Chapter 84: Prepare for a Rainy Day
The old lady and the three girls were chatting when the eldest wife came in, surrounded by concubines. Mengxi hurriedly stood up to greet them. Miss Xiu also stood up and greeted her delicately. The eldest wife took her hand and walked over to greet the old lady, then sat down. Everyone came over and greeted the eldest wife one by one. At this time, the two daughters of the eldest master Xiao Qing also came over led by the maid. After greeting, Mengxi asked Zhiqiu to take out the purse that had been prepared long ago. The two girls hurriedly reached out to take it and thanked her. When Xiao Chun and the other three saw the eldest wife coming in, they moved away from the old lady, came over to greet grandmother, and took the two sisters of the eldest master, and the five of them left while chatting and laughing.
The Third Master, Xiao Yun, also came back from the school early. After greeting each other, they sat in the hall and talked in low voices, waiting for the First Master and the Second Master to come back.
At this time, the eldest master and the second master were talking in the eldest master's outer study, and they had no intention of celebrating the festival at all.
"Second uncle actually protected the prince. When did this happen? Why didn't father tell Jun'er earlier?"
"Your grandmother a few days ago. Jun'er had been ill at the time, and they were afraid that you would worry about it and delay your recovery, so your grandmother had someone hide it from you. I think your second uncle has been holding an idle position for all these years and can't stand the loneliness, so he secretly asked someone to get the prince's help last year and was sent to Yangzhou as the prefect. At that time, your grandmother and I wanted to find a real job for your second uncle through Concubine Jing, and while we were preparing, the decree for your second uncle's post came down. Your grandmother thought it was the emperor's favor and was very happy. Until not long ago, the support for Prince Yan became louder and louder. Seeing that the Ouyang family had attached themselves to Prince Yan and had the support of the Empress Dowager, and the ministers in the court were vying to join him, and they were about to compete with the prince, your second uncle was afraid and wrote a letter telling the truth, asking your grandmother and I to make plans early. The prince's disciple Zhou Yin asked your second uncle several times to act as a matchmaker between him and me, but I declined on the grounds of being busy with work. But this is not a long-term solution after all."
"Uncle, why are you so confused? The reason why my Xiao family has been prosperous till now is that we have followed the teachings of our ancestors. As the imperial power changed from one dynasty to another, my Xiao family never participated in party disputes and always remained neutral. In the end, we won the favor of the new emperors and have been able to continue to this day."
"Jun'er is right. When your grandmother first heard about this, she almost fainted. Your second uncle was afraid of being blamed by your grandmother for Jun'er's wedding, so he didn't dare to come back."
"Li Zan heard that Jun'er had recovered from his illness, and sincerely invited us, the four princes of Pingyang, to gather together to calm Jun'er down. He asked several times, but because Li Zan had become the prince's staff, Jun'er didn't want to get too close to the prince in this troubled time, and he declined all the invitations on the grounds that his health had not yet recovered. Unexpectedly, the second uncle had already made it clear that he would protect the prince. To be fair, the prince is kind-hearted, and in this peaceful and prosperous era, he is a good emperor. The prince has been the crown prince for many years, has not done anything wrong, and is deeply loved by Emperor Jin, so it is not too much to protect him. But the Prince of Yan has the support of the Queen Mother and the support of powerful officials. It is often said that this person is ruthless and merciless. He is a great hero in troubled times. Once the Prince of Yan gains power, he will never be as tolerant as the Crown Prince. He will kill the Crown Prince's remaining followers and root them out. Looking at the court, the situation changes in an instant. Until the last moment, who dares to predict who will win or who will die? Second uncle, second uncle really shouldn't have tied himself and our Xiao family to the Crown Prince's chariot so early."
"Jun'er is right. When Qing'er came back a few days ago, I also made some plans with him. However, my Xiao family is so powerful that if we don't have a perfect plan, once the King of Yan gains power, my Xiao family will be doomed. I only hope that Concubine Jing can mediate. It will be a great blessing for my Xiao family to keep a lineage. It's really a sin."
