AWB Chapter 457 The Newly Appointed Powerful Minister
Chapter 457 The Newly Appointed Powerful Minister
After meeting Xie Qizheng and the other teachers and classmates from Bailu Academy at the city gate, Yun Shang led the group straight back to the new residence.
The Yun family's new residence is now Li Guan's mansion.
Originally, the new emperor was going to bestow Li Chongyi's mansion upon him, but Li Chongyi's mansion was too extravagant and luxurious. The area occupied by that house was five or six times larger than the other mansions, and even the floor tiles in the mansion were inlaid with gold and jade.
Upon learning of this, Madam Shen immediately said no without hesitation.
She desires wealth and status, but not this much wealth.
Who knows if everything in Li Chongyi's mansion was obtained through the people's ill-gotten gains? She really couldn't feel at ease living in such a luxurious place.
In comparison, Li Guan's residence was much more low-key.
Before Yunshang moved in, he instructed Shen to order the servants to hand over all the valuable ornaments and collectibles in the original house to the national treasury, leaving basically only an empty shell.
Therefore, the officials turned a blind eye to the new emperor's bestowal of a new residence upon Yunshang.
Li Guan's residence was not as grand as Li Chongyi's, but it was still much larger than other mansions.
This house used to be a royal residence, and it was originally built according to the regulations for royal residences. A royal residence built by imperial decree is different from ordinary residences.
Ordinary houses are usually decorated with auspicious flowers such as lotus and peony or mythical beasts such as pixiu on their eaves, but this house is decorated with four-clawed pythons, which are just one claw away from becoming a dragon.
Before checking in, Yunshang had the python pattern replaced with other carvings.
Xie Qizheng followed Yun Shang to the backyard and, not seeing any illegal python patterns, his tense expression eased slightly.
In truth, he understood why the new emperor had bestowed this house upon Yun Shang.
The new emperor now trusts Yun Shang, and Yun Shang is the only person he trusts most. There is also a hidden house under Li Guan's residence, and the new emperor only feels comfortable letting Yun Shang live in this house.
The previous owner of this house, Li Guan, had many hobbies, so the mansion had a variety of entertainment venues, such as a horse farm and a martial arts training ground.
The road is paved with spotless blue bricks, and the winding corridors on both sides connect the various courtyards.
Rare plants were everywhere, and servants were patiently pruning them. When they saw Yun Shang and his party, they stopped respectfully and bowed.
Yun Shang led Xie Qizheng and his group for about fifteen minutes before they arrived at a clean and tidy courtyard.
This courtyard alone has six side rooms, which is equivalent to the house where Yun Shang and the others stayed before.
The other classmates from Bailu Academy who had come here with Xie Qizheng suddenly realized that Yun Shang had truly become a powerful minister.
They looked at each other, their eyes filled with complex emotions—a mixture of amazement, envy, and an unspoken sense of distance.
"Brother Yun, your mansion is now so grand; it's bound to be bustling with visitors from now on," a classmate said half-jokingly, though his tone betrayed a hint of bitterness and envy.
Yun Shang raised her eyes and calmly glanced at the person.
They were classmates at Bailu Academy, but she had once been jealous of his talent.
Yun Shang calmly withdrew his gaze and looked at Xie Qizheng, saying, "After the elimination of the aristocratic families, many official positions have become vacant. The Emperor is preparing to hold a new imperial examination after the Lantern Festival to recruit talented people. My fellow students are no less talented than me, so I am sure they will achieve good results."
A smile appeared on Xie Qizheng's face.
This is also the purpose of the trip he took with so many students from Bailu Academy.
However, the students of Bailu Academy were unaware of this matter beforehand, and upon hearing Yun Shang's words, they were filled with mixed joy and surprise.
One of the younger classmates was the first to react, and exclaimed excitedly, "Is what Senior Brother Yun said true? If so, after studying hard for so many years, we finally have the opportunity to realize our ambitions!"
