Li Tianhe’s expression was extremely ugly, his heart filled with distress. Seeing even the rough-mannered Cheng Da speak this way, he realized that he had truly been improper.
Censor Lu, who had paid someone to carry him home, recognized his mistake even earlier than Li Tianhe. When Zhao Hanzhang appeared and punished them, he knew exactly where he had gone wrong.
So as soon as he returned home, he said to his ashen-faced wife: “I have caused a great disaster.”
Censor Lu’s wife, Xi Lian, while directing servants to fetch a physician, carefully listened to her husband recount what disaster he had caused.
After hearing it, Xi Lian frowned at him, puzzled. “When you encountered colleagues bullying a colleague, you not only failed to stop them but actually joined in the humiliation?”
Censor Lu smiled bitterly. “Because Fu Tinghan oversees the Department of State Affairs and also serves as Minister of Works, the Grand General especially values the Ministry of Works, particularly the Court of Agriculture and the Water Division. This year, more than half of the tax revenue was allocated to the Ministry of Works. That Shen Ruhui and Yu Xun have only mediocre talents—they only know some farming and cultivation techniques, yet they are repeatedly praised and given important positions. Especially that Yu Xun, who is merely a scholar, yet can freely enter and exit the palace gates. I was dissatisfied in my heart. When I saw Li Tianhe and several military men playing tricks on those two, I couldn’t hold back…”
Xi Lian said: “Those who humiliate others will themselves be humiliated.”
Censor Lu looked ashamed. “I already know I was wrong. No matter how dissatisfied I am, I could have impeached him or opposed him at court, but I should not have humiliated him in private like this. However, the most urgent matter now is how to appease the Grand General’s anger. Shen Ruhui and Fu Tinghan have an extremely good relationship, and now Fu Tinghan is away managing flood control. If the Grand General wants to stand up for him, I… alas!”
Xi Lian glared at her husband, then turned and left. Soon she returned carrying a book and two bamboo scrolls. She first handed the book to her husband, saying: “This is a miscellany that my ancestor casually recorded during his tenure in Yanzhou. Two essays in it are about Master Fu’s flood control methods, the rest records Yanzhou customs and some of his own insights on flood control and governance. It was recorded casually, but Father often read it and said that with this book alone, even if descendants were unworthy, they could still make some progress.”
But after several years of war, her father and brothers were all gone. Of the more than ten boxes of books and bamboo scrolls at home, she had only saved two boxes. This was her capital and dowry—even her husband could not freely use them. Today, to appease Zhao Hanzhang’s anger, she had no choice but to take them out.
Xi Lian was reluctant, but even more reluctant to part with the two bamboo scrolls she was handling.
Censor Lu asked puzzled: “What are these?”
Xi Lian stroked the bamboo scrolls. “This is the ‘Materia Medica Classic’ left by my maternal grandfather’s family. It not only records the appearance, names, and growing locations of various plants, but also their cultivation methods, consumption methods, and for medicinal herbs, it includes therapeutic effects and common formulas. When Mother was alive, her favorite was the ‘Materia Medica Classic.’ Our family originally had twelve volumes, but during our flight from disaster, we lost ten volumes. Now only two remain.”
Hearing this, Censor Lu felt both moved and guilty. He grasped her hand: “It’s my fault. This time I’ve wronged you, my wife. When I find better items in the future, I will certainly exchange them back for you.”
Xi Lian packed the book and bamboo scrolls separately into boxes. “That won’t be necessary—I’ve made backup copies of both the books and bamboo scrolls.”
Not only had she made backups, she had even memorized them, but these were the originals, so naturally she was reluctant to part with them.
Xi Lian waited for servants to bring the physician back. After confirming that he only had superficial injuries and could get out of bed after resting for a few days, she had someone harness the ox cart. “I will personally go apologize to Gentleman Shen and Scholar Yu. You rest for now.”
