After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 649 Rumors
The Tang family has been keeping a low profile in Chang'an City for a while since their children were transferred out one after another.

Now his family and the Zhou family have a harmonious and close relationship as before, and no one seems to remember the previous disturbance. However, the Tang family members who stayed in Chang'an still remembered the family's mission and still wanted to find an opportunity to go out and climb up.

After Tu Rong took office, the Tang family waited and watched for a while. After the affairs of the third branch of the Zhou family were dealt with and Tu Rong's work in Shaanxi Dusi was basically completed, his family sent people to test him. Although they lost the initiative, because his family introduced many military families of the Northwest Frontier Army to Tu Rong, and also introduced local aristocratic families to Tu Rong, Tu Rong was able to quickly open up the Northwest Frontier Army's network in a short period of time, so it can be regarded as a considerable contribution.

There are some things that the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion cannot do in person, otherwise it is easy for the confidants sent by the emperor to misunderstand that their family is really powerful in Shaanxi Province and can cover the sky with one hand. But the Tang family is hidden behind the Zhou family and has some minor conflicts with the Zhou family, so it is not taboo to do such things. The Duke of Zhenguo Mansion and the entire Zhou family not only did not stop the Tang family, but also provided convenience in secret, such as helping the Tang family to persuade some aristocratic families. After all, the Tang family is not as powerful as before, and there will always be some snobbish people who are unwilling to listen to their orders, but if the Zhou family is willing to come forward, they will not give face.

In this way, although the Tang family had few young and capable people left in Chang'an, they still showed their face in front of Tu Rong, and could also rely on his relationship to recommend their young nephews and nieces. Now there is a 20-something branch son who has become a personal soldier under Tu Rong, and Tang Meng has also joined Tu Rong's border patrol team next year through the relationship with his future brother-in-law Zhou Sujun. If he performs well at that time, it is possible to be directly appointed as an official in a border city or to serve under Tu Rong.

Tang Meng came to talk to Hai Jiao for this purpose, feeling a little nervous. He heard that he might be assigned to Tu Rong's eldest son Tu Jinbao, responsible for protecting his safety, and he knew that Hai Jiao was familiar with Tu Jinbao, so he came to ask him about his temper and whether he was easy to get along with.

Hai Jiao told him everything he knew, and asked him if he wanted to introduce him to Tu Jinbao in advance? If the two of them became friends early, there would be fewer conflicts when they traveled next year.

After hesitating for a while, Tang Meng refused. "From what you said, this guy has a bad temper and has been spoiled since childhood. He is clearly not my type. His riding and archery skills are still average. If I make friends with him now, I will definitely have to practice with him. Wouldn't that be asking for trouble? It's better to wait until he has mastered it."

When next year comes, no matter whether he can successfully fill the vacancy after patrolling the border, he will no longer be able to live a leisurely life like he does now, and he doesn't know how much hardship he will have to endure. While he is still at home, isn't it better to seize the time to enjoy a good life of luxury than to look at other people's faces?

Haijiao was speechless and stopped trying to persuade him. He just planned to mention some of his good friends in Chang'an when he saw Tu Jinbao next time, so that Tu Jinbao could have a good impression of Tang Meng in advance, and avoid any misunderstandings or conflicts due to lack of understanding when they traveled next year.

The two chatted for a while and then went their separate ways. Hai Jiao went home and learned that his second uncle Hai Chang'an had gone to the Tu family to give lessons again, and his second aunt was talking to his grandmother Ma in the upper room of the main courtyard with his little cousin Xiao Shitou. He then went back to his room to change his clothes and went to the west wing study to review his lessons.

After a while, Haitang came over with a book.

She heard that her brother had returned home, so she came to inquire about the news and brought him a message: "Zhou Sujun's family sent an invitation. He and Tang Hui want to have a big gift for their marriage, and they want to invite you to come over for a drink."

