Gu Rong quickly put the painting away as he saw Mrs. Fang staring at it with resentment.
This shrew was quite mad; he couldn't let her ruin his treasure.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Your father is a Censor. Who would dare bully you?" In the capital, besides the imperial relatives, censors were the last people you wanted to offend, lest they find a weakness and report you to higher authorities.
Especially since his father-in-law was rather unreasonable and completely biased when protecting his own.
Mrs. Fang seemed not to have detected the sarcasm in his words and huffed, "Isn't it your beloved daughter-in-law?"
"What daughter-in-law? Did Zheng Zhuo agree?" Gu Rong's eyes widened.
After all, it concerned his son's marriage, so Gu Rong was quite invested. He had specifically sought out Zheng Zhuo after the court session today. Zheng Zhuo, stroking his beard, had stated directly that a legitimate daughter was impossible, but a concubine's daughter might be. He had planned to discuss it with Gu Yan Dong after he returned from his duties. Unexpectedly, his wife and son had come to him early.
Mrs. Fang said angrily, "I'm talking about the merchant's daughter your good son married. Fine, a sparrow that flies onto a branch no longer cares for its old nest. Bah, does she really think she's something special?"
Gu Rong's brows furrowed immediately. "How many times have I told you? Yan Chen is now a prince. You still call him 'my son.' Are you afraid the Emperor will forget how our family wronged him back then?"
"How did we wrong him? Did we not feed him or clothe him? Without our family, could he have grown up safely to this age?"
"Heh, why don't you say that to the Emperor?"
Mrs. Fang swallowed hard.
Gu Yan Dong, overwhelmed, said, "Mother, stop arguing. Don't forget the main business."
Gu Rong looked suspicious. "What main business?"
"Of course, it's our son's marriage. I went to see Lu Nian Fu today. That merchant's daughter is being difficult and refusing to agree to propose to the Zheng family."
"You went to see the Princess Rui?"
"It was useless. That woman turned her back on us. Master, this matter still requires your intervention." Mrs. Fang softened her voice. "Master, don't you always say Gu Yan Chen is filial? He shouldn't refuse a small matter like proposing to the Zheng family for Yan Dong."
Gu Rong's face darkened. "Call him Prince Rui."
"Prince Rui, then. As long as he agrees to propose."
Gu Rong waved his hand. "I met with Zheng Zhuo today. He was very clear: a legitimate daughter is not an option. Yan Dong, if you are determined to pursue this marriage, your father will help you propose to the third miss of the Zheng family."
"How can that be?" Mrs. Fang was the first to object. "Why should a concubine's daughter be the official wife? The Zheng family is too insulting."
"Therefore, this marriage is not worth pursuing."
"Hey, why aren't you thinking about Yan Dong? He's your biological son."
"There are many other young ladies in the capital besides Miss Zheng. And you want Yan Chen to propose? What would he say? I've never heard of a prince forcing a family to marry off their daughter. You two, give up this idea quickly. I still want to stay in court peacefully for a few more years."
Mrs. Fang was about to retort again, but Gu Yan Dong held her back. "Father, is there really no possibility at all?"
"Yan Dong, if they are unwilling to marry, you can't force them, can you? Or perhaps you can look for other young ladies?" Although being looked down upon was quite humiliating, they had the leverage.
He understood very clearly that if he truly asked Prince Rui to do this, the Emperor would definitely summon him to the Imperial Study and make him kneel.
Gu Yan Dong was silent for a moment. "If the marriage cannot be arranged, so be it. But Father, you must help me with my career."
"Didn't I arrange for you to be in the Ministry of Revenue? Look at the people selected in this imperial examination. Except for the top scholar, no one has a higher official position than you."
Speaking of which, this position was also thanks to Yan Chen.
Gu Yan Dong said, "Father, officialdom is not just about the starting point; one must also seize opportunities."
"What opportunity?"
"I heard the Supervisor of Silver for Shanxi has already been escorted back to the capital. The court is preparing to select someone to fill the position these days. Perhaps you could help me with some connections?"
Gu Rong gasped. "You're telling me which position you've set your sights on?"
"Supervisor of Silver for Shanxi."
Mrs. Fang quickly asked, "Son, what rank is the Supervisor of Silver?"
"Rank five, upper grade."
"Then what's so good about fighting for it? It sounds like you have to go all the way to Shanxi."
"Mother, don't speak without understanding. This position is a lucrative one."
"But if you go so far away, how can Mother be at ease?"
Gu Rong couldn't help but roll his eyes, reminding the two dreamers, "If you want to dream, go wash up and sleep. The person in that position has always been a confidant of the Emperor. You, a mere child, are truly audacious to think of it."
Gu Yan Dong said, "Father, isn't there Prince Rui? As long as he speaks a few kind words for me in front of the Emperor, why would the Emperor not consider me a confidant?"
Mrs. Fang quickly chimed in, "Yes, we've raised him for over twenty years. It's time to get some return."
Gu Rong: ...
He himself had no ambition, but he didn't mind his son being ambitious. However, couldn't they be more down-to-earth? Even if he were like Yan Xi, toiling in the military camp, it would be better than spending his days thinking of leveraging others for unearned gains.
The key was that while wanting to leverage someone's influence, he also looked down on them.
He suddenly understood why Zheng Zhuo didn't think highly of him.
Such lofty aspirations, using people when needed, even if he had a daughter, he wouldn't want such a son-in-law.