Chapter 378: Chapter 377: He’s Even More Eager Than Us
The following day, early in the morning.
In the main courtyard of Marquis Yangling Mansion.
Dowager Cui, wearing a headdress embroidered with exquisite patterns of birds, beasts, and flowers, exuded an aura of unparalleled grandeur and luxury.
"These past few days have stirred up quite an ugly scene outside. I’ve heard from your father that Yun has just received an Imperial Decree to head to Hengzhou. Are you aware of this?"
Madam Cui nodded with a smile.
"He mentioned it this morning when he came to offer greetings before the imperial court session."
Upon hearing this, Dowager Cui let out a long sigh.
She put down the string of prayer beads in her hand and stared out of the room. The light outside was bright and beautiful, yet it failed to illuminate the filth within the Imperial City.
"Shuyu, my dear,"
"I always feel like your father and Yun are hiding something."
Madam Cui paused. Something flashed in her eyes, too quickly for anyone to catch.
"What do you mean by that, mother-in-law?"
Dowager Cui glanced at the old woman beside her, who understood and quickly led a group of servants to leave the room. When only the two of them remained, she began to speak: "The matter at the Zou Residence is likely to have involved Yun’s hand."
"Don’t worry; these are just my speculations."
"The official family has ordered an investigation into Zhou Zhangping’s case. I’m guessing that even if Yun comes up with evidence and presents it to the official family, once they’re aware of it, they’d likely just lightly skim over it and then destroy the evidence, protecting those crafty officials."
"Such things have happened more than once or twice before."
"In previous cases, Yun deliberately avoided involvement, but this time, instead of using the busy work of the Ministry of Justice as an excuse to decline, he personally offered to go to Hengzhou for the investigation. Isn’t that odd?"
You should know that this kind of investigation must be done in secret.
It’s unclear how long it will take to investigate in Hengzhou.
Dowager Cui was indeed right.
Emperor He, being such a person, would love to keep a clear grasp of his officials and the various factions; he might turn a blind eye and allow them some leeway, but he would never permit these people to challenge his authority.
"Clear waters are void of fish."
But how could the water ever be clear?
Several officials from Hengzhou sent memorials up one after another, accusing Zhou Zhangping. Many officials from Shengjing also followed suit.
So... whose interests did Zhou Zhangping touch?
Emperor He must find out.
He is at ease with Cui Yun investigating this matter.
The affairs among Hengzhou’s officials in recent years must be thoroughly investigated.
Zhou Zhangping, as the Hengzhou Prefect, was set up by lower-ranking officials, and there were accomplices in Shengjing. This indicates a wall that is impenetrable. If Cui Yun went there in his capacity as Minister of Ministry of Justice, he would need to be extremely cautious, and naturally, that would not work. It was also for this reason that, after the morning court session, Emperor He only kept a few trustworthy senior ministers to issue the order privately.
As for the cause of Zhou Zhangping’s death in prison, Xie Xun had just returned to Shengjing not long ago. Such a person, while Emperor He fears that he will grow too strong, can also be a sharp sword when used properly.
Xie Xun certainly won’t fabricate or tamper with evidence out of fear of the Crown Prince Faction and the Fourth Prince Faction, especially as he has just taken up his post, he would naturally want to handle a few impressive cases.
Emperor He expects to see what he wants to see, not knowing that Zhou Zhangping is not dead, and the affairs of Hengzhou and the prison had already been clearly explained to Ji Teng.
Moreover, Xie Xun and Cui Yun definitely won’t falsify evidence out of fear of the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince’s authority; they would purposely frame and entrap others, silencing both people and evidence, while letting Emperor He know only what they want the foolish Emperor to know.
Listening to Dowager Cui’s worried words, Madam Cui couldn’t help but laugh openly.
"This time, Miss Shen is returning to Fengzhou. Given that the Ministry of Justice cannot be left unattended, this will be a good opportunity to escort her back while attending to official duties."
Dowager Cui narrowed her eyes.
"Going back?"
