Chapter 360 Spending the New Year Alone
"Madam, I've said everything I need to say. It would be much more effective for you to ask Father than to ask me about this matter."
Ji Shi was determined not to help, so no matter what Old Madam Ji said, she wouldn't budge.
Gu Shuyan spat out the fishbone in her mouth and then slowly said, "Mother, Cousin Wenyu is also your nephew. Why don't you go back and mention it to Father and see if you can think of a solution!"
Gu Shuyan's sudden speech caught everyone off guard, and even the men's section fell silent for a moment.
The people over there had all practiced martial arts, so their hearing was naturally much better than that of ordinary people. When they heard Gu Shuyan's words, they all showed puzzled expressions.
Only Yun Yichen's lips unconsciously curled upwards. As expected, the little wife is the most cunning. She doesn't hold back at all when it comes to tricking people.
"Shu'er!"
Madam Ji gave Gu Shuyan a look, signaling her to be quiet. Gu Shuyan, however, gave her a reassuring smile, "Mother knows that Father is worried about making things difficult for his daughter, but we're all family, so we should help each other out. Isn't Brother Wenjin currently at the Ministry of War? The two brothers can help each other out if they're together."
Gu Shuyan's last words made Madam Ji hesitate. She looked in Ji Wenjin's direction, and finally, under the anxious gazes of Old Madam Ji and Second Madam Ji, Madam Ji nodded.
"Alright, alright, I'll grant your request this time. But the Ministry of War isn't a place anyone can enter. Besides, all appointments are made by His Majesty himself. Even if Wen Yu gets in, I'm afraid he'll only be able to start from the very bottom."
Ji's words were actually directed at Old Madam Ji and Second Madam Ji, serving as a heads-up to prevent them from blaming her later if they were dissatisfied.
"That's natural, that's natural."
Madam Ji quickly chimed in, saying that as long as one gets into the Ministry of War, with the old general's connections, how could one not climb the ranks?
Ji Wenjin is already a third-rank vice minister. With Wen Yu's intelligence and talent, she will surely surpass Ji Wenjin and become the Minister of War in the future.
It has to be said that the woman's thinking was simple. Putting aside the fact that Ji Wenyu's character was completely bad, his brain was no better than Ji Er's. He still wanted to become the Minister of War. He would have a hard time even getting a fifth-rank official position.
"In that case, I will mention it to the Marquis when we return to the manor, and if there is any news, I will send someone to deliver the message."
Madam Ji reluctantly agreed. With her goal achieved, the old lady was naturally overjoyed, and even Madam Ji the Second couldn't hide her happiness.
"Elder sister, this toast is for you."
As she spoke, Madam Ji the Second took her wine cup and walked up to Madam Ji. In fact, because of her low social status, Madam Ji the Second rarely took the initiative to get close to Madam Ji.
She wouldn't be so affectionate today if it weren't related to her son's career.
"Shu'er, eat more."
Madam Ji was too lazy to look at the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, so she simply pulled Gu Shuyan aside and ate her own food.
After having dinner at the General's Mansion, Madam Ji bid farewell with her three children. Before leaving, Madam Ji specially brought some fruit for Ouyang Jing, saying it was from their hometown.
Once inside the carriage, Madam Ji looked at Gu Shuyan and asked, "Shuyan, do you have any plans to get your mother to agree to help Wenyu?"
Madam Ji knew her daughter fairly well; she wouldn't suddenly ask her to help Ji Wenyu. Moreover, this was clearly not a good assignment.
"Mother, just agree. The person who will help you will definitely not be Father."
Gu Shuyan smiled mysteriously, and when Ji asked her again, she said nothing, only telling Ji to wait and see the result.
Following closely behind the Gu family's carriage, Yun Yichen rode at a distance on horseback.
Gu Renjie initially ignored the other party, but his second brother was slow to react! Seeing Yun Yichen behind him, he deliberately slowed down and walked alongside Yun Yichen.
"Brother Yun, are you spending the New Year alone in the capital?"
Previously at the General's Mansion, everyone either discussed court affairs or composed poems, and no one mentioned family matters. Now that there were only the two of them, Gu Yingjie inquired about the current Grand Secretary's family background.
"Um!"
Yun Yichen nodded slightly, which was taken as an admission.
"Then why not go home for the Chinese New Year? Or bring your elders over?"
Having already risen to the position of Grand Secretary, Gu Yingjie didn't believe that Yun Yichen couldn't spend the New Year with his family if he wanted to.
Looking at Gu Yingjie's inquisitive expression and the innocent look in his eyes, Yun Yichen inexplicably replied, "I have no family."
"Huh? You don't have any family?"
Gu Yingjie was somewhat bewildered. The legendary genius prime minister was a person from an extremely wealthy family who had received a good education since childhood, but today he heard him say that he had no family.
If anyone else had said those words, Gu Yingjie might have punched them, but it was the Grand Secretary himself who said them.
"Yes, no family, or no parents."
Yun Yichen made no attempt to hide the fact that he had no parents, speaking as casually as if he were talking about someone else. Gu Renjie, who was in front of him, couldn't help but turn around and glance at Yun Yichen. When he turned back, a hint of emotion appeared on his face.
"Yingjie, stop asking these kinds of questions."
Gu Renjie's tone was gentler than he himself had realized. Gu Renjie was oblivious to it, but Yun Yichen, who was so perceptive, naturally noticed it.
"Then let's talk about something else!"
Gu Yingjie nodded, then his mind raced and he said, "How about we arrange a couple of games tomorrow? I saw my cousin and Brother Yun playing chess today, and it's been making me itchy to play too."
Playing against a master is every chess player's dream. Gu Yingjie's chess skills are not bad, so he naturally hopes to get some pointers.
“As long as the young master doesn’t mind, I’m happy to accompany you.”
Yun Yichen smiled calmly, but his gaze fell on the carriage.
"Of course I don't mind."
Although Gu Renjie really didn't want to say this, he reluctantly agreed because of Yun Yichen's earlier comment about having no parents.
During the conversation, the group soon returned to the gate of the Marquis of Yi'an's residence.
When Yun Yichen arrived at the gate of the Yun residence, he did not dismount and go directly back to the Yun residence. Instead, he followed the two people to the gate of the Marquis's residence.
"Brother Yun? Are you planning to play a game tonight? It's getting late, and if they play normally, it should only take about one game."
Upon hearing this, Yun Yichen shook his head, but stepped forward and bowed to Madam Ji, saying, "I am Yun Yichen, and I apologize for disturbing you so late at night, Aunt."
Yun Yichen's movements were fluid and graceful, and his humble attitude was completely different from the Prime Minister in everyone's impression.
Upon hearing this, Lady Ji was slightly taken aback at first, then seemed to understand something and nodded to him, "Let's go back to the room first! I'll send someone to invite the Marquis right away."
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