Chapter 242

Third Cousin's family began to feel somewhat disheartened.

If Zhao Ling were at home, there might be some way to think of something...

Fu Tingjun was also at a loss. Thinking that the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, she couldn't bear to let Third Cousin's family spend the festival in such a dreary manner. She prepared realgar wine, various pastries, fruits, and other festive items, then took the two children to the place where Third Cousin had rented.

When Third Cousin saw Yuwei helping Fu Tingjun, who was heavily pregnant and moving somewhat clumsily, descend from the carriage, she hurried forward to support Fu Tingjun's other arm, chiding her: "Between sisters, why bother with such formalities? If you need anything, just send Yuwei or the others, or have them bring me a message and I'll come to you. For you to come all this way yourself—what if you disturb the fetus? Ninth Brother-in-law is far away in Guizhou, fighting the Miao barbarians. You can't have him worrying about two things at once, can you?"

Fu Tingjun smiled and said: "Ninth Master isn't at home, so I wanted to bring Youyou and Xige'er here to spend the Dragon Boat Festival with you. I was afraid you wouldn't agree, so I had no choice but to come uninvited."

Given how far along she was, Third Cousin would rather bring Chunbing and the others to Shi Family Hutong to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival than agree to let her come over with the children.

Third Cousin understood Fu Tingjun's intentions at once. She was both grateful and delighted, but still shot her a glare and said: "Your brother-in-law isn't made of glass. If he couldn't withstand something like this, how could he go far in his official career? Don't you worry. For the Dragon Boat Festival, our whole family will come to your place to celebrate." Having said that, afraid Fu Tingjun would keep fussing, she stated directly: "That's settled then. No more arguments." Then she crouched down to pick up Youyou, and smiling, asked Xige'er, who was held in the wet nurse's arms: "Third Aunt has made poria cocos paste. Will you come with Third Aunt to eat some?"

"Yes!" Xige'er's eyes were like specks of black lacquer, and he answered in a loud, vigorous voice that lifted everyone's spirits.

Youyou nodded eagerly in Third Cousin's arms.

Watching and listening, Third Cousin's eyes immediately curved into crescent moons. She praised Xige'er with a "This child—he's been raised so well," then patted his head, and carrying Youyou, turned and went through the hanging flower gate.

Chunbing and Yuanxiao quickly followed.

Fu Tingjun could only shake her head helplessly and follow along.

The sisters settled themselves in the inner chamber, and the maids and serving women brought out a full kang table laden with pastries and snacks. Xige'er ate until his cheeks were puffed full.

Youyou, being a girl, took a small crisp pastry and nibbled at it slowly over a handkerchief.

Chunbing and Yuanxiao each had two pieces of snowflake cake, then sat off to the side drinking tea. Chunbing was fine, but Yuanxiao craned his neck, staring longingly at Xige'er.

Fu Tingjun took two pieces of crisp pastry and gave them to Chunbing and Yuanxiao.

Chunbing said he wasn't hungry, while Yuanxiao swallowed his saliva and claimed he didn't like crisp pastries.

Clearly, Third Cousin was strict with them!

Fu Tingjun smiled and asked Yuanxiao: "Then what do you like to eat? Ninth Aunt will get it for you."

"I... I don't like anything!" Yuanxiao glanced at his mother and refused Fu Tingjun pitifully.

Every household has its own rules, and Fu Tingjun couldn't very well disrupt theirs. She had no choice but to pretend she hadn't noticed and continue discussing the Dragon Boat Festival with Third Cousin: "...After all, it is the Dragon Boat Festival. Going to Shi Family Hutong—do you think Third Brother-in-law would agree?"

"Your Third Brother-in-law isn't that rigid a person. He can tell sincerity from pretense!"

Just as they were talking, the senior maid whom Third Cousin had sent to inform Third Brother-in-law of Fu Tingjun and her children's visit returned to report: "The master says, since Ninth Aunt has come all this way, a rare visit, the mistress should receive her well. The master has already sent someone to Penglai Pavilion to order a banquet."

