It had to be said that Sheng Hong had not served as a fourth-rank official for nothing. In Minglan’s words, he possessed an acute political sensitivity — for on the very day the Northern Expedition’s great army returned to the capital, he had already developed the keen sense that he was about to become very busy.
In the Great Zhou dynasty, military authority was originally concentrated in the Five Military Commands, supplemented by the capital garrison and the regional guard outposts, with the Five Battalion Constabulary holding some as well. After the new Emperor ascended the throne, the realm had consecutively endured two major military conflicts — the Jing-Tan Rebellion and the Northern Expedition against the Jie barbarians — and as a result, the greater part of the elite and battle-hardened forces had come to be concentrated in the hands of Shen and Gu.
By convention, upon a great army’s return to the capital, the commanding generals were expected to hand back their military authority tokens and seals. Yet half a month had now passed with no movement whatsoever. The Ministry of Personnel had submitted several memorials — gently hinting at the matter — but from the Emperor’s side there came not a single response. Finally, Grand Scholar of the Wuying Hall, Qiu Shu, raised the matter openly at court, only to be harshly rebuked by the Emperor himself for “overstepping his bounds.”
Sheng Hong sensed that something was not right, and as he always had, he sought counsel from the old lady. After one afternoon’s dismissal from court, he came to Shou’an Hall to pay his respects, said a few words about it, and then went off to discuss the matter in detail with Changbai.
“Let there be no more disturbances, please.” The old lady pressed her palms together and murmured a few prayers under her breath. “War and upheaval — in the end, it is the common people who suffer most. That unrest from before the new year left how many fertile fields along the Jianghuai region devastated by poor harvests — those poor farming families were left with no choice but to sell their children. This old woman has been practicing Buddhism for many years and tries to do good — I’ve already reduced the tenant farmers’ rent at several of our estates since the troubles began.”
Minglan sat pricking a piece of embroidery on its hoop with careful precision. She looked up with an expression of mild bewilderment, “Surely not? Throughout history, there have been very few emperors who actually enjoyed making war.”
The old lady had somewhat more worldly experience, and said thoughtfully, “Could it be that the Emperor… is preparing to take certain actions?”
Minglan nodded vigorously at this, “Grandmother is quite right. A scoundrel who grabs a slaughtering knife intends to force himself on someone. A petty thief who picks up a wolf’s-tooth club is plotting to become a highwayman. An emperor who tightens his grip on military power and won’t let go — he is surely about to make a move.”
Emperor Renzong had been exceedingly generous toward the nobility and aristocracy. And so for twenty years, military authority had been largely held in the hands of the hereditary noble families. These families had intermarried across generations, their influence tangled and deep-rooted together, their military discipline lax and deteriorating. Now that a new emperor had ascended the throne, a wholesale changing of the guard was naturally in order.
The old lady pinched Minglan’s smooth, plump little cheek and, seeing the playful mischief in her expression, felt glad she had gotten some of her spark back. She gave her a scolding smile, “You little wretch — talking nonsense! Court affairs are not something for you to go blathering about! Just see if I don’t slap that mouth of yours!”
Minglan covered her cheeks and wrenched herself free of the old lady’s iron grip, protesting lightly, “It’s not court affairs! It’s a matter that concerns our own family greatly.”
“What great matter?” The old lady asked with curiosity.
Minglan dropped her hands and leaned in with a serious face, “Tell them not to rush into finding a match for Fifth Sister just yet — wait until this round of reckoning has played itself out, and then look for someone more secure!”
She had accepted the gold necklace as a fee to keep her mouth shut, so she might as well be of some use. Anyone who could have a positive influence on Rulan couldn’t be all bad. Falling genuinely in love these days was not easy — Minglan hoped Rulan would be happy.
In truth, Minglan had been too cautious — the Emperor moved faster than Wang Shi. Before Wang Shi had even settled on a son-in-law candidate, the first wave of impeachment memorials had already begun.
