jdhmnovel Chapter 368 Is Retreat the Best Option?
Chapter 368 Is Retreat the Best Option?
Chapter 368 The best of the 36 stratagems is to flee?
"This Lord Huangfu from the Ministry of Works is a good friend of mine. He even saved my life when I was inspecting the river before."
When I fell into the river, it was Brother Huangfu who bravely pulled me out without fear of death! After I returned to the capital, we never lost contact.
I had no other choice. I thought that Brother Huangfu was a favorite of Minister Wu of the Ministry of Works, so I asked him for advice.
Who would have thought Brother Huangfu would be so loyal and help me solve this huge problem? Father, look, this is a letter from Brother Huangfu.”
Jiang Wenqing, as if presenting a treasure, handed the somewhat crumpled envelope to Landlord Jiang, who quickly pulled it out and read it at a glance.
"Even the Empress Dowager has been alarmed?! Your brother Huangfu is quite something. I should get a chance to meet him and thank him in person."
Although they were all officials of the Six Ministries, those of the fifth rank and below were not required to attend court. So, for almost three years, Landlord Jiang was not familiar with the officials of the other five ministries, except for those of the Ministry of Revenue.
Oh, besides his own people in the Ministry of Works, Jiang Changqing.
"That's why I took leave to come back this time. I want to invite Brother Huangfu to my house for a meal, so that Mingfei can also meet his Uncle Huangfu. After all, he helped him."
"We're just waiting for the imperial examination to finish; three days from now is an auspicious day. Time is a bit tight, I need to send a formal invitation to Brother Huangfu now."
"Hey, hey, hey, no rush, no rush. Mingfei and the others need to rest after leaving the examination hall. Five days is fine too. But the invitations need to be written in advance and sent over tomorrow."
Unlike Jiang Wenqing, who was indifferent to people's feelings, Landlord Jiang wanted his precious grandson to sleep for a day and a night after the exam to make up for the energy he had lost.
"Yes, yes, Father is right. I didn't think it through."
Landlord Jiang stroked his beard, his brow still furrowed. Jiang Wenqing was puzzled. Hadn't everything been resolved? Why was his father still unhappy?
"Father, don't worry or get angry. After all, the Great Zhou is surnamed Zhao. It's really fortunate that we were able to deal with it in advance."
Landlord Jiang waved his hand, "Alas, I am just a little worried. Your method is undoubtedly a good one."
Presumably, the influential people you've entrust with can also play a role in achieving your goal of having the princes be betrothed, but..."
"But what? Is there something wrong? Father, please tell me. If there's anything that needs to be remedied, it's not too late now!"
Jiang Wenqing had always thought that his brother Huangfu had handled the matter brilliantly, but his father's "but" made him feel a little unsure.
"What kind of person is this Fourth Prince? How much do you really know about him? Besides the things you just mentioned that he did, is there anything else?"
Furthermore, during these nearly two years of confinement, has any news of the Fourth Prince surfaced? Is he truly just obediently cultivating himself, waiting to be released?
Jiang Wenqing was a little confused. How would he know? He and the Fourth Prince had never exchanged a single serious word. In fact, he had been avoiding the Fourth Prince all along.
All he knew was what I had just mentioned. As for anything else, he really didn't know anything. If he had known earlier, he would have been much more confident in Brother Huangfu.
He works in Beijing, so he's bound to be better informed. Wait, isn't my own father also working in Beijing?
And what about his two sons-in-law? Aren't they both serving as court officials? They're practically close advisors to the emperor.
And another thing, my cousin Jiang Changqing also works in the Ministry of Works. He's a fourth-rank official, the kind who can attend court!
With just a glance, Landlord Jiang knew what his son was thinking. He was indeed holding a position in Beijing, but all he did every day was deal with his family members in the Ministry of Revenue and mountains of account books.
My connections in Beijing are limited to the office, and we don't even get close to each other. Once we leave, we all go our separate ways.
My cousin Jiang Changshou has a wider network of connections, but most of them are only associated with him because of the Liu family, so they are not reliable.
Needless to say, Li Haisheng and Xue Xu were appointed Imperial Diarists by the time the Fourth Prince left the palace.
Later, the fourth prince was confined to his quarters. They were not as good as Jiang Wenqing himself, who at least knew what the fourth prince looked like.
Landlord Jiang: Suddenly I feel like even my own family members who have become officials are pretty useless, what should I do?!
"Father means that even if the fourth prince is betrothed, he will still defy the imperial decree? That can't be right. The Empress Dowager is his own grandmother."
"Alas, matters of the royal family cannot be discussed in the same way as those of ordinary people. Unless someone can restrain the Fourth Prince and prevent him from causing trouble."
If the family the Empress Dowager refers to is one that the Minister of Rites' household approves of, then Minister Tong will likely keep an eye on things from the sidelines. It's just a matter of who will ultimately win the bid.
This flower viewing party is just the beginning; a marriage may not necessarily be arranged on the spot. If the Fourth Prince takes advantage of this opportunity to create a time gap…
"Father, let's postpone the banquet for Brother Huangfu after the imperial examination. Let Mingfei leave the capital to avoid trouble once he's finished the examination."
After thinking about it, Landlord Jiang felt it was a good idea, but he was afraid it would delay the subsequent palace examination.
Sigh, what's the emperor thinking? Why is he in such a hurry? He's already been locked up for so long, why not wait until after the palace examination?
Why insist on releasing people at the crucial point of the provincial examination? Isn't that just making people anxious and worried?
Jiang Wenqing's thinking was simplistic: you, a prince of the imperial family, dare to forcibly seize a common man, yet you won't allow him to hide?
"But where should we go? We can't go too far from the capital, or we'll miss the palace examination. There's also a ceremony of etiquette instruction in the palace before the palace examination, which we can't miss."
If one doesn't participate in etiquette training, then misbehaving before the palace could be a matter of life and death; it's truly worrying.
"Father, why don't we listen to Mingfei's opinion? He's always been smart, and he probably knows something about the Fourth Prince's matter himself."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically left me a letter before my studies abroad, telling me to stay away from the Fourth Prince, and he emphasized it several times.
Landlord Jiang wasn't surprised at all. His grandson was indeed clever; if his son knew, his grandson must have known long ago.
I just didn't want my family to worry, so I took it all on myself. Oh, poor child...
After dinner, at Xiao Qi's place—
"Hide away after the imperial examination? Where to? Why hide? Did our family get into trouble?"
Jiang Wenqing's seemingly random remark completely baffled Jiang Xiaoqi.
"Oh dear, it's no use me trying to explain; I can't even speak clearly!"
Jiang Wenqing: I knew it! Once you have a grandson, your son will immediately become worthless!
Landlord Jiang explained the matter clearly in a few words, leaving Jiang Xiaoqi somewhat helpless.
"So that's how it is. Thank you, Grandfather and Father, for your concern for me."
"That's right, I owe them a huge favor. You and your father have to repay it together, okay? Your father doesn't have that much money to spend, so we can't be stingy when repaying favors~"
You have no idea, that's my connection, your father's connection. I went to great lengths to do that for you this time..."
"PIA!"
Jiang Wenqing covered the back of his head and squatted down.
"Dad! What did I say wrong? You're hitting me harder and harder!"