Speaking of absurdity, this incident that nearly altered the trajectory of Shaoshang’s life initially interested her less than Cheng Mother’s manure vat.
The sage said: “Do not speak while eating, do not talk while sleeping.” The vast majority of the Cheng family members certainly disagreed with this statement. At least Cheng Mother and Old Master Cheng couldn’t manage it—often while eating and talking, they would start arguing, and the reasons for their disputes were frequently speechless.
On this day, mother and son quarreled again over whether family farming should follow an extensive development model or an intensive operation approach. The topic originated with Cheng Yang, and although she raised it out of pure filial devotion, well, how should one put it—this world never lacks well-intentioned people who inadvertently cause trouble.
“…Mount Tugao has beautiful scenery and refreshing high air. This granddaughter has never seen it before. Moreover, it’s close to the capital. Next time when I go to the estate to check the accounts, I’ll take Grandmother there for an outing.” Cheng Yang smiled gently.
Cheng Mother, sitting high in the seat of honor at the center, glanced at her son and said faintly: “Alas, you all have your imperial audiences and horse races, leaving me, an old woman, all alone—so lonely and pitiful!”
Cheng Shi put down his lacquered wooden chopsticks and said loudly: “Didn’t Mother say that when spring comes and seeds are sown, aphids breed, so you needed to stay and tend to the vegetable garden? But Mother, don’t be like before, planting whatever fills the belly—big, stupid, and coarse. Now we’re no longer going hungry! Look at Niaoniao—those cucumber and white cabbage she cultivated last time were delicate and refined, both crisp and refreshing!”
He didn’t want to mention that last time when he distributed the several small baskets of fresh cucumbers and white cabbage his daughter had produced to colleagues and friends, their astonished expressions made him feel his family’s foundation had become several degrees more substantial—off-season cultivation of refined fruits and vegetables was something even ordinary powerful clans might not be able to produce.
“You rascal! What nonsense are you spouting!” Cheng Mother slammed the table in fury. “You can criticize me, but don’t you dare criticize my fields and crops! Every time I pile the fertilizer thick and high, the millet and wheat I grow are sweeter and more fragrant than anyone else’s!”
“That’s right, and about that compost vat—isn’t it smelly! Do you remember that vat on the back mountain at the old home? I told you several times not to bury it so deep. That time when you went up the mountain and stepped into thin air…”
This was truly an excellent dinner conversation topic. Cheng Song and Cheng Shaogong shook their shoulders, laughing quietly with their heads down. Cheng Yang paused her chopsticks, her face embarrassed. Xiao Furen could bear it no longer and forcefully slapped her lacquered wooden chopsticks on the food table.
Cheng Yang said anxiously: “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have brought up topics that make Grandmother unhappy…”
“Oh my, cousin sister, don’t interrupt. What does this have to do with you? Father and Grandmother can be like this because they’re close mother and son… uh, so close! Mother and I have also quarreled!” Shaoshang came from common marketplace origins and seamlessly connected with this cheerful, lively atmosphere.
The Cheng brothers secretly glanced at their mother, only to see Xiao Furen covering her forehead and sighing.
Shaoshang asked with great interest: “Father, did Grandmother fall in afterward?”
“You unfilial wretch! Are you hoping I fell in?!” Cheng Mother shouted, breathing heavily through her nose.
Cheng Shi quickly came to her defense: “Don’t be so loud! Niaoniao is timid—don’t frighten her!”
“She’s timid?” Cheng Mother pointed at Shaoshang and shrieked at her son. “Have your eyes also been composted?!”
“—Yong’er!”
Xiao Furen forcefully slapped the food table and called out loudly. The entire family was silenced by her, momentarily forgetting their verbal sparring.
“…Tell us, what interesting events happened at the Imperial Academy today?” Xiao Furen said the second half of her sentence with an iron-blue expression.
Cheng Yong exhaled heavily. He thought something was wrong with him, so he said: “In reply to Mother, today something major really did happen—the Prince of Yong’s clan has rebelled!”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone except Cheng Shi was greatly shocked. Xiao Furen said gravely: “The Prince of Yong? He indeed harbored treasonous ambitions all along. Did they carry out their rebellion in Feng Yi Commandery in the northwest of Yong Province?”
