Rong Shu only heard about Shen Ying being scolded by the old lady after waking up from her afternoon nap.
Mei Yun spoke vividly from the side.
“…After Granny Zeng finished speaking, I heard that the Fifth Madam almost had a miscarriage.”
Mei Yun felt like she had finally gotten her revenge!
She only regretted not being there and seeing it in person, otherwise she would have definitely laughed out loud.
Rong Shu was affected by her mood and smiled gently, “Feeling better?”
Mei Yun had been unhappy ever since Shen Ying and his group left that morning.
Only now did I see a hint of a smile on his face.
Mei Yun stamped her foot: “Why are you making fun of people?”
But then she thought for a moment and asked, puzzled, “How did the old lady know that Fifth Madam had spoken rudely to you, since we didn’t complain to her?”
This is truly a mystery.
Rong Shu knew perfectly well that it was because Shen Ying had people arranged by her mother-in-law.
As the legal mother, Madam Xie never criticized her illegitimate sons and daughters-in-law.
Master Song had five sons and two daughters. His eldest son, Song Wenyan, and his third son, Song Wenjing, were both born to Madam Xie.
The second son, Song Wenyue, and the fourth son, Song Wenqing, were both born to Consort Li.
The fifth son, Song Wenping, was born to Aunt You.
The two girls were born to two other concubines, and they had already married before Rong Shu married into the family.
The Xie family never demanded anything of anyone in terms of food, clothing, or daily necessities.
But it’s impossible to say she had no selfish motives at all.
With a large family, it’s inevitable that some people will have ulterior motives.
The eldest son of the Song family has now taken over most of the important businesses of the Song family, which puts the elderly couple at ease.
Song Wenjing was exceptionally intelligent and had been known as a child prodigy since childhood. Master Song was determined to send his son into an official career, so he valued Song Wenjing highly.
The Xie family was the same.
Rong Shu didn’t understand why Xie Shi wanted to place someone by Shen Ying’s side.
It wasn’t until the incident involving the fifth branch of the family that she realized how easily Song Wenping and Shen Ying could be manipulated by outsiders.
The Xie family had seen through these two people long ago and had prepared a backup plan.
Based on Xie’s recent improved attitude towards her, Rong Shu guessed that Shen Ying’s provocative visit might have reached Xie’s ears.
She was also taking a gamble.
I’m betting on whether the changes I’ve made in the past two weeks since my rebirth have changed my mother-in-law’s opinion of me.
Now, the Xie family will truly protect her.
It doesn’t matter whether Shen Ying suspects that she went to complain.
At least for the time being, Shen Ying wouldn’t dare to provoke her again.
She belatedly realized that it felt really good to have someone protecting you.
Since her father’s death, she, as the eldest daughter, has become the pillar of the family, and she hasn’t felt this way in a long time.
Thinking of this, her gratitude towards her mother-in-law deepened.
After waking up from her afternoon nap, Rong Shu went to the small kitchen and made some pastries herself, then had them carried to the east courtyard.
…
Song Wenjing went to the academy, and after arriving at his residence, he tidied up and went to the headmaster’s residence.
Liu Zhihe, the headmaster of Guyue Academy, and Song Wenjing’s father, Song Qin, were once colleagues.
Later, a catastrophe involving political maneuvering at court led to both of them being demoted and forced to resign.
Later, Liu Zhihe opened an academy and became a teacher. Today, Guyue Academy is the most famous academy in several prefectures of Jiangning.
Song Qin went into business and expanded his business everywhere. In the past two years, he was even granted the title of Imperial Merchant by imperial decree, and he was once the most prominent figure in Jiangzhou.
The two families have always been close. Liu Zhihe is Song Wenjing’s teacher and values and loves this student very much.
After the servant served tea and withdrew, Liu Zhihe handed an article to Song Wenjing.
Song Wenjing read it through once, and when he saw the signature at the end, he understood and placed the article on the tea table next to him.
“What does Yan Qing think of this article?”
Song Wenjing said, “The wording is good.”
Liu Zhihe shook his goatee and laughed angrily, “You haven’t even entered officialdom yet, how have you learned to whitewash the truth?”
