Chapter 782 Lu Bu reports victory
It is not uncommon for one person's success to bring prosperity to his family and friends throughout history, both in China and abroad.
Humans are social animals, and those who live alone are very rare. Everyone needs recognition and affirmation from others to live, and everyone needs to integrate into the group to gain a sense of security.
Jiang Qingzhi's mother's family had turned against him, and his father's family was Daoye's in-laws, so he didn't need to take care of them. Moreover, he had never dealt with the Jiang family, and they were very cold to each other.
Now he can be considered to have achieved enlightenment. Neither his father’s family nor his mother’s family can benefit from it, but his wife’s family has gained the advantage.
His father-in-law Li Huan rose rapidly to prominence thanks to Jiang Qingzhi and took charge of the Taichang Temple as its secretary.
From the outside world's perspective, the Li family is a member of Jiang Qingzhi's ship and a die-hard Mo family member.
In contrast, the eldest sister-in-law Li Xuan seemed a little out of place. Normally, sisters should be close to each other, but this one, since her sister got married, she has never been to the Bo's house.
When she had nothing to do, she would stay at home to take care of the children, or go back to her parents' home to chat with her mother. Chang also advised her to go to the Bo's house when she had nothing to do, as sisters would become estranged if they did not visit each other.
But Li Xuan always says next time, next time.
Early in the morning, Li Xuan got up early and prepared breakfast for the family.
Breakfast was almost ready, and Xiang Cheng got up. He yawned and muttered, "Second Madam gave birth to a son with a prominent background. Not only is there a lot of gossip outside, but I am also being ostracized as a result."
Li Xuan handed him the washing utensils. Hearing this, her body froze. Then she said, "How can there be so many stories? I guess it's just a rumor!"
"Rumors? The neighbors in Xin'an Lane have seen it." Xiang Cheng's eyes widened, and he rubbed the corners of his eyes and picked out some eye mucus. He looked at the eye mucus on his fingers and flicked them. "Now not only are people talking about it outside, but it is also said that in the palace..."
Xiang Cheng pointed in the direction of the palace, "Even the palace is discussing this matter. It is said that Xin'an Lane is now being watched by the Jinyiwei and Dongchang people. Do you know why?"
Li Xuan forced a smile, "Didn't they say that Jinyiwei and Dongchang people were in Xin'an Lane before the birth? They said they were there for protection."
"Guards!" Xiang Cheng sneered, "I'm afraid something strange will happen in the Bo's Mansion later."
Li Xuan's anger suddenly surged, "That's my sister, not some weird thing!"
Xiang Cheng looked at her and shook his head, "If Your Majesty is really afraid of that child, once he takes action, even our family might be implicated."
"Then what does my husband mean?" Li Xuan raised her eyebrows.
Xiang Cheng laughed, "What I meant is... someone found me yesterday. He said... that's all!"
Li Xuan was so smart that she saw through Xiang Cheng's thoughts at a glance, "But is there someone causing my husband and Xin'an Lane to fall out?"
Xiang Cheng laughed and said, "I didn't agree to it."
"Those people are servile and despicable. My husband, please don't follow them. After all, we are a family. Wait for your brother-in-law to return..."
"Speak up! Why don't you say anything?" Xiang Cheng looked at her and sighed, "If we lose this battle, there's no need to say anything, those people will take advantage of us. If we win, Jiang Qingzhi's prestige is so high that even Yan Song would have to bow down to him. In addition, the child was born with a strange appearance, what do you think your majesty will think?"
Xiang Chengya lowered his voice, "At this moment, I just hope that he can win or lose, otherwise... disaster will befall him."
Li Xuan was confused, but her husband's attitude made her even more disappointed. "Who knows what His Majesty is thinking? Besides, he is his cousin after all. Can't he trust him?"
"Not to mention cousins, even if they are father and son, they would fight to the death for the throne." Xiang Cheng hesitated for a moment, "Why don't you go back to your mother's house and ask?"
"what?"
"My father-in-law is in charge of the Taichang Temple, so he should be more informed. Let's ask him how we should... deal with this matter."
