Chapter 776: Palace Examination
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Old Master Lin lowered his voice. “The County Head of Shaoyi has already pointed out a clear path for us. When we return to Zhejiang, with a big backer like Lord Ye, it won’t be a pity to give up on managing Quanzhou.”
That was the governor of the entire southeast coast. With such a big relationship, what business could he not do?
Madam Yan agreed deeply. “I heard that Lord Ye is on good terms with Yue Fei from the North…”
Old Master Lin’s heart skipped a beat as he thought of something. “Cousin Zhou of the County Head of Shaoyi is also an aide to the King of the North. He’s very valued by him.”
The two of them looked at each other and saw the fire in each other’s eyes.
Logically speaking, the Lin family’s medicinal herb business was ranked among the top in the country. They had a close relationship with the Imperial Court and had a lot of connections.
However, who knew that the Lin family was in the vortex of business and political struggle? How could they have a good life?
Who in the palace or the government could they afford to offend?
Wouldn’t they all have to welcome them with a smile!
However, the court was in turmoil at all times, and the higher-ups were fighting to the death. The ones who suffered the most were the people below. How to make the next move depended on whether their connections were strong enough!
After all, one had no choice in the martial world!
Ye Hanyuan and King Yue Fei were both important figures with military power.
Yu Youyao got into the carriage.
Xie Jingliu took out a bag of green fruits from somewhere, opened the oil paper bag outside, and poured it into a plate. “All merchants know how to follow the trend. First, they send themselves to the Lin family, then they hang a piece of meat like Ye Hanyuan in front of the Lin family. Behind Ye Hanyuan, the person standing is King Yue Fei. You lured the Lin family into King Yue Fei’s pirate ship step by step. If the Lin family is like this, the Yan family must be the same. Without any effort, you found two strong supporters for King Yue Fei.”
Yu Youyao picked up a piece of green fruit and ate it with relish. “Businessmen value profit over righteousness. We have to let them know who’s behind me before they’ll be determined to cooperate with me. I’ve made money, and King Yue Fei has obtained a huge supply of medicinal herbs. Not only have the Lin and Yan families benefited, but they also have a strong backing. This is a good situation of killing three birds with one stone. It’s a win-win situation for the businessmen.”
Xie Jingliu chuckled. “You’re clearly the young miss of an official, but you’re becoming more and more like a shrewd businessman.”
Not only was she shrewd, but she also had a broad perspective.
Yu Youyao pouted. “Who said that the young miss of an official can’t do business?”
Xie Jingliu thought about it. Although there were many restrictions on women, there was indeed no explicit rule that women could not do business. “I think you’re doing great.”
Before the troops moved, the rations went first.
Zhejiang was near the sea, so it was very convenient to travel by sea. Shuchuan was connected to Shaanxi, and it was close to the North. King Yue Fei already had the advantage.
After returning to the residence, Yu Youyao looked for Zhou Yonghe and asked him to handle all the matters related to the Yan family in Shuchuan.
In the next few days, the benevolent act of the County Head of Shaoyi buying medicinal herbs to relieve the disaster spread like wildfire. The Lin family also reduced the supply of medicinal herbs to other merchants and tried their best to gather them.
The entire Quanzhou was paying attention to this matter. The Xie family was slacking off and quietly transferring their a.s.sets to buy businesses. They were busy.
When the news reached the capital, the palace examination rankings were also released.
As expected, Song Mingzhao was appointed as the top scholar of this subject, and his reputation soared.
This should have been a happy day, but the entire Zhenguo Marquis Residence was shrouded in a terrifying gloom.
The atmosphere in the Glorious Fortune Residence was even more intense.
The Marquis of Zhenguo, Song Xiuqi, looked at Song Mingzhao in disbelief, his round eyes filled with anger. “Unfilial son, what did you say just now? Say it again!”
Old Madam Song slammed her teacup on the tea table. “If you have anything to say, say it properly. Don’t make a fuss in my room.”
However, the Marquis of Zhenguo was still angry. He pointed at Song Mingzhao and trembled. “Mother, didn’t you hear what he said just now? He said that he won’t be entering Hanlin and had already handed a memorial to the Imperial Court.”
Old Madam Song looked at Song Mingzhao in silence.
Song Mingzhao lowered his head, straightened his back, and knelt on the ground in silence. The young man who used to listen to his family suddenly revealed his unruly side.
The Marquis of Zhenguo was fl.u.s.tered and exasperated. He kept scolding Song Mingzhao, “Unless he enters Hanlin, he won’t be able to enter the cabinet. Mother, he is cutting off his own future.”
Seeing that his finger was about to poke Song Mingzhao’s forehead, Old Madam Song frowned. “Alright, calm down too.”
The Marquis of Zhenguo’s eyes turned red with anger. He raised his voice and said, “Calm down. How can I calm down? The Zhenguo Marquis Residence has nurtured him for 18 years. Now that his wings have hardened, he’s starting to learn that disobedient and unfilial behavior. What future can he have if he’s released? Many people want to enter the cabinet but don’t have a chance. But what about him?!”
Old Madam Song said angrily, “Shut up.”
The Marquis of Zhen held his breath and clenched his fists tightly. Only then could he barely suppress his anger.
The room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
After a while, Old Madam Song looked at Song Mingzhao. “Get up and talk. How can a family kneel on the ground at the drop of a hat?”
Song Mingzhao knelt on the ground and did not move.
Old Madam Song sighed and did not insist. “Why don’t you want to be in the Hanlin Academy? What were you thinking?”
Song Mingzhao lowered his head and said hoa.r.s.ely, “Grandmother has also heard the news. Eldest Miss Yu has gone to Quanzhou to recuperate. A concubine’s son of Lord Jia of the prefecture actually disregarded Eldest Miss Yu’s ident.i.ty and family background and openly teased Eldest Miss Yu on the streets. Eldest Miss Yu’s memorial has already been sent to the Empress Dowager. When Lord Yu found out about this, he was even more furious and wanted to join forces with the Imperial Court to impeach Lord Jia for more than ten crimes.”
Old Madam Song suddenly had a feeling that she was right.
Song Mingzhao was extremely indifferent and distant from others. Only Yu Youyao could affect his mind and make him irrational.
Eldest Miss Yu’s memorial had been sent to the capital a few days ago.
Along with her memorial, there was also news that Eldest Miss Yu and the Lin family had bought a batch of medicinal herbs and were preparing to send them to the North to support the imperial court in disaster relief.
This action affected the hearts of everyone in the court.
The Marquis of Zhen questioned angrily, “What has this got to do with you asking to be released?”
Song Mingzhao said, “As soon as the news of Quanzhou reached the capital, I looked for Lord Yu and borrowed the files about Lord Jia from the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs.”
The Marquis of Zhen couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong with his files?”
Song Mingzhao shook his head. “Lord Jia is a scholar on two lists. His ranking in the palace examination isn’t high. As he’s a scholar from a poor family, he doesn’t have any connections or money. He was placed in a small county office in Fujian and worked hard until he became an official in Quanzhou. There’s no especially outstanding talent in his files. He’s mostly evaluated as diligent. He’s been an official for more than 20 years. It’s not a problem for him to survive until he reaches the government office of the prefecture.”