Two boats had brought them south; six boats would be taking them north. In the case of an official this would have been enough to have the censors rolling up their sleeves to grind ink for a formal memorial of impeachment. Fortunately, Minglan and her grandmother were simply visiting relatives. Word had arrived from the capital that Sheng Hong had again received an outstanding performance evaluation, and had been appointed as a Bureau Director in the Ministry of Works, heading the Bureau of Construction and Maintenance. His rank remained unchanged, but he was now at least a capital official.
Since they were settling in the capital for good, the sensible thing was to bring the furnishings and belongings from the old family home to make the place feel like home. On top of that, Sheng Wei and Second Uncle Erniu sent along a mountain of food, clothing, and household goods — bolt upon bolt of silks, satins, brocades, and furs, dozens of cases of fabric alone. The baggage train was considerable indeed. The grandmother and granddaughter bid farewell to their relatives and boarded the boat.
Minglan actually found it rather puzzling. Her father had been cultivating relationships and pulling strings since before the new year, and his record of service was solid. She had assumed he might land a position in the Ministry of Personnel — the most prestigious of the six ministries — or at least somewhere prominent like the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Justice. But the current Emperor had been on the throne for more than twenty years. Whatever palaces and imperial shrines needed building had long since been built. The Ministry of Works at this point was so peaceful and idle it practically resembled a retirement home. Why on earth would Sheng Hong end up there? Minglan put this question to Grandmother Sheng. The old woman turned it back on her with a question of her own: “What does Little Ming think?”
Minglan rolled her eyes. Grandmother Sheng was a devoted practitioner of the Socratic method of interactive instruction. She rarely told Minglan the answers outright or told her what to do — for everything, she required Minglan to reason it out herself. Minglan thought for a moment and said: “The Emperor grows old, and the matter of succession remains unresolved. The capital right now is a place of roiling undercurrents. If Father truly went into one of those ministries where people are fighting tooth and nail for influence, he might well end up embroiled in trouble he didn’t seek. Father is really quite clever.”
Grandmother Sheng smiled and stroked her granddaughter’s hair with quiet approval.
The river water flowed smooth and easy, the boat rocking in a gentle, soothing rhythm. The time in Youyang had been full of Minglan and Pin’lan running about together every day — grandmother and granddaughter had barely had a proper conversation. Now that they were on the boat, they had time again to talk.
“Silly child — is there anyone in the world of officialdom who isn’t clever? Especially in the capital — the waters run murky there. It’s simply that some people have been seduced by ambition, and think themselves cleverer than they are, and so risk casting their lot on the outcome of the succession struggle. But affairs within the imperial palace are stranger and more unpredictable than anything — your father’s way of staying cautious and out of reach is the better one.” Grandmother Sheng lay back on the couch draped with a soft blanket, speaking to Minglan in a relaxed and easy tone. “Just now when you were saying goodbye to Pin’lan — what did you two talk about? Cuiwei told me you didn’t sleep well last night.”
Minglan thought it over and decided to be straightforward: “I asked Pin’lan not to shout at and order Cousin Taisheng around as she usually does — to be a little more calm and dignified. Aunt might not like it otherwise.” Grandmother Sheng gave her a sideways glance: “You’re overthinking it. Your aunt adores lively, spirited girls — why would she dislike it?”
Minglan sighed: “As a niece — naturally she would adore it. But as a daughter-in-law, that is a different matter entirely.” There is no mother-in-law in the world who enjoys watching her own son become entirely subservient to his wife.
Grandmother Sheng frowned: “What daughter-in-law? A girl your age should not be saying such things.”
Minglan said quickly: “What can I not say to Grandmother? And I wouldn’t say it outside. Pin’lan and Cousin Taisheng are made for each other — anyone with eyes can see it.”
