Prime Minister.

Chapter 4 004 [The Qi Family]

Outside the villa gate, a guard in his thirties led in two fine horses and said expressionlessly, "By order of His Highness, we are escorting Compiler Xue back to his residence."

"Thank you."

Xue Huai naturally took the reins.

Fortunately, he had practiced horsemanship in his youth in his previous life. Although he was not very skilled, he could still ride normally without any problems. Otherwise, he would definitely have shown his weakness today. After all, two years ago, the sixteen-year-old third-ranked scholar rode his horse on the imperial street to show off his official position, which was a famous story in the capital.

He didn't presume to strike up a conversation with the guard, but instead silently composed himself and began to observe this novel world discreetly as he walked on.

The two rode out of the alley, the sunlight gilding the surface of the Nine-Bend River with a dark gold hue.

Peace and tranquility prevail in the world.

As the two men and two horses passed through Elm Seed Lane, they saw three or five children squatting on the ground picking up fallen leaves. Their cheerful laughter startled an old man carrying a teapot, causing him to spill half a cup of tea. Not far away, a pharmacy had bamboo trays set up for drying medicinal herbs, and a woman with a wooden hairpin inserted at an angle was carefully turning over the herbs.

In his previous life, Xue Huai had experienced fictional landscapes in movies and TV dramas, but now that he saw them with his own eyes, he realized that the real ancient world was far from being so bright and beautiful.

The pedestrians on the street were dressed simply, and the shops along the roadside were cramped and crowded. The roads in this capital city were not very smooth, and dust could be seen everywhere.

This made Xue Huai suddenly feel the atmosphere of the countryside, but also touch the vibrant human touch.

About fifteen minutes later, a blue stone archway came into Xue Huai's view, and then a guard's calm voice came to his ears: "Editor Xue, we have arrived at Dayong Ward."

Xue Huai cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for seeing me off."

The guard said no more and decisively turned his horse around.

Xue Huai looked at the blue stone archway and carefully recalled the Xue family's situation in his mind, simulating the scene of meeting his family later.

In addition, he was prepared that if his family became suspicious of him now, he could say that he had forgotten some things after falling into the water, which should be enough to get away with it.

Before long, the Xue residence came into view.

This is a standard three-courtyard official residence. The main gate is a wide and bright gate with five purlins and a gable roof. The ebony door plaque is gilded with the words "Xue Mansion". Four palace lanterns hang under the eaves. There are two five-foot-tall blue stone lions in front of the gate, nine blue stone steps, and seven horizontal and nine vertical door nails.

After Xue Mingzhang passed away, the official residence should have been reclaimed according to the regulations of the court. However, the emperor, mindful of the duty between the emperor and his subjects and pitying the orphans and widows of the Xue family, issued a special decree to bestow the residence upon the Xue family, preserving all its architectural specifications. This act naturally won praise from the entire court.

That's why Xue Huai, with his official position as a seventh-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy, was able to live in the residence of a high-ranking official of the third rank.

"Young Master, it's Young Master who's back!"

Xue Huai rode his horse to the front of the mansion, and the gatekeeper Ajiu hurriedly came to greet him, his face full of worry.

Xue Huai handed the horse's reins to Ajiu, thought for a moment, and instructed, "Feed this horse with the best fodder."

This fine horse belongs to the princess's residence; he will certainly return it.

Ah Jiu took the reins and said, "Young Master, you didn't return to the manor last night, and the Old Madam is very worried. You should go and see her as soon as possible."

Xue Huai responded and strode into the mansion.

Passing the "Crane and Deer in Spring" screen wall, enter the hanging flower gate, and pass through the east courtyard, you will arrive at the main courtyard behind the second gate.

Besides the two proper masters, Cui and Xue Huai, the Xue family now has more than twenty servants.

As soon as Xue Huai entered the second gate, he saw a woman nearing forty years old, supported by a maid, hurrying out of the courtyard. Before she even saw Xue Huai, an anxious voice called out, "Huai'er? Is Huai'er back?"

This is his birth mother, Cui.

The late autumn sun shone down, making the few strands of white hair beneath her hairpin appear like silver threads, and her originally delicate cheekbones looked even thinner.

Perhaps she was walking too fast, for the pendant on her skirt was still swaying slightly, and two strands of hair at her temples that were not properly combed were fluttering in the wind.

"Mother."

Xue Huai quickly stepped forward, greeted her, and said, "Your son is unfilial and has caused Mother worry."

Madam Cui reached out to help him up. Her wrist, slender and delicate, protruded from beneath her pine-green silk sleeve, trembled slightly as her hand, adorned with sandalwood prayer beads, touched Xue Huai's forearm. Her eyes shimmered with a gentle, moist light, and the fine creases at the corners of her eyes held the dark marks of years of worry. She asked urgently, "Why didn't you go home last night? Why did the steward from Princess Yun'an's residence come to inform us that you stayed overnight at the Green Green Villa?"

