armyinform Chapter 1102 Prime Minister’s Wife
Chapter 1102 Prime Minister’s Wife
Chapter 1102 Prime Minister’s Wife
After Zhang Yue was appointed prime minister, he did not accept congratulations even though it was a time of national concern.
But the family couldn't stop relatives from visiting.
A carriage with a lantern with the word 'Yang' written on it stopped in front of Zhang's mansion.
With the help of her daughter-in-law Zhang, Yang slowly got off the carriage. She stopped and looked at the Zhang family's entrance for a long time.
Yang recalled how she had traveled thousands of miles from Yangzhou to Pucheng to meet Zhang Shi and Zhang Yue. She hoped that they could accept her conditions, accept the fact that Zhang Dun had changed his nationality, and eliminate the resentment in the hearts of the two brothers.
As a relative of former Hanlin scholar Yang Yi, Yang had received careful teaching from Yang Yi since childhood. Yang Yi once lamented that if she were not a girl, she could also become an official.
Yang was a very conceited person. This could be seen from the fact that after she got married, her carriages and horses were still marked with the word "Yang".
Moreover, Yang was also good at managing the household. Most of Zhang Yu's family business was earned by Yang. Even some important relationships in Zhang Yu and Zhang Dun's official career were managed by Yang.
However, Yang had never expected that Zhang Yue would rise to the position of Prime Minister. Even Zhang Zhi, at a young age, was promoted to the position of General Manager of a region.
It is true that 'the swallows that once flew in front of the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary people'.
At the beginning, Yang thought Zhang Yue was a promising talent, but he was far inferior to Zhang Dun.
Zhang Yu was willing to extend a hand from the sky to help you, Zhang Yue, climb higher, but you refused because of your own pride. Being in the weeds but not knowing how to take advantage of the situation is the greatest unwise thing to do.
Who would have thought that the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold, and the blue sky will not disappoint the young man's ambition. A person from a poor family actually won the top prize on his own, and now...
Yang admitted that she had made a mistake, looking at the guests coming to the Zhang Mansion to celebrate. She had once considered herself a noble lady in the Zhang Mansion, but now she had become one of the guests.
Looking at these hurried and eager guests, it seemed as if the threshold in front of the Zhang Mansion was enough to lead to heaven.
"Mother, be careful."
Yang nodded and said to Zhang, "Today, there are so many guests coming to the Zhang residence to celebrate. I don't know if I can meet them. But since you are here, just treat it as visiting relatives."
Zhang said yes respectfully.
She knew that Zhang Yue's wife, Wu Shiqi Niang, had never liked Yang.
Of course, the ladies in the rich families all look happy, but a little resistance or a little trouble will always make you feel like you have swallowed bitter herbs.
Xu couldn't help but think, wasn't it Yang who arranged Zhang Yue's marriage?
How come Seventeenth Lady has no regard for her mother-in-law at all?
Are all women so ungrateful?
Yang and Zhang entered Zhang's house and learned that Zhang Yue was on duty that day and was not at home.
Yang felt a little disappointed. Zhang Yue had always been respectful to her over the years and never missed greeting her during the holidays. If she came today, Zhang Yue would see her no matter how busy he was. She wanted to see Zhang Yue and pave a way for Zhang Dun in the future.
When it comes to Zhang Yue's position, not making secret efforts is already a great favor. Most of the officials and relatives who came to visit Zhang's house today also expressed the same attitude.
If I can't meet Zhang Yue, then I can meet Yu and Shiqi Niang.
Yang and Zhang passed through the hanging flower gate, walked through a winding corridor, and sat down in the side hall.
The side hall was neatly decorated, with large vermilion curtains, soft felt carpets covering the floor, bonsai trees of rich trees at the foot of the wall, evergreen green bamboos, and furniture that was all in 80% new condition.
The tea served was 'Xiao Long Tuan'.
Everything indicated a newly wealthy family, something was a little hasty and unprepared, yet everything was so prosperous.
Several female servants who were in charge of reception and service came out to apologize to Yang.
Although Yang was not satisfied in her heart, she still smiled faintly. She was very good at dealing with the servants around these nobles, speaking to them in a way that suited their tastes, making them feel like they were on an equal footing with their masters.
The maids in the Zhang Mansion were very measured in their words and did not get carried away by their master's behavior. This made Yang realize that the rules in the Zhang Mansion were very strict and it was a sign of a family that was on the rise.
After the other party left, Yang and Zhang started to nitpick about the Zhang family's etiquette, how they were not thorough, and how the utensils were not placed properly. It seemed that after all, they had come up suddenly, and their background was not good enough.
Zhang just smiled and said nothing.
After a while, Yu came down with the help of her daughter-in-law Lu.
The two sides sat down and talked. Yu and Yang had some grudges in the past, but the grudges have faded over the years.
After asking about her health, the two of them also lamented that time is not forgiving. Yu is the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhang family, and Lu is the eldest grandson's daughter-in-law. They are the ones who support the family. In fact, it is enough for them to come to see her.
But Yang still inquired, "Who is the guest in Room 17?"
Yu said, "He is a guest from the Duke of Lu's mansion."
Only then did Yang realize that she had wronged him.
The Mansion of the Duke of Lu is the residence of Zeng Gongliang.
Yu explained, "I heard from Seventeen that Duke Lu is not in good health and may not live long, so he wants a good posthumous title to accompany him, which is also meant to protect his descendants in the future."
