“Father, rest assured, I will serve diligently and earn another imperial commendation for Mother,” Yu Jingxiu promised his father.

Madam Yu already held a first-rank imperial commendation—could Yu Jingxiu possibly earn his mother a commendation beyond first rank? Only those with exceptional service to the state could be granted nobility. Military officials could gain merits through battle achievements, but a civil official’s contributions were harder to evaluate… Yu Jingxiu said this merely to comfort his father.

A son having such intentions was enough to make his father happy, especially in Grand Secretary Yu’s current dispirited state.

Grand Secretary Yu felt greatly comforted.

But as soon as his son left, his face darkened.

Without any warning, the Emperor had pushed Qian Donglin into the position of Chief Grand Secretary—His Majesty was truly extraordinary!

Perhaps a truly epoch-making sovereign was emerging!

What should be the next move?

Qian Donglin had passed the imperial examination two sessions after him. A native of Longyan in Fujian, he had once served as the Managing Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, but was demoted to the Court of State Ceremonial as a Clerk for many years after offending Hong Du. Only when the new Emperor ascended the throne was he promoted to Reader in the Hanlin Academy, and had only recently been appointed Director of the Hanlin Academy… The two men certainly knew each other. When Qian Donglin was Managing Secretary at the Ministry of Personnel, they had even toured Yuming Mountain together. However, as he had been steadily promoted while Qian Donglin’s career deteriorated, they naturally grew distant. He wondered if it was too late to remedy the situation now.

As for Chen Danting, he had passed the imperial examination two sessions after Qian Donglin. A native of the capital, he had served as a county magistrate for twelve years, then was promoted to Secretary in the Ministry of Revenue and Scholar in the Hanlin Academy. He was appointed Principal of the Imperial College only after the Emperor ascended the throne… Grand Secretary Yu was not familiar with him at all.

Lost in thought, Grand Secretary Yu began pacing around the room.

Qian Donglin was somewhat stubborn and had not been easy to deal with as Managing Secretary, let alone now.

What kind of temperament did Chen Danting have? In the past, it would have been easy to find out. Now that Chen Danting had become a Grand Secretary, he would certainly maintain appearances in public, making it difficult to discern his true character.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help rubbing his forehead, sinking into deep contemplation.

Meanwhile, Yu Jingxiu, who had left the study, did not immediately return to his quarters but quietly stood outside the latticed door, listening for any sounds from within.

Hearing only his father’s pacing footsteps in the study, Yu Jingxiu felt somewhat relieved.

He had already learned the sequence of events from his father’s advisors.

The Emperor had summoned the Grand Secretariat for deliberation. Grand Secretary Shen produced evidence of Mo Yingbo’s embezzlement, which greatly angered the Emperor, who immediately ordered his father to lead a joint investigation. Grand Secretary Shen promptly submitted a request to the Emperor, stating that as Chief Grand Secretary, he had failed in his supervisory duties and asked to retire. The Emperor made some cordial remarks trying to retain him, but after Grand Secretary Shen repeatedly requested to step down, the Emperor reluctantly agreed. Then, following protocol, he asked him, “Who could enter the Grand Secretariat?” Grand Secretary Shen immediately recommended Qian Donglin and Chen Danting to the Emperor.

These two men were not even qualified to enter the Grand Secretariat.

Grand Secretary Tian objected at the time, but Grand Secretary Shen spoke of “us elderly officials making way for younger, more vigorous men to enter the Grand Secretariat and share the Emperor’s burdens.” Grand Secretaries Wang and Liu immediately concurred, while Grand Secretary Tian abstained.

Among the seven Grand Secretaries, Grand Secretary Mo had lost his qualification. His father had been hoping that Grand Secretary Hu and others would speak up for him, giving him an opening to advocate for himself. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, he had not participated in the collective deliberation. With only Grand Secretary Tian objecting, the matter was smoothly approved, and the Court of Ceremonies immediately began drafting the imperial edict.

The speed was unprecedented.

By the time his father thought to object, it was too late.

Recalling all this, Yu Jingxiu couldn’t help gnashing his teeth in anger.

That old scoundrel Shen Shichong, taking money but not delivering. Fearing a bad end, he had colluded with the Emperor—he was responsible for bringing down Mo Yingbo and helping the Emperor’s favored candidates, Qian Donglin and Chen Danting, enter the Grand Secretariat, while the Emperor spared him from death…

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, his expression grew even darker.

A gentleman’s revenge may take ten years, but it will come.

Once he entered the Ministry of Personnel and worked diligently for ten years with a low profile, the Shen family would see!

Thinking of his prospects, he took a long breath, feeling much better.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, his father would have to retire from his current position. Though he could benefit from his father’s influence, he could at most rise to the third rank. To climb higher, he would need to gain the favor of the Grand Secretaries and the Chief Grand Secretary. Chen Danting was ten years younger than Qian Donglin—by the time Qian Donglin grew old, Chen Danting would be in his prime. The Emperor’s arrangement suggested that he intended for Chen Danting to succeed Qian Donglin. Rather than trying to curry favor with the now-popular Qian Donglin, it might be better to align with Chen Danting early on…

Should he discuss such an important matter with his father?

Yu Jingxiu hesitated, and hearing no sound from the study, gently lifted the curtain to peek inside.

Grand Secretary Yu was sitting at his large desk, writing furiously.

In recent days, his father had been running around seeking the position of Chief Grand Secretary. Even if the Emperor hadn’t heard any rumors, Qian Donglin and Chen Danting surely knew, and if they didn’t, once Qian Donglin became Chief Grand Secretary, someone would tell him to curry favor. Grand Secretaries Wang and Liu had already pledged loyalty to the Emperor; his father was isolated and weak. If he were to incur Qian Donglin’s enmity, he would likely be marginalized within days.

