“Have you found out anything?” Madam Yu anxiously asked her husband.

Grand Secretary Yu remained silent, instead giving Yu Jingxiu a stern look before saying gravely: “Let’s talk in my study.”

Madam Yu hurriedly followed Grand Secretary Yu to the study.

Yu Jingxiu felt his heart sink, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

Once inside the study, Madam Yu helped Grand Secretary Yu change his clothes. Father and son sat according to their status, a young maid served tea, and Madam Yu dismissed the servants, personally closed the door, and sat beside Grand Secretary Yu.

Grand Secretary Yu finally spoke: “Do you know whom Fu’s Third Sister married?”

Madam Yu was bewildered.

What did this have to do with the Fu family?

The Fu family was far away in Huayin, the marriage arrangement between the two families had long been canceled—how would she know whom Fu Tingyun’s Third Sister had married?

“I haven’t paid attention to that,” Madam Yu said. “Should I inquire about it—Madam Wu lives next door to Fu!”

But Yu Jingxiu jumped up: “Could that Shen Rensi be Fu’s Third Sister’s husband?”

When he had enticed Zuo Junjie to give false testimony, he had thoroughly investigated the Fu family.

Fu Tingyun’s Third Sister had married a widower with official rank as his second wife. He vaguely remembered that the widower’s surname might be Shen…

Seeing his father nod, his eyes widened in disbelief.

“Impossible! Impossible!” Yu Jingxiu exclaimed. “Back then, I investigated all of the Fu family’s in-laws. They were merely called an official family in insignificant places like Huayin. In the past fifty years, they hadn’t produced a single high-ranking official above third rank, let alone having any strong backing in the court. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to move against the Fu family…”

Before he could finish, Grand Secretary Yu let out a cold “hmph” and scolded harshly: “You insolent child! You dare to mention that past affair!”

Yu Jingxiu quickly stopped speaking, his face flushing red, still wearing a look of disbelief.

Seeing this, Grand Secretary Yu grew furious, his face turning ashen: “That Shen Rensi is indeed Fu’s Third Sister’s husband. He used Fu’s connections. When the Emperor received Qian Donglin and Chen Danting, he told Qian Donglin about this. To repay the Emperor’s favor, Qian Donglin took direct action. Fearing that his position in the Grand Secretariat was not yet secure, he even brought Grand Secretary Shen with him to the Ministry of Personnel…” At this point, he became greatly irritated and said sarcastically, “I’ve seen people with ugly table manners, but none as ugly as Qian Donglin’s—a dignified Grand Secretary, stooping to such flattery, neglecting important matters to first rush to ease the Emperor’s concerns… One can imagine what kind of Grand Secretariat it will be from now on…”

Yu Jingxiu knew that his father’s complaints stemmed entirely from losing the position of Left Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel… When Grand Secretary Shen had been Chief Grand Secretary, he had occasionally been outwardly compliant while inwardly resistant, but no one had dared to neglect matters entrusted by the Emperor.

But Madam Yu cared about none of this. She only knew that now Fu Tingyun had intervened to help her Third Sister’s husband take the lucrative position that should have been her son’s.

“How is this possible?” Her face full of shock, she shook her head repeatedly. “No, impossible! She’s just a woman, how could she have the ability to influence court affairs… If Zhao Ling were at home, it might make sense, but Zhao Ling is in Guizhou now…”

“This information came from Qianqing Palace and cannot be wrong,” Grand Secretary Yu also couldn’t understand. He analyzed, “Since the Emperor arranged the marriage between her and Zhao Ling, it shows the Emperor’s great favor toward Zhao Ling. Fu must have been able to send the message to the Emperor, most likely through Zhao Ling’s influence…”

“What do we do now?” In contrast, Madam Yu was more concerned about her son’s future. “Are we just going to accept this? Is there any room for change?” She had been married to Grand Secretary Yu for many years, came from a wealthy family, and was a first-rank imperial madam with considerable insight. Although the Ministry of Personnel had already issued the official document, making changes impossible, she still held onto a sliver of hope and couldn’t help asking her husband.

“I remember now,” Yu Jingxiu suddenly realized, “That Shen Rensi was in the same examination year as me, ranked thirteenth in the second class…” Thinking of this, he felt both ashamed and angry. He had been the top scholar that year, his family had produced three Principals of the Imperial College, and his father was a Grand Secretary. Who was this Shen Rensi? A rural gentry from Hancheng who had almost been relegated to the third class… Yet he dared to compete with him and even squeezed him out. “Mother!” He stood up indignantly, “It’s just a seventh-rank position in one of the Six Ministries. If I don’t get it, so be it. The Court of State Ceremonial is also a place where talent emerges. Without looking far, Grand Secretary Shen and Grand Secretary Tian both started as envoys in the Court of State Ceremonial. In less than two years, I will be promoted.”

Madam Yu’s greatest worry was that her son would become dispirited because of this. Hearing his words, she quickly said: “That’s the right way to think. Which historical figure hasn’t faced some setbacks?”

But Grand Secretary Yu frowned, hesitated, then, after a moment of silence, said: “Why don’t you go to the Censorate instead? As an Investigating Censor, you can first take this opportunity to understand more about the people’s conditions, and second, you can get to know more people… Although serving in the Court of State Ceremonial often means flattering those around the Emperor, remember that water can both carry a boat and capsize it. You already have such qualifications; if you achieve more actual results, with my support, your promotion will be faster.”

Yu Jingxiu was stunned.

Did his father have so little confidence in him?

Did he need to rely on his father for promotion?

But seeing his father’s ashen face, and considering that losing the position of Left Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel was intricately connected to him, he tightly closed his mouth and seriously considered his father’s suggestion.

