Although Xu He said he didn't care, he still hurried to the Xu family's villa on the bank of Qinglong Lake after coming out of Kong Huaitang.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he bumped into Hou Desheng who came to help his uncle Xu Song diagnose his illness.
"Doctor Hou, how is my uncle?" Xu He asked anxiously.
Hou Desheng shook his head: "The situation is not very good. I coughed up blood again a few days ago!"
Xu He's heart tightened. At such a critical time for the family, his uncle fell ill again. This was really not good news.
Hou Desheng looked around, and then whispered: "If your uncle rests and survives this winter, he still has two years to live. If he continues to be so worried and depressed, he may not be able to survive this summer."
Xu He hesitated when he heard this. He didn't know whether to tell his uncle about this at this time.
But soon, Hou Desheng's words helped him make a decision: "Your uncle is still in a semi-conscious state. Even if I come to diagnose him, he may not know. If you have nothing important to do, you should go back. Don’t disturb his rest!”
When Xu He heard this, he didn't dare to disturb Xu Song's rest no matter how anxious he was.
If anything happens to Xu Song, the pillar of the family, he will become the target of public criticism of the Xu family. By then, let alone study and become an official, he may not be able to be a common man in the countryside.
Thinking of this, he bowed and begged with a sincere expression: "Please forgive me, the miracle doctor!"
Hou Desheng smiled and said: "What is our relationship? You are my savior. No need to go into details, I will take care of myself!"
Xu He walked out of Qinglong Lake in disappointment. He thought a lot along the way.
Before the uncle fell ill, he had already met with Fan Shouji, the right servant of the Nanjing Ministry of War, who came on behalf of the first assistant, and Yang Yinqiu, who came on behalf of the second assistant, plus the old Songjiang assistant Shen family who was very interested in getting involved in the salt industry.
In this way, if Xu Dai agrees to You Xiao's exchange conditions, he will not only lose his reputation among the scholars, but also offend the three most powerful people in the world at the same time.
Xu He thought about how to deal with it, but after much deliberation along the way, he still couldn't find any solution.
The people involved in this matter were even more powerful than those involved in the bandit raids on the city, especially the emperor who stood behind the eunuch You Xiao.
He is a little boy, and he can't even persuade the family members, let alone change the minds of these big bosses.
Also, Xu Dai just said three things, but he only said two. What is the other one?
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At this time, in Kong Huai Hall, the clan members were still criticizing Xu He verbally and writingly.
"I said Zhongwang is just sick and confused. It's ridiculous to think of asking a junior to participate in the clan meeting!"
"Xu He's father, Xu Wei, always thought of himself as a noble person when he was still alive. He often boasted of his talent and learning in front of his clan members. I didn't expect that raising a son would still be like this!"
"Chang Yue, your eldest brother is seriously ill now. From now on, you will be in charge of the clan. People like Xu He should not be allowed to come here in the future!"
Xu Dai and his son were very satisfied when they saw the clan elders expressing their dissatisfaction with Xu He in unison.
Especially Xu Luan, at this moment he really wanted Xu He to continue to stand in the hall and listen to people's comments about him.
Xu Dai saw that everyone was getting more and more outrageous, so he coughed twice and said: "Although the juniors in the clan are short-sighted, they are still doing well in studies. Please don't be too harsh on a junior!"
"Chang Yue is just soft-hearted!"
"Changyue has been able to tolerate people since he was a child!"
"If Chang Yue hadn't been influenced by his father back then, he might have been able to become a Jinshi!"
When Xu Dai heard this, his anger gradually dissipated, and he turned to be kind and said: "Elders, there is a third matter to discuss with you today."
"Chang Yue, tell me!"
Xu Dai said: "My second son Xu Luan..."
Speaking of this, he asked Xu Luan to stand in front of the people, and then said with a smile: "He has now reached the age of marriage. In the early years, my father had arranged a marriage for Luan'er. Everyone should know it, right?"
Everyone in the family knew that Xu Luan was getting married to the concubine of the Feng family, and everyone nodded after hearing this.
"We know this. It's a pity that the young lady of the Feng family is a concubine. However, the Feng family has been a century-old family and has a rich heritage. It's not like she has wronged Luan'er!"
"That's wrong. Fengfang doesn't seem to have a very good reputation among scholars. This matter needs to be discussed further!"
"Indeed, the key point is that the Feng family wants our son from the Xu family to marry into the family, and we need to discuss it again and again!"
When Xu Luan heard his father mention this again, he suddenly became anxious: "Father!"
When Xu Dai heard this, he glared at Xu Luan and said, "Shut up!"
Xu Luan didn't want to, but he couldn't tell the reason in front of the clan elders, so he could only stand in the hall angrily and say nothing.
Xu Dai continued: "However, Fengfang has recently been recommended by my elder brother and has taken the path of being the first assistant to Qin Yan and has taken up the post of Shaoqing of Taipu Temple!"
"What?"
"Shaoqing Taipusi?"
"Wouldn't it be possible to become an important minister of the imperial court [Da Jiu Qing] in the future?"
As soon as they heard about Fengfang's new official position, the expressions of all the clan elders suddenly changed. The clan elder who just said that he would discuss it immediately changed his expression: "Then what are you considering? Taipusi Shaoqing, that's the fourth grade." Senior official, this is not an insult to me, the son of the Xu family!"
Xu Luan glared at the clan elder fiercely, then turned to Xu Dai and said, "Father, I don't want to marry that young lady from the Feng family!"
Xu Dai looked at his son indifferently: "On matters of marriage, parents can make the final decision. How can you, a junior like you, comment? Stand back!"
After finishing speaking, he said to the clan elders: "Although the position of Ren Shaoqing in Fengfang is still rewarded by our Feng family, so forget about the marriage agreement. I would like to invite one of you to go to Beijing to meet Fengfang." When it comes to Shang’s marriage, remember, it’s us, Xu Luan, who is marrying his daughter!”
When several clan elders heard this, they immediately felt that this was a good opportunity to go out and see the world, and they all asked for help. One of the clan elders said: "Luan'er is your legitimate son, and you are the eldest son of my Xu family. The eldest son has already married her, a concubine." It’s to give him face. Besides, where did his young minister come from? Isn’t it rewarded by our Xu family? Changyue, just leave it alone, leave this matter to me, I will go over and take care of it and it will be done!"
After everyone discussed the details, they dispersed.
Xu Luan looked at his father with resentment in his eyes: "Dad, I don't want to get married! I don't want to marry that concubine of the Feng family!"
Xu Dai said without any doubt: "I tell you, I don't care how you play outside, but you must give me a grandson. After you have a child with that concubine of the Feng family, I don't care how you play outside." Did you hear that?"
Xu Luan was still reluctant when he heard this, but when he thought that this would not only give an explanation to his family, but also silence everyone, he reluctantly agreed!
