Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 797: Side Story: The Prime Minister (Part 3)

"Are all newborns like little monkeys?"

Jiang Shaohua held the newborn baby boy in her arms, observing him with interest and casually joked.

Chen Sheren, who had been resting on the bed for two hours, looked exhausted yet joyful. With a loving gaze at his son, he said, "It’ll be fine in a month or two."

Then, with some regret, he added, "I was hoping this child would be a daughter. She could grow up as a companion for Princess Bao’er. But alas, it’s a stinky boy."

"What’s wrong with a stinky boy?" Jiang Shaohua raised an eyebrow with a smile, "I plan to appoint Bao’er as the Crown Prince when she turns eight. The Crown Prince’s companions can be chosen irrespective of gender, selecting several."

It must be said, Prime Minister Wang understands Her Majesty the Empress very well and always predicts correctly.

Chen Jinyu took it in stride, smiling cheerfully, "Then I thank His Majesty on behalf of my son for this grace."

What kind of future does a Crown Prince’s companion have? Just look at the current Secretary of the Secretariat Wang.

Li Boyuan was too unfortunate; he perished in the palace coup. The likes of Jiang Yi and Zheng Chen were overly ambitious and greedy, leading to their demise at the hands of imperial power.

These are special cases and cannot be seen as precedents. Being selected as a Crown Prince’s companion is a source of immense pride for any family.

The intelligence of the newborn baby cannot be judged yet, but he was appointed as a Crown Prince’s companion by the Emperor. This favor was bestowed upon the Chen Family and the Ma Family, and especially for Chen Jinyu.

Jiang Shaohua did not stay long, advising Chen Jinyu to take good care of her body during her recovery, and then she returned to the Imperial Palace.

Ma Yaosong, after seeing off the Emperor, immediately returned to the room, boasting joyfully while holding his son. "Son, it’s all thanks to your capable mother. You’ve earned a good future as soon as you were born."

Chen Jinyu was amused, "Oh, you and your slick talk."

Ma Yaosong usually works in the Ministry of Personnel and often faces exclusion by Minister Zhang, making his days challenging. However, he rarely mentioned these troubles in front of Chen Jinyu.

Now holding his chubby son, sitting next to his wife, Ma Yaosong was immensely satisfied and sighed with a smile, "Seven years ago, I was merely managing a horse farm, who could have imagined today’s circumstances."

Chen Jinyu teasingly revealed her husband’s modesty, "Young Master Ma is too humble. Not just the horse farm, but also managing the brokerage, raking in money daily!"

Ma Yaosong thickened his face and laughed, "Those are old stories. Such unscrupulous businesses, the Ma Family has already stopped doing. Now, we focus solely on the horse farm. Annually, we raise two to three thousand fine horses!"

The warhorses in the Nanyang Army and Personal Guard Camp are all thanks to the Ma Family.

County Magistrate Ma, being over seventy, continues to serve as a County Magistrate with no intention of retiring. At this pace, he might work until eighty.

Chen Jinyu, after a few jokes with her husband, showed signs of fatigue.

Feeling deeply concerned, Ma Yaosong had the wet nurse take their son away and stayed by his wife’s bedside, "Go ahead and sleep! I’ll watch over you."

After nightfall, Chancellor Chen returned from the palace, holding the red monkey-like great-grandson, feeling extremely delighted.

His great-granddaughter was always in Nanyang County, and although the Chancellor missed her, he couldn’t see her. Henceforth, the one who could bring him joy would be the great-grandson.

"Has a name been given yet?" asked Chancellor Chen with a smile at his grandson-in-law.

Ma Yaosong replied with a smile, "The nickname is Kang. For the proper name, we will need to trouble Grandfather."

Chancellor Chen chuckled, "This is the legitimate eldest grandson of the Ma Family, the name should naturally be given by your grandfather. How can I overstep."

