Min Jia said coldly, “If it’s true, we’ll divorce. If it’s false, aren’t you being posted externally anyway? If the Cheng family doesn’t agree, I’ll go find my father and brother and leave with you.”
She had calculated that the Cheng family would never allow her to seek help from her natal family. Cheng Jing was a Grand Secretary—the Min family merely had a prosperous lineage with more officials than the Cheng family. To abandon the Cheng family and seek help from the Min family would be a loss of face the Cheng family couldn’t afford.
Cheng Xu was extremely surprised and gazed at Min Jia for a long time without speaking.
Min Jia’s expression grew even colder.
Cheng Xu laughed self-deprecatingly.
Min Jia wanted to accompany him on his external posting because she found the Cheng family too chaotic and was unwilling to wade through their muddy waters, wasn’t it?
He suddenly felt Min Jia was also pitiable.
By parental decree and matchmaker’s arrangement—children’s marriages were naturally decided by parents. Min Jia had merely followed her parents’ orders without any fault, yet through a series of misfortunes had fallen into the morass that was their family. And he was the very creator of this morass.
What fault did she have?
Cheng Xu’s mood became peaceful.
He told Min Jia about what had happened back then, including how he had nearly humiliated Zhou Shaojin: “…Cheng Lu said he and Miss Zhou were childhood sweethearts who loved each other, and that his mother also liked Miss Zhou very much—he was gilding his own face! Miss Zhou had her father above and her sister below. The Jinling Cheng family wasn’t some common household. Even if he was favored by elders for his youthful intelligence, he couldn’t possibly wander freely in the inner courtyards, much less have any contact with Miss Zhou.
“As for Miss Zhou’s marriage to Uncle Chi, it was arranged by my grandmother—Miss Zhou wrote very well and had helped my grandmother copy scriptures and accompanied her to Putuosi Temple to offer incense, deeply winning my grandmother’s affection. However, at that time the family hadn’t divided yet, and Uncle Chi was much older than Miss Zhou. No one thought in that direction.
“Later, when we came to the capital and everyone met again, someone suggested to grandmother that the sixth miss from the second branch of the Fang family be married to Uncle Chi. That sixth miss of the Fang family was only fifteen or sixteen at the time, just one or two years older than Miss Zhou. Only then did grandmother think of Miss Zhou and personally arrange it, engaging Miss Zhou for Uncle Chi. How could it possibly be as Cheng Lu said, that Uncle Chi schemed improperly to marry Miss Zhou?
“If there had been even the slightest reluctance or unwillingness in their marriage, Miss Zhou’s father, Magistrate Zhou, was also a successful scholar of both examinations and already serving as the Prefect of Baoding. Even if the Cheng family agreed, the Zhou family wouldn’t have.”
Min Jia stared at Cheng Xu in astonishment.
Was Ah Xuan involved in this matter too?
She thought of Fang Xuan’s dissatisfaction with her husband.
It seemed things hadn’t been like this initially, but as time passed, Fang Xuan’s relationship with her brother had grown increasingly tense.
Could it be because her brother, though claiming to be exceptionally talented, had failed this examination, while Cheng Chi, after impeaching Qu Yuan, had grown increasingly famous and risen higher in official rank?
Since the parties involved were all in the capital, one could find out with a little inquiry. Min Jia felt this matter was eighty or ninety percent true.
Her head ached.
Cheng Xu hadn’t denied that Yuan Shi had broken up Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Yi’s engagement because of him, nor had he denied that for his sake Yuan Shi had found ways to send Cheng Lu away to study. He also hadn’t denied that he liked Zhou Shaojin.
Min Jia remained silent for a long while before saying quietly, “Then I’ll speak with my brother and have him help think of a way to put in a good word with Assistant Minister of Personnel Wang Jian. We’ll seek an opportunity for external posting.”
Though Wang Jian wasn’t the Minister of Personnel, he managed the ministry’s specific affairs. Which positions were negotiable and which were already decided—he likely knew even better than the Minister of Personnel himself.
If truly posted externally, he and Min Jia would essentially be depending on each other!
Cheng Xu said, “Thank you!”
His expression was unprecedentedly sincere and peaceful.
Min Jia smiled and nodded, then left the study and went to Yuan Shi, saying, “My husband is determined to be posted externally. When I brought him tea, he was writing a letter to my brother, asking him to put in a good word with Minister Wang. I couldn’t stop him. I was preparing to invite grandmother over to persuade him and wanted to get a token from mother to take the sedan chair there.”
Yuan Shi was furious upon hearing this and said, “Which family’s daughter-in-law runs to her natal home over every little thing? He won’t take the Hanlin examination—can’t you persuade him a bit? The saying goes well: a good wife brings half of one’s fortune. You’re from a good family too—can’t you properly advise Jiashan? If he doesn’t amount to anything, do you think you’ll have good days?”
But the more they entangled with Yuan Shi, even if Cheng Xu became Grand Secretary, they could never have good days.
Min Jia grumbled inwardly but maintained a respectful expression, saying, “That’s why I’m stopping my husband and wanting to find grandmother!”
Yuan Shi was momentarily speechless.
Min Jia’s expression grew even more respectful as she said, “Mother, this matter is urgent—better early than late. Delay brings changes!”
Yuan Shi could only helplessly wave her hand, saying, “Go quickly and return quickly!”
Min Jia acknowledged and hurried to Chaoyangmen.
When Madam Guo the Elder heard the maid and pozi’s announcement, she said to Zhou Shaojin, who was helping her entertain little Yun Ge’er, “She just returned from Luohuosi Temple yesterday, and Min Shi comes calling today. Did your sister-in-law say something improper again?”
Zhou Shaojin consoled her with a smile, “We’ll know when we see her!”
