Capítulo 1153: Chapter 1152: Straight to the Point
Therefore, most of the maids and older servant won serving them were grateful, feeling that following such a master made things easier and less worriso, which in turn made them work harder and more diligently.
Earlier, when Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang were planting vegetables in their own room, word got out. Before Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang could even say a word, the older servant won and maids had already identified the gossip spreaders among them.
When Song Wu ca to investigate, those people were handed over imdiately.
Watching those few people being beaten with thirty military sticks and then having their entire families expelled, those who remained felt both relieved and frightened, which made them even more determined to follow Song Chongjin.
The three of them usually ate without needing anyone to serve them. If anything was needed, a call would suffice.
The people serving them had already gotten used to this, so after placing the food, they would all retreat quietly.
Wang Yongzhu didn’t ask how Song Chongjin’s day went at Minister Qin’s mansion but instead talked about the conflict with Lady Dong in the Gao Residence during the day. She didn’t elaborate further, as the two were now of one mind, and why she acted that way, Song Chongjin understood well.
Explaining it would seem unnecessary and formal.
Old Granny Zhang, fearing that Song Chongjin might have so misgivings, quickly helped Wang Yongzhu explain, “Chongjin, don’t misunderstand. Yongzhu ntioned Lady Dong’s lineage because the conversation led to it. That wicked Lady Dong couldn’t outargue , so she brought up the deceased mother-in-law…”
Song Chongjin smiled and said, “Mother, don’t worry! I understand! With Yongzhu and you handling things at ho, what is there for to worry about? Both you and Yongzhu are doing it for my sake and for my mother. I understand it all! If I didn’t understand this much, would I still be worthy as your son-in-law?”
Saying this, he served Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu each a piece of food with his chopsticks.
Only then did Old Granny Zhang feel at ease, but she still said, “I know you are a perceptive and insightful child, but your uncle initially planned to help you secretly from the outside. Now with all this ruckus, your adoptive father won’t be kept in the dark, and I’m afraid he might get angry and make things difficult for you—”
Song Chongjin leisurely took a bite of his food before saying, “Don’t worry! No matter if we reveal it today or not, we can’t hide it from the eyes of the people in this mansion. It’s better to make it explicit; at least they might have so scruples.”
“As for my adoptive father, I’m afraid he has long been aware. If it remained hidden, he might be secretly angry. By being open about it, without hiding it from him, it actually puts him at ease.”
He had guessed Song Hong’s thoughts about seventy to eighty percent correct.
Old Granny Zhang thought about it and found it reasonable, so she dropped the matter.
After dinner, Old Granny Zhang, knowing that Song Chongjin must have sothing to discuss with her daughter, sensibly went back to her room to rest.
Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin finished washing up, dismissed the servants, lay on the kang bed, and blew out the lamp.
Wang Yongzhu then asked quietly, “Did you manage to find anything out at Minister Qin’s mansion today?”
Song Chongjin was silent for a mont before speaking slowly.
Early in the morning, he went to visit. The Minister’s Mansion was quieter today, and those staff officers in the study were not there. Only Qin Bohan was waiting inside for him.
After exchanging formalities, Song Chongjin had just sat down when Qin Bohan asked, “Have you read the manuscript I gave you?”
Song Chongjin nodded, but before he could ask, Qin Bohan dropped a bombshell out of nowhere: “I was a student of your great-grandfather!”
Even soone as composed as Song Chongjin was montarily stunned, staring blankly at Qin Bohan.
According to his expectations, today might be filled with mutual politeness and probing, and it would be good if Qin Bohan vaguely hinted at sothing.
Unexpectedly, before he even spoke, how could Qin Bohan just straightforwardly reveal his identity?
Could this be a trap?
This was Song Chongjin’s first reaction.
So when he regained his composure, the first thing he said was, “This student is anxious. I don’t know which great-grandfather Lord Qin is referring to?”
Qin Bohan let out a sarcastic laugh, tossing the book in his hand onto the desk, and lazily said, “Stop pretending. I know everything clear as day about your background. If you weren’t the only bloodline left of the Qi Family, do you think I’d give you a second look?”
“Though you’re the seventh in Qingzhou Prefecture, there are many in this world smarter, more diligent, and more talented than you. Without going far, that boy from the Gu Family is much stronger than you, yet he hasn’t even set foot in this mansion. So why should I support you? Because you’re Duke Weiguo’s illegitimate eldest son? No matter how mighty Duke Weiguo is, he can’t flaunt himself before . He holds no face here!”
“If you weren’t of Qi Family blood, would you have been able to step in here?” Qin Bohan, for all his scholarly appearance, spoke with a harsh tongue, leaving no room for Song Hong and Song Chongjin.
Song Chongjin remained silent, just looking at Qin Bohan.
Seeing Song Chongjin behave, Qin Bohan didn’t resort to any bravado, quickly explaining the facts of the matter.
He indeed was a student of Qi Huaimin, but only he and Qi Huaimin knew of this.
Years ago, Qi Huaimin had studied at Changqing Academy, and after passing the imperial exams, he stayed in the Capital City for a few years before being decentralized to Jing County as an official.
Later, Qi Huaimin offended the late Emperor and was dismissed from his post.
Qi Huaimin, by then over fifty, feeling his career had ended and not wishing to remain in the capital, packed up and set out on a leisure journey.
Along the way, he returned to Jing County and lived a quiet life, teaching at Changqing Academy under a pseudonym.
At that ti, Qin Bohan, because of being embroiled in family strife, had fled to Jing County and was near death when Qi Huaimin happened to pass by and saved him.
Qin Bohan was then almost destitute, with no close family left, his position weak. If not for eting Qi Huaimin, he would have died unknown.
Fortunate was he that Qi Huaimin saved his life and took him in. Seeing his exceptional deanor, Qi Huaimin arranged for him to study at Changqing Academy, giving him a place to settle down.
Qi Huaimin had a high opinion of Qin Bohan’s talent and, sharing empathy for each other’s circumstances, especially valued Qin Bohan, forgetting his own dismissal troubles as he wholeheartedly taught Qin Bohan.
Unfortunately, a year later, the late Emperor rembered Qi Huaimin’s rits and wanted to call him back to the capital.
Qi Huaimin left behind a pile of manuscripts and hurried back to the Capital City, instructing Qin Bohan not to give up and to wait for the right opportunity.
Unexpectedly, this departure was a farewell forever.
Due to Qi Huaimin’s encouragent, along with secretly sent books, various manuscript annotations, and silver, Qin Bohan managed to endure until his thirties.
Those who obstructed his civil service path finally died off, and he was overjoyed, ready to make his na known, keen to repay Qi Huaimin, his ntor.
But he was t with devastating news: the Qi Family had been confiscated and exiled.
Qin Bohan realized that if he wanted to overturn the Qi Family’s case and rescue them, he had only one path: to rise to a high position, stand beside the Emperor, and beco one of his trusted aides.
After being suppressed for many years, once freed, he shined brilliantly, unmatched by others.
Reviews
All reviews (0)