Song Wenjing lowered his eyes and remained silent.
Liu Zhihe could not hide his anger and said, “I know that the current emperor loves this kind of flowery writing the most. If you want to enter officialdom, you have to go with the flow. But this article was written by my own son. It is really shameful and infuriating.”
Song Wenjing understood the implications of this.
In fact, over the years, as the headmaster of the academy, Liu Zhihe did not teach them to go against the higher-ups.
Even though the students were actually quite dissatisfied with the current court, he instead advised them that if they wanted to change the status quo, they shouldn’t stubbornly put themselves in a difficult situation.
Instead, they should first try to obtain the necessary qualifications, and then proceed gradually.
Because of this kind of teaching, there were many people in the school who secretly cursed Liu Zhihe for being scheming and opportunistic.
However, the number of people who passed the imperial examinations at Guyue Academy was always the highest, making it both loved and hated.
Song Wenjing knew that the teacher was also forced into this situation, so he understood his feelings very well.
Liu Zhihe didn’t actually want this student to join him in hurling insults.
Song Wenjing was his favorite student and the best candidate to pass the high school entrance exam next spring. He was even more outstanding than his own son.
It’s a pity that he couldn’t become her son-in-law.
Liu Zhihe summoned Song Wenjing today not only to have him read this article, but also for other reasons.
“Have you heard your father mention that Lin Sheng, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, resigned and returned home?”
Song Wenjing respectfully replied, “Father has been busy these past few days and hasn’t mentioned it. I visited him yesterday with a friend.”
“Um.”
Liu Zhihe looked somewhat worried: “With Lin Sheng resigning from his post, it’s still uncertain who will be chosen as the examiner for next year’s spring imperial examinations.”
The emperor is now incompetent, and factional strife in the court is becoming increasingly fierce.
Lin Sheng was originally a neutral party, but in recent years he has been the chief examiner for the imperial examinations.
Therefore, in recent years, the chances of children from poor families passing the imperial examinations have been about 50%.
His resignation now is probably not so simple.
Liu Zhihe worried that if the chief examiner for next year’s spring imperial examination came from a powerful and wealthy family, how would students from poor families have a chance?
Song Wenjing discussed this with his friends for a long time yesterday and realized how serious it was.
But he felt that the teacher didn’t need to worry too much.
“…The current proliferation of factions in the court is not entirely a bad thing. On the other hand, it prevents one faction from becoming so powerful that commoners have no chance at all…”
Liu Zhihe nodded in agreement.
Song Wenjing was his most outstanding student, and given time, he might be appointed as a prince or prime minister in no time.
Thinking about it this way, the regret in her heart that Song Wenjing could not become her son-in-law deepened even more.
The teacher and student chatted for a long time, and as lunchtime approached, Liu Zhihe suggested that Song Wenjing stay for lunch.
“Your teacher’s wife wanted you to come over for dinner yesterday. She’s been away at her parents’ home for more than half a year and hasn’t seen you in a long time. She’s been talking about you a lot.”
After Liu Zhihe said this, Song Wenjing no longer refused and agreed.
The Liu family lived in a house behind the academy.
When Song Wenjing arrived, following behind Liu Zhihe, his teacher’s wife, Madam Yan, had already arranged for a meal to be served in the flower hall.
“Yan Qing is here. It’s been more than half a year since I last saw him. He’s even more impressive now.”
Facing his enthusiastic teacher’s wife, Song Wenjing respectfully bowed and greeted her, saying, “This student greets Teacher’s Wife.”
Madam Yan hurriedly invited him to sit down: “No need to stand on ceremony. I only made a few home-style dishes today. See if they suit your taste. If not, your teacher’s wife will have someone make more for you.”
Yan has always been a skilled and adept social maneuver, something Song Wenjing knew.
He started studying at Guyue Academy at the age of seven, and due to his father’s connections, he was quite close to the headmaster’s family.
Liu Zhihe looked at his wife bustling about, and a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
He had a premonition that perhaps his wife hadn’t come to terms with it yet?
Sure enough, a figure in purple and pink walked in from outside the flower hall not long after.