Chapter 1082: Side Story 2: Forget It!
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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Song Mingzhao was stopped outside Jinzhou Pa.s.s. He had no choice but to return to Xiangping and meet Yu Shande.
Yu Shande had been entrusted by his clan to come to Jinzhou. Elder Yu had arranged for a bunch of clearance doc.u.ments to be sent to him before he successfully entered Jinzhou.
Yu Youyao only nodded. Most of the immortals of the Wanjun Mountain were helping out in the frontline army. It made sense for Song Mingzhao to come to Jinzhou to seek treatment.
Even though he had made it so clear, she still did not understand. Yin Huaixi rubbed his forehead and chuckled. “After you completed your mourning period, the news of the previous Empress Dowager bestowing a marriage to us completely spread. Then, Song Mingzhao was summoned by his family and returned to the Xi’an family.”
At that time, their marriage was not a secret in the court.
The Zhenguo Marquis Residence also knew very well that only Song Mingzhao had been hidden in ancient times. The Song family probably did not expect that their eldest son and grandson, whom their family had high hopes for, would actually be a fool. It was not easy for them to escape from Quanzhou with the help of their family. Not only did they not return to the capital, but they also went to Liaodong from the south.
There was a thousand miles between the south and north.
They had to spend a lot of effort.
If the marriage had not spread, Song Mingzhao might not have returned to Xi’an easily.
Yu Youyao completely lost her appet.i.te. She glanced at him. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Yin Huaixi was stunned. Yes, what was he trying to say?
Could it be that he had to tell his wife that there was a man who was deeply in love with her and chased after her, wanting to poach her? What should she do?!
Forget it!
Wasn’t he looking for trouble?
Yu Youyao did not think too much about it. She had not interacted much with Song Mingzhao. Not to mention the nightmare, she did not have any prejudice against him. Naturally, she did not expect Song Mingzhao to be interested in her.
Hence, she deliberated for a moment. “Song Mingzhao is the top scholar of the previous dynasty. He has a position in the Hanlin Academy and is very valued by Yu Zongshen. He’s a talented person. Putting aside the nightmare, I don’t have any prejudice against him and acknowledge his talent. Other than being friends with him for a while, I don’t have much to do with him. Whether you employ him or not depends on you. You don’t have to test me.”
She was worried that Yin Huaixi would have a grudge against Song Mingzhao because of the nightmare and was unwilling to employ him, so her words were very pertinent.
Song Mingzhao’s talent had already shown signs of showing during the flood in Zhejiang. He could handle such a complicated situation in Zhejiang with ease and even handled the conflict between Zhejiang Qingliu and the capital of Zhejiang. Later on, Song Xiuwen was in jail, but he had never been convicted. The Zhenguo Marquis Residence was not affected at all.
Of course, Yin Huaixi was also involved.
However, it was also true that Song Mingzhao had helped Yu Zongzheng escape from Zhejiang unscathed.
It was indeed a pity to give up such a talent.
Yin Huaixi said, “I flipped through Song Mingzhao’s examination paper back then. There are more than 3,000 words in the entire paper, but every word is a gem. He’s a capable minister who can manage officials. If he can be used well, he and Yu Shande will be able to manage officials and complement each other. As the emperor, I’ll be much less worried.”
At that time, he would have more time to accompany Yu Youyao.
What was governance?
The purpose of governance in the world was to manage the officials. Not only did he want to employ Song Mingzhao, but he also wanted to nurture him to be the next Grand Secretary.
Yu Youyao nodded. “It’s your decision.”
Yin Huaixi chuckled. “The Song family has returned to the capital. You used to have a good relationship with the women of the Song family. Do you want to summon them into the palace to meet them?”
Putting Song Mingzhao aside, Old Madam Song treated Yu Youyao very well.
Yu Youyao had the same intention. “Call Grandmother Song and Auntie Song into the palace for a meeting with them.”
