Chapter 247

"Father, rest assured, I will serve diligently and earn an honorary title for Mother," Yu Jingxiu assured his father.

Madam Yu already held the highest honorary title of the first rank. Could Yu Jingxiu possibly earn his mother a title above the first rank? Only contributions to the state could warrant a noble title, and while military officers could earn such honors through battle, the merits of civil officials were far harder to evaluate... Yu Jingxiu's words were merely meant to comfort his father.

That his son had such intentions was enough to please the father, especially given the blow Grand Secretary Yu had just suffered.

Grand Secretary Yu felt deeply gratified.

But the moment his son left, his face darkened.

To have quietly elevated Qian Donglin to the position of Senior Grand Secretary—the Emperor was truly formidable!

Perhaps a truly unprecedented sovereign was about to emerge!

What should his next move be?

Qian Donglin had passed the imperial examinations two sessions after him. A native of Longyan, Fujian, he had once served as the Seal-Holding Supervising Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, but had been demoted to the Office of Transmission for many years after offending Hong Du. Only upon the new Emperor's ascension had he been promoted to Lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, and he had just recently been elevated to Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy... The two naturally knew each other—when Qian Donglin held the position of Seal-Holding Supervising Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, they had once climbed Mount Yuming together. But afterward, as Yu himself rose steadily while Qian Donglin's fortunes declined, a distance had naturally grown between them. He wondered if it was still too late to mend the relationship.

As for Chen Danting, he had passed the examinations two sessions after Qian Donglin. A native of the capital, he had spent the previous twelve years serving as a county magistrate in the provinces, then been promoted to Director of the Revenue Bureau and Academician of the Hanlin Academy. He had only been appointed Chancellor of the Imperial Academy after the Emperor's ascension... Yu was not familiar with him at all.

Grand Secretary Yu paced about the room, lost in thought.

Qian Donglin was somewhat stubborn. Even as Seal-Holding Supervising Secretary, he had never been easy to deal with, let alone now.

He wondered what Chen Danting's temperament was like. In the old days, such information would have been easy to gather. But now that Chen Danting was a grand secretary, he would never slip up in matters of outward propriety, making it all the more difficult to discern his true character.

At this thought, he could not help but stroke his forehead and sink into deep contemplation.

Meanwhile, Yu Jingxiu, having withdrawn from the study, did not immediately return to his own courtyard. Instead, he stood quietly before the partition doors of the study, listening to the sounds within.

Hearing that his father was merely pacing about the study, Yu Jingxiu felt somewhat relieved.

He had already learned the full details of what had happened from his father's advisors.

The Emperor had summoned the Grand Secretariat for a council. Grand Secretary Shen had produced evidence of Mo Yingbo's embezzlement, and the Emperor, in a fury, had immediately ordered Yu's father to lead the Three Judicial Offices in investigating the matter. Grand Secretary Shen had then promptly petitioned the Emperor, stating that as Senior Grand Secretary, he had failed in his supervisory duties, and requested permission to retire. The Emperor had spoken kindly, urging him to stay, but after Shen had repeatedly insisted on resigning, the Emperor had reluctantly agreed. Following protocol, the Emperor then asked who might be suitable to join the Grand Secretariat, and Grand Secretary Shen had immediately recommended Qian Donglin and Chen Danting.

Neither of these men was qualified to enter the Grand Secretariat.

Grand Secretary Tian had objected at the time, but Shen had dismissed the concern, saying, "We are old and advanced in years; we should recommend men in their prime to join the Grand Secretariat and share the Emperor's burdens." Grand Secretaries Wang and Liu had immediately seconded the motion, while Grand Secretary Tian abstained.

Of the seven grand secretaries, Grand Secretary Mo had lost his qualification. Yu's father had still hoped that Grand Secretary Hu and others might speak on his behalf, opening the door for him to make his own case. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, he had not participated in the discussion. With only Grand Secretary Tian opposing, the matter passed smoothly, and the Office of Transmission immediately set about drafting the edict.

The speed was unprecedented.

By the time his father might have objected, the tide had already turned.

