Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 444: Chapter 422: The Crown Princess Consort’s Invitation_2

Fortunately, the dredging of the Ying River was not a very troublesome project. It did not require a massive mobilization of forces but just a minor correction of the river’s course.

The technical difficulty was not great, but the challenge lay in the manpower and resources needed.

Just as Yang Zhenshan was busy preparing for the dredging of the Ying River, this year’s imperial examination commenced as scheduled.

Yang Mingcheng, who had experience from sending Lu Wenquan to the examination three years prior, made thorough preparations to send Lin Zhan to the exam site.

The examination process went smoothly. When Lin Zhan finished the last test and walked out of the examination hall, Yang Mingcheng immediately approached and asked, ”How did you do?”

Before, Yang Mingcheng had never asked this question, fearing it might affect Lin Zhan’s performance in subsequent exams. However, now that the examinations were over, Yang Mingcheng had no such concerns.

”Big brother, I think it went quite well!” Lin Zhan said, his expression as usual.

Yang Mingcheng’s eyes lit up, ”That’s great, that’s great. If our family could also produce a successful candidate, heh heh~~”

Though Lin Zhan did not bear the Yang surname, the Yang family always treated him as one of their own.

”Big brother, let’s go back. It’s too noisy here!” Lin Zhan looked around and said.

The imperial examination had ended, and outside the examination hall, there was a myriad of human expressions.

Some were crying, some laughing, some dazed and confused, and others had fainted outright.

The noisy clamor, rebuking, and scolding - all these sounds mixed together, made it aggravating.

”Alright, alright, let’s go home!”

Yang Mingcheng took Lin Zhan and got into the Marquis Mansion’s carriage.

After they returned to the Marquis Mansion, everyone naturally bombarded them with questions. Lin Zhan did not elaborate, saying only that he felt he had done well.

”Alright, that’s enough. How well the exam went, we will know when the results are announced. Lin Zhan is also tired, let him rest first!” Yu Qingyi ended the inquiries from everyone.

”Sect Mother, your disciple requests leave to withdraw!” Lin Zhan said.

”Hmm, go rest!”

Yu Qingyi nodded, smiling gently.

After Lin Zhan had left, she turned to Yang Mingcheng and asked, ”How about the matter I had you inquire about?”

Yang Mingcheng slapped his forehead and said, ”Wu Zheng told me yesterday, but I forgot to tell Mom in the midst of Lin Zhan’s exams!”

”Never mind, I’ll bring Wu Zheng here. He knows the details of what he found out the best!”

Having said that, he ran off in a hurry.

Yu Qingyi smiled without minding it.

Yang Mingcheng indeed had been very busy lately. Before the imperial examination, he made a trip to Anzhou State to visit the Liu family.

Upon returning from Anzhou State, he became occupied with Lin Zhan’s participation in the examination, and there were many tasks at home that required his attention.

He couldn’t help it; he was the lord of the Marquis Mansion and the one who spoke for the Yang family in the Capital City.

There were some matters Yu Qingyi, being a woman, couldn’t handle, so they had to be dealt with by Yang Mingcheng.

A short while later, Yang Mingcheng brought Wu Zheng back with him.

”Sect Sister!” Wu Zheng greeted Yu Qingyi with a cheerful call upon seeing her.

”Hmm, tell me about the information you’ve gathered!” Yu Qingyi said with a solemn countenance.

In the presence of others, she was mostly amiable, but when facing disciples from the Sky Blue Sword Sect like Wu Zheng and Lin Zhan, she always maintained a strict demeanor.

It was a habit formed during her time as the Sect Leader of the Sky Blue Sword Sect; she had to be authoritative. Although they had since left the Sky Blue Sword Sect, Yu Qingyi had not changed this particular habit.

Wu Zheng, used to Yu Qingyi’s sternness, quickly replied seriously, ”The Han family indeed has two young ladies of marriageable age, the second Miss Han and the third Miss Han are both fourteen years old! However, the third Miss Han is born of a concubine!”

