spend time

There is no need to wait until the future, it is extraordinary now.

Cui Ping's eyes flickered, and he whispered, "The princess has requested a title for him, and she has to donate a large amount of military rations for this. The court is arguing over this matter. Let's wait patiently, the court's reward should come soon."

"At least he'll be a baron. If he's lucky, he'll be made an earl. Then our Boling Cui family will be proud of him."

The Cui family of Boling was a wealthy family in the north, but unfortunately, they had no truly brilliant children in the past few decades. The highest official was now only a third-rank governor. By the time of Cui Wang, there was not even a Jinshi. This was undoubtedly a bad sign for a family.

Who could have thought that a "son of the Cui family" who was adopted halfway would be so promising.

Cui Wang was filled with envy and sighed in a low voice: "Cui Du has both ability and luck. If it weren't for the princess taking him in, if it were someone else, he would never have made it."

There are many good horses, but good horse trainers are rare.

Cui Ping also sighed: "It's a pity that Cui Du is not a real member of the Cui family. Otherwise, I would have to take him back to Boling County."

Now, it would be nice to get some benefit from it.

Cui Ping thought for a moment and told his son: "You should get closer to Cui Du. If the imperial court's reward goes smoothly, you should stay by Cui Du's side in the future."

This was something they had agreed on before coming here. Cui Wang did not object and nodded in agreement.

Unfortunately, after Cui Ping passed the imperial examination, he made no further progress. When it came to Cui Wang, he barely passed the examination and became a scholar, and he had to rely on the secret planning and efforts of his family. There was nothing that could be done about the lack of talent for studying. Therefore, he had to find another way and take a pragmatic path.

The Cui family was determined to place a bet in Nanyang County, so they naturally had to show their sincerity. So why didn’t they send the eldest grandson from the eldest house here?
……

At the same time, Zheng Chen, Wang Jin and their party finally arrived in the capital.

The royal guards went to report to the military camp, and Zheng Chen and Wang Jin entered the palace without even going home.

Emperor Taihe came out personally and helped the two men up, who looked exhausted and tired. "Hurry up. I've missed you all after half a year of separation. You're finally back. Come in and talk."

Friends who studied and grew up together naturally have a special friendship. Emperor Taihe's eyes were filled with joy.

Zheng Chen Wang Jin thanked the emperor for his grace and followed him into the palace.

Li Boyuan winked at the two of them and said teasingly, "I returned to Beijing five days ago. You two unexpectedly turned to Nanyang County halfway, delaying your trip."

Wang Jin's expression remained unchanged: "We were short of food on the road, and happened to be passing through Jingzhou, so we stopped by Nanyang County."

Zheng Chen frowned. "I encountered a group of bandits on my way back. Dozens of soldiers were injured. I went to Nanyang County to rest for a few days."

Come on! Who doesn't know what you two are thinking?

Li Boyuan sneered in his heart but did not show it on his face. He just smiled.

Jiang Yi, the prince of Gaoliang, interrupted with a smile: "Tell us what Nanyang County is like?"

Emperor Taihe also laughed and said, "I cannot leave the capital, and I have never been to Nanyang County. Tell me about it."

Zheng Chen unexpectedly did not fight for it and left the opportunity to perform to Wang Jin.

Wang Jin was not polite at all and started talking about what he had seen in Nanyang. He focused on describing the comfortable and prosperous life of the people in Nanyang County, and praised Cui Du's farm: "... Cui Du is indeed a man of great talent. In the farm, I saw various improved grains, and vegetables and fruits that can grow well in winter." "Nanyang County is what it is today, and Cui Du deserves the most credit."

These days, having surplus food gives you confidence.

Zheng Chen glanced at Wang Jin indifferently.

Wang Jin thought to himself, whether you read it or not, I have to tell the truth. A love rival is one thing, but Cui Duyouda is another.

Li Boyuan and Jiang Yi were curious and kept asking questions. Wang Jin then explained the matter in detail.

Emperor Taihe was thinking of something, and suddenly he sighed, "You two just came back, you don't know yet! Cousin Shaohua wrote a memorial to ask for a title for Cui Du, and the court is arguing about this matter, which gives me a headache."

Zheng Chen took the opportunity to stab Wang Jin: "I guess the Prime Minister is unwilling to agree?"

The Empress Dowager would not object to this, and the Emperor Taihe would also be happy. In this way, the Empress Dowager's followers would all support it. Of course, those who were opposed were Prime Minister Wang's party.

Emperor Taihe glanced at Wang Jin subconsciously and nodded slightly: "Prime Minister Wang believes that Cui Du has indeed made contributions, and the court can make an exception and confer a viscount on him."

"My cousin Shaohua submitted another memorial a few days ago, saying that she was willing to donate 100,000 dan of military rations. She also stated in the memorial that Cui Du's contribution was enough to make him a marquis."

Marquis?!
Wang Jin was stunned, and reflexively continued: "Cui Du is not yet an adult, isn't it too much to make him a marquis?"

A hint of darkness flashed across Zheng Chen's eyes, and he said calmly, "If the court does not confer this title of Marquis, will the 100,000 dan of military rations in Nanyang County become a dead letter?"

For things like this, everyone should just keep it in mind and don't say it out loud! Doesn't the court want to be respectable?

Emperor Taihe coughed and glanced at Zheng Chen: "One hundred thousand dan of military rations is not a small number. Nanyang County will have to raise it for some time. However, since cousin Shaohua has agreed, she will definitely not use this matter to threaten the court."

Therefore, even the emperor's heart has been biased. This matter is likely to succeed.

When he thought about the young man with a particularly annoying smile, who would soon be rewarded by the court and become the youngest marquis in Daliang's history, and be qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with Jiang Shaohua... an indescribable and uncontrollable anger spread in Zheng Chen's heart.

However, at this moment, he could say nothing and do nothing.

He was just a secretary of the Central Secretariat, and above him was his father, the Duke of Anguo, and the Empress Dowager. It was not his turn to have the final say in the so-called party of the Empress Dowager.

The voice of Emperor Taihe sounded beside his ears: "Let's not discuss this matter for now. You two must be very tired after coming back from such a long journey. Go back and rest for two days before you come back to the palace to work."

Zheng Chen came to his senses and bowed to accept the order together with Wang Jin.

After the two left the palace, one returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion and the other to the Duke's Mansion. Each went back to his own home and saw his own father.

Let's not talk about Wang Jin first, let's talk about Zheng Chen. After returning to the Duke's Mansion, he was warmly welcomed by the Zheng family. As the legitimate son of the Zheng family, he served as an imperial envoy for half a year and returned to Beijing. This is also the treatment he deserves.

Zheng Chen was in a bad mood. After exchanging a few pleasantries with his family, he went to the study of Duke Anguo.

Once the door was closed, the father and son spoke more directly.

"Why are you going to Nanyang County?" Duke Anguo frowned, disapproving: "No matter how good Jiang Shaohua is, she can't be the daughter-in-law of the Zheng family. She is going to stay in Nanyang County to marry into the family. Do you want to abandon the Zheng family and your bright future to become her son-in-law?" (End of this chapter)