Chapter 237: Striving
The mood in Third Sister's household had been somewhat low lately.
If Zhao Ling were home, they might have found a way...
But Fu Tingyun was at a loss. Thinking that the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, she couldn't let Third Sister's family spend it in such a dreary manner. She prepared realgar wine, assorted pastries, fruits, and other festive items, then took her two children to visit Third Sister at her rented residence.
When Third Sister saw Yu Wei helping the heavily pregnant Fu Tingyun clumsily descend from the carriage, she hurried forward to support Fu Tingyun’s other arm, chiding her, "Why stand on ceremony between sisters? You could have just sent Yu Wei or the others, or even had them pass me a message—I would have gone to you instead. Coming here like this, what if you strain yourself and something happens? Ninth Master is far away in Guizhou, fighting the Miao tribes. You shouldn’t make him worry about both ends!"
Fu Tingyun smiled. "With Ninth Master away, I thought of bringing Youyou and Xi Ge'er to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival with you. But I was afraid you’d refuse, so I came uninvited."
Given her advanced pregnancy, Third Sister would rather bring Chunbing and the others to Shi Family Alley for the festival than allow Fu Tingyun to travel with her children.
Third Sister immediately understood Fu Tingyun’s intentions and was both touched and delighted. Still, she shot her a reproachful look. "Your brother-in-law isn’t made of glass. If he can’t handle something like this, how could he go far in his career? There’s no need for you to worry. For the Dragon Boat Festival, our family will come to your place." Then, to prevent Fu Tingyun from arguing further, she added decisively, "That’s settled. No more discussion." She crouched down to pick up Youyou and, smiling, asked Xi Ge'er, who was being held by his wet nurse, "Third Aunt made some poria cocos cakes. Would you like to come and have some?"
"Okay!" Xi Ge'er, his eyes bright as lacquer, answered loudly and energetically, his voice full of vigor.
Youyou nodded eagerly in Third Sister’s arms.
Hearing this, Third Sister’s eyes curved into crescents. She praised Xi Ge'er, "This child is so well-nurtured," and patted his head before carrying Youyou and turning toward the inner gate.
Chunbing and Yuanxiao quickly followed.
Fu Tingyun could only shake her head helplessly and trail behind.
Once the sisters settled in the inner chamber, maids and servants laid out a table full of snacks and pastries. Xi Ge’er stuffed his cheeks full as he ate.
Youyou, being a girl, took a small crispy cake and nibbled at it delicately, holding a handkerchief beneath.
Chunbing and Yuanxiao each had two pieces of snowflake cake before sitting aside to drink tea. Chunbing was more restrained, but Yuanxiao craned his neck, staring longingly at Xi Ge’er.
Fu Tingyun offered them each a crispy cake.
Chunbing insisted he wasn’t hungry, while Yuanxiao swallowed hard and claimed he didn’t like crispy cakes.
Clearly, Third Sister kept a tight rein on them!
Fu Tingyun smiled and asked Yuanxiao, "Then what would you like? Ninth Aunt can get it for you."
"I... I don’t like anything!" Yuanxiao stole a glance at his mother and declined pitifully.
Every household had its own rules, and Fu Tingyun didn’t want to overstep. She pretended not to notice and turned to discuss the Dragon Boat Festival with Third Sister. "...After all, it’s the festival. If we go to Shi Family Alley, do you think Third Older Cousin's Husband will agree?"
"Your brother-in-law isn’t that rigid. He knows the difference between sincerity and pretense!"While they were talking, the senior maid sent by Third Sister to inform Third Older Cousin's Husband about Fu Tingyun and her child's visit returned with a message: "The master said that since Ninth Aunt rarely visits, Madam should entertain her well. He has already sent someone to reserve a table at Penglai Pavilion."
By convention, female guests should be entertained by the inner household staff.
