After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 687 Bad idea

After returning home, Haijiao told his sister Haitang about Jin Jiashu's failed attempt to enter the Imperial College.

Haitang was not surprised by this. Since Emperor Deguang was determined to prevent Jin Jiashu from entering Beijing, he would certainly block all avenues and would not let Jin Jiashu take advantage of any loopholes.

What's more, Prefect Xin was not a fool. No matter how reluctant he was, he knew that the emperor could not tolerate Jin Jiashu passing the provincial examination and entering Beijing to take the imperial examination after obtaining the title of Juren. It was impossible for Jin Jiashu to enter the Imperial College with the title of deputy tribute. The emperor probably only let him dethrone Jin Jiashu in the provincial examination, and he himself felt it was unfair, so he listed him as the first on the deputy list. If Jin Jiashu entered the Imperial College with this result, he would have to take the blame. He would not throw his career prospects aside for a strange boy like Jin Jiashu.

However, not only was Jin Jiashu unable to enter the Imperial College, but even Wu Ke was stopped, which surprised Haitang a little.

If Wu Qiong knew this news, she would definitely feel very uncomfortable, right?
Although Wu Ke and Wu Qiong's current situation is not suitable for returning to the capital to settle down, Wu Qiong has always hoped to move into a home that truly belongs to her before getting married. Now that her hopes have been dashed again and again, how can she feel good?
Haitang remembered that she had been ill for a few days. Although she had always claimed that her condition was mild and nothing serious and asked her friends not to worry, she still planned to go to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to visit her and say a few words of comfort.

Haitang said to Haijiao, "Brother Jin wants to contact Madam Xu using the secret letter method that my brother taught me? To be honest, there's nothing wrong with this method for him to use, but he tried every means to talk to Madam Xu directly. He borrowed the channels of Madam Ma and Guard Lin, but he had to be careful that the emperor and the empress dowager knew about it; he borrowed the channels after my brother came to the capital, but he had to be careful that you knew their secrets. It's better to go to the capital directly than to go through so much trouble. Even if Madam Xu can't leave the palace, he can go to the palace to pay his respects as a relative and junior, and he will have the opportunity to discuss business in person, which is better than having so many concerns like now."

Hai Jiao sighed, "Who said it wasn't? But Emperor Deguang refused to let him into the capital, and even issued a decree to let Prefect Xin stop him. What could Xiao Jin do? The people he could rely on in Chang'an, including the Duke of Zhenguo, General Tu Rong, Ma Shangyi, and Guard Lin, would not disobey the emperor's orders. Could he have fled to the capital without telling so many people? Once he got to the capital, how would he contact Empress Xu in the palace? Even if the travel expenses were not a problem, he could find guards to send him off, and Eunuch Pu could deliver letters for him. He also had to consider whether the emperor would get angry when he found out. He couldn't give up his future fame and fortune, right? It wasn't worth it! So I advised him to stay in Chang'an and study for two years. Anyway, when Emperor Deguang passed away and the new emperor ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Xu would say that it would be convenient for him to do whatever he wanted."

Hai Jiao did not object to Jin Jiashu going to Beijing in two years. What could he do in Beijing now? At most, he could meet Concubine Xu and the Eighth Prince in person. But Emperor Deguang had tampered with Concubine Xu's life experience. When Jin Jiashu met the latter, he could only be called "nephew". It was impossible for the mother and son to recognize each other. If the Sun family targeted him, it would be dangerous. It would be better to wait until the dust settled in Beijing and Concubine Xu became Empress Dowager Xu. No matter how much the Sun family wanted to make trouble in secret, they would not dare to kill Empress Dowager Xu's relatives. Then, if he went to Beijing at that time, he would be safe and sound. Even his future in the imperial examination would be guaranteed, and no one would hinder his future.

Haijiao said to Haitang, "Now that Xiaojin is in Beijing, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. It is better to be patient and wait for a while. I will find out the situation for him after I arrive in Beijing. If the Sun family wants to play any tricks, I will immediately inform them and tell them to be prepared. Anyway, the Sun family doesn't know me and won't be on guard against me, but I know many secrets of the Sun family, so it is easy for them to find out the news."