Recalling all this, Yu Jingxiu ground his teeth in frustration.

That old villain Shen Shichong—he had taken the money and failed to deliver. Clearly fearing he would not die a natural death, he had conspired with the Emperor. Shen's role was to bring down Mo Yingbo and install the Emperor's chosen men, Qian Donglin and Chen Danting, into the Grand Secretariat, and in return, the Emperor would spare his life...

As this thought flashed through his mind, his expression grew even darker.

A gentleman's revenge is never too late—ten years is not too long to wait.

Once he entered the Ministry of Personnel and worked steadily and discreetly for ten years, the Shen family would see what he was made of!

Thinking of his future prospects, he let out a long breath and felt considerably better.

Barring any unexpected developments, his father would likely serve out his term in his current position and then retire. Though he could benefit from his father's influence, he could rise at most to the third rank. To climb higher, he would inevitably need the favor of the grand secretaries and the Senior Grand Secretary. Chen Danting was ten years younger than Qian Donglin. By the time Qian Donglin grew old and feeble, Chen Danting would be in the prime of his vigor. The Emperor's arrangement was likely intended for Chen Danting to eventually succeed Qian Donglin. Rather than currying favor with Qian Donglin, whom everyone was now flocking to, it would be wiser to cultivate a connection with Chen Danting early on...

Should he discuss such a significant matter with his father?

Yu Jingxiu hesitated. Hearing no sound from the study, he gently lifted the curtain and peered inside.

Grand Secretary Yu was seated at his large desk, writing swiftly.

In recent days, Father had been running around seeking the position of Grand Secretary. Even if the Emperor hadn't caught wind of it, Qian Donglin and Chen Danting certainly would have known. And even if they didn't, once Qian Donglin assumed the role of Grand Secretary, there would be those who, seeking to curry favor with him, would inform him of the matter. Grand Secretary Wang and Grand Secretary Chen had already pledged their allegiance to the Emperor. Father stood alone and isolated—if he were to incur Qian Donglin's resentment on top of that, he would likely be marginalized within days.

Father must be devising countermeasures as well, no doubt.

If I could find a way through Chen Danting, then Father might form an alliance with him. Father had been in the Grand Secretariat for years and had his own means and methods. Chen Danting, like Qian Donglin, was one of the Emperor's confidants, so Qian Donglin would have to tread carefully to some extent. With Father's abilities, once he weathered this storm, even if the position of Grand Secretary eluded him, securing a seat in the Cabinet with real power would hardly be difficult. As long as Father remained secure, my own promotion would come much faster...

I'd better not disturb Father.

The two of us could each pursue our own paths, advancing side by side—perhaps that would yield even better results.

Having made up his mind, Yu Jingxiu returned to his own courtyard.

Lady Fan was holding their daughter in the breezeway, enjoying the cool air.

Yu Jingxiu looked at his daughter's withered, yellowing hair and frowned involuntarily. "The wind in the breezeway is strong—take the child back inside! If it's truly too hot, have the maids fan you with feather fans."

Lady Fan smiled in acknowledgment and carried their daughter as she walked with him toward the inner chamber. She explained, "The weather is so hot that the ice in our ice cellar has all melted. That's why I brought Zhen-jie'er to the breezeway to cool off."

Yu Jingxiu nodded, stroking his daughter's sparse hair, and asked with concern, "What did Imperial Physician Chen say?"

The child fell ill every few days, and a few days ago she had developed a slight fever. They had summoned Imperial Physician Chen, the most skilled in pediatrics at the Imperial Medical Academy, who said she had caught a chill and prescribed five doses of medicine. Today was the follow-up visit.

"He prescribed another five doses," Lady Fan said. "He said she's no longer in any serious danger."

The two entered the inner chamber, where the maids scurried about in a flurry—some searching for feather fans, some bringing fruit, some laying out cool bamboo mats, some preparing the arhat bed.

Lady Fan then said, "It's the sudden shifts between hot and cold that made Zhen-jie'er catch a chill. Could you see if there's any way to get some ice?"

