The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1202 - 1181: The Idea

Chapter 1202: Chapter 1181: The Idea

County Magistrate Fu’s complexion was terrible. He got up to leave, but Fu Wenyun soothed her mother and immediately called out: "Father, wait a moment."

County Magistrate Fu turned around, "What is it?"

Fu Wenyun said, "Your daughter has something to discuss with you."

She turned to Mrs. Fu and said, "Mother has been tired from the journey, why don’t you rest first? Your daughter will talk with father."

Mrs. Fu, seeing her calm demeanor, then said: "Second Lady, you can’t be soft-hearted at this time, otherwise when you are living in the capital for a long period, if your mother and I, along with your younger brother are too far away, and if their family bullies you, we wouldn’t even know."

She said, "It’s only after making them fear you this time, knowing our family cherishes you, that they wouldn’t dare to slight you in the future."

She lowered her voice and said, "Men are all like this, you have to listen to your mother, your father wasn’t a good man back in the day either."

County Magistrate Fu, overheard and couldn’t help but cough, what was she saying? Even in his younger and more irresponsible days, he would never do something like abandoning his wife in labor to go study, let alone prioritize the trivial over the important.

Fu Wenyun replied in a low voice, "I understand, mother, rest assured."

Mrs. Fu hesitated a little, wiped her tears, and left. However, she did not go to rest, instead, she went to see her grandson.

County Magistrate Fu felt it was inappropriate for him to approach, so he sat down by the table. Once Qiuyue had replaced the tea with a fresh pot, Fu Wenyun asked in a low voice: "Father, do you know about the big news from the capital recently?"

"What big news?"

Fu Wenyun said, "I’ve been confined with the upcoming birth, only aware of domestic affairs. Just yesterday I learned that a major incident occurred during the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebrations."

She looked up at County Magistrate Fu and said, "The Prince of Yizhou has rebelled."

County Magistrate Fu’s eyes widened, he was speechless for a while. After snapping back to reality, he blinked and asked, "But what does this have to do with me? I am now in Jianzhou, not Mianzhou."

Luojiang County is not far from Yizhou, so if the Prince of Yizhou were to rebel, it would indeed be a matter of life and death for their family. But now he was in Jianzhou, which is far from Yizhou.

Even if the Prince of Yizhou has rebelled, he would head north, it wouldn’t make sense to strike eastward, so how could it be related to Jianzhou?

Fu Wenyun said, "It may not concern you, father, but if it relates to father-in-law, doesn’t it concern you then?"

"My in-law just arrived in the capital recently as a censor, how could he be involved in this?"

Fu Wenyun said, "Father, as far as I know, due to the Empress Dowager’s wishes, although the Prince of Yizhou has been detained in the palace, he has yet to be tried, causing great anxiety amongst the court officials."

County Magistrate Fu was still somewhat puzzled, "So..."

"And censors have the duty to advise and admonish. Father, what do you think if father-in-law submits a petition to admonish the Empress Dowager?"

County Magistrate Fu couldn’t help but burst into laughter, "Second Lady, you cannot make jokes about your father-in-law like that. Even at the grand court assembly, he would only be in a subordinate position, how could he possibly submit a petition to admonish the Empress Dowager?"

Fu Wenyun remained silent.

Seeing his daughter’s composed expression, County Magistrate Fu paused, his face slightly stiffened, "Are you serious?"

Fu Wenyun said: "Censors crave recognition, this is an opportunity to make a name for oneself."

"Others in the court must also know, there surely aren’t a few censors who have submitted petitions to admonish the Empress Dowager, how could your in-law stand out?"

"As long as one is fully committed," Fu Wenyun said, "I once heard a story about a loyal minister who castrated himself to persuade the emperor."

County Magistrate Fu slapped the table, his face turned bright red, and he stood up and bellowed: "Nonsense!"

His eyes fixed on his daughter, he pressed his lips tightly together and said, "You, how could you..." So merciless!

But this was his own daughter after all. He felt both heartache and anger but could not bring himself to say it.

Fu Wenyun then said, "Father, it’s not like we’re really asking you to castrate yourself. It’s a matter that can be feigned."

"Do you think all the court officials and His Majesty are fools? Could they not tell if something like this is a mere act?"

"If they see through it, let them see through it. It was never about deceiving them anyway," Fu Wenyun replied. "His Majesty just needs an excuse, and father can provide that excuse."

"Taking a risk in exchange for a ladder to the clouds is a matter of personal deliberation," Fu Wenyun stated. "Father, you have been an official for many years and have your own considerations. We are not forcing you."

County Magistrate Fu looked at her with mixed feelings of doubt and amazement, "Then why did you mention to me..."

Fu Wenyun smiled and said, "Daughter just thought that this is a rare opportunity. If you can establish a firm foothold in the capital and advance further, Father will also have support in the local position. I have seen the effort you have put in over the years, the hardship of rising from a humble background is not something that can be overcome by hard work alone, it also depends on talent and opportunity. Both the Fu Family and Yue Family come from humble origins. Lacking in talent, we must seize the opportunity."

County Magistrate Fu was extremely shocked. He always knew his second daughter was intelligent and liked to read, and he was indeed reluctant to part with her, which is why he allowed her to study alongside his son. But he never expected her to be this astute.

He could never have thought of such a scheme himself.

After a long silence, County Magistrate Fu finally asked, "Then... your difficult childbirth..."

Fu Wenyun laughed, "At that time father-in-law was not present, it was a mistake on Mrs. Fu’s part, and it would not be proper for you to quarrel with Mrs. Fu. Mother can handle it, and as for my husband, there’s also my brother."

Fu Wenyun sighed and said, "Daughter cannot divorce, and I still have to live this life in the future, so it is not good to make Mrs. Fu too embarrassed. If we treat her moderately well, then we certainly should not implicate father-in-law. As for my husband, let my brother beat him up again to vent my frustration."

She looked at County Magistrate Fu and said, "Through this ordeal, daughter has realized that with a father in a high position, even if he is not by daughter’s side, he can still protect her. Otherwise, even living close by, a powerless mother-in-law’s family would still be helpless. Hence, it is father’s future that matters most."

Unable to restrain himself, County Magistrate Fu stepped forward, took Fu Wenyun’s hand in his own, heart aching unbearably. Why couldn’t she be a son?

After grieiving momentarily, County Magistrate Fu asked, "Then, how do you think we should bring up this matter?"

"Father-in-law will surely bring my husband tomorrow to apologize. Father, you just need to accept it. Let Wen Hua handle the extraneous matters, and you discuss the court affairs with father-in-law. A slight persuasion will suffice; as for the rest, father-in-law will make his own decisions."

County Magistrate Fu hesitated, "Can this really succeed? Don’t we need to persuade him more?"

Fu Wenyun shook her head, smiling faintly, "Father-in-law will understand."

Her father-in-law was much more ambitious than her father. Her father’s greatest wish throughout his life was to become a fourth-rank prefect before he died, so he had always been shuffling between local positions.

But not her father-in-law. She wasn’t sure how long after she entered the family that her father-in-law managed to be transferred from a local position to become an imperial censor in the capital.

She knew all too well how difficult it was for a government official to be transferred to the capital, having been by her father’s side for many years. Even more so since it was a transfer, which meant a promotion.

With such lofty aspirations, he would not let go of even a slight opportunity, for opportunity is always linked with danger.

She understood this concept, and it was certain her father-in-law did as well.

This was a brilliant idea she came up with after two days of putting herself in his position.