Taken aback by the abrupt question, Jung Byung-kyun instinctively replied:
"Yang Hongnong, the grandson of the Duke of Guan, is currently the Director of Studies at the Imperial Academy;"
There is also Wei Zhaoming, the heir of the Duke of Yun, who is the foremost chess player in the court.
Both men were outstanding members of noble families, and their social standing was also comparable.
But now... I fear there may be further turmoil.
His poor daughter's marriage plans had already been affected by the birthday party incident.
Everyone else's name was on the list this time, but Huiyin's name was not. Everyone could see that this was His Majesty's attitude.
Zheng Mingyuan closed his eyes slightly and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the smooth rosewood armrest.
It made a dull, thumping sound, as if striking Zheng Bingjun's heart.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, his gaze icy and resolute: "Choose one from this year's examination candidates."
"What to choose?" Zheng Bingjun didn't react for a moment.
“Choose a poor but talented scholar from a respectable background to be Huiyin’s husband.”
Zheng Mingyuan's voice was flat and even, yet every word was like an ice pick.
"Father! You mustn't!"
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Jung Byung-kyun was so startled he almost jumped up, his face drained of all color.
"I am the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zheng's family, and I am of the highest rank and most precious!"
How could I... how could I marry a poor, uneducated scholar?
This is an utter disgrace! Not only is Huiyin's life ruined, but how can the Zheng family maintain its dignity?
Father, please reconsider!
Zheng Mingyuan ignored his vehement words and continued talking to himself.
"To pass the imperial examination and become a successful candidate in the provincial examination is a great achievement."
With the support and backing of my Zheng State Duke's Mansion, I guarantee he will enter the Hanlin Academy or one of the Six Ministries within three years.
It was by no means difficult to attain a position among the nobles and high-ranking officials in the imperial court.
He paused, his tone surprisingly calm.
"If Huiyin marries into a lower social class, she can make her own decisions about her marriage."
At that time, the mansion will select several experienced old nannies and assign a team of reliable guards to accompany the bride, so she will not suffer any grievances in the inner quarters.
No matter how successful her husband becomes in the future, he will never escape the grasp of the Zheng family.
Zheng Mingyuan's gaze seemed to pierce through what was in front of him, seeing into the distance, carrying an almost cruel clarity:
"A wealthy heiress and a poor scholar met when they were both in humble circumstances. Huiyin admired his talent and was willing to give up her studies to follow him."
Such anecdotes are worthy of being praised by the people, enhancing the reputation of Huizhou's officials and bringing honor to the entire nation's public institutions.
Jung Byung-kwan was struck dumb, frozen in place.
His father's words were like a dull knife, repeatedly cutting into his heart.
What "all the reputation of Huiyin" is probably just for the sake of the Duke's mansion's prestige!
Sacrificing a daughter for the family... what a heavy price to pay!
His lips moved, but no sound came out; a tremendous sense of humiliation and powerlessness almost overwhelmed him.
The study fell silent again, with only the occasional crackling of the lamp wick.
However, Zheng Mingyuan had not finished speaking.
He slowly raised his eyelids, his icy gaze fixed firmly on his eldest son.
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling, sinister quality that sent shivers down one's spine.
"And also, your wife, Cui..."
“Father!” Zheng Bingjun suddenly looked up, his eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins, and cried out in a broken voice.
That was his first wife, the legal wife who bore him his legitimate son and daughter and managed the household affairs for many years!
"What are you yelling about!" Zheng Mingyuan slammed his hand on the armrest, his voice suddenly rising in pitch.
With an undeniable thunderous power, it shook the entire study, causing the lamplight to flicker violently.
"Either make a decision soon, or..." He stared intently at Zheng Bingjun, enunciating each word as if delivering a verdict.
"You shall relinquish the title of heir apparent to the Duke of Zheng, and the title shall be inherited by your third brother, Bingrui!"
He leaned forward slightly, an immense pressure looming over Zheng Bingjun like a mountain, his icy words like an ultimatum:
"You decide how to choose."
Zheng Bingjun felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and all the blood in his body seemed to freeze at that moment.
He suddenly lowered his head, almost breaking his neck.
In the low shadows, on faces unseen by anyone, muscles twisted, contorted, as ferocious as demons crawling out of hell!
His clenched fist trembled violently from extreme anger and humiliation, his knuckles making a teeth-grinding cracking sound.
The fingernails had already pierced the palm, and the blood seeping out flowed between the fingers.
It dripped silently onto the cold, blue brick floor, spreading a small patch of dark red.
...
Zheng Bingjun stepped heavily into the main house in the backyard.
The room was filled with the finest pear-scented incense, its usually sweet and calming aroma now only making him feel suffocated and annoyed.
His wife, Cui Yunxiu, sat restlessly in a rosewood chair by the window, her fingers unconsciously twisting a plain handkerchief.
Upon seeing him enter the room, he immediately stood up and rushed forward, his voice filled with barely suppressed panic and urgency:
"My husband, you're finally back!"
Rumors are swirling outside, everyone's saying... everyone's saying Huiyin isn't on the list?
What on earth is going on? Tell me, this can't be real!
She gripped Zheng Bingjun's sleeve tightly, her knuckles turning white, her beautiful eyes filled with unbelievable fear.
Zheng Bingjun wearily lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the several trusted maids and servants standing beside him, his voice hoarse and low:
"Get out of here and close the door. No one is to approach without my permission."
"yes."
The servants held their breath and quickly withdrew.
The heavy, carved wooden door creaked shut, separating the inside from the outside.
Only the couple remained in the room, and the air seemed to freeze.
Zheng Bingjun finally met Cui Yunxiu's anxious gaze and slowly nodded, each word as if soaked in ice water:
"Yes, Huiyin is not on the list."
"But... how could this be!"
Cui Yunxiu felt as if she had been struck by a heavy blow. Her body swayed, and her face instantly drained of color. She murmured in a daze:
"How could this be... This is impossible..."
Even the Third Princess had praised Huiyin's talent.
Why isn't she on the list? Is there a mistake?
"Husband, are you sure you're not mistaken?!" A last glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes.
"It's a fait accompli, the die is cast."
Zheng Bingjun's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth, as he helped his wife, who was almost unsteady on her feet.
He forcefully pressed her back into the chair, looking down into her panicked eyes.
"There's no point in overthinking. You just need to know one thing: the root of this matter lies in Huiyin offending the Sixth Princess at her birthday banquet."
The result of today is the cause of tomorrow.
"How dare she!" Cui Yunxiu abruptly broke free from Zheng Bingjun's grasp, her voice shrill.
"What makes a princess who acts erratically and has no foundation have the right to do so?"
How dare she humiliate the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zheng's mansion and the grandson of the Cui family?
Father…yes! Father!
She seemed to have found her pillar of support, and a fierce light flashed in her eyes.
"I will write a letter right away and send it back to Linhai Prefecture as fast as I can."
"I urge my father and elder brother to think of a way, to use all their connections, to ensure that Huiyin does not suffer such a humiliating disgrace!"
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