novelaction Chapter 226 Rescue
Chapter 226 Rescue
For Yue'er, Zisu is also a good teacher and helpful friend.
Little Jin'er returned to Rongrui Hall carrying a basket of peaches.
The basket contained only about ten plums. Her basket was a tiny one; otherwise, someone her age wouldn't be able to lift it.
"Mother, eat some plums! Jin'er picked them herself!" Jin'er called out to Zisu from afar.
Hua'er stumbled after her, shouting defiantly, "Mother, Hua'er asked Uncle Lichun to pick some peaches for us! They were big, red peaches picked from the top of the tree. Hua'er ate some, and they were delicious!"
As they spoke, the two rushed towards Zisu, looking at her ingratiatingly.
Zisu reached out and took the baskets from the two of them, placed them on the table, and said with a beaming smile, "Mother will have Hongdou wash them clean so that she and your Aunt Fangqiong can have a taste!"
"Okay!" Jin'er couldn't help but grin.
Hua'er nodded vigorously, "Mother, it's delicious, eat more!"
Zisu lowered her head and kissed Hua'er: "Alright, Hua'er gave Mother a peach, so Mother will naturally eat one more!"
Hua'er struggled to break free from her embrace, raised her little head, and said with dissatisfaction, "Mother, I'm a big girl now, don't kiss me like that in front of outsiders!"
Ever since Yu'er and Rong'er were born, he has felt like a big kid again.
Jin'er leaned her little face closer and said, "Mommy, give me a kiss, I'm willing to let you kiss me!"
"Okay!" Zisu lowered her head and kissed her tender little face, her face full of smiles: "Good child, you are indeed your mother's sweet little cotton-padded jacket."
Jin'er felt very happy.
Although her soul belonged to an adult, she was a reincarnation and considered herself Zisu's daughter from the bottom of her heart. In her heart, Zisu was her biological mother in this life, an elder she had to respect. She was born from Zisu's ten months of pregnancy, and she had an obligation to bring Zisu happiness and joy.
Yun Duo and Ru Feng followed closely behind and bowed respectfully to Zi Su: "Yun Duo (Ru Feng) greets Aunt Shangguan."
The two little ones actually knelt on the ground and gave Zisu a deep bow.
Zisu quickly got up from her seat and helped the children up, one in each arm: "Oh, good children, you don't need to perform such a grand ceremony when you see your aunt in the future."
Yun Duo smiled and said, "Auntie is an elder, and it's been a long time since we've seen each other. It's only right that we give Auntie a proper bow."
"Good children, these are gifts from your aunt." Zisu quickly gave each of the siblings a purse she had prepared beforehand. Yunduo's purse was adorned with pearl flowers, and Rufeng's was a jade pendant.
These pearl hairpins and jade pendants were designed by her personally; they are unique and quite valuable.
Yunduo and Rufeng went to see Fang Qiong.
Fang Qiong said, "Since it was given to me by your Aunt Shangguan, then accept it!"
Yunduo and Rufeng then reached out and accepted the gifts, saying respectfully, "Thank you, Auntie."
Zisu pulled Yunduo to sit on the chair next to her and asked kindly, "How are you doing at Wuliping Academy?"
Yun Duo respectfully replied, "I'm doing very well, Aunt. The food and lodging at the academy are good, and my classmates are very friendly. If anything happens, the teachers and the headmaster will help me solve it, so Aunt doesn't need to worry."
Zisu: "During your day off, you can go to Xiaoshitan for dinner and replenish your nutrition."
Yunduo: "Thank you, Auntie. My brother and I have been there twice. We will definitely go again when we have time!"
Zisu: "That's good. If you need any help, you can tell Uncle Shen and Aunt Baizhi."
Yun Duo bowed again and said, "Thank you, Auntie. Yun Duo understands."
Looking at this very sensible and adorable little girl, Zisu couldn't help but feel deeply moved. She had almost become this little girl's stepmother. If she had truly become Yunduo's stepmother, her life today would be completely different, wouldn't it?
Fang Heng and Prince Duan were drinking tea and chatting.
Prince Duan asked, "Now that your term is over, are you planning to find a position in the capital?"
Fang Heng: "That's exactly what I think. So many years have passed, it's time to return to the capital! Otherwise, the people in the capital will almost forget about me. Besides, after so many years of experience, it's about time!"
Prince Duan: "Do you need my help?"
Fang Heng: "No need, thank you for your kindness. You've long since retired, there's no need for you to plead with anyone for my sake. I will do my best to get whatever position I can."
Prince Duan: "How about this, you can go find Zisu's uncle, he's still the Minister of Personnel. Hurry up, he'll be retiring in two months! Before he retires, ask him for a hand!"
Fang Heng rose from his seat and bowed deeply to Prince Duan: "Thank you, Your Highness. I am ashamed of my lack of magnanimity and tolerance! I will listen to you and go to the Yu residence as a guest tomorrow to ask Lord Yu for a favor!"
Prince Duan: "Yes, that's more like it. It would be a waste not to use connections when you have them. Lord Yu has a good impression of you. As long as your request isn't excessive, I believe he will definitely lend a helping hand!"
Fang Heng: "Lord Yu is a good official, a truly honest official who stands up for the people. He is an elder I greatly admire."
That evening, Fang Heng sent Yu Zhe a letter requesting an audience, asking Yu Zhe to allow him to visit the Yu residence the following evening.
Yu Zhe thought about it and agreed.
Fang Heng is a rare and excellent official, capable, decisive, and of impeccable character. Such officials are truly precious. Before he retires, let's give Fang Heng a helping hand; this way, we can secure a future for ourselves. Perhaps we'll need Fang Heng's help someday.