Ordinarily, female guests would be entertained by the inner household.

But Third Cousin felt that between sisters, such formalities were unnecessary, and that Third Brother-in-law should come in to greet them. She also thought about how her husband had been constantly entertaining guests these days and wondered whether he would need to go out later, so she asked the maid: "What is the master doing?"

The maid smiled and replied: "Seventh Aunt's husband has arrived. The master is speaking with him in the study!"

Hearing this, Third Cousin grew restless.

Both the Su and Bai families had been officials for generations. Though neither had produced a high-ranking minister of the third grade, officials of the fifth and sixth grades were as numerous as ox hairs, and their relatives and old friends were spread throughout the court and the realm. These days, many matters depended on Seventh Brother-in-law's efforts on their behalf.

She wondered what news Seventh Brother-in-law had brought this time.

Fu Tingjun naturally knew why Third Cousin was so restless, and smiled: "Why don't you go greet Seventh Brother-in-law?"

He wasn't an outsider!

Third Cousin thought briefly, then agreed.

"Then sit here for a while—I'll be right back," she said apologetically.

"It's fine," Fu Tingjun smiled. "I'll rest in your room for a bit."

Third Cousin nodded and went to Third Brother-in-law's study.

Fu Tingjun then asked Chunbing about his studies.

Chunbing answered each question in turn.

Fu Tingjun was secretly astonished.

She hadn't expected that at such a young age, Chunbing had already finished reading the Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean .

Fu Tingjun asked him a few more questions, and his answers were all commendable. Fu Tingjun nodded inwardly and smiled as she chatted with him. Learning that he had to write five hundred large characters every day, she couldn't help but ask softly, "Isn't that tiring?"

Chunbing was taken aback, then said, "Not tiring. My father writes two thousand characters every day. I only write five hundred."

Having already passed the imperial examination, he still practiced writing ten thousand characters daily.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but feel ashamed.

It seemed her third brother-in-law was truly devoted to learning!

No wonder her second aunt had, disregarding others' opinions, married Third Cousin, who brought a substantial dowry, to her third brother-in-law, who was then a widower.

After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Third Cousin returned, but her expression was not good.

Fu Tingjun then sent the children out to play.

Third Cousin did not object.

Youyou blinked her big eyes and asked Third Cousin, "Third Aunt, may I take some pastries out to eat?"

Third Cousin forced a smile at Youyou and said, "Of course you may!" She instructed the attendants by her side to leave some pastries for Fu Tingjun and have the rest of the snacks and fruits brought to the side room.

The children went off to the side room, laughing and playing.

Fu Tingjun immediately leaned forward and asked urgently, "What did Seventh Brother-in-law say?"

"Don't even mention it," Third Cousin said dejectedly. "I'm afraid he'll have to be posted to the provinces!"

Some capital officials, if they felt their careers had no great prospects, would also seek provincial postings, striving to govern a region.

Fu Tingjun said, "Is it that there are no good positions even in the provinces?"

Third Cousin nodded. "Aside from the county magistrates of a few small counties in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guangxi, there's also a registrar position in Tai'an, an assistant magistrate in Lüliang, and a judge position in Linfen... As for good vacancies like the registrar of Jurong, the magistrate of Shaoxing, or the magistrate of Wuhu, the protégés and old connections of the Grand Secretaries have long had their eyes on them. Your brother-in-law's mentor was a favored minister of the late emperor, and now he's just biding his time at the Court of Judicial Review. Though he has some old connections and can help plan for a few small county magistrate positions, if you want him to exert his full effort, I'm afraid your brother-in-law's relationship with him isn't quite enough for that."

Fu Tingjun nodded slightly and said, "What about the capital? Isn't there any position that's passable?"

"How could there not be?" Third Cousin said. "Censor of the Censorate, secretary of the Office of Transmission, registrar of the Court of Sacrificial Worship... all are quite good. The Ministry of Personnel even has a vacancy for a Left Supervising Secretary." As she spoke, she showed a hint of disappointment. "It's just that your brother-in-law lacks support at court, and Seventh Brother-in-law is powerless to help. If he stays in the capital, at best he'd get a minor post like registrar of the Registry Office of the Court of Sacrificial Worship."

