Chapter 422: Yin Qing Is Urged To Marry

“Third Young Master…”

Ji Yuan murmured to himself as he watched Yin Zhaoxian, Yin Qing, and the others hurriedly leave. He recalled first hearing that title on the Zhuangyuan Ferry across the Tongtian River outside the capital city.

“This emperor does have some sentimentality after all!”

…

At the main entrance of the Yin residence, Yin Zhaoxian, along with his wife and son and several servants, hurried to the gate. After tidying their clothes, the group went outside. The guards and carriages hadn’t moved, and the people in the carriages hadn’t disembarked, waiting for Yin Zhaoxian to arrive.

Yin Zhaoxian led his family out of the mansion gate, down the steps, and then to the carriage. Everyone bowed in greeting.

“Subject Yin Zhaoxian, along with his family and servants, pays his respects to His Majesty!”

“Greetings to His Majesty!”

The crowd behind him repeated in unison.

At this moment, the curtain on the carriage was lifted, and the guards simultaneously set out a footstool. A eunuch descended the carriage first, then helped the person following him down. It was none other than the current Emperor Hongwu,

1

Yang Hao of Dazhen.

“Please rise, everyone, no need for formalities!”

Emperor Hongwu took a few steps closer to Yin Zhaoxian and personally helped him to his feet.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“Hahaha, Minister Yin, I left the palace today without making a fuss. My visit to your residence is a private one, and I even brought my family with me. You may all descend as well!”

Emperor Hongwu spoke the first half to Yin Zhaoxian, and the second half to another carriage behind him. Then, the curtain of that carriage was lifted from the inside, and two women stepped out, one older but elegant and graceful, and the other beautiful and poised.

“Greetings to Consort De, and Princess Changping!”

Yin Zhaoxian and his family members behind him bowed respectfully once again.

“Everyone, there’s no need for such formalities. We hope our visit to your residence today hasn’t disturbed you?”

Consort De led the princess to the emperor’s side, smiling as she spoke to Yin Zhaoxian and his wife — particularly at the latter, since Mrs. Yin held an imperial title and occasionally visited the palace to chat.

“Not at all, Your Majesty, Your Highness, and Your Highness the Princess. It’s getting dark, and it’s freezing outside. Please come inside and warm yourselves up. I have already instructed the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous dinner.”

Regardless of the emperor’s purpose in coming, it wouldn’t be appropriate to just stand outside to discuss matters. Yin Zhaoxian invited the emperor into the mansion, having already instructed the servants and kitchen staff to make preparations.

“Very well, today I will taste the dishes at Prime Minister Yin’s residence!”

“We happen to have some special preserved meats from my hometown of Ning’an County. Your Majesty, please have a taste. This way please, Your Majesty!”

Yin Zhaoxian gestured for them to enter. Yin Qing didn’t say much throughout the process, simply following his father and keeping an eye on Yin Zhong. However, he noticed that Consort De and Princess Changping would occasionally glance at him.

This made Yin Qing frown, but after a moment’s thought, he came up with an absurd possibility.

Several braziers had already been lit in the guest hall of the Yin residence, and servants had prepared tea and pastries. As the group walked through the doors and corridors, they immediately felt a wave of warmth wash over them.

The living room was filled with calligraphy and paintings. Most of the calligraphy had been written by Yin Zhaoxian, while the paintings had mostly been done by Yin Qing. The Yin family father and son were well-known both inside and outside the court in this regard.

After everyone was seated, Emperor Hongwu’s gaze lingered on the calligraphy and paintings in the room. He admired them sincerely for a long time.

“Everyone says that Minister Yin is an honest and upright official, but the truth is that you are not short of money at all. Your house is full of treasures. Just look at the calligraphy and paintings in this living room. Countless wealthy and powerful people have tried to buy them at great expense but have failed!”

2

Yin Zhaoxian sipped his tea and smiled.

“Your Majesty flatters me. Others merely flatter my work because I, Yin Zhaoxian, hold a high position!”

“Prime Minister Yin is too modest. Even I, a woman in the inner palace, have heard countless stories about you. I know that you are a great calligrapher of our time, Minister Yin, and your son, Yin Qing, is also highly renowned for his exquisite paintings. Each stroke of his brush is worth a fortune. You and your son are both exceptional talents!”

Consort De was very eloquent and well aware of Yin Zhaoxian’s standing in the Emperor’s heart. Emperor Hongwu had spoken to her many times in bed about Yin Zhaoxian, mostly praising him and even expressing admiration.

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Yin Zhaoxian was destined to become the Crown Prince’s tutor. From another perspective, if Yin Zhaoxian truly believed that any prince was incompetent and unworthy of the position, then no matter how much the Emperor favored that prince, they would not be selected as Crown Prince.

In addition, the common people and even the civil and military officials had long heard a rumor that Yin Zhaoxian was a virtuous and wise scholar of the era, with a strong sense of justice, clear understanding of the world and the ability to eliminate evil, just like what had happened with the Bloody Silk Case.

To this day, people in Lishun Prefecture, Yunbo Prefecture, and even the entire Wan Province still praed for Yin Zhaoxian every year, and many places had erected shrines to him, giving the area a somewhat mystical feel.

“Yes, Prime Minister Yin, your talent is known throughout the court and the country, and so are Vice Minister Yin’s superb painting skills.”

Princess Changping echoed this sentiment and looked at Yin Qing, who, sitting on the edge of the room, simply bowed slightly in thanks without saying anything more.

“By the way, Minister Yin, you are already over thirty, yet you are still unmarried. Is it possible that you have an arranged marriage from childhood?”

Yin Zhaoxian glanced at Yin Qing, who was sipping his tea with his head down, and replied.

“He is not engaged.”