To use ice in the summer, one had to place an order at the beginning of winter. Only the wealthy and noble could afford ice. Otherwise, come summer, even money wouldn't get you any.

Yu Jingxiu couldn't help but frown.

In previous years, he could always find a way to procure some. But now—Father had failed to become Grand Secretary, which at the very least showed that the Emperor was displeased with him. Qian Donglin had been pushed into the position of Grand Secretary by the Emperor himself; whatever the Emperor thought, Qian Donglin would act accordingly—of that there was no doubt. What the Emperor would do next was anyone's guess. At such a critical juncture, it was naturally better to avoid trouble than to court it. Besides, their household had already ordered a considerable amount of ice this year. If someone with ulterior motives took notice and used it as leverage to impeach Father for "extravagance and dissipation," the Emperor's impression of Father would only worsen.

"We'll discuss this another time," he deflected. "If it's truly too hot, just buy two more maidservants to attend to you."

Lady Fan was somewhat disappointed but dared not show it.

For Zhen-jie'er's sake, even her mother-in-law had transferred her own ice allowance to them. If she were to remain ungrateful, not only her husband but even her mother-in-law would be displeased with her if they found out.

With that thought, Lady Fan suddenly felt that her mother-in-law had been treating her quite well lately.

It was just as the elders said.

Having a child truly changed things.

If she could bear a son, she would have nothing to worry about for the rest of her life.

Lady Fan dismissed the maids and personally wrung out a cloth for Yu Jingxiu.

Since their daughter's birth, Lady Fan had not served him so gently and attentively in a long time.

A faint smile appeared on Yu Jingxiu's face.

A young maidservant came in to report, "Duanyan has arrived."

Yu Jingxiu said, "Have him wait in the study."

The maidservant acknowledged and left.

Yu Jingxiu's washing movements became noticeably quicker.

Lady Fan couldn't help but ask curiously, "What business do you have with Duanyan?"

"Nothing important," Yu Jingxiu replied vaguely, then, as if something had just occurred to him, he consulted Lady Fan, "When we got married, Mother gave us one of her dowry hills as a gift—do you remember?"

"I remember." Why bring that up all of a sudden? Lady Fan looked puzzled.

Yu Jingxiu said, "That hill adjoins another family's ancestral graves, and they've been wanting to buy it at a high price for some time. I was thinking—the hill isn't worth much, and no one else would offer such a high price except them. Perhaps we should just sell it."

At the time of their marriage, such properties were listed on the betrothal gifts—they were the couple's private assets, and Yu Jingxiu had entrusted them to Lady Fan's keeping.

But that was her mother-in-law's dowry!

Lady Fan was greatly alarmed: "What's happened?" Her hand instinctively clutched Yu Jingxiu's sleeve.

His wife would find out sooner or later anyway...

Yu Jingxiu hesitated for a moment, then went with Lady Fan to the side room connected to the inner chamber and told her about the family's misfortune.

Lady Fan's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

She was so anxious that tears streamed down her face: "What are we going to do? What are we going to do?"

"Don't worry, don't worry." Yu Jingxiu comforted her. "That's how it is in officialdom—what goes around comes around. Once these days pass, everything will calm down." He added with a smile, "Surely you don't doubt my abilities?"

"Of course I trust you, husband." Lady Fan hastily declared. "It's just that this came so suddenly, I was momentarily frightened." As she spoke, she quickly took out her handkerchief to wipe away her tears, then broke into a radiant smile. "But this is Mother-in-law's dowry. Even though she gave it to us, it would be best to let her know, lest she think we're squandering her dowry recklessly."

She made the suggestion.

Yu Jingxiu, however, shook his head. "Mother has plenty of dowry! She won't notice." As he spoke, seeing his wife's surprised expression, he hesitated and lowered his voice. "These past days, Father has been busy pulling strings and greasing palms. Uncle and the other relatives have all contributed a good amount of silver, and Mother has even sold a prime piece of farmland she owned in Jiaxing... If Mother found out, she would insist on giving us money to help out... Better to keep quiet about it!"