Chapter 137
The guests' noise never stopped. Luo Shenyuan got married, and Xu Wei also came over to have a few drinks.
Luo Shenyuan went to offer his teacher a glass of wine. Xu Wei drank it with a smile and said to him, "When you have time, bring your wife to visit the teacher. You will always have a meal."
"I'll come to your house." Luo Shenyuan also drank the wine with a smile.
Xu Wei didn't stay long, preparing to leave before the guests had even dispersed. Yang Ling, having been drunk by Zhou Feng and Jiang Chunyan, decided to return with his teacher in his carriage. Seeing the carriage gradually leaving Fuxue Hutong, Xu Wei asked Yang Ling, "Youming, Shen Yuan and you were both Jinshi graduates. He's now a third-rank minister, while you're only a seventh-rank official. Do you blame your teacher for the injustice?"
Youming is Yang Ling's courtesy name.
Yang Ling, a bit drunk, spoke hotly, "Why should I complain? Lord Luo is the newly crowned top scholar, while I'm only second. Besides, he's really good at managing floods. He knows exactly where to build dikes and where to divert water. I know nothing about water conservancy."
Xu Wei smiled upon hearing this, his eyes showing some kindness: "Your essays for the exam were brilliant and outstanding. They were no less talented than Shen Yuan's."
"As long as you like it." Yang Ling smiled. "You think it's good, but perhaps the examiner, the Minister of Rites, Mr. Xie, doesn't think it's good. I, Yang Ling, have a broad mind, and I don't feel depressed about not being recognized for my talent."
Xu Wei sighed deeply and asked Yang Ling about the Ministry of Revenue inspection. Only then did Yang Ling put in his utmost effort to deal with his teacher.
Arriving at Yang Ling's residence, the carriage stopped and let him out. Yang Ling waved to his teacher and scurried into his home. Then came the sound of his wife scolding him. It was said that Master Yang's wife, married from the Protectorate of Shu, was quite aggressive. It was probably because of drinking that she scolded him. Xu Wei smiled at the sound. His first wife had passed away ten years ago, and she had also been a fierce woman. The current wife was his second wife. Hearing such a voice made him feel nostalgic.
After seeing Yang Ling leave, Xu Wei's retainer said, "Lord Yang doesn't understand your good intentions... You're using Lord Luo to attract the attention of Wang Yuan and the others, but it's him you really want to cultivate. There have been many impeachment memorials against Lord Luo lately, and I'm afraid Wang Yuan has become wary."
"This kid has a broad mind, which is rare," Xu Wei said. "Luo Shenyuan's personality... I'm a little afraid of him. Last time, he knew everything about Pingyuan Fort, but he didn't tell me anything. And in the case of Zhejiang Governor Liu Pu, his methods were so ruthless that no one could have predicted them."
"But I think Lord Luo is more capable than Lord Yang. Lord Yang would never be able to do these things." The retainer admired Luo Shenyuan very much.
Xu Wei's expression was somewhat indifferent. "Only Ming could become the Prime Minister... Shen Yuan, he's also my student, so I will naturally support him. I hope that one day after we bring down Wang Yuan, Yang Ling's entry into the cabinet will be able to contain Luo Shen Yuan and prevent him from becoming a treacherous villain who brings disaster to the court. Otherwise, I will not keep him sooner or later..."
The retainer said nothing.
Xu Wei fought with Wang Yuan for so many years without being kicked out of the cabinet. In fact, he was a very decisive person.
He just felt a little sorry for Luo Shenyuan, but who could say he wasn't scary? Xu Wei's worries were not without reason.
He warmed another pot of wine for Xu Wei.
Luo Yilian only drank a few glasses of wine before leaving the table. She returned to the west wing and found her mother, Concubine Qiao, still sitting cross-legged on the kang by the window, her eyes closed. Concubine Qiao was much thinner than when she had lived in the Luo family in Baoding, but her sickly appearance only made her thin lips appear even more vibrant. A jade bead flower graced her jet-black bun. She slowly opened her eyes, their pupils as calm as glass. "My son is back," Concubine Qiao took Luo Yilian's hand.
"Mother," Luo Yilian asked her softly, "Have you taken your medicine today? Why don't I ask the maid to bring it to you first?"
Qiao Yuechan sneered, "You know what medicine I'm drinking. Your third brother has people forcing me to drink medicine all day long, just to force me to die early. I won't die, I want to live - let's see what will happen to him and that bitch in the future! Brother marrying his sister? Others may not know, but how could Luo Shenyuan not know? Now he has the final say in the Luo family, and he actually did such a ridiculous thing."
"Gu Minglan's torture wasn't enough for me, and her daughter is going to continue to torture me." Aunt Qiao said coldly, "If it weren't for Luo Yining, how could I have ended up like this, and how could you still be unmarried? She's better off, becoming the daughter of the Duke of Yingguo, and now marrying Luo Shenyuan. It's just right that she's married back, don't let her go..."
Aunt Qiao's grip on her daughter's hand gradually tightened. Luo Yilian saw the blue veins on the back of her hand and the hideous scar on Aunt Qiao's sleeve. Her eyes reddened and she nodded, "Mother, don't worry. I remember everything!"
Luo Yilian sat on the edge of the bed, her beauty becoming more and more breathtaking. She was even prettier than her biological mother, Aunt Qiao, with a pointed chin, skin as white as snow, and black hair that was loosely tied up, which made her neck and sleeves look long. Aunt Qiao looked at her daughter with great satisfaction and said, "With my looks, how can I not be worthy of a good family? Your stepmother, Lin Hairu, is only thinking about marrying into some small families, but I think she is dreaming! Fortunately, your father is not confused. You must find a good family on your own! If you marry into a wealthy family, your mother's back will be straightened, and no one in this house will look down on us."
Luo Yilian lay on her mother's lap, letting her mother comb her hair, and nodded quietly.
*
While the guests were still making a lot of noise, Yining was already so sleepy that he dozed off.
In fact, she had dozed off. Everyone was so nervous in the morning that she woke up too early. It was only when Pearl came in and woke her up twice that the new son-in-law hadn't returned yet.
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