Chapter 425: Mother and Son Confrontation
"A son pays his respects to his mother."
"Hurry up and get up. You and your mother are not here with other people. Why are you being so polite? Come and sit down!"
Mrs. Qin, Mrs. Xie, rarely saw her son come back to see her on a day other than the first or fifteenth day of the lunar month. The happy old lady's smile on her plump face became even more kind.
"Thank you, mother."
He stood up and sat down at the bottom, and Madam Qin hurriedly asked someone to bring good tea.
"This was sent over a few days ago by your cousin from the Xie family, saying it was a replacement for the New Year's gift. Oh, last year's tea harvest was poor, and many families couldn't collect much good quality tea.
As your mother, I thought my son liked Buyehou the most, so I sent people to search for it everywhere. Unexpectedly, your cousin also remembered your preference and sent some here specially.
It can be seen that he also has intentions.
Come and try it, and see if it’s different from before.”
Qin Zhenning put the wooden box aside as he was told, then picked up the teacup. However, he did not bring it to his lips. Instead, he opened the lid and looked at the tea color slowly spreading in the cup.
"I no longer like drinking tea. Life is already extremely bitter, and I'm too lazy to add to the bitter aftertaste. I'd rather have something sweet."
He gently put down the teacup, and a very faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"If God doesn't want to give me some sweetness, then I can only find ways to make myself taste the sweetness. Mother, do you think I am right or wrong to think so?"
The smile in the old lady's eyes was also fixed by her son's words, and turned into an indescribable sadness. Looking at her son, who had just turned 40 and whose temples were already covered with frost, she whispered with heartache.
“Yes, although this tea can refresh you, it is not a good thing after all. It is better to drink less.
It's better to eat something sweet. Even though I'm so old, I still like to eat some candy or fruit. You're young and have good teeth, so it's not a bad thing to eat a few more bites.
Just follow your own heart."
As long as it doesn't involve the Qin family's roots, the lady still loves her own son very much.
"Thank you for your consideration, mother."
Qin Zhenning nodded slightly, lowered his eyes to look at the patterns on the teacup lid, and his voice still sounded unhurried.
"Actually, I came here today because I have something else to discuss with you. If you have made a decision, please call Qin Xiaochen over later."
Hearing her son's words, which hinted at ill intentions, Madam Qin's heart tightened, and her right hand involuntarily took off the string of sandalwood Buddhist beads from her wrist, and fiddled with them unconsciously, her voice becoming slightly tense.
"Tell me about it first."
"It's not a secret. It's just that the eldest son of the Ji family was involved in a rebellion a while ago, and Prime Minister Ji was implicated. Ji Xun has just apologized to the Emperor and Empress and resigned from his position. Now the position of Prime Minister is vacant."
The Buddhist beads in the lady's hand turned faster. She pursed her lips majestically, and there was no trace of the motherly smile that had crept up to the corners of her wrinkled eyebrows and eyes.
"Third brother, there's nothing left in this family to give away to pave the way for you. If you want to fight for that position, you'll have to find a way yourself. If that doesn't work, you might as well..."
After thinking about it, she finally didn't say the words that she shouldn't have said. But no one knows a mother better than her son, so how could Qin Zhenning not understand her mother's unfinished words?
A hint of sarcasm appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"You misunderstood. I don't have the face to ask for this position. It's because the Emperor thought I was a decent official, and the Empress and Prince An also felt there were no other suitable candidates, so they suggested I give it a try."
The words were spoken modestly, but the tone carried a hint of arrogance. Since the conversation had already begun, it was time to speak frankly.
“The Emperor appointed me as Prime Minister for several reasons.
First, we have a teacher-student relationship, so I am one of his own, and he feels at ease using me.
Secondly, my achievements as an official should be quite remarkable, and I can be considered a capable official, so he can feel at ease.
Thirdly, although I come from an aristocratic family, I never open the door to officialdom for their children, which can be considered an advantage, and he is happy to use it."
“Is this a good thing?
You have been able to be promoted to the position of prime minister after just a few years of official career, just like your father was. This truly makes me, your mother, extremely happy and relieved!
Why are you so sad now?"
The old lady was delighted but also puzzled when she saw her son, who had been very opinionated since childhood, finally raise his eyes and look at her.
"I didn't say this isn't a good thing. If I could become the Prime Minister of Qin, it would be of great benefit to my daughter and grandson.
But mother, don't be too happy too soon, this may not be a good thing for the Qin family."
"Why?"
"Because I will never seek profit for a noble family!"
The lady's expression hardened, and her old eyes stared at her son.
"But third brother, you are from an aristocratic family."
"So, mother, what do you think we should do?
For example, my cousin traveled thousands of miles to send this little tea here. Do you think he really values me, a cousin he has never met, or is he interested in my current position as Minister of Personnel?"
Qin Zhenning stretched out his right fingertips, picked up the lid of the teacup and tapped it gently. The crisp sound of porcelain seemed to strike the hearts of both parties with every tap.
"If I remember correctly, your family has a story about a child prodigy who, by now, should be old enough to enter the government. Mother, am I mistaken?"
The lady sighed.
"It's only natural for relatives to help each other. Even if it weren't for my mother's family's favor, the Qin family also owed a favor to the Xie family during the turmoil. Now it's just a small favor for you to recommend me, so why not help?"
"Of course I can't help!
What you said about Qin being indebted to Xie is indeed true, but later when I was in charge of the household, Xie wrote to us asking for a grain route for emergency assistance. Didn’t I agree to it?
When I handed the Qin family over to Qin Xiaochen, I made it very clear. Now that I've handed everything over, I'll just be Qin Zhenning and no longer the Qin family's Yushu.
Why should I repay the favors owed to the Qin family?"
Qin Zhenning threw down the cup lid, put away the sneer on the corner of his mouth, and his expression was calm but determined.
"This loophole must not be opened. I, Qin, am the Minister of Personnel of the Dayu court, not a Minister of Personnel from an aristocratic family!
When interests conflict, I can't help but help my daughter. I know how difficult her current path is, and no one cares more about her than me as a father.
Just like you did your utmost to protect the Qin family and Qin Xiaochen, I will also do my utmost to protect my children when I ascend to the position of Prime Minister in the future.
The power of the prime minister and the power of the emperor cannot conflict with each other. Disharmony between the emperor and his ministers will lead to factional strife in the court. Dayu is just a ship that has just set sail and cannot tolerate the slightest storm.
Must be stable!
Otherwise, my daughter would have drowned.
This is something I absolutely cannot allow!
If there is anything inappropriate in my words, I hope you will forgive me, mother."
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