"So, by visiting today to congratulate Sanlang on his appointment as Prime Minister, her family found Seventeen, and they also wanted to help him out out of friendship."
Zhang on the side was also relieved. Why didn't Shiqi Niang see her? There was indeed a more important guest.
Yang said, "I heard that Duke Lu doesn't have much time left. Although his son was appointed as the Deputy Privy Councilor, it was because of the recommendation of Duke Shu."
Yang thought to herself that the emperor himself had never liked the Zeng father and son.
"I heard that the government once compared Zeng Gongliang to Zhang Anshi, the son of Zhang Tang, saying that he was incapable of maintaining integrity."
After hearing this, everyone suddenly understood.
Yu smiled and said, "So we'll just ask Seventeen to help us. He thinks too highly of us."
Yang and Zhang looked very meaningful after hearing this. Even Zeng Xiaokuan was still the prime minister.
No prime minister in the past is as good as the current prime minister.
Lu looked at Yang and thought to herself, this woman is really powerful, but it's a pity that she is incompetent in managing the household, otherwise Zhang Yue and Zhang Dun would not have been at odds with each other until now.
After sitting for a while, Yu and Lu went to meet other people.
Yang said to Zhang: "The Zhang family has not neglected you, but today is indeed not as good as before."
"If it were twenty years ago, with my personality, I wouldn't have bothered to come here and have to look at other people's faces, but now my body is half buried in the ground, and it's not as good as before."
"Remember this: the respect that women receive from others is all given by our husbands."
Zhang nodded, and then she saw tears in Yang's eyes and asked, "What's wrong with mother?"
Yang shook her head and said, "It's nothing. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. If my sister were still alive, seeing her descendants have such promising future, she would be extremely happy today!"
Seeing Yang's tears welling up in her eyelashes, Zhang gently held Yang's hand.
Today, Shiqi Niang was wearing a noble red shirt. Although her face looked a little tired, she was energetic and radiant.
At this moment, Zhang understood more deeply what her mother-in-law said: a woman's reputation in public is given by her husband.
Zhang Yue was the prime minister with black hair, and Shiqi Niang was even younger. Compared with those prime ministers' wives who were white-haired but had received imperial decrees, they adorned themselves with jeweled hairpins and various gorgeous clothes.
After following my husband for many years, I finally got through the vicissitudes of life, and I have to use material things to cover it up.
But Shiqi Niang didn't need to dress up much. She was born in a prime minister's family and had been noble since childhood.
Zhang secretly looked at her and thought, if I were her age and became the prime minister's wife, I would definitely be as arrogant as she is.
Yang congratulated Shiqi Niang with a smile on her face. Shiqi Niang said with a smile: "Sanlang is on duty today. I will ask him to visit my aunt another day."
Yang was delighted because Shiqi Niang's attitude towards her was much better today than before.
You are already the prime minister's wife, so you shouldn't dwell on the past any more.
Yang said, "The Prime Minister is different now than he was in the past. Your Majesty has entrusted me with military and national affairs, so I shouldn't go on a trip for this."
Shiqi Niang smiled and didn't respond, but talked to Zhang. After chatting for a few words, Shiqi Niang thought to herself that Yang was a good judge of people and found such a virtuous daughter-in-law.
Such a good daughter-in-law can bring prosperity to the family for three generations.
Zhang didn't know that Shiqi Niang thought so highly of her, but she was always cautious. There was a gap between the two families, and Zhang didn't interact much with Shiqi Niang, so she really came into contact with her this time.
In name, the two should actually be sisters-in-law.
But if one of the two brothers becomes prosperous, the other will feel resentful if they don't help out. What's more, the other family was in trouble at the time.
Now that I see that they are so successful, looking back here, it all depends on what they think.
After saying a few words, Shiqi Niang politely saw the guest off.
Although they had only talked for half a cup of tea, Zhang saw that Yang looked quite good and couldn't help asking, "Mother, they are obviously not close to us, why are you so happy?"
Yang smiled and said, "You know, you can tell the attitude of her husband by looking at the attitude of the mistress of a family."
Zhang smiled and said, "But mother, I heard that in the Zhang Mansion, Prime Minister Zhang has to listen to Madam in everything."
Yang laughed and said, "Yes, but in such a big matter, she will not make the decision on her own. She must ask the master's opinion."
"What's such a big deal?" Zhang asked.
Yang smiled and said, "Don't pretend to be ignorant when you know the truth. Don't you want Brother Dun to be promoted to the position of Prime Minister?"
Zhang was pleasantly surprised and said, "Of course it's good to be able to do so. But how did she know?"
Yang said, "Dun'er has served as a envoy of the Three Departments and has also served as a Hanlin scholar for some time. The emperor appreciates Dun'er very much. As long as Sanlang does not object to this, Dun'er will be able to enter the Privy Council one day."
Zhang nodded and said, "So Seventeen understood our intentions and met with us."
Yang sighed and said, "Whether Dun can become the prime minister depends on his luck, but as long as Sanlang does not hinder Dun in this matter, we will accept his kindness."
After a pause, Yang said to Zhang, "Go back and take the fifty mu of prime farmland outside the eastern suburbs of Luoyang as a gift, and deliver the land deed to Zhang's mansion tomorrow."
Zhang said, "I'm afraid the Zhang family won't accept it."
Yang said, "It's up to me whether to send it or not, and it's up to him whether to accept it or not. Let's just be assured."
Zhang knew that this matter was related to Zhang Dun's future, so she nodded and said, "I understand."
(End of this chapter)