Chapter 244: Disgrace (Bonus Update Seeking Pink Tickets)
"It's essential to inform Mr. Zhao," Fu Tingyun said with a smile. "But it wouldn't be appropriate for just anyone to go. Tomorrow morning, I'll personally make a trip to Tanzhe Temple."
Third Older Cousin's Husband said apologetically, "That might be the only way—others might not even get an audience with Mr. Zhao."
"See things through to the end," Fu Tingyun replied cheerfully. "Should we also send someone to inform Seventh Sister's Husband?"
"I've already sent a servant," Third Older Cousin's Husband said with some emotion. "These past few days, I’ve relied on him running around for me—otherwise, I wouldn’t have known half the news. He’s truly worked hard!"
Third Sister smiled faintly and said, "Then you ought to thank him properly!"
"Absolutely, absolutely," Third Older Cousin's Husband nodded.
Third Sister then discussed the visit to Mr. Zhao with Fu Tingyun: "Last time, you said there was no hurry, so I opened a trunk, but you didn’t take anything. We can’t have you spending your own money while helping us with this matter. This time, you mustn’t go to Tanzhe Temple without us. If you’re not satisfied with what I have, just say so. We’re sisters—no need for formalities. Mr. Zhao has done us such a great favor; no amount of gratitude would be excessive."
Third Older Cousin's Husband also looked at Fu Tingyun expectantly, as if ready to send someone to fetch whatever she requested.
Knowing their straightforward nature, Fu Tingyun didn’t stand on ceremony. After a moment’s thought, she said, "Try to find a good set of Go stones—antiques from the previous dynasty would be best. Mr. Zhao is very fond of Go. If that’s not possible, rare books from the previous dynasty would also do."
"Good!" Third Older Cousin's Husband nodded repeatedly. "I won’t stay for lunch—time is of the essence. I’ll get this settled first."
Neither of them pressed him to stay. Fu Tingyun instructed Zheng Sanniang to prepare some steamed buns and buns for Third Older Cousin's Husband, then had Zheng San drive him to take care of the matter.
Without declining, the two hurried out the door.
No sooner had he left than Seventh Sister's Husband arrived.
Upon hearing that Third Older Cousin's Husband had gone to prepare a gift for Mr. Zhao, he stomped his foot in frustration. "Had I known, I would’ve drunk one less cup!"
Only then did the sisters notice the faint scent of alcohol on him.
Third Sister added, "It’s barely noon—who were you drinking with, Brother-in-law? Have you eaten lunch? Should I have the maids prepare sobering soup?"
Seventh Sister's Husband looked somewhat embarrassed and chuckled. "I’ve been frequenting the Ministry of Personnel lately to gather news. I didn’t know Third Older Cousin's Husband had already gone there, so I went again this morning. The clerk who usually passes me information told me Third Older Cousin's Husband had secured the position of Left Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel. I originally planned to wait at the gate to ask him about it, but the clerk insisted on treating me to drinks, saying things like, ‘Now that you’ve got connections with the Chief Grand Secretary, don’t turn your back on us.’ It sounded odd, but since he’s helped me a lot, I couldn’t refuse. So I went with him to our usual tavern nearby..."
Fu Tingyun was taken aback. "Brother-in-law, did that clerk say ‘connections with the Chief Grand Secretary’? Could it be that Qian Donglin was the one who helped secure Third Older Cousin's Husband’s position?""Exactly," Seventh Sister's Husband said with a smile. "According to the clerk's tone, after Grand Secretary Qian expressed his gratitude at the Qianqing Palace, he was accompanied by Grand Secretary Shen to the Grand Secretariat first, then came to the Ministry of Personnel in the afternoon. After meeting with several vice ministers and directors, he immediately asked to see the roster of officials. The director of the Bureau of Appointments didn’t dare delay and promptly fetched the roster. Grand Secretary Qian went straight to the section on the Six Ministries, pointed at the vacancy for the Left Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, and asked why it was still unfilled. With Grand Secretary Shen retiring, the vice ministers and directors were already uneasy. Hearing Grand Secretary Qian’s tone, they knew he intended to appoint someone. Without waiting for formal recommendations, they took up a brush and asked whom he thought suitable. Grand Secretary Qian directly wrote down Third Older Cousin's Husband’s name and origin... That very evening, Third Older Cousin's Husband’s appointment was settled. By the time he was filling out the roster at the Bureau of Appointments the next morning, the official notice had already been posted... It was so fast it was almost unbelievable!"
