vrcanaries Chapter 146 Trading Yao Yao's Marriage for His Future
Chapter 146 Trading Yao Yao's Marriage for His Future
"Father, what are you doing?"
Yu Ziheng covered his nose and asked in confusion.
Yu Kangjing had two wads of cotton stuffed into his nose and a mask made to block his breathing.
He replied confidently, "Once you officially enter the examination hall, you'll be eating, drinking, and even relieving yourself there. If you're unlucky enough to be assigned to a cell next to the latrine, you'll have to answer the questions while smelling that stench. I just want you to get used to it beforehand."
Yu Ziheng: "...Father, you've really thought this through."
"Don't be too touched. You are my son. If I don't think about you, who will I think about?" Yu Kangjing patted his son's shoulder.
The stench intensified as he approached.
Yu Ziheng couldn't take it anymore and immediately vomited up the breakfast he had just eaten.
Shen Jinzhu, standing to the side, felt distressed and scolded, "That's only necessary for the provincial examination. Ziheng is only taking the provincial examination now, so it's not needed. We'll talk about it next August."
After being reprimanded by his wife, Yu Kangjing realized that she was right and quickly removed the things.
Yu Ziheng thus escaped a calamity.
Shen Jinzhu thought about it and felt that things couldn't continue like this.
My husband has been staying at home all this time, so he can only keep an eye on our son. We still need to get him back into the government as an official.
However, since he was in mourning, his position had already been taken by someone else. Now there are no vacancies in the Court of Judicial Review, so where should my husband go to find a job?
I'll probably have to find someone to help me pull some strings in this matter.
Before she could decide who to contact, an opportunity fell from the sky.
Consort Huo summoned her to the palace.
"I have heard that your husband has finished his mourning period and has not yet found a job. I wonder if he would be willing to return to the Dali Temple?"
"Your Highness, my husband is naturally willing," Shen Jinzhu said, overjoyed.
"I cannot interfere in matters concerning the Dali Temple. But the Duke of Xingguo's mansion can," Consort Huo began to hint.
"Although Yaoyao has recognized Ning Le as her godmother, she is still separated from the Duke of Xingguo's mansion by a distance. If the two families become in-laws, it will be more legitimate for the Duke's mansion to help. Don't you think so?"
The joy on Shen Jinzhu's face vanished instantly, but she still maintained a faint smile.
"I am foolish and ignorant, please enlighten me, Your Highness."
Consort Huo smiled and said, "Ning Le mentioned to me before that she wanted to arrange a marriage between Yao Yao and Yuan Zhi. I think this is a very good idea. Yuan Zhi is the eldest son of the main branch, and the two children are a perfect match, like a golden boy and a jade girl. What do you think of this?"
"I recall that the Duchess once said she wanted to arrange a marriage between Young Master Yuan and my elder brother, the Marquis of Jing'an's eldest daughter. I'm afraid that's inappropriate..." Shen Jinzhu politely declined.
She had already noticed at the last banquet that the old lady and the lady of the Xingguo Duke's mansion were both clueless.
If Yaoyao marries into that family, she will definitely suffer.
Although she wanted her husband to be reinstated and return to work at the Dali Temple, she was unwilling to sacrifice her daughter's marriage.
"Last time it was just Yun Qing joking. This time, she personally went to the palace to ask me, saying that our Yaoyao is too good and she wants this daughter-in-law."
"Don't worry, I'm the matchmaker, and it's Ning Le's idea. The Duke of Xingguo's mansion is also very happy. As long as you agree, no one can take this marriage away from you." Consort Huo didn't notice her refusal and smiled.
"Your Highness is absolutely right. However, I cannot make decisions regarding Yaoyao's marriage; everything must be discussed with my husband." Shen Jinzhu declined again.
Consort Huo's face darkened.
She had thought that Shen Jinzhu would be happy to agree to the marriage, but she was surprised that Shen Jinzhu was unwilling.
They even made excuses to refuse.
"If that's the case, then go back and ask your husband. If he wants to be reinstated, how should he choose? I don't need to teach him, do I?"
"Yes. I will certainly convey Your Majesty's words." Shen Jinzhu replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.
Thanks to the training the old lady had arranged for her before.
She made no mistakes in her etiquette in the palace, so Consort Huo had no chance to cause trouble.
Watching Shen Jinzhu's departing figure, she ordered someone to summon Lady He Yunqing, the wife of the Duke of Xingguo.
"You can tell, can't you? They might not agree to this marriage." Consort Huo couldn't help but snap at her niece-in-law.
"I told you not to mess around back then, and that Yuanzhi and Yaoyao should just get engaged. You didn't want to, and you messed it up. Now you're begging me like this, aren't you just being pathetic?"
He Yunqing's face turned bright red.
But she couldn't talk back, so she could only lower her head and listen to the scolding.
After Consort Huo finished scolding, she awkwardly spoke up:
"Auntie is right. Yunqing made a foolish mistake and didn't listen to your teachings. She will definitely not make the same mistake again. Please take good care of this marriage, Auntie."
Seeing her like this, Consort Huo didn't bother to continue throwing a tantrum.
She waved her hand and said, "Alright, Yuanzhi is my own grand-nephew, so I will naturally take his marriage to heart."
“Back then, you complained that Yaoyao wasn’t the Marquis’s biological child and that her adoptive mother was a merchant’s daughter. Now that Yaoyao has become Ning Le’s adopted daughter and is the apprentice of General Lu and Judge Zheng, she’s more than a match for Yuanzhi. You’re not allowed to be picky anymore.”
Consort Huo glanced at her sideways.
"Yes, my niece-in-law will definitely treat Yaoyao like her own daughter." He Yunqing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
……
When Shen Jinzhu returned home, she felt that it was strange that Consort Huo had suddenly brought up this matter.
Several years have passed since the last time the children were betrothed, so why did Consort Huo suddenly bring up the old matter again?
They even insisted on arranging a marriage between Yaoyao and the second young master of the Xingguo Duke's Mansion.
She quickly called her husband to discuss the matter.
Upon hearing his wife's words, Yu Kangjing blurted out, "What? You want me to trade Yaoyao's marriage for my future? I don't agree!"
"What does the Imperial Concubine take me for? A scoundrel who sells his daughter for personal gain?"
Yu Kangjing became increasingly angry as he spoke.
"Husband, calm down, don't be anxious." Shen Jinzhu tugged at his sleeve and made him sit down.
“Of course I know you’re not that kind of person, which is why I politely declined the offer from the Imperial Concubine. After all, Yaoyao now has to call her maternal grandmother. It wouldn’t be good to strain our relationship.”
"I just find this very strange. He Yunqing is so arrogant. Even though Yaoyao is now General Lu's apprentice, it shouldn't be enough to make her change her mind and decide to marry Yaoyao off to her as her daughter-in-law so soon."
Yu Kang nodded.
This is indeed strange.
After discussing it for a long time without coming to a conclusion, the two simply ordered someone to inquire whether something had happened at the Duke of Xingguo's residence.
Their inquiry actually yielded some useful information.
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