Chapter 258: Chapter 225: Mr. Xue Enters the Palace

Li Jing Imperial City.

Rouyi Palace.

The bedchamber of the newly promoted Consort Shu of the Xue family.

Consort Xue gave birth to the Emperor’s fifth son, and with her status elevated due to her son, coupled with her son Zhao Yuanchun nearing adulthood, the Emperor, despite having more than one son.

The Crown Prince has been married for years, yet remains childless, and the Third Prince, due to his mother’s crime, is under house arrest, practically losing any chance at the throne.

This leaves only the almost mature Fifth Prince, though not yet given a princely title, rumors suggest that His Majesty intends to name him King Qi.

Although these rumors are not to be fully trusted, they can’t be entirely dismissed, as there is some truth to them.

King Qi indeed suits Fifth Prince Zhao Yuanchun’s title.

The Eastern Palace, where the Crown Prince resides, is still striving for heirs, but despite the Crown Prince’s daily endeavors, the bellies of the palace concubines show no signs of movement.

Consort Xue is not idle either, busy selecting a bride for her son, she wants to pick a capable daughter-in-law from the families of civil and military officials, one who can help him ascend to the throne in the future.

She not only aims to become a noble consort but also the Empress, and even the Empress Dowager!

Xuerou is no longer the woman who once struggled for a mere meal, she now harbors greater ambitions.

Portraits of teenage girls are hung, like commodities waiting to be selected. In a royal selection of consorts, there are many to choose from, countless people willing to marry their daughters to the royal family to gain immense wealth and fortune.

Some of these portraits are voluntarily sent by these families, while others are arranged deliberately after Xuerou gathers information.

After all, as a consort, she can’t freely leave the palace to meet people, so selecting a daughter-in-law for her son must be done this way.

Too beautiful, seductive, or strong-willed ones should be excluded, ideally they should be dignified, gentle, and non-aggressive.

Of course, what the royal family values most are good childbearing capabilities.

"This one won’t do, too thin..."

"Too old, the bone structure doesn’t look good."

"This one’s good, whose daughter is she?"

"Reporting to Consort Shu, she is the great-niece of Mr. Lien, named Lien Yurou..." A maid quickly steps forward to answer.

"Good, keep this one for now." Xuerou ponders, the name also has the character ’Rou’, and having a relation with Mr. Lien, if she were his granddaughter, that would be even better.

Suddenly, her eyes catch a portrait of a spirited young girl, Xuerou’s eyes light up: "And who is this?"

"Reporting to Your Ladyship, she is the granddaughter of the Grand General Qingye, named Qingtang. This girl has followed her father, General Qing Mu, to guard the border since childhood. At the mere age of sixteen, she had already mastered martial arts. She is also a registrant disciple of the Sect Leader of the world-renowned Wentian Sect."

"Wentian Sect, the universally acclaimed number one martial sect?" Xuerou exclaims in surprise.

"Yes, Your Ladyship, it is indeed the world-renowned number one martial sect, Wentian Sect!" The maid hurriedly nods in response.

"Keep this one as well." Xuerou thinks for a moment, yet decides to keep her for now.

"Yes, Your Ladyship."

Just as Xuerou was poring over the portraits, selecting candidates, a maid suddenly comes in, leans forward, and reports: "Your Ladyship, Marquis Lingyang seeks an audience."

"Hmm, understood, let him in." Xuerou commands the portraits to be put away, then gives an order.

"Minister Xue Chunlai greets Consort Shu..."

"Brother, we are family, no need for so many formalities, there are no outsiders here." Xuerou sees Marquis Lingyang Xue Chunlai and extends her hand to assist him.

"Thank you, Your Ladyship." Xue Chunlai gets up and says.

"Brother, what brings you to the palace today?"

"I’m here for your nephew, Xue." Xue Chunlai begins.

"Brother, you know that Wulang is like my nephew. Even though he is now physically impaired, he is still my nephew. If I agree to let him into the palace, you know how many people will mock me?" Xuerou replies.

On his way to the capital, Xue Wulang encountered scoundrels, with most of his escorts killed, goods stolen, and Xue Wulang himself was injured in a way...

At this time, Marquis Lingyang Xue Chunlai received the news and was extremely furious, ordering an investigation and pursuit of the perpetrators.

Of course, so far, no conclusive information has been obtained.

Nonetheless, his son was crippled.

Xue Wulang has been recovering in the Xue Mansion in the capital for over half a month, and his body has mostly healed; with his physical condition, he is certainly reluctant to stay in the Xue Mansion and endure the taunts and disdain from his brothers.

It must be noted, he was once the legitimate heir of the Marquis Lingyang, now having lost his manhood, how can he continue as the heir?

Therefore, he laid two options before his father, Marquis Lingyang: either let him become a monk at the Great Xiangguo Temple, or let him serve his aunt in the palace.

Since he’s no longer a real man, becoming a true eunuch in the palace is no big deal.

The heir of Marquis Lingyang becoming a monk would surely become big news and attract onlookers, people might even dig up Xue Wulang’s entire injury affair clean.

But staying in the mansion, Xue Wulang’s condition couldn’t be hidden from his brothers...

Entering the palace seems to be the best way to avoid all troubles. Xue Chunlai enters the palace under a different name, with his aunt Xue Rou looking after him, he shouldn’t be bullied.

Moreover, Xue Chunlai is one of our own, and with his sister in the palace, he is absolutely someone we can rely on; who else to trust if not our own people?

With Xue Rou’s current status in the harem, arranging for a eunuch who has already been purified to enter the palace is merely a matter of a word.

