nucmednet Chapter 316 The Unexpected Marriage Contract
Chapter 316 The Unexpected Marriage Contract
Chapter 316 The Unexpected Engagement
On this day, an imperial edict arrived like a spring breeze, summoning Cui Zhihao back to the court and entrusting him with an important task.
When the news spread, the small courtyard where Choi Ji-ho was temporarily staying instantly became lively.
Shuyun, Qinxin, and the other girls, who usually got along very well with Cui Zhihao and admired his character, were all beaming with joy upon hearing the good news.
Everyone quickly went up to Cui Zhihao and bowed to congratulate him.
Shuyun spoke first, her voice clear and melodious: "Congratulations to Young Master Cui on your return to officialdom. May you have a smooth and successful career in your new position, achieve outstanding results, and rise to higher ranks."
The other girls chimed in, their voices rising and falling in unison.
A blush crept onto Choi Ji-ho's face; he was a little embarrassed.
He quickly raised his hand to help them up and said sincerely, "Miss Shuyun, Miss Qinxin, and all the ladies, Huai'an thanks you all for taking care of me these past few days."
He paused slightly, a determined glint in his eyes, and continued.
"It is a blessing for Huai'an to know and work with you all. Now that I have returned to the court, I will do my best to assist Miss Shi, to seek the well-being of the people of Cangling, and to make Cangling strong."
Cui Zhihao's words were resounding and passionate, as if carrying an invisible force. The crowd was infected by his words and spontaneously applauded and encouraged him. The applause echoed in the courtyard for a long time.
Shi Wanxia stood aside, covering her mouth and chuckling to herself. She thought to herself, "Brother Cui was granted an official position today. Tomorrow, some ministers will probably come to congratulate him. They need to prepare a banquet."
Shuyun has always been thoughtful and meticulous.
So she made the arrangements in an orderly manner: "Shuyun, Qinxin, Shuying, you all arrange the banquet for tomorrow. Brother Cui will be receiving an official title this time, and there will definitely be high-ranking officials from the court coming to congratulate him. So, thank you all for your hard work tomorrow."
The three girls nodded in agreement and busied themselves with preparing for the banquet.
At this moment, Lin Yiyu had just returned from collecting debts. He was the son of a great general, intelligent and generous.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they learned of the news that Young Master Cui had been granted an official position, so they rushed over immediately.
He clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said with a smile, "Young Master Cui, congratulations! I'd love to work with you all!" He then looked at Shi Wanxia with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Although Lin Yiyu enjoys doing business and used to dislike the complexities and struggles of officialdom, when Wanxia and Cui Zhihao are around, he feels that officialdom seems to have a bit more warmth and justice, and he is willing to work with them.
Shi Wanxia was taken aback upon hearing this, but quickly came to her senses. She knew Lin Yiyu's strength well.
Lin Yiyu was a spirited young man with good knowledge and integrity. He had accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience through his years of experience in the business world.
If he were to become an official, with his abilities and character, he would certainly be able to contribute to the Cangling Kingdom, which would be a good thing.
She nodded slightly and said with a smile, "If Young Master Lin has such a wish, that would be wonderful."
"If we can have your help in the court in the future, Brother Cui and I will have more confidence."
However, the political situation at court was turbulent and unpredictable. The news of Choi Ji-ho's return to officialdom caused a great uproar in the court.
The faction led by Zhou Chong of the Ministry of Justice was extremely wary of Cui Zhihao's return.
Zhou Chong appears respectable on the surface, but in reality he forms cliques, engages in corruption, and is embezzled. Cui Zhihao had previously discovered some of his crimes, which is why he was framed by Zhou Chong.
Now that Choi Ji-ho has returned, Zhou Chong is worried that he will continue to investigate his crimes, so he secretly plots with his cronies to give Choi Ji-ho a hard time.
The next day, Shi Wanxia's house was filled with distinguished guests.
Among the ministers who came to offer their congratulations, some were genuinely happy for him, some were taking a wait-and-see approach, and some harbored malicious intentions.