Those who had sided with the deposed Fourth Prince during the Shen-Chen Incident; those who had been connected to the treasonous Second and Third Princes during the Jing-Tan Rebellion; those who had performed inadequately in the management and coordination of the Northern Expedition — the Emperor had the Censorate’s full corps of inspecting censors apply their utmost efforts to investigate, after which cases were jointly reviewed and strictly tried by the Court of Judicial Review.
Following the basic military principle of not fighting on two fronts at once, the Emperor directed his fire this time squarely at the hereditary noble families. In rapid succession, several princely titles were stripped, and more than a dozen families were demoted or censured. Yongchang Marquis’s household, on account of inadequate coordination of military affairs, caught a severe glancing blow — the Marquis himself was penalized one year’s salary, and the household had two imperially granted estates confiscated as well.
The civil official faction temporarily remained safe, and so threw its full energy behind contributing strategies and manpower in service to the Emperor. As one of the lesser heads of the Censorate, Sheng Hong was especially busy — for many consecutive days he did not return until past midnight, and sometimes had to sleep at the government office altogether.
…
On this particular day, Hualan came laden with large and small parcels to visit the pregnant Hai Shi, and also brought along her own son and daughter to play at her maternal grandparents’ home. Quange’er and Shige’er were born only a short time apart — children at this age were the most delightful: active and lively, but not yet capable of causing real mischief. They could walk a little but not far, crawl but not cover much distance, and their most powerful technique was still opening their mouths and wailing at full volume.
Not long before, Minglan had designed a low wooden enclosure about a foot in height for Shige’er, padded all around the edges with brocade and cotton batting, fitted together like building blocks and arranged in a neat square on the kang. Inside, everything was soft and padded — a child could crawl and topple around freely with no risk of getting hurt.
This idea had earned Hai Shi’s wholehearted approval. Since becoming pregnant, she had not been able to be very close to her son. She would sit nearby with a contented smile, watching Minglan lure Quange’er with small toys inside his enclosure. The round, plump little fellow would go toppling onto all fours one moment, then clutch the enclosure rail and stagger a few steps sideways the next, regularly sending all the watching adults into helpless laughter.
Hualan found it charming and cheerful, and on impulse put Quange’er inside as well, letting the little pair play together on their own. Two children, equally white-chubby and round, tumbled about together — one moment cooperating with great effort to help each other stand, the next squabbling over a toy and rolling into a knotted tangle like a twisted rope of glutinous rice candy. Zhuang Jie’er clapped and cheered them on. Everyone watching burst into helpless laughter — even the maids and matrons nearby couldn’t suppress their amusement.
In the end, exhausted from all the commotion, the little pair wailed for a few moments, then collapsed side by side and fell fast asleep — heads touching, short chubby legs overlapping, snoring softly, mouths slightly open with little trails of drool.
Zhuang Jie’er had also tired herself out from playing. Clutching the robot cat plush toy Minglan had just given her in one hand, she rubbed her eyes with the other. Wang Shi quickly had her settled in the warm inner room next door to nap, and told a maidservant to keep a careful watch over her. Hai Shi rubbed the small of her back and said she was feeling tired too, so the old lady sent her to go rest.
“Ah… it really is better here. Look how sturdy and energetic Shige’er is — good-natured and not at all shy around strangers.” Hualan smoothed the wrinkles from her clothing, the result of all the playful chaos, and gazed from a distance at her son asleep in the inner room. She let out a gentle sigh. “Quange’er just isn’t the same — slow and a little clumsy, and still a bit delicate in health.”
Rulan, who was playing with a rattle-drum, looked up at Hualan and said, “Eldest Sister-in-Law is always outdoors holding Shige’er as she walks around the garden, and she never stops him from jumping and running about. Eldest Sister is just too overprotective with Quange’er!”
Hualan’s expression clouded slightly, as though she were a little put out. Wang Shi, seeing that her two daughters were about to start bickering again, quickly interjected, “What do you know — how can Eldest Sister’s home compare to ours in simplicity and ease? More people, more complicated thoughts — if Eldest Sister doesn’t take extra care with Quange’er, how could she ever rest easy?”