His father had entered the Grand Secretariat from the position of Left Censor-in-Chief in the Censorate and had deep connections there. Although his successor, Ye Bi, had a rift with his father, he had retired due to illness last year, and the current Left Censor-in-Chief had been his father’s subordinate…

Yu Jingxiu respectfully bowed to his father: “I’ll follow father’s instructions.”

Grand Secretary Yu nodded and said: “This is just a plan between you and me… Go rest now! As for the matter of Left Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, don’t think too much about it.”

Yu Jingxiu knew his father was warning him not to spread word about his intention to seek a position in the Censorate, and not to complain about losing the position of Left Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel—after all, their previous intention for that position had been merely an idea. If it became known, everyone would know they had failed to secure this appointment. Grand Secretary Yu had already lost the position of Chief Grand Secretary, and some were already gloating. If people learned that he couldn’t even secure a small seventh-rank position for his son, there would certainly be those who would kick him while he was down.

He respectfully acknowledged with a “Yes” and withdrew.

But in his heart, he wondered why his father had become so cautious. Was there something else he wasn’t telling him?

Thinking of this, he stopped and asked Moyan, who was following behind him: “Where is Master Huang now?”

Master Huang was Grand Secretary Yu’s advisor.

Moyan quickly said: “I’ll go inquire right away.”

“No need,” Yu Jingxiu said thoughtfully, “I’ll go to the side courtyard to find him.” With that, he hurried to the side courtyard.

In the study, Madam Yu, having collected herself, anxiously asked Grand Secretary Yu: “Depu is already of the seventh rank. Is a lateral transfer also so difficult?”

In front of his wife, Grand Secretary Yu no longer concealed anything and said somberly: “The fear is that Fu won’t be satisfied—sometimes good words don’t come true, but bad ones do.”

“Surely not!” Madam Yu objected, though she half-believed it. “Are we going to let her control our lives like this?” Then she pleaded with Grand Secretary Yu, “Think of something quickly! This concerns Depu’s future!”

“I know,” Grand Secretary Yu’s eyes flashed as he said, “I’m about to have someone find out how Fu Tingyun managed to reach the Emperor.”

…

In the inner courtyard hall of Shi Family Alley, the Seventh Brother-in-law laughed heartily and freely: “So it was Master Yan who directly petitioned the Emperor?”

Unable to find a Go set, they had instead purchased a rare book from the previous dynasty, the Lotus Sutra, personally transcribed by Master Huiwu, which delighted Fu Tingyun.

After dinner, the Third Brother-in-law and the Seventh Brother-in-law were still eager to talk. The two moved to the inner courtyard hall for tea, discussing the day’s events with Fu Tingyun and the Third Sister, who had dined in the inner courtyard.

“If not for this, how could Grand Secretary Qian be so assertive?” The Third Brother-in-law smiled, his expression elated. “He’s also borrowing the tiger’s might—Grand Secretary Shen had established himself in the Ministry of Personnel for many years, while his foundation is unstable. This was a perfect opportunity to establish his authority…”

“If anyone opposes, he can bring up the Emperor as a shield,” before the Third Brother-in-law could finish, the Seventh Brother-in-law had already joined in with a smile. “Then those who dare to question would be caught in a difficult position!” As he spoke, he gave a thumbs-up. “This Grand Secretary Qian is no simple man!”

“How many Grand Secretaries are simple men?” The Third Brother-in-law smiled dismissively. “But Grand Secretary Qian is indeed a formidable figure. Chen Danting once served as county magistrate in Pingxiang, which borders Huguang, where the Emperor’s residence was when he was still a prince. His gaining the Emperor’s favor has some basis. But for Grand Secretary Qian to directly enter the Grand Secretariat from the position of Hanlin Academy Director, that’s not something an ordinary person could achieve.”

“Doesn’t the Hanlin Academy Director also appear before the Emperor daily?” The Seventh Brother-in-law laughed, “Anyway, I think if you want to be promoted, you need to make sure the Emperor remembers you…”

As the two discussed court affairs, the Third Sister, seeing Fu Tingyun sitting quietly listening, feared she might be bored and smiled as she interrupted: “Court affairs are endless. It’s getting late, and the Ninth Sister has to go to Tanzhe Temple tomorrow. Let’s end this so she can rest early.”

“Look at us, once we start talking about these things, we never stop!” The Seventh Brother-in-law stood up somewhat embarrassedly, scratching his head. “Let’s call it a night then! Once the Third Brother-in-law is settled, I’ll come back for a drink.”

“If you want a drink, come anytime. Why wait until I’m settled!”

Everyone laughed and chatted as they returned to their homes.

Fu Tingyun wrote a letter to Zhao Ling that night, telling him what she had heard, and finally asked: “Should a secret memorial be submitted to express gratitude?” The next morning, she called in Zheng Three and instructed him to deliver the letter to Lin Chi: “Say there’s an urgent matter, and ask Master Lin for help. The sooner it reaches Guizhou, the better.”

Zheng Three acknowledged and left.

Fu Tingyun sat down for breakfast, left Yu Wei at home to look after the children, and prepared to go to Tanzhe Temple with Pearl.

But Yuechuan came in to report: “Madam, there’s a young novice monk who says he’s from Tanzhe Temple and wishes to see you!”

Fu Tingyun was very surprised and quickly had Yuechuan bring the young novice in.

The young novice respectfully bowed to Fu Tingyun and said: “I serve Master Zhenghe. The Master says he already knows about what happened. You’ve just completed your postpartum confinement and shouldn’t be traveling around. Rest well at home, and there’s no need to visit him. When Master Zhao returns, have him come play chess with the Master.”