Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 483 - 319 Old Mrs. Wu’s Plan

Youths are always prone to impulsiveness; Gu Chengyu has already matured beyond his years. It’s rare for him to make a mistake, so there’s no need to dwell on it.

Moreover, since the matter has occurred, we still need to find a solution.

"I’ll discuss this with Senior Brother, so you don’t have to worry about it."

Wu An was unaware that Gu Chengyu had exerted influence on the fraud case. He thought that a young man like Gu Chengyu, who had never been involved with the court, could hardly have any good ideas.

After bidding farewell to Wu An, Gu Chengyu went to the inner courtyard to pay his respects to the Old Mrs. Wu.

"You’ve suffered this time, unexpectedly dragged into it innocently. Although your senior brothers managed to help you, the days inside were not easy. You look thinner!"

The kind smile on the elderly lady’s face was warm, but Gu Chengyu was somewhat at ease in front of Old Mrs. Wu.

"Thinner? I think I’ve even gained weight! Thanks to my senior brothers’ help, I suffered no hardship inside, I’m sorry for making you worry, it was my fault."

Usually, close elders who haven’t seen you for a few days would say you’ve become thinner. Every time he dined at the Wu Mansion, the old lady would instruct the kitchen to add more dishes.

The old lady smiled and said, "Your senior brothers helping is their duty; you shouldn’t feel like an outsider."

After exchanging a few words with Old Mrs. Wu at Wu Mansion, Gu Chengyu then got up and headed to He Mansion.

After Gu Chengyu left, the nanny beside the old lady asked her with some confusion, "Old Madam, you seem quite attentive to Mr. Gu, and I also noticed he’s very close to you."

"This child is upright and diligent in his studies. Now he is of age to propose marriage, I remember a grandniece on my maternal side who is also twelve."

Old Mrs. Wu stopped here, her intentions unsaid yet clear.

Old Mrs. Wu was born into a military family, her maiden name was Wang. Her brother passed away a few years ago, and her nephew, Wang Yin, is the Commander of the Capital Guard Command, a Standard Fourth Rank official. Achieving the Standard Fourth Rank was all thanks to the Wu family’s influence. Before Liang Zhirui retired, Wang Yin, as a relative by marriage to the Wu family, always received some benefits.

"So the Old Madam has such intentions; however, Mr. Gu’s foundation seems a bit too weak, Miss Qing..."

"Even though he is currently just a scholar, I believe he has unlimited potential, otherwise I wouldn’t have asked my eldest son to help him. If we don’t offer timely help now, when he’s successful later, it might be too late to gain favor."

Old Mrs. Wu has her own plans; her nephew may hold a fourth-rank position, but the younger generation hasn’t shown much promise. The Wang family is on the verge of decline. If they don’t tie a strong marriage connection, it won’t be long before they fall.

Gu Chengyu was unaware of Old Mrs. Wu’s plans. He was thinking about how to face He Jisheng when he arrived at He Mansion. Actually, it would be awkward for both of them to meet, but not going wasn’t an option either. Gu Chengyu thought about it and decided to approach it with a normal mindset. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Arriving at the entrance of He Mansion, Gu Chengyu got off the carriage and asked Ming Mo to carry the gift and knock on the big gate of He Mansion.

The gatekeeper opened the door, saw it was Gu Chengyu, and warmly invited him in. Gu Chengyu looked at the gatekeeper and noticed that someone new had taken the position. It seemed that He Jisheng had already shown his stance, and today’s meeting shouldn’t be too awkward.

Having sent a calling card prior, Gu Chengyu wasn’t worried about being turned away by He Mansion. Besides, He Jisheng couldn’t make it that unpleasant either.

Following the steward of the outer courtyard into the outer study, He Jisheng was already waiting in the study.

"Greetings, Senior Brother!" Gu Chengyu maintained his usual demeanor, smiling as he saluted He Jisheng.

He Jisheng first examined Gu Chengyu, observing no signs of displeasure on his face, just the same as usual. He mused internally, noting Gu Chengyu’s remarkable composure, which was not surprising given the teacher’s high regard for him.