Hualan’s expression eased a little. Her voice carried a tinge of bitterness, “The women in my husband’s household, not one of them is easy to manage — I haven’t had a moment to relax in years. Sister-in-Law is truly blessed by comparison — her household is full of honest, straightforward people. Me, I… ah…”
The old lady felt great tenderness for this eldest granddaughter, and pulled Hualan close, gently holding her, “My Hualan, in life, nine times out of ten things do not go as one wishes. Surely your husband at least treats you well?”
Hualan looked into the old lady’s affectionate, concerned eyes and felt her heart warm — to know she still had her maternal family to rely on. She smiled and said, “Shige’er’s father treats your granddaughter very well. As for that household full of flowers and decorations — he barely does more than make a token appearance. Most days he stays by my side, and whenever he has a moment free, he entertains and plays with the children. Sometimes when my mother-in-law says sharp things to me, he doesn’t dare contradict her openly to her face — but afterward he reports it to Father-in-Law, and Father-in-Law straightens his face and gives her a good scolding: ‘What have you got to complain about?! A harmonious son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren is the family’s good fortune — you mustn’t create trouble for no reason. A mother-in-law who meddles in her son’s inner rooms all day — what is this behavior?! If you keep stirring up trouble in the household, you can go to the family shrine and copy sutras!’ And then my mother-in-law behaves herself for a while.”
Hualan roughened her voice in a pitch-perfect imitation of the Zhongqin Earl’s manner of speaking. Rulan could not hold in her breath and collapsed laughing against Minglan. The Zhongqin Earl’s wife was well known in the capital as an especially muddled woman, regularly reprimanded by her father-in-law and looked down upon even by the eldest branch’s Shoushan Earl’s wife — quite a few relatives and friends were aware of this.
Wang Shi finally breathed a sigh of relief, dabbed at her eyes, and said repeatedly, “That’s all right then, that’s all right! Your father has good judgment after all — your husband is a good man!”
The old lady held Hualan’s hand and patted it gently, saying with feeling, “My Hualan, you are doing very well. Keep your manner humble and your principles firm — there is no need to fear her too greatly. Your father-in-law and your husband are both discerning men, and they will not simply allow your mother-in-law to run amok!”
Rulan, hearing this, realized that Hualan’s days were not easy either. She felt a little sheepish, slowly stood up, and offered a somewhat awkward apology. Then she said, “Eldest Sister, you needn’t worry about Shige’er — your husband is capable and accomplished, so your little nephew will surely be the same. Who knows, perhaps he’ll grow up to be a mighty little general!”
Hualan dabbed the tears that had laughed their way out and deliberately teased, “But they say sons take after their mothers — Shige’er won’t inherit his father’s good qualities in that case!”
Rulan, who was not quick-witted in these moments, stalled completely. She immediately gave Minglan a tug — Minglan had come to her rescue more than once or twice in situations like this, and she was now pressed into service again. Minglan silently sighed, and quickly picked up the thread, “…Then he takes after his maternal uncles. If Shige’er is like Elder Brother Changbai, then ah…”
“Then what?” Hualan laughed and pressed her further.
Minglan deliberately heaved a long, theatrical sigh and spread her two little chubby hands with an expression of pained difficulty, “Then try as he might to not read well and fail the examinations — it would be next to impossible!” Rulan clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Perfect — if not a little general, then a little top scholar!”
Everyone in the room was greatly amused. Wang Shi, hearing this, felt warmly satisfied. Hualan walked over to Minglan and gave her several firm pinches. Rulan came to join in, and the three sisters went at it patting and pinching and laughing together, giggling the whole time.
Wang Shi, seeing that her daughter seemed to be getting along all right, thought of the other married daughter. She couldn’t help asking, “Hualan, have you heard anything about recent matters at Yongchang Marquis’s household? Is it serious?”
The old lady shot her a look of displeasure — the schadenfreude in Wang Shi’s tone far outweighed any genuine concern. This was too much.
