The Empress Dowager smiled slightly.
"I knew you were teasing , let’s go."
"Yes."
Then the Fourth Prince Consort spoke to the Emperor and Lin Wanyi.
"I shall take my leave now."
"Hmm, take care, Mother."
"I bid farewell."
"I take my leave."
Consort Qian and Princess Ming Ruo also left Ruiyang Pavilion.
The Emperor knew that as long as he was present, the Lin and Dong families remained quite restrained.
So he addressed the Fourth Prince, saying,
"I heard there are a few new plays, and surely Fourth Prince Uncle would love to watch them. Let accompany you, so that the Imperial Consort and her family can have a good chat."
"I humbly accept your kindness, Your Majesty."
Then the Emperor turned to Lin Wanyi and said,
"For dinner, I will not return. After seeing off Fourth Prince Uncle, I will co back."
His tone was very much like that of a husband giving instructions to his "wife" before going out.
Lin Wanyi felt a bit embarrassed but understood the Emperor’s style, so she let it go.
"Um, I understand. Your Majesty and Fourth Prince Uncle, take care."
"We respectfully see off Your Majesty and the Fourth Prince."
Once they left, the children also went for their afternoon rest.
After everyone had departed, only Lin Wanyi’s closest family mbers remained in the main hall.
Madam Dong, seeing there were no outsiders, lowered her voice and asked,
"Does His Majesty an he favors our Fifth Prince?"
Her eyes were filled with joy and longing.
In truth, it wasn’t strange for Madam Dong to react this way. For a rchant family to see a prince’s grasp ceremony and have the Emperor express his stance up close, it was naturally quite exciting.
Eldest Master Dong imdiately gave her a sidelong glance and warned sternly,
"Wonfolk, do not speak recklessly. Are court matters sothing we can freely judge?"
Madam Dong imdiately quieted down, not daring to speak impulsively again.
However, Old Master Dong patted Eldest Master Dong on the shoulder, with a look of slight regret, but had to say,
"After returning, I will resign from office, as for you brothers, consider it too. Now that Qiuyue’s marriage is settled and Ke Li can attain scholarly honors, if our family continues to hold positions and enjoy the Imperial Consort’s favor, it might be detrintal to Qianqian and the Fifth Prince."
Old Master Dong spoke these words with a heavy heart.
It had taken great effort for his sons and grandsons to find a path, and now it seed that path had to end.
Eldest Master Dong imdiately understood his father’s aning, and although Second Young Master Dong didn’t quite comprehend, he didn’t care much about official positions.
So, it didn’t matter much to him.
Seeing his father’s stance, he solemnly said,
"Elder brother is doing well in his position, so I will resign with father. After all, my skills lie with the common people, so it’s more secure to go back to the dical hall."
Seeing his brother’s statent, Eldest Master Dong felt grateful too.
It should have been him, the elder brother, taking a stand, yet his younger brother spoke before him.
He glanced at Old Master Dong and said,
"Father, I understand, but soone still needs to hold up for Qiuyue’s marriage until it concludes. Afterward, I’ll resign imdiately!"
Old Master Dong nodded, trusting his eldest son’s words.
Having been together for so many years, everyone understood his character.
So no one had objections to this.
Though Madam Dong felt it was a pity to lose the title of an official’s wife so soon, she followed along, not daring to object, given that her father-in-law’s decisions had never gone wrong.
Seeing the Dong family’s stance, the people of the Lin Family’s main branch understood many things as well.
Lin Wanyi was the first to speak,
"Grandfather, there’s no need for this. I believe His Majesty isn’t soone easily swayed by instigators, so there’s no need for you and my uncles to worry. Just hold your positions well. Why resign?"
Mrs. Dong didn’t understand the complexities and echoed,
"Exactly, it’s hard to earn an official position. Father and my brothers should reconsider."
Before she even finished speaking, Mr. Lin blocked her.
Then, with seriousness and sincerity, he bowed to Old Master Dong,
"Father-in-law, your great kindness, and dedication to my little daughter, I have nothing to repay. From now on, I will certainly be filial to you both and support my two brothers-in-law mutually, as well as the children, whether Ke Li, Qiulan, or Qiuyue. I will treat them as my own, and never let them suffer!"
Mr. Lin’s words left Old Master Dong deeply gratified.
After all, his care for his granddaughter was only right, and his son-in-law acknowledging this and responding as such brought joy to his heart.
Family, after all, is about mutual support,
to journey far together.
The Lin and Dong families embody this!
Lin Xingzhi wasn’t foolish; if he couldn’t discern the situation now, he’d have wasted his brain.
Thinking it over, he too had an idea.
Old Master Dong noticed and imdiately advised,
"The reason we old folks step back from the court is to give you youngsters more room to flourish. In the future, the reputations of the Lin and Dong families rely on you, Mu Zhi, and Ke Li. So, no matter what, you must persevere. Understood?"
"The stronger your foundation in the court, the more assurance Qianqian and the children have. As for Mu Zhi and Ke Li, after the imperial exam, they will naturally enter the court as officials. Their progress depends on their own fortunes, but with you three brothers holding things up, Qianqian’s life in the harem will be much easier."
Old Master Dong explained earnestly.
Even Mrs. Feng felt moved hearing this, not to ntion Lin Xingzhi.
Having such thoughtful elders ensured they would endure wherever they went in the future.
Lin Xingzhi and Lin Wanyi exchanged a glance and both knelt to Old Master Dong.
"No need, no need! Qianqian is an Imperial Consort now!"
The Dong family quickly helped them up, but Lin Wanyi insisted.
"Today, I bow to my grandfather, not Dong Zhengshi, so whether as an Imperial Consort or not, it doesn’t matter. Your dedication to us leaves without words, and I am sure to live peacefully. I look forward to celebrating your centennial birthday."
Hearing this, everyone laughed.
Old Master Dong, at sixty-five, still had over thirty years till his centennial celebration.
Whether he’d live to see it, he didn’t know,
but it was a beautiful wish, so he nodded and smiled.
"Wouldn’t that be wonderful, to see my great-grandchildren too."
His affection was evident as Lin Wanyi and her brother Lin Xingzhi kowtowed to Old Master Dong.
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