Powerful Minister Buddha like Sweet wife

 

Chapter 87: Intend

The family gathering was not the only a joyous occasion on that day in the capital ,as Liu Tangxi was in high spirits. Today, Mingguo Gongfu was also filled with lively celebration. It was no ordinary day, as it marked the birthday of both the old master and his wife at Ming Guo Palace.The significance of the palace's title aside, the crown prince's maiden family alone commanded considerable influence. Moreover, with the emperor's favor now leaning towards the third prince, the momentum of the crown prince's standing had gradually strengthened. As a result, almost all the female relatives of officials and eunuchs ranked Grade 3 or higher within the capital made their presence known at the celebration.Those beneath the third grade rank were not invited, not because they lacked desire to attend, but because they simply hadn't received an invitation. As for Liu Tangxi, she had the option to attend or not. If she were to represent the Huai'enhou Mansion, she would certainly be qualified. However, if attending under the name of Wei Hanzhou, her status alone wouldn't suffice.Liu Tangxi wasn't particularly eager to join in the bustling celebrations anyway, and since no invitation had been extended to their household, she didn't bother going. After all, attending would mean preparing an extravagant gift, and such expenses, though not impossible, were hardly appealing to her.The princess Jing, on the other hand, had attended the event alongside her daughter, Princess Fuping.Later that evening, when King Jin returned home, the princess Jing recounted the details of the day's birthday celebration. She spoke of who had attended, the conversations that took place, and whose household mingled with whom. Although it might have sounded like mere gossip on the surface, the discussions held more weight than idle chatter. The affairs of the court may have been dominated by men, but sometimes, it was the women who noticed subtle shifts or gleaned deeper insights.After relaying the events, Princess Jin couldn't help but express her amazement. "There were so many people there today. Even more than last year when Mingguo Gongfu celebrated their granddaughter's marriage.""The crown prince's actions caused quite the stir," King Jin remarked with a hint of irony, the corner of his lips twitching as he spoke. "The emperor hasn't deposed him, and meanwhile, the third prince has faced reprimands one after another. People are starting to see glimmers of hope."King Jin's eyes flashed with sarcasm as he spoke. His voice was laced with bitterness, for having spent years stationed in the north, he had long believed his elder brother to be the most calculating and ruthless of all men. Little did he expect the younger princes vying for power would prove just as fierce in their ambitions.Year after year, taxes had been collected. Corruption festered among officials, cronyism flourished, and too many were content to sit idle, achieving nothing. The Ministry of Rites could spend months merely discussing the marriages of noble offspring, while allowing the most pressing issues of corruption and misconduct within the government to go unchecked.The state of the court was in shambles, far worse than he had anticipated. In the span of a mere decade, the prosperous land his father had fought to build was being reduced to chaos.Anger surged within him once more. Unable to contain his frustration, King Jin slammed his fist against the table with a resounding crack. The force shattered a corner of the wooden surface.Princess Jin, who had been sitting beside him, had not expected such an outburst. She jumped in fright at his sudden rage. But as soon as she saw the blood trickling from his hand, her shock quickly morphed into concern.She hurriedly stood, rushing to his side. Taking his injured hand in hers, she examined it with furrowed brows. "My lord, even if you are angry, you mustn't harm yourself in this manner. Someone, quickly—call for Physician Jiang!""Yes, Your Highness," came the immediate response from a servant outside the room.Seeing the worry etched on his wife's face, King Jin realized his impulsive actions had alarmed her. Softening his expression, he spoke gently, "There's no need to be so concerned, Princess. It's just a minor injury."Despite his reassurance, Princess Jin regarded him with a look of disapproval, clearly not convinced.Before long, Physician Jiang arrived, skillfully tending to King Jin's wound and offering a few words of caution before making his exit."You disapprove of the crown prince and the third prince's recent behavior," Princess Jin said softly, "but you mustn't neglect your own health. Whatever punishments the emperor deals them are beyond our control."But King Jin's thoughts were elsewhere. How could he not be involved in such matters? Of course he would get involved. In fact, he was the one secretly orchestrating many of these events. Since his elder brother seemed incapable of managing the court's affairs properly, someone else would have to step in and do so.Even so, he kept these thoughts to himself. Seeing the concern in his wife's eyes, he refrained from speaking further on the subject, fearing it would only heighten her anxiety.Adopting a more soothing tone, he said, "Have I frightened you? Don't worry, it won't happen again."Princess Jin remained silent for a