Given Mr. Zhao’s status, he certainly wouldn’t intervene personally. Yet on his very first day in office, the newly appointed Chief Grand Secretary Qian Donglin had stepped forward for Third Older Cousin's Husband’s sake... Fu Tingyun still felt a bit overwhelmed.
"The clerk was a long-serving veteran at the Ministry of Personnel, having worked there for over twenty years. He said it was the first time he’d seen the Chief Grand Secretary personally intervene for such a minor seventh-rank position. He asked me whose connections we had used and told me not to play dumb—even if Third Older Cousin's Husband were the Chief Grand Secretary’s favorite disciple, the Chief Grand Secretary wouldn’t have gone all out like this, acting as if he wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, just to avoid suspicion..."
Third Sister’s heart immediately leaped to her throat. "Did you tell him?"
Seventh Sister's Husband scoffed. "Even if I were a fool, I’d know better than to say such things!"
Third Sister flushed crimson and murmured, "Don’t mind me, Brother-in-law. My concern made me thoughtless."
Naturally, Seventh Sister's Husband wouldn’t hold it against her.
With boundless admiration, he sighed, "Mr. Zhao is truly remarkable," then perked up and asked Fu Tingyun, "Ninth Sister, what does Mr. Zhao look like?" His face was full of eager curiosity, like a child begging an adult for candy, making both Fu Tingyun and Third Sister stifle their laughter.
Meanwhile, not far from Shi Family Alley at Penglai Pavilion, Yu Jingxiu was drinking with his colleague from the Office of Transmission, Chen Zhongming.
"Brother Chen," Yu Jingxiu said with earnest sincerity, "the capital isn’t exactly vast, but it’s not small either. You and Grand Secretary Chen are both from the capital, both scholars, and even share the same surname. Surely you must have crossed paths."
But inwardly, Chen Zhongming was grumbling.
I’m older and more experienced than you, yet just because you’re the son of a grand secretary, you pushed me aside when the deputy director position at the Office of Transmission opened up. Who knows when another opportunity like that will come... Now that Grand Secretary Yu has fallen from power, you come to me...
But even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Grand Secretary Yu was still in office, so Chen Zhongming didn’t dare offend Yu Jingxiu.
Maintaining his usual demeanor of familiarity tinged with respect, he replied pointedly, "Though we’re both from the capital, our families are beyond the fifth degree of kinship. Moreover, Grand Secretary Chen is both my senior in lineage and in the imperial examinations. I may know him, but he likely doesn’t know me." He chuckled dryly a few times.Yu Jingxiu was overjoyed upon hearing this, though his expression remained warm and composed. He smiled and said, "A near neighbor is better than a distant relative. Whether we know each other well or not depends on frequent interactions." With a look of sincerity, he continued, "Brother Chen, you've been in the Office of Transmission for some years now. Don’t you wish to move elsewhere? With Grand Secretary Chen as your backing, why must you remain so rigid? Recommending the worthy should not avoid kin or foes, let alone someone like you, whose character and abilities are evident to all. If you find it awkward to speak up, I can have my father recommend you. What do you think?"
"Then I must thank Brother Yu," Chen Zhongming replied. Despite his dissatisfaction with Yu Jingxiu, the prospect of a recommendation from Grand Secretary Yu might indeed secure him a better position. Unable to contain his delight, he raised his cup to Yu Jingxiu. "Let me toast to you."
