CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 83: SHIFTING TIDES (PART 4)

The First Master slightly furrowed his brows. Although his doubts weren’t completely dispelled, he didn’t continue to ask questions.

The Second Lady’s eyes flickered, and she glanced at the First Lady casually, lowering her head to sip her tea slowly. However, Tong Quanzhi, not seeing Xiqiu, couldn’t help but exclaim, "Is Sixth Sister a vegetarian? How could I not know? I’m going to check on her!" Saying this, he was about to get up immediately to see her.

The Second Master sharply reprimanded, "How inappropriate!"

Tong Quanzhi shrank back, lowering his head. Tong Minzhi, who sat beside him, tugged on his sleeve, signaling him not to speak anymore.

This small gesture made the First Master raise his eyebrows slightly, but he turned his head nonchalantly to speak to the Second Master, "It’s good that the children are close!" The Second Master mumbled without responding.

The Second Lady, fearing that the Second Master would be embarrassed, glared at Tong Quanzhi secretly, then smiled and said, "It’s rare for the whole family to be together like this; it hasn’t been this lively even during the New Year." She looked at the First Lady, "Elder Sister-in-law, today our family will linger here and not leave!" She appeared as innocent as a young girl unfamiliar with the ways of the world.

The Second Lady was always like this, especially when the First Master returned. The First Lady naturally laughed and said, "That would be wonderful, don’t leave tonight either. I’ll have the guest rooms prepared so you all can stay here." The roomful of people laughed along.

Tong Minzhi’s large eyes flickered, sneaking glances at the joyful expression of the First Master. He watched closely, from his brows and eyes to his demeanor, thinking of what Xiqiu had told him: "If you weren’t his own, why would he do so much for you? He could easily let the First Lady spoil you into uselessness instead!"

He initially had some doubts, but seeing the First Master like this, upright and open-minded, not at all the cynical, sour figure he imagined, he felt relieved.

If only Sister were here!

His thoughts shifted, as the First Lady had already ordered the food to be served. Madam Luo stood behind the First Lady as she arranged the dishes, while Madam Mei was busy behind the First Master. Everyone at the table quietly ate their meal, then moved to the side room to drink tea. The First Master sat for a short while before getting up to join the Second Master and Tong Shen Zhi and Xu Tianqing in the study, while the two young masters went off to play on their own.

The First Lady and the Second Lady then sat in the side room drinking tea and chatting, while Tong Xiyan and the two concubines attended to them.

At 7 p.m., the First Master returned leisurely. The First Lady promptly came out to greet him, assisting him as he washed up and changed his clothes.

"What did you discuss with the Second Master? I heard things at the court have been unstable lately. Will your report to the court be affected?" The First Lady took the tea prepared by Nanny Fang and personally handed it to him, then sat down opposite him, watching him.

The First Master slightly furrowed his brows, not liking the First Lady to inquire about court affairs, but as he still had something to ask her, he answered casually, "The matter of reporting is handled within the Ministry of Personnel and won’t be affected."

The First Lady didn’t get the answer she wanted but smiled and said, "What are your plans this time? Share them with me so I can have some peace of mind."

"Renewing the current position!"

The simple four words made the First Lady’s face turn pale, her previous pleasant expression hard to maintain, her tone becoming somewhat harsh, "Renewing? You’ve been in Yongzhou for six years; do you intend to stay for another three? Could Yongzhou be better than the capital?"

The First Master’s eyebrows rose: "What do you know!" His tone no longer as gentle as before: "Until the major issues are settled, the capital is not as good as Yongzhou!"

The First Lady was stifled. She wanted to say, you are thinking far too into the future; the Second Master remains at the Ministry of Personnel, having the same origins, and having also been appointed as a scholar from the Hanlin Academy. Yet you cautiously sought an external post. After over a decade of ups and downs in officialdom, you are still only a Secondary Fifth Rank magistrate, while the Second Master may even be appointed to the cabinet as a minister!

The words almost left her lips, but she swallowed them. After so many years of marriage, she understood the First Master’s personality thoroughly. He never interfered with the household affairs, confidently leaving them to her, which had always been her source of pride. Yet similarly, he didn’t like her to meddle in court matters.

It seems that tomorrow, she should invite her eldest son-in-law over; there are things more conveniently discussed between men.

With this in mind, the First Lady changed the topic, smiling, "Tianqing is about to take the autumn examination; have you checked how prepared he is?"

Speaking of this matter, the First Master’s expression slightly improved, clearly satisfied with Xu Tianqing’s studies: "This child takes after his father!" Lord Xu was also an Advanced Scholar back in the day, though his luck was not favorable during the palace examination and thus wasn’t appointed as a scholar.

After speaking, the First Master seemingly unintentionally asked, "What exactly happened with the girls?" The First Lady anticipated the First Master would ask thoroughly and furrowed her brows, saying, "I’ve punished them with confinement!"

"Confinement? For what reason again?" The affair regarding Madam Wang had been detailed in a letter by the First Lady to him, explaining the situation. Though he had just returned today and couldn’t go to check, he already harbored some grievance against her for inadequate care. Now hearing about the confinement of several children, unprecedented doubt surfaced regarding the First Lady’s capability.

The First Lady, however, didn’t care as she was confident of being in the right with both matters, so she patiently and gently recounted the issue with Count Wujin from start to finish, sighing, "All the usual teaching is wasted!"

"How did they get involved with the Wujin Bo Mansion again?" Among all the words she said, the First Master honed in on the key point.

The First Lady’s eyebrows twitched; she intended to suppress the marriage matter related to Count Wujin, but now it seemed impossible to hide. Moreover, if he heard from someone else one day, it might sow discord between them. With this in mind, she explained, "The Third Young Master of the Wujin Bo Mansion was remarrying, and the Countess asked Madam Chen to propose an alliance." She glanced at the First Master’s expression, smiling, "They requested for the Sixth Girl!"

The First Master took a sip of tea, pondered for a moment. Not being often in the capital, he was familiar with official matters but less so with each household’s circumstances. Hearing the First Lady speak, given it concerned their children’s marriages, he grew serious and attentive: "Then what is the current situation?" The First Lady must have already seen a change as she punished the Sixth Girl.

The First Lady sighed and said, "There’s indeed a breach of decorum regarding the Sixth Girl in this matter!" Implying that the Countess didn’t fancy the Sixth Girl, yet she hid today’s discussion about Tong Xiyang’s marriage by Madam Chen.

The First Master placed the teacup on the table, displeasure showing as he said, "It’s not a major issue. Although Count Wujin bears a title, he’s no longer as influential as before, lacking capable people in the court. Depending on the Count’s occasional appearances at the front of the emperor, the good times won’t last long; it’s just as well this match didn’t work out, to avoid getting dragged into the muck with them."

The battle for the throne between the two princes was at a critical juncture. He couldn’t stop what was going on in the second branch, but he couldn’t let his own family be dragged in too. The Tong Family must keep at least one part clean.

The First Lady was delighted inside, but didn’t show it visibly, "You are absolutely right, it’s my oversight!" She saw the First Master wave his hand, "Your attention to their marriages is a blessing for them. If this one wasn’t successful, then look for another suitable one. Fortunately, there are still a few years. For now, prioritize the Third Girl’s marriage."