In the provincial capital's inspector's residence, Ye Chengguan had just finished sorting out the archives and reports compiled from various places recently. His upright figure slowly relaxed and prepared to take a good breath after a hard day's work.
It was already the twelfth lunar month, and he was counting the time. Hua Rujin should have arrived in the provincial capital, but she hadn't arrived yet. He guessed that the heavy snowfall a few days ago had hindered this girl's trip, so he had to settle down and relax.
Wait quietly.
"Son."
He was in a daze with a hesitant look on his face when he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
Looking up, I saw Ting An walking in with a thick bag on his back.
Ye Chengguan glanced behind him and said a little disappointed: "Why did you come to the provincial capital alone, and Miss Hua didn't come with you?"
"His Royal Highness Prince Ning and Miss Wu accompanied Miss Hua in a carriage from Jiangling City. Miss Hua asked me to come and inform the young master first."
Ting An knew that he was thinking about Miss Hua, but Prince Ning did not want to accompany him, and he did not dare to force her to go with him.
"His Royal Highness Prince Ning?"
Ye Chengguan sneered coldly: "Our Highness seems to be too concerned about Miss Hua."
As soon as he finished speaking, another old and deep voice came in: "Which Miss Hua actually let our No. 1 Scholar be so interested in her?"
The two masters and servants heard the news and went over, and they all looked surprised at this unexpected guest.
"I have met Master Shangshu."
Ting'an immediately stood in awe and bowed his hands in salute.
"I have met Lord Shangshu."
Ye Chengguan also solemnly saluted the visitor and asked in a lukewarm tone: "I should change my name to Lord Chief Assistant. I wonder what the business of Lord Chief Assistant came to Jiangxia County late at night?"
The person who came was none other than Lu Ming, the former Minister of Civil Service.
He had just received news from Beijing that his master had resigned and Lu Ming had officially taken over as the chief assistant.
According to this situation, I am afraid that King Yun will soon be established as the crown prince.
"You are still so different from me."
Lu Ming's old and deep eyes blinked slightly and kept looking at him, his eyes full of kindness: "After the new year, I will reorganize the cabinet. Your Majesty has allowed me a January holiday. I will take advantage of some time to come back to my hometown.
have a look."
After casually looking around the room, he asked Ting An angrily: "Why didn't you bring your wife to the provincial capital? Your young master is now employed in the provincial capital, so how miserable it is to leave her alone in Jiangling City."
Ting'an looked at his young master with some embarrassment and didn't know how to reply.
"My mother-in-law's affairs are not your concern."
Ye Chengguan looked at Lu Ming with a cold face and had no intention of inviting him to sit down.
Lu Ming had no choice but to sit at the coffee table, pour a cup of tea, and said while drinking: "Bring your mother to the provincial capital. I will accompany you mother and son to spend this New Year in Jiangxia County."
"Please respect yourself, Chief Assistant."
Ye Chengguan said displeasedly: "My mother has been a widow for many years and doesn't want to see her old friends again."
"I didn't expect that after so many years, your mother still hates me so much and refuses to see me."
Lu Ming felt sour in his heart and said with a lonely look on his face: "But you are my flesh and blood after all, but she prevents you and I from recognizing each other. It is really too cruel."
After that, he took out a thick stack of banknotes from his pocket and put it on the coffee table, and warned:
"Chengwei, you are not young anymore. It is time to reach the age of marriage. I heard that you have arranged a marriage in Jiangling City. These one hundred thousand taels of silver were specially raised for your father to use for your marriage. Please let Ting
An will buy a larger house in the provincial capital, buy some more land, and the rest will be treated as betrothal gifts. After all, he is the number one scholar appointed by His Majesty. This marriage was decided upon when you were a child, but
Don't treat the Yue family badly."
"This matter is not something that the Chief Assistant has to worry about."
Ye Chengguan pushed the banknote back.
Lu Ming had no choice but to put the banknote into Ding An's hand: "Take it, don't be like your young master."
"Sir, the marriage that the young master made earlier has been canceled."
