Daily Life of a Powerful Official Supporting His Wife

Chapter 2

Chapter two

The winter snow fell for a whole day without stopping. It was heavy and pressed on the branches, making crackling sounds, breaking off a section of the forest.

This is the first snow in early winter. Officials who have no worries about food and clothing always say that auspicious snow means a good harvest, but ordinary people are most afraid of the accumulation of snow. If the tiles on the eaves are broken, will the snow fall in?

It's not cold when it snows, but it's deadly when it melts. Those with a poor harvest may not even have enough winter clothing.

After the court session ended early, Xie Junling walked out of the Hanlin Academy, said goodbye to his colleagues, got into a simple gray-top sedan chair, and headed all the way to his mansion.

A few months ago, he was newly appointed by the emperor as a seventh-rank editor in the Hanlin Academy. As if that wasn't enough, he was also given a courtyard with three entrances and three exits. Whether the house was good enough was secondary. The main thing was that it was a gift from the emperor, which showed that the young man was favored. He was in high spirits and had a bright future.

What's more, the editors of the Hanlin Academy are responsible for lecturing at the imperial lectures and drafting imperial edicts, and the most important thing is to cultivate talents.

It was the emperor's secretariat, the closest place to the emperor. After three years of training here, as long as one was not bad, one would have a real job, and might even be entrusted with important tasks by the emperor. The specific results depended on one's luck and the emperor's trust.

What's the worst thing for a poor disciple with no foundation in Kyoto?
Isn't it just a reliance? Those old foxes who smell the scent will naturally not let it go. Who knows whether the young and promising Master Xie will rise to prominence in the future? He is still young and full of vigor, and anything can change.

It is also a so-called potential stock, how can we let it go?
Inside the mansion.

Xie Junling had already taken off his casual clothes and was now turning a few pages of the book with his slender white fingers.

I couldn't concentrate, I was always thinking about myself. After sitting for a long time, the winter chill invaded me and my face became even paler.

His skin color was originally fair, not rosy, but rather the appearance of a frail young man. Usually when he was in the palace, he would take off his official uniform and wear a long green gown and a black sable coat with a white fake fur collar. He was afraid of the cold, so he would pull his collar tightly, which made his black hair as sharp as a knife stand out. His lips looked as if they were painted with rouge. He could not be said to be feminine, but he was more delicate than those burly military generals.

The letter from home has been sent, and Lu Baoer had already replied and set off, so how come it has been so long and she still hasn't arrived in Kyoto?

He couldn't help but have a headache, wondering if this girl had caused trouble again. And after not seeing her for a year or two, had she grown taller?
Will you blame him?
Forget it, when had she not blamed him? She also blamed him for not sleeping with her.

How could Xie Junling say that he, a tall and strong man, had to tell stories to children before bed and coax girls to sleep?
What's more, he is at the age when his blood is full of energy. With a warm and soft beauty in his arms, even if she hasn't grown up yet, his blood will often surge. How could he dare to sleep with her?

It would be embarrassing if she saw through it; it would also be embarrassing if she didn't.

Even if she... is his little wife, so what?

I have a headache. I get a headache just thinking about this girl.

He looked around and saw that the yard was much bigger than the ones in the countryside.

According to Lu Baoer, if you have money, you can buy a white cat. Not many people keep cats these days. They can’t guard the house, they can only eat, drink and have fun, so they are rare toys for wealthy families.

But he didn't say that if you want a cat, you can just catch one from outside. It's just that wild cats are hard to tame. If one disobeys the owner and hurts people when brought home, it's better to raise one from a young age.

Besides, all she does is tease him, and in the end, won’t she just tire him out?

I wonder when Lu Baoer will arrive in Kyoto. It's already so late...

Xie Junling always felt that something was wrong. Even when he was sleeping soundly in the middle of the night, he would be woken up by nightmares. When he got up to drink some tea, he realized that it was because of the hot and humid weather.

Whenever there was a movement in the house, the newly appointed maid would always try to light a lamp and come in, but he always refused. Firstly, she was not used to having someone around to serve her. After living alone for so many years, suddenly becoming the master was something she was not used to.

Secondly, for some reason, Lu Baoer, the only female family member in the room who had been in contact with her for many years, developed a strange habit of hating other women.

Then let Lu Baoer bring him tea and water from now on? Forget it, just pretend he didn't say anything. She was sleeping soundly on the bed, with a face as round as a cat. It would be unbearable to wake her up to serve him.

It's still young and needs to be raised.

Xie Junling sighed and couldn't help but worry again.

After a while, the steward Chen Shan came to report: "Sir, there is a letter to be presented."

Chen Shan is the standard steward of the mansion. Every time a house is given out, there will always be some people assigned to the courtyard. They are not considered to be in the palace. They are servants of the master they follow and cannot put on airs or show bad temper.

If someone relies on his status as the local boss of the imperially granted house to oppress the confidant of his future master, that would be foolish and he would be courting his life.

He secretly rejoiced in his heart that he might have followed the right master this time - he was familiar with the person who delivered the letter, who was clearly a servant in the residence of Lord Gu, the Minister of Rites. He did not expect that Xie Junling had just arrived and had already laid out connections behind the scenes, and had hooked up with a third-rank official. Whether it was active or passive, he did not care about the twists and turns in his heart, as they would rot in his stomach for the rest of his life.

He only sent the letter without leaving his name, because he was afraid that the emperor would be wary. After all, the disciple he had just recruited was immediately won over by the old ministers, forming a clique for personal gain. What kind of thing was this? But no matter what, there was movement, which was a good thing for Manager Chen Shan. It showed that they could benefit each other and help each other, and it also meant that Xie Junling had someone to support him and could climb up the ladder.

It seems that this top scholar is not a reckless person, but rather has his own thoughts.

When Xie Junling saw the post, his brows gradually furrowed. It stated the time and the meeting place, and naturally someone would take him there.

Although I don't want to see him, Lu Baoer's case is strange, so I have to meet her.

There was no other choice, so Xie Junling went to the appointment that night.

Kