Chapter 90

Liu Mansion.

Liu Xingzhao, Liu Yewai, wiped the sweat from his head, returned to the main hall of the inner quarters somewhat exhausted, and said in a hoarse voice to Lady Liu, who had brought him a drink, "This is the sixth batch, my voice is already hoarse."

Lady Liu placed the drink in front of her husband, "Drink it quickly, it will soothe your throat."

Liu Yewai smiled bitterly and shook his head. He had never imagined that the announcement of the tribute list would cause such a stir, and that it would even affect the Liu Mansion.

The reason was simple: Liu Yewai was also a friend of Zhong Su, and the tutor at the Liu Mansion, Mr. Ming, was borrowed from Zhong Su.

Mr. Ming was already famous for his teaching, and now he had tutored a student who scored full marks in all four subjects and became the top scholar. Instantly, the threshold of the Liu Mansion was almost trampled by people coming to pay their respects.

They all came for their own sons, either asking the Liu Mansion to let Mr. Ming go or to share his talents.

Those who could enter the Liu Mansion would not casually ask for personal favors, but as parents, they would lower their dignity for their sons.

The Liu Mansion was also in a difficult position. They had hired Mr. Ming at a high price to tutor their own son. Zhong Su had only lent him for the imperial examination. Now, everyone wanted a piece of Mr. Ming's time. What about their own son?

Although they didn't want to offend anyone, they had to patiently explain, hoarsing their voices in the process.

Lady Liu was quite excited, "A top scholar with full marks in all four subjects, it's said to be a once-in-a-century occurrence. It seems this Mr. Ming is indeed capable. I don't ask for him to tutor my son to get full marks, but if he can help my son become a top scholar, I would be willing to sacrifice my own life."

Liu Yewai pointed to his throat, "Wait and see, this is just the beginning. We don't know how many more people we'll have to deal with."

Lady Liu gave him a light punch on the shoulder, "You should be grateful that we got here first. Many people would love to suffer this but don't have the chance. It's better than you having to beg others."

"Ah, let's just deal with it for now. I'm afraid we'll encounter someone we can't refuse." With a sore throat, Liu Yewai didn't want to say more. He pointed to his foot, "Running around like this, my old foot problem has flared up again. Help me massage it."

Lady Liu brought a stool and took off his shoe and sock.

As they were chatting and massaging, the steward ran in, shouting even before he entered, "Master!"

Clearly, it was an urgent matter. Liu Yewai waved him in.

The steward hurried in and presented a letter, "Master, Mr. Ming has come and submitted his resignation."

Resignation? Liu Yewai was stunned, quickly snatched the letter, and opened it to read.

Lady Liu was anxious, "Why is he submitting his resignation? Has someone offered him a higher price to poach him?"

The steward shook his head, "I don't know. He said everything is in the letter."

The letter stated that Mr. Ming was resigning as a tutor, citing his elderly mother's need for care and asking the Liu Mansion to find a replacement.

Liu Yewai suddenly stood up, asking, "Where is he? Did you stop him?"

The steward, anxious, replied, "We tried to make him wait for you, but he didn't want to say more and went straight to the gate. We didn't dare to force him, so we hurried to inform you."

Liu Yewai immediately ran out without a word.

"Shoes, put on your shoes," Lady Liu shouted.

Liu Yewai didn't look back, running out with one foot bare.

By the time he reached the gate, the person was already gone. The gatekeeper said the carriage had just left, so he ran out and shouted, "Stop!"

Immediately, a guard sprinted over and stopped the carriage.

Liu Yewai, panting heavily, asked Mr. Ming to come out.

"Mr. Ming, if the Liu Mansion has been negligent in any way, please speak up, and we will correct it. There's no need for this."

"If you want to take care of your mother, why not bring her to the capital? I will send people to take good care of her, so you don't have to worry."

"Is it because the pay is too low? I am willing to double it. Please tell me what you think is fair."

"Have you found a better position?"

"Has my son been misbehaving and offended you?"

"Is it because the maid serving you is not considerate and doesn't make you happy?"

Liu Yewai asked a series of questions, but Mr. Ming shook his head to each one, saying everything was in the letter, and he wanted to return home.

At this moment, Lady Liu also ran over with her young son, a boy of twelve or thirteen.

As soon as the son arrived, Liu Yewai sternly ordered, "Kneel before Mr. Ming!"

The boy hesitated for a moment, unsure of what was happening, but seeing his father's fierce expression, he quickly knelt before Mr. Ming.

Seeing Liu Yewai with one bare foot, seeing the student kneeling, and seeing Lady Liu pleading, Mr. Ming sighed deeply and spoke the truth, "Master, don't overthink it. It has nothing to do with other reasons. My mother is old, and I fear her time is limited. I have been in the capital for many years and have not been a filial son. How can I be a teacher? Moreover, I want to try my luck in the imperial examination three years from now to fulfill my long-held wish. This journey is both a return to my roots and a way to atone for my sins by staying by my mother's side. Master, Lady, these are my heartfelt words. I bid you farewell, and please do not miss me!" He then bowed to the family.

