noffsinger Chapter 553 Destitute and Departing from the Capital
Chapter 553 Destitute and Departing from the Capital
Chapter 553 Destitute and Departing from the Capital
As soon as Mu Yiyun left, Wang Wenzhou hugged Liu Rushi and whispered, "Rushi, Rushi, I will never lie to you again!"
To Liu Rushi's surprise, she really didn't expect Wang Wenzhou to drive Mu Yiyun away. Given his character, how could he bear to part with such a beautiful girl?
Liu Rushi asked softly, "What exactly happened?"
Wang Wenzhou sighed, "Ruru, after so many things have happened these past few days, I finally understand how Lanlan felt back then. It's already hard enough to find out you've been deceived, but to be deceived by someone you love most is like losing all faith in the world!"
"Really?" Liu Rushi was somewhat surprised. Her nemesis never told the truth, and she always felt that her nemesis was wicked.
"Yes!" Wang Wenzhou said dejectedly, "Although I don't believe in Buddhism, I do believe in karma. Good deeds bring good results, and bad deeds bring bad results. Maybe I've done too many evils, and even Xiaoqiang doesn't believe in me anymore!"
Seeing Wang Wenzhou like this, Liu Rushi felt very sorry for him and quickly said, "Even if the whole world doesn't believe you, I do."
"Pfft!" Wang Wenzhou chuckled and said with a smile, "Ruru, Ruru, you're naughty, you actually lied to me."
"Sigh..." Liu Rushi sighed. "You rascal, I was just trying to make you happy."
"Starting today, I'm going to turn over a new leaf!" Wang Wenzhou said earnestly.
……
The next day, at daybreak, Wang Wenzhou set off with his family.
The procession endured scornful looks from the common people on their way from the Duke of Zhongyi's residence to the city gate. Luckily, Wang Wenzhou was in the sedan chair, or he would have been furious.
"The notorious traitor Wang Wenzhou!"
"Wang Wenzhou, get out of here!"
"Heaven is watching what people do. Wang Wenzhou, your end is truly gratifying!"
"Wang Wenzhou, you reap what you sow!"
Listening to the curses and insults from the people outside, Wang Wenzhou felt dejected. Although he was certain that Zhu Youjian would eventually ask him to return to the capital to assist him, he was now like a rat crossing the street, so how could he be happy?
As they passed through the city gate, Wang Wenzhou lifted the sedan curtain, glanced into the city, and said softly, "I will return! Never underestimate a young man's potential, even if he is old and gray. One day I will rise to prominence, and I will never live a life of poverty."
Wang Wenzhou lowered the sedan curtain, put one arm around Liu Rushi and the other around Wang Ying, and said, "Babies, babies, let's drink until we drop tonight!"
Knowing that Wang Wenzhou was in a bad mood, the two babies quickly drank with him.
Not far from the city gate, several people watched Wang Wenzhou's entourage from a distance.
Wang Qiang glanced at Zhu Youjian, then at Wang Zhixin, and said with a wry smile, "How about I go see the young master off? It's so sad that the young master is leaving the capital without anyone to see him off."
Wang Zhixin shook his head and said coldly, "Everyone must pay the price for their mistakes. Young Master, you are young and successful, and you lost your sense of proportion for a moment. If it were any other minor matter, it would be fine. People will mature sooner or later, and then they will correct their past mistakes themselves. But Young Master has actually harbored rebellious intentions, which is an intolerable mistake! Loyalty to the emperor and love for the country are our duties!"
"Alas..." Wang Zhixin sighed, cupped his hands to Zhu Youjian, and said gratefully, "On behalf of my master, I thank Your Majesty for your mercy once again."
Zhu Youjian waved his hand and said with a smile, "Mr. Wang, you are too kind. I will have to trouble you to tell your master to make sure to appease Boxin properly. I am afraid that he will be angry and do something inappropriate again."
Wang Zhixin quickly replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. My master is about to celebrate his birthday, and he will certainly give the young master his earnest advice and guidance."
Zhu Youjian nodded and said, "I also hope that Boxin will mature after this incident. I need his talent."