Madam Guo the Elder nodded and invited Min Jia in.
Min Jia didn’t dare mention Cheng Lu’s matter. She only said that Cheng Xu was determined to leave the capital and was even preparing to write to the Min family. She had no choice but to come seek the old madam’s help, asking her to speak with Cheng Jing and let Cheng Xu be posted externally: “…Forcing the issue at this time will only make things worse. Better to take a step back. When my husband comes to his senses, we can find ways for him to enter the Office of Scrutiny, or like Uncle Chi at the Military Governor’s Office—whichever path, he has to be willing to walk it himself. A melon picked by force is not only not sweet, it might even cause trouble.”
Madam Guo the Elder had been worrying about this very matter these past days.
With only a few days left, Cheng Xu still refused to participate in the Hanlin selection. They couldn’t very well force him to take the exam, could they? Even if they forced him in, if he didn’t put his heart into the essays and failed, wouldn’t it all be for nothing!
“So you’re saying,” Madam Guo the Elder said disappointedly, “his mind is made up?”
“Yes!” Min Jia persuaded, “For others, failing the Hanlin exam means losing half their career prospects, but for families like ours, father can remain in the Grand Secretariat for at least another ten years. After ten years, isn’t there still Uncle Chi? What does it matter if he’s posted externally for a while!”
This was true.
Having connections at court makes being an official easier.
Regarding Cheng Chi, Madam Guo the Elder had even more confidence than in Cheng Jing.
These words of Min Jia’s pleased Madam Guo the Elder.
But she still said thoughtfully, “This is a major matter. We must discuss it with his second uncle, his father, and his uncle.”
This was natural.
Min Jia thought for a moment, then said quietly, “If my husband is posted externally, since father-in-law and mother-in-law are still in good health, I’d like to accompany him to look after his meals and daily needs.”
Madam Guo the Elder was surprised but very pleased.
She was an old woman—how could those small rifts between the young couple escape her eyes?
Since marrying in, Min Shi’s belly had shown no signs of activity. Following Jiashan on his external posting, away from Yuan Shi who was rather critical and harsh toward her daughter-in-law, perhaps she would soon be able to hold a great-grandson, and Min Shi and Jiashan’s relationship would improve as well.
Madam Guo the Elder smiled and nodded, not hiding her relief.
Min Jia breathed a sigh of relief.
With a child as an excuse, even if Yuan Shi wanted to keep her behind, the family elders would speak up—Cheng Xu had already escaped, why should she remain here to suffer!
Better for everyone to leave together.
The future was long anyway—who knew what people and events they would encounter.
Her expression relaxed as she returned to Xinglin Alley, changed clothes, and went to Cheng Xu’s study.
Cheng Xu knew from her appearance that the matter was settled, and felt slightly uncomfortable.
Min Shi was also a very capable person. If she hadn’t married him, she would probably have lived very well, wouldn’t she?
Cheng Xu’s gaze at Min Shi became much gentler.
Min Jia didn’t notice. Her mind was entirely on the external posting. Sitting in the armchair across from Cheng Xu, she sipped tea while recalling from memory: “Your qualifications are still shallow. Even if they send you to a major county, you could only be a deputy magistrate, or possibly just a registrar. I think it’s better to go to a smaller county town and be the chief magistrate, where you can be master of everything. Best if we could choose somewhere with a family elder serving as prefect…Let me think, Shandong would be good, but you’d need to avoid conflicts of interest, so Jiangnan would be best…”
She chattered on, and for the first time Cheng Xu quietly listened without speaking.
Madam Guo the Elder summoned the family’s men to Chaoyangmen to discuss Cheng Xu’s matter.
Cheng Jing said nothing.
Cheng Shao still insisted that Cheng Xu take the exam: “Even if he doesn’t pass, at least we’ll have done what we should, to avoid future regrets.”
But Cheng Chi’s attitude was firm: “He’s the one living his life, walking his own path. Since he’s decided, let’s not say more. Just don’t let him go to Jiangnan. This is such an important matter, yet he didn’t come personally to tell us, instead sending his wife to ask the old madam. Jiangnan has always been a contested ground in official circles, with countless hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Rather than let him go there and cause trouble that we’d have to clean up, better to send him to Sichuan or Xi’an—not as prosperous as Jiangnan but not as harsh as Lingnan. Let him go see the world. Second brother traveled to Sichuan with just a bamboo staff and straw sandals. When Yun Ge’er grows up, he should make such a journey too.”
According to Cheng Chi’s grandfather’s thinking, a good man’s ambitions lay in all directions—upon coming of age, everyone should travel far once to broaden their horizons and temper their will. Cheng Xu had come to them with difficulty, Yuan Shi firmly opposed it, and Madam Guo the Elder didn’t dare insist. By the time it was Cheng Rang’s turn, they just went along with it.
Cheng Jing’s face reddened as he said, “Then let Jiashan be posted externally!”
Even if his son performed poorly at his post, when he retired, the Emperor would usually grant him favors out of grace. They could find ways to bring his son back then.
By the time the Hanlin selection ended, it was already late April, and Yun Ge’er’s first birthday celebration was approaching.
Li Shi, bringing Zhou Youjin and Zhou Zongjin, arrived after the Buddha Bathing Festival and moved into the guest quarters at Chaoyangmen.
Zhou Chujin and Liao Shaotang, who had passed the Hanlin exam and was observing governance at the Ministry of Justice, brought their son Guan Ge’er to pay respects to Li Shi.
Li Shi was extremely pleased and held a banquet in the courtyard where she was staying to host Liao Shaotang.
Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin, bringing Yun Ge’er, also attended. However, Madam Guo the Elder, saying the weather was too hot and she didn’t want to move, told them to enjoy themselves while she remained at Tingxiang Courtyard without coming over.