The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

After having lunch at the Prime Minister’s Mansion, the Duke was personally escorted back to the Duke Mansion by Qi Zhen. The father and son shared a carriage, which made it convenient for them to talk along the way.

”Your father-in-law is quite right; securing this position is relatively easy, but whether you can hold onto it depends on your abilities,” the Duke lazily reclined on the large pillow inside the carriage and said, ”Once Jin Ge’er has his full moon ceremony, you should head south first. There are a few old men at home; I will choose two useful ones to accompany you as advisors. It’s always better than seeking outsiders.”

Qi Zhen replied, ”Father-in-law has already found an advisor named Jiang Xun for me. I heard he is quite strategic and clever, though a bit unruly. Whether I can control him depends on my skills.”

The Duke showed interest and said, ”Your father-in-law himself is a cunning old fox, full of knowledge and schemes. If he praises someone, they must be good. Use him well. If you can subdue him, he will be of great help to you.”

Qi Zhen nodded but refrained from speaking ill of his father-in-law to his father. He only said, ”I will be mindful of the boundaries. Jiang Xun is originally from Jiangnan and will head directly to Jiangnan to find me.”

”That’s also good. Take people from home with you to avoid being short-handed. Use your close servants and stewards to help with errands, but it’s not appropriate to involve them in political maneuvering with you.”

”Father, you can handle the arrangements as you see fit.” Qi Zhen added, ”This time going to Jiangnan, the Song family will accompany me. As you know, the Song family are still young, and since Jin Ge’er was just born, her energy will certainly be focused on the child. Managing the household might be a bit taxing. Since Father is arranging advisors for me, it would not hurt to arrange for a couple of useful experienced people for the inner courtyard to accompany us to Jiangnan to assist the Song family in managing the household.”

The Duke raised his eyebrows slightly and said with a half-smile, ”You’re asking your father here to arrange people for the inner courtyard, instead of your mother. What, you don’t trust your mother?”

Qi Zhen lowered his eyes and said, ”Mother has some grievances with the Song family. It’s not that I don’t trust the people she arranges; I worry that they might act arrogantly, feeling backed by her, and bully the young Song family. Father, the waters in Jiangnan are famously deep; I already have enough to worry about with scheming against others outside, and I don’t want to return home to chaos, having to resolve internal disputes.”

The Duke squinted his eyes.

”If the inner courtyard is not peaceful, the family cannot flourish. I’m not afraid to tell you honestly, I never aimed for the Duke title of the Duke Mansion. First, because there are two older brothers above me, and the Princely Heir is already designated, there’s nothing to aim for. Second, I don’t want to see brothers plotting against each other, so I focused on carving out a path for myself.” Qi Zhen sighed and said, ”In the past few years, things weren’t smooth for me. Now I finally have a wife and children, and a promising future; I’m content. This time going to Jiangnan, my only aim is to establish myself firmly, not for any other reason than to add a bit more influence to our family.”

The Duke was somewhat gratified and patted his shoulder, saying, ”You truly are a father now; being able to consider these things shows your growth.”

Qi Zhen gave a wry smile, ”In a few years, I’ll be thirty. I’ve been through a lot: losing a fiancée, losing a son, and finally, the bitterness is over. Crossing through the depths of hardship, you naturally learn lessons from it. That’s why I dared to ask Father to arrange a couple of capable old hands. I am grateful for your kindness.”

He spoke and then kneeled inside the carriage toward the Duke.

The Duke spat playfully, ”We’re blood-related father and son, yet you’re speaking like an outsider. Do you feel assured now that I’m arranging it for you?”