If Wang Wenzhou knew that even his own father had betrayed him, he would be furious.
It turns out that after Wang Wenzhou was imprisoned, Zhang Rongbao went to Nanjing for help.
Upon hearing the details, Wang Wenzhou's father, Wang Xianda, and his father-in-law, Duke Zhang Zhiji of Yingguo, turned pale with anger. This was outrageous! These two were truly loyal to the emperor and patriotic. It made sense; nobles, like the imperial family, inherited their positions from generation to generation. The Ming Dynasty belonged to the Zhu family and the nobles; for the nobles, patriotism was self-love.
The two men were so determined to uphold justice that they were willing to sacrifice their own family. After discussing it, they decided to send Wang Zhixin to the capital to handle the matter entirely. In short, they could do without Wang Wenzhou, this illegitimate son, but they couldn't allow it to affect their two families.
Wang Zhixin went to the palace to see Zhu Youjian and reported to him about the attitudes of Wang Xianda and Zhang Zhiji. He said that Wang Wenzhou could be killed since he already had an heir.
Zhu Youjian was reluctant to kill Wang Wenzhou; he wanted Wang Wenzhou to reflect on his actions before his father could give him a lecture.
Furthermore, Zhu Youjian believed that Wang Wenzhou, having experienced a low point in his life after being dismissed from office, would have gained many insights. Once Wang Wenzhou had come to his senses, Zhu Youjian planned to reinstate him.
Last night, when Wang Wenzhou set fire to the residence of the Duke of Zhongyi, Zhu Youjian also received the news. He did not send anyone to intervene, but instead welcomed it. He felt that letting Wang Wenzhou vent his dissatisfaction was not a bad thing.
After watching Wang Wenzhou's entourage depart, Zhu Youjian said, "Wang Qiang, you don't need to go to Shaanxi. Report to the Hanlin Academy tomorrow and work as an editor."
"Huh?" Wang Qiang was stunned for a moment. He had never participated in the imperial examinations, was not familiar with the political situation, and did not know what the Hanlin Academy was.
But Wang Zhixin understood. The Hanlin Academy was a place for cultivating talent and building up prospects. It was responsible for compiling books and history, drafting imperial edicts, serving as tutors to members of the royal family, and acting as examiners for the imperial examinations. It held a prestigious position and was a stepping stone to becoming a Grand Secretary or even a local official. In the Ming Dynasty, there was a saying that no one could enter the Grand Secretariat without being a member of the Hanlin Academy.
Moreover, the Hanlin Academy was not a place that just anyone could enter; one had to be a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). For someone like Wang Qiang, who had never even participated in the imperial examinations, to be able to enter the Hanlin Academy was an immense favor bestowed by Zhu Youjian.
Wang Zhixin nudged Wang Qiang and whispered, "Silly boy, hurry up and accept the imperial decree to express your gratitude!"
Wang Qiang immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your humble servant accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"
"Rise!" Zhu Youjian waved his hand and said, "Return to the palace."
Zhu Youjian's decision to bring Wang Qiang into the Hanlin Academy served two purposes. First, it cut off Wang Wenzhou's right-hand man, as Wang Qiang commanded 3 elite troops. Although he initially fell out with Wang Wenzhou, he later understood the ins and outs of the relationship between Liu Hanxue and Wang Wenzhou, realizing he had indeed wronged Wang Wenzhou. Had it not been for Wang Zhixin's intervention, he would have already gone to apologize to Wang Wenzhou.
On the other hand, Zhu Youjian was also trying to appease the newly established Earl's Mansion and the Duke of Ying's Mansion. Although the heads of the two mansions kept saying that Wang Wenzhou, that bastard son, could be killed, Zhu Youjian knew very well that people were all made of flesh and blood. If he really killed Wang Wenzhou, these two old men would definitely hate him in their hearts.
The newly established Earl's Mansion and the Duke of England's Mansion are both among the top noble families in the Ming Dynasty. If these two families were to have ulterior motives, the Ming Dynasty would be in serious trouble.