But Third Sister felt that among close sisters, such formalities were unnecessary, and Third Older Cousin's Husband should come in to greet them personally. She also considered that her husband had been constantly socializing these days and wondered if he would need to go out later, so she asked the maid, "What is the master doing now?"
The maid smiled and replied, "Seventh Sister's Husband has arrived. The master is currently speaking with him in the study!"
Hearing this, Third Sister grew restless.
Both the Su and Bai families were generations of officials. Though they hadn’t produced any high-ranking ministers of the third rank, fifth and sixth-rank officials were as common as hairs on an ox, with in-laws and old connections spread throughout the court. These days, many matters relied on Seventh Sister's Husband's efforts.
What news had he brought this time?
Fu Tingyun naturally understood why Third Sister was so uneasy and said with a smile, "Why don’t you go and greet Seventh Sister's Husband?"
They were all family, after all!
After a brief moment of thought, Third Sister agreed.
"Please wait here for a while. I’ll be back soon," she said apologetically.
"No problem," Fu Tingyun replied with a smile. "I’ll rest in your room in the meantime."
Third Sister nodded and went to her husband’s study.
Fu Tingyun then asked Chunbing about his studies.
Chunbing answered each question in detail.
Fu Tingyun was secretly surprised.
Despite his young age, Chunbing had already finished reading The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean .
She asked him a few more questions, and his answers were all quite impressive. Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but nod in approval and chatted with him casually. Learning that he wrote five hundred large characters every day, she gently asked, "Aren’t you tired?"
Chunbing paused, then said, "No. My father writes two thousand characters every day. I only write five hundred."
Even after becoming a Presented Scholar, he still practiced two thousand characters daily.
Fu Tingyun felt a pang of shame.
It seemed Third Older Cousin's Husband was truly dedicated to his studies!
No wonder Second Aunt had disregarded others' opinions and married Third Sister, who brought a substantial dowry, to him when he was still a widower.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Third Sister returned, but her expression was troubled.
Fu Tingyun suggested the children go out to play.
Third Sister didn’t object.
Youyou blinked her big eyes and asked Third Sister, "Auntie, can I take some pastries to eat outside?"
Third Sister forced a smile and said, "Of course!" She instructed the servants to leave a few pastries for Fu Tingyun and had the rest of the snacks and fruits taken to the side room.
The children happily went to the side room to play.
Fu Tingyun immediately leaned forward and asked urgently, "What did Seventh Sister's Husband say?"
"Don’t even mention it," Third Sister said dejectedly. "It looks like we’ll have to take a provincial post!"
Some capital officials, feeling their careers had little room for advancement, sought provincial assignments to govern a region.
Fu Tingyun asked, "Is there no good provincial post available either?"Third Sister nodded. "Apart from a few county magistrate positions in small counties in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guangxi, there's only a registrar position in Tai'an, a deputy magistrate in Lüliang, and a judge position in Linfen... As for desirable posts like the registrar of Jurong, county magistrate of Shaoxing, or county magistrate of Wuhu, they've long been eyed by the grand secretaries' disciples and old connections. Your brother-in-law's mentor was a favorite minister of the late emperor, but now he's just marking time at the Court of Judicial Review. Though he still has some old connections that could help secure magistrate positions in small counties, if you expect him to exert his full influence... I'm afraid your brother-in-law's relationship with him isn't quite at that level."
Fu Tingyun nodded slightly. "What about positions in the capital? Aren't there any barely acceptable ones?"
"Of course there are," Third Sister said. "Censor of the Censorate, Recorder of the Office of Transmission, or Registrar of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices... all quite decent. The Ministry of Personnel even has a vacancy for Left Remonstrance Official." She showed a trace of disappointment. "But your brother-in-law lacks strong support at court, and Seventh Sister's Husband is willing but unable to help. Staying in the capital, at best he could only get minor positions like Registrar at the Court of Imperial Entertainments."
Fu Tingyun noted the Left Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel position.
