"From now on, we're a family, Auntie. My house is big, but it's so lonely. It's almost New Year's, and everyone's so happy. Look at me, I'm all alone... Should I stay here for the New Year?"
Fu Xiaoguan looked at Dong Yuanshi expectantly, while Dong Xiude beside him laughed heartily, "I think it's possible!"
Dong Yuan glared at Dong Xiu De, and Dong Shu Lan's pretty face immediately turned red with shame and lowered her head. Dong Kangping stroked his beard with his eyes fixed on his nose. After a while, Dong Yuan couldn't help laughing. This kid was so shameless!
Then she looked at the table. Fu Xiaoguan's hand was still pressing on Dong Shulan's, but Dong Shulan showed no intention of pulling away. Thinking about what the master said last night and what the princess had said before, she finally took a step back.
Forget it... This daughter's heart has been seduced by him.
"It's really lonely for you to spend the New Year alone in Shangjing. If you want to come, then come."
Fu Xiaoguan was overjoyed, his anxious heart finally at ease. He quickly stood up and bowed to Dong Yuanshi again, shouting, "Thank you, auntie. I won't be going back for dinner today."
It's time to strike the snake while the stick is still open. Dong Xiu De laughed heartily and was full of admiration for Fu Xiaoguan. Look, look, this is my brother-in-law. If it was Yan Xiwen, would he dare to be so shameless?
Dong Yuanshi seemed to have come to terms with it now, so she smiled and said, "You're quite casual, okay? Let's have lunch here at noon."
It seemed that this hurdle had been passed, and afterwards everyone was in a happy mood, and they spoke more casually and naturally.
"You actually have a relative in the capital. Don't you want to go and meet him? If you're willing, I can go and talk to him for you first."
Dong Kangping was naturally referring to Fu Xiaoguan's maternal grandfather, Xu Shaoguang of the Xu family. Fu Xiaoguan pondered for a moment and said, "Father also meant for me to go and get to know my family, but there's a saying that goes, 'A poor man in a busy city has no one to care for him, but a rich man in a remote mountain area has distant relatives.' The metaphor isn't quite right, but the meaning is there. When my mother came back before she died and wanted to see them, they didn't open the door, which means they haven't forgiven her and still look down on my father. So there's no point in me going to see them now. I guess if I become a high-ranking official, or even a marquis or prime minister, their door will naturally open wide."
This seemed a bit vindictive, but Dong Kangping didn't refute it. This was Fu Xiaoguan's own business, and it wasn't his place to interfere. In fact, after Fu Xiaoguan ascended to the Golden Palace, Xu Huaishu and Xu Yungui had spoken about it when they met him, and they had many sentimental memories of the past. Back when Xu Yunqing was still in the capital, Dong Kangping had been one of his suitors, and he had known both of them for many years.
Not long after Xu Yunqing eloped with Fu Daguan, Xu Shaoguang resigned from his position as the director of the Imperial College and rarely went out after that. According to the Xu Yungui and his brother, Xu Shaoguang devoted himself to Buddhism and kept a statue of Guanyin from Qixia Temple at home.
It seems that Xu Shaoguang is atonement, perhaps to feel sorry for Xu Yunqing, or perhaps to seek peace of mind.
When the writer Dong Kangping told Fu Xiaoguan about these things, Fu Xiaoguan listened very carefully and finally said seriously: "Actually, I understand his unhappiness when my mother eloped with my father. This is a normal feeling for a father, and I don't blame him. His own daughter ran away in pursuit of so-called love... If it were me, I wouldn't be happy either. But since my mother was so determined to marry my father, if he tried to stop her, it would feel like forcibly breaking up a couple, which I can still understand. But the only thing I can't understand is that my mother was critically ill, and she just wanted to visit her mother's family where she had lived for more than ten years, but such a simple wish could not be fulfilled, and she finally died with hatred... I think this is too inhumane."
Dong Kangping couldn't refute this. He sighed and said, "Okay, you can wait until you have a suitable opportunity to solve this matter later."
Dong Kangping looked at the boxes piled up on both sides and said, "Although your family is a landlord, since you have come to Shangjing and bought property, your future expenses will be huge. Your aunt and I appreciate these things. You can take them back after lunch."
Fu Xiaoguan quickly waved his hand, took the teapot from Dong Shulan's hand, and filled it for Dong Kangping and Dong Yuanshi. He smiled and said, "To be honest, uncle and aunt, my family is quite well-off. These gifts are my thoughtful gesture. Uncle, you can consider them...meal money for my free meal."
"Your meal money... Fine, I'll take it." Dong Kangping paused and began discussing matters at court. "This time, we're investigating corruption in thirteen prefectures. As of yesterday, four prefectural governors, twenty-three prefectural governors, and one hundred and seventeen county magistrates have been dismissed. In the capital, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is implicated, and a doctor from the Ministry of Personnel has also been imprisoned and awaits trial next year."