moment, carefully observing him. Finally, she let out a soft sigh and returned to her seat. For a time, neither of them spoke.Breaking the silence, King Jin attempted to lighten the mood. "Did anything amusing happen at today's banquet?" he inquired.Though still somewhat unsettled, Princess Jin recognized his effort to change the subject and obliged. She began to recount an amusing moment from the celebration—a young master among the grandchildren of the Guogong Mansion had performed a sword dance in honor of the old lady's birthday. His performance had been quite striking."Zhen Zhen was particularly taken by it," the princess added with a smile. "She even went to discuss it with the young master afterward."King Jin raised an eyebrow and frowned. "I'm sure it was merely for show—fancy moves and nothing more. She doesn't need to learn that. Tomorrow, I'll arrange for a master to teach her something more practical."Princess Jin couldn't help but laugh at her husband's stern response."Did I say something funny?" he asked, genuinely puzzled."No, not at all. It's just that..." She chuckled again. "Our daughter already managed to best the young master when she asked him for a sparring match."Hearing this, King Jin's frown gave way to a proud grin. "That's my daughter! Brilliant as always.""You'd better be careful," Princess Jin teased. "If you keep praising her like this, she may never find a husband.""Impossible!" King Jin declared with confidence. "Zhen Zhen will have her pick of the finest suitors. I'll make sure she has the best son-in-law in the world."Knowing how deeply King Jin cherished their daughter, Princess Jin decided to drop the topic, instead steering the conversation toward other matters.Eventually, they began discussing Liu Yunan."The second daughter of Huai'enhou's Mansion is truly remarkable," princess Jing said with admiration. "She's skilled in everything—music, chess, calligraphy, painting—and her poise is unmatched. No wonder she's known as the most talented woman in the capital."At the mention of Liu Yunan's name, King Jin paused momentarily, his hand hovering over his teacup, a flicker of emotion crossing his face."I've often wondered," Princess Jin mused, "how Madam Huai'enhou managed to raise such exceptional daughters. The elder daughter is gentle, a wonderful cook, and even manages to bring in wealth. And then there's the younger one, so accomplished in every art. Truly, Madam Huai'enhou is blessed."King Jin nodded in agreement. Indeed, his wife's praises of Liu Tangxi were well-founded.However, he added, "It's not just the arts she excels in. She also has a keen insight into political matters."Princess Jin looked up in surprise. "Oh? She's knowledgeable in matters of governance as well?""Did the princess still remembers that when we left Beijing more than ten years ago, the Huai'enhou Mansion had already fallen into decline."The princess pondered for a moment before responding, "Yes, I recall hearing that part of their family had committed some offense that displeased the queen's family."Jin Wang gave a nod of confirmation, adding, "Indeed. Back then, it seemed inevitable that they would lose their marquisate. Yet, not only did Huai'enhou retain the title, but in recent years, they've managed to regain a firm foothold in the capital.""Do you think this has something to do with the second daughter of the family?" the princess inquired, only to shake her head after a pause. "No, that can't be. She was just a child at the time. How could she understand such matters?"Jin Wang had once thought the same, but after conducting a thorough investigation, the facts were undeniable.Some people, even at a young age, are astonishingly precocious and extraordinarily gifted."It was indeed the second daughter. She worked behind the scenes, helping to restore the fortunes of the Huai'enhou Mansion. Her efforts gave her a significant role within the household."The princess's eyes widened in shock."Not only that," Jin Wang continued, "she's now the advisor to the third prince. It was her guidance that helped him rise in power, and she nearly orchestrated the downfall of the crown prince."If it hadn't been for Jin Wang's intervention behind the scenes, the crown prince might have already been deposed by now. Princess Jing was speechless, still trying to absorb this revelation."If she were a man," Jin Wang concluded, "she would likely be on a path to becoming a senior minister of the court in the future.""Is there truly such a capable woman in the world?" Princess Jin finally managed to regain her voice, though still visibly astonished.Jin Wang nodded.Seeing his princess begin to admire this woman, he quickly added, "It's unfortunate that her heart is not in the right place. Her methods are ruthless. You must be careful not to interact with her too much, and Zhen Zhen must not come into contact with her at all."The princess, sensing the seriousness in his tone, nodded. "Rest assured, my lord. Zhen Zhen doesn't like her much anyway, and she's even spoken to me about her disdain for her. Zhen Zhen prefers the eldest daughter from the Marquis family."Thinking of Liu Tangxi's gentle and kind nature, the princess added, "That Lady Wei has a truly pleasant temperament. She's gentle and kind-hearted. It would be wonderful if Zhen Zhen could learn from her."Jin Wang understood the princess's approval and agreed with her silently.Soon after, they