Grandmother Sheng appeared mildly intrigued by this. She slowly sat up, fixed Minglan with a steady look, and smiled: “Truly speaking — Taisheng is a good young man. The family has money and property, and there are no brothers to divide things with. No shortage of families in Youyang with their eye on him. These past few days, your aunt has been so fond of you — I would imagine many of those treasures she keeps at the bottom of her trunks, things she would never even give to Pin’lan, have ended up in your pockets.”
Minglan looked her grandmother straight in the eyes and said, slowly and clearly, one word at a time: “Whatever kindness Aunt has shown me is mostly owed to your blessing, Grandmother. Your granddaughter may not be the cleverest person in the world, but she is not so arrogant as to think otherwise. Pin’lan and Cousin Taisheng have grown up side by side since they were small — they are, well… childhood sweethearts.”
Grandmother Sheng was mildly surprised. Minglan’s eyes were clear and bright, her expression without a flicker of hesitation. The old woman chuckled: “So you did notice. Not as dim as I thought.”
Minglan felt rather sheepish. If she hadn’t happened to overhear that conversation by accident, she had been so busy eating and playing with Pin’lan these past days that she would never have worked it out herself.
Grandmother Sheng shifted to sit up properly. Minglan quickly retrieved a large bolster and tucked it behind her grandmother’s back, then curled herself up inside the coverlet beside her. The old woman drew her granddaughter’s small shoulders close and said: “This past month at your eldest uncle’s house — you saw quite a bit, heard quite a bit, and got a taste of a different corner of the world. What have you come away with?”
Minglan nestled against her grandmother’s soft, comfortable middle and said lazily: “At first I couldn’t quite make sense of some things. Now I think I understand. Before I came here, I had heard that the household of the third branch was very badly off — not only relying on eldest uncle’s family for support at every turn, but ungrateful about it as well. When I saw it for myself, I found the third branch’s conduct rather contemptible too. But what puzzled me was: eldest uncle’s family seemed to always be tolerant of them. Not only did they help them out regularly, but they never missed inviting them to the banquets and festivities at the new year and holidays. I wondered then — it was obvious that eldest aunt didn’t particularly like them either, so why not simply keep them at a distance?”
Grandmother Sheng patted Minglan’s small hand: “And now you understand?”
“Yes.” Minglan rubbed contentedly against her grandmother’s middle: “Strict with oneself and lenient with others — the whole of Youyang knows eldest uncle’s family for their generosity, and knows the third branch for their faults. Whatever may happen, people will always assume it is the third branch’s mistake.”
Grandmother Sheng nodded with satisfaction, reached out to give her granddaughter’s small cheek a gentle pinch, and smiled: “You’ve been lazy and averse to social dealings since you were small. I worried your nature was too aloof and lofty. But now I see you understand the practical ways of the world — and I am glad. Little Ming — remember this: however poorly the third branch may behave, the old master of the third branch is still living, and he is within two generations of kinship. If the family truly cut all ties and looked after only their own comfort while offering nothing to a branch in need — would that not invite talk of snobbery and ingratitude? Merchants already carry a reputation for lacking moral principle. Yet your eldest uncle is praised throughout the whole county. At the cost of only a little silver — and the third branch doesn’t live lavishly at that money — a good name is earned. Is that not of benefit to the children and grandchildren for generations to come?”
Minglan, knowing Grandmother Sheng was teaching her, listened carefully, and added: “On the day of Elder Sister Shulan’s separation — Pin’lan and I were both furious at the time. The Sun mother and son were so detestable — so why still leave half the dowry with them? But thinking about it afterward, if Great-Grandmother had really demanded everything back, the Sun family would have had nothing left to lose and would have refused to agree to an amicable separation. If they had chosen to issue a letter of divorce instead — that would have been far worse. I suppose it was a matter of paying a price to avoid a greater disaster.”