Yin Huaixi smiled and did not mention this. He picked up some sour bamboo shoots with his chopsticks and handed them to her.
He was not a magnanimous person. It was not bad for him to admire Song Mingzhao’s talent, but at the thought of his feelings for Yu Youyao, he couldn’t help but feel a lump in his throat.
Therefore, even though Song Mingzhao had been in the capital for a while, Yin Huaixi had never made up his mind to employ him.
Now, it seemed that he was thinking too much.
Using Song Mingzhao was more beneficial than harmful.
After the Marquis of Zhenguo of the previous dynasty, Song Xiuqi, died for the country, Old Madam Song made the decision to separate the four branches. Old Madam Song followed the first branch.
This time, Old Madam Song had brought the first and third branches back to the capital. This was because the original ancestral residence of the Marquis of Zhenguo had been bestowed by the previous dynasty’s Zhou Gaozu. Now that the Great Zhao was newly established and the new emperor had ascended the throne, the previous residence could no longer be lived in. The Song family could only live in a courtyard that they had previously bought in the capital and wait for the imperial court’s edict.
They waited for half a month.
Song Mingzhao looked for Yu Shande to gather information.
Yu Shande was very confident in Song Mingzhao. He patted his shoulder and said, “Brother, don’t worry. You’re Mr. Xian Yun’s disciple. There are rarely any great talents in the world. After the new emperor ascends the throne, he’ll take in scholars and speak kindly. It’s the clearest. Wait a little longer. I think there’ll be news soon.”
His words were sincere, so Song Mingzhao naturally appreciated his kindness, but he actually did not find out anything.
When he returned home, he told his grandmother.
Old Madam Song’s expression was solemn. “He’s a virtuous person. If there’s any news about you in the court, it’s impossible for him not to reveal it at all. From what he’s saying, it seems like there’s no news at all…”
The Song and Yu families were family friends and in-laws. This time, the Yu family had entered the capital together with the first and third branches of the Song family. Due to this relationship, the Yu Clan had helped a lot after they went to the capital.
Yu Shande was the Grand Secretary of the East Pavilion and was in the center of power. If the court chose a capable scholar, the cabinet would definitely agree. Mingzhao had returned to the capital for so long and had also sent a letter to the Imperial Court. With Mingzhao’s talent, there should be news from the cabinet.
Song Mingzhao coughed lightly. “The emperor should have suppressed it.”
Old Madam Song’s eyes turned red. She understood what he meant and felt terrible.
Her grandson was only 23 years old. He was not old yet, but his black hair was mixed with silver at the temples and was gray. The once n.o.ble and handsome young master of an aristocratic family had also become thin.
The immortal of Mount Wanjun had given him a medicine called the Essence Enhancing Pill. Mingzhao’s health had improved a lot. In the past few years, he had not suffered from heart disease often, but his body seemed to have lost weight.
Mingzhao liked Yao Yao. It was so obvious that it was impossible for the emperor not to notice.
It was really a sin!
When Old Madam Song thought of Yu Youyao, tears rushed out of her eyes. “Since you’ve decided to return to the capital, put away your thoughts. After two years, I’ll carefully find another marriage for you. I won’t let you suffer…”
Song Mingzhao lowered his eyes. “We’ll see!”
His tone was very calm, and he couldn’t hide his perfunctoriness. Old Madam Song cried silently.
The room was silent for a moment.
At this moment, Madam Zhu rushed into the house with a happy expression. “Matriarch Mingzhao, someone from the palace has come. They said that the Empress wants to summon us.”
The Marquis of Zhenguo’s wife was from the Zhu family in Hebei. Her father had once been a general under Duke Duan and was guarding the Rehe area. He was a third-grade official. Thus, she was the daughter of a general.
When Thief Liang rebelled, the Zhu family entered the capital to seek refuge with the Marquis of Zhen. After Hebei fell, Father Zhu died in battle, and the Zhu family fled north with the Song family.