Chapter 656 - Chapter 656: Unmarried Daughters Followed Their Fathers
Chapter 656: Unmarried Daughters Followed Their Fathers
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yu Youyao stepped forward and bowed. “Hello, Father.”
Yu Zongzheng casually handed the memorial to Yu Youyao. “Take a look at this first.’
Yu Youyao was stunned for a moment. She opened the memorial and saw the lines of words on it. She knew that this was a memorial for the Imperial Court tomorrow.
Upon closer look, her stomach churned, making her lose her appetite.
After barely reading the memorial, Yu Youyao closed it and handed it to Yu
Zongzheng. She took a deep breath and asked, “Father, what do you mean?”
Yu Zongzheng said, “l plan to ask the Imperial Court for an order for your mother tomorrow morning.” At this point, his expression was a little complicated. “I’m already a third-grade Assistant Minister of the Ministry of
Official Personnel Affairs. It makes sense to have a third-grade woman as a first wife.’
Yu Youyao did not feel happy. She was only filled with sarcasm. “Mother has passed away many years ago.”
She suddenly felt that it was ridiculous.
Previously, when she was conferred the title of County Head of Shaoyi, she couldn’t help but think about how when her mother was still alive, she had been conferred the title of a sixth-grade An. It had only been a few days, but Yu Zongzheng was already going to request a conferment for her mother?
What right did Yu Zongzheng have to help his deceased first wife ask for an increase in status.
The dog emperor had conferred the title of county lord on her because he was worried that the bargaining chips he had were not heavy enough. Now, he wanted the emperor to confer the title of her deceased biological mother as a show of kindness?!
However, the price she had to pay was as heavy as this royal favor.
Since ancient times, there had only been children with a mother, a husband with a wife, and a father with a daughter.
When it came to her, she would be a daughter without a mother, or even a daughter without a father.
The first wife and daughter both received benefits, so there was no reason for the dog emperor not to give Yu Zongzheng benefits. One had to know that women had three subserviences and four virtues, and one of them was to follow their fathers while unmarried.
It meant that before a woman got married, she had to obey her father and listen to his teachings. She could not disobey her father and be disrespectful and unfilial.
There was also a saying: Accept the reward of a ruler and bear the burden of a
ruler.
What was the dog emperor worried about?
The treasury was empty.
Only when Yu Zongzheng received benefits could he do his best to help the dog emperor share his burden and fill the treasury.
The Great Zhou Dynasty had a clear rule that if a wife died, the assets under her name would follow her children. If she did not have any children, they would return to her maiden family.
Yu Zongzheng could not get involved in Madam Xie’s dowry. Due to the Xie Residence, he did not dare to get involved and he could not bring himself to get involved in his daughter’s money.
Even the palace was coveting Yu Youyao’s money.
Didn’t Yu Zongzheng have any thoughts?
Could he watch helplessly as such a large sum of money that Yu Youyao had become someone else’s in the future?
Naturally, that was impossible!
It was better to take it out to fill the treasury and pave the way for his future.
From the standpoint of “the righteousness of the country” and the dogma of
“unmarried daughters should follow their fathers”, there was no possibility of her refusing.
Yu Youyao’s desire to escape from the Yu Residence had never been so strong.
She chuckled and couldn’t help but ask softly, “Father, why did you suddenly think of asking for a title for my mother?”
Yu Zongzheng sighed slightly. “The minister is under the Duke’s orders to use his virtue to cultivate. The Imperial Court is indebted to the nobles and treats all the husbands as nobles. Now that I’ve been promoted to an official, I can be bestowed with a wife. However, your stepmother is vicious and I can’t bear for her to be a wife and mother. She’s not as gentle and upright as your mother.
This imperial order should be bestowed on your mother.”
At this point, his expression inevitably revealed a hint of nostalgia.
If Yu Youyao did not know the cause of her birth mother’s death, she might have really believed this excuse. However, at this moment, no matter how beautifully Yu Zongzheng said it, it was difficult to hide his schemes.
Yu Youyao chuckled. Her laughter was filled with mockery that only she knew.
“Mother has passed away for many years. It’s rare that Father still remembers Mother’s gentle and quiet demeanor.”
Back then, when he was having an affair with Madam Yang, he did not think this way.
It was unknown if it was because he felt guilty or something, but these words sounded a little harsh. Yu Zongzheng frowned and glanced at Yu Youyao.
His eldest daughter stood obediently with her head lowered, looking no different from before.
Yu Zongzheng felt that he was thinking too much.
Yu Youyao did not want to mention her mother to him anymore. “Has Father discussed such a big matter with Grandmother?”
Yu Zongzheng shook his head. “I’ll go over and tell your grandmother later. After all, she’s your biological mother. I’m telling you in advance so that you can be happy.”
Happy? Her biological father had conspired with the dog emperor to scheme against her money. Was this worth being happy about?
Yu Youyao’s lips curled up, but the smile did not reach her eyes. “The emperor has just conferred the title of county head of Shaoyi County to me, and it’s already a great favor from the emperor. If Father asks for another order for Mother, will the emperor think that our family is pampered and greedy?” At this point, her face was already filled with worry. “The lightning and rain are all bestowed by the emperor. Father is an official in the court, so you have to be more careful. I can’t make things difficult for Father just to ask for an order for Mother.’
Yu Zongzheng patted her shoulder. “The Empress Dowager pays respects to Buddha. In the early years, the internal and external mingfu raised money to repair the pagoda for the Empress Dowager. Your mother donated 100,000 taels of silver. Today, news came from the palace that the Empress Dowager wanted to raise money for disaster relief, so this matter was mentioned. Everyone in the palace cares about your mother, so it’s only logical for her to be conferred the title. When the matter of the money raising is settled, our family will donate more money to share the burden of the emperor and the Empress Dowager. We’ll also do our best for the commoners of the world. We won’t let down the emperor’s grace.”
His words were righteous.
Her mother had already contributed 100,000 taels of silver to build a pagoda for the Empress Dowager. In that case, how much should she donate to such a huge matter like raising money for disaster relief to not let down the emperor’s grace?
From the standpoint of the country and the commoners, how much would be enough to not let down the emperor’s grace? Yu Youyao lowered her head. “I’ll listen to you.”
At this point, she could only obey.
Yu Zongzheng nodded in relief. “I’m proud of you for being so understanding.”
After Yu Youyao returned to the Jade Courtyard, Yu Zongzheng went to An Shou Hall.
The mother and son spoke for less than ten minutes. Old Madam Yu leaned against the couch with a tired expression and waved her hand. “I understand.
Go back! ”
Seeing that she did not look too good, Yu Zongzheng said, “Mother, this matter…”
Old Madam Yu closed her eyes. “Get out!”
Her tone was a little stiff, and Yu Zongzhengs expression did not look too good. “Mother eats vegetarian food and prays to Buddha all year round. When Madam Xie was still alive, she also had a reputation for being kind. Yao Yao has set up the Graceful Heart Hall because she’s doing good deeds. The Empress Dowager has raised money for disaster relief, so our family definitely has to donate more.’
The businesses in the government were only enough for Yu Zongzheng to spend in the court. The food and clothes in the residence all had to be bought. Yu Zongzheng kept saying that he would donate more. Where would the money come from?
Old Madam Yu was so angry that she laughed. It wasn’t enough to target Yao Yao’s money alone, but he was even thinking about her own money. He was worried that if he gave the money to Yao Yao, he wouldn’t be able to get it himself. He might as well make her donate it and pave the way for his future!
She did not expect him to have such a scheme..