Li Xuan saw her husband's eyes flickering, and her heart tightened, "What did my husband promise to others?"
"What did I promise?" Xiang Cheng began to rinse his mouth.
Li Xuan was very familiar with the person next to her, and she knew he was guilty when she saw this.
Why do you feel guilty?
——Ask the father-in-law, who is well-informed, how to deal with it...
This is……
"Husband, are you gathering information for others?" Li Xuan blurted out.
puff!
Xiang Cheng spurted out a mouthful of mouthwash and glared at him, "Woman, can you let people wash properly?"
Whenever Xiang Cheng felt guilty, he would always scold her in a harsh but weak manner.
Li Xuan felt a chill in her heart, "Husband, you..."
"I'm hungry."
Xiang Cheng turned away and left.
Li Xuan stood there in a daze. She didn't know how long it had been before someone called her to eat. She then slowly walked into the cafeteria.
The atmosphere was a little tense during the meal.
The Xiang family is a family of officials, and they have strict rules when eating, such as not talking while eating and not talking while sleeping.
But now that I have a granddaughter, she always shouts or cries during meals, so the rules are broken.
Father-in-law Xiang You was eating his breakfast slowly when his granddaughter became impatient and started crying.
In the past, Xiang You would smile and coax the child when seeing this, and would even hold her and feed her with his own hands.
"It's so noisy!" Xiang You frowned.
Li Xuan quickly took the child and carried her out to coax her.
She stood outside the door, listening to her mother-in-law Chen's somewhat sharp voice saying: "Da Lang has been in the Ministry of Revenue for several years and has not been promoted. Your husband must think of a way."
Xiang Cheng has been in the Ministry of Revenue for several years, but he has always been a censor. His ability is not outstanding, and he is recognized as mediocre. On the other hand, Xiang You has been fighting fiercely for promotion in recent years. The fire in the city gate affected the fish in the pond, and the opponent put pressure on Xiang Cheng to firmly hold the position of censor.
Not long after the couple got married, Xiang Cheng hinted to Li Xuan to seek help from Jiang Qingzhi.
With the help of His Majesty's cousin, Xiang You's enemies could only sigh in despair.
But Li Xuan made an excuse and refused to go.
She was such a proud person that she often quarreled with her younger sister when she was at her parents' home. It was absolutely impossible for her to bow to her younger sister.
Xiang Cheng just laughed it off.
Xiang You inside said calmly: "The war between Confucianism and Mohism has affected innocent people."
Li Xuan was stunned and wondered what her father-in-law meant.
"That means Xin'an Lane has implicated Dalang!" Chen said angrily, "We have to find a way. Besides, the people in Xin'an Lane are surnamed Jiang, so what does that have to do with us? We just need to find a way to distance ourselves from them."
"That's easier said than done." Xiang You's voice was neither hurried nor slow.
Li Xuan was waiting for Xiang Cheng to speak for her. After waiting for a while, she heard Xiang Cheng say, "Dad, many colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue are now ostracizing me openly or secretly."
"Everyone has their own job. If you are pulled down, someone behind you will be able to take your place. It is common to take advantage of others in the officialdom. This matter... I will think about it again."
Thinking what?
Li Xuan thought of Xiang Cheng's attitude today and asked Li Huan how to deal with it.
He was affected by the disaster in Xin'an Lane.
Clearing up...
For a moment, Li Xuan felt dizzy.
There was a sound of someone getting up from inside, and Li Xuan quickly hid to the side of the cafeteria with her daughter in her arms.
Xiang You came out first, followed by Xiang Cheng.
Xiang You stopped, turned around and said to Xiang Cheng: "Don't express your opinion on many things."
"Don't worry, Dad." Xiang Cheng looked around, "I told the Ministry of Revenue yesterday that I have never had any contact with Xin'an Lane. I just married Li and was forced to become Jiang Qingzhi's brother-in-law."
But who was it that asked me to go to Xin'an Lane to ask Jiang Qingzhi for help?