Yun Shang nodded slightly. "It's true."
Everyone became excited.
"We originally thought we would have to wait at least another year before we could participate in the imperial examinations, but we didn't expect it to be earlier."
"If we take the exam a year earlier, we can enter officialdom a year earlier and serve the country sooner!"
Someone looked at Yun Shang with admiration, "Senior Brother Yun is always fair and just. If Senior Brother Yun is in charge of this special examination, he will definitely be fair and impartial, providing everyone with a fair chance to compete."
"We ordinary people finally have a chance to enter officialdom."
When powerful families held sway, it was extremely difficult for those from humble backgrounds to rise in the ranks. Only a select few with extraordinary talent would catch the eye of the powerful and climb the ladder of success through their influence.
Those from poor families who are capable but not outstanding can only become supporting characters in the examination room.
Now, they finally have a chance.
"Teacher, the banquet at Deer Cry Terrace will begin at 5:00 PM. You and your fellow disciples should rest first. When the time comes, I will send someone to call you."
It's still early; there are still several hours until the hour of You (5-7 PM).
Xie Qizheng nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "You don't need to stay here with me. Go and do your work."
Yun Shang indeed had many things to do today, and upon hearing this, he did not refuse. After bidding farewell to Xie Qizheng, he left.
The students of Bailu Academy watched his retreating figure with envy and ambition in their eyes.
"I never imagined that in just two short years, Senior Brother Yun would have reached a level that is beyond our reach..."
Yu Wan did not come with them; she had been summoned by someone from the Shen family as soon as she returned.
Many ladies came to visit today. Since they were already at the door, Madam Shen had no reason to turn them away. She could only welcome them in and invite them to the flower hall to chat and play cards.
When Yu Wan reached the entrance of the flower hall, she heard voices coming from inside.
Yu Wan thought for a moment and stopped at the door.
"Madam Yun is truly blessed," a lady dressed in a blue brocade embroidered dress said with a beaming smile, her voice drawn out. "With Lord Yun being so young and promising, the future wealth and honor of the Yun family will be limitless!"
As she spoke, she looked at Madam Shen with a beaming smile, her eyes full of flattery.
Another lady quickly chimed in, "Who says otherwise! Lady Yun has raised her son well. Now Lord Yun is a capable and loyal minister by the new emperor's side, and he holds a pivotal position in the court. We can't help but envy him."
They showered Shen with compliments, making her beam with joy, and her smile never faded.
She looked at the leaf cards in her hand, but her mind was no longer on the cards. She said modestly, "Yun Shang's skills are only so-so. He relies on the Emperor's favor."
The other ladies laughed and said she was being too modest.
Seeing that Madam Shen was so happy, Yu Wan was about to step inside.
At this moment, a lady sitting opposite Shen cleared her throat and said seemingly casually, "Speaking of which, Sister Shen, your daughter-in-law has been married into the family for almost two years now, hasn't she? How come we haven't heard any good news yet?"
Upon hearing this, the flower hall fell silent for a moment. The other ladies exchanged various glances, some surprised, some puzzled.
Ignoring the reactions of others, the lady continued, "Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring. Sister Shen, Lord Yun is currently at the height of his power in the court. We, who manage the inner quarters, must not cause him any trouble or worry."
Upon hearing these pointed words, Madam Shen's smile faded slightly. She put down the leaf cards in her hand and looked at the lady, "What do you mean by this?"
The lady seemed oblivious to Madam Shen's displeasure, and covered her mouth with her handkerchief, chuckling lightly, "Which wealthy family doesn't have a few concubines serving them? Today, I find this vast Yun Mansion rather deserted with so few masters. If Sister Shen doesn't mind, my youngest daughter is clever, witty, and well-mannered."
"It just so happens that Lord Yun has reached the age where he should have a wife. I think my daughter is a perfect match for Lord Yun. If she could become Lord Yun's concubine, it would truly be a blessing for our Liu family."