Chapter 881 - 886, - 887: Zhao Yushu’s Younger Brother, Cabinet_2

Zhao Yao found it difficult to accept, he stood up and said, "If it is because of the betrothal gift, please rest assured, Uncle Chai. This time my parents went to the Capital to fetch my sister, it was also to gather the betrothal gift. My sister has been the Empress for so many years, twenty thousand taels, she can definitely come up with it. Please, Uncle Chai, for the sake of my true feelings for Ling’Er, do not separate us."

Chai Jing: "..."

Hiding in the side room of the hall, Chai Ling, however, sneered coldly at this, dismissing it with disdain.

Twenty thousand taels?

Does the Chai Family lack these twenty thousand taels?

Meant to discourage you, who would have thought you took it seriously.

This further strengthened Chai Ling’s determination to cancel this engagement.

If it weren’t for her father forbidding her to meet Zhao Yao, she would have broken off the engagement with him.

"That’s not what I mean, rather you and Ling’Er are not suitable. Forcing you two together would hurt both you and Ling’Er," Chai Jing said.

"But... if that’s the case, why did you, Uncle Chai, let me get engaged to Ling’Er in the first place?" Zhao Yao was somewhat anxious.

"This was the Chai Family’s fault, it’s the Chai Family who wronged you." Saying this, Chai Jing clapped his hands.

A middle-aged man dressed as a steward entered, holding a stack of silver notes, and placed them on the table next to Zhao Yao.

Chai Jing said, "These are silver notes, each worth five hundred taels, totaling twenty sheets. They can be exchanged at any Linhuai Money Shop across the country. Consider this as compensation from the Chai Family, accept it."

"I don’t want this money..."

Zhao Yao was about to collapse, unable to accept it at all, he said, "Uncle Chai, is this Ling’Er’s intention too? I want to see Ling’Er."

Chai Jing frowned and said, "If you think it’s too little, you can ask for more, as long as your request is reasonable, I can agree to it."

"I don’t want it, I don’t want anything, I only want Ling’Er. This definitely isn’t Ling’Er’s intention, right? She loves me so much, she said she would marry me. I want to see Ling’Er..." Zhao Yao started to make a scene.

Chai Jing’s frown tightened even more. In order to get rid of him, he said, "Is this Ling’Er’s intention?"

"I don’t believe it." Zhao Yao wouldn’t believe it, he said, "If you want to annul the engagement, let Ling’Er tell me in person. If she says she wants to annul the engagement, I... I’ll agree."

Chai Jing: "..."

How could there be such a stubborn person in this world.

Chai Ling in the side room: "..."

Just as she was about to go out and tell Zhao Yao in person.

A servant hurriedly walked into the hall, urgently saying, "Master, an envoy from the palace has arrived, upon learning... the lord is in the residence, wishes to see the lord."

The servants still didn’t know about Chai Jing wanting to annul the engagement.

Although they had heard some rumors, with the engagement still in place, Zhao Yao was still considered the Chai Family’s son-in-law in their eyes.

"An envoy from the palace?"

Chai Jing was taken aback, then instinctively said, "What do they want with him?"

"They say that the lord’s sister has been made Consort Liu by His Majesty, and His Majesty wants to bestow marriage between the lord and the miss," said the servant.

"What?" Chai Jing was somewhat stunned, and cold sweat appeared on his back.

The current His Majesty is not the former dynasty’s Emperor, who holds life and death authority in his hands. If His Majesty learns that the marriage he wants to bestow has been annulled with his wife’s brother-in-law, Chai Jing doesn’t know what consequences he will face.

He couldn’t understand.

Wasn’t Zhao Yao’s sister the Empress of the former dynasty?

Weren’t his parents in the Capital to fetch her back?

Now, she has suddenly become Consort Liu to the Emperor of Da Wei?

Zhao Yao was also dumbfounded.

Just now he was still blaming his sister in his heart?

If not for his sister falling to this state, Uncle Chai wouldn’t be breaking off the engagement with him.

But now, his sister has become Consort Liu to the Emperor of Da Wei.

At this moment, a figure rushed in from outside, bringing with it a fragrant breeze, and threw herself into his arms.

Chai Ling’s eyes reddened, teary-eyed as she said, "Yao Lang, you finally came, you finally came to find Ling’Er, Ling’Er missed you."

Chai Jing: "..."

The steward: "..."

The originally heartbroken Zhao Yao, looking at the warm, soft body tightly holding on to him in his arms, suddenly didn’t feel sad anymore, saying, "Ling’Er, you’re finally willing to see me.