Madam Cui replied, "Our Marquis mentioned that he would stop by Fengzhou City on the way, to kowtow to Miss Shen’s late mother. Indeed, it should be so."
She then got to the point.
"I came here this time to discuss the marriage proposal with you, mother-in-law."
"As protocol dictates, such matters should be broached by Shen Family elders, but since Miss Shen’s parents have passed away, I intended to uphold all necessary formalities as the affair is rare joy for our household and should be celebrated grandly."
Dowager Cui, upon hearing this, was overjoyed.
"You speak the truth."
"Furthermore, these past years, you have already prepared the betrothal gifts, just waiting for him to come to his senses. The formalities of marriage proposals are many: the exchange of the three letters and six gifts, and the swapping of the Geng Tie, not to mention selecting an auspicious time."
Madam Cui took something out from her sleeve.
"This was personally suggested by the Sanqing Taoist."
Madam Cui accepted it.
At the top there was a line of text.
——A match made in heaven, equally yoked in reputation. A lifetime’s pact, forever tied in bliss.
This, was a great fortune.
"Our Marquis, he is an impatient one. Long ago, he had Miss Shen’s and his own birth charts calculated together, by the Sanqing Daoist after quite some effort."
The Sanqing Daoist is not in Shengjing.
I’m afraid that Cui Yun, after learning of his whereabouts, must have sent word to him early on.
In the back and forth of this, it’s unknown how much time has passed.
Cui Xuan’s gaze was tender.
She had thought that Shen Hua would have to observe mourning, but she also heard Cui Yun slightly mention Shen Wei’s matters.
"He, surely is more anxious than us."
Madam Cui examined those sixteen characters carefully, nodding repeatedly.
"If that’s the case, it’s not too late to propose the match when they return. During this period, you can put in more effort."
Saying so, she pondered for a moment.
"Do you still remember my aunt on my mother’s side?"
Cui Xuan: "Is it the one from Yangzhou?"
"Exactly, her years are high, and these years she has been yearning for a granddaughter, yet all her daughters-in-law bear only boys."
"Why not let me decide, and when the time comes, allow Miss Shen to acknowledge her as kin, so on the day of the wedding, she too will have her maternal family to send her off."
Cui Xuan was slightly surprised.
She knew the status of that person from Yangzhou.
Even in front of officials, there is no need for her to kneel and salute.
However, recalling what Cui Yun had said, she quickly spoke.
"The wedding is still a way off, Miss Shen is still young, and becoming a bride too early isn’t good for her health. Yun wishes to keep her for a few more years; right now, he just wants to secure the arrangement."
"As for the person to send off the bride, we already have a candidate."
"Who?"
"Heir Xie."
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law both fell silent.
Even if they didn’t know how Shen Hua got involved with Xie Xun, Cui Yun is a man with plans, and definitely wouldn’t treat such a matter lightly.
Maybe he privately acknowledged a sworn brother?
Xie Xun’s visits to see Shen Hua in the East Courtyard were indeed frequent.
Madam Cui’s brows furrowed; she felt a vague unease.
Since it’s like this, would they propose to Duke Fu’s Mansion later on?
But how could Marquis Yangling Mansion seek to align with Duke Fu’s Mansion?
And how could the officials be happy to see this?
Cui Xuan clearly saw Madam Cui’s worries, she held her breath for a moment before speaking softly.
"Regarding the proposal, I will discuss it with Heir Xie. Given the current tensions in the court, it seems impossible to have a grand ceremony, so we can only privately exchange tokens between the two households."
After she left the main courtyard, she went back to check the list of betrothal gifts.
Cui Xuan closed her eyes in agony as she perused.
There’s no rush for the marriage, but what will Shengjing’s situation be like by then, I’m afraid it’s unknown.
Therefore, with Xie Xun carrying Shen Hua into the flower sedan chair, it seems no one will dare to utter a word of dissent.
Cui Xuan solemnly closed her eyes.
Cui Yun would certainly not send Shen Hua to Fengzhou alone; hence he chose the matter of Hengzhou.
It’s him... he also had plans to go to Hengzhou.
Indeed.
Ji Teng has returned, ah.
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