extinguished the lights and lay down for the night.Yet, despite the quiet around him, Jin Wang did not immediately fall asleep. He lay there with his eyes open, deep in thought.He wasn't sure what the third prince had been up to lately. Although the third prince had been reprimanded by the emperor, there were still small, subtle movements in the background. The third prince had been frequently meeting with the eldest daughter of the duke Sai household.Anyone with a discerning eye could see what his intentions were.Although duke Sai was a military commander and had once been very close to Jin Wang, in recent years their relationship had cooled. It was clear that the duke now favored the third prince. Otherwise, the incident between his daughter and the third prince at the palace banquet wouldn't have been reported directly to the emperor.It was becoming evident that the Duke Sai household was seeking an alliance with the third prince through marriage.However, there was another matter that Jin Wang couldn't ignore.He recalled something Wei Hanzhou had mentioned. The third prince's recent actions were suspicious, as though he intended to ruin the reputation of the Duke's eldest daughter, thereby relegating her to the position of concubine. This would leave the position of wife for Liu Yunan, the second daughter of the Huai'enhou family.It was clear the third prince wanted to benefit from both the military might of the duke mansion and the strategic brilliance of Liu Yunan, who served as his advisor.The third prince's schemes were certainly ambitious.The next morning, after breakfast, Wei Lao San made an announcement."Last night, the third son came to talk to me. Son, I'm here to thank you. From now on, your eldest brother and second brother will go to work at the shop. They'll start as assistants, earning the same wages as the other workers."The third son had spent a long time talking to Wei Lao San the night before, convincing him to make this decision.Wei Lao San had come to realize that he had been too narrow-minded before. He lacked formal education, and his vision had been too short-sighted.His third daughter-in-law, however, had grown up in a marquis household and was much more far-sighted than any of them. The family had truly been blessed by having her as a daughter-in-law.If they wanted to thrive in the capital, they needed to think long-term.Although his sons were strong and capable of making good money through labor-intensive jobs, these jobs didn't offer sustainable growth. Besides, the family no longer needed as much money for their grandchildren's education, and the third son and his wife didn't need to hoard wealth like before.Wei Lao San had once been severely ill from overwork. He didn't want his sons to follow in his footsteps.Now, they had an opportunity to help their sons gain experience in the shop. This would be far better than making them toil at the docks.Liu Tangxi, too, had been contemplating what Wei Hanzhou said the previous night. Hearing Wei Lao San's decision, she spoke up, "Father, I agree with your plan. But I think it's best if eldest brother and second brother start by learning how to transport goods and handle deliveries. This way, they'll become familiar with the capital and learn the operations. After they're comfortable, they can move up to working as assistants in the shop. Once they've mastered those skills, they can learn bookkeeping and settle accounts under the shopkeeper's guidance."Before Wei Lao San could say anything, Wei Daniu and Wei Erhu exchanged relieved glances.They were comfortable with transportation and delivery work, as they'd done it before. But working in the shop as assistants was something new, and they feared they might embarrass themselves with their country accents and lack of experience.Wei Lao San understood his sons' concerns. He could read their faces and happily agreed to Liu Tangxi's suggestion.As for himself, he wasn't knowledgeable in these matters. But if it meant his sons wouldn't have to search the streets for work, he was content.They were outsiders here in the capital. When he was younger, he had struggled to find work even in a small town, so he could empathize with how daunting it must be for his sons in a city like this."I have several shops," Liu Tangxi continued. "Some sell food, others dry goods, cloth, or even calligraphy supplies. What kind of shop would my brothers and their wives be interested in managing in the future?"She knew it was important to ask for their input before arranging their work.Wei Daniu and his wife Zhang Shi exchanged uncertain glances. They didn't have any concrete ideas and remained silent for a moment.However, Wei Erhu and his wife Zhou shi had already discussed it.Wei Erhu said, "We think that if it's possible in the future, we'll open a food shop and sell breakfast and noodles."Liu Tangxi nodded approvingly. "That's a great idea. I happen to have a small restaurant where my second brother could help out."Zhou shi smiled and replied, "Thank you, third brother and sister."After a moment of thought, Liu Tangxi added, "Second sister-in-law, if you don't want to stay home embroidering every day, you could help in the kitchen. Not all cooks are men; there are also female chefs."Zhou shi's face lit up with joy. If they were to open a shop in the future, working alongside her husband would be ideal. It would be good to gain some