Yuan Shi trembled with anger all over and couldn’t help saying, “Mother, Jining is so far from the capital, and the river conservancy is under the Ministry of Works. Even if I were an immortal, I couldn’t possibly know that Yang Shoushan would actually drive river workers to death, nor could I possibly know that those river workers would actually kill a Vice Magistrate… You’re really demanding the impossible!”

Daring to talk back to her mother-in-law…

This frightened Qiu Shi so much that she jumped to her feet, lowering her eyelids and clutching her handkerchief, not knowing what to do.

Zhou Shaojin was still absorbed in the news she had just received, not moving for quite some time.

In other words, Cheng Chi hadn’t gone to register his attendance—he had gone to salvage the situation.

That’s why Grand Secretary Song had sent someone to Baoding Prefecture to find him, and why he had rushed directly from Baoding Prefecture to Jining… Now that Cheng Chi had pacified the laborers and imprisoned the ringleaders who had beaten the Vice Magistrate to death, and the river conservancy work had resumed normal dredging operations—this should have been a good thing. The Office of the River Conservancy Director-General also had the authority to mobilize surrounding garrison posts. Above the Office of the River Conservancy Director-General was the River Garrison Commander, and below were clerks familiar with river affairs. He was just a sixth-rank junior official from the Ministry of Works who had gone to manage the dredging, and had only recently entered office—how had it fallen to him to take the lead? Would this give others the impression that he was arrogant, domineering, and disrespectful to his superiors?

Zhou Shaojin immediately felt restless.

She needed to go to Grand Secretary Song’s residence to inquire.

Cheng Chi’s rush to Jining Prefecture to salvage the situation had been at Grand Secretary Song’s invitation.

She believed Grand Secretary Song wouldn’t have had Cheng Chi go to Jining without reason, and she also believed Cheng Chi wouldn’t have agreed to go to Jining for Grand Secretary Song without reason. With Cheng Chi unable to return for the time being, if she didn’t know the reason behind it all, she probably wouldn’t even sleep soundly at night!

Just as she was considering how to broach this with Old Madam Guo, a cold snort sounded in the room. Old Madam Guo raised her eyebrows. “Indeed, Fourth Son in Jining is merely a minor sixth-rank junior official. So you don’t care about Jining affairs. But Da Lang is in the Grand Secretariat, a Minister of Rites with first-rank status. Why don’t you tell me what you know about Da Lang’s affairs?”

Yuan Shi was stunned by the question.

Old Madam Guo gave a disdainful cold laugh. “Grand Secretary Qu intended to arrange a marriage alliance with the seventh branch of the Min family, but the seventh branch of the Min family politely refused. Do you know the reason? It turns out that Huang Li, who competed with Da Lang for the position of Chief Censor of the Left at the Censorate, has been transferred from Grand Court Gentleman to Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. His family recently took a daughter-in-law—the daughter of a Bureau Vice Director in the Military Selection Bureau of the Ministry of War. The old master of the Li family of Lujiang, who was in the same examination class as your second uncle and was later designated Top Graduate by the Emperor, is about to take up the position of Viceroy of Liangjiang. Do you know who recommended him in the court deliberations…”

The old lady’s several “do you know” questions caused cold sweat to break out on Yuan Shi’s forehead.

Old Madam Guo gave a “tsk” sound. “The Li family of Lujiang is a great northern clan, somewhat distant from us, so I won’t mention them—that would be making things difficult for you. You just need to tell me whether you know why the Min family refused Grand Secretary Qu’s goodwill, and why Huang Li married the daughter of the Bureau Vice Director of the Military Selection Bureau of the Ministry of War!”

How could Yuan Shi possibly answer?

Especially regarding Grand Secretary Qu’s intention to arrange a marriage alliance with the Min family—she was in-laws with the Min family through their children, yet she hadn’t heard even a whisper of it!

By saying this, was the old lady hinting that the Min family didn’t consider her family at all, and was guarding against her and keeping things from her?

The sweat on her forehead grew denser.

Old Madam Guo looked at her calmly without speaking.

