The Prodigal Son

the next day.

After breakfast, Qin Yu prepared to take Nan Que'er, Luo Qingyi, and Qi Dachui to visit Song Zhuo.

According to Luo Qingyi, Song Zhuo's health deteriorated rapidly during the five months they were away from the capital.

Now, Song Zhuo is bedridden.

According to Nan Que'er's judgment, Song Zhuo's days are numbered.

Since the old man isn't in the capital, he, as a junior, has to go and visit Song Zhuo.

Just as they were getting ready to leave, Lü Si arrived first.

His entourage was carrying a pile of tonics.

Looking at the energetic Qin Yu, Lü Si couldn't help but frown slightly. "Weren't you bedridden?"

Qin Yu chuckled inwardly, "You fucking want me to get sick?"

"I know, you're definitely faking illness because you don't want to go to court!"

Lu Si suddenly realized what was happening and cast a disdainful look at Qin Yu.

"Who said that?"

Qin Yu, of course, denied it, "I was cured by Que'er!"

"fart!"

Lü Si curled his lip.

He didn't believe a single word Qin Yu said!

He was bedridden with a cold yesterday, but today he's lively and energetic. Does he really think Nan Que'er is a goddess?

"Believe it or not!" Qin Yu was too lazy to waste time with his small talk. "So, are you here to visit me, or to gloat?"

"I'm here to pay off my debts!"

Lu Si glared at Qin Yu with displeasure, pulled a stack of silver notes from his sleeve and handed them to Qin Yu, snorting, "Fifty-six thousand taels in total! Count them!"

"There's interest too?"

Qin Yu was surprised and joked, "Becoming the Empress Dowager's adopted son really changes things; he's so generous now!"

Qin Yu took the silver note, but stuffed it into his sleeve pocket without even glancing at it.

He knew that Zhao Luan had also rewarded Lü Si with 500,000 taels of silver and appointed him as a Zhengyi Dafu, a proper fourth-rank official.

Lu Si now has an official position, money, and a new identity, and he no longer needs to attend court!

Life is simply wonderful!

"What kind of interest is that?!"

Lu Si curled his lip, "And there's another six thousand taels as a congratulatory gift for your investiture as a marquis!"

congratulations?

Qin Yu paused for a moment, then looked at Lü Si with a broad smile, "I must say, you're actually quite considerate!"

When Lü Chunqiu was ennobled, he sent a congratulatory gift of five thousand taels of silver.

Lu Si immediately returned the six thousand taels.

That's really quite sophisticated!

"nonsense!"

Lu Si curled his lip. "You think I'm like you? You've been granted a title and you don't even know to invite me for a drink!"

"Okay, I'll treat you to drinks another day."

Qin Yu smiled and asked again, "Has the date been set for the Empress Dowager to adopt you as her godson?"

"It's settled! The 10th of next month!"

Upon hearing this, Lü Si grinned and slapped Qin Yu on the shoulder, "From now on, with the Empress Dowager and my elder sister backing me up, if you dare to offend me again, they won't let you off!"

"Uh-huh."

Qin Yu suppressed a laugh, "You'll have to help me out in the future."

"That depends on your performance!"

Lu Si put his hands on his hips and smiled smugly.

Seeing Lü Si's appearance, Luo Qingyi and Nan Que'er quickly turned their faces away.

That unlucky kid!

He was born to be countered by Qin Yu.

Qin Yu suppressed a laugh. "Alright, I still need to visit Prime Minister Song. I can't waste any more time chatting with you!"

Lu Si thought for a moment, "Forget it, I'll go too! I brought some tonics with me, and I'm too lazy to carry them back!"

Qin Yu's face darkened. "Didn't you bring this for me?"

"You're fine, why would I give it to you?" Lu Si replied matter-of-factly.

Got it!

I won't be able to get any of Young Master Lü's supplements.

Qin Yu shrugged and went out with Lü Si.

On the way, Lü Si asked mysteriously again, "Do you know where Cui Zhi went?"

Qin Yu shook his head slightly, "I really haven't paid attention to that."

Lu Si chuckled: "That grandson has been assigned to Jiankou County in Yuanzhou as magistrate! Someone from the Confucian Temple and Academy went with him to be a county assistant!"

"Good!"

Qin Yu smiled, "If Cui Zhi had half the integrity of his father, the smuggled salt trade over there could be controlled!"

