Union

Chapter 147: Entering the Palace to See the Emperor
Chen Yanzhou did not enter the palace the following day.

The reason is simple: the palace did not summon him.

Duke Rongguo was not surprised by this, and explained to his son, "I forgot to tell you that the Empress has been unwell these past few days, and His Majesty is very worried. In addition, it is the end of the year, and the Empress Dowager, who has been staying at Tingchan Temple, has also decided to return to the palace today."

At this critical juncture, His Majesty is only concerned with the Empress and the Empress Dowager, and has not even paid much attention to the affairs of the court. Nowadays, most trivial matters are decided by the Grand Secretaries themselves, and His Majesty only shows up to set the basic tone when it comes to matters involving disaster relief or sacrifices.

Duke Rong patted his son on the shoulder, "Go back and rest. His Majesty is definitely not available to see you today. The earliest he can see you is tomorrow, and it's not impossible after the seal is sealed. In any case, you'll be spending the New Year in the capital, so there's no rush for His Majesty to see you."

Chen Yanzhou replied "okay," bowed to his father, and turned to head towards Wenhua Garden, where his mother lived.

It was at this moment that the Duke of Rong remembered something, "Your wife..."

Chen Yanzhou frowned. "Please speak properly."

"Alright, let's talk this out. I heard that Lin Shi went to the Marquis of Chang'an's residence early this morning. What about you, do you want to go and check on your father-in-law?"

Chen Yanzhou didn't speak, but his eyebrows drooped, and he looked indifferent.

Seeing this, what else could the Duke of Rong not understand?

Normally, when a son-in-law returns home, he should take his wife and children to visit his parents-in-law. But the situation is special for the son and Lin.

Duke Rongguo smiled and said, "Then you should go see your mother first, and later go to visit my uncles and aunts for me."

Chen Yanzhou raised an eyebrow. "No need, Father. I'm going to visit my teacher's wife later."

Duke Rong paused, then said, "Your teacher's wife? She really should go see her. Alright, after you've seen your mother, go see your teacher's wife."

Chen Yanzhou's teacher's wife was also the first wife of Grand Secretary Tong.

Two years ago, Grand Secretary Tong was dismissed from his post and His Majesty ordered him to return to his hometown. Logically, Grand Secretary Tong's wife should also return with him.

Unfortunately, the old lady was frail and lay on her bed, on the verge of death. She was truly at the point where she could die at any moment. If she had been properly cared for and kept alive with ginseng, she might have lived for another two years. Otherwise, if they risked carrying her back to Grand Secretary Tong's hometown, she would probably have died on the way before even reaching the destination.

The emperor was also afraid of being accused of being too harsh in his conduct, and this old lady also had the title of county princess, so the emperor even had to call her his cousin.

In light of all this, the emperor allowed the old lady to remain in the capital and even specially dispatched imperial physicians to take good care of her. In this way, the infamy the emperor had incurred for being too harsh on Grand Secretary Tong was somewhat reversed, and the emperor gained an additional layer of benevolence on his persona.

Chen Yanzhou had previously pleaded on behalf of his mentor, which angered the emperor. He wasn't afraid of being gossiped about if he went to visit his mentor's wife... The emperor was already taking good care of her, so surely no one would be so tactless as to say such trivial things.

Chen Yanzhou went out half an hour later. By then, Sui Yu had already told Chen Yanzhou the news she had found out.

"It's snowing in Qianzhou. Yunying and Moxue have stayed at the post station, saying they'll wait for the snow to stop before heading to the capital."

Chen Yanzhou nodded slightly. "Alright. Send a message to Mo Xue, telling them not to rush, to be on the safe side, and to wait until the snow melts on the road before setting off."

"Row."

"Anything else?"

After thinking it over, Sui Yu decided to tell the Second Master the truth. Even if he hadn't said it, the Second Master would have found out a few days later anyway.

Since we can't hide it from him, let's tell the truth. That way, we won't have to punish him later when Second Master finds out the truth.

"Mo Xue said that they met Xiahou Yi at the post station."

"Xiahou Yi?" The Second Master got into the carriage and called for Sui Yu to come in as well.

Sui Yu followed him in eagerly, whispering to the Second Master, "It wasn't just that we encountered Xiahou Yi, but twice. The second time was quite dangerous. As you know, Second Master, Xiahou Yi was previously appointed as the border patrol commissioner. He must have discovered something, and he was assassinated countless times on his way back to the capital."

Chen Yanzhou frowned immediately. "You mean, Yun Ying and the others have been dragged into this?"

"That's not quite right. It's just a coincidence that we stopped at the same inn, so accidental injuries are inevitable. Oh dear, none of them were hurt, they were just frightened."

"and after?"

