GBP Chapter 142 Meeting Yuan Tianxi
Chapter 142 Meeting Yuan Tianxi
"My lord, I have completed my investigation of Yuan Tianxi."
As Wen Zongji was massaging his lower back, Yao Maofang walked in.
Wen Zongji leaned back, using the support of the chair back to make himself more comfortable: "Tell me about it."
Yao Maofang, oblivious to Wen Zongji's unusual behavior, said, "After Yuan Tianxi was dismissed from his post by the emperor, he remained a heavy drinker. However, without his government salary, no one was willing to lend him money. To make a living, he signed contracts with several bookstores, which sold his poetry collections. Yuan Tianxi was indeed a prodigy; his indulgence in alcohol did not diminish his talent. Over the years, his poetry collections have continued to circulate widely among the people."
"Besides that, perhaps because of his bad reputation, Yuan Tianxi has never married, and he only has an old servant to take care of him. Apart from drinking, Yuan Tianxi seems to have no other interests, perhaps because he spends most of his day drunk and has no time to do anything else."
"The bookstores that he collaborates with all have a very good impression of him. This is because Yuan Tianxi never misses a deadline; he can deliver his manuscripts to the bookstores on time without being urged."
"Recently, Ruijintang on Changxing Street held a storytelling competition, which caused a great sensation and attracted a lot of attention to storytelling. The sales of storytelling books increased several times. In contrast, Yuan Tianxi's poetry collection did not sell well."
"According to my investigation, Yuan Tianxi is probably short of money right now. If we ask him to evaluate the articles, as long as we offer him a suitable fee, there is a high probability that Yuan Tianxi will agree."
Wen Zongji's expression was strange; he hadn't expected that Ruijintang was involved.
The people in the Imperial Gazette Bureau were all of ordinary backgrounds. They only knew that Wen Zongji was the son of a concubine in the Marquis of Zhongyong's household and that he had married the Princess of Anhe County. As for what kind of property he owned, they had no idea.
Moreover, the fact that Ruijintang's backer is the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion is not something that everyone knows.
Such things are something that one will naturally know once one reaches a certain social class; if one's status is not high enough, one will have no way of knowing.
Wen Zongji said, "You mean if we go to find Yuan Tianxi now, we might succeed?"
Yao Maofang nodded: "This is my judgment."
Wen Zongji asked, "What is Yuan Tianxi's character like?"
Yao Maofang said, "Yuan Tianxi is a completely different person before and after drinking. When he is sober, he is a talented and upright gentleman, but once he gets drunk, he becomes irritable. Anyone who gets close to him at this time will be accidentally hurt, but if you don't get close, he won't do anything on his own initiative, so he is generally safe."
Wen Zongji frowned: "It can be like this?"
Could he have a split personality?
This thought came to Wen Zongji's mind subconsciously.
"Perhaps this is also why Yuan Tianxi doesn't get married. No one can tolerate their spouse suddenly losing their temper and hitting them."
This was merely Yao Maofang's speculation.
Wen Zongji wasn't curious about why Yuan Tianxi wasn't getting married; he just wanted to know if Yuan Tianxi was suitable for cooperating with the Beijing Gazette Bureau.
Yao Maofang did find out a lot, but it was still not enough to make Wen Zongji make a decision.
Wen Zongji wanted to see Yuan Tianxi.
"Give me Yuan Tianxi's current address, I'll go see him after I finish my shift."
Yao Maofang was taken aback: "Why don't you go now, sir? Yuan Tianxi drinks every night. If you go after you finish your shift, you might run into a drunk Yuan Tianxi."
In Yao Maofang's eyes, the drunk Yuan Tianxi was no longer Yuan Tianxi. He would forget what he said once he sobered up, and it would be a waste of time to discuss anything with Yuan Tianxi like this.
Wen Zongji replied, "I have my own plans."
