Chapter 173: Chapter 173: The Roulette (Part 4)
Tong Minzhi listened with a throbbing heart, while Tong Quanzhi wore a contemptuous look: "If they can’t endure this bit of hardship, then even if they pass the exam and become officials, they’ll still be spineless cowards. It’s better that they’re dead!"
Xu Tianqing smiled as he looked at him, "I don’t disagree with you. If one can’t handle this minimal psychological pressure, they won’t be of much use in the future." He said this and then turned to Tong Shenzhi, "Big brother, do you need something from me?"
Tong Shenzhi nodded with a frown and said to Tong Quanzhi and Tong Minzhi, "It’s getting late; hurry back and prepare, you still need to go to the school in the afternoon."
Tong Minzhi and Tong Quanzhi instantly drooped their heads. Tong Quanzhi sighed, "We just finished school! Big brother just doesn’t want us to listen." Tong Minzhi then dragged him away, "I haven’t finished writing the characters that the teacher assigned; come with me to write them," dragging the unwilling Tong Quanzhi out.
Once the two left, Xu Tianqing looked at Tong Shenzhi and asked seriously, "What is it?"
Tong Shenzhi said, "There’s been a turn in the Fujian battle. It’s been half a month with no war reports from the Marquis. I heard from refugees returning that the battle has moved from the sea to the land..." He paused and continued, "Such grand moves aren’t something the remnants of the Eighth Prince from over a decade ago could achieve..."
Xu Tianqing was startled, this could mean there might be another ’Eighth Prince’s rebellion’?
Tong Shenzhi asked, "Has Lord Jiang sent you any letters?" Xu Tianqing frowned, "No, the last letter was sent in July, that’s a month ago... Why? Has something happened?"
"Not clear yet, but you should write to Lord Jiang again today." The people returning said there’s an injured strategist by the Marquis’s side, but it’s unclear if it’s Jiang Shilin.
Xu Tianqing understood the gravity of the situation. Even though Jiang Shilin no longer held office, he had great influence among the scholars. If he were to meet with misfortune in Fujian and the news reached the Capital, these scholars waiting for the results without returning home are sure to cause an uproar. The already undercurrent-filled, unstable political scene would face enormous upheaval.
"I’ll write now!" Xu Tianqing said as he headed to the study. Tong Shenzhi stood with hands behind his back and said, "I’ll head to the Ministry of War tonight and see if I can use their postal station to speed things up."
After Tong Shenzhi took the letter and left, the Second Lady accompanied the concubine in. Even though Xu Tianqing was dissatisfied with his mother, he couldn’t say anything. He invited the concubine inside, and the Second Lady, using some excuse of business in the mansion, sat for a short while before leaving. The concubine looked at her son, who had lost weight, and said painfully, "I asked you to live at home, but you insisted on staying here, and now look, you’ve gotten so thin."
Xu Tianqing furrowed his brow slightly and replied, "With big brother and second uncle here, I can consult them if I’m unsure about anything, which is more convenient than at home." He paused and looked at his mother: "Regarding the Hong Mansion matter, I don’t think Aunt was wrong. Given Young Master Hong’s condition, marrying my third cousin to him would ruin her life... Mother, you can’t trade another’s life for father’s career advancement."
The concubine was secretly furious, her face sunk: "Who told you that?" She stood up and shouted, "Moju!"
Xu Tianqing looked helpless, "Mother, I’ve grown up; can’t I observe and think for myself? Yet you’re as before, always scolding the maids and servants when there’s a problem."
"What nonsense, if the master made a mistake, it’s because the servants didn’t serve well and stirred up trouble. These maids are getting old; I might as well send them away, having stayed with you for so long, who knows what they’re thinking."
Xu Tianqing shook his head, "Mother, you are the elder. I shouldn’t speak about matters between you and Aunt. But you and Aunt were born from the same mother and always had a good relationship. Now avoiding each other over a minor issue, if Grandmother knew in the afterlife, she’d be so disappointed... Even though Aunt is strong-willed, she’s always taken good care of you and our family. When father went on duty, Lord Hong was upset with you and ignored father too. But in the end, who achieved the post of Shandong Governor? Wasn’t it because of Aunt’s help? Can’t you see that?"
He spoke earnestly and walked to the concubine, squatting down and holding her hand, "Even if you don’t see these points, think of the future. You only have me, without help or support, while Tong Mansion has three sons. You’ve seen big brother’s character and talent; he is destined for greatness. If I serve in the same court with them in the future, but we don’t recognize each other due to our mothers’ issues, whose loss would it be? Mine or theirs, have you considered this?"
The concubine understood these principles, but she couldn’t swallow her pride. The Hong Mansion marriage issue kept reversing, and she accepted that Lord Hong was angry with her husband, but her sister didn’t even apologize, treating her like a fool. In the end, she got nothing, and her husband even blamed her for not being thorough.
Why should she endure this and initiate reconciliation? From childhood, who hasn’t she benefited from? Even with new clothes, her sister always chose first. She couldn’t swallow this anger!
Seeing the concubine’s state, Xu Tianqing’s eyes shifted, and he whispered a few words in her ear.
The concubine’s eyes lit up, revealing an excited expression, "Is what you said true?" Xu Tianqing earnestly nodded, "Mother, just ask any maid in the mansion and you’ll find out!"
"This definitely needs to be inquired carefully." The concubine, different from before, smiled broadly. So much had happened during her absence, yet her sister hadn’t mentioned anything in her letters... Hmph, even if she didn’t, I could find out.
Xu Tianqing breathed a sigh of relief, slowly sipping his tea. The stalemate between mother and Aunt wasn’t good. After next year’s spring exam, he planned to propose to his mother and Aunt whether their relationship improved, as his marriage prospects would be even more challenging if it did not.
"Miss!" Sixing came rushing in, looking at Xiqiu, "The young master got in, ranking 84th!"
Xiqiu was not surprised at all. With Xu Tianqing’s knowledge, passing the autumn exam was no problem. She’s only concerned about next year’s autumn exam.
"Why aren’t you happy at all?" Sixing beamed, "The concubine came and spoke with the Lady behind closed doors for half a day, now the Lady came out with red eyes, saying the entire mansion is having special dishes today, and everyone gets a reward of five hundred Qian."
Xiqiu raised an eyebrow, unexpecting the concubine and the Lady had reconciled. She wondered who was responsible for convincing the concubine.
Tong Mansion was bustling for two days before it finally quieted down. Xu Tianqing shut himself to study for next year’s spring exam, while Tong Shenzhi became increasingly busy, often returning home late at night even after leaving the establishment. Xiqiu felt a growing sense of unease, as if something significant was about to happen.