It must be said, Sheng Hong hadn't become a fourth-rank official for nothing. In Minglan's words, he possessed a high degree of political sensitivity. On the third day after the army from the northern expedition returned to court, he keenly sensed that he was about to get busy.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, military authority was originally concentrated in the Five Chief Military Commissions, along with the Capital Garrison Command, the various regional garrisons, and to some extent, the Five Wards' Commands. However, after the new Emperor ascended the throne, he successively experienced two major military campaigns: the "Jing-Tan Rebellion" and the northern expedition against the Jie Barbarians. As a result, most of the elite forces skilled in warfare were now concentrated in the hands of Shen and Gu.
By convention, the commanding generals were required to return their military tallies and seals after the army returned to court. Yet, nearly half a month had passed with no movement from the Emperor, despite the Ministry of Personnel submitting several memorials as gentle reminders. Finally, when Grand Secretary Qiu Shu of the Hall of Martial Valor raised the issue openly during a court session, he was harshly reprimanded by the Emperor, who called his actions an 'overreach of authority'.
Sensing that something was amiss, and having always trusted Old Mrs. Sheng, Sheng Hong mentioned a few things one day when he came to Longevity and Peace Hall to pay his respects after work. He then went to discuss the matter in detail with Changbai.
"Let's hope there's no more trouble." Old Mrs. Sheng pressed her palms together and silently recited a few Buddhist prayers. "In times of chaos and war, it's the common people who suffer the most. The turmoil before the new year caused poor harvests in so many fertile fields along the Jiang and Huai rivers. Those poor farmers will have to sell their sons and daughters again." Having been a devout Buddhist for many years, the Old Madam was charitable by nature and had already reduced the rent for many of her tenant farmers since the start of the year.
Minglan was carefully poking an embroidery hoop with a needle. Hearing this, she looked up, a bewildered expression on her face. "That can't be right. Throughout history, very few emperors have actually enjoyed going to war."
Old Mrs. Sheng, with her wealth of experience, pondered for a moment. "Could it be that His Majesty... intends to make some moves?"
Hearing this, Minglan nodded emphatically. "Grandmother has a point. A lecher grabs a pig-butchering knife to force himself on someone, and a petty thief gets a wolf-tooth club because he wants to be a robber. If the Emperor is holding onto military power and refusing to let go, he's probably planning something."
Emperor Renzong had been exceedingly lenient with the nobility and titled families. Consequently, for the past twenty to thirty years, military power had been largely controlled by these aristocratic clans. These families were intertwined through generations of marriage, their influence deeply entrenched, and military discipline had grown lax. It was only natural that the new Emperor would want to carry out a major reshuffle after his ascension.
The Old Madam pinched Minglan's smooth, soft little cheek. Seeing her mischievous look, she was happy that Minglan had regained her playful spirit and chided her with a laugh, "You silly girl, spouting nonsense! Is court politics something you can just jabber about? Watch out, or I'll smack you on the mouth!"
Minglan covered her face and struggled to escape the Old Madam's clutches, protesting lightly, "It's not about court politics! It's a major affair concerning our family."
"What major affair?" the Old Madam asked, intrigued.
Minglan lowered her hands and leaned in with a serious expression. "Quickly tell Mother not to be in a hurry to find a husband for Fifth Sister. It would be more reliable to wait until this round of purges is over!"
Having accepted a gold collar as a hush-money fee, she might as well help out a little. Anything that could have a positive influence on Rulan couldn't be too bad. A genuine romance was a rare thing in this era, and Minglan hoped Rulan could be happy.
In truth, Minglan was overthinking it. The Emperor moved faster than Madam Wang. Before Madam Wang could even pick a son-in-law, the first round of impeachments began.
Those who had sided with the deposed Fourth Prince during the 'Shen-Chen Incident', those connected to the two rebellious princes in the 'Jing-Tan Rebellion', and those who had been ineffective in their military support during the northern expedition against the Jie Barbarians—the Emperor ordered the censors of the Censorate to investigate them all rigorously, followed by strict trials in conjunction with the Grand Court of Revision.
Following the basic military principle of not fighting on two fronts, the Emperor focused his firepower this time on the titled aristocratic families. In one fell swoop, he stripped several of them of their princely ranks and demoted over a dozen families. The Yongchang Marquis Household also got caught in the crossfire for their inadequate military support. The Marquis was fined a year's salary, and the household had two of their imperially bestowed manors confiscated.
The civil official faction was safe for the time being, so they spared no effort in offering advice and assistance to the Emperor. As a minor head in the Censorate, Sheng Hong was especially busy. For many days in a row, he didn't return home until the middle of the night, and sometimes he even had to sleep at the ministry.
...