Cheng Yong cupped his hands and said: “Mother is absolutely correct.”
“Yong Province’s Feng Yi Commandery—isn’t that only separated from us by Hong Nong Commandery?” Cheng Song looked up, recalling the geographical map.
Cheng Mother turned pale with shock: “What? Will they fight their way to the capital…” Her voice trembled as she spoke, about to rise from her seat.
Cheng Yang quickly stepped forward to comfort her. Shaoshang also came to help, laughing: “Grandmother, what are you afraid of? Don’t you see eldest brother sitting here perfectly fine? If the situation were urgent, he would have rushed back in a panic to report the news!”
Cheng Shi laughed heartily: “Our Niaoniao is so clever!” He then turned to Cheng Mother and said: “I was just about to mention this. Feng Yi is not far from the capital, so this matter can’t be concealed. If Mother hears anything outside, please don’t be afraid or panicked. This matter won’t amount to anything!”
“Father is right!” Shaoshang said. “This time, didn’t Uncle and Aunt also encounter a rebellion? In just a few days it vanished into thin air. The chief rebels were beheaded one by one and hung up to dry. How hateful that Uncle wouldn’t let me go see!”
“Go, go, go! What business does a young lady have going to see such things!” Cheng Shi scolded quietly. His daughter was good in every way, except she severely lacked a sense of reverence—in short, she was simple-minded.
Shaoshang sullenly shrank back. She still wanted to continue asking whether Cheng Mother had actually fallen into the manure vat.
“My son, can this Prince of Yong really not fight his way here? I heard that the Prince of Yong’s clan was an extraordinary family even during the previous dynasty!” Cheng Mother still worried, though she sat back down tremblingly.
Cheng Shi snorted and said: “They were just too extraordinary. Later they also started trouble and proclaimed themselves emperor. Now, they can’t bear to give up their former nobility! In my opinion, wealth and nobility are heaven-ordained. The Prince of Yong and his son just don’t have that destiny!”
“Father, you can also read faces?” Cheng Shaogong became interested. “Then tell your son what their faces are like.”
“Get lost!” Cheng Shi glared at his son, then continued: “Mother, don’t worry anymore. There’s really nothing to it! This morning His Majesty has already dispatched several groups of troops westward toward Feng Yi Commandery. Oh, Ling Buyi is among them.” When he said this, he carefully glanced at his daughter, but saw no unusual expression on her face.
Seeing that her husband’s comfort never hit the mark, Xiao Furen had to supplement: “Mother-in-law, please listen to me. Back then, when the Prince of Yong and his son saw the situation turning against them, they voluntarily surrendered to His Majesty. Only on one point—saying something about ‘ancestral land is hard to leave, where our ancestors’ tombs are located’—they refused to live in the capital like the others who surrendered. His Majesty agreed to avoid a military disaster. But think about it—our Majesty is so wise, how could he not take any precautions? Mother-in-law, rest assured. Over these years, His Majesty has gradually stripped the Prince of Yong of his military authority and taxation rights, and set up several layers of restraints around Feng Yi Commandery on all sides. Now it’s no longer up to the Prince of Yong’s clan to surrender or rebel as they please!”
Only after hearing this reasonable and well-founded explanation did Cheng Mother finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“…However,” Xiao Furen looked at Shaoshang with concern and inquired of her husband, “will this matter affect Niaoniao?”
“Ah.” Shaoshang had been nodding along continuously, not expecting the topic to suddenly turn to herself.
—Like many young people who grew up in peaceful and prosperous times, Shaoshang was not a very politically sensitive young woman. Especially someone like her with a pure research and technical specialty—whether the leadership changed or not, Fourier was still Fourier; whether America attacked “evil countries possessing weapons of mass destruction” or not, Kirchhoff’s laws wouldn’t change.
Current affairs news had only two uses for her: whether she could answer hot-topic questions brilliantly on political science exams, and whether the higher-ups were generous when approving laboratory project funding (which directly determined the professor’s mood).
How a father and son rebelling in a neighboring commandery related to her—Shaoshang couldn’t figure it out no matter how she tried.
Seeing her daughter’s bewildered expression, Xiao Furen sighed: “The Prince of Yong’s surname is Xiao. His heir apparent is the one who married He Zhaojun.”