Liu Yewai was stunned, feeling that Mr. Ming was indeed different today. His entire demeanor had changed; his hair was neatly combed, and he looked refreshed.

Mr. Ming helped the kneeling boy up, smiled, and patted his head, "Study hard and don't辜负了父母的一番苦心." Then he turned and got into the carriage, calling for it to go. The carriage driver whipped the horses, and they moved on.

The carriage headed towards the setting sun.

Lady Liu tugged at her husband's sleeve, anxious, "Can't we offer more money?"

Liu Yewai smiled bitterly, "No one in his field lacks money. It's not about money. He has made his intentions clear. To delay his examination for my son, how could I say that? Is that reasonable? The capital really can't keep him anymore..."

Under the night sky, the capital was lit up with brilliant lights, filled with singing and dancing, and bustling with people. The nightlife was lively and vibrant.

In a quiet corner, a procession of carriages and guards returned to the entrance of the brightly lit 'Mei Mansion.'

This Mei Mansion was not an ordinary household but the residence of the Minister of Works of Jin State.

The curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a man with an ordinary appearance but dressed in a second-rank official's robe.

He had a neatly trimmed black beard, a clear wrinkle between his eyebrows, and a pale face, indicating he rarely smiled. This was none other than the Minister of Works, Mei Sanghai.

Still reeking of alcohol, he had just returned from a banquet.

The steward, Kong Shen, ran out to greet him and accompanied him inside.

The servants they encountered along the way did not need to bow; they simply stepped aside.

All the way to the secluded courtyard, where a few plum trees cast their shadows, Kong Shen helped the minister take off his official robe, brought hot water, and placed a towel, then said, "It's not a coincidence. The top scholar is indeed Ah Jie Zhang's son."

Mei Sanghai's hands paused as he played with the towel in the hot water. He remained silent for a moment before saying, "Full marks in all four subjects. The old master did a great job. I remember holding that boy in my arms when he was young. Now he dares to appear with his real name, it seems he has great ambitions and is coming with a strong presence! Where is Ah Jie Zhang now?"

He called Ah Jie Zhang 'old master' because he was once a direct subordinate of Ah Jie Zhang, a clerk in the Yu Department.

After Ah Jie Zhang was dismissed, it was he who was promoted to take over Ah Jie Zhang's position as the head of the Yu Department.

In less than twenty years, he had risen from a clerk in the Yu Department to the head of the Yu Department, then to the deputy minister of the Works Department, and finally to the Minister of Works, one of the six ministers of the court. The time was neither short nor long, and he had steadily climbed the ranks within the Works Department.

He had indeed held Ah Shiheng in his arms when he was young.

Kong Shen: "He's dead."

"Dead?" Mei Sanghai turned sharply, seemingly disbelieving.

Kong Shen: "From the information on the candidates from Lieshou, both of Ah Shiheng's parents are deceased, and their identities are listed as 'villagers.' This is not a cover-up; Ah Jie Zhang humbly referred to himself as a 'villager' after retiring from the capital. We have just learned his identity, and the official records from Lieshou are all we can find."

Mei Sanghai washed his hands silently, "Didn't you say Ah Jie Zhang was still alive back then?"

Kong Shen: "Back then, the situation was unclear, and there was no news. We found a burial site near the incident, and none of the bodies of the Ah family were found, including Ah Jie Zhang and his son. Now that he has appeared, it won't be hard to find out when Ah Jie Zhang died."

Mei Sanghai wiped his face with a hot towel and threw it back into the basin. He walked back to his desk and sat down, "Be careful. Maybe they are waiting for you to investigate. We thought we knew him well back then, but over a hundred people were sent, and not one came back alive. We don't know what kind of power is behind him."

Kong Shen: "Now that the son has returned, he will certainly investigate the past. Once he learns the truth, he will seek revenge. We should strike first!"

Mei Sanghai: "Do you think you are the only one who knows he is Ah Jie Zhang's son? When Ah Jie Zhang was in power, he used his position and his connections with the Sinan Mansion to help many people. Even the emperor, in his rage, could not kill him. The number of his allies in the court is unknown. The boy appearing with his real name is a calculated move. Many eyes are already on him. Acting rashly is courting death!"

Kong Shen hesitated, "Master, should we just let the boy rise to power?"

Mei Sanghai: "Now that he has stepped into the system, he must follow the rules. Direct assassination is a taboo and will anger many. Do you want the court officials to abandon the rules and start killing each other? Breaking the rules and undermining the foundation will not be tolerated by the emperor. Don't forget, it was someone who informed on him, and the emperor is the one who knows. Once you act, the emperor will know who did it. We can only move after Ah Jie Zhang is dismissed. That's the reason."

Kong Shen nodded in understanding but frowned, "Should we just let it happen?"

Mei Sanghai leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and rested, "It's not our turn to act. Let the emperor taste the son of Ah Jie Zhang first."