They had arrived in two boats but were returning with six. Had this been the procession of an official, the censors would have immediately rolled up their sleeves to grind ink and draft impeachment memorials. Fortunately, Minglan and her grandmother were merely returning from visiting relatives. A letter from the capital reported that Sheng Hong had once again received an "excellent" evaluation in his assessment and had been appointed to the Ministry of Works, heading the Directorate of Construction. His rank remained unchanged, but at least he was now a capital official.
Since they were settling in the capital, they decided to bring along belongings from the old residence to furnish their new home. In addition, there were gifts of food, clothing, and daily necessities from Sheng Wei and Uncle Erniu—dozens of chests filled with silks, satins, furs, and velvets alone. The baggage was substantial. The grandmother and granddaughter bid farewell to their relatives and boarded the boat.
Minglan found it rather puzzling. Her father had been pulling strings and leveraging connections since before the New Year, and given his solid administrative record, she had assumed he would secure a position in the Ministry of Personnel, the most prestigious of the six ministries, or at least in popular departments like the Ministry of Revenue or Justice. The current emperor had been on the throne for over twenty years, and by now, palaces and ancestral temples had long been completed. The Ministry of Works seemed as tranquil and idle as a retirement home. Why would Sheng Hong choose to go there? When Minglan asked Old Mrs. Sheng, the latter countered, "What do you think, Ming girl?"
Minglan rolled her eyes. Old Mrs. Sheng was an advocate of interactive, heuristic teaching; she rarely explained why or how things should be done, always encouraging Minglan to reason things out for herself. After some thought, Minglan said, "The Emperor is gradually aging, and the succession is unclear. The capital is now a swirling storm. If Father had gone to those fiercely contested departments, he might have gotten entangled in troubles. Father is truly clever."
Old Mrs. Sheng smiled, stroked her granddaughter's hair, and nodded in approval. The river was calm, the boat steady, rocking only gently and comfortably. During their time in Youyang, Minglan had spent every day playing with Pinlan, and the grandmother and granddaughter had hardly had a proper conversation. It was only after boarding the boat that they resumed their talks.
"Silly child, who in the official circles isn't clever? Especially in the capital—the waters are murky. It's just that some, driven by greed and overestimating their cleverness, think to place a bet on the throne. But palace affairs are incredibly unpredictable. It's better for your father to remain humble and cautious," Old Mrs. Sheng said leisurely, reclining on a couch spread with a velvet blanket. "What did you and Pinlan talk about when you said goodbye? Cuiwei said you didn't sleep well last night."
Minglan thought for a moment and decided to be honest. "I told Pinlan not to boss Cousin Taisheng around so much and to be more composed and steady, or Aunt might disapprove." Old Mrs. Sheng glanced at Minglan and said calmly, "You're overthinking it. Your aunt adores straightforward and spirited girls. Why would she disapprove?"
Minglan sighed. "As a niece, yes, she'd be liked; but as a daughter-in-law, it's hard to say." No mother-in-law in the world enjoys seeing her son become henpecked.
Old Mrs. Sheng frowned. "What daughter-in-law? You're a young lady—don't talk nonsense."
Minglan quickly replied, "I can say anything to you, Grandmother, and I won't say it outside. Pinlan and Cousin Taisheng are a perfect match—anyone with eyes can see that."Old Mrs. Sheng seemed intrigued by these words and slowly sat up, gazing at Minglan with a gentle smile. "Truth be told, Brother Tai is truly a good child. His family has wealth and shops, with no brothers to compete with him. Many families in Youyang have taken a liking to him these days. Your aunt has been particularly fond of you lately—even some of her most treasured belongings that she wouldn’t give to Pinlan have likely ended up in your pockets."
Minglan looked into her grandmother’s eyes and spoke earnestly, word by word: "Aunt’s kindness to me is mostly thanks to your influence, Grandmother. Even if I were foolish, I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to think otherwise. Pinlan and Cousin Taisheng grew up together since childhood... well, they’re childhood sweethearts."
Old Mrs. Sheng was slightly surprised. Seeing Minglan’s clear, bright eyes and unwavering expression, she chuckled, "So you noticed? Not so foolish after all."
Minglan felt a pang of guilt. If she hadn’t eavesdropped that day, she would have been too busy eating and playing with Pinlan to figure it out.
Old Mrs. Sheng sat up properly, and Minglan quickly fetched a large bolster to support her grandmother’s back before nestling into the bedding herself. The old lady wrapped an arm around her granddaughter’s small shoulders and said, "You’ve seen and heard quite a bit during this month at your uncle’s house—it’s been a different world for you. Have you gained any insights?"
Leaning comfortably against her grandmother’s soft belly, Minglan replied lazily, "At first, I was puzzled, but now I think I understand. Back home, I heard that the third branch of the family was struggling—not only did they rely entirely on Uncle’s support, but they were also rather ungrateful. After seeing them in person, I looked down on their behavior too. What’s strange is that Uncle’s family always seems to tolerate them, constantly providing assistance and never forgetting to invite them to feasts during holidays. I wondered then: since Da Bomu doesn’t seem to like them much either, why not keep them at a distance?"