Moreover, Zhu Songlan had already given the court the answers to governing those areas.

If Cui Zhi governs the area according to the plan proposed by Zhu Songlan, it should be able to free Jiankou County from its dependence on smuggled salt in a few years.

Thinking of Zhu Songlan, Qin Yu couldn't help but secretly look forward to it.

All he knew was that Zhu Songlan had been transferred back to the imperial court.

I don't know when he will be able to reach the capital.

He still wanted to have a good drink with Zhu Songlan!

"That bastard got appointed magistrate thanks to us! In the end, we didn't even get a sip of wine!"

Lu Si complained a few words about Cui Zhi, then teased, "Those bastards at the Confucian Temple and Academy really got a great deal this time thanks to you! You're practically a benefactor to the Confucian Temple and Academy, why don't you go and ask them to erect a monument in your honor or something?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu laughed and cursed, "Stand up my ass! Give me a statue, and I'll erect a monument for you, okay?"

However, to be fair, the Confucian Temple and Academy really got a great deal this time.

There's no way around it; there's a severe shortage of officials in Da Ning right now.

It is better to select people for office from the Confucian temple and academy than to rely entirely on officials recommending their relatives or acquaintances for office.

It wasn't just the people at the Confucian Temple and the Imperial Academy who benefited greatly; the scholars in this special imperial examination also reaped huge rewards.

In the past, even if someone passed the palace examination, they still had to undergo an examination by the Ministry of Personnel before they could be granted an official position. Usually, only five to ten people could get an official position, while the rest were basically on the waiting list or were granted educational positions such as local instructors.

But this time, it is said that more than 30 people were granted official positions.

I've heard that most of them start at the level of county magistrate.

Those who took the imperial examination that year, like Yang Jichun, would probably be envious to tears if they saw the treatment these people received!

While Qin Yu was lost in thought, Lü Si asked in a low voice, "Gao Dan has been promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Did you know about this?"

"I've heard about it."

Qin Yu nodded slightly, looking indifferent.

Let him promote me!

They're all just pieces anyway, so you can promote them however you like.

Lu Si frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "What do you think my elder sister is thinking? We clearly made a contribution, so why was Gao Dan promoted eight ranks? Didn't you tell her about Yu Jing sending someone to assassinate you?"

Lü Si was very unhappy.

Gao Danpi didn't do anything right, so why was he promoted eight ranks in a row?

Anyone who didn't know better would think that Gao Dan was the one who reformed the salt administration and uncovered the truth behind the assassination of the Crown Prince!

"It's no use talking about it." Qin Yu shook his head and said, "Zhou Jishan insists that it was his own initiative and that it can't be blamed on Yu Jing."

"Bullshit! Do you believe that?" Lu Si scoffed.

"Whether you believe it or not, there's nothing you can do!"

Qin Yu smiled helplessly, "Perhaps His Majesty has deeper considerations, but you shouldn't talk about this."

The two chatted and joked all the way until they finally arrived at the Song residence.

Upon learning that Qin Yu and the others had come to visit Song Zhuo, Song Xian warmly stepped forward to greet them.

Song Xian had only been back for a short time, less than a month.

When Song Xian returned, everyone in the court knew that Song Zhuo probably didn't have much time left.

Otherwise, Zhao Luan would never have allowed Song Xian, who was in charge of the overall situation in Wuzhou and Xingzhou, to rush back to the capital.

"Greetings, Lord Qin! Greetings, Young Master Lü!"

Song Xian smiled and bowed to the two of them.

"No, no!"

Qin Yu quickly stepped forward and pulled Song Xian away, saying, "Are you trying to embarrass us?"

"That's right!" Lü Si smiled sheepishly. "If my dad knew I had Uncle Song bow to me, he'd definitely beat me up!"

"You seem to have changed a lot, kid?"

Song Xian glanced at Lü Si with a smile, then teased the two of them, "You two are now Marquis of Wuning and Grand Master of the Palace, while I have no official position or post. If I don't follow the proper etiquette, people will say that the Song family is uncultured and doesn't even understand basic manners!"

"Come on!"

Qin Yu smiled at Song Xian, "Who doesn't know that His Majesty is sending you home to fulfill your filial duties? Why bother with such formalities? Go see Prime Minister Song!"

"good!"

Song Xian raised his hand in a gesture of invitation, "Please!"