The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 614

Chapter 614: 294 Joyous Adversaries (Second update)

An old minister at the level of Yuan, the Prime Minister, no longer needed to engage in meaningless social interactions; he could avoid even the meaningful ones.

After finishing his duties, Yuan, the Prime Minister, read for a while and then went directly back to the Yuan Residence.

Madam Yuan was originally from a scholarly family in Jiangnan, and as such, she oversaw the construction of their residence, which she made to resemble a miniature Jiangnan garden.

Yuan, the Prime Minister, did not take any concubines throughout his life, and none of his sons did either, with the exception of one who remarried after his wife died in difficult childbirth.

In the garden, a young Taoist nun in a blue robe was casually reading a book.

Not a scriptural text, but a chat book she got from a bookstore.

Next to her, a young maiden in a purple dress was using a butterfly net woven from spider silk and bamboo strips.

On seeing Yuan, the Prime Minister, approaching, the maiden’s eyes sparkled. She handed the net to her attendant, then raised her dress and without caring for her appearance, she ran over to him with enthusiasm, "Grandpa, Grandpa! You’re back!"

Seeing his granddaughter running uneasily, Yuan, the Prime Minister, felt a headache approaching, "Stop running, be careful not to fall."

"I won’t fall!" She halted in front of him, performed a proper curtsy, then affectionately laced her arm through his, "Grandpa, Grandpa, why did you come back so late today?"

The Prime Minister responded: "I was reading for a while."

"Oh." Evidently disinterested in books, the maiden in the purple dress made no further inquiries.

The Prime Minister’s gaze fell on the young Taoist nun in the blue robe sitting on the stone stool.

The Taoist nun seemed to feel his gaze. Slowly, she put down her book and performed a formal Taoist salute. "Master Yuan."

Yuan, the Prime Minister: "..."

The Prime Minister took a slow sigh: "Have you not renounced the world yet?"

The Taoist nun: "I haven’t."

Yuan, the Prime Minister, glanced at the chat book in her hand: "Can you read such frivolous books if you do not renounce the world?"

"..." After a moment of silence, the Taoist nun replied without changing her expression, "In the eyes of Master Yuan, it may be frivolous, but in the eyes of this humble one, it is a world in and of itself."

Yuan, the Prime Minister, again: "..."

"Enough, stop talking all this nonsense!" The maiden in purple felt her head ache. One person was her elder sister, the other her grandfather. She understood when either of them spoke separately, but when they started their exchange, she was entirely lost!

Yuan, the Prime Minister: "If you’re so clever, then don’t eat meat tonight."

The Taoist nun performed a Taoist salute, her face pious, "Yes, Master Yuan. The saying is, ’Wine and meat go through the stomach, but the Buddha stays in the heart.’"

Prime Minister Yuan once again: "..."

Eventually, Prime Minister Yuan conceded defeat and left with a disgruntled expression.

Who would have thought that a man like him, who a powerful official like Grand Tutor Zhuang could not subdue, would be bested by a little girl, his granddaughter?

In the end, it came down to indulgence.

This granddaughter of his was born with poor luck and almost died. Madam Yuan sought a Taoist to read her fortune and was told that the child needed the protection of the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord and needed to stay at a Taoist temple to grow up safely.

The Prime Minister originally didn’t believe this, but once Madam Yuan sent their child to the Taoist temple and the child’s health genuinely improved, he was swayed. However, a few days after being brought back home, she fell ill again.

After repeating this process several times, the child eventually lived in the temple permanently.

It was only a while ago, on her sixteenth birthday, that she was finally brought back home.

"Father." Yuan, the Prime Minister’s eldest son greeted him outside the courtyard and paid his respects, "You came back late today, was there something happening in the cabinet?"

"Not official business." Yuan, the Prime Minister, waved his hand and walked into the courtyard.

He took a seat on the official’s chair in the hall and a maid served him tea.

After sipping the tea, he slowly said to his eldest son, "Baolin is not getting any younger, it’s time to consider her marriage."

Yuan Pei smiled, "Yes, it’s time to discuss her marriage. Father... Do you have a suitable candidate in mind?"

Yuan, the Prime Minister, paused for a moment, "I didn’t before."

So that meant he did now?

Yuan Pei looked expectantly at his father.

The Prime Minister spoke, "The boy from the Zhuang Family is quite decent."

"The Zhuang family? The one under the Grand Tutor Zhuang? The eligible sons of his family..." Yuan Pei quickly ran through his mind and was startled, "The recently ranked second scholar, Prince of An County?"

Yuan, the Prime Minister, nodded his head.

Yuan Pei pondered, "The boy is indeed good..."

He was known for his virtue, intelligence, and diligence. He went to Chen Country as a hostage when he was eight. The fact that he didn’t cry or make a fuss shows his character, and the fact that he returned alive shows his abilities.

This kind of man is rare in the world, but he is indeed a match for their Baolin.

Yuan Pei confusedly said, "Father, did you not resist intermarriage with these large aristocratic families?"

Yuan, the Prime Minister, held the principle to not get involved in court disputes. He was only loyal to Zhan Country.

The Prime Minister did not give a complex explanation but simply said after some deep thought, "The boy is more outstanding than I had imagined."