Patting Minglan’s small hand, Old Mrs. Sheng asked, "Do you understand now?"
"Mhm," Minglan murmured, snuggling against her grandmother’s stomach contentedly. "By being strict with themselves and lenient toward others, everyone in Youyang knows how good Uncle’s family is and how unreasonable the third branch is. No matter what happens, people will always assume it’s the third branch’s fault."
Old Mrs. Sheng nodded in satisfaction, pinching her granddaughter’s cheek affectionately. "You’ve always been lazy and disliked social interactions—I was worried your aloof nature would hold you back. But now that I see you understand worldly matters, I’m truly pleased. Remember this, Ming’er: no matter how inadequate the third branch may be, San Lao Taiye is still alive. They’re relatives within two generations. If we completely ignored them and only cared about our own wealth without offering help, wouldn’t people accuse us of despising the poor and currying favor with the rich? Merchant families often bear reputations for being unrighteous, but your uncle is praised throughout the county. Spending a little silver to maintain the third branch’s lavish lifestyle isn’t wasted—it earns a good reputation that benefits future generations."
Knowing her grandmother was teaching her, Minglan listened attentively and interjected, "When Shulan sister was negotiating her separation, Pinlan and I were furious. The Sun mother and son were so despicable—why did we have to leave half the dowry with them? Later, I realized: if we had demanded the entire dowry back, the Sun family might have fought to the bitter end, refusing the separation and insisting on a letter of divorce instead. This is the principle of spending money to avert disaster."Old Mrs. Sheng gently stroked Minglan's soft hair by her temples and said slowly, "Indeed, who wouldn't be angry with that family! But there's no other way. The barefooted fear not the shod, and divorce is no easy matter. There must be proper grounds—a husband without virtue, a mother-in-law without conduct—but these are not matters to be openly discussed. My elder sister-in-law is quite skilled; she appealed to their emotions, reasoned with them, tempted them with money, and pressured them with consequences. Such matters require swift resolution, settled in a single day, and then Shulan was immediately sent away. Once the gossip subsides, all will be well."
Minglan nodded repeatedly, then suddenly scrambled up, pouting, "But the Sun family is so detestable, it makes one's teeth itch! Are we just letting it go?"
"Such a fiery little girl!" Old Mrs. Sheng chuckled. "Your Da Bomu is no pushover either. However, for now, we can't do much openly, nor show hostility. We must maintain good relations with the other members of the Sun clan, waiting for the right moment. But I observe that the Sun mother and son are both foolish and greedy. Perhaps without anyone lifting a finger, they won't come to a good end."
Minglan exclaimed excitedly, "Pinlan promised me that as soon as there's any news about Scholar Sun, she'll write to me. When the time comes, I'll read it to you, Grandmother." Old Mrs. Sheng scolded, "You mischievous little girl, so fond of quarrels and trouble—you're quite formidable too! This time, you've had your fill of fun with Pinlan, and I haven't restrained you at all. When we return home, you must behave more properly."
Minglan hugged her grandmother's arm and earnestly promised, "Grandmother, don't worry. This trip has broadened my horizons, and I've learned much about human relationships and worldly affairs. When we return, I'll be well-behaved and not cause you any concern."
Old Mrs. Sheng lovingly held her little granddaughter and murmured, "Having someone to worry about makes the days pass more pleasantly.Upon reaching the Beijing-Tianjin ferry, they disembarked and boarded carriages, traveling straight along the official road to the capital. As soon as they arrived at the city gates, servants from the Sheng family were waiting. After switching to the family's carriages, they continued onward.
Now, the capital is a place where officials gather and nobility abound. Property prices here are no cheaper than in Yao Yiyi's time in the modern capital. Moreover, ancient times were even more finicky—besides money, status was required, especially for those prime locations near the imperial city. Those with disreputable professions or questionable backgrounds couldn't live there even if they had money.
For instance, a loan shark or a small slaughterhouse owner couldn't manage it even if they brought money by the shipload. The Sheng family, being merchants by origin, originally had no chance. However, decades ago, Old Master Sheng took advantage of a stroke of luck when his son passed the imperial examinations as the third-ranked scholar. Seizing the opportunity with both prestige and silver notes, he purchased a large four-to-five-courtyard residence outside Tai'an Gate. The location was above average, bordered on the right by the Linqing Lane where scholars congregated and on the left by a semi-aristocratic residential area. Later, when his son married the daughter of a marquis, he also bought a garden behind the residence, connecting them into one expansive property.
Among Sheng Hong's colleagues and peers, many came from modest backgrounds and had to settle for homes in the outer reaches or remote alleys of the capital after achieving office through the examinations. Sheng Hong, however, became one of the few officials of his rank to own a garden residence. Minglan once again reflected on how important it is to be born into the right family.
"Back then, the Old Marquis learned that the Old Master had such a residence and felt that the family wasn't without means or foundation, which barely convinced him to agree to the marriage," Mama Fang whispered to Minglan.Minglan looked up to the sky and sighed: "So men really need a house to get married."
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