Dong Kangping shook his head and continued, "This upheaval in the officialdom is the greatest in the Yu Dynasty's two hundred years, and it seems it's not over yet. Your Majesty hasn't recalled the imperial envoys, and even the numerous officials escorted to the capital haven't been interrogated by the Dali Temple. I guess Your Majesty is determined to thoroughly clean up the mess this time. This has left many positions vacant, and many of the Jinshi who haven't been filled over the years have been assigned to various positions. The situation may seem calm, but undercurrents are still surging."
Fu Xiaoguan thought about it and thought that the undercurrent Dong Kangping mentioned was probably the counterattack of the six major clans. Although he did not know the specific circumstances of these officials who had been dismissed, he thought that most of them were closely related to the six major clans.
The six major clans have a long history and their foundation is very deep. The fact that they have not fought back means that their foundation has not been touched so far. However, if the investigation continues, they will eventually be implicated one day, which is definitely something they do not want to see, so they will definitely take action.
"If Your Majesty really wants to investigate this matter, you should pay attention to border defense."
Dong Kangping frowned and asked, "What does this mean?"
"Uncle, think about it. If you pull out a radish, you'll bring out the dirt. This disaster will eventually burn the six major clans. Will they surrender? I don't think so. So how can we put an end to this matter? As long as His Majesty has no time to take care of it, it will naturally come to nothing."
Dong Kangping frowned even more tightly. Anything that could make His Majesty unable to take care of this matter must be a very big deal. If a foreign enemy invaded at this moment and the border defense was in chaos, His Majesty's focus would inevitably shift to the war - this did not seem impossible.
A desperate dog will jump over the wall. Won’t the six major clans fight to the death?
Fu Xiaoguan asked again, "Uncle, are the supplies in the Ministry of Revenue sufficient to support a local war? I mean, if the barbarians or the barbarians invade, will the Ministry of Revenue have enough supplies to send to the front lines?"
"The greatest threat to our dynasty comes from the northern barbarians. Ever since they stationed 100,000 troops at Yanshan Pass, the Ministry of Revenue has primarily mobilized supplies to Xincheng..." Dong Kangping's heart trembled, a sinister thought suddenly forming. The Ministry of Revenue had already mobilized a vast amount of supplies to the disaster area for disaster relief. If a war truly broke out in the east, these supplies would be extremely urgent. Even local levies would struggle to maintain food supplies, not to mention the vast shortage of weapons and armor.
"They... dare to be so cruel?" Dong Kangping asked in disbelief.
"My nephew is just guessing. When someone is about to lose their head, they will do anything, no matter how crazy it is."
Dong Kangping stood up and said, "I'm going to the palace."
Fu Xiaoguan was stunned. "No, I was just saying it casually."
"No, this is very likely because the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue secretly transferred a large amount of weapons and armor to Xincheng. What I am worried about now is whether he will transfer the grain from Shannan East Road and Jiannan East Road."
Dong Kangping left the Dong residence in a hurry without even changing his clothes. The atmosphere suddenly became solemn. Fu Xiaoguan spread his hands innocently and said, "I really was just saying it casually."
Dong Yuanshi didn't blame him and stood up as well. "As a woman, I don't understand these big things, but it's good that you reminded me. If nothing happens, then everything will be fine. If it does happen... at least I can find out in advance and find a way to remedy it. You guys can do whatever you want. I'll go and arrange for lunch in the kitchen."
Dong Shulan rolled her eyes at Fu Xiaoguan, thinking that it was already the day off, and her father had finally gotten some rest, but your casual remark scared him so much that he immediately went to the palace to meet the emperor - should she say hello to you or not?
Dong Xiu De looked at Fu Xiaoguan with admiration and thought, "Look, look, my brother-in-law scared my father away with just a casual word. Can Yan Xiwen do it?"
"Brother-in-law, what you said... is it possible?"
Fu Xiaoguan touched his nose and said, "I don't know either. But if it were me, seeing that the investigation has reached the imperial court, and further investigation will fall on me, I will definitely not take the initiative to wash my neck and put my head under the knife of Your Majesty and wait to be slaughtered."
That's very possible. Dong Shulan frowned slightly, feeling quite uneasy. She hoped everything was fine.
The three of them sat down and chatted, and the topic they talked about the most was Tingmei. Dong Xiu De was very excited, saying that those small clothes were selling very well, and that the perfume was in short supply.
He is now looking for another shop, thinking that he must have good sales in the four areas of the capital, namely the east, south, west and north. Now there is a shop with an excellent location on Temple Street near the City God Temple in the south city. He has made an appointment with the owner of the shop to discuss it again after the New Year.
Fu Xiaoguan expressed his support for this. Dong Shulan meant that it would be best if she could buy it. Now she has a full 40,000 taels of silver in her hand. Of course, the bulk of it still comes from A Dream of Red Mansions.
Then the old nanny came to invite them to lunch. The atmosphere during lunch was a little solemn because Dong Kangping did not come back.
In the afternoon, Fu Xiaoguan's plan was to go to Qin Bingzhong's home. One reason was to meet him and say hello, and the other was to hand over the letter from Qin Chengye to Qin Bingzhong.
Just as Fu Xiaoguan was saying goodbye to Dong Yuanshi and Dong Shulan after dinner, eunuch Jia from the palace rushed in.
"Master Fu, His Majesty wants to see you!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