Gu Chengyu understood He Jisheng’s lack of assistance; nobody stipulated that because He Jisheng was his senior brother, he had to help out. Although he was somewhat colder compared to Yin Kun and others, Gu Chengyu didn’t harbor any feelings of anger.

He Jisheng invited Gu Chengyu to sit down, "It’s good to see you’re well. When your brother-in-law came to see me the other day, your sister-in-law’s mother was unwell, so I accompanied her to her maternal home, and didn’t get a chance to instruct the gatekeeper."

He Jisheng spoke while pouring a cup of tea for Gu Chengyu and handing it over.

"It was my fault; fortunately, you’re alright, but I felt really guilty afterward."

Gu Chengyu respectfully received the tea, displaying a bright smile on his face, yet in his mind, he wondered if this was just an excuse. Even if he wasn’t there that day, what about afterward? Didn’t he hear from the gatekeeper? No wonder he blended into the officialdom, managing to make it seem so naturally relevant.

He Jisheng’s father-in-law is Dong Zhen, the Minister of the Ministry of Imperial Stables, a Secondary Third Rank official. Among the senior brothers, He Jisheng’s connections with the Yue Family were the most reliable. However, it was heard that this wasn’t orchestrated by the teacher but through He Jisheng’s own efforts, earning Dong Zhen’s recognition.

The details of this process are too lengthy to elaborate on, but climbing from a poor student to such a high position is certainly not easy. Initially, he relied on the teacher’s network, but later, with Mr. Dong’s appreciation, he smoothly rose to prominence.

Even after the teacher retired, he was promoted by one grade, which demonstrates his wide-ranging connections. Working as an official at court is not only about achievements; one must also network and build relationships.

Countless thoughts crossed Gu Chengyu’s mind, but his expression remained unchanged, "Senior Brother mustn’t blame yourself, it was an unforeseen incident, and besides, those who are clear, stay clear. I didn’t cheat, so I have no fear, luckily the court restored my innocence."

He Jisheng scrutinized Gu Chengyu closely again, seeing his sincere words without any hint of dissatisfaction, finally bringing a smile to his face.

Meanwhile, he also sighed at Gu Chengyu’s deep insight. At fourteen or fifteen, he once had a big argument with the teacher about something; if he had managed his temper and thoughts back then, perhaps he wouldn’t be so estranged from the teacher now.

Nevertheless, Gu Chengyu seems mature beyond his years, perhaps someday making his mark at court. With this in mind, it’s best not to entirely offend him. Leave room in dealing with others for future encounters.

"Knowing that my junior brother doesn’t blame me, I feel at ease. In the future, if anything comes up, just come to me. I’ve already given the gatekeeper a good scolding."

He Jisheng’s expression was serious, as if he still felt guilty about the whole thing.

"Senior Brother needn’t dwell on this matter; as your junior brother, don’t I know what kind of person you are? If there’s anything in the future, I hope Senior Brother won’t find me troublesome."

After some courteous exchanges with He Jisheng, Gu Chengyu eventually made his farewell.

"It’s still early, why don’t you have a meal inside the mansion before heading back?"

Gu Chengyu knew that He Jisheng was quite good at putting on appearances, so naturally, he wouldn’t stay. Besides, he still needed to go to Zhu Mansion; Zhu Pang might have been waiting impatiently for a while.

"I still need to visit Mr. Zhu’s residence today, so I’m afraid I’ll have to turn down Senior Brother’s kind offer."

"Mr. Zhu? Are you referring to Assistant Minister Zhu Kui of the Ministry of War?"

He Jisheng was somewhat surprised; he didn’t know about Gu Chengyu’s personal connections and wasn’t aware that he was familiar with Mr. Zhu.

"Yes, indeed, I am close friends with Mr. Zhu’s legitimate son, Zhu Pang, who invited me over to his home a few days ago."

Upon hearing this, He Jisheng remarked, "Then you shouldn’t delay; if you’re late, it might be considered disrespectful."

Gu Chengyu clearly felt that He Jisheng’s attitude towards him was warmer than before, and he understood why.

Zhu Kui is the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, and it’s rumored that the Minister of War is getting old and will retire in a few years, with a high possibility of Zhu Kui succeeding him.