Li Xuan thought about how she had refused to ask Jiang Qingzhi for help in order not to bow to her sister. Xiang Cheng's carefree smile at that time made her secretly happy and felt that she had married a good man.
Now it seems that Xiang Cheng did not care about this matter at that time, but wanted to take it step by step.
But later, the war between Confucianism and Mohism became more and more intense, and Xiang Cheng never mentioned asking Jiang Qingzhi for help.
Xiang You coughed dryly, "Besides, the outcome of this battle is uncertain. If you lose, you need to be smarter in the Ministry of Revenue."
"Someone came to me yesterday, wanting to test my father-in-law's response method."
"That's a good idea. What does your wife think?"
"She?" Xiang Cheng's voice was filled with disdain and annoyance. "She only wanted to compete with my sister, and she ignored me. Today I tried to fool her, but who would have thought that this woman actually noticed something and refused to agree."
"Don't be too hasty about this matter. Those people must be targeting..."
"Wow!"
The sound of a child crying came from the right side of the cafeteria.
The father and son tilted their heads in surprise and looked over.
Li Xuan stood at the side of the dining hall, her mind buzzing. She didn't know what she was thinking, but she walked out as if possessed by a ghost, leaned over, and said, "Dad."
No matter how cunning Xiang You was, he couldn't hold back his pride at this moment, and said with a dry cough, "I'm going to the government office now."
Xiang You left. Xiang Cheng looked at his wife and said softly, "This matter is just..."
"I know." Li Xuan's tone was so gentle that she couldn't believe it, "It's all because of me that I got my husband into trouble."
"You..." Xiang Cheng was a little embarrassed, "This is just a saying."
"I understand." Li Xuan said with a smile.
Chen came out and snorted, "Don't go out if you have nothing to do."
Is this a house arrest?
But what is Li Xuan’s temper?
She smiled and said, "I made an appointment with someone yesterday."
Chen looked at her and raised her eyebrows and said, "Didn't you hear what I said?"
The mother-in-law puts pressure on the daughter-in-law, and she has no choice but to listen obediently.
Li Xuan continued to smile: "We've made an appointment, it's hard to go back on our word."
Xiang Cheng glanced at his mother and said, "Mom!"
After all, the Xiang family did something unfair. If they put him under house arrest again...
Moreover, Li Huan was in charge of the Taichang Temple, and he was no unknown person. If Li Xuan's family started a fight...
Chen said firmly: "You are not allowed to go out until news of the war arrives!"
Li Xuan looked at Xiang Cheng, who coughed and said, "I'm going to the yamen first."
Chen sneered, "If we lose this battle, those people will turn Xin'an Lane into dust. You should stay at home honestly and don't bring disaster to the Xiang family!"
Xiang Cheng walked out of the house and went all the way to the main street.
There are many people going to the yamen at this moment.
An official came over and asked, "How about what we talked about yesterday?"
It was this person who contacted Xiang Cheng yesterday, wanting to find out how Li Huan would respond.
Xiang Cheng said, "I was so busy yesterday that I forgot about it. I'll ask you later."
"Hurry!" the official said, "If we can make arrangements before the news of the war arrives... it will be good for everyone."
This is the meaning of the promise.
Xiang Cheng smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll get started on this later."
No matter how tough that woman is, she is just a woman living in a secluded household after all. How dare she disobey her parents-in-law and turn against her husband?
Xiang Cheng is full of confidence.
The sound of horse hooves suddenly came from behind.
rapid!
Like thunder.
"Avoid it!"
Someone shouted.
Xiang Cheng, who was thinking about how to trick his wife into finding out the news, subconsciously rode his horse away.
Several dusty riders galloped past him from the side.
The one in the middle was holding up a bamboo pole with a piece of cloth hanging on it...
The cold wind blew, and the cloth fluttered in the wind, with words on it.
"It's Rubu reporting victory!" someone exclaimed.
"Great victory!"
The knight raised his head and shouted, "In the Battle of Datong, our army has won a great victory!"
(End of this chapter)