His father must be devising a strategy!

If he could establish connections with Chen Danting, and his father could form an alliance with Chen Danting later, it would be advantageous. His father had been in the Grand Secretariat for many years and had his methods. Both Chen Danting and Qian Donglin were the Emperor’s trusted officials, so Qian Donglin would have to be somewhat cautious. With his father’s abilities, once he recovered from this setback, although the Chief Grand Secretary position was out of reach, becoming a Grand Secretary with real power wouldn’t be difficult. As long as his father was secure, his promotion would come much faster…

Better not to disturb his father now.

If they each pursued their paths but advanced together, the results might be even better.

Having made up his mind, Yu Jingxiu returned to his quarters.

Fan was holding their daughter in the hallway, enjoying the cool air.

Seeing his daughter’s withered, yellow hair, Yu Jingxiu frowned and said, “The draft is too strong in the hallway. You should take the child back inside. If it’s too hot, have the maids fan you with feather fans.”

Fan smiled in acknowledgment and carried their daughter with him toward the inner chamber. She explained, “The weather is too hot, and the ice in the family’s cellar is gone. That’s why I was sitting with Zhen in the hallway to catch the breeze.”

Yu Jingxiu nodded, stroking his daughter’s sparse hair, and asked with concern, “What did Imperial Physician Chen say?”

The child fell ill every few days, and a few days ago she had developed a fever. They had invited Imperial Physician Chen, the Court’s best pediatric specialist, who diagnosed it as a chill and prescribed five doses of medicine. Today was the follow-up visit.

“He prescribed another five doses,” Fan said. “He said there’s no serious problem now.”

As they entered the inner chamber, the maids busied themselves—some searching for feather fans, others bringing fruit, moving bamboo mats, or preparing the couch—everyone rushing about.

Fan then said, “It’s the sudden changes between hot and cold that made Zhen catch a chill. Do you think you could find a way to get some ice?”

To use ice in summer, one had to place an order at the beginning of winter. Only the wealthy and noble could afford ice. Otherwise, even with money, you couldn’t buy it in summer.

Yu Jingxiu frowned.

In previous years, he could have found a way to get some. But now, his father had failed to become Chief Grand Secretary, which at least indicated the Emperor’s dissatisfaction with him. Qian Donglin, pushed into the Chief Grand Secretary position by the Emperor himself, would undoubtedly follow the Emperor’s thinking. What the Emperor would do next, no one could say, so naturally it was better to avoid unnecessary troubles. Moreover, their family had already ordered quite a bit of ice this year. If someone ill-intentioned noticed and used it as a pretext to impeach his father for “extravagance and dissipation,” the Emperor’s impression of his father would only worsen.

“We’ll discuss this matter later,” he evaded. “If it’s too hot, we can buy a few more little maids to serve you.”

Fan was somewhat disappointed but dared not show it.

For Zhen’s sake, even her mother-in-law had allocated her share of ice to them. If she still wasn’t satisfied, not only would her husband be displeased, but even her mother-in-law might become dissatisfied with her.

Thinking of this, Fan suddenly felt that her mother-in-law had been treating her quite well these days.

It was just as the elders said.

Having a child truly makes a difference.

If she could give birth to a son, she would have nothing to worry about for the rest of her life.

Fan dismissed the maids and personally wrung out a cloth for Yu Jingxiu.

Since their daughter’s birth, it had been a long time since Fan had so tenderly and attentively served him.

A smile unconsciously appeared on Yu Jingxiu’s face.

A young maid came in to report: “Duanyan has arrived.”

Yu Jingxiu said, “Have him wait in the study.”

The young maid acknowledged and left.

Yu Jingxiu’s washing motions noticeably quickened.

Fan couldn’t help but ask curiously, “What business do you have with Duanyan?”

“Nothing important,” Yu Jingxiu replied vaguely, then, as if remembering something, asked her, “When we got married, Mother gave us a hill from her dowry, do you remember?”

“I remember.” Why bring this up suddenly? Fan looked puzzled.

Yu Jingxiu said, “That hill is connected to another family’s ancestral graves. They’ve always wanted to buy it at a high price. I was thinking, the hill isn’t worth much money, and no one else would pay such a high price except for their family. Why not just sell it?”

When they got married, these properties were listed in the gift register as their private property, and Yu Jingxiu had given them to Fan to manage.

But that was her mother-in-law’s dowry!

Hearing this, Fan turned pale with shock: “What happened?” Her hand involuntarily clutched Yu Jingxiu’s sleeve tightly.

His wife would know about this matter sooner or later…

Yu Jingxiu hesitated for a moment, then took Fan to the side room connected to their chamber and told her about the family’s setback.

The color drained from Fan’s face.

She was so anxious that tears began to fall: “What are we going to do? What are we going to do?”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry,” Yu Jingxiu comforted her. “This is how official careers go—thirty years east of the river, forty years west of the river. Once we get through these days, everything will be calm and peaceful again.” He smiled and added, “Don’t you trust in my abilities?”

“Of course I trust you,” Fan hurriedly affirmed. “It’s just that it happened so suddenly, I was shocked for a moment.” She quickly wiped her tears with a handkerchief and forced a bright smile. “But this is Mother’s dowry. Although she gave it to us, we should still inform her, lest she think we’re squandering her dowry.”

She suggested.

But Yu Jingxiu shook his head: “Mother has plenty of dowry! She won’t know about it.” Seeing his wife’s surprised expression, he hesitated and lowered his voice, “These days, Father has been busy trying to influence people. Uncle and Second Uncle have contributed quite a bit of silver, and Mother has also sold a good piece of farmland in Jiaxing… If Mother found out, she would certainly give us money… Let’s just keep quiet about it!”