With this thought, although still troubled, Mian Tang was no longer so distressed as to contemplate drastic measures. However, she still felt somewhat embarrassed. Cui Fu sighed softly, “I’m sorry you had to hear about our family troubles.”
Mian Tang, deeply moved by the drama unfolding before her, was sipping tea to rehydrate. Hearing Cui Fu’s self-deprecation, she replied nonchalantly, “How could I laugh at family matters? Xingzhou is also regretting not trying harder to prevent your marriage to the Qing Guo Gong family. Lady Qing Guo Gong’s actions were dishonorable, and Guo Yi has forgotten loyalty for the sake of beauty. Our Huaiyang Wang’s household isn’t finished with them!”
Her eyes were red from crying like a rabbit, but her expression was that of an angered wolf cub.
Cui Fu couldn’t help but smile at her reaction, then sighed again. “Xingzhou has just arrived in the capital and is already facing difficulties. I’ve heard he spends his days idle at the Ministry of War, having been sidelined. Such an unproductive position, if held for too long, can ruin a person. The noble families in the capital are deeply entrenched. Xingzhou can barely look after himself; how could I let him create more trouble over my family affairs? You need to be sensible too.
Don’t let Xingzhou do anything rash because of me… That family, as troublesome as they are, if you make my mother-in-law change one thing, she’ll have other tricks up her sleeve. I’m just taking it one day at a time. As Xingzhou said, worst case, I’ll divorce him, or he’ll grow distant from me… To be honest, the reason I only have Jin is that he’s always in his concubines’ chambers. If I hadn’t been vigilant, the Guo mansion would be overrun with illegitimate children. But now that he’s welcomed this favored concubine, such a delicate cousin, I can’t even manage her… I’m truly unlucky, marrying someone as fickle as my father. A divorce wouldn’t be a pity, but Jin…”
Mian Tang knew Cui Fu was worried about burdening her brother. She spoke gently, “The first three months of pregnancy are crucial. Your brother will handle everything; you won’t be disadvantaged. Stay at your maiden home to nurture your pregnancy and take care of yourself and Jin. As for Xingzhou, he knows what he’s doing. Don’t worry. Our Cui family isn’t some overbearing clan. It’s just a matter of returning favors tenfold. Sister, you don’t need to be so cautious. Commoners marry off their daughters for food and clothing; noble families do it for alliances and to add glory. Now, we don’t need anything from the Qing Guo Gong family, yet they keep troubling the Cui family. If we don’t retaliate somewhat, they’ll think the daughter they married off has no one to look after her!”
Cui Fu felt uneasy hearing this and asked urgently, “What exactly is Xingzhou planning to do?”
Seeing Cui Fu’s anxiety, Mian Tang smiled and said, “Really, nothing has been done. It’s just that the vacant position in the Ministry of Revenue was filled by someone Wang recommended…”
Cui Fu immediately understood. The Qing Guo Gong family had come to the capital because Guo Yi had been promoted. After entering the capital, he transferred between several offices and, with the Gai family’s help, finally entered the Ministry of Revenue, waiting for the vacant position of Right Vice Minister.
Just two days ago, Cui Fu had heard Guo Yi excitedly mention that the position was almost certainly his. How could Mian Tang now say it had been taken by someone else?
Mian Tang grabbed a handful of melon seeds, sharing some with Jin who was nearby, before continuing, “I only heard yesterday that Cui Xingzhou had petitioned His Majesty to transfer Li Guangcai, the county magistrate from Xi Prefecture, to fill the vacancy in the Ministry of Revenue. He should be arriving in the capital in a few days.”
Hearing this, Cui Fu was stunned. “Him? In terms of talent, Guo Yi can’t compare. It’s not unfair if he took the position.”
Mian Tang asked curiously, “You know Lord Li?”
Cui Fu lowered her eyes and said casually, “Before I was married, he was a frequent guest at the Wang mansion. He and Xingzhou were in the same year of the imperial exams. I used to join them and other exam-mates for poetry and wine, chatting a bit… But Guo Yi said his position in the Ministry of Revenue was secure. If he finds out he’s been passed over…”
Mian Tang imitated Cui Xingzhou’s manner and said, “It’s meant to upset the Guo family. Otherwise, they might never know what it feels like to be force-fed shit!”
In fact, on the second day after Cui Fu left the mansion, Guo Yi had already been force-fed a large mouthful.
Before the official appointment arrived, Guo Yi had already invited colleagues for drinks to celebrate in advance. After all, it was a done deal, just waiting for the formality of the official appointment.
Amidst the congratulations from his colleagues, Guo Yi waited with full expectation to hear his name called. But to everyone’s surprise, the person appointed as the Right Vice Minister was an unknown Li Guangcai!
The scene was incredibly awkward!
Guo Yi was so ashamed he wanted to disappear into the ground. He couldn’t bear to meet his colleagues’ eyes and left early, claiming illness.
When Lady Gai, Qing Guo Gong’s wife, eagerly greeted him at home, asking if the appointment had come through, Guo Yi could no longer contain his frustration. He burst into angry tears but couldn’t bring himself to explain what had happened.
Lady Gai, alarmed, sent for the Qing Guo Gong to see to their son.
After several attempts to get an answer, the Qing Guo Gong slapped Guo Yi, finally making him speak.
When Guo Yi explained that someone else had been appointed to the position, the Qing Guo Gong was dumbfounded.