Haitang hurriedly said seriously: "Brother, you must not take it lightly! You are not a member of the Jinyiwei now, but just an ordinary martial arts candidate. Even if you have the support of Tao Gelao, you have to be right. If the Sun family comes to embarrass you for no reason, Tao Gelao will naturally uphold justice for you; but if you go to investigate the secrets of the Sun family by yourself and are caught in the act, Tao Gelao will not be able to speak for you. In the two lives you have experienced, the Sun family has been prosperous for decades. How can it be easy to deal with them? Brother, you can't think that you are so capable just because you know some secrets, and no one in the Sun family can do anything to you. You have a bright future in this life. Grandpa, grandma and I are waiting for your good news at home. You can't do stupid things and capsize in the gutter, ruining your future and life. That's not worth it!"

After hearing this, Haijiao touched his nose embarrassedly and said, "Brother is confused. Don't worry, I will never do anything stupid!" Haitang was a little worried and reminded him again and again until Haijiao raised his hand and swore that he would never take risks and take the initiative to explore the secrets of the Sun family. Only then did she shut up.

After dinner, Haitang submitted a letter to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, and went to visit the sick Wu Qiong as scheduled the next day.

Wu Qiong looked fine, just a little pale and listless. However, she was still very happy that Haitang came to visit her. She smiled and said, "It's hard for you to come all the way here. Actually, I really don't have anything serious. It's just... a slight cold. I took some medicine and I'm fine now."

Haitang didn't believe her and just turned to look at Zhou Xuejun. Zhou Xuejun sighed, "It's actually a mental illness. She took medicine and got better, but when she heard that her cousin couldn't get into the Imperial College, she cried all night and her condition relapsed. The doctor told her to relax. She said it was okay, but she still felt uneasy."

Haitang raised her eyebrows and said to Wu Qiong in a serious tone, "You actually just want to live in your own home for a while, right? Why don't you tell the elders of the Zhenguo Mansion directly? At your brother's age, even if he can't pass the imperial examination and can't go to the Imperial College, he should consider getting married. He is a descendant of the Wu family, so does he have to marry in the Zhou family of the Zhenguo Mansion? If he wants to get married, there will be a lot of things to do at home, and you can't expect him, a scholar, to handle it, right? Or do you think the housekeeper sent by the Zhenguo Mansion can make the decision for him? Naturally, you, a sister, will have to help out. When necessary, it is not uncommon for you to live in your brother's house for a year or two."

Wu Qiong's eyes lit up when he heard this, but then he said sadly: "If my cousin didn't have the title of a juren, how could he have the nerve to ask to marry a noble lady from an aristocratic family? He said that he was not in a hurry to get married, and he would pass the juren exam first. Anyway, he is still young and there is no rush..."

The elders of the Zhenguo Mansion had actually advised Wu Ke to get married and have children as soon as possible, and preparing for the imperial examination would not prevent him from continuing the family line, but Wu Ke was still thinking about reviving the Wu family, hoping to marry a wife with a prominent family background so that he could get help from his wife's family. Without the title of a juren, relying only on the past glory of the Wu family's ancestors, he was too embarrassed to ask for it, so he insisted on getting married after passing the juren. Seeing that he had made up his mind, the Zhenguo Mansion could not persuade him any more, so the matter was delayed.

Wu Ke was a man, so it was okay for him to get married later. But Wu Qiong's daughter's flowering period could not be delayed, so her marriage was already on the agenda, and she would only wait until the formal mourning period ended before she could see the bride.

Haitang looked at Wu Qiong's depressed look, thought for a while, and then gave her a bad idea: "Go and persuade your brother to get married as soon as possible. Although a good Yue family can help him get ahead faster, he is the grandson of Lord Wu Wen'an and the cousin of the seventh prince. Does he have to rely on his wife's family to get ahead? It's not like he doesn't have real ability! After getting married, he will personally inquire about your marriage and prepare your dowry for you. Even if the Zhenguo Mansion can handle it properly for you, as the head of the family, does he really have to rely on his relatives and be a hands-off manager?"

(End of this chapter)