All Hail Cousin Brother

166 The Xie Residence’s Visit (1)

“Now that the dust has settled on the examination, it’s time to put these two matters on the agenda. After the palace examination in April, I’m afraid we’ll have to come up with a solution. The cabinet is waiting for the Court of Investigations’ reaction, but they haven’t made a move. However, at the mention of the vassal lord, it is impossible to get past King You. The Court of Investigations isn’t willing to provoke him, so they haven’t made a move yet.”

During this period of time, he was also in a mess.

An aide frowned and said, “It’s easier to settle it in Liangzhou. We can just order Prince Ping to enter the capital to meet the emperor and punish him. However, it’s not easy in Youzhou.”

Another aide also said, “That’s right. The Marquis of Changxing is a direct descendant of the Marquis of Weining. He has been guarding Youzhou for three years, so it’s considered stable. With his contributions this time, the emperor will definitely reward him. But in that case, wouldn’t it increase the arrogance of the Marquis of Weining? I’m afraid Elder Xia won’t sit back and do nothing. When the time comes, there will still be room for negotiation.”

“If there’s any commotion in the Imperial Court, the first to bear the brunt is still the Imperial Court. Master, you should be more careful. Otherwise, you’ll offend both sides and cause trouble.”

Hearing this, Yu Youyao already knew that her premonition was right. This stable court was probably going to be chaotic soon.

Just as Chun Xiao was about to speak, Yu Zongzheng’s sharp voice came from inside. “Who is it?”

When they stopped talking, Yu Youyao simply walked to the door of the inner room and said through the curtain, “Father, it’s me. The food is ready. I’ve brought it over for you.”

Yu Zongzheng’s expression relaxed. “Then send it in!”

Yu Youyao lifted the curtain and entered the inner room. Chun Xiao and Xia Tao followed behind obediently, their eyes fixed on the tips of their shoes.

There were three people in the room, including her father. Yu Youyao instructed Chun Xiao and Xia Tao to place the hot dishes on the table.

On the other side, when Yu Zongzheng saw that it was Yu Youyao, he no longer had any reservations and continued to talk to his aide.

“Youzhou is located in the north. If you retreat, you can rush to the capital to help. If you advance, you can fight with the Di people and coordinate with the capital from afar. King You will guard Youzhou and intimidate the vassal lords. The Imperial Court will also be at ease. However, if King You rebels, you are aware that the Marquis of Weining is a new noble. For the moment, he can’t suppress the vassal lords of the three lands, and the court is becoming more and more tense.”

With that, Yu Zongzheng also sighed loudly, lamenting the possibility of King You being a hero.

The aide also said, “Master, you’re right. In the past few years, the vassal lords haven’t been behaving well either. In the past, they were afraid that they would suffer a defeat and be inferior to King You, so they couldn’t answer to the Imperial Court. However, if they fought hard, the other races wouldn’t dare to be rash. Now, there are also wars every year, but every time they submit a memorial, it’s because the war has consumed too much energy. They want to recruit troops, money, food, clothes, and weapons. If the Imperial Court doesn’t give it to them, they won’t have any money if they lose.”

In the early autumn last year, there had been a commotion in the Imperial Court.

Fortunately, the Marquis of Changxing, who was guarding Youzhou in the north, had won a beautiful battle. Only then did the vassal lords stop and could they live a stable new year.

However, after the new year, there was a commotion again, and the Ministry of War suppressed it. However, it was not a good idea to keep suppressing it. Sooner or later, it would cause a commotion.

The table was filled with dishes.

Yu Zongzheng immediately stood up and sat down. He called for the aides to eat, drink, and discuss matters.

Yu Youyao had prepared bamboo leaf liquor. The liquor was fragrant and refreshing, but not too strong. Coupled with the light and delicious dishes, Yu Zongzheng’s tense expression finally eased.

After returning to the Jade Courtyard, Yu Youyao felt a little uneasy, but she also understood that there were some things that she could not interfere in.

Just like that, two to three days later, it was time for the Xie Residence to visit.

The classes of the first and second families had stopped.

Early in the morning, Yang Shuwan was busy preparing for the banquet. She was either instructing the maidservants to set up the banquet hall or rushing into the kitchen to instruct the kitchen maids to cook. She was as busy as a spinning top and did not feel tired at all. She was wearing a bright red dress with golden peonies and looked imposing and radiant. She was clearly the mistress of the household.

After breakfast, Madam Yao brought the family to the main house. She first went to greet Old Madam Yu, then asked Yang Shuwan for help.

Yang Shuwan was feeling smug as she instructed the servants, so how could she agree? She said, “We can’t trouble Sister-in-law. It’s rare for her to come to the main residence. Why don’t we find Old Madam and spend more time chatting with her and show her more filial piety?”

Although her words were polite, they were not pleasant to the ears. Madam Yao’s expression immediately darkened. “The Xie family’s visit is a huge matter, so I’ll have to trouble you to take care of it.”

It wasn’t that she was in a hurry to help. It was just that Master had specially instructed her to come over earlier today to help more. She couldn’t neglect the people from the Xie family.

She also knew that Master had joined the Hanlin Academy in his early years. At that time, pirates were rampant along the coast, and the sea routes were sealed. Master had read through history books and felt that the trade route was smooth and beneficial to the country and the people. Hence, with the support of the Cabinet Grand Secretary, Xia Yansheng, he went to Quanzhou and wrote “The Theory of the Sea,” which he presented to the court.

It was also because of this book that the imperial court had sent troops to suppress the enemies. They had opened a sea route and a trade route, causing the coastal area to prosper.

Only then did Master join the Ministry of Revenue. It was also because of this that he could successfully enter the cabinet.

As soon as she married into the family, she heard from Old Madam that Master had been able to write “The Theory of the Sea” because of the Xie Residence’s help. That was why the Yu Residence had formed a relationship with the Xie Residence, and this was also why Xie Roujia had married into the Yu Residence.

Master remembered their kindness back then. As his wife, she naturally had to follow suit.

Madam Yao returned to An Shou Hall.

Old Madam Yu was not surprised. She pointed at the chair beside her and asked, “I wonder how Brother Yan and Brother Xin’s studies have been recently?”

At the mention of this, a smile finally appeared on Madam Yao’s face. “Every three days after leaving the government office, Master would call them over for an examination. He said that they had improved even more than before. Even Brother Xin, who has always liked to play, has been able to calm down and study recently.”

When Old Madam Yu heard this, she was amused. “That’s a good thing. We have to call them over and reward them well.”

However, Madam Yao smiled and said, “I still have to thank you, Linghuai. He is a few years older than them, and is also mature. He has been learning well in school, and it was also him who brought Brother Yan and Brother Xin along to learn in school.”

Previously, when Brother Yan had mentioned Zhou Linghuai, she was a little hesitant.

But now, she was convinced.

Old Madam Yu’s smile deepened. To be able to think of Yao Yao and help the Yu Residence, it was obvious that Zhou Linghuai was a grateful person.

Madam Yao continued, “It’s better for Brother Yan, and especially Brother Xin. He doesn’t like to learn usually, so your son told him about what happened in Youzhou in the past and even about the war. How could Brother Yan have heard of this in the past? Of course, his interest was piqued. After he finished speaking, Linghuai asked Brother Yan how he was going to repel the enemy if the Di people attacked. Won’t this make things difficult for Brother Yan?”