On this day, Hualan came with large and small bundles to visit the pregnant Hai Shi, bringing her son and daughter along to play at their maternal grandparents' home. There wasn't much of an age difference between Quange and Shige. Children at this age were the most fun—active and boisterous, yet unable to get into any real trouble. They couldn't walk far and couldn't crawl far; their most powerful technique was still to open their mouths and wail.
Not long ago, Minglan had designed a row of wooden railings, a little over a foot high, for Shige. The edges were wrapped in brocade and cotton. They were assembled like building blocks to enclose a small square area on the heated brick bed. The inside was soft all over, so it didn't matter if the little one crawled, stumbled, and fell.
This idea had won high praise from Hai Shi. Since becoming pregnant, she couldn't be as close to her son. She would often sit to the side with a gentle smile, watching Minglan use small toys to amuse Quange inside the enclosure. The chubby little dumpling would tumble onto his back one moment, then wobble a few steps while holding onto the railing the next, often making the watching adults roar with laughter.
Hualan found it amusing and decided to put Quange in as well, letting the two little brothers play by themselves. The two equally plump and round children tumbled together. One moment they were helping each other, struggling to pull one another up; the next, they were fighting over a toy, twisting together like a braided candy twist. Zhuangjie clapped her hands and cheered them on, and the adults howled with laughter. Even the maids and nannies nearby couldn't help but chuckle.
Finally, exhausted from their play, the two little brothers cried for a bit before falling asleep together, their heads touching and their short, chubby legs overlapping. They snored softly, little puffs of air escaping their mouths as they drooled.
Zhuangjie was also tired from playing. Cradling the Doraemon cloth doll Minglan had just given her in one arm, she rubbed her eyes with the other hand. Madam Wang quickly settled her down to sleep in the adjacent heated chamber, telling a maid to watch over her carefully. Hai Shi rubbed her lower back, also feeling fatigued, so the Old Madam told her to go back and rest.
"Sigh... it's still better here. Look how sturdy and strong Shige is. He's not only good-tempered but also generous and not shy with strangers." Hualan smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes from the earlier play, gazing at her son sleeping on the brick bed in the inner room. She sighed softly, "Not like Quange, who's a bit of a blockhead and physically weak."
Rulan, who was toying with a rattle drum, looked up at Hualan. "Sister-in-law often carries Shige for walks in the garden and doesn't stop him from hopping and jumping around. It's all because Eldest Sister is too restrictive with Quange!"
Hualan's expression darkened with displeasure. Seeing that her two daughters were about to bicker again, Madam Wang quickly interjected, "What do you know? How can your eldest sister's household be as straightforward as ours? There are more people, and their intentions are uncertain. If your eldest sister isn't more careful with Quange, how can she rest easy!"
Hualan's expression softened slightly, her tone bitter. "Those women in your son-in-law's chambers, not a single one is easy to deal with. When have I ever dared to let my guard down for a moment! It's my sister-in-law who is fortunate. Her family is full of honest people. As for me, sigh..."
Old Mrs. Sheng's heart ached for her eldest granddaughter. She pulled Hualan to her side and hugged her gently. "My dear Hualan, nine out of ten things in life don't go as planned. At the end of the day, your husband treats you well, doesn't he?"
Looking at the Old Madam's loving and concerned eyes, Hualan's heart warmed. She felt that she at least had her maternal family to rely on. She smiled and said, "Shige's father treats me very well. With that whole room of 'flowers and plants,' he just makes a token appearance. Most of the time, he stays by my side, and whenever he has a moment, he's playing with the children! Sometimes my mother-in-law tries to needle me with her words. He doesn't dare contradict her to her face, but afterwards, he'll report it to my father-in-law. My father-in-law will then put on a stern face and scold her—'Is your life too comfortable?! A harmonious and happy son and daughter-in-law are a blessing to the family. Don't stir up trouble for no reason. What kind of mother-in-law meddles in her son's private chambers all day?! If you disrupt the peace of this household, you can go copy scriptures in the family temple.' After that, my mother-in-law will behave for a while."
Hualan spoke in a gruff voice, perfectly mimicking the Earl of Zhongqin's tone. Rulan couldn't hold it in and collapsed into Minglan's arms with laughter. The Countess of Zhongqin was also famous in the capital for being a muddle-headed fool, often earning scoldings from her husband. Even her sister-in-law, the Countess of Shoushan, looked down on her. Many relatives and friends knew about it.
Only then did Madam Wang breathe a sigh of relief. Wiping her eyes, she said repeatedly, "That's good, that's good! Your father didn't misjudge him after all. Our son-in-law is a good man!"