Lady Gai immediately sent a message to her Gai family, asking her brother in the Ministry of Personnel to investigate. Soon, word came back that the appointment hadn’t come from the Ministry of Personnel but was a sudden decree from the Emperor, changing the personnel at the last minute.
As for who this Li Guangcai was, a quick look at his background revealed he was associated with the Huaiyang Wang. Indeed, just before the appointment was made, Huaiyang Wang had an audience with the Emperor, recommending a candidate for the position of Vice Minister of Revenue.
When all the details were clear, the Qing Guo Gong household was in an uproar.
Guo Yi was stunned, the Qing Guo Gong retreated silently to his study to write and paint, while Lady Gai was so angry she kept slamming the table. She ordered someone to go to Huaiyang Wang’s mansion to summon Cui Fu back, intending to interrogate her about whether she had become jealous and incited her family to cause trouble for the Qing Guo Gong household.
However, the carriage sent to fetch her returned empty. The messenger reported that they hadn’t seen the eldest madam, but Huaiyang Wang himself had been there and told them, “My sister is unwell. I’m afraid she can’t properly care for her pregnancy at the Qing Guo Gong mansion, so she’ll stay at our Wang mansion for a while longer to avoid spreading any illness to your household.”
Truth be told, the Qing Guo Gong family hadn’t had much interaction with the Huaiyang Wang’s household before. They didn’t know the temperament of this Huaiyang Wang who had inherited his father’s title.
Lady Gai, accustomed to having the final say at home, couldn’t accept being so blatantly rebuffed. She angrily told her son, “If such an unvirtuous woman doesn’t come back, don’t bother bringing her back at all!”
Fortunately, Guo Yi still had some sense. He anxiously stamped his foot and said, “Mother, please don’t make things worse. The Cui family is picking a fight with us. If you insist on not taking Cui Fu back today, who knows what obstacles my brother-in-law might put in my way tomorrow!”
But Lady Gai didn’t see it that way. She felt that what she had done wasn’t such a big deal; she had merely arranged a favored concubine for her son. Did the Huaiyang Wang’s household need to approve the internal affairs of the Qing Guo Gong family?
With Cui Fu continuously feigning illness and avoiding them, Guo Yi had no choice but to visit Huaiyang Wang’s mansion himself. However, the Huaiyang Wang refused to see him. Instead, the pregnant Wang Fei received her brother-in-law.
Looking at this delicate beauty, her words were like soft knives, leaving Guo Yi feeling utterly embarrassed.
Finally, seeing her son’s failure, Lady Gai became even more frustrated. She was determined to reason with the Huaiyang Wang’s household. At last, she encountered the Huaiyang Wang Fei at Lady Jing’an Hou’s flower-viewing tea party.
Guo Yi, accompanying Lady Gai, sent someone to invite the Huaiyang Wang Fei over for a chat.
In such a setting, ignoring the Qing Guo Gong family would only invite gossip, so Liu Mian Tang naturally smiled and went over to greet Lady Qing Guo Gong.
Lady Gai maintained a stern expression, clearly looking down on this Huaiyang Wang Fei of humble origins.
In her view, families without deep roots lacked substance, letting any cat or dog through their doors! She regretted ever allowing her son to marry into the Huaiyang Wang’s family, forming this troublesome alliance.
Liu Mian Tang had no taste for fawning. Seeing Lady Gai’s haughty attitude, she couldn’t be bothered to engage further and was about to leave.
Finally, seeing her about to depart, Guo Yi couldn’t hold back and said what his mother had instructed him to say: “When we took in a concubine, your sister was in Zhen Zhou, so it wasn’t convenient to discuss it with her… But Mother had long told her that my offspring were few, with only Jin as the legitimate son. If something were to happen in the future, wouldn’t the Guo family be left without an heir? Mother had indeed mentioned to her that we needed to bring in another concubine.
But she was jealous and pretended not to hear. Mother had no choice but to find the gentle-natured Yu Rao from the Gai family. Wang Fei, you can inquire at our mansion – is Yu Rao the type to use coquetry to vie for a favor? She’s very respectful towards Cui Fu as the principal wife. Why is she being so unreasonable, returning to her maiden home to stir up trouble and ruin my career prospects?”
Hearing this, Mian Tang’s eyes widened, looking as innocent as a kitten. Appearing confused, she asked, “Brother-in-law, why are you telling me all this? Whether your family takes in a servant girl or a favored concubine, isn’t that your family’s private affair? You never consulted with my sister, so how could it concern our Huaiyang Wang household? Let me ask you, has our Huaiyang Wang household ever sent people to smash your doors, curse your family for mistreating a daughter-in-law or punish a pregnant daughter-in-law by making her stand for long periods?
Have we ever come to your door to criticize your family for taking in three servant girls for your son in a year, indulging his lack of personal virtue? You didn’t even inform the lady of the house, taking advantage of her absence to elevate a favored concubine, and you spend every night with that concubine. My sister couldn’t stop you, could she? How can you suddenly claim my sister is jealous and that our Huaiyang Wang household is stirring up trouble? Unless our Wang has been smashing things at your mansion behind my back?”
Mian Tang’s voice wasn’t particularly quiet. Separated only by a flower wall, the ladies and young masters from other households could hear everything.
Guo Yi’s face turned red with embarrassment. Indeed, the Huaiyang Wang’s household had never interfered in the Qing Guo Gong family’s affairs. And every incident this Huaiyang Wang Fei mentioned was something their Guo family had done.