Haijiao was somewhat surprised: "It's so fast... It's already the day of the big gift? Are they holding the wedding after the beginning of spring?" Haitang replied: "I heard it will be after the Lantern Festival, not after the beginning of spring. General Tang will take leave during the Chinese New Year to come back to see his eldest daughter off. If the date is set in February, it will be inconvenient for General Tang to take leave. But if Tang Hui's father is absent and only her grandparents and stepmother are there, it will be too lonely."

Haijiao nodded: "That's true... Shanxi is not far away. As long as General Tang can get his superiors' approval, he can return to Chang'an to celebrate the New Year and marry his daughter. It won't delay anything. I heard that he is doing very well in Shanxi and gets along well with the commander-in-chief Zhao Zhuo. He still has some respect."

Haitang said, "Tang Hui's wedding date was set so early, on the one hand to accommodate General Tang's schedule, and on the other hand... I heard that after she got married, Madam Tang would take Tang Ruo away from Chang'an and follow General Tang to Shanxi to take up his post. If the wedding date was set later, not only would her biological father not be there to see her off, but even her stepmother and sister would be absent. Wouldn't that make it even more lonely?"

Haijiao thought it was nothing. General Tang was in his prime, and it was not right for him to be alone in office. If his wife and daughter were able, it would be better for them to reunite with him. Shanxi was not like the border towns in Gansu, Su, Liang, etc., and Taiyuan was not necessarily less prosperous than Chang'an. Mrs. Tang's reputation was affected by the fact that the nanny she hired was a spy for the Sun family at the beginning of the year. She had not been in public for most of the past six months. It was rumored that she went to the surrounding areas to worship Buddha, but in fact everyone knew that she went there to avoid shame. If she went to Shanxi, people there would not know what happened to her in Chang'an, and she would be able to live more comfortably.

Haijiao thinks this is normal, but Haitang has different ideas.

She leaned closer to her brother and lowered her voice, "I just heard from Zhou Xuejun... The prince of Yingchuan has confirmed his itinerary to leave Beijing for training. This time he chose Shanxi. It just so happens that the commander-in-chief there, Zhao Zhuo, is an old subordinate of the old marquis of Yingchuan Mansion. It is safer than other places. The prince of Yingchuan will probably leave after the beginning of next spring. It just so happens that Tang Ruo will go to Shanxi with his parents before the beginning of next spring... God knows if the Tang family has other plans?"

The Tang family had always intended to marry Tang Ruo to a famous family in Beijing, but they could not find a way, so they wanted Tang Hui to marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion or the Marquis of Cheng'en's Mansion to pave the way for her sister. However, after the incident at the beginning of the year, the Tang sisters' path to success was cut off, and the Tang family had to give up and could only find a good husband for Tang Ruo in Chang'an. But now Shanxi is about to welcome a real noble son of the capital, not just an ancestral title, but the kind of father who really has the power of the emperor. How could the Tang family not give it a try? General Tang is serving in Shanxi, and it is legitimate for him to bring his daughter with him. As for how he will introduce his daughter to the Yingchuan Marquis after he arrives in Shanxi, it depends on his arrangements at that time.

Shanxi is different from Shaanxi. The civil officials and military officers here are more closely connected with the capital, and there are countless families who want to curry favor with the Yingchuan Marquisate. Whether Tang Ruo can stand out among the many competitors depends on her own ability, but the Tang family will definitely not miss this great opportunity.

Hai Jiao was speechless: "The Tang family still wants to marry into the family? How outstanding is their second daughter? I think Tang Yijun and the others don't think much of it. Where does the Tang family get the confidence in their daughter?"

Haitang thought back to the Tang Ruo she had met before: "She is both talented and beautiful. Compared with the ladies in Chang'an, she is indeed quite outstanding, but compared with those in the capital... I can only say that her personality is not very outstanding. It all depends on the preferences of the Marquis of Yingchuan."

If the Tang family really wants to marry into the Yingchuan Marquisate, they cannot rely on family background, but can only rely on the girl's own merits.

(End of this chapter)