The Old Madam held Hualan's hand, patting it gently. "My dear Hualan," she said with feeling, "you are doing very well. You must remain humble but hold fast to what is right. There's no need to be overly afraid of her. Both your father-in-law and your husband are reasonable men; they won't let your mother-in-law act recklessly!"
Hearing this, Rulan realized Hualan's life wasn't easy either. Feeling a little embarrassed, she slowly stood up and stammered out an apology. "Eldest Sister, you don't need to worry about Shige. Eldest Brother-in-law is so capable and accomplished, our little nephew is sure to be the same. In the future, he might even become a mighty little general!"
Hualan wiped her eyes and teased deliberately, "But they say sons take after their mothers. Shige won't get any of your eldest brother-in-law's good qualities!"
Rulan, lacking quick wit, was immediately stuck. She instinctively pinched Minglan. It wasn't the first or second time Minglan had come to her rescue. Sighing inwardly, Minglan immediately picked up the thread, "...Then he must take after his maternal uncle. If Shige is like Eldest Brother, ah..."
"Then what?" Hualan pressed with a smile.
Minglan let out a long, deliberate sigh, spread her two small, chubby hands, and said with a troubled look, "Then even if he wanted to be bad at his studies and fail his exams, it would be incredibly difficult!" Rulan clapped her hands and laughed, "That's wonderful! If not a little general, then a little top scholar!"
Everyone in the room burst into laughter. Madam Wang was extremely pleased to hear this. Hualan walked over to Minglan and gave her several hard pinches. Rulan came to help, and the three sisters patted and pinched each other, giggling.
Seeing that her daughter was doing reasonably well, Madam Wang thought of her other married daughter and couldn't help but ask, "Hualan, have you... heard anything about the Yongchang Marquis Household recently? Is it serious?"
Old Mrs. Sheng shot her a displeased look. Madam Wang's tone held far more schadenfreude than concern; she was too transparent.
Hualan shook her head and sighed. "Alas! It's because the Liang family was too slick. The earlier struggle for the throne between the Third and Fourth Princes was truly frightening. If Prince Jing had won in the end, wouldn't those who resisted him have been doomed? That's why they were so perfunctory in the army. Now that they've incurred His Majesty's displeasure, there's nothing to be said. The Liang family's eldest illegitimate son did go north with the army and earned some merits, but he was promoted entirely by old General Gan. But old General Gan... has been promoted to Minister of War, leaving a vacancy in the army. Wouldn't the Emperor want to put his own people in that spot?!"
The Emperor had not had an easy time before his ascension. Not only did the powerful aristocratic families in his fiefdom show him little respect, but every time he came to the capital, he often saw them fawning over the Third and Fourth Princes. He had probably been resentful for a very long time.
Madam Wang was listening intently. Connecting this with the gossip she had recently heard, she quickly said, "The most glorious family in the capital right now must be the Shen family. Not only did they produce an Empress, but they also have a battle-hardened Uncle Shen. Tsk tsk, what incredible luck the Shen family has!" The implication was that she greatly admired the Shen family's eye for choosing a son-in-law.
How could Hualan not know what her mother was thinking? She covered her mouth with her sleeve and giggled playfully. "My mother-in-law is full of regret right now. Six months ago, my little sister-in-law Wenying's engagement was formally settled. Who would have known that just a month later, Uncle Shen's original wife would pass away? The number of people proposing marriage to the Shen family now has probably worn down their threshold!" Thinking of her mother-in-law's frustrated look as she beat her chest and stamped her feet, Hualan found it hilarious.
Old Mrs. Sheng shook her head and sighed softly. "Like oil on a blazing fire, or brocade on fresh flowers. Marrying into such a high-ranking family doesn't necessarily mean life will be easy. From what I see, your husband's aunt is a very down-to-earth person, and she dotes on her own niece. The Shoushan Earl Household isn't large either. For your cousin-in-law to be able to marry into that family is a true blessing!"
Hualan had always admired the Old Madam's insight and nodded repeatedly. "Grandmother is right! Just look at the Yuan family. Because their status has always been modest, they aren't implicated in anything now. This time, when the Emperor is cracking down on titled families, the Yuan family has remained unscathed."
A thought struck Minglan, and she interjected, "Eldest Sister, you just said that the Emperor might be planning to replace people in the army with his own men. For someone like Eldest Brother-in-law, who has no faction or backing, he might even be given an important position."
Yuanwenshao had thought of this long ago, but Hualan was too modest to boast about it in her maternal home. Seeing that Minglan had pointed it out for her, she was pleased and pursed her lips proudly, saying humbly, "That's not certain. It will depend on His Majesty's intentions."
The Old Madam was delighted. "If your husband is capable, your life in the Yuan family will be even better!" Madam Wang was more direct: "When can you separate from the main household? Only when you're away from that mother-in-law of yours will your life be truly good!"
