Маdam Yuan trеmblеd with аngеr, unаble to hold bасk: "Mothеr, Jining is so far frоm thе сарitаl, and the rivеr works fall under the Ministry оf Wоrks. Evеn if I werе а dеitу, I cоuldn’t роssiblу hаve knоwn that Yang Shoushаn wоuld drive thе laborers tо their deаths, nor that thоsе lаbоrеrs wоuld kill а subprefесt… You’rе аsking tоo muсh of mе!"
Dаring to defу hеr mothеr-in-law…
Madаm Qiu was so startlеd shе sрrang tо her feet, еуеs lowеrеd аs shе twistеd hеr handkеrсhief, unsurе what tо do.
Zhou Shаojin rеmаinеd lost in thе nеws shе hаd just heard, motiоnless for a long while.
Sо Cheng Chi hаdn’t gone tо Jining merеlу to rеport for duty—he had gone to salvage the situation.
That explained why Grand Secretary Song had sent someone to find him in Baoding Prefecture, and why he had rushed directly from Baoding to Jining… Now that Cheng Chi had pacified the laborers, imprisoned the ringleaders who killed the subprefect, and resumed normal dredging of the river, it should have been a good outcome. The River Governor’s Office had the authority to mobilize nearby garrisons, with a commander stationed at the river and clerks familiar with river affairs. As a mere junior sixth-rank official from the Ministry of Works assigned to oversee dredging, and a newcomer to officialdom, why should he have taken the lead? Wouldn’t this leave others with the impression that he was arrogant, overbearing, and disrespectful to his superiors?
Zhou Shaojin could no longer sit still.
She had to go to Grand Secretary Song’s residence to inquire.
Cheng Chi had rushed to Jining Prefecture to salvage the situation at Grand Secretary Song’s invitation.
She believed Grand Secretary Song wouldn’t have sent Cheng Chi to Jining without reason, and Cheng Chi wouldn’t have agreed without cause. With Cheng Chi unable to return for now, if she didn’t understand the reasons behind it, she feared she wouldn’t sleep peacefully at night!
Just as she was considering how to broach the topic with Old Madam Guo, a cold snort echoed in the room. Old Madam Guo raised her eyebrows and said, "Indeed, Si Lang is merely a minor junior sixth-rank official in Jining, so you take no interest in matters there. Eldest Young Master serves in the Grand Secretariat as Minister of Rites, holding a senior first-rank title. Tell me, what do you actually know about Eldest Young Master’s affairs?"
Madam Yuan was stunned by the question.
Old Madam Guo sneered disdainfully. "Grand Secretary Qu intended to arrange a marriage with the Min family’s seventh branch, but the Min family politely declined. Do you know why? Huang Li, who once competed with Eldest Young Master for the position of Left Censor-in-Chief, has been transferred from Transmission Commissioner to Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. His family recently married a daughter of the Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Appointments in the Ministry of War. The patriarch of the Lujiang Li family—the one who passed the imperial examinations in the same year as your second uncle-in-law and later placed third—is about to be appointed Governor-General of Liangjiang. Do you know who recommended him for the position…"
Old Madam Guo’s repeated "Do you know" made cold sweat break out on Madam Yuan’s forehead.
Old Madam Guo glanced at her and scoffed. "The Lujiang Li family is a prominent northern clan, somewhat distant from us. I won’t dwell on them—that would be unfair to you. Just tell me whether you know why the Min family declined Grand Secretary Qu’s proposal, and why Huang Li married the daughter of a Vice Director in the Bureau of Military Appointments."
How could Madam Yuan answer?
Especially regarding Grand Secretary Qu’s intention to arrange a marriage with the Min family—she was even related to the Min family by marriage through their children. Yet she hadn’t heard the slightest hint of it!
Was the old lady implying that the Min family didn’t truly regard her as kin, keeping her in the dark and guarding against her?
Her forehead grew even more damp with sweat.
Old Madam Guo watched her calmly, saying nothing.Zhou Shaojin recalled how, just days ago while accompanying Old Madam Guo on social visits, the elderly lady had not only conversed and laughed effortlessly with various grand madams, madams, and ladies, but had also been witty and humorous, almost like a different person...