Zhou Shaojin thought of how, when accompanying Old Madam Guo on social calls these past days, the old lady had not only conversed and laughed freely with those grand ladies, madams, and mistresses, but had also been witty and eloquent, humorous and interesting, as if she had become a different person…

She couldn’t help glancing toward Yuan Shi.

But her gaze collided directly with Qiu Shi’s looking in her direction.

Qiu Shi glanced at Old Madam Guo, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Yuan Shi, however, weakly defended herself there, “The New Year is approaching… Jiashan is about to marry… I, I haven’t been going out much these days…”

Old Madam Guo ignored her completely, as if she hadn’t seen or heard, and her gaze suddenly shifted to Qiu Shi. “What do you have to say?”

Qiu Shi was frightened into trembling.

Zhou Shaojin felt anxious on her behalf just watching.

Seeing that Old Madam Guo hadn’t noticed her, she silently mouthed “speak honestly” to Qiu Shi.

Whether Qiu Shi had figured it out on her own or had understood Zhou Shaojin’s lip movements, her face flushed bright red. After quite some time, she finally said, “I, I just want to know what the Huang family daughter-in-law’s background is?”

Old Madam Guo replied, “She’s Zhang Junhua’s granddaughter.”

The old lady’s face was expressionless, but her tone was gentle.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.

The old lady most detested those who pretended to understand when they didn’t and refused to admit their mistakes.

Yuan Shi, however, let out a cry of alarm.

Huang Li and Cheng Jing were mortal enemies. Whether in terms of resources or learning, the two were evenly matched. In the end, Cheng Jing had been able to narrowly win against Huang Li in their competition for Chief Censor of the Left entirely because at the critical moment, Cheng Chi had taken Wan Tong’s route. Now their family had arranged a marriage alliance with the Min family, while Huang Li had married Zhang Junhua’s granddaughter. Huang Li was famously cunning and crafty. Borrowing Zhang Junhua’s connections, being Shen Minzhi’s student, with two Grand Secretaries backing him—who knew if Huang Li might make a comeback? And after making a comeback, would he continue to oppose Cheng Jing?

She… had truly been negligent!

“Mother! This matter is entirely my fault!” Yuan Shi wasn’t completely muddled. For the old lady to know these things, to still be remembered by the Duchess of Pengcheng, to have registered with the Empress—she must have her own methods. No wonder the old ancestor Cheng Xu from the second branch was so wary of the old lady. Her father-in-law had truly died too early. With just the old lady’s capabilities, securing a Grand Secretariat position would have been inevitable. Perhaps this was also one of the reasons the second branch had always tried every means to suppress the first branch. Yet she had only focused on external matters, forgetting about family. If she could make use of the old lady’s connections and relationships, wouldn’t Jiashan’s path become even smoother? She decisively changed her attitude. “You’re absolutely right. I failed in my responsibilities as eldest daughter-in-law and didn’t fulfill my duties as principal wife. I’ll go to the Yuan family right now and ask my sister-in-law what this is all about…” Thinking of how Yuan Weichang and Song Jingran didn’t get along, she added, “I’ll find a way to see my brother and have him stand on Da Laoye’s side in this matter.”

Although Old Madam Guo didn’t think highly of Yuan Weichang, at least Yuan Shi had finally said something sensible.

Old Madam Guo said, “No need. Da Laoye will also be leaving his office soon. Going to the Yuan family to inquire about news at this time won’t be of any use. We’ll just wait properly for news!”

Yuan Shi awkwardly responded, “Yes.”

Zhou Shaojin thought for a moment, stood up, and said in a low voice, “Mother, I’d like to go see Madam Song… Fourth Laoye was summoned away by Grand Secretary Song…”

Old Madam Guo considered for a moment, then said decisively, “Very well,” adding, “Have Nanny Shang accompany you.”

Zhou Shaojin gratefully curtsied to Old Madam Guo and hurriedly left the resting room.

Yuan Shi stared at the old lady in astonishment.

Just now she hadn’t allowed Yuan Shi to go find Yuan Weichang, yet in the blink of an eye she had agreed to let Zhou Shaojin go see Madam Song… Not only Yuan Shi, but even Qiu Shi found this somewhat incomprehensible.