"Then they parted ways. Mo Xue sent word that Xiahou Yi is riding a fast horse to the capital, and judging by the time, he should arrive in the next day or two. Second Master, Second Master..."

"I am listening."

"Is there anything else you need?"

The Second Master pondered for a moment. Although the place where Mo Xue and the others were currently staying was not far from the capital and the security was quite good, he was still worried. So he said to Sui Yu, "Send another ten people over there to support Mo Xue."

Sui Yu looked speechless, then resignedly wiped her face, "Fine, I knew it would be like this."

Chen Yanzhou's schedule was naturally busy that day. He stayed at his teacher's wife's residence until the afternoon, had lunch with the old lady, played two games of chess with her, and chatted for a while.

The old lady, who was once on the verge of death, now looks quite spry. Although her once white hair has turned silver, her face remains elegant, dignified, and kind.

Chen Yanzhou was stunned for a moment when he saw the person, and he still can't figure out why.

After they finished playing chess and chatted, the master's wife said to Chen Yanzhou, "I need to get better before I can go back to find your master. He's been stubborn his whole life. Without me watching over him, look what he's done... When he married me, he promised to 'share the same bed in life and the same coffin in death,' and now he's just left me here. When I find him, I'm going to give him a good scolding, and this time he definitely won't dare to talk back..."

After leaving his teacher's wife's place, Chen Yanzhou hadn't even returned to his residence when he was intercepted on the way.

The people who intercepted him were none other than his close friends.

One was Liu Ying'an, the second son of the Marquis of Wu'an; another was Zhou Zhenshu, the eldest grandson of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy; the third was Chen Songnian, the eldest son of the Marquis of Changming; and the fourth was Gu Yuanxi, the second grandson of the Duke of Xuan, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

These four men were childhood friends of Chen Yanzhou and were close confidants.

When Chen Yanzhou was demoted to Lingnan, several of his friends sent him gifts.

Especially Liu Ying'an, who was the youngest and most unreliable among them. He felt sorry for his good brother, but the things he sent were a mess, some were ancient zithers and famous chess pieces, and some were pre-painted portraits of beauties. He meant well, but his ability to get things done was worrying.

Several men intercepted Chen Yanzhou and quickly shoved him into the carriage. Liu Ying'an jumped and hopped around in the carriage, making what was originally a fairly spacious carriage feel cramped.

Liu Ying'an: "Hey, if Songnian hadn't heard it from his cousin, we wouldn't have known you were already back in Beijing. Honestly, you didn't even say a word before returning. Don't you even consider us your brothers anymore?"

Gu Yuanxi: "You did say you were going to the capital to report on your duties this year, and I thought you would go to the capital early. But it's already December, and I haven't seen you anywhere. Tell me, what's so good about Lingnan Prefecture? Why can't you leave that place and go back to the capital quickly?"

Zhou Zhenshu didn't ramble on, but simply handed Chen Yanzhou a cup of hot tea, saying, "Have some tea to moisten your mouth first."

Chen Yanzhou had drunk a lot of tea today and wasn't thirsty anymore. He took the tea and placed it on the low table in front of him, then looked at Chen Songnian.

Chen Songnian has a long face and a thin build. He is quiet and appears taciturn and unassuming.

But that's how outsiders see it.

In reality, this person is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Ever since Chen Yanzhou stood up for him once, he took the initiative to approach him and became friends with Chen Yanzhou.

He and Chen Yanzhou were, in a way, related by marriage.

Where does this bend take place?

Chen Yanzhou married Lin Shuqing, the third daughter of the Marquis of Chang'an. Chen Songnian's cousin, the heir of the Marquis of Changshun, married Lin Shuqing's elder sister, Lin Shuyu. Thus, it's not wrong to say that the two are related in a roundabout way.

As an aside, the Earl of Changshun and the Marquis of Changwu shared the same ancestor in their early years. Their ancestor helped the founding emperor establish the dynasty, and his sons were no slackers either, carving out their own futures, which later became the Earl of Changwu's mansion.

However, times have changed. The Marquis of Changshun's mansion became the Earl of Changshun, while the Earl of Changwu became the Marquis of Changwu.

Although their fates differed, they shared the same ancestor. They were the only family in the capital to have earned two noble titles.

Thus, even though their positions were reversed, the two families remained very close.

……

Chen Yanzhou learned from Liu Ying'an that Chen Songnian had heard about his return to the capital from his cousin. He knew that Lin Shuqing's return to her parents' home must have caused quite a stir. Otherwise, it wouldn't have alarmed her married elder sister, and the rumors would have reached the Changwu Marquis's residence.

Chen Yanzhou asked Chen Songnian, "Do you know anything else?"