Ting'an was a little helpless holding the banknote, feeling that the whole palm of his hand was hot.
"Which girl is so ungrateful that someone would cancel a marriage that other families couldn't get even with a lantern?"
Lu Ming looked embarrassed for a while, and then said seriously: "It's okay to not want such a family. Just before I left the capital, His Royal Highness Prince Yun wanted to give you his eldest daughter, Princess Jingyun, to be your wife. I was worried about you."
If you don't like it and didn't agree immediately, I will accept the marriage for you when I return to Beijing after the Chinese New Year."
"I really don't like it."
Ye Chengguan's eyes were as cold as a pool of water, and his tone was even colder: "If Sir Chief Assistant is here because of personal matters, then I have nothing to say to Sir Chief Assistant, and I would also like Sir Chief Assistant to go back early."
After saying that, he ordered Ting An to return the banknote to Lu Ming.
Ting An put the banknote back into Lu Ming's hand with a grimace and said with a smile, "Sir, my young master has never been short of money."
"I know your young master's abilities well."
Lu Ming has long been accustomed to his son's indifference, and he said with great relief: "The evil god of swords and pens that has been rumored for a long time in Beijing is your son, right? When he was eight years old, he sold a piece of immature calligraphy for a sky-high price of two thousand taels.
Someone was even willing to spend a thousand taels of gold to buy an ink painting he made when he was two years old. In recent years, many people have been eager for the masterpieces of the Evil God of Knives and Pens, and they have always been in high demand. I am not worried about your young master.
I am short of money."
Looking at Ye Chengguan with warm eyes, Lu Ming said in a very gentle tone: "It's just that parents should fulfill their parental responsibilities. Ever since you were born, your mother has not wanted us to see each other, and my father has not been able to accompany you.
As you grow up, I can only make more compensation in your marriage."
Hearing him keep mentioning old things from back then, Ye Chengguan couldn't hold back the anger in his heart any longer, and shouted sternly: "How shameless do you have to mention my mother again? Is it possible that the chief minister thinks that relying on this money can make up for your misfortune?"
What is our mother and son’s debt?”
Thinking back to what happened that year, Lu Ming's heart ached like a knife.
More than ten years ago, when he served as the Grand Sima of Jingzhou Prefecture, he met Qin Wanrou, a fisherman's daughter, while visiting the lake one day. The two fell in love at first sight and became engaged for life.
Although the family had arranged a marriage for him at that time, it was not as he expected and he just wanted to find someone he liked.
Furthermore, Concubine Xue at that time was only a concubine of the palace, so there was nothing to fear.
Unexpectedly, fate failed, Taizu died, and the new emperor ascended the throne. Xue became the most favored concubine in the new dynasty. Her sister Xue Wanning naturally became the most trusted royal family member in the dynasty.
, this marriage cannot be withdrawn even if you want to.
He had no choice but to leave Qin Wanrou and return to Beijing to marry Xue Wanning.
However, Qin Wanrou would rather die than be a lowly child, so she broke up with him and left Jiangling City even though she was pregnant.
Later, he asked someone to inquire and found out that Qin's father could not bear the humiliation his daughter suffered, so he took her away from home and married her to a family named Ye in a nearby state capital. It was not until Qin's father passed away that Qin Wanrou took Ye Chengwei with her.
Return to the hometown of Gangneung City.
With the past events still fresh in his mind, Lu Ming did not feel angry because of his son's rudeness, but patiently persuaded him:
"Cheng Wei, you know very well about fatherhood and motherhood. You were still young and couldn't understand the difficulties of being a father. I don't blame you. But now that you have grown up, you should understand the necessity of being a father. If I had done it back then,
By forcing you to stay with your mother, do you want me to ignore the entire Lu family?"
"I'm sorry for my humble knowledge, but I really can't understand the difficulties of Lord Chief Assistant."
Ye Chengguan's attitude was still decisive: "Your Majesty the First Assistant is also a man who has read poetry and books. He should understand that you should not allow people to live in peace, and you should not easily destroy people's reputations."
This sentence made Lu Ming suddenly speechless and unable to speak for a long time.