CHAPTER 208: CHAPTER 208 THOUGHTFUL EXECUTION

Her aunt, after many years, is unexpectedly pregnant again.

It seems the excitement at the Prime Minister’s Mansion is just about to begin.

The Prime Minister’s Mansion is bustling, and so is the Dong Family.

However, this excitement is not the same as that one.

The hustle and bustle at the Prime Minister’s Mansion is but an illusion of peace before a collapse.

While the Dong Family’s excitement is due to a piece of good news.

Originally, Dong Keli, who couldn’t even participate in the imperial exams, surprisingly obtained a place to enter the Imperial College next spring through Eldest Master Dong’s extensive connections.

It’s uncertain if there was any behind-the-scenes push from Prime Minister Lin.

After all, nowadays, outside people are much more attentive to the Dong Family than they used to be.

Given that Prime Minister Lin could even handle the Dong Family’s detachment from the clan, inserting someone into the Imperial College is merely a cinch.

No one in the Dong Family is happier than Madam Dong.

These days, she has always been full of smiles, even finding roadside stray dogs pleasing to the eye.

In Dong Keli’s courtyard, Madam Dong added a lot of high-quality writing materials for him in one breath.

In the past, the Dong Family had wealth but no power, so many items were against the rules.

Therefore, they couldn’t be used.

Now, everything has been brought in wholesale.

Afraid that her son would be laughed at for not having good things to use at the Imperial College.

Seeing his mother bustling around, Dong Keli felt a mix of amusement and helplessness.

"Mother, you sent so much to my courtyard, have you prepared things for Cousin Muzhi? He’s also going to the Imperial College next year, isn’t he?"

Eldest Madam Dong cast a slightly "reproachful" glance at her own son.

"What do you think? Would your mother be that stingy? Rest assured, I’ve prepared the same things in twofold, and they’ve already been sent to Muzhi’s courtyard. If you run out quickly, just send someone to tell me, and I’ll prepare more for you."

"Thank you, Mother, for your thoughtful nurturing. I will surely live up to expectations and will one day earn you the title of an imperial decree lady! It will be a source of pride for the Dong Family."

"Good, good, good, your mother is waiting! Waiting!"

Seeing her son so full of spirit, who wouldn’t feel comforted?

After years as a daughter-in-law, she finally became a mother-in-law, and the future days are bound to be smooth and reassuring.

And so she smiled and continued packing some belongings for him.

This matter of enrollment was originally meant to wait until spring, and now with more than half a year to go, Madam Dong has already started organizing.

She doesn’t find it troublesome at all.

In her heart and mind, she feels that such a good thing should have been anticipated long ago.

Now, even if it meant preparing her son’s belongings for an entire year, she’d be willing.

A mother has to be extra caring.

Madam Dong is like this, and so is Mrs. Dong.

With three children, only Lin Muzhi is currently by her side, so naturally, he needs to be well taken care of.

Especially since he’s injured.

Ever since waking up, Lin Muzhi has been recovering remarkably fast.

First, because the Dong Family’s vast supply of medicines keeps coming without pause, and using the best, naturally aids in his recovery.

Secondly, he is young and vigorous, so his natural recovery ability is faster than most.

As a result, from the moment he could stand up, he had almost fully recovered.

It’s just that prolonged sitting or reading still gives him severe headaches.

Therefore, Mrs. Dong not only has to care for his health in Lin Muzhi’s courtyard but also has to prevent him from reading too much.

Seeing so many good things sent by her sister-in-law, Mrs. Wang, she felt naturally grateful in her heart.

Recalling at the Prime Minister’s Mansion, the second family dared to quarrel with them over just a Hu Bi, leading to today’s situation.

It truly makes one feel that comparing with others can drive you mad.

If she had in-laws like Mrs. Wang, she would have been equally heartfelt towards them.

Yet the second madam, Mrs. Wang, at the Prime Minister’s Mansion is cunning and harsh.

Clearly born into the Minister of War’s household, yet her demeanor is extremely unpleasant.

A fleeting memory of Aunt Guo, whom she had met a few times, suddenly crossed her mind. She deeply felt that Aunt Guo’s days probably weren’t much better.

But at present, the affairs of the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s second family have nothing to do with them anymore.

In the future, except for returning for Prime Minister Lin’s funeral, there may be no other chance or desire to return to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

Her mind is entirely preoccupied with anticipation of moving to the new house.

"Your mother has seen that house, and the courtyards for you and your brother are well built. They will be enough for when you start your own families in the future. Your uncle is a meticulous person; your brother’s courtyard faces the street more, while yours is deeper inside, quiet enough for you to study properly."

Lin Xingzhi has joined the Imperial Armor Army, and his time at home will likely be limited.

Facing the street is convenient, and there’s no worry about noise either.

On the contrary, Lin Muzhi’s courtyard is a bit more secluded inside, so that when he needs to study for exams in the future, he can focus and have fewer distractions.

Needless to say, the couple of Eldest Master Dong are extremely resourceful people.

They handle affairs much more thoroughly.

"Uncle’s efforts won’t be forgotten, and if one day I enter service with Cousin, we will certainly support each other."

"Yes, remember that well, my son."

It is not excessive that Mrs. Dong favors her own family.

For so many years, only her family truly regarded their household with care.

Therefore, knowing Lin Guangzhi is also at the Imperial College, she and her son chose to deliberately overlook him.

After all, he has a Commandery Princess as a grandmother, he probably even looks down on aligning with them.

Nonetheless, Mrs. Dong still had a few words of caution.

"When you go to the Imperial College, be cautious around Lin Guangzhi. Who knows what trickery he might be up to? His intentions are impure and he’s even worse than his father and grandmother. Don’t get caught in his schemes, understood?"

"Don’t worry, Mother. This cousin never considered me seriously before, and this time, he probably won’t think much either. My mind is solely on studying, I don’t have time to engage with him in petty fights."

Only a fool would waste effort engaging in tit-for-tat with someone who’s not worth the trouble.

To Lin Muzhi, the opportunity to enter the Imperial College was something previously unattainable.

It’s only natural to seize the chance and acquire as much knowledge as possible.

However, his thoughts are perhaps a bit simplistic.

You must know that sometimes, instead of people seeking trouble, trouble comes to find them.

Before Lin Guangzhi’s troubles emerged, Lin Wanyi unexpectedly encountered fierce criticism from the Lan Family.

For several days, she was overwhelmed and flustered.

Since the death of Princess Consort Lan, the Lan Family hasn’t ceased their disturbances.

One moment they want to investigate who harmed Princess Consort Lan, the next they want to storm the traveling palace to see the Second Princess.

Clearly, Princess Consort Yi could have directly prohibited these matters.

Yet she remained indifferent as if she were uninvolved, watching as Lin Wanyi and the Lan Family pulled at each other.

In the end, it’s still all about planning for the Second Princess’s future prospects.