"Senior brother won! Senior brother is the best! Let's go celebrate the New Year at senior brother's house!"
Hearing Wei Kai admit defeat, little Cai Wenji cheered excitedly.
Meanwhile, Wei Zhen's face turned pale with anger, glaring at his older brother with resentment.
Wei Kai gave Wei Zhen a helpless smile.
Given the situation, he also felt powerless.
Although Yuan Shu had won fair and square, Wei Kai was not convinced.
In his eyes, Yuan Shu's poem was merely a casual improvisation without any real artistic value.
He was just lucky to see the two little dogs playing by the well and got inspired.
One could say that even fate was on Yuan Shu's side this time.
Regardless, a loss was a loss.
He and Wei Zhen could only watch helplessly as Yuan Shu took Cai Wenji away.
...
Yuan Residence, Yuan Shu's courtyard.
Cai Wenji and little Diao Chan were building a snowman in the courtyard.
Since he had already brought Cai Wenji back, Yuan Shu also had Madam Wang invite his cousin home for the New Year.
Madam Wang was delighted to see the two beautiful little girls.
"Diao Chan, do you want some spicy strips?" Cai Wenji took a bite of the snack, exhaling due to the spiciness, causing a puff of white mist in the cold air.
"Yan'er, you should eat inside. It's too cold outside, you might catch a cold," little Diao Chan advised with concern.
Although the two girls were about the same age, Diao Chan clearly had more of an older sister's demeanor.
Cai Wenji shook her head and said:
"No, no, senior brother is inside talking with Uncle Yuan.
He promised to come out and play with me after he's done.
If I go inside now, I won't know when he'll come out!"
At that moment, Yuan Shu's room was warm and cozy, with a steaming teapot on the table. Yuan Feng and Yuan Shu sat by the table, chatting.
Yuan Feng set down his teacup and said to Yuan Shu:
"Gonglu, after the New Year, spring plowing season will begin, and your time to take office is approaching.
Do you have any thoughts on where you'd like to be posted? If you do, I can try to arrange it for you."
Yuan Shu replied seriously:
"Father, I wish to be appointed as the Governor of Nanyang."
"The Governor of Nanyang?" Yuan Feng was taken aback, his tone changing slightly.
He had just started to think that Yuan Shu was becoming more serious, and now he was talking nonsense again.
A governorship over an entire city—was that something a newly appointed official could even dream of?
If Yuan Shu could start his career as a governor, wouldn't all those officials who had spent years climbing the ranks have lived their lives in vain?
Seeing his father's doubt, Yuan Shu explained:
"Father, I believe that serving as a governor would allow me to develop my abilities in all aspects.
Nanyang is close to our Yuan family's ancestral home in Runan, where I could receive significant support.
Moreover, it's not too far from Luoyang, so returning home would be convenient."
Yuan Feng shook his head and said:
"It's not that being the Governor of Nanyang is bad, but you've only just entered officialdom. Seeking such a high position is simply unrealistic.
Take your friend Cao Mengde as an example. Over the past two years, he has served as the Northern Officer of Luoyang and performed outstandingly.
Only with his father Cao Song's efforts was he given a chance to be appointed as the Magistrate of Dunqiu. He will take office in the spring.
Even your two older brothers would find it nearly impossible to be appointed as city governors right now, let alone you."
Yuan Shu thought to himself, "So that bastard Cao Mengde is going to a local post too? Looks like we're thinking along the same lines."
After some thought, he asked Yuan Feng:
"Father, if the Emperor himself proposed that I become the Governor of Nanyang, would there be a chance?"
Yuan Feng replied in surprise:
"If His Majesty favors you and appoints you, then the entire court would naturally follow his decree.
But how could such a thing ever happen?"
Yuan Shu chuckled and said:
"I wouldn't dare deceive my father. I have been doing business outside and befriended Zhang Rang, one of the Ten Eunuchs. Perhaps he could help me think of a solution."
Zhang Rang?
Yuan Feng's face suddenly turned a little unpleasant, and he said to Yuan Shu with dissatisfaction:
"Why would you associate with such a eunuch? Don't you know he is a traitor to the country, hated by everyone in the world who wants to remove him?"
Yuan Shu smiled and said:
"You are right, father. But in that case, could you help me get rid of Zhang Rang?"
Yuan Shu's words left Yuan Feng speechless.
He thought to himself, if I could get rid of Zhang Rang, wouldn't I have done it long ago? Why would I need you to keep confronting me?
Seeing Yuan Feng silent, Yuan Shu continued:
"Father, it's hard to remove traitors, so we should take it slowly.
Zhang Rang is indeed a traitor, but right now, he still holds some value for us, so we might as well make use of him.
As the saying goes, a righteous man uses a wicked method, and the wicked method becomes righteous.
If I become the governor of Nanyang and work hard to govern, loving the people as my own children,
then the emperor will still praise me, and the people will still support me."
Huh? Yuan Feng suddenly felt that Yuan Shu's words made a lot of sense.
He didn't expect his youngest son to have such political insight.
With this kind of insight, he might even have the chance to inherit my position, and Yuan family could achieve five generations of three public positions.
He nodded with some satisfaction and said:
"Public Road, what you said is not without reason. Then you can try it.
Go and use your connections with Zhang Rang, and I will fully support you.
If you can't become governor, it's fine. I'll find another position for you."
Seeing that his request had received Yuan Feng's support, Yuan Shu was overjoyed and said:
"Thank you, father. I will definitely not disappoint you!"
...
Today is New Year's Eve, and the people of the Han Dynasty have a tradition of staying up late on New Year's Eve.
The Yuan family is particularly lively today, with a grand feast set in the main hall, and all the family members are back.
Yuan Feng and Lady Wang are sitting at the head of the main table, dressed in festive red brocade robes, looking full of New Year's atmosphere.
At the table are also the eldest brother Yuan Ji and his wife, with Yuan Shao and his wife sitting across from them.
At this time, only the main wives sit at the head table, while the concubines sit at tables further back.
Although Yuan Shu doesn't have a wife yet, he has brought two delicate young girls, sitting on either side of him.
Lady Wang watches the two little girls and becomes increasingly happy.
These two children are obviously beautiful and come from good families.
In a few years, whichever one marries her son, she will be very satisfied.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the main hall is harmonious, and even Yuan Shao, who has always been at odds with him, shows a softer expression.
Whether it's genuine or not, Yuan Shu smiles and drinks a toast with him, temporarily reconciling with his older brother.
In the courtyard outside the main hall, there are dancers performing, and while everyone enjoys the food, they can also appreciate the dancers' performance.
"Brother, celebrating New Year's at your house is so much fun! Can I come to your house to celebrate next year too?
And also bring Diao Chan sister along."
Cai Wenji, after taking a bite of chicken leg, happily said to Yuan Shu and Diao Chan beside her.