Chapter 194: You’re Actually Quite Sensible
After comforting Fu Qing, Madam Fu returned to the room. Master Fu immediately came up to her. “How did it go?”
“It’s done!” Madam Fu sat on the bed, her thoughts drifting for a moment. “We’ve schemed for so long, yet it was ruined. I’m really not reconciled!”
“Without Mo Ziyuan, Mo Zichen is the same. The Mo family is doomed either way, it’s just a matter of sooner or later. No need to worry.” Master Fu comforted her.
“I know, but I’m just not reconciled in my heart.” Madam Fu pulled herself together. “Mo Zichen is not like Mo Ziyuan. Getting Qi Shi to agree will probably be harder than climbing to heaven.”
Master Fu felt a headache thinking about this and couldn’t help cursing his master again. “That old geezer had such a good thing but wouldn’t use it. When I saw it, he destroyed it. Otherwise, why would we have to go to such lengths!”
“Forget it. Gu insects sound unreliable anyway. Besides, you didn’t learn it, so you couldn’t make it anyway. Don’t bring it up again.” Madam Fu irritably waved her hand.
“Sigh! Let them strut around for now. If it really doesn’t work, we’ll have to sacrifice our daughter.” Master Fu said.
“Think about it some more!” Madam Fu neither agreed nor disagreed.
Early the next morning, Mo Ziyuan arrived at Lin Xin’s home in a set of dark regular clothes to report for duty.
“Ha~ You’re so early today!” Lin Xin yawned as she said to him.
“It’s not early. We’ll eat breakfast soon and then go to the palace to express gratitude.”
“Fine!” Lin Xin listlessly sprawled on the table. She was starting to regret agreeing to Mo Ziyuan’s request for Chu Qingye to grant them a marriage. There was just too much trouble.
“It’s just a formality. Your Majesty doesn’t have that much time anyway. But the Empress Dowager might summon us. She’s a very nice person, so you don’t need to be too nervous.” Mo Ziyuan could tell what Lin Xin was thinking and quickly explained.
“Sigh! Back in the village, everyone was afraid of me. Now it’s the opposite—no one fears me, and just think about how many people I’ve had to kneel to.” Lin Xin complained.
“Xin’er, be good and endure it a bit longer. In a while, I’ll apply to Your Majesty to go guard the Western Frontier. Then you can come with me, and we won’t have to kneel to anyone.”
“Western Frontier…” Lin Xin narrowed her eyes. “Will there be battles to fight?”
“Yes!” Mo Ziyuan answered decisively.
“That’s great. I’ve been so frustrated lately. A punching bag delivered to the door shouldn’t go to waste.”
Hearing her words, Mo Ziyuan quietly smiled. He knew Xin’er would react this way.
After eating a simple breakfast, the two got into a horse carriage and entered the palace. Sure enough, as Mo Ziyuan expected, Chu Qingye was very busy today. He only said a few words, rewarded them with a pile of things, and let them leave.
“Young Master Mo, Miss Lin,” After leaving the Imperial Study, Eunuch An came over with a smile and pointed to a middle-aged eunuch at the bottom of the steps. “This is Inner Servant Officer Bing Liang from the Grand Empress Dowager’s palace. The Grand Empress Dowager wants to summon you. Hurry over!”
“Thank you, Eunuch!” After expressing gratitude, Mo Ziyuan handed over the sachet he had prepared earlier.
Eunuch An smilingly squeezed it, then contentedly put it away. He gave a look to the eunuch at the bottom of the steps, then went back to guard Chu Qingye.
Mo Ziyuan and Lin Xin were led by Bing Liang to the Grand Empress Dowager’s palace. Of course, the sachet was indispensable.
When they got into the return carriage, it was already half-filled with various boxes and cloth, all rewards from the palace.
Lin Xin looked at the pile of things, her mouth twitching as she said, “The sachets you gave out should be enough to buy all these things!”
Mo Ziyuan smiled. “It’s different. These are rewards from the palace. They carry face.”
“Heh,” Lin Xin smiled noncommittally.
Mo Ziyuan knew Lin Xin had many strange and untimely ideas in her head, so he didn’t argue with her further. Instead, he brought up another matter. “Xin’er, for Nan Nan later, do you want to send him to a school or let him study with Yi Chen?”
“If he can go to school, then school it is! Being with peers is definitely more fun than facing Meng Yichen alone all day. Don’t you think?”
“Alright, then I’ll go back and see if I can get him into the Imperial Academy.”
“No need.” Lin Xin shook her head like a rattle drum. The Imperial Academy! It was the highest academy in the country, filled with children of the rich and noble. Even the few poor scholars had major families backing them. She didn’t want Lin Nan to go there and be squeezed out or bullied.
“Recommend me an academy with lots of commoners!”
“Lots of commoners…” Mo Ziyuan thought for a moment and said, “The White Cloud Academy in the eastern suburbs and the Langya Academy in the western suburbs both have good reputations. They produce many scholars, recommended scholars, and jinshi scholars each year, with some even ranking in the top section almost every year.”
“White Cloud Academy, Langya Academy…” Lin Xin muttered them once. “Tomorrow take Nan Nan to see them. Whichever he likes, that’s the one!”
This time it was Mo Ziyuan’s mouth that twitched. These two academies were the best in the capital besides the Imperial Academy. They weren’t places anyone could just enter, let alone pick from! How did it turn into letting you two choose at your place!
The two continued discussing several academies in the capital, talking animatedly when the carriage suddenly stopped. Neither was prepared, but fortunately both had good skills. Though a bit disheveled, they weren’t injured.
“Young Master,” The coachman, scared half to death, said to Mo Ziyuan in the carriage with lingering fear. “A child suddenly rushed out from the side just now. This old slave wasn’t prepared and startled the Young Master and Miss Lin. Please punish me, Young Master.”
Mo Ziyuan frowned, took a step forward, squatted in the carriage, lifted the curtain, and looked ahead. Sure enough, a crowd was gathering in front.
“If we can’t pass, let’s go around!” Lin Xin said while straightening her slightly messy skirt hem.
“We can’t go around now. Look behind.” Mo Ziyuan dropped the curtain behind him, his expression not good.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Xin also poked her head over and saw several carriages right behind theirs, leaving no space to turn around.
“Those carriages don’t seem to have any markings. Do you know whose they are?”
“Hmph, no matter whose they are, once they come, they won’t be leaving.” Mo Ziyuan slightly parted his lips and said coldly.
“You know who they are?” Lin Xin asked curiously.
“Not sure. Let’s see!” Mo Ziyuan said as he pulled his long sword to his side within easy reach.
Lin Xin’s eyes lit up. It looked like there was going to be a fight. Great, now she had a place to vent her recent frustration. Whoever it was, they were quite considerate!