Shaoshang turned this over in her head before reacting: “You mean… that Prince Xiao?”
Xiao Furen nodded. Cheng Song wasn’t very clear about such marriage matters and quickly asked: “But Mother, didn’t General He receive an imperial order to garrison Feng Yi? This, this… in-laws…”
Everyone understood Cheng Song’s meaning. Cheng Mother worried again about whether Feng Yi could be held. Only Cheng Shaogong asked: “But what does this have to do with Niaoniao?”
“…Right, what does this have to do with me?” Shaoshang remained puzzled. “Isn’t this matter just two paths? Either General He is loyal and brave for the country, fighting valiantly to destroy the traitorous Prince of Yong and his son, then returning to receive rewards and commendations…”
“Or General He colludes with his in-law, and the He family also becomes traitors—then it has even less to do with anything!” Cheng Shaogong added.
Cheng Shi said unconcernedly: “My son speaks correctly. Your mother is overthinking.”
“No, there’s a third path.” Cheng Song smiled. “That is, General He was bewitched and numbed by his in-law and failed to take timely precautions. If so, he’ll also be held accountable when he returns! Who knows, Father’s opportunity to distinguish himself may have come again!”
Shaoshang loudly praised: “Second brother’s insight is excellent!… But Father, don’t go. Let others earn some merit too.”
The four laughed together. Xiao Furen looked at the simple-minded father and three children grinning at each other, smiling bitterly repeatedly. Looking up, she saw the same worry in her eldest son Cheng Yong’s eyes as in her own.
…
Facts proved that accurately predicting events was not something ordinary people could do, because none of the Cheng family members’ dinner table speculations came true. Just three days later, news came from the front, stating that the Prince of Yong’s rebellion had already been suppressed.
The Cheng siblings were all astonished. Now Cheng Mother’s worries completely dissipated, and she laughed loudly: “This so-called Prince of Yong bragged about how formidable he was, but turns out he’s nothing special. That Commandery Governor Fan at Azhi’s place at least held out for more than ten days.”
Two more days passed, and Cheng Yong again brought detailed news.
As it turned out, in order to swiftly exterminate the rebels, all of General He’s adult sons had died in battle, and he himself, severely wounded, passed away on the journey back to the capital. Now, even someone as slow as Cheng Mother felt this wasn’t quite right: “Ayong, does the He family still have anyone left?”
“Yes. There’s still a sole daughter, He Zhaojun, and a young son only four years old.” Cheng Yong’s worried gaze turned toward his younger sister. “His Majesty has already enfeoffed Lady He as the Jun of Ancheng, granting her certain tax revenues, and the young son will inherit the title.”
Shaoshang sat silently by the window. A thin ray of sunlight without warmth fell on her face. After a long while, she said: “If it’s fortune, it’s not disaster; if it’s disaster, it cannot be avoided.”
Perhaps her words were prophetic. Three days later, Marquis Yang Ji Zun, who had been ordered to go welcome back General He, at the small court assembly, in front of all the ministers, recited word for word General He’s two final statements before death—
“This subject was originally a rustic commoner. Meeting His Majesty and serving at his side has been the fortune of my lifetime. I die without regrets. I earnestly hope His Majesty will not grieve.”
“This subject has only a weak daughter and young son remaining. My daughter Zhaojun was originally betrothed to a son of the Lou family. Now the Xiao traitors have been executed or captured, and the previous engagement is broken. I hope she can be joined in marriage with the Lou family again.”
Upon hearing the first statement, the Emperor wept ceaselessly, lamenting: “Heaven has taken from me a loyal minister and excellent general!” The entire court wept along with him. Upon hearing the second statement, the Emperor momentarily stopped his grief, and everyone’s gazes shot toward Grand Coachman Lou.
Ji Zun did not return to his own ranks but continued reporting: “This old subject observed General He’s expression and believes he did not know that Grand Coachman Lou’s nephew was already betrothed to the Cheng family, which is why he said such things.”