The Old Madam sighed inwardly, not even having the energy to be angry with Madam Wang this time. This was indeed the common wish of the Sheng family, but could such a thing be said in front of a mother-in-law?
Hualan was extremely clever. One look at the Old Madam's expression and she knew Madam Wang had spoken inappropriately. She quickly changed the subject. "Grandmother, Mother, my two younger sisters, do you know what the most interesting thing in the capital is right now?" Seeing their blank faces, Hualan continued with a light laugh, "Do you all know of Gu Tingye, who went on the northern expedition with Uncle Shen?"
Minglan's heart skipped a beat. She immediately composed herself and sat up properly.
Madam Wang laughed at the mention of his name. "How could we not know? The dissolute and unfilial son of the Ningyuan Marquis Household, who has now turned his life around and shot to fame! The Marquis of Jinxiang, the Duke of Ling, and three or four other families were all implicated with the Fourth Prince and had their titles revoked, their patents of nobility destroyed, their homes confiscated, and were put on trial. But the Ningyuan Marquis Household only had its imperially bestowed plaque taken down. Everyone says it's because the Emperor is showing consideration for Gu Erlang. What has he done now?"
Hualan picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "Before the new year, the Ningyuan Marquis Household arranged a marriage for Gu Tingye with the Peng family, a distant relative of the Marquis of Fu'an. At that time, Gu Tingye was away and knew nothing about it. By the time he found out, the Ningyuan Marquis Household had already sent a matchmaker to propose. Who knew that the Peng family, seeing Gu Tingye's destitute state at the time, would refuse the marriage. That would have been fine, but they tried to substitute a concubine's daughter from a branch of the clan. Gu Erlang was furious. He gathered a few of his brothers-in-arms and went directly to the Peng family to reject the matter!"
Madam Wang's eyebrows shot up as she listened, and she exclaimed with a laugh, "So that's what happened! I only knew half the story. The Peng family has eyes but couldn't recognize gold inlaid with jade. They must be regretting it to their very core now!"
"Isn't that so?!" Hualan smiled at the Old Madam. "Now that Gu Tingye's status is completely different, the Peng family actually wants to go through with the marriage. They've been dragging around the original matchmaker from the Ningyuan Marquis Household, clamoring everywhere that there was 'a long-standing marriage agreement'!"
Madam Wang said contemptuously, "That Peng family is too shameless!"
Old Mrs. Sheng also shook her head repeatedly as she listened, saying in a grave voice, "Even so, it's not good to let the matter become too tense. No matter what, the Marquis of Fu'an's reputation is still connected to it."
Hualan's fair fingers gently tapped her lips, unable to hide her smile. "That Gu Erlang is not one to suffer a loss! He had someone send a painting to the Peng family. The Pengs were delighted and unrolled it in front of many people. The painting depicted a barren field, with a farmer walking away, dragging his plow."
Hearing this, Minglan almost spurted out her tea with laughter. Madam Wang and Rulan looked at each other in confusion. The Old Madam, however, seemed to understand and smiled faintly. Rulan didn't dare ask anyone else, so she went back to grabbing Minglan's arm and whispered, "What does it mean?"
Minglan swallowed the tea in her mouth before she could catch her breath. "...No one plows a barren field, but once it's tilled, everyone fights for it!"
Rulan understood and clapped her hands, laughing. Madam Wang's face was laced with sarcasm. "Well said! The Peng family must have lost all face now!"
Hualan laughed. "With that painting, Gu Tingye pointed out that the Peng family was in the wrong first, so they couldn't play dumb anymore. They found a way to back down gracefully. I thought Gu Tingye went a bit too far, but who knew your son-in-law would say that the current Gu Erlang has already mellowed out a lot. If it were his old temper, he might have gone straight to their door to curse them out!"
Minglan thought of the Yanran incident and the water bandits who had been shot until they looked like hedgehogs, and she nodded to herself. That fellow really did have a bad temper.
Hualan wiped away the tears she had laughed out and continued, "The Peng family's actions only made them a laughingstock. Even the Fu'an Marquis Household refused to help them. There are so many prominent families wanting Gu Tingye as a son-in-law now. Gu Tingye has been busy at the Chief Military Commission lately and hasn't even returned to his general's residence, but matchmakers have been swarming the Ningyuan Marquis Household. Who even remembers the Peng family anymore!"
Minglan silently drank her tea, not saying a word. She only thought to herself, you can't entirely blame the Peng family for this. A wandering prodigal and a new favorite basking in the Emperor's grace—how could they possibly receive the same treatment? Now things were great. With a swarm of matchmakers, his old man Ershu would surely be able to find a suitable daughter from a main wife—one who was gentle, virtuous, compliant, and considerate. How wonderful
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