The study room was silent for a while. After a long while, Xiao Jun finally said:
"Jun'er has always felt that this illness was strange. Since he recovered, he asked people to secretly sort out the people and things that Jun'er had contact with before and after he fell ill. Although they did not find any clues, they got a piece of news that a huge mineral deposit was discovered in the south. It is said that it is several times larger than the Tiantong Mountain mineral deposit controlled by the Ouyang family. As soon as Jun'er learned about this, he ordered people to block the news. A few days ago, several groups of people were sent south to prepare for a detailed investigation, and strive to get first-hand information before the Ouyang family. Father, why don't we use this mineral deposit to test the waters and kill two birds with one stone?"
"What do you mean, Jun'er?"
"Before Li Zan became the Crown Prince's aide, we had discussed the current situation. Li Zan once said that the current emperor was increasingly dissatisfied with the four great families controlling the economy of Daqi and secretly participating in the imperial power party struggle. He wanted to secretly support a new favorite to check and balance the family. Jun'er wanted to use the surname of his grandmother's mother's family and the pseudonym Shangguan Jun, and ask Sister Jingfei to mediate. With the financial support of the Xiao family, the mining rights in the south can be obtained in the name of the Shangguan family, just to test the emperor's intention. First, it is said that the mining industry in Daqi has always been controlled by the Ouyang family. If there is no exception, the new mine discovered this time should be under the control of the Ouyang family. But if Emperor Jin really wants to support a favorite, our chances of obtaining the mining rights will be greater; second, now Ouyang The Yang family has submitted to the King of Yan. If Emperor Jin still intends to support the prince, then we will definitely be able to get the mining rights. By doing this, Emperor Jin can at least play a role in suppressing the power of the King of Yan. We can also take the opportunity to get a share of the Ouyang family's bowl. If we can really get what we want, father, Jun'er is willing to choose a day to go south and start a new business under the name of Shangguan Jun, and transfer part of my Xiao family's grain business in the south from the surface, to make a plan of moving mountains and filling the sea. In this way, it will be best for the prince to succeed to the throne in the future. Even if the King of Yan succeeds to the throne, he cannot grasp the real lifeline of our Xiao family, and he dare not move our Xiao family without authorization. He can only use my second uncle to warn the Xiao family. At least my Xiao family will not be wiped out."
After hearing what Xiao Jun said, the master pondered for a long time, and finally nodded and said:
"Jun'er is right. This is a good idea. However, your grandmother's birthday is coming up on August 8th. Jun'er might as well do some work in Pingyang first. As for the matters in the south, we can make plans after your grandmother's birthday. Emperor Jin is in his prime and there is still a long way to go. There is no need to rush."
"Jun'er follows his father's instructions"
The eldest master looked up at the sky and remembered that today was the Qiqiao Festival. The old lady had arranged a family dinner. In the morning, the eldest wife had repeatedly urged him to go back early to avoid being blamed by the old lady. He quickly said:
"We are just talking too much. Your grandma has arranged a family dinner today and asked us to go there early. It is getting late. Let's go quickly. If we are late, your mother will start to nag you. Don't mention things outside to the old lady from now on. She is old and can't stand the tossing. Letting her enjoy a few days of peace and happiness is also a filial piety as a child."
Xiao Jun responded quickly and followed the eldest master out of the study. Led by the servant, they went straight to the old lady's Shouxi Hall. When the two of them entered, it was almost time to light the lights. Everyone already hungry, and when they saw the eldest and second masters coming in, they hurriedly stood up to greet them and chatted briefly for a few words. The old lady then ordered someone to serve them food.
Because it was a women's festival, the old lady made an exception and did not let the daughters-in-law serve her. She asked everyone to sit down and be served by the old women. The concubines and the maids sat at another table. After they were seated, Mengxi realized that she didn't know if it was an intentional arrangement by the eldest lady, but the old lady sat in the main seat, with the eldest master on her right and the eldest lady on her left. Xiao Jun should have sat below the eldest master, but it was Xiao Yun who sat there. Below Xiao Yun were the girls of the eldest and second masters. Miss Xiu sat below the eldest lady, and Xiao Jun sat next to Miss Xiu. So Mengxi had to sit below Xiao Jun, and Xiao Jun sat right between her and Miss Xiu. The old lady didn't say anything.