Censor Lu nodded with tears in his eyes, waving to her. “Wife, go and return quickly. I think that Shen Ruhui and Yu Xun are relatively tolerant people and shouldn’t make things too difficult for you.”
Xi Lian shot him a look—then why did you bully them?
Censor Lu understood her unspoken rebuke and felt regretful again.
Xi Lian went to the Shen residence first.
Shen Ruhui had come to pledge allegiance early, having run from the then-thriving Gou Xi to join her. He was also recruited by Zhao Zhongyu, so Zhao Hanzhang treated him very well, immediately giving him a residence upon his arrival.
And it wasn’t small either—a three-courtyard estate.
But not many people lived inside. Apart from a family servant named Shen Xian who had always followed Shen Ruhui, there was only a carter with a severed hand, a hard-of-hearing cleaning woman, and a very old, lame gatekeeper.
Xi Lian had her carter step forward and knock on the gate. They waited a long time before the door opened a crack. An aged face pressed to the gap, looking out with sharp, vigilant eyes. After scanning Xi Lian up and down, he suddenly opened the door wide.
Only then could Xi Lian see the person clearly. The visitor wore a coarse gray short robe, with mud stains on his trouser legs. He wasn’t wearing his shoes properly but had them on like slippers, dragging them out. His hands were also covered in mud.
Seeing her scrutinizing him, the gatekeeper immediately felt embarrassed and wiped his hands behind his back, forcing a smile onto his face. “Miss, you are?”
Xi Lian curtsied slightly. “This humble wife is the wife of Censor Lu Xingzhi. I seek an audience with Gentleman Shen. Please inform him, honored elder.”
The gatekeeper looked disappointed upon hearing this. “Oh, you’re married…”
Xi Lian: …
Though disappointed, the gatekeeper still earnestly said: “Our master hasn’t returned home yet. If madam wishes to see him, you’ll likely have to wait some time. Perhaps you could come back later, or send a calling card first? When our master returns, we can arrange a time and then you can visit?”
The gatekeeper finally remembered the proper procedure for receiving guests. In this era, unless it was an especially urgent matter or the relationship was extremely close, anyone wanting to visit someone’s home should first send a calling card to inform the host and arrange a mutually agreed time before visiting.
This was basic etiquette.
This madam seemed not to have made an appointment, right?
The gatekeeper finally realized something was amiss and scrutinized Xi Lian again, inquiring: “Madam is seeking our master for what purpose?”
Xi Lian said: “This humble wife has come to apologize on behalf of my husband.”
She handed the box to the gatekeeper. “This is a gift of apology for Gentleman Shen. Please convey it to him, honored elder. Another day, my husband and I will personally visit to apologize.”
Upon hearing this, how could the gatekeeper dare accept?
He immediately refused.
Xi Lian sighed and didn’t press the gatekeeper further. She withdrew the box and said: “Then I’ll come back later.”
She looked up at the sun, very puzzled. “Isn’t it well past the time for leaving office?”
The gatekeeper said: “Our master is diligent. Even after leaving office, he always works overtime at the bureau, sometimes not returning until sunset.”
That was really too late.
Shen Ruhui was so diligent, showing that the Ministry of Works had many matters and that Shen Ruhui was highly valued. Comparing this to her husband at home who could often return home on time after leaving office, Xi Lian wrinkled her brow in disdain. And yet he still disdained Shen Ruhui as talentless?
If he had no talent, why would the Grand General value him so highly?
Xi Lian had never looked down on people from the Ministry of Works. Unlike Censor Lu with his fixed thinking—believing that the Ministry of Rites was most important, followed by the Ministry of Personnel and Finance, then Military Affairs, with Works being lowest—she had always felt that since the Grand General made the Six Ministries equal, that meant the Six Ministries had no hierarchy of importance. It was just that officials from each ministry looked down on others, each thinking themselves important while despising everyone else.
Hmph! Xi Lian actually looked down on these people who looked down on others.
—