The news that Song Wan Yue and Song Si had donated the one million taels of silver that the Third Prince had lost to the Ministry of War soon spread throughout the capital.
Naturally, Consort Shu and the Third Prince knew about it. Consort Shu was so angry that she smashed a vase, and the Third Prince was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Naturally, the Xu family heard about it, and the old man stroked his beard, revealing his first comforting smile in days, “Yue’er has done well.”
He didn’t want to speculate on the emperor’s mind. But one million taels was not a small amount, and the emperor had asked the third prince to pay for it, on the surface it looked like he was giving Song Wan Yue a favour, but in reality it was putting her, including the Song family, on the spot ……
Mr. Xu Er also nodded approvingly, none of them had expected Song Wangyue to donate the silver.
Dao, “Since the Third Prince has been punished, Yue’er must be going back as well.”
The old gentleman’s smile fell and he called Xu Liang in and told him to go pack his clothes, “Bring the ones for winter as well.”
“Father ……”
Mr Xu Er was worried.
The old gentleman waved his hand, “My body bones are hard and strong, nothing will happen in three to five years, and even if something happens, Yue’er can heal, so you don’t have to worry. From now on the Xu family will be in the hands of you and Yan’er, you must remember the lesson your elder …… him, you must not do anything that is detrimental to morality.”
Mr. Xu Er and Xu Yan rose, “My son (grandson) will remember.”
Xu Liang came in quickly from outside, “Old sir, someone from the palace is here.”
The old gentleman froze slightly, then got up and led Mr. Xu Er and Xu Yan out to welcome them.
Eunuch Huang happened to enter the courtyard, and when he saw the old gentleman coming out, he hurriedly took a few steps forward, “Old gentleman.”
“Eunuch Huang is very polite, I wonder what the Emperor’s decree is?”
“His Majesty has announced that you and young master Xu Yan are to enter the palace.”
“Please wait for a moment, Eunuch Huang, Yan’er and I will change our clothes and follow you into the palace.”
Eunuch Huang nodded his head.
Mr Xu Er led Eunuch Huang to the parlour for tea.
The old gentleman gestured for Xu Yan to follow him into the inner room, and while changing his clothes, he said, “Yue’er has just donated silver, and the emperor has declared you and me into the palace, so he must want to take advantage of the opportunity to draw you in, and possibly let you join the court, remember that our Xu family has always been a puritanical family, and does not get involved in those battles in the court, so no matter what rewards the emperor has today, you will mainly refuse by doing your studies.”
Xu Yan replied.
The old gentleman told him to go back and change his clothes.
The two of them changed and followed Eunuch Huang into the palace.
His Majesty was full of smiles and gave the old gentleman a seat, “Old gentleman, your great-granddaughter is really out of my expectation.”
“I’m not going to hide it from Your Majesty, we weren’t expecting it either, we were shocked when we heard about it just now, that she didn’t even tell us about such a big event.”
“More than that, I wanted to put the pill business under the court’s name, but she said nothing, as if she was afraid that I would steal her money.”
The old gentleman also laughed at his words, “That girl is still young and doesn’t know the Emperor’s loving heart, there will be times when she will regret it later.”
“I have also granted her a condition, as long as it is not murder and arson, I can grant her.”
The old gentleman got up and gave the emperor a big salute, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your love for Yue’er.”
The emperor gestured for the old gentleman to sit down and then gave a wink to Eunuch Huang, who turned around and went out, leading the fourth prince in not long after.
The fourth prince was four years old and looked like Consort Xiao Xian, when he entered the doorway, he bowed to the emperor in a regular manner, “Father.”
“This is the old man.”
The fourth prince turned again and bowed to the old gentleman, “Greetings, old gentleman.”
The old gentleman rose and returned the salute, “Fourth prince.”
The Fourth Prince’s small body moved slightly to the side to avoid his salute.
The Emperor looked on.
“There is no need to be polite with him, old sir. I have invited old sir into the palace today because I want to discuss a matter with you.”
“Your Majesty, please speak.”
“I would like to ask Xu Yan to be Feng’er’s teacher.”
“This ……”
“The first reason is that he was taught by you and has both knowledge and vision; the second reason is that he has travelled extensively over the years and has seen and learned more than those in the capital. The main thing is that I don’t want him to repeat the same mistake as Yi’s. Your Xu family has always been clean, and I hope that Feng’er can learn this.”
The old gentleman was naturally reluctant, what he feared most was to get involved with the emperor, if there was any future competition for the throne among the princes, they could not stay out of it, “Your Majesty, during those years Yan’er said he had gone on a trip, but in fact he had gone to look for Wan’er, he had fallen behind in his studies and was not good enough to be the third prince’s teacher.”
“Old gentleman is modest, how is Xu Yan’s learning, I know it well in my heart, please old gentleman don’t excuse yourself, even if you don’t look at my face, you should look at the face of the Duke of Ding, do you want me to call the Duke of Ding to beg you.”
“Your Majesty’s words are too much.”
“Then the old man is saying yes, I have looked at the yellow calendar, the eighth day of the eighth month is a good day, let’s set that day to hold the ceremony of worship.”
……
The two of them did not speak on the way home. When they arrived at the door of the house, they just got off the carriage and Song Wan Yue and Song Si also came in the carriage.
After Song Wan Yue called out to the others, she saw that the two of them were not looking well and asked, while helping the old gentleman inside, “What are great grandfather and uncle doing here?”
“Going to the palace.”
Song Wan Yue paused in her steps and didn’t say much, helping the old gentleman back inside and sitting down before saying, “Did the emperor give you a hard time?”
The old gentleman sighed, “If only it were difficult, the Emperor has made your uncle the fourth prince’s master.”
The Fourth Prince?
Song Wan Yue didn’t move her voice, “Then have you agreed?”
The old gentleman sighed again, if the emperor wanted Xu Yan to join the court today, he had a way to resign, but he could not refuse to let Xu Yan be the fourth prince’s teacher.
Xu Liang brought in tea, Song Wan Yue took it and handed it to the old gentleman, “This is not necessarily a bad thing, grandfather need not be so worried.”
“You are still young, you don’t know some things, if the Xu family keep doing their studies and don’t ask about the affairs of the court, they can stand, but once they are involved in the imperial power, the fall will be in a matter of moments.”
“You are too worried, not to mention that the fourth prince is still young and has no chance at all to fight for the throne, just to say that he is the grandson of the Duke of Ding, he will not let the Xu family fall into a dangerous place because of him in the future.”
The old gentleman did not deny it.
The royal family had always been thin-skinned, so what if they were the grandson of the Duke of Determination? When faced with the temptation of that position one day, how could one not take a chance?
“Forget it, let’s not talk about that. Come, Yi’er, you can play a game of chess with your great-grandfather.”
As the old gentleman spoke, the room was silent.