All that is needed is to inform the Jingshi Room, but although this matter isn’t large, the royal palace isn’t any ordinary place.

There are no secrets in the harem, so it seems impossible to keep Xue Chunlai’s identity a secret.

Even if she doesn’t speak, it doesn’t mean others won’t, and this matter will sooner or later reach some people’s ears, perhaps even the emperor’s.

Emperor Zhao Rui is a man with a strong desire for control; he might ignore these matters, but they cannot go unsaid.

Especially when entering people from outside the palace.

Such matters potentially affecting the internal security are no trifles.

"If he becomes a monk, he won’t be able to be with us often," Xue Chunlai said, "He Xiulian wrote to me two months ago saying that Wulang left a seed in Dongshan, it’s been five months now, and if Wulang can have a son, then the marquis’ title of our mansion will belong to this grandson."

"Oh, that’s indeed good news, Wulang has done a good deed for our Xue Family," Xue Rou said, "Big brother, why is it that none of your unworthy sons could bear a child?"

"They are still young, let them take their time..." Xue Chunlai replied with an embarrassed smile. His fortune in spreading branches and leaves seemed to have run out with his sons, and in the grandson’s generation, it seems there’s not much left.

"I need to think this over carefully, don’t rush, even if Wulang enters the palace, as his aunt, I must find a dignified and easy job for him," Xue Rou said.

"Then I’ll thank you on his behalf!"

"No need for thanks, we’re all family," Xue Rou said gently, waving her hand.

"It’s what ought to be done, then I shall take my leave first..."

"Big brother, don’t be in a hurry to leave, there’s another matter I need your advice on," Xue Rou hurriedly caught her brother Xue Chunlai.

"Your Highness, what else is there?"

"Isn’t Chun’Er about to come of age soon? He is expected to be ennobled by the end of this year, and then arranged for marriage. His Majesty sent many portraits of young women from the capital, asking me to choose one to be the main consort and two secondary consorts for Chun’Er." Xue Rou explained.

"His Majesty really loves Chun’Er so much. When the third prince came of age years ago, he was only given a main consort for marriage, and later two secondary consorts were appointed. But for our Chun’Er, they are all arranged at once!" Xue Chunlai exclaimed in surprise.

"Indeed, with so many girls, little sister is getting dazzled. How about you help me choose?" Xue Rou said.

"Your Highness, is it appropriate for me?" Xue Chunlai hesitated.

"You are Chun’Er’s uncle and elder, how could it not be appropriate?"

"Alright, then let me take a look, but ultimately it’s up to Your Highness’s preference and His Majesty’s approval," Xue Chunlai smiled.

...

"Sister, stop looking, it’s just an imperial decree, nothing extraordinary." Back at the inn, Sun Youwei read Lin Miao’s special conferment as an attendant at official ceremonies again and again, as if she could discern different flowers from it.

"Junior Brother, this is an imperial decree, might you one day become an official?" Sun Youwei asked with a silly smile.

"Being an official, too boring, those bureaucrats have an average of eight hundred schemes each. Playing with them day after day leaves me no heart to treat and save people, it’s more comfortable being a doctor, without having to think so much," Lin Miao smiled. He had no ambition for an official career and wasn’t interested in becoming an official. However, sometimes one has no say; without official status, others won’t respect you.

Of course, if you are impressive enough, whether or not you have official status makes no difference.

Ask the Sect Leader of the world’s number one sect, the Dao-Seeking Sect, who dares to disrespect him? Even the emperor, upon seeing him, must clasp his hands and respectfully call him "Master".

The Dao-Seeking Sect’s leader need not kneel before the emperor; at most, a clasped hand as a gesture of respect suffices.

He is a master at the pinnacle level of Tianyuan, for whom breaking into the palace and taking the emperor’s head is as easy as reaching into a bag.

Anyone like that, who dares not to respect him?

Isn’t becoming someone like the Sect Leader of the Dao-Seeking Sect more enjoyable than being an emperor?

"Junior Brother, I want to take the decree back, bring it to my father’s grave, and read it to him; what do you think?" Sun Youwei asked.

"Of course, such things should always be said in front of our master’s spirit. If it can be taken to the grave, that’s even better. Unfortunately, it can’t be burned; otherwise, burning it and letting master watch it every day underground wouldn’t be a problem," Lin Miao joked.

"Junior Brother, don’t speak nonsense, if someone hears it, they might accuse you of disrespecting the decree," Sun Youwei hurriedly reminded him.

"Understood, Senior Sister," Lin Miao nodded. "I just consulted Master Guan; our accumulated cases are about eight thousand eight hundred. In about another thousand two hundred cases, we will complete this trial, the rest will be over-completed. In another month, we should be done, and you can start preparing; we can make a trip back to Qingping Town around early July."

"Will Mrs. Yun go back with us?" Sun Youwei nodded.

"Have you asked her? If she is willing, she can hand her work over to Liuli for a while and go back with us. It might be a long time before we return, and we might not have the chance in the future," Lin Miao said.

"Hmm, I will ask her tomorrow. Should we bring something for the villagers of Qingping Town this time?" Sun Youwei asked.

"Of course, we lived in Qingping Town for ten years, taken care of by the villagers; how could we forget our roots?" Lin Miao nodded, "Don’t be afraid to spend the money that needs to be spent, we are not short on money now."

Su Chen brought back a huge fortune of two million silver taels, and he hasn’t yet figured out which direction to invest it in.

Money must circulate to be money; otherwise, it’s just a pile of scrap.

Longchuan Canyon, Li Hen City.

Just happens to use this trip back home to Qingping Town as an excuse to make a visit and see.