Ma Yaosong thickened his face and laughed, "This matter was instructed by my grandfather. My grandfather doesn’t have much education, for brainwork like this, we still rely on Grandfather."

Chancellor Chen knew that his grandson-in-law meant to flatter him, so he stroked his beard and smiled, thinking for a moment before naming him, "How about calling him Shenyuan?"

One who is cautious and independent can endure long.

Ma Shenyuan.

Ma Yaosong was overjoyed, nodding continuously, "This is a good name. Thank you, Grandfather."

When Chen Jinyu awoke and heard her son’s name, she smiled and sighed softly, "Grandfather is reminding us not to become arrogant due to the Emperor’s profound favor. To conduct oneself cautiously is the way to have a long-term foothold."

Ma Yaosong laughed quietly, "I understand Grandfather’s intentions very well. Rest assured! I am not someone frivolous, and I will certainly not cause trouble for Grandfather."

Nowadays, the Chen Family has become the new elite in Capital City, even overshadowing the Wang Family.

The more at such times, the more they must be cautious and careful.

Governor Chen is in Yu State, and Chen Haoran in Nanyang Bo Wang County, both far from the political center of Capital City. Truly caught in the vortex of power are Chancellor Chen and Chen Sheren, the grandfather and grandson. Ma Yaosong’s position is neither high nor low, making him less conspicuous.

The couple conversed, and Chancellor Chen came in.

Chancellor Chen raised his granddaughter entirely on his own. After her marriage, his granddaughter continued to live with him, just without the stipulation on the name.

Chancellor Chen doted on his granddaughter the most. According to conventional custom, men should not enter the room after a woman gives birth. Chancellor Chen paid no heed to these rules.

Grandfather and granddaughter looked at each other, cherishing each other: "Grandfather has been busy with state affairs all day and must be very tired. I’m fine, Grandfather can glance at me then go and rest!"

"The state affairs are ones I’m accustomed to, I’m not tired at all. But you, having never experienced the pains of labor, must take good care of your health."

Ma Yaosong, being perceptive, quietly got up and stepped out.

Once his grandson-in-law left, Chancellor Chen spoke softly, "His Majesty has favored us greatly, granting that Kang, just born, will be a companion to the Crown Prince in the future."

"Our Chen Family now is akin to brocaded flowers on silk. Precisely because of this, we must be all the more prudent, never to be pompous and give others a handle against us."

Chen Jinyu earnestly agreed.

Chancellor Chen added, "There’s another matter I need to discuss with you ahead of time."

"Both of us, grandfather and granddaughter, serving before the Emperor is not quite appropriate. I am the Da Liang Chancellor, and you are the Imperial Attendant; this won’t do."

"One or two more years would be fine when Kang is still small, and since the three newly arrived attendants can’t handle heavy responsibilities, you guide them at work. After a couple of years, you should seek an external assignment and leave the Capital City to become a Prefectural Governor."

Chen Jinyu was taken aback, instinctively looking up at her grandfather.

Chancellor Chen, at a leisurely pace, continued, "Yaosong should be sent out with you, acting as your deputy. If you two wish to separate, he can also serve as a local official."

"Being sent out is not only about accumulating qualifications, but more importantly, to engage in tangible governance and public affairs, gaining diverse experiences."

"Jinyu, if you only want to stay by His Majesty’s side, then continue as the Imperial Attendant, handling mundane tasks like running errands, passing messages, and managing paperwork. But if your true ambition is to be a Da Liang official, you must work diligently, holding office and getting things done."

"You have two paths; choose one for yourself!"

As soon as the words fell, Chen Jinyu picked up the conversation, "Grandfather, I want to be assigned to an external post."

"No need for a good place, choose a remote and impoverished area for me."

"I want to make impressive political achievements before returning to Capital City to rotate through the Six Ministries."

Indeed, she was the granddaughter he nurtured, ambitious and full of aspirations.

Chancellor Chen nodded with a pleased smile, "Good."