The next evening, after the two met, they both felt as if they had known each other for a long time. Yu Zhe was very satisfied with Fang Heng. He carefully reviewed Fang Heng's file and sent his trusted men to investigate him. Afterwards, he wrote on Fang Heng's appointment document: This person is capable of serving as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
The Emperor wrote with a flourish: Granted!
And so, Fang Heng got his wish and stayed in the capital to serve as an official, becoming the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Countless people coveted this position, and many fought tooth and nail for it. Unexpectedly, Fang Heng obtained it quietly and without fanfare.
People originally thought that Yu Zhe, as the Minister of Personnel, would dislike Fang Heng, who had pursued the Princess of Yulin, and would make things difficult for him by assigning him an awkward position with no real power. Who would have thought that Yu Zhe would be so magnanimous as to even offer Fang Heng the position of Vice Minister of Personnel.
This infuriated many people who were envious.
They calculated and calculated, but they completely overlooked this one person. Alas, it's a classic case of the snipe and the clam fighting, while the fisherman benefits. What a mess! For such a position, so many of them practically fought tooth and nail, needlessly offending many people. In the end, it was all for nothing.
This Fang Heng is too good at scheming! I don't know what methods he used, but he managed to get the usually impartial Yu Zhe to side with him, someone Yu Zhe should have hated.
It is said that when Ying caused trouble at Xiaoshitan back then, Yu Zhe was furious when he found out. Moreover, before that, Yu Zhe had a very low opinion of Fang Heng, thinking that he was a widower with two children to support, and that the Zhongxin Marquis's mansion was in complete chaos. How could someone like him be worthy of Zisu?
Between Fang Heng and Prince Duan, Yu Zhe leaned towards Prince Duan. However, at that time, Zi Su liked Fang Heng and didn't want to have any involvement with the royal family, so there was nothing he could do. Later, after Ying Shi's outburst, Zi Su distanced herself from Fang Heng, which made Yu Zhe happy for a while.
To be honest, Yu Zhe didn't have a good impression of Fang Heng at that time. Later, Fang Heng achieved a lot as a county magistrate. After going to Yulin County, he remained a good official with nothing to lose, and Yu Zhe's impression of Fang Heng gradually changed.
Fang Heng was completely taken aback that Yu Zhe would offer him the position of Vice Minister of Personnel, and he was deeply moved. At the same time, he was also very happy. He was confident that if given the opportunity to remain in the position of Vice Minister of Personnel for a few years, he could secure the position of Minister of Personnel.
Upon hearing that his son had become the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Marquis Zhongxin was both surprised and delighted.
Surprisingly, this son, with whom he had always been at odds, possessed such great abilities. How old was this son? He was already the Vice Minister of Personnel! Impressive! Quite capable! It seemed he would have to be on good terms with the Ying family from now on; otherwise, even if his son became the Minister of Personnel, he, as the father, wouldn't be able to benefit from it!
That evening, he went to the courtyard where Madam Ying lived and said to her, "My son is now the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. I will have dinner and rest here tonight."
"What? What did you say? Say it again, I didn't hear you clearly." Upon hearing his words, Madam Ying was stunned and couldn't believe her ears.
What did he say? He wants to spend the night here? Is the sun rising in the west today?!
Marquis Zhongxin felt a little uncomfortable, so he coughed and said, "I said, I'll have dinner here tonight, and I'll rest here too."
Ying replied blankly, "Okay, I understand."
That evening, after dinner, Marquis Zhongxin indeed stayed behind.
Ying was flustered. She hadn't slept with her husband for many years, and he wanted to stay tonight. What should she do?
"It's late, why aren't you leaving yet? They must be getting impatient." Ying finally mustered up the courage to ask this tentative question.
Marquis Zhongxin closed the door, drew the curtains, and smiled gently at her, saying, "I won't leave tonight; I'll stay with you."
Ms. Ying panicked: "I... I've gotten used to sleeping alone."
Marquis Zhongxin reached out and took off his outer garment, grinning as he said, "I've already taken a bath, why don't you go and take a bath too?" He had taken a bath before coming here to eat, so that she wouldn't kick him out on the grounds that there were no clean clothes for him.
Ying nodded hastily: "Okay, I'll go right away!"
That night, Marquis Zhongxin was very gentle with Lady Ying, making her feel as if she were back in her honeymoon days. This feeling filled her with longing, and she gradually forgave her husband in her heart.
From that day on, their relationship gradually improved. Marquis Zhongxin also dismissed the two maids who served him. This was because his son, Fang Heng, had said that if his mother wouldn't forgive his father, he wouldn't forgive him either.
He would not marry before his father had concubines and maids. Now that Lady Ying had forgiven her husband, Marquis Zhongxin gritted his teeth and sent the maid away.
Ying's relationship with her husband improved, and she began to smile again. She finally returned to the public eye, attending flower shows and banquets.
The eldest princess couldn't help but sigh, "Even the Marquis of Zhongxin can turn over a new leaf. It seems that the world isn't so bad after all. If Fang Heng's mother's life is better, Fang Heng's life will be a little better too."
Jiang Shihua: "Yes, I never expected that the unreliable Marquis Zhongxin would actually repent and start anew."
When Fang Heng returned from his business trip, he heard that his father and mother had reconciled. The heavy weight that had been pressing on his heart finally lifted. With his father watching over his mother, he no longer had to live in such fear. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't have held onto his position as Vice Minister of Personnel for long.
Although my father was unreliable in the past, he had one great virtue: he wasn't greedy. He owned many properties, so anyone trying to bribe him was destined to fail.