Hualan shook her head and sighed, “Ah! The Liang family was always too clever by half. That business with the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince competing for the throne was truly frightening. If in the end the King of Jing had won, then all those who had helped resist him would surely have met with disaster. So they deliberately dragged their feet and played both sides in the military — and now they’ve fallen out of the Emperor’s favor. There’s really nothing to be said. The Liang family’s eldest concubine-born son did march north with the expedition, and did render some merit — but he was personally promoted by Old General Gan. And Old General Gan… has now been elevated to Minister of War, vacating his post in the military. Naturally the Emperor will be placing his own people into those open positions!”
The Emperor’s life before he ascended the throne had not been easy. Not only had the powerful hereditary families of his vassal lands shown him no respect — every time he came to the capital, he was witness to the elaborate fawning those noble houses directed at the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince. He had almost certainly been nursing that grievance for a very long time.
Wang Shi was absorbed in what she heard and, combining it with recent gossip she had gathered, quickly said, “The most enviable family in the capital right now must be the Shen family — not only did they produce an Empress, but they have a National Uncle who can win battles on top of it. The Shen family has amazing fortune!” The implication, of course, was considerable admiration for the Shen family’s foresight in their choice of son-in-law.
How could Hualan not know what her own mother was getting at? She pressed her sleeve to her mouth to conceal her amusement and played along, “My mother-in-law has been full of regret these days. Half a year ago, my little sister-in-law Ying’s formal betrothal was just completed — and then, barely a month later, the Shen National Uncle’s original wife passed away. Now, anyone trying to propose to the Shen family has probably worn out the doorstep!” Thinking of her mother-in-law’s chest-beating, foot-stamping fit of regret, Hualan felt only amusement.
The old lady shook her head gently and sighed, “Blazing fire, fresh-cut flowers in full bloom — once you’ve entered a household at such a peak of glory, life within is not necessarily going to be easy. I think your husband’s aunt is a truly sensible woman, and very devoted to her niece. The Shoushan Earl’s household doesn’t have many people in it. For your husband’s cousin to marry into that family is a true blessing.”
Hualan had always respected the old lady’s insight and nodded in repeated agreement, “Grandmother is absolutely right. Just take the Yuan family — because their gates have always been modest and unassuming, they weren’t even associated with any of these entanglements. This time, when the Emperor struck hard at the noble title families, the Yuan family came out completely unscathed.”
Minglan’s heart stirred. She interjected, “Eldest Sister, you just said the Emperor is likely going to place his own people into the military positions. Someone like Elder Sister-in-law’s husband — with no factional allegiances — might actually be among those favored for promotion.”
Yuan Shao had already thought of this long ago, but Hualan had not felt comfortable boasting about it in her maternal family’s home. Seeing Minglan spell it out for her, she felt pleased, and suppressed a proud little smile, saying modestly, “It’s hard to say — it all depends on what His Majesty has in mind.”
The old lady was genuinely delighted, “If your husband rises, your days in the Yuan household will be much easier!”
Wang Shi said bluntly, “When will you be able to split off into your own household — only then will you really be living well, away from that mother-in-law of yours!”
The old lady felt inwardly exhausted — this time she didn’t even have the energy to take issue with Wang Shi. This was, of course, everyone in the Sheng family’s shared wish — but was this something that could be said in front of a daughter-in-law?
How perceptive was Hualan — the moment she caught the old lady’s expression, she knew Wang Shi had misspoken. She quickly steered the conversation elsewhere, “Grandmother, Mother, and both younger sisters — do you know what the most interesting piece of news in the capital is right now?” Seeing everyone shake their heads in ignorance, Hualan smiled and continued, “Gu Tingye, the one who marched north together with National Uncle Shen — does everyone know of him?”
Minglan’s heart gave a small start. She immediately composed herself and sat up properly.
Wang Shi heard the name and laughed at once, “How could we not know him? Ningyuan Marquis’s good-for-nothing second son — risen and turned his fortunes around at last! Even though he’d been connected to the Fourth Prince just the same as the others, Jingxiang Marquis, Duke Lingguo, and four or five other households all had their titles stripped, their estates confiscated, and were arrested for trial — and yet Ningyuan Marquis’s household only had the imperially bestowed placard taken down from its gate. Everyone says it’s because the Emperor values Gu the Second for his merit. So what’s happened with him now?”
