The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

”How can one achieve both in this world, not failing the Buddha nor failing you?”

Yuan Liren recited these two lines of poetry, revealing a bitter smile, and looked at Song Zhiyuan: ”Madam Song’s poetry truly speaks to my heart.”

Song Zhiyuan pondered these two lines and was a bit surprised. His mother actually composed poetry? This seemed unlikely.

However, upon careful consideration, he thought of Master Buhui, who was still in the mansion, and who often spoke at length when checking Song Ci’s pulse. Perhaps he heard it from Buhui?

”Yunzhi, your family matron is indeed a perceptive person. No wonder the atmosphere in the Prime Minister’s Mansion is so clear and joyful, unlike our Uncle’s Mansion where endless schemes and calculations abound.” Yuan Liren looked at Song Zhiyuan, his former classmate, with envy in his eyes.

Both were classmates, yet he had already ascended to a high position, parents alive, a complete family, harmonious brothers, and their family prospering ever more.

Frankly speaking, as long as Song Zhiyuan remained steady, it was just a matter of time before the Prime Minister’s Mansion rose to a higher status. Wealth and honor were inevitable.

A true winner in life.

In contrast, he himself had achieved nothing much, and on top of that, even his backyard couldn’t stay peaceful.

Song Zhiyuan said, ”Every family has its own difficulties. There are also troublesome people and affairs in our mansion.”

Yuan Liren raised an eyebrow, chuckling: ”My father behaved improperly, and has truly made a joke of himself for you to see, you needn’t take it to heart.”

”Oh, the pitiable hearts of parents everywhere. Lord, as a father, for the sake of his son and the family, only exhausts all efforts and means.” Song Zhiyuan waved his hand and said, ”I did not agree to help you for that agreement, but truly because I value Gui Ping’s talent, as does the Emperor.”

Yuan Liren felt relieved and said, ”I owe you this favor for maintaining this appearance for me.”

”You and I were once classmates and passed the Scholar examination in the same year. You know my temperament. I genuinely want to achieve something notable. Now, being in this position, outsiders see it as endlessly glorious, but they can’t see the perils within it. I am always cautious, advancing step by step, even more careful the higher I ascend.”

Song Zhiyuan took a sip of tea and said, ”Frankly speaking, if you had no real talent and capability, even if Lord held something against you, I’d have countless ways to make that hold disappear without a trace. I’d never let something so insubstantial block my path or lead to my downfall.”

Sweat dripped from Yuan Liren’s forehead, making him somewhat uneasy. At this moment, he truly felt the authority of the person in a high position.

”I helped Lord because I valued your individual talent, genuinely capable of doing substantial work. The Mo Family has many renowned figures as well. If you achieve something significant, you’ll also be celebrated by the world. Since the Emperor ascended the throne, he has allocated funds for water conservancy every year, yet the results have been minimal. Your reputation in Sichuan is known to both the Emperor and me. Now that you’ve returned to the capital and wish to enter the officialdom, the Emperor most hopes to see the Great Qing’s people no longer threatened by water disasters. Gui Ping, can you do this?”

Yuan Liren was invigorated, solemnly bowing in the direction of the Imperial City: ”If I become an official, I will dedicate myself to the Great Qing, exhausting my efforts until the end of my life.”

Song Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”Once the new appointments are made, we’ll be colleagues in the same court again. In the future, our madams will inevitably interact more often. Gui Ping, as my mother said, your youthful recklessness has led to the current awkward situation. Some matters cannot be avoided; it’s better to speak openly and sincerely. If the backyard isn’t peaceful, how can you focus on making strides in your career?”

Yuan Liren nodded heavily with resolve.