"And besides, didn't maternal grandfather also support establishing official schools? It's an act of accumulating virtue and doing good deeds, while also bringing glory to the ancestors. Maternal grandfather would be renowned and profitable."
Yu Mingyue regretted her impulsiveness today. She seemed to have brought trouble to Brother Jiayan.
"Don't beat around the bush. You haven't answered maternal grandfather's question yet. What is your relationship with Scholar Xie?"
He already knew about the matters at the academy. This girl hadn't shown him such enthusiasm when she saw him.
Yu Mingyue's small face drooped, and she sighed, "Don't even mention it!"
"What's wrong?"
"I do like Brother Jiayan, but he doesn't like me. Maternal grandfather insists on asking, truly trampling on Yue'er's self-esteem. Don't I have any dignity?" Yu Mingyue angrily crossed her arms and turned away, refusing to look at Elder Cui.
Elder Cui didn't know if her words were true or false. He feigned anger and said, "He doesn't like you? What right does he have not to like you? In terms of family background, talent, and looks, how is my granddaughter unworthy of him, a mere scholar?"
"That's because maternal grandfather dotes on me, so he naturally thinks I'm good in every way. Maternal grandfather doesn't know how popular Brother Jiayan is in the capital. He's the top scholar in three imperial examinations, respected by the Emperor, liked by his colleagues, admired by his peers, and adored by ladies. I'm just one of the many people who like him. He doesn't lack for anyone like me!"
"You young girls are so exaggerated!" Elder Cui waved his sleeve.
"Exaggerated? Maternal grandfather, don't you know how amazed the sisters at the academy were when they saw him today? Maternal grandfather, you're old and don't understand what's in our hearts. However, don't worry, maternal grandfather, their little sparks have been extinguished by me. I've already told them that Brother Jiayan is mine, and no one is allowed to snatch him from me!" Yu Mingyue said with pride.
"Yours?"
To say such a thing, his old face flushed with embarrassment.
"Maternal grandfather, can you please stop trampling on my heart repeatedly? Do you understand the thirty-six stratagems? What can I do? Who asked Brother Jiayan to be so popular? Maternal grandfather, you've really hurt me." Yu Mingyue clutched her chest, looking injured.
"Hmph," Elder Cui snorted. He knew she was playing coy and spouting nonsense, a mix of truth and falsehood. Believing her would be foolish.
However, one thing was certain: this girl definitely liked that Xie Jiayan.
"Maternal grandfather, do you dislike Brother Jiayan's humble background and lack of power?" Yu Mingyue shook her head. "Maternal grandfather, do you know the saying 'the young are to be feared'? When he becomes powerful, it will be too late for you to curry favor."
Elder Cui was amused by Yu Mingyue's words. Even if Xie Jiayan became immensely powerful, the Prime Minister himself wouldn't dare to speak such words in front of him.
"This Scholar Xie is indeed excellent, but he's too scholarly. Perhaps one day he will truly gain great power, but that path is not easy. Are you willing to endure hardships with him?" Elder Cui said meaningfully.
Yu Mingyue fell silent, then hesitated, "I can't endure hardships, but we can help him!"
"Sixth daughter, maternal grandfather can hardly believe such foolish words are coming from you. Maternal grandfather is very disappointed."
"But Brother Jiayan is really very good." Yu Mingyue pouted, looking very sad.
"Maternal grandfather doesn't know about the capital, but within our family, aren't your cousins good? Aren't the young talents in the clan school good? And that Mr. Chai the other day..."
"No, maternal grandfather, please don't say anything more. My cousins are certainly good, but forget Mr. Chai. Does maternal grandfather want to choose a husband for me among them? I'd rather remain unmarried for life." Yu Mingyue looked disgusted.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Maternal grandfather merely said they are also excellent. I haven't planned to choose your husband from among them!" Elder Cui stroked his beard.
"Then who does maternal grandfather want me to marry?" Yu Mingyue decided to be direct and make her maternal grandfather give up this idea once and for all.
Maternal grandfather definitely wanted her to marry Xiao Che, but her brother would never agree, nor would her mother and father. She wasn't afraid at all.
"Would you be so obedient?"
Yu Mingyue shook her head, "Of course not."
Elder Cui's face darkened, "Is it fun to trick your maternal grandfather?"
"Maternal grandfather, if you want me to marry Xiao Che, it's absolutely impossible. Even if Xiao Che likes me, the Emperor and Consort Yao would never agree. The position of future Crown Princess is a huge pitfall."
"Let me tell maternal grandfather honestly, before I came, Sister Lingyi was inexplicably poisoned. Who do you think poisoned her? Those two can't even tolerate the orphan of a former princess, so how could they tolerate me, who has Qinghe behind me? Maternal grandfather, it's easy to dodge an open spear but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. If they attack a hundred times, you protect me ninety-nine times. If even once you can't protect me, my life will be in danger."
Upon hearing that Luo Lingyi was poisoned, Elder Cui's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
He couldn't be deceived by this girl's words. He would send someone to investigate the matter of Luo Lingyi's poisoning.
"If maternal grandfather doesn't believe me, you can ask the maid who takes care of Sister Lingyuan to question her. Sister Lingyuan is staying at the Cui family's residence." Yu Mingyue knew that no one's words would be more convincing than Lingyuan's herself.
"You're saying all this because you want to marry Xie Jiayan."
Yu Mingyue shook her head, "It's not a matter of whether I want to now, but whether he is willing."
"He has no right to say no."
"Maternal grandfather, don't be so domineering. We're not mountain bandits. A forced melon isn't sweet."
"I haven't agreed yet. I still need to think about your marriage."
"Then maternal grandfather, take your time to think. In any case, Xiao Che is impossible. My life is important. My father and mother have only me as a daughter. You are my own maternal grandfather, you can't harm me."
"What kind of person do you think maternal grandfather is?" Elder Cui couldn't help but roll his eyes at her.
"I know maternal grandfather dotes on me and wants to use Xiao Che's guilt towards me to forge a new path for the Cui family. However, relying on others is ultimately unreliable. The Wang family is a cautionary tale. If you hand over everything the Cui family has to others, maternal grandfather will surely be reluctant. But what if one day these things are needed to protect the lives of the entire clan? Maternal grandfather, the Cui family cannot afford the price of a desperate gamble. So why not diversify the risk?"
Yu Mingyue left Guangsi Hall while Elder Cui was in thought. For the past few days, both she and her maternal grandfather had been avoiding this issue.
But it had to be faced sooner or later. The Emperor had once again turned his attention to the aristocratic families. If they stood still, they would only be hurt. Sometimes, taking a step back might not be a loss.
As the head of the Cui family, it was extremely difficult for her maternal grandfather to make this decision. After all, no one was willing to give up the wealth they had already obtained.
The Wang family's rebellion had already caused the common people to be dissatisfied with the aristocratic families. Now, with the屯田种桑 (cultivating land for mulberries), the Cui family had lost much popular support in Qinghe. The Zheng family, Li family, and Lu family were also implicated.
The Emperor had been quietly making arrangements, but none of the families had noticed. How could they not lose?
Thinking back now, the Wang family's actions were probably within the Emperor's expectations, all for the purpose of making the aristocratic families lose popular support.