Xue Huai said softly, "Mother, I felt upset yesterday and wanted to take a walk around the city. I ended up by the Nine-Bend River. Perhaps because I was thinking too much, I accidentally fell into the water. Fortunately, the guards from the Princess's residence rescued me and asked a doctor to treat me. I only woke up this morning. The doctor said I was fine, so I rushed back."

"what."

Cui's voice trembled, and her eyes instantly reddened: "You child... if anything were to happen to you, how could your mother live?"

Despite having made thorough preparations in advance, Xue Huai couldn't help but feel a pang of regret at this moment.

After Xue Mingzhang's death, the middle-aged woman in front of him was the only person in the world who was truly good to the original owner of this body. Although she could not help Xue Huai in the officialdom, she had done her best to maintain a warm home for him.

In Xue Huai's memory, Cui was a gentle and refined lady from a prominent family. She was beautiful in her youth and was considered a perfect match for Xue Mingzhang.

She also had a very happy period, with her husband having a smooth career in officialdom and her son being well-behaved, sensible, and known as a child prodigy.

Everything changed on that spring night six years ago.

Xue Mingzhang passed away, and Xue Huai was still young. From then on, there was no one to protect her from the wind and rain.

She had finally made it to Xue Huai's success in the imperial examination, but the past two years had been a source of endless worry for her. No matter how she tried to dissuade him, Xue Huai refused to back down. He was determined to fight the treacherous officials in the court to the very end.

Although time may not diminish beauty, Cui's youthful beauty is fading, and the dark lines at the corners of her eyes are enough to show the torment she has endured over the years.

Seeing her stubborn son remain silent, Madam Cui assumed he was just being stubborn again, so she took his hand and said, "Huai'er, I know you can't stand those people doing evil. That's what your father taught you before he died, and I certainly won't let you go along with them. But you have to think about yourself, and you have to think about me too. You're just a compiler in the Hanlin Academy now, not an censor in the Censorate. So many officials in charge are keeping quiet, why should you be the one to rush to the front?"

Xue Huai nodded and said, "Mother is absolutely right."

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

Cui stared blankly at Xue Huai, as if she thought she was hallucinating. Even the pretty maid next to her looked on incredulously.

In fact, similar conversations had taken place many times over the past year, but Cui was never able to persuade Xue Huai. He did not think he was wrong and was determined to be a virtuous and upright official like his father.

He could follow his mother's teachings in everything else, but he refused to feign compliance with the treacherous officials in the court.

Therefore, Cui did not expect to hear such an answer from him today, which made her even more anxious and fearful. Could it be that her son was going to give up on himself and throw caution to the wind?

Xue Huai had anticipated her reaction, so he softened his tone and said, "Mother, let's go inside and talk?"

Cui nodded absentmindedly.

The mother and son sat down in the main hall. The maid, Mo Yun, served them fragrant tea and then obediently withdrew.

Meeting Cui's complicated gaze, Xue Huai began, "Mother, I have indeed made some mistakes these past two years. After falling into the water yesterday, I felt like I was about to die. At that moment, I couldn't help but think of Father's unfulfilled ambitions and Mother's unresolved worries. I realized that my past stubbornness not only failed to bring down those treacherous officials in the court, but also saddened those who cared about me, ultimately leaving me surrounded by enemies. Isn't this a foolish thing that makes loved ones grieve and enemies rejoice?"

Madam Cui twisted her thin hands together and murmured, "Huai'er, is that really what you think? Or are you just lying to your mother?"

Xue Huai said sincerely, “Mother, rest assured, I am not lying. Thinking back to when Father was in Yangzhou, he never tolerated those evil salt merchants, but he always paid attention to methods and means. He would endure insults when necessary and act decisively when necessary. If I could learn even a tenth of Father’s skills, things would not have turned out this way.”

Cui had said similar things before, but Xue Huai was clearly stuck in a dead end and wouldn't listen at all.

Xue Huai continued, “Mother, these past two years I’ve had the courage of a mantis trying to stop a chariot, but I lacked meticulous planning, which has led me to this predicament. I feel truly ashamed that I’ve caused you so much worry. From now on, I won’t be so stubborn. Even if I want to become an official like Father, I should first learn to protect myself, so as not to cause you any distress.”

Hearing this, Cui's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. She raised her hand to wipe away her tears and nodded repeatedly, saying, "May Buddha bless you, Huai'er, you have finally come to your senses. That's good, that's good. Otherwise, I don't know how I would explain this to your father in the future."

Before Xue Huai could reply, she continued, "Huai'er, are you feeling unwell? Should we ask the doctor to take a look at you again? You must have been frightened when you fell into the water yesterday. I've told the kitchen to make you a calming soup right away."

Seeing the obvious concern and anxiety in Cui's eyes, Xue Huai did not refuse and obediently said, "Okay, I will do whatever Mother says."

Even if he can't fully embrace the role of a son yet, he can at least put her at ease in the face of such a pitiful yet respectable mother.

There were still tear stains in the corners of Cui's eyes, but a relieved smile finally appeared on her face.

It was as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

(End of this chapter)