The remonstrance officials of the Six Ministries didn't belong to any specific yamen. The chief supervising secretary holding the seal was only rank 7a, while the left and right supervising secretaries were rank 7b. Though their rank was low, they had the right to submit memorials directly to the Emperor. Their duties included attending the Emperor, offering admonitions, supplementing omissions, rectifying oversights, and supervising affairs of the Six Ministries and other offices. For imperial edicts, they could request reconsideration of major matters or simply endorse minor ones before issuance. If they found errors, they could return documents with objections. They also classified and copied memorials from various sources before forwarding them to relevant ministries, correcting any violations.
Many powerful court officials had risen from these remonstrance positions—no matter how capable you were, you first needed to make the Emperor aware of your talents!
Moreover, supervising secretaries of the Ministry of Personnel oversaw official promotions and demotions—their authority was even greater.
After some thought, she asked, "What are the obstacles in securing the Left Supervising Secretary position at the Ministry of Personnel?"
Third Sister seemed startled by the question, hesitating before answering: "That position is too coveted. Your brother-in-law lacks both the connections and seniority... We never really considered pursuing it..."
But Fu Tingyun sensed her sister was holding something back.
Carefully, she said, "I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it would work. If you tell me the full truth, I can think it through properly. Otherwise, I'd be completely in the dark—even if I wanted to try, I wouldn't know how."
After prolonged hesitation, Third Sister finally gritted her teeth and said, "Grand Secretary Yu is maneuvering to get this position for his son..."
"Grand Secretary Yu?" Fu Tingyun was astonished.
Third Sister nodded.
Puzzled, Fu Tingyun asked, "Isn't he at the Office of Transmission? That's no worse than the supervising secretary positions in the Six Ministries!"
"You don't understand," Third Sister explained. "The chief supervising secretary of the Ministry of Personnel is only in his thirties—a Presented Scholar from the first examination after His Majesty's accession. He's exceptionally capable and highly favored by the Emperor. Word has it he'll be promoted within two years at most. Given the Emperor's steady approach, when he's promoted, his replacement as chief supervising secretary would likely come from the left or right supervising secretaries. Even if the Emperor doesn't intend this, getting through the Chief Grand Secretary could achieve the same result. That's why everyone's eyeing this position."
Suddenly, Fu Tingyun understood.She snorted coldly, "Just because he's Yu Jingxiu, the son of Grand Secretary Yu, does that mean we should sit back and wait for death?" With that, she stood up. "Come, let's go see Third Older Cousin's Husband and Seventh Sister's Husband!"
Third Sister quickly pulled her back. "Don't act recklessly. The Yu Family has deep roots and is far more complex than you imagine..."
Fu Tingyun smiled. "We may not understand official matters, but Third Older Cousin's Husband and Seventh Sister's Husband are wise men. Whether this can work or not, we must discuss it with them. Three cobblers with their wits combined equal Zhuge Liang. By putting our heads together, we might just find a way! Third Sister, don't stop us. Whether this is feasible or not, it's up to Third Older Cousin's Husband and Seventh Sister's Husband to decide!"
Third Sister's heart stirred at these words.
After all, Zhao Ling had the Merit from supporting the emperor and knew far more people than they did.
What they saw as a golden path to a bright future was nothing more than a trivial matter in the eyes of those in high positions. If they could secure a word from the Emperor or the Eunuch in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial, not to mention a mere supervising secretary position, even securing an appointment like the magistrate of Jurong County or the Shandong Provincial Administration Commissioner—posts that were technically filled—would be effortless. The Ministry of Personnel would have to find a way to create an opening...
Her confidence surged instantly, and she supported Fu Tingyun. "Let's go to the study!"
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Dear sisters and brothers, wishing you all a joyful Dragon Boat Festival with your families!
If you have pink tickets, please support with a few... Thank you... O(∩_∩)O~
PS: The extra update will be ready for you to read tomorrow morning!
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(End of Chapter)
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