"What else?" Chen Songnian's voice was lower than usual. Coupled with his consistently cold demeanor and taciturn nature, these factors combined to make him seem somewhat gloomy and unapproachable.

Chen Songnian said to Chen Yanzhou, "My cousin just mentioned it casually; he didn't mention anything else."

The conversation between the two seemed rather puzzling to the other three. But none of them were mediocre, and after a little thought, they figured out what was going on.

Gu Yuanxi and Zhou Zhenshu both frowned, but Liu Ying'an exclaimed excitedly, "What do you mean, Second Master? Does it mean that you just got home and your wife is already having a fight with you and has gone back to her parents' house to cry?"

The term "Second Master" was originally used by Liu Ying'an when she teased Chen Yanzhou.

Back then, Chen Yanzhou became the top scholar in the imperial examination, while Liu Ying'an, to this day, just loafs around at home, either fawning over his mother or entertaining his grandmother with colorful clothes until she's doubled over with laughter. Although these are all good things, they're not anything serious. Compared to Chen Yanzhou, this "other people's child," he's nothing special.

Liu Ying'an's biological father, who is now the Marquis of Wu'an, disliked his son's frivolous and carefree attitude. He said to him, "I don't expect you to become the top scholar in the imperial examination. If you can just pass the county-level examination for your father, your father will be so happy that he will burn more incense for his ancestors."

Liu Ying'an replied to his father like this: "Going back three generations from our ancestors, there was no one who didn't know how to use knives and guns. As for literacy, Father, was it my grandfather who knew how to read, or my great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and great-great-great-grandfather who knew how to read? There isn't a single cultured person in the whole family, and you still want me to help you pass the imperial examination? Father, you must be a toad trying to eat swan meat, wishful thinking."

Enraged, Marquis Wu'an picked up a stick to teach his unfilial son a lesson. But Liu Ying'an was not afraid and continued to shout, "If you want me to pass the imperial examination, you'd better change my ancestors first!"

Marquis Wu'an said, "I'll just give you a new father!"

The father and son argued so much that it was chaotic. In the end, Liu Ying'an said, "I'm not changing my father. I'll just change my brother. If I call Chen Yanzhou 'brother' a few more times, maybe I'll absorb some of his literary talent and pass the imperial examination next year."

His father said, "Why call me 'brother'? Call me 'Dad' or 'Grandpa' if you don't like that..."

Liu Ying'an was just trying to spite his father, so he said, "Calling me 'Grandpa' is fine, it sounds impressive. Then my brother will be my Second Grandpa from now on. Listen to that, Second Grandpa, how prestigious it sounds."

It ended with Liu Ying'an receiving several solid blows to the buttocks.

Afterwards, Liu Ying'an would often bring up this incident to tease his father. Since all the young masters of aristocratic families were addressed as "this master" or "that master" in public, no one cared. Liu Ying'an did call him "Second Master" a few times.

Of course, this is usually used when teasing the Second Master.

Right now, I'm just too shocked.

Liu Ying'an was thinking to herself, "Is Second Master perhaps lacking in some way, failing to satisfy his wife? Otherwise, why would he have angered her so much that she ran back to her parents' home as soon as he returned to the capital?"

But Liu Ying'an dared not say this. They could joke around, but if they really offended the women in their families, it would be a breach of their character.

Liu Ying'an kept his mouth shut, wanting to ask but not daring to. But did he even need to ask? His mind was as simple as a blank sheet of paper; whatever he was thinking was written all over his face.

Gu Yuanxi and the others understood Liu Ying'an's meaning and immediately looked at Chen Yanzhou with one mind.

No way?
Could this be the real reason why Lin caused such a scene at her parents' home?
The meaningful glances exchanged by the group made Chen Yanzhou feel frustrated and agitated.

He leaned back and crossed his arms, saying, "Quickly shut up the expressions on your faces. What kind of nonsense is this? Don't offend my eyes."

Liu Ying'an leaned closer and said, "Then tell me, what exactly happened?"

"What do you mean, what's going on? Don't you think you're worrying too much?"

Zhou Zhenshu said, "He was too concerned. He's probably regretting it now, not sleeping under your bed yesterday."

Facing Chen Yanzhou's death stare, Liu Ying'an reluctantly dragged the others down with her, "It's not like I'm the only one who's curious. Just ask them, aren't they curious too? Hey, their curiosity is no less than mine."

Liu Ying'an kept rambling on and on, but then no one paid him any attention, so he tentatively asked again, "So what do we do now? Should Second Master hurry to his mother-in-law's house to get his wife, and we all go home, or...?"

The second master thought for a moment and was about to answer when he heard an urgent, shrill voice from outside, "Is the second master of the Rongguo Duke's Mansion inside? Oh dear, please come with this old servant to the palace, His Majesty wants to see you."