"If Mrs. Sui's son can become the number one scholar, Mrs. Sui's position in our dynasty will be truly stable." The emperor's eyes fell on her, "Since ancient times, it is difficult for a poor family to produce a noble son, but I hope that Mrs. Sui's family can be distinguished. , can become a new force in the capital."
Cheng Wanwan understood this.
The emperor hoped that her branch could establish itself in the capital and break the original situation in which the various major forces of the aristocratic families were merging with each other to oppose each other.
And since she has been supported by the emperor to this point, she is naturally loyal to the emperor wholeheartedly.
The most important thing is that her family was born from the grassroots. She has no family to rely on and can only rely on the emperor. This is the greatest loyalty.
"My wife, I thank you for your grace." Cheng Wanwan lowered his eyes and said, "If my wife's son has the destiny of being the number one scholar, then he should serve the emperor. But if he does not have the talent of the number one scholar, he sits in the position of the number one scholar. Above, that is called virtue not matching the position, and there will be disaster sooner or later. Regardless of whether my wife's family can become a noble person, my wife and sons will be loyal to the court, the country, and the emperor, and they will devote themselves to it till death!"
"Okay, very good!" Emperor Longyan was delighted, "I really admire Madam Sui's style and courage. Come and reward me!"
When Cheng Wanwan came out of the palace, she had a bunch of exquisite jade ornaments, all of which were good items from the emperor's private treasury, and they were rewarded to her without hesitation.
She sighed once again that this emperor was really generous.
After returning home, he asked Xiaohai and learned that Sidan was still studying hard in the study.
Since the results of the general examination came out, this kid has almost become obsessed with reading. He has no idea what is happening outside.
If the questions in the palace examination are really related to current affairs, then it is not okay to stay in isolation like this.
Cheng Wanwan went to the back yard and called Zhao Sidan and Yu Zhan out: "I heard that the palace examination mainly tests current affairs policy. What is current affairs policy? You two should know better than me. You have to go out for an extra day in the past two days. Go and whatever you hear, see, and hear may be of great benefit.”
Zhao Sidan nodded: "I will listen to my mother."
Yu Zhan also put down his book: "If you want to know what happened in the capital recently, just go to the teahouse and sit for an afternoon. Let's go."
Cheng Wanwan arranged for Cheng Yi to go out with them, and she was relieved.
Old man Zhao smoked dry tobacco and said, "Boss, wife, do you think Sidan can pass the exam?"
"We have already reached the level of Gongshi, so becoming a Jinshi is a sure thing." Zhao Ergou said, "It depends on what rank you can get in the exam."
"No matter where you are, it's all about bringing glory to our old Zhao family." Old Mrs. Zhao smiled happily, "When Sidan is admitted, we must hold a big banquet. We will hold it once in the capital. We will hold it again after we return to Dahe Town. This time, everyone must know about this matter of honoring the ancestors. If there is a bird in Dahe Town who doesn’t know that Si Dan has passed the exam, it will be my fault!"
Cheng Wanwan didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Okay, I'll listen to you two."
While the family was chatting, Mrs. Qi suddenly came over in a hurry and reported: "Madam, there is a Mrs. Luo outside who wants to see you."
Cheng Wanwan didn't realize who Mrs. Luo was for a moment.
Mother-in-law Qi explained, "Ms. Luo, the legitimate daughter of the Luo family, is also the second-in-command of the eldest young master of the He family. After the He family's accident, Master He wrote a letter of divorce on behalf of his brother, and Mrs. Luo took the only son of the eldest master He back to her parents' home. Go live.”
Cheng Wanwan nodded: "Let her wait in the side hall."
This Madam Luo was originally He Xiao's fiancée. Due to various reasons, she later married He Ling and became He Ling's second love.
He Xiao was heartbroken by this Madam Luo and looked down on emotional matters. Now that he is in his early thirties, he is unwilling to marry and have children.
She didn't understand why Madam Luo came to see her.
It doesn't hurt to go and have a meeting.
Cheng Wanwan walked to the door of the side hall and saw Mrs. Luo walking around uneasily.
The last time I saw Madam Luo was at the New Year's Eve palace banquet. After three or four months, Madam Luo's figure was extremely thin. When she turned around, her cheekbones were high and her whole body had no trace of anything. Vigorous, like a walking zombie.
"Meet Mrs. Sui!"
Luo Qi walked down the steps and saluted respectfully.
"Ms. Luo, there is no need to be formal." Cheng Wanwan sat down on the chair, "I wonder why Mrs. Luo came to visit?"
Luo Qi forced a smile on her face, but she was too thin and turned into a skin and bones. This smile was uglier than crying.
She took out a box from her sleeve and handed it over: "This is a token given to me by He Xiao more than ten years ago. It belongs to him. Can you ask Mrs. Sui to help return it to him?"
The corners of Cheng Wanwan's lips curled up: "More than two years ago, He Xiao returned to the He family. You have lived under the same roof for so long. You had countless opportunities to return things to him in person, but you waited. Today, why is this?"
Luo Qi's face suddenly turned pale.
She pursed her lips, lowered her eyes and said, "I was too abrupt, I'm sorry."
She put the things back into her sleeves, bowed, and turned to leave.
Cheng Wanwan heard something about the Luo family.
The Luo family can be considered a wealthy family, but the head of the family is not Luo Qi's parents, but her eldest brother and sister-in-law. She is a married woman who was divorced and brought home with her a woman who has no blood relationship with the Luo family. The Luo family will definitely not be able to accept his stepson. Luo Qi must have had a very difficult time at her parents' house in the past few months.
She was suffering psychologically, and she must have been treated harshly for food and clothing, so she must have lost weight day by day.
"I heard that Mrs. Luo is proposing to Mrs. Luo in private." Mrs. Qi stood aside and whispered, "Ms. Luo is thirty years old this year. Even if she wants to marry, she will only be able to marry an old man in her forties or fifties as a second wife. A man in his forties or fifties must already have a legitimate son and daughter, and they will not be too young. If Mrs. Luo gets married, she will really have no hope in her life... She suddenly took out the token that Master He gave her more than ten years ago. , could it be that you want to renew your relationship with Master He?"
Cheng Wanwan heard it and thought it was very possible.
For Luo Qi today, instead of marrying an old man, it would be better to marry He Xiao, who has never been married before. If she can give He Xiao a son and a half, her life will be complete.
However, she abandoned He Xiao at the beginning, and now when she looks back, will He Xiao definitely be waiting for her where she is?
No matter what He Xiao was thinking in his heart, Cheng Wanwan felt that he still had to send someone to inform him to avoid being plotted inexplicably.
After all, women who come out of big houses have many tricks and tricks. He Xiao is a martial artist, and sometimes it is really difficult to guard against her.
"Cheng Yi, please go to the military camp." Cheng Wanwan said, "Just say that Mrs. Luo from Luo Mansion has come, and He Xiao will naturally know."
"I'll go with Cheng Yi." Cheng Fang stood at the foot of the steps, holding a food box in his hand. "I made some fresh food. They were all Master He's favorite foods. They were just delivered to Master He. .”
Cheng Wanwan nodded in agreement.
Cheng Fang had studied martial arts with He Xiao for more than a year, and her skills were decent. Although she was not He Xiao's disciple, it was obvious that she respected He Xiao as her master, and she thought of He Xiao whenever she ate. Xiao, this should be the reason why He Xiao has been thinking about Dahe Village.
Because the people of Dahe Village will not forget him, he will return there one day.