Fu Tingjun noted the position of Left Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel.

The Supervising Secretaries of the Six Ministries did not belong to any single government office. The chief supervising secretaries were only of the seventh rank, while the Left and Right Supervising Secretaries were of the seventh rank junior. Though their rank was very low, they had the right to submit memorials directly to the emperor. They were responsible for attending to the emperor, offering remonstrance, filling vacancies, picking up omissions, and inspecting the affairs of the Six Ministries. When imperial edicts were to be promulgated, major matters required re-submission to the throne, while minor matters were signed and issued; if there were errors, they would seal and return the documents with their objections. Memorials submitted from within and outside the court were categorized and copied out, then signed and forwarded to the relevant ministries, with corrections made to any errors.

Many powerful court officials had risen from the position of Supervising Secretary—no matter how capable you were, you first had to let the emperor know of your talent!

And this was the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, which oversaw the promotion and demotion of all officials—the power was even greater.

She thought for a moment, then said, "If we were to scheme for the position of Left Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, where would the difficulty lie?"

Third Cousin was startled by the question. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "This position is too coveted. Your brother-in-law lacks both connections and seniority... We hadn't originally planned to scheme for this position..."

But Fu Tingjun felt that Third Cousin seemed to have something she was reluctant to say.

She weighed her words and said, "I have an idea, though I don't know if it will work. If you tell me the truth, I can mull it over in my mind. Otherwise, I'm completely in the dark, and even if I wanted to try, I probably couldn't manage it."

Third Cousin hesitated for a long while before gritting her teeth and saying, "Grand Secretary Yu is scheming for this position for his son..."

"Grand Secretary Yu?" Fu Tingjun was astonished.

Third Cousin nodded.

Fu Tingjun said in surprise, "Isn't he at the Office of Transmission? The Office of Transmission isn't inferior to the Left and Right Supervising Secretaries of the Six Ministries!"

"You don't know," Third Cousin said. "The Chief Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel is only thirty this year. He was from the first cohort of jinshi after the emperor ascended the throne. He's shrewd and capable, and greatly favored by the emperor. Word has long been out that he'll be promoted within at most two years. Given the emperor's steady nature, if he's promoted, the Chief Supervising Secretary will most likely be promoted from among the Left and Right Supervising Secretaries. Even if the emperor has no such intention, as long as one can get through to the Senior Grand Secretary, there's still a chance. That's why everyone has their eyes on this position."

Fu Tingjun suddenly understood.

She snorted coldly and said, "Just because he's Yu Jingxiu, the son of Grand Secretary Yu, are we supposed to sit back and do nothing?" With that, she stood up. "Come, let's go see Third Brother-in-law and Seventh Brother-in-law!"

Third Cousin quickly pulled her back. "Don't act rashly. The Yu family has deep roots and is far from simple—it's not what you think..."

Fu Tingjun smiled and said, "We don't understand matters of officialdom, but Third Brother-in-law and Seventh Brother-in-law are clear-headed men. Whether this can work or not, we'll have to discuss it with them. Three cobblers with their wits together can match Zhuge Liang. If we all put our heads together, who knows—we might just find a way out! Third Sister, don't stop me. Whether it can be done or not, it's up to Third Brother-in-law and Seventh Brother-in-law to decide!"

Third Cousin felt a stir in her heart at these words.

Zhao Ling, after all, had the merit of following the dragon—he knew far more people than they did.

The golden path of boundless promise in their eyes was nothing but a sesame seed in the eyes of those great figures. If they could obtain a single word from the Emperor or the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, then not just a Left Supervising Secretary—even a county magistrate of Jurong County or a Shandong Administrative Counselor, positions with no vacancies at all, would be no more than a lift of the hand. The Ministry of Personnel would have to squeeze out a vacancy by whatever means necessary...

In that moment, her confidence surged. She supported Fu Tingjun and said, "Let's go to the study!"