Chapter 939 - 939 939 Another Request
Chapter 939: Chapter 939 Another Request Chapter 939: Chapter 939 Another Request “So, Third Aunt, you truly are the most fortunate nowadays. Just look at you, holding Niuniu in your left hand and leading YingEr with your right. Isn’t it just like being hugged from both sides? How blissful that is!”
This comment made everyone laugh.
YingEr and Niuniu looked at each other and saw full smiles in each other’s eyes.
“So, mom, now that you have two little cotton-padded jackets, you need to recover quickly. Then you can take us out to show off!”
As Niuniu spoke, she deliberately puffed up her little stomach and tilted up her tiny head.
Instantly, it caused everyone to burst into laughter again.
“Right, right, right, you need to get better quickly so we can all go out and play together. YingEr heard a few days ago that there’s a new Shu Brocade Shop that opened in East City, and the Shu brocade inside is wonderful! Once you’re feeling better, you can accompany us to go take a look and pick out some useful ones to bring back,” YingEr couldn’t help but join in.
In reality, the storehouse of the Marquis Mansion was filled with countless fine materials, with all kinds of rewards overflowing from the warehouses. Even if the family wore a new outfit every day, they would not have to worry about repeating any for the entire year. Everyone was saying this merely to comfort Liu Sisi’s heart.
Liu Sisi naturally understood everyone’s intentions and tried her best to joke and laugh with them.
However, when it comes to illness, either you don’t get sick or, if you do fall ill, getting better is not so easy.
It truly conformed to the old saying “Illness descends like a collapsing mountain but leaves like drawing silk.” Liu Sisi reluctantly ate some food, feeling as though the food was tasteless wax, difficult to swallow.
Before she could finish her dinner, her stomach began to churn like tumultuous waves, and she vomited everything she had eaten along with the soup medicine.
Everyone was once again thrown into a frenzy to clean up, and the doctor was called again to provide treatment, prescribing a new medicine for Liu Sisi to take.
Liu Sisi alternated between a high fever and trembling chills, and her condition not only failed to improve but seemed to be worsening. Regardless of the numerous speculations flying outside about the cause of Zhao Dun’s death, she remained completely unaware.
–
As for Di Yelei, after discussing various opinions and actions regarding the issue, everyone left the Gan Estate as dusk approached and went their separate ways to return home.
Di Yelei, burdened with heavy thoughts, led his horse out, ready to mount it, but was stopped by Di Hongyuan.
“Third Brother, wait a moment! Big brother has something to tell you. I’ll accompany you back to the mansion. Come, get into the carriage!” He gestured toward his own carriage.
Di Yelei was a bit startled but naturally did not refuse, “Big brother, please.”
He then also climbed into the carriage.
Civil officials rode in sedans while military officers rode horses. Di Yelei usually preferred horseback, so suddenly sitting in this cramped carriage, and with his elder brother no less, made him feel distinctly uncomfortable.
Di Hongyuan had long ago resigned from his post and because of this, his movements were now much freer, unburdened by numerous obligations. Now sitting in the carriage, his eyes swept over Di Yelei, still carrying the authority of an elder brother.
As the carriage slowly started to move, Di Hongyuan finally spoke, “Third Brother, didn’t Elder Gan mention wanting to place someone into the Ministry of Personnel, to start in a minor position, and then move up when the opportunity arises?”
Di Yelei was somewhat puzzled by Di Hongyuan’s intentions. Didn’t his big brother resign from his post specifically because he was fed up with the turmoil of officialdom? Why was he now actively involving himself in it?
“Does big brother have some thoughts on this?”
“It’s not that the big brother has ideas, but that the big brother thought of Zhang Yun, the child. When the big brother went away for years, upon departure, he entrusted Zhang Peng to take care of you. Now seeing how close you and Zhang Peng are, even closer than I, as an elder brother, am to you, I can’t help feeling both gratified and a bit sour. But this also shows the character of Zhang Peng,” Di Hongyuan explained carefully.
Zhang Peng and Di Yelei indeed had a very close relationship; if Di Yelei were ever in trouble, his first thought would definitely be to seek out Zhang Peng and not his own elder brother.
“What exactly are you trying to say, big brother?” Di Yelei was somewhat unable to grasp Di Hongyuan’s intentions.
“What I mean is, Zhang Peng previously followed you through campaigns in the south and the north, and he always had your promotion. I, as your elder brother, haven’t been able to help him much. Now that the world is gradually becoming peaceful, with no more wars to fight, the promotion of military officials might have reached its end. Currently, Zhang Peng is only a Rank 5 military officer, and his only son, Zhang Yun, is even a Rank 8 petty official. YingEr is not getting any younger, and how could a Rank 8’s salary feed a family? I’m thinking of forgoing my pride and asking Elder Gan to secure an entrance quota to the Ministry of Personnel for the boy, Zhang Yun. That would be the only thing I could do for him,” he said.
It’s exceedingly difficult for military officials to advance further once there are no more wars.
And selecting a suitable candidate for the Ministry of Personnel is crucial, which is why everyone has been hesitant to make a final decision.
However, Di Hongyuan’s recommendation of Zhang Yun was indeed a smart move!
“If I were to bring up this matter, I’m afraid…”
“It would be more appropriate for Minister Lv to speak on this. Although Minister Lv appears neutral on the surface, he has close connections with Elder Gan behind the scenes. In fact, he has done quite a few things for me before. But if he were to nominate Zhang Yun, his influence could no longer be used for my benefit,” Di Hongyuan said, his words tinged with regret.
He had, after all, already exited officialdom, and if Minister Lv were to help him, it was likely because of their past camaraderie. It would not be appropriate to ask for favors from him in the future.
Di Yelei pondered for a moment before nodding decisively, “Alright! Let’s handle it that way.”
If Zhang Yun was provided for, then YingEr’s future would be secured.
That’s the most he, as a father, could do for his children – arrange their future lives as best he could.
“Alright!”
With the matter decided, Di Hongyuan also relaxed.
Looking through the slit in the carriage curtain, watching the carriage slowly traverse the busy market, the bustling crowd outside moving through the streets, he suddenly smiled.
“By the way, are you really going to take that concubine?”
Di Yelei’s eyebrows shot up upon hearing Di Hongyuan’s sudden query, “Third brother thought big brother wouldn’t ask about such matters.”
“The big brother didn’t want to ask, but seeing the Third Sister-in-law in such grief, I felt compelled to remind Third Brother a few words.”
Di Yelei pressed his lips together tightly, and after a while, he turned to look at Di Hongyuan, “I have my own plans regarding this matter; it’s better if you don’t ask.”
“Don’t tell me emotional obligation has tripped up your steps? Just the sister of a mere trusted soldier, even as a concubine, how could she be worthy of your status? If you can’t do it yourself, your brother can take care of it for you, guaranteeing a flawless, silent dispatch,” Di Hongyuan said with unusual harshness.
“No need! As big brother said, if Third Brother wanted to make her disappear, there are a hundred ways to do so. The reason she’s still around is that Third Brother has other desires,” Di Yelei replied.
“Oh? What is it that you desire?”