Hualan picked up her teacup, took a leisurely sip, and said in an unhurried tone, “Before the new year, Ningyuan Marquis’s household had proposed a match for Gu Tingye — through a distant relative of the Fu’an Marquis’s family, the Peng family. At the time, Gu Tingye was on his own outside and knew nothing of this. By the time he found out, Ningyuan Marquis’s household had already sent a matchmaker to negotiate. But the Peng family, seeing at the time that Gu Tingye was in a poor and desperate state, refused to agree to the match. That could have been the end of it — but they then tried to put forward a concubine-born daughter from a collateral branch of the family as a substitute. Gu the Second was furious and brought several military companions with him to go directly to the Peng family’s gate to refuse the arrangement in person!”
Wang Shi’s eyes lit up with delighted excitement, “So that’s how it was! I only knew half the story before. The Peng family had eyes but couldn’t recognize real gold — they must be crying their insides out with regret now!”
“Absolutely!” Hualan turned to the old lady with a smile and said, “Now that Gu Tingye’s standing has changed entirely, the Peng family has actually been going around trying to revive the match — bringing along the matchmaker who originally handled the negotiation for Ningyuan Marquis’s household, making noise everywhere and claiming there is some kind of ‘long-standing engagement’!”
Wang Shi said with contempt, “This Peng family has completely thrown away their face!”
The old lady also shook her head repeatedly at this, saying in a measured tone, “Even so, it would not be wise to let things become too acrimonious — after all, there is still the Fu’an Marquis’s face to consider.”
Hualan’s fair, slender finger tapped lightly on her own lips, unable to conceal the amusement dancing in her eyes, “That Gu the Second is certainly not the sort to take a loss lying down! He had a painting sent to the Peng family. The Peng family was very pleased and opened it before a good number of witnesses — inside the painting was a stretch of thin and barren fields, with a farmer walking away dragging a plow.”
Minglan heard this and burst out laughing so hard she nearly spat out her tea. Wang Shi and Rulan looked at each other blankly. The old lady seemed to have caught the idea, and a faint smile played at her lips. Rulan, who didn’t dare ask anyone else, grabbed Minglan’s arm as usual and whispered, “What does it mean?!”
Minglan swallowed the tea in her mouth first before she could catch her breath, then said, “…A barren field left untended — but the moment someone starts tilling it, everyone comes to fight over it!”
Rulan understood at once and laughed, clapping her hands with glee. Wang Shi’s expression turned sardonic, “Well said! I’d like to see how the Peng family has any face left now!”
Hualan laughed, “With this painting, Gu Tingye pointed out that the Peng family had been in the wrong first, and they couldn’t very well pretend not to understand — so they found a face-saving step-down and took it. I thought Gu Tingye had gone a little too far, actually — but do you know what my husband said? He said the Gu the Second of today is actually far more restrained. Given his old temperament, he’d probably have gone straight to their door to curse them out in person!”
Minglan thought of the incident involving Yan Ran, and of the bandits who’d been turned into porcupines by arrows, and silently nodded in agreement. This man did indeed have a temper.
Hualan dabbed the amused tears from her eyes and continued, “This kind of behavior from the Peng family only invites ridicule from everyone — even the Fu’an Marquis’s household has declined to stand up for them. Now, the families lining up to propose matches with Gu Tingye are more than anyone can count. Gu Tingye has been occupied at the Military Command all this time and hasn’t even returned to the General’s Mansion once — yet matchmakers have swarmed in droves to Ningyuan Marquis’s household instead, and who still remembers the Peng family?!”
Minglan drank her tea quietly, without saying a single word. She was thinking privately — one couldn’t entirely blame the Peng family. A wandering, unreliable drifter and an imperial favorite newly risen to glory were not the same person, and could not possibly command the same treatment. Well, this was fine now — with a swarm of matchmakers buzzing at his gate, Second Uncle would certainly be able to find a suitable young lady of legitimate birth from a good family — gentle and virtuous, docile and accommodating. How wonderful. How truly wonderful.