Yu Qingyi nodded slightly and asked, ”What about the second Miss Han’s character?”

Since Miss Han the Third is born from a concubine, she definitely isn’t the niece that Lady Liang Han spoke of.

Wu Zheng said gravely, ”Arrogant, domineering, perverse, and ruthless!”

Yu Qingyi frowned, ”Are you sure?”

”Mm, Miss Han the Second’s bad reputation in Wanping County is not minor,” Wu Zheng affirmed.

Yu Qingyi shook her head slightly, ”It seems this Miss Han the Second is not fated to be with Chengye!”

A bad reputation outside isn’t necessarily true, but if a person has a bad reputation, there must be a reason; it cannot be for no reason at all.

Either it’s because the person’s character is indeed poor, or someone has maliciously slandered them, tarnishing their reputation.

Regardless of the reason, this Miss Han the Second is not suitable for Yang Chengye.

As the legitimate eldest grandson of the Yang family, Yang Chengye must choose a suitable partner.

As the saying goes, a woman marries wrong and ruins her life, a man marries wrong and ruins three generations.

The Yang family has not easily risen to prominence, it cannot be ruined by a woman.

Therefore, in dealing with the matter of Yang Chengye’s marriage, the Yang family is very cautious, even Yang Zhenshan is particularly concerned, otherwise he wouldn’t have sent Yu Qingyi to Capital City.

”Then let’s drop this matter, I will go and talk to her family another day!” Yu Qingyi said with some disappointment.

”Yes, then Disciple will take his leave first!” Wu Zheng said.

Yu Qingyi nodded, Wu Zheng bowed to Yang Mingcheng, then left the hall.

Now, Wu Zheng and the others are no longer hiding, but staying openly in the Marquis Mansion.

They will still gather information, but no longer need to do so discreetly.

Isn’t it a matter of course for Yang Zhenshan to arrange for a few people to stay in Capital City and pay attention to the court news?

It would be abnormal if no arrangements were made.

Yu Qingyi rubbed her temples with a slight headache, she had attended several banquets of officials’ families in Capital City during this period, and met many daughters of officials, but sadly none of them met her standards.

She still prefers those forthright and valiant women; as for those delicate and frail ladies of nobility, they really are not suitable for the Yang family.

Just as Yu Qingyi was feeling troubled by this, Qingxia walked into the hall with an invitation.

”Lady, an invitation from the Eastern Palace!”

”Eastern Palace!” Yu Qingyi looked up in surprise.

”Mm, it’s sent by a maid from the Eastern Palace, it is an invitation from the Crown Princess Consort for Lady to go to Dacheng Temple to offer prayers,” Qingxia said.

Yu Qingyi took the invitation and looked at it, it was indeed an invitation from the Crown Princess Consort to go to Dacheng Temple for prayers.

Dacheng Temple is a royal monastery, located on Fuhua Mountain west of Capital City.

The queen and the ladies of officials in Capital City often go to Dacheng Temple to offer incense and pray to Buddha, and even the late Empress often took the concubines of the palace to Dacheng Temple to pray.

However, since the passing of the Empress, the concubines in the palace rarely have the opportunity to leave the palace, so they seldom go to Dacheng Temple to offer prayers.

The wives and daughters of officials within Imperial City still often go to Dacheng Temple.

Yu Qingyi was surprised as to why the Crown Princess Consort would invite her to pray.

She thought for a moment and asked, ”Has the person left?”

”Not yet, she’s waiting in the front courtyard for Lady’s response,” Qingxia said.

This also meant that the Crown Princess Consort’s invitation was not a mere formality, but was specifically meant for her.

”Go reply, tell them I will attend as scheduled,” Yu Qingyi said.

The date was set for three days later, since it was an invitation from the Crown Princess Consort, Yu Qingyi had no reason not to go.