Wan Songbai, who had also been wiping away tears, was shocked for quite a while and finally came to his senses: “Exactly! General He was a reasonable and understanding person. If he had known about this matter, he definitely wouldn’t have…”
“However—” Ji Zun showed no expression, not looking at the ministers with their various expressions. “The He clan’s loyalty is magnificent and tragic. Though propriety doesn’t permit it, we can accommodate their feelings. This old subject requests His Majesty’s decision!”
The Emperor sat quietly in the seat of honor. The twelve strings of jade beads beneath his dark ceremonial cap gently swayed. The ministers couldn’t see the monarch’s expression clearly.
Grand Coachman Lou was already stunned like a wooden chicken, discovering that anything he said now would be wrong.
“Decide what decision?!” Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Wan Songbai quickly said loudly: “First, General He did not know before his death that the Lou clan’s son was already betrothed. Second, as a subject and official, being loyal and serving the country is one’s duty. To say something unpleasant—just because one has rendered merit, does that mean one can leverage achievements to demand rewards?!”
Ji Zun said: “Minister Wan also speaks correctly. His Majesty’s rewards are one thing, but seizing another family’s marriage arrangement is quite another.”
General Wu suddenly rose, stretching his voice to shout: “You can’t say it like that! The He family’s tragedy is extreme—nearly everyone is dead. Can’t we show them some compassion?!”
Ji Zun turned toward General Wu and said: “According to the General’s meaning, His Majesty should issue an edict to fulfill this matter? Has the General thought it through clearly? If this precedent is set, in the future if any family suffers severe casualties, can they rely on their merit to claim other families’ possessions, for example…”
The old man with graying hair and beard suddenly pointed behind him, pointing directly at the Empress’s younger brother, Marquis Xuan: “Like Marquis Xuan—back then, His Majesty graciously granted a mountain ridge in his native place as the Xuan clan’s ancestral burial ground, who knew this mountain ridge originally belonged to the Zhen family of Xuzhou. At first that Zhen clan was an enemy, so that was that. But later the Zhen clan led their people to surrender. In the future, if the Zhen clan’s descendants render great merit again, should that mountain ridge belonging to Marquis Xuan’s family be returned or not?”
General Wu was speechless, then retorted: “This, this ancestral burial ground is of great importance and naturally cannot be given away and taken back. But this marriage—haven’t the Lou and Cheng families not yet married?”
Ji Zun nodded: “The General also speaks reasonably. Currently General He still has a young son. If in the future someone fights for the country until his line is severed with only one daughter remaining, then can that daughter’s chosen husband be made to divorce his wife and remarry her? How should the distinctions here be grasped?”
This time General Wu was completely silenced and sat back in his ranks indignantly.
Just when Wan Songbai was chuckling with relief, thinking this Old Ji was on their side, Ji Zun said again: “However, the He clan’s loyalty and bravery move heaven. General He’s dying words truly should be honored.”
Wan Songbai gaped at this stubborn old man for quite a while, finally understanding.
—The Emperor couldn’t directly issue an edict commanding this, or it would become precedent. But the Lou and Cheng families could voluntarily break the engagement themselves to fulfill the ‘pitiful yet loyal and brave’ He clan.
…
After court was dismissed, Wan Songbai hurried to the Cheng household to tell these matters in complete detail to his sworn brother Cheng Shi, who hadn’t attended the small court assembly—and also to Xiao Furen.
Cheng Shi said with displeasure: “Are there no other methods to reward meritorious subjects? Must they come toy with us?”
Xiao Furen was silent for a long while, then suddenly asked: “Grand Coachman Lou didn’t say a single word?”
Wan Songbai wiped his sweat and nodded forcefully: “That old fellow acted as if his tongue had been cut out!”
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Xiao Furen’s mouth: “Why are we in such a hurry? The root of this matter lies with the Lou family. Let’s wait and see what the two branches of the Lou family have to say.”
Cheng Shi said in a heavy voice: “Exactly. It’s not that we absolutely must have Ayao as our son-in-law, but if we withdraw from this matter too easily, it will make everyone in the capital think the Cheng family can be bullied!”
Shaoshang sat quietly in the adjacent room, listening silently to the elders’ discussion. Suddenly she had an interesting analogy: Suppose you worked your heart out to get into Peking University or Tsinghua University—perhaps you’ll never have such good exam luck again. But there’s a martyr who died in service, and his daughter needs to take your university admission spot. Do you yield or not?