I understand."
She had experienced similar scenarios countless times.
Previously, she would personally pay for her own home visits to deliver babies for women experiencing difficult labors, and then bring back unwanted children. Over the years, many couples who couldn't bear to give birth in a hospital would specifically come to her. If the child was born disabled, or its gender or genetics didn't meet their expectations, they would abandon the child—Qi Miao was already used to it. The young man, however, was clearly experiencing this for the first time.
So what do we do now? Is there no consequence for abandoning a child?
Didn't I already have someone report it to the authorities?
Only then did the young man notice that someone had ridden out on horseback.
What will the child's parents do?
[She'd either be punished or beaten, end up in jail for a few days.] Qi Miao hadn't eaten for two days straight, and was starving. She devoured a meat bun in her left hand and a meat pie in her right, not caring about the decorum expected of a refined lady. When she finished, the young man was still there. She frowned and said, [Aren't you leaving? Is there something else you need to do here?]
I recently met a fortune teller surnamed Jiang.
Oh? And then?
When I prayed for a marriage partner, the fortune teller looked at my face and directed me here, saying that my true love was right here.
[What do you want to say? Is my true love?] Qi Miao's smile turned cold. In the past, it wasn't that no one had ever sent her handsome men and beautiful women. After being rejected so many times, the other party did their homework and started sending men and women who looked similar to Zheng Yu. Qi Miao ignored them all.
These men and women were only after the Duke of Jin's mansion behind her.
Even more so, it's possible that they were targeting their father.
Qi Miao naturally wouldn't take the bait.
This person in front of her was probably using a similar tactic. Her face turned cold, and she lost even her appetite: "Do you know my status and position? I'm not someone you can cling to just by a charlatan claiming a 'perfect match.' I'm being kind to you out of consideration for your act of rescuing the woman who fell into the water during childbirth, but I hope you can see through this and not make a mistake."
She recognized the look in the young man's eyes all too well.
That's the look a man gives a woman, filled with joy.
The young man was taken aback, and after a long pause, he said, "Jun Qiao?"
Qi Miao: [...]
At that moment, she noticed the young man's monogram on his waist.
The faintly visible handwriting sent a chill down her spine.
"...In short, he regained his memories."
Young Zheng Yu hurriedly explained and added, "Actually, it wasn't on that one day. Ever since I started my studies as a student, I've often had strange and inexplicable dreams, but they've become clearer as I've gotten older. The day I met Junqiao, I suddenly remembered them all at once."
It took me several days to process the memory.
I had a premonition—
He only got this opportunity because of Qi Miao.
Qi Shan: "So what are your plans next?"
Zheng Yu's relatives from his previous life are all deceased.
In this life, I am destined to have few family ties. I lost both my parents at a young age and was raised by the orphanage. I was only able to study thanks to the new policies of Kangguo. After graduating from the Central Academy, I started to make a living: "If you want to enter officialdom, I can recommend you to the Imperial Academy for further studies. Your current education... is somewhat outdated."
Zheng Yu didn't think much of it.
He rose, bowed, and thanked him, saying, "This student thanks Prime Minister Qi."
Qi Shan raised an eyebrow: "Not at all polite or reluctant?"
Zheng Yu frankly said, "The student needs this opportunity. I hope the Prime Minister has keen insight and can see through people's hearts. Why should the student be hypocritical this time?"
Qi Shan almost laughed upon hearing this, her eyes filled with coldness.
"Besides that, don't you have anything else to say?"
Qi Miao called out softly, "Father."
“That’s true, after all, not everyone is like Ning Tunan and his wife.” The two are indeed quite far apart in age, so it’s understandable that Zheng Yu is unwilling, but it’s unfair to his child. Qi Shan made a move to stand up, “I will have someone arrange things properly for you.”
There was really no need for him to interfere. Now that Zheng Yu had regained his memories, he could naturally enjoy the protection he received from his past life—after all, Zheng Yu had died in the line of duty. Although his past and present lives couldn't be made public, he could still give Zheng Yu some preferential treatment in private. At this moment, Zheng Yu spoke up: "I also wish I were one."
"Then what are you hesitating for? Is it because of your pitiful, shallow self-esteem?"
Zheng Yu's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
"Father, can't it be because I don't want to?"
Qi Shan: "..."
He really hadn't expected Qi Miao to refuse him.
Qi Miao sighed, "I'm past forty and have no passion for love between men and women. It's certainly a joy to see Xiu Chi return, but his life has only just begun, and his future is yet to be seen. Why settle things so soon? I've been busy with my studies, assessments, and professional title evaluations at the Temple these past two years... I really don't want to waste my energy on someone else. It's better to wait a few more years; he's not going to run away anyway."
Zheng Yu's expression clearly showed his resentment.
Qi Shan: "..."
"Speaking of which, Uncle Tan is even more worrying."
(σ)σ:*☆
(End of this chapter)
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