Old Madam Guo sighed with disappointment and said indifferently, “Shaojin is still young, and Fourth Son was summoned away by Grand Secretary Song. If something happens to Fourth Son, having Shaojin go find him is most appropriate. Think about it carefully!”

Having said this, without even glancing at them, she went directly to the inner chamber.

Qiu Shi stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

※※※

Zhou Shaojin’s small sedan chair with blue curtains went directly through the Hanging Flower Gate of the Song residence.

Madam Song personally waited for her at the Hanging Flower Gate.

When Zhou Shaojin saw her, tears welled up in her eyes before she could speak. She called out “Madam Song” and began sobbing.

Madam Song’s face was full of remorse. She quickly said, “Shaojin, it’s alright, it’s alright. When our master does things, he’s always most prudent. Your family’s Minister Cheng also knows what he’s doing. This matter was decided by our master only after careful deliberation.”

Before coming, Zhou Shaojin had feared that Madam Song would know nothing. Now it seemed that not only did Madam Song know, but she also knew the matter in great detail.

Her heart stirred.

Madam Song didn’t manage household affairs. Could it be that Grand Secretary Song had told Madam Song something?

Zhou Shaojin listened, and suddenly thought of how in her previous life, when she had gone to seek help from Imperial Concubine Lin for Miss Mu’s sake, the Empress Dowager had suddenly arrived, and Imperial Concubine Lin had shown such warmth toward the Empress Dowager… She couldn’t help but intimately link arms with Madam Song. “Mother said the same thing. But I’m so worried about our Fourth Laoye. If I don’t come talk with you, my heart feels like it’s suspended in midair, making me restless…”

“I know, I know.” Madam Song patted her hand comfortingly. Seeing her red-rimmed eyes and hair somewhat disheveled by the cold wind, her heart softened. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered in her ear, “Our master said that since Minister Yang was his recommendation, now that such a thing has happened, some things are difficult for him to say. The river works have been in chaos for a long time. He had originally hoped Minister Yang could go and restore order from chaos. Unexpectedly, before the river conservancy matters were sorted out, Minister Yang himself fell into trouble first. If Grand Secretary Cheng could step forward to mediate, Minister Cheng could transfer from the Ministry of Works to the Censorate…”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded wildly.

In her previous life, she had paid no attention to external affairs, but in this life, being at Old Madam Guo’s side, she had learned many things she had never known or noticed before.

In court appointments, there had always been the rule: “If not from the Hanlin Academy, one cannot enter the Grand Secretariat; if one hasn’t served as a censor, one cannot become a department minister.”

The department ministers here referred to the Ministers of the Six Ministries.

If Cheng Chi wanted to advance further, he needed either credentials from the Hanlin Academy or credentials from the Censorate.

But to enter the Hanlin Academy, one had to be a presented scholar.

After the spring examinations, Cheng Chi had never considered becoming an official, so he hadn’t participated in the presented scholar selection. And the presented scholar selection was only conducted among newly successful metropolitan examination graduates.

He had already lost this opportunity.

Now the best path was to start as a censor.

The Office of the River Conservancy Director-General dredging the Yellow River—such a major matter would certainly require the Emperor to dispatch censors from the Censorate to supervise.

All censors had to start from the seventh-rank junior grade. With over a hundred censors in the Censorate, standing out wasn’t easy.

If Cheng Chi could transfer to the Censorate as a censor because of this matter, even if he was demoted from sixth-rank junior bureau vice director to seventh-rank senior censor, Cheng Chi would have his reputation and credentials. If someone were to mentor him further, he could at least reach third-rank senior official status.

Sometimes, things truly required destruction before reconstruction.

Zhou Shaojin forcibly suppressed the excitement in her heart and stayed at Madam Song’s for an hour. After politely declining Madam Song’s invitation to stay for a meal, she hurried back to Chaoyangmen.

Yuan Shi wasn’t there. Qiu Shi was attending to Old Madam Guo’s tea service.

Thinking of Qiu Shi’s character, Zhou Shaojin didn’t hide anything from her and told Old Madam Guo the results of her visit to the Song residence.