Grandmother Sheng gently smoothed the soft hair at Minglan’s temple and said slowly: “Exactly so — who wouldn’t despise that family! But there was no other way. An amicable separation is no easy thing to achieve — you need grounds for it. A husband without virtue, a mother-in-law without conduct — but none of that can be formally raised and argued in a proper setting. Great-Grandmother’s elder sister-in-law has formidable skill — she appealed to emotion, reasoned with principle, enticed with financial concession, and pressed with the weight of consequences. In affairs like this, one needs to cut through quickly — resolve it in a single day, then send Shulan away at once. Once the idle talk has blown over, things will settle.”
Minglan nodded repeatedly, then suddenly sat up and pouted: “But the Sun family is so hateful — it makes my teeth ache with rage. Are we just going to let it end there?”
“What a fierce little temper!” Grandmother Sheng said with a smile. “Your eldest aunt is not one to simply accept things either — but for the moment nothing can be done outwardly, and she can’t show any ill intent on the surface. She’ll need to stay on good terms with the rest of the Sun clan family for now. The reckoning will come in time. But from what I’ve seen of this Sun mother and son — both muddle-headed and greedy — they may not even need anyone else to act against them. They’re likely to come to ruin all on their own.”
Minglan perked up: “Pin’lan has promised me that the moment that Sun scholar gets himself into any trouble, she’ll write to me immediately! Then I can read it aloud to you, Grandmother.” Grandmother Sheng scolded her fondly: “You mischievous little thing — so fond of squabbles and excitement, quite a fierce one yourself! You’ve had quite enough of playing with Pin’lan this trip — I’ve given you every freedom. When you get home, you’ll need to settle down and behave.”
Minglan hugged her grandmother’s arm and made a sincere pledge: “Grandmother, don’t worry. I’ve been out and seen something of the world this time — I’ve learned a great deal more about people and how things work. When we’re back home, I will be on my very best behavior and not cause you a moment’s worry.”
Grandmother Sheng held her small granddaughter with gentle fondness and murmured: “Having someone to worry about makes the days easier to pass.”
They arrived at the Jing-Jin crossing, disembarked, and took to the road by carriage, traveling along the main road directly toward the capital. Just as they reached the city gates, Sheng family servants were already waiting. They transferred to the household carriage and continued on.
Now, the capital was a place where officials gathered in their hundreds and noble families filled every corner. Property prices were no cheaper than they had been in Yao Yiyi’s day in any modern capital — and in ancient times, matters were even more particular. Beyond money, one also needed the right background. The prime districts near the imperial palace were especially strict: the wrong profession, a doubtful background, and no amount of money would gain one entry.
A moneylender or the small owner of a slaughterhouse, for instance, could not have bought their way in if they had filled a vessel the size of the Titanic with silver. The Sheng family, being of merchant stock, would ordinarily have had no prospects of living there at all. But decades earlier, when the ancestral tombs had apparently exhaled an auspicious vapor and the son of the house had passed the examinations and achieved the rank of Tanhua Scholar, Sheng’s great-grandfather had seized the opportunity — riding on the family’s newfound prestige and with silver in hand — to purchase a large four-to-five-courtyard residence just outside the Gate of Tai’an. The location was upper-middle in terms of desirability: to the right lay the Linqing Ward, where men of learning clustered; to the left bordered the half-prestigious residential district of nobles of middling rank. Then, taking further advantage of his son’s marriage to the daughter of a Marquess household, he had purchased a garden behind the residence and connected the two properties into one.
Many of Sheng Hong’s former examination cohort and colleagues — men of modest family who had risen entirely through the examinations — could only afford to live in the outer rings or the back alleys on the margins of the capital. Sheng Hong had become one of the rare officials at his level to possess a garden residence. Minglan reflected once again on the importance of which family one was born into.
“Back when the old Marquess learned that the old master had a property like this, he decided the family was not entirely without substance or roots — and that was what finally persuaded him to agree to the marriage,” Nanny Fang whispered in Minglan’s ear.
Minglan looked to the heavens and sighed: so a man who wants to marry really does need to own property.