She couldn’t help but glance toward Madam Yuan.
Her gaze, however, met that of Madam Qiu, who was looking her way.
Madam Qiu glanced at Old Madam Guo, hesitating as if wanting to speak but holding back.
Madam Yuan, meanwhile, offered a feeble defense: "The New Year is approaching... Jiashan is about to marry... I, I haven’t been out much these days..."
Old Madam Guo ignored her completely, as if neither seeing nor hearing her, and abruptly turned her attention to Madam Qiu, asking, "Did you have something to say?"
Madam Qiu trembled with fear.
Zhou Shaojin felt anxious on her behalf.
Seeing that Old Madam Guo hadn’t noticed her, she quickly mouthed silently to Madam Qiu, "Tell the truth."
Whether Madam Qiu had figured it out or understood Zhou Shaojin’s lip movements, her face flushed red, and after a long pause, she finally said, "I, I just wanted to know... what is the background of the Huang family’s daughter-in-law?"
Old Madam Guo replied, "She is Zhang Junhua’s granddaughter."
The elderly lady’s expression remained impassive, but her tone was gentle.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief for her.
The old madam despised nothing more than those who pretended to understand in her presence yet refused to admit their mistakes.
Madam Yuan, however, gasped in surprise.
Huang Li and Cheng Jing were sworn rivals, matched in both resources and intellect. In the end, Cheng Jing had narrowly prevailed over Huang Li in the competition for the position of Left Censor-in-Chief, solely because Cheng Chi had pulled strings with Wan Tong at the critical moment. Now, with their family forming a marriage alliance with the Min family, and Huang Li marrying Zhang Junhua’s granddaughter—given Huang Li’s notorious cunning, his connections through Zhang Junhua, his status as a student of Shen Minzhi, and the backing of two grand secretaries—who knew if he might stage a comeback? And if he did, would he continue to oppose Cheng Jing?
She... had truly been negligent!
"Mother! This is entirely my fault!" Madam Yuan wasn’t completely foolish. If the old madam knew about these matters, was remembered by Lady Pengcheng, and had gained the Empress’s attention, she likely had her own methods. No wonder Cheng Xu, the patriarch of the second branch, was so wary of the old madam. Her father-in-law had truly passed away too early. With the old madam’s skills, a grand secretary position would have been within reach. This was probably one reason the second branch had always sought ways to suppress the eldest branch. Yet she had only focused on external affairs, neglecting the household. If she could leverage the old madam’s connections for her own use, wouldn’t Jiashan’s path be smoother? She decisively changed her attitude, saying, "You are right to criticize me. I have failed in my duties as the eldest daughter-in-law and as the matriarch. I will go to the Yuan family immediately to ask my sister-in-law what exactly is going on..." Remembering the discord between Yuan Weichang and Song Jingran, she added, "I’ll try to see my brother and persuade him to stand with the First Master on this matter."
Although Old Madam Guo had little faith in Yuan Weichang, Madam Yuan had at least spoken sensibly.
Old Madam Guo said, "There’s no need. The First Master will be returning from his office soon. Going to the Yuan family for information now won’t be of much use. Let’s just wait patiently for news."
Madam Yuan awkwardly replied, "Yes."
Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment, then stood up and said softly, "Mother, I’d like to visit Madam Song... Fourth Master was summoned away by Grand Secretary Song..."Old Madam Guo thought for a moment, then decisively said, "Alright." She added, "Have Nanny Shang accompany you."
Zhou Shaojin gratefully curtsied to Old Madam Guo and hurried out of the sitting room.
Madam Qiu stared at the old madam in astonishment.
Just moments ago, she had prevented Madam Yuan from seeking out Yuan Weichang, yet now she agreed to let Zhou Shaojin visit Madam Song... Not only Madam Yuan, but even she found it hard to understand.
Old Madam Guo sighed in disappointment and said calmly, "Shaoji is still young, and Si Lang was summoned by Grand Secretary Song's people. If anything were to happen to Si Lang, Shaojin is the most suitable person to go find him. Think it over carefully!"
