Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 1232 - 514: Niu Yanghui’s Promotion (Part 5)

The aide seemed slightly disappointed, but he still left as instructed.

Luo Shao stared at the door that had opened and closed again, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He had three aides by his side, all left to him by his father. Yet, not long ago, he discovered that one of them was actually an informant for the Emperor. Thinking of this, Luo Shao smiled wryly. No matter how loyal he was, as long as he wasn’t kept under the Emperor’s watch, the Emperor would always be uneasy.

Just as Luo Shao was deep in thought, his confidant came in: "Marquis, Jiangnan has sent a secret letter." With that, he handed a sheet of blank paper to Luo Shao.

After dismissing everyone, Luo Shao used a special method, revealing the writing on the blank paper. Upon reading it, his expression changed, but in the blink of an eye, it returned to normal.

Luo Shao looked at the pile of ashes on the table, his expression somewhat complex. It was believable if someone wanted to harm An Zhichen after all, the current defending general in the Northwest, General Lin, was old and had recently suffered several defeats. General Lin’s position was surely insecure, and naturally, An Zhichen was the most promising successor. An Zhichen’s precarious situation was within Luo Shao’s expectations. But Jiangnan having a drought, now that’s serious.

If anyone else spoke of dreaming about a drought in Jiangnan, he would surely not pay attention. But this person happened to be Lian Yueyao. He had known Lian Yueyao for over a decade, and admittedly, she was quite uncanny; any dream she had would invariably come true. Now, as the Northwest was at war, the coastal region would certainly not be peaceful either, and the foremost guarantee in battling these locations was the supply of provisions. Jiangnan is a major grain supply area; if it suffers from a drought, it will surely impact the war situation.

Luo Shao felt that Yueyao had given him a difficult problem. If this matter was true, to minimize the loss, he could only report it to the Emperor. But if he reported it, whether the Emperor would believe it is one issue, another would certainly drag Yueyao into the vortex.

Luo Shao knew very well that Yueyao always wished to avoid political matters. Ever since An Zhichen left the capital, she had stayed recluse to avoid external disputes. However, if this matter reached the Emperor’s ears, Yueyao would no longer have peaceful days.

Luo Shao pondered for a long time and finally sent a reply. First, listen to Yueyao’s intentions, then decide!

The Northwest’s warfare had little connection to the Lian family. But at this time, Tingyi proposed to Lian Dongfang to go to the Northwest.

Lian Dongfang was unwilling. If Tingyi had wanted to go to the Northwest before, he wouldn’t have stopped him. But with the Northwest at war now, how could he let Tingyi take such a risk? Four sons, four Palace Graduates, yet the one he valued most was indeed Tingyi. Tingyi was competent, intelligent, and equally capable in strategy.

Tingyi insisted on his decision. Lian Dongfang said, "I absolutely will not let you go to the Northwest."

Tingyi’s eyes showed extraordinary determination: "Father, you have always hoped to restore the Lian family’s prestige, to recover the Lian family’s honor. Father, with the Northwest at war now, it is an opportunity for me."

Tingyi had his reasons for insisting on going to the Northwest. Firstly, he felt an internal impulse, a duty to serve the country in its time of need, hoping to contribute his tiny bit of effort in the Northwest, even if he couldn’t reach the battlefield. Secondly, he wanted to escape the shadow of relying on nepotism. Before he hadn’t thought too much, his father arranged for him to marry a woman from the Zhou Family, his parents’ decision, and a matchmaker’s arrangement, he didn’t have any objections. But after marrying Zhou Yue, he realized how much pressure he had to endure. People overlooked his efforts and forgot he also achieved the third rank in the imperial examination through ten years of hard study; each time he was promoted, there were always people saying he rose up because of his wife. If he went to the Northwest, he could completely escape this shadow.

Lian Dongfang was unmoved.

Tingyi didn’t manage to persuade Lian Dongfang, but his intention to go to the Northwest quickly spread throughout the Lian family. When Zhou Yue heard the news, she was utterly stunned.

When Tingyi returned to the courtyard, Zhou Yue tentatively asked: "Husband, the people in the mansion say you want to go to the Northwest, is this true?"

Tingyi sighed: "Father won’t allow it."

Zhou Yue opened her mouth but said nothing. If Tingyi wanted to go to the Northwest during peaceful times, she would definitely not oppose it. But now was not like before, with the Northwest at war, people could die at any moment, and she still didn’t want to become a widow.

Tingyi saw Zhou Yue’s expression and knew she definitely didn’t want him to go to the Northwest. With the obstacles from his father and the Zhou Family, he couldn’t go even if he wanted to. Tingyi felt stifled, their Lian family seemed prosperous now, but this was all based on having several excellent marital alliances. Admittedly, his father’s vision was indeed good, his wife’s family was not to mention, known to all as the distinguished family, while his sister-in-law’s father was currently the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Personnel, head of the six ministries. But for Tingyi, it was uncertain whether this was fortunate or unfortunate.