During the banquet, everyone toasted and drank, creating a seemingly lively atmosphere.
Zhou Chong also came with several trusted confidants. He smiled broadly and raised his glass to congratulate Cui Zhihao: "Young Master Cui, it is truly a joyous occasion to receive the Emperor's favor once again."
"I hope that in the future, in the imperial court, Young Master Cui will take good care of me."
Cui Zhihao knew Zhou Chong's character well, but he remained calm on the surface and replied with a smile, "You are too kind, Minister. I am new to the court and still need to rely on the guidance of the Minister and all the officials."
After several rounds of drinks, an official named Zhao Ming stood up. He was a confidant of Zhou Chong.
He said with a forced smile, "Young Master Cui, I heard that you have been appointed as the head of the Ministry of Revenue. This is a great responsibility for the country to collect taxes."
"I just wonder if Young Master Cui has any policies or guidelines, so that we can learn from them."
Cui Zhihao understood that Zhou Chong and the others were deliberately testing him and trying to embarrass him.
He stood up calmly and said with a firm gaze, "The head of the Ministry of Revenue should be fair and honest. I will uphold my original intention and not let any corrupt official go unpunished, nor will I wrong any upright official."
"I will do my best to ensure that Cangling has a clean and honest government and that its people live in peace and prosperity."
His words were forceful and won the secret praise of some upright officials present, but also displeased Zhou Chong and others.
As soon as Lin Zhengyuan stepped into the mansion, he heard someone speaking eloquently, his words filled with concern and aspirations for the common people. The voice was clear and powerful, which made him turn his head.
The speaker was Cui Zhihao. He was tall and straight, his moon-white robe swaying gently in the wind, and his eyes and brows revealed determination and heroism.
Choi Cheol walked side by side with Lim Jung-won. As Choi Ji-ho's uncle, he was also very proud of his nephew.
Cui Zhe held an important position in the court, was an upright official, and enjoyed great prestige both in and out of the court.
He was well aware of his nephew's talent and ambition, and he cared for him deeply while also being quite strict in his teaching.
“Well said! Brother Anren, your nephew is a handsome and talented man. I wonder if he is married?”
Lin Zhengyuan looked at Cui Zhe with admiration, his eyes sparkling with a look of inquiry.
Cui Zhe bowed slightly, a polite smile on his face, and said, "Brother Zhongwen, you flatter me."
When asked about his nephew's marriage, he sighed slightly, "It's just that he's still unmarried, and this has been a worry for me for a long time."
Choi Cheol and Lim Jung-won walked into the mansion together, reminiscing about Choi Ji-ho's growth along the way, their words full of praise for him.
In fact, Cui Zhe has been quite troubled by his nephew's affairs lately.
Choi Ji-ho is staying at the home of an unmarried woman. Although they have a proper relationship, this situation inevitably attracts criticism.
As an elder of the Cui clan of Qinghe, Cui Zhe always valued the family's reputation. Passing down poetry, books, etiquette, and manners was the Cui clan's ancestral precept, so how could he tolerate such a disrespectful act?
He tried to persuade his nephew many times, but Cui Zhihao seemed to be bewitched by the woman and wouldn't listen to him.
For the sake of the family's reputation and for the sake of his nephew's future, he discussed with his second brother a few days ago and arranged a marriage for Cui Zhihao.
“Brother Zhongwen, to be honest, a few days ago, my second brother arranged a marriage for him with the eldest daughter of the second branch of the Lu family in Fanyang,” Cui Zhe said slowly, his voice carrying a hint of expectation.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhengyuan nodded in satisfaction, a look of approval on his face: "The daughter of the Lu family of Fanyang, a prominent and distinguished family, is a perfect match for the Cui family of Qinghe."
"Once this marriage is finalized, the Cui and Lu families will be united, and their influence in the court will be even greater."
At that moment, Choi Ji-ho was talking with several talented young men when he overheard his uncle talking about his marriage. He was instantly stunned.