experience in the meantime. However, she hadn't fully decided yet and hesitated to agree right away.Seeing Zhou shi's uncertainty, Liu Tangxi reassured her, "Second sister-in-law, take your time to think it over. There's no rush. But just so you know, helping in the kitchen might not pay as well as embroidery, and it could be more tiring."Zhou shi nodded, "Yes, I understand."After discussing with Wei Erhu and Zhou shi, Liu Tangxi turned to Wei Daniu and Zhang shi, asking, "Eldest brother, sister-in-law, have you thought about it?"Wei Daniu, unsure of how to respond, remained silent. Zhang shi eventually spoke up, "To be honest, my husband and I thought about it all night but still don't know. Neither of us is good at talking, I can't cook, and we don't have the skills to run a shop. We really don't know what we could do."Wei Daniu, scratching his head awkwardly, added, "Maybe I should just go and help. Forget about opening a shop."Wei Lao San, after considering his eldest son's words, nodded quietly in agreement.Liu Tangxi understood the temperament of Wei Daniu and Zhang shi. As they said, running a business didn't seem suited to their personalities. However, they couldn't continue doing hard labor forever.Just then, Wei Hanzhou spoke up, "I remember when we were younger, eldest brother used to enjoy making tables, chairs, and benches. Would you still be interested in making a living as a carpenter?"Liu Tangxi's eyes lit up at the suggestion, turning to Wei Hanzhou with excitement. How could she have forgotten? Wei Daniu had made several things around the house, including their book basket and Shu Lan's small bench.Indeed, Wei Daniu had a talent for woodworking. If he could become a carpenter, it would be a skill that could sustain him for life.Wei Daniu, however, looked a little embarrassed. "Third brother, I was just fooling around back then. I didn't formally learn from anyone. How could I make a living from it?"Liu Tangxi smiled and reassured him, "Eldest brother, there's a furniture shop in the Hou residence that was originally part of the dowry, but now they also take outside orders. If you're really interested, I can talk to my mother. You could apprentice under one of the carpenters there. But I've heard that apprenticeships can be tough, and it might take a year or two before you really learn the trade."Initially hesitant, Wei Daniu's interest was piqued. When he was younger, he had longed to learn from the village carpenter but couldn't afford the fee. Over time, he had buried those aspirations, keeping them to himself.Could he really pursue this dream now?However, practical concerns crept into his mind. His son was still attending school, and though his third brother helped, Wei Daniu didn't want to rely on him forever. There were other expenses as well, like school supplies, food, and his wife's needs. How could he justify taking on an apprenticeship now?"No... no, third sister. I can't. My son still needs to go to school, and I need to earn money. I'll just keep delivering goods," Wei Daniu finally said.Liu Tangxi, understanding his concerns, took a moment before responding, "Actually, you don't need to spend money to be an apprentice. They even pay a small wage, though it might not be as much as delivering goods.""The carpenters in the Hou mansion are paid by the household, and their apprentices are also part of the household staff. They're given a monthly wage, though it's not much. But it's still something."Hearing this, Wei Daniu's excitement returned. He glanced at his father, Wei Lao San, who caught the look and said, "Eldest son, I think your third brother and third sister have a good idea. If you really want to learn, then go ahead and do it. We don't need that much money right now, so don't worry about that."Wei Lao San, thinking long-term, believed that if his son could learn a valuable trade, they wouldn't have to worry about his future. Even if there wasn't any pay, he would still support his son's decision.Turning to his second son and daughter-in-law, Wei Lao San added, "We've talked about this already. Moving to the capital will be expensive, but whatever money you earn, you can use it for your own costs."Realizing what his family was offering, Wei Daniu glanced gratefully at his third brother and third sister. It seemed that they truly wanted to help him build a future.Liu Tangxi then turned to Wei Hanzhou, exchanging a knowing look. "Alright then, it's settled. Second brother will help out at the restaurant, and eldest brother will apprentice at the furniture shop."Li shi, quietly wiping away a tear, said emotionally, "Third wife, thank you so much for taking care of everything. We've been such a burden."Liu Tangxi shook her head with a smile, "What are you talking about, mother-in-law? We're all family."Afterward, she added, "You've just arrived in the capital. You must be tired from the journey, so it's better to rest at home for a few days."She had been exhausted when she first arrived herself and understood how they must feel. However, seeing the restlessness in Wei Lao San and the others, she added with a smile, "But if you feel bored, you can also take a look around the city and explore a little."As soon as she said this, Wei Lao San looked at his two sons. "Why not go out tomorrow? You won't have much else to do for now, anyway."The two sons smiled and nodded, ready to begin their new lives.