This matter of Uncle Chai wanting to annul the engagement, it wasn’t your intention, was it? You love me, don’t you?"

"What, father wants to annul the engagement?" Chai Ling raised her eyes, looking at Zhao Yao in shock, then her eyes filled with tears, choking as she said, "Yao Lang, I... I didn’t know, I was locked up by father, he wouldn’t let me see you, he only released me today. I originally thought father had changed his mind, I didn’t expect father actually found you to break off the engagement."

Chai Jing: "..."

The steward: "..."

Chai Ling hugged Zhao Yao tightly, her tears soaking Zhao Yao’s collar. The pitiful and delicate appearance immediately stirred Zhao Yao’s tender feelings, and he said, "I knew it wasn’t Ling’Er’s intention."

Zhao Yao also held Chai Ling tightly.

Chai Jing, although caught off guard by his daughter’s words, also felt relieved. At least this way, there was still a chance to remedy the situation.

He cooperated with Chai Ling’s act, putting on a stern face, and said, "Didn’t I tell you to stay in your room? Who let you out? Hurry back now!"

"I won’t." Chai Ling looked at Chai Jing stubbornly, and said, "Father, you want to separate Yao Lang and me. I will marry no one but Yao Lang. If you insist on separating us, then... daughter will only have death to turn to."

"Ling’Er, don’t." Zhao Yao wouldn’t let Chai Ling do anything foolish.

"Rebellious daughter." Chai Jing pointed at her, his body trembling slightly with anger: "You are threatening me."

"Daughter is indeed threatening you. Yao Lang is devoted to me, and as his daughter, I must also remain devoted to him, not failing Yao Lang."

"Ling’Er." Zhao Yao was deeply moved.

"Yao Lang." Chai Ling then looked into Zhao Yao’s eyes, full of affection.

"Are you trying to anger me to death?" Chai Jing exclaimed in anger.

"Daughter dares not, daughter only wishes for father to fulfill daughter’s devotion."

"You... very well." Chai Jing sighed deeply, then looked at Zhao Yao, "Young girls cannot be kept. Zhao Family boy, let me ask you, do you truly love Ling’Er, even to the point of giving up your life for her."

"Absolutely." Zhao Yao nodded heavily.

"Very well, for Ling’Er’s sake, I will fulfill this for you. But you must remember, if I ever find out you mistreated Ling’Er, no matter if you bring up your sister, I will not let you off easily," Chai Jing said.

"Uncle Chai, rest assured, I will not fail Ling’Er," Zhao Yao, still just a young lad, although sensing something strange, never imagined that Chai Ling was acting with him.

...

Far away in the Celestial River, Chen Mo was unaware of the Chai Family’s affairs.

At this moment, he was in the Imperial Study, drafting a plan for forming a Cabinet.

But before that, he needed to abolish the Secretariat and the Prime Minister.

Otherwise, there would be conflicts between the two.

Chen Mo’s plan mainly referenced the Cabinet system of the Ming Dynasty from past historical records.

The purpose of Chen Mo forming his Cabinet is to lighten his own burden.

The Cabinet of the Ming Dynasty was initially just the Emperor’s private secretary, which strengthened the Monarch’s autocracy.

In the past, the Prime Minister had the power to make decisions, discuss state policies, and handle administrative affairs. With the Cabinet, the original decision-making power of the Prime Minister was firmly held by the Emperor, the policy discussion power was given to the Cabinet, and administrative affairs were divided among the Six Ministries.

In the localities, three departments were established, managing judicial, military, and administrative affairs, directly responsible to the Six Ministries.

Later on, the authority of the Cabinet increased.

Though the Cabinet had its drawbacks, overall it was beneficial.

Just as Chen Mo was making revisions, Yue Ruyan in full military attire walked in.

Once the Grand General of Longyou, after becoming a wife, her cold and imposing brows and eyes have softened and become a bit more tender, adding charm, her figure also more lush, like a prickly rose.

"Oh, it’s Ru Yan, what’s the matter?" Chen Mo beckoned Yue Ruyan over.

Yue Ruyan came before Chen Mo, not sitting on his lap as he indicated, but standing beside him, saying, "A letter has come from General Wu."

Chen Mo forcefully pulled Yue Ruyan onto his lap, holding her waist and said, "What did it say?"

"The Princess Consort Zhao couldn’t persuade her father. I’m afraid this battle is unavoidable," Yue Ruyan replied.