Actually, it was because he had promised Pei Rujing that he would take her along. Even if they couldn't reach an agreement, it would be nice to let Pei Rujing meet her ex-husband.
Wen Zongji was a man of his word and naturally did not want to break his promise to Pei Rujing.
Yao Maofang didn't say anything more, and bowed as he withdrew.
……
After finishing his shift, Wen Zongji had just left the Office of the Court of Transmission when he saw the Marquis's carriage parked outside. Besides Chang Dong and the other two, Qing He and others were also waiting outside.
Without asking, Wen Zongji knew who had come.
To save time, Wen Zongji had someone inform Pei Rujing in advance that he would visit Yuan Tianxi after his shift. He also asked Changdong to tell her that if the county princess also wanted to see Yuan Tianxi, they should meet at the entrance of the Tongzhengshi Si Yamen (Office of the Commissioner of State Affairs).
Upon seeing Qinghe and the others, Wen Zongji knew that Pei Rujing must be sitting in the carriage.
This conjecture was confirmed after Wen Zongji boarded the carriage.
"Have you been waiting long, my lady?"
Pei Rujing poured him tea and handed it to him personally, saying, "No, I've only been here a little while."
"I've got Mr. Yuan's address. I should be able to see him if I go there now. How long has it been since you and Mr. Yuan last saw each other?"
Pei Rujing pondered, "Back then, Mr. Yuan was invited by my mother to give me my first education. After he finished, he left, and we haven't seen him since. It's been more than ten years."
Wen Zongji was taken aback: "He was just your first teacher, yet you remember him so well, Madam?"
"Because he was the most learned and interesting among all the teachers. He enlightened me and would supplement the knowledge I was learning with many interesting stories, unlike the others who just knew how to recite from the book and were rigid and conservative."
Pei Rujing, being such a spoiled and willful person, couldn't stand following the rules, otherwise she wouldn't have accomplished the great feat of driving her husband away.
Wen Zongji said, "My wife said that Mr. Yuan must be a learned, witty and humorous person."
"really."
Pei Rujing agreed with this.
As the two talked, the carriage slowly moved forward, and after an unknown amount of time, it stopped.
"Princess, your son-in-law has arrived."
Wen Zongji put down his teacup and got off the carriage with Pei Rujing.
Looking at the small courtyard in front of him, Wen Zongji glanced at Chang Dong.
Changdong understood and went over to knock on the door.
A moment later, the door opened, revealing a weathered, aged face. This person must be the old servant who took care of Yuan Tianxi.
I heard that he followed Yuan Tianxi from his hometown to the capital. No wonder he was the only one left by Yuan Tianxi's side. Their relationship is extraordinary.
The old servant, seeing so many people, asked in surprise, "Who are you?"
Wen Zongji said gently, "Tell Mr. Yuan that his student has come to visit him."
Wen Zongji did not reveal his identity. Before he was certain that Yuan Tianxi could cooperate with the Beijing Gazette Bureau, he had no need to reveal his identity.
"student?"
The old servant looked at Wen Zongji, not remembering that his master had such a student.
He didn't even consider Pei Rujing as a possibility.
"Please wait a moment, sir. This old servant will go and inform the master immediately."
Wen Zongji nodded.
Pei Rujing waited for news with him: "Sir probably won't recognize me."
Wen Zongji chuckled: "Ten years have passed. Unless my wife looks exactly the same as she did when she was a child, how could Mr. Yuan possibly recognize her?"
This speculation was quickly refuted by Yuan Tianxi.
Yuan Tianxi was puzzled when he learned that one of his students had come to see him, because he had been living a very absurd life over the years. He had only taken on some students when he was short of money, but there was no affection between them; it was just a matter of mutual benefit.
With doubts in his heart, Yuan Tianxi and the old servant came out together. When he saw Pei Rujing, he suddenly realized: "So it is the County Princess who has graced us with her presence. I am truly sorry for not being here sooner."