Yu Jingxiu drank heartily and said, "However, we’ll still need Grand Secretary Chen to put in a good word..."
"Naturally, naturally," Chen Zhongming agreed, well-versed in the ways of officialdom and knowing exactly how such matters were handled.
But who should approach Chen Dan Ting about this?
Lost in thought, he took another sip.
Seeing the conversation had reached a suitable point, Yu Jingxiu sighed with admiration, "How enviable Grand Secretary Chen and Grand Secretary Qian are! Quietly and without fanfare, they’ve suddenly won the Emperor’s favor..." He wanted to probe the backgrounds of Qian Donglin and Chen Dan Ting.
Before he could finish, the door to the private room was flung open with a bang, and Mo Yan rushed in, looking flustered.
Yu Jingxiu frowned and demanded sternly, "What’s the matter? Why the panic?" His sharp gaze clearly signaled Mo Yan to hold his tongue for now.
Mo Yan had no choice but to retreat and wait outside the private room until the banquet concluded. Only then did he step forward and say, "Young Master, bad news—Cheng Xin just reported that a man named Shen Rensi has secured the position of Left Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel..."
"What?" Yu Jingxiu felt as if struck by lightning, his face instantly paling. His voice rose involuntarily, "When did this happen? Where did the news come from?"
"It’s already been publicly announced." Mo Yan grew fearful at Yu Jingxiu’s reaction, regretting his decision to deliver the news. After all, the young master would have found out eventually. "Madam Yu has also heard and has sent someone to inquire with the master."
Grand Secretary Yu had not yet returned from the yamen.
His father had lost his position as Chief Grand Secretary, and now the supposedly guaranteed post of Left Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel had slipped away too...
Yu Jingxiu felt momentarily dizzy.
Without waiting for Chen Zhongming to leave, he hurried out of the tavern. "Prepare the carriage at once—I must go to Military Commanders’ Lane to see Father."
Mo Yan didn’t dare delay and dashed out of the tavern.
The moment Yu Jingxiu boarded the carriage, it sped off toward Military Commanders’ Lane.
At the entrance of the lane, he encountered a servant on his way to report back to Madam Yu.
Yu Jingxiu’s face was livid as he questioned the servant, "What did Father say?"
The servant hastily replied, "The master has only just learned of it. He’s sent someone to investigate who this Shen Rensi is..."
Finding no useful information from his father, Yu Jingxiu’s expression darkened further. He beckoned the servant, "Come back to the residence with me."
The servant obeyed promptly, climbing onto the carriage shaft and accompanying Yu Jingxiu back to Alley Street, where they went to see Madam Yu."It never rains but it pours!" Madam Yu murmured after hearing the servant's report, gazing at her visibly agitated son. "Where on earth did this Shen Rensi come from?"
Yu Jingxiu stood up upon hearing this: "Shall I go inquire about him?"
"Come back!" Madam Yu stopped Yu Jingxiu. "This matter is so peculiar, we'd better wait until your father returns before deciding anything."
Yu Jingxiu's eyebrows shot up, a flash of anger crossing his eyes as he was about to speak. But Madam Yu continued: "Who knows more people—you or your father?" Worried that her son, who had always sailed smoothly through life, might not handle this setback well, she took his hand and said gently, "I feel quite uneasy. Stay here and keep me company, won't you?"
After hesitating for a long moment and feeling his mother's grip tighten, Yu Jingxiu finally nodded.
Madam Yu breathed a sigh of relief, ordered the maids to bring some watermelon, and led Yu Jingxiu to sit with her on the daybed.
Grand Secretary Yu returned home.
Madam Yu and Yu Jingxiu hurried forward together to greet him.
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⊙﹏⊙b sweat... About extra updates, I'll post them whenever I finish writing. Everyone can check randomly—hard to set a fixed time... Overslept again today...
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(End of chapter)
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