“Oh, so Minister Yin has someone he likes?”

When Emperor Hongwu asked Yin Qing, the latter could only answer respectfully.

“Your Majesty, this minister has no one he loves. However, I am busy with official duties and also must to find time to study, so I have no time to indulge in romance.”

Emperor Hongwu nodded.

“As expected of the son of Prime Minister Yin, you are also a pillar of the nation. But you have reached the age of marriage. The Yin family line must continue, right? What does Prime Minister Yin say?”

Yin Zhaoxian smiled and nodded in agreement.

“Your Majesty is right. Qing’er, it’s time for you to get married.”

Yin Qing had never considered marriage, partly because he was too busy and had too many things to take care of, and partly because he had certain concerns.

Firstly, the Yin family’s current status in the court and among the people was prominent but also somewhat awkward; their foundation was actually insufficient, and they could not afford to make a wrong move.

Secondly, the Yin family itself was quite unique, and they might come into contact with some supernatural matters, so choosing a wife was something that required extreme caution.

Others might not think so much, but Yin Qing considered it very deeply. He knew that he could not marry an ordinary woman now, and marrying a lady from a prestigious family would mean getting involved with her family. The previous emperor’s actions forced him to consider it over and over again.

But given the situation today, there was no way to avoid it. Yin Qing could only smile but remain silent.

Consort De was whispering to Mrs. Yin at that moment, then gave Mrs. Yin a wink, which she understood immediately.

“Oh, by the way, Qing’er, this is Princess Changping’s first time visiting the Yin residence. Why don’t you show her around the mansion?”

Yin Zhong muttered to Yin Qing.

“What’s the point of looking around on such a cold day?”

Helpless, Yin Qing could only look at Princess Changping.

“Would Your Highness like to take a stroll around?”

The latter nodded with a polite smile.

“Thank you for your trouble, Minister Yin. I am also very curious about the Yin residence.”

Since things had come to this point, Yin Qing couldn’t refuse. After Princess Changping put on her fur cloak, he took her outside.

Yin Zhong looked at his elder brother and then at the situation inside the house. He walked to his mother’s side and whispered.

“Mother, can I go with my brother?”

“What are you going to do? You’re not allowed to go!”

Hearing his mother’s words, Yin Chong frowned. His elder brother was gone, and the emperor and empress were still here. The atmosphere was oppressive and not fun.

“Then, I’ll go find Mr. Ji…”

Muttering to himself, Yin Zhong walked slowly to Yin Zhaoxian’s side and respectfully bowed to the emperor, the empress, and his father in turn.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Father, Tiger feels it’s hot here and wants to go for a walk.”

“Hehehe, Tiger’s health is really good. None of my princes can compare to Tiger.”

Emperor Hongwu also liked this child who accompanied the princes in their studies. Yin Zhaoxian said, “You flatter me,” and turned to Yin Zhong.

“What’s the point of leaving? Don’t tell me you’re going to cause trouble for your brother.”

“No, that’s not it! I’m going to find Mr. Ji…”

Yin Zhong blurted out, speaking too quickly, and only lowered his voice halfway through his sentence. Yin Zhaoxian, however, did not seem to mind, shaking his head and waving his hand.

“Go ahead, go ahead.”

The Emperor didn’t know Ji Yuan, so it was fine to treat him as an ordinary friend from his hometown. Yin Zhaoxian also didn’t know that Ji Yuan knew Yan Chang, because Yan Chang had never spoken of this to outsiders. When he had presented the mooncake to the late Emperor, he had only referred to him as “an immortal”.

After Yin Chong left in a hurry, Emperor Hongwu and Yin Zhaoxian exchanged a smile, giving them a feeling of harmony between ruler and subject.

“Does Minister Yin have a guest at his home?”

“Your Majesty, there is indeed a guest here. He is a close friend from my hometown of Ning’an County. We used to be neighbors.”

A close friend?

Emperor Hongwu grew somewhat interested. The main purpose of today’s visit was for his daughter, Princess Changping. Now that she had already gone out with Yin Qing, he could talk about whatever he wanted.

“Was Minister Yin’s close friend also a scholar?”

Yin Zhaoxian thought for a moment.

“He certainly reads books, but he is not a typical scholar who studies diligently for officialdom in the conventional sense.”

“Oh, but to be friends with Minister Yin, he must be quite learned?”

As Yin Zhaoxian listened, he began to understand the meaning behind the words. He simply smiled and said to the emperor.

“Mr. Ji is certainly talented, but he had already made it clear that he had no intention of taking up any official post. Instead, he prefers to travel the world, drink tea, listen to stories, and play chess.”

Emperor Hongwu seemed to be deep in thought, and then spoke to Yin Zhaoxian.

“He seems to be a leisurely and refined gentleman. Let’s invite him to dine at the banquet later.”

Yin Zhaoxian was taken aback.

“Well, my friend is, after all, a commoner, and, moreover, he doesn’t understand the etiquette of the powerful and wealthy. I’m afraid he might offend Your Majesty, so perhaps…”

“Oh, Minister Yin, surely you don’t think I’m so petty?”

Emperor Hongwu smiled. Heaven had created favorable conditions for him, and he considered himself a wise and benevolent ruler as recorded in history, so he certainly wouldn’t mind such trivial matters.

T/n: JY, in his room: I feel a disturbance in the Force… Someone might be trying to drag me into politics!

Consort De: Oh look, it’s your crush, Yin Zhaoxian

Emperor: … ok but if I can’t have him maybe my daughter can marry his son

Consort De: you keep telling yourself that, dear

Friendly reminder that people of great standing have additional names as titles

He’s essentially complimenting YZX on his art in a roundabout fashion, saying he has created treasures

T/n: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (forgive me I had to)

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