Chapter 264
So, with her eyes sparkling, she looked at the conflicted Yu Chongshan and smiled playfully, saying, "Grandfather, aren't you in the Ministry of Works? If I give this to you, can you get some benefits from His Majesty? Like getting a promotion for yourself or something?"
Yu Chongshan felt a wave of emotion in his heart, but he couldn't help teasing her, "If your grandfather gets promoted again, I'll have to take over Minister Lu's position."
He had just been promoted to Vice Minister before the new year. His sons at home had also been promoted by half a rank or a full rank over the past six months, all thanks to his granddaughter.
Minister Lu Qi, who had just returned to his manor and hadn't even had time to change his clothes, suddenly sneezed several times in a row, shaking his official hat askew. Why did he suddenly feel a chill down his spine!
Yue Fuguang thought for a moment. Granting titles to wives and bringing blessings to descendants—she had to secure at least one of these benefits.
"Then can Grandmother's noble title be elevated? And as for the brothers and sisters in the family, some honorary official positions or titles—one is not too few, and two are not too many."
She knew her words would definitely reach the Emperor's ears, and she hoped he would be sensible!
Hearing that her granddaughter was still thinking of her at a time like this, Old Madam Yu felt incredibly warmed.
She held Yue Fuguang's chubby little hand and said, "Grandmother doesn't need any noble titles. As long as our whole family is healthy and you younger ones are safe and happy, Grandmother is content."
"That's easy. All of Grandmother's wishes can come true."
Yue Fuguang spoke with absolute certainty, and the Yu family believed her without a doubt.
Yu Chongshan said, "Fuguang, the situation in Great Yan is still unclear. Even His Majesty has to be somewhat wary of the resources held by the great aristocratic families."
He shook the two pieces of paper in his hand and said, "Grandfather has looked at this. The things you brought out today are cheap to produce and not difficult to use. If this can be popularized, the price of books and paper in Great Yan will drop by at least thirty to fifty percent. That's enough to shake the aristocratic families' control over literary inheritance."
Yu Ningxuan asked nervously, "Grandfather, will Fuguang be in danger then?"
The usually gentle and quiet Yu Ningxin even trotted over to close the doors of the main hall.
Seeing everyone looking at her, she blushed slightly and said, "Only our family knows about today's matter. Grandfather, can we just not take that whatever-it-is technology out?"
Yu Boming also agreed, "Yes, Grandfather. Our family doesn't lack achievements right now. There's no need to put our sister at risk."
With the three brothers of the first branch studying away from home, he, as the eldest of the third generation present, naturally had to stand up to protect his younger siblings.
"We can earn our own futures. Besides, Seventh Sister has already paved the way for us, so why make her take any more risks?"
Great Yan had operated just fine for so many years without his sister's papermaking and printing techniques.
Moreover, it wasn't that they would never bring it out; they would just delay it until the situation in Great Yan stabilized and they themselves grew stronger.
The others all nodded in agreement.
Seeing the younger generation so united, willing to give up the benefits right in front of them for their sister, Yu Chongshan felt very gratified.
He smiled and said, "Children, don't worry. Your grandfather and uncles know what to do. No matter what, this matter will not implicate Fuguang. It will also have absolutely nothing to do with our Yu family. Have you all memorized this? Don't let it slip when you go out!"
"Tongtong, are you saying that the Emperor plans to make the Fourth and Ninth Princes take the blame for me?"
It wasn't until night when she was getting ready for bed that Yue Fuguang learned from the system about the scapegoat plan the Emperor and his ministers had hatched during the day.
"Exactly! Anyway, rest assured, Host, this matter won't implicate you."
Although she had hinted early on for Emperor Mingxi to find someone to take the heat for her, she never expected him to choose his own sons.
She couldn't help but sigh sincerely, "The Emperor is ruthless to other people's sons, but he's no less ruthless to his own!" However, she liked this outcome! Time to sleep! Sleep!
After the morning court the next day, the Emperor and his ministers gathered again to study the two detailed records of papermaking and printing techniques brought by Yu Chongshan.
After reading the production lists, the way they looked at Yu Chongshan changed a bit.
Yu Chongshan: No, what do you old fellows mean by this? If you're jealous, go find Sun Huajing and Xuanmingzi. Why are you looking at me like that?
Emperor Mingxi said somewhat sourly, "Fuguang truly shares a deep bond with you, my beloved Minister Yu. Since you personally stepped forward, Fuguang readily handed over such important technology."
Yu Chongshan: You guys really only look at the results and ignore the process!
Yue Fuguang: This is truly a beautiful misunderstanding.
Everyone: We can't look at the process; looking at the process is even more frustrating. Old man Yu didn't even mention it, and the Young Tutor brought out the very things they had been dreaming of day and night. Envy and jealousy—they were already numb from saying it! Who wouldn't want a granddaughter like that!
Emperor Mingxi couldn't help but think of Yue Fuguang's words from yesterday. His sons would take the title of the achievement, but the rewards could not be discounted in the slightest.
Since the Young Tutor wanted the credit to fall on someone else, he really had to think carefully about how to reward the Yu family to satisfy Fuguang.
And what was Yue Fuguang, who was on everyone's mind, doing?
She was receiving a guest!
"Luo Xue of Luoxia Villa greets the Young Tutor!"
Walking into the main hall of the Bright Moon Pavilion, Luo Xue saw an eight or nine-year-old girl sitting in the seat of honor. Without much hesitation, she bowed respectfully to Yue Fuguang.
"Villa Master Luo, there's no need for such formality. Please sit down and speak."
Yue Fuguang couldn't help but observe Luo Xue. She was around forty years old, with a well-proportioned figure, neither tall nor short. She wore a dark red dress that exuded dignity and elegance.
She had fair skin and bright eyes. Even while sitting, her back was perfectly straight, like a sharp sword hidden in its sheath.
She perfectly fit the image of a female martial artist in her mind—beautiful yet heroic, her sharpness concealed but present, clearly not someone lacking in intelligence.
Yue Fuguang had a very good first impression of Luo Xue, which gave her more confidence in their future cooperation.
After the maidservants served the tea and pastries, she smiled and said, "Villa Master Luo and Dongxue do indeed look very much alike. It seems I haven't found the wrong person."
Seeing Yue Fuguang get straight to the point upon meeting, Luo Xue, who had prepared herself to pay a heavy price, was taken aback!
She had made ample preparations on her way here, thinking that the other party would at least negotiate back and forth a few times to settle on terms before she could see the girl suspected to be her daughter.
She never expected that this highly respected Young Tutor, who looked so young, would be even more straightforward than people in the martial arts world.
Hearing that the girl looked like her, Luo Xue felt a surge of excitement. She couldn't help but stand up and say, "Is what the Young Tutor says true? That child... that child..."
Before she could finish her sentence, tears were already glistening in her eyes.
Seeing this, Yue Fuguang sighed inwardly and called out to the outside, "Chunying, Dongxue."
As Yue Fuguang's words fell, Luo Xue saw two eighteen or nineteen-year-old girls slowly walk in from outside.
One of them was wearing a moon-white dress, her steps steady and her posture upright, and her face bore a fifty or sixty percent resemblance to her own.
She abruptly stood up and took two steps forward, unable to hold back her tears any longer as they fell silently.
Shen Dongxue's eyes also turned red. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but she couldn't utter a single word.