CHAPTER 588: CHAPTER 588: HOOLIGANS ALSO HAVE THEIR MERITS

After receiving the answer from Grandmaster Fu, and with his son successfully becoming an apprentice, Song Zhiyuan got up to take his leave.

Grandmaster Fu walked out of the cottage with him, looking at the distant green mountains and forests. A sharp northern wind blew, stinging their faces.

"Uncle, no need to see me off, the wind is strong here."

Grandmaster Fu sneered, "You really think you’re something special, huh? Who wants to see you off? I’m just stretching my legs after sitting for too long."

Song Zhiyuan wasn’t bothered, he chuckled lightly and said, "Uncle, you’ve been retired for many years. After Brother Xiao Quan passed, you prohibited the family’s younger generation from entering officialdom. It’s been ten years now, and you still want to hold them back?"

Grandmaster Fu’s expression changed several times; he pursed his lips with a cold glint in his eyes.

Song Zhiyuan sighed, "Uncle, power struggles and the turmoils of officialdom exist in every dynasty. Yet after being bitten by a snake once, there’s no need to fear ropes for ten years. Holding back the younger generation from entering officialdom for two to three years might be okay, even five or eight, but it’s been ten years. Even the most ambitious people will have their spirits eroded by time."

Grandmaster Fu stood with his hands behind his back, not saying a word.

"Uncle, you are already seventy years old. As long as you’re here, the Fu Family remains influential, and you are the stabilizing force that protects it. But if you’re not here, and no younger members hold positions at court, who will protect it?" Song Zhiyuan looked at the distant mountains and said, "Yunzhi always believed that aligning with the will of heaven and the trend is thinking for the family’s future path."

Grandmaster Fu was noncommittal and said, "Right now, all the Princes are competing for the position of Crown Prince. Is this a good time to get involved?"

Song Zhiyuan smiled, "Uncle, you’re overlooking the obvious. If you don’t enter now and wait until the Crown Prince is definitively chosen or the new Emperor ascends, entering then might be stable, but whether you can fully utilize your talents depends on how much you’re willing to endure."

"Fortune favors the bold. If you don’t bet and strive, settling for what’s handed over isn’t impossible, it’s just that others enjoy the full meal while you drink the soup."

Grandmaster Fu rubbed his fingertips.

Song Zhiyuan lowered his eyes and softly said, "The current Emperor is still in his prime, and the establishment of a Crown Prince is still a long way off. There are several adult Princes, but there are more than just those four Princes."

Grandmaster Fu’s breath momentarily halted.

Song Zhiyuan turned his head, as if he hadn’t said anything at all, only remarked, "Uncle, you can suppress people, but not their hearts. What’s good about making the younger generation resent you?"

He called over Song Lingsu, bowed to Grandmaster Fu, and said, "Uncle, I’ll first take the boy back home to bid farewell to the family, and in a couple of days, I’ll send him back to be at your service."

Grandmaster Fu snorted heavily, "Safe travels, no need to see you off."

Song Lingsu said, "Teacher, take care. Huaiyan will first go home, and in a couple of days, will come to serve you, Elder."

Towards the young Song Lingsu, Grandmaster Fu still had a good expression, likely considering him his last disciple. He nodded lightly.

He watched the father and son walk farther away, silent with his hands behind his back.

"Old Master, the wind is picking up. Let’s go inside." The old servant draped a large cloak over his shoulders.

Grandmaster Fu pulled the cloak tighter and said, "Old Zhang, do you think forbidding the young ones in the family from entering officialdom was a mistake?"

The old servant addressed as Old Zhang bowed and said, "Old Master surely has his own hardships, your decision was also for the family’s future."

The patriarch was once implicated in the civil service examination scandal ten years ago during Shengping’s reign. Relying on his father’s past ties, he took responsibility and resigned, yet since then he never recovered, spending his days in drink, melancholic, and passed away in his prime.

The old master witnessed firsthand the severe power struggles in officialdom and the dangers in the career path. That was why he issued the ban, not allowing the family’s young ones to enter officialdom until now.

Was he wrong?

Grandmaster Fu sighed, "That rascal does have some merit."