After saying this, she didn't even glance at them and went straight into the inner chamber.
Madam Qiu stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to say.
※
Zhou Shaojin rode in a small blue-curtained sedan chair directly into the Song family's Chuihua Gate.
Madam Song personally waited for her at the Chuihua Gate.
Upon seeing her, Zhou Shaojin's eyes reddened before she could speak. She called out "Madam Song" and choked up.
Madam Song looked full of guilt and quickly said, "Shaoji, it's alright, it's alright. Our master is the most reliable in handling matters. Your family's Master Cheng is also well aware. This matter was decided only after our master carefully considered it repeatedly."
Before coming, Zhou Shaojin had feared that Madam Song might know nothing about it. Now it seemed that Madam Song not only knew but was also quite familiar with the details.
Her heart stirred involuntarily.
Madam Song was someone who usually stayed out of affairs. Could it be that Master Song had told her something?
As she listened, Zhou Shaojin suddenly recalled her past life when she had sought out Consort Lin for the sake of Miss Mu. Empress Dowager had suddenly arrived, and Consort Lin's enthusiasm toward her... She couldn't help but intimately link arms with Madam Song and said, "Mother said the same, but I'm too worried about our Fourth Master. If I don't come and talk to you, my heart feels suspended in midair, restless and uneasy..."
"I know, I know," Madam Song patted her hand to comfort her. Seeing her red eyes and hair slightly disheveled by the cold wind, her heart softened. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered in Zhou Shaojin's ear, "Our master said that since Minister Yang was recommended by him, it's difficult for him to say certain things now that such an incident has occurred. The river works have been in chaos for a long time. He had hoped Minister Yang could rectify the situation, but unexpectedly, before the river matters were sorted out, Minister Yang himself got entangled. If Grand Secretary Cheng could step in to mediate, Master Cheng could smoothly transfer from the Ministry of Works to the Censorate..."
Zhou Shaojin's heart pounded wildly.
In her past life, she had paid no attention to external affairs, but in this life, under Old Madam Guo's guidance, she had learned many things she had never known or noticed before.
In court appointments, there was a longstanding rule: "Without experience in the Hanlin Academy, one cannot enter the Grand Secretariat; without experience as a censor, one cannot become a chief minister."
Here, "chief minister" referred to the ministers of the Six Ministries.
If Cheng Chi wished to advance further, he needed either the credentials of a Hanlin Academy scholar or experience as a censor in the Censorate.
But to enter the Hanlin Academy, one had to be a Junior Scholar Candidate.
After the spring imperial examinations, Cheng Chi had never considered becoming an official, so he did not participate in the selection for Junior Scholar Candidates. Moreover, the selection for Junior Scholar Candidates was only open to newly appointed jinshi.
He had already missed that opportunity.
Now, the best path was to start as a censor.
For a project as significant as the Yellow River dredging by the River Governor's Office, the Emperor would certainly dispatch censors from the Censorate to oversee it.All censors must start from the seventh-rank deputy position, and with over a hundred censors in the Censorate, it is not easy to stand out.
If Cheng Chi could transfer to the Censorate as a censor because of this matter, even if he were demoted from a sixth-rank deputy official to a seventh-rank censor, he would have gained reputation and a respectable background. With further support, he could at least rise to a third-rank senior official.
Some things truly require breaking before establishing anew.
Zhou Shaojin suppressed the excitement in her heart, lingered at Madam Song’s place for an hour, politely declined Madam Song’s invitation to stay for a meal, and hurried back to Chaoyang Gate.
Madam Yuan was not there, and Madam Qiu was attending to Old Madam Guo’s tea.
Thinking of Madam Qiu’s character, Zhou Shaojin did not hide anything from her and told Old Madam Guo about the results of her visit to the Song family.
※
Dear readers, I was afraid of making mistakes, so I verified all the necessary information, which delayed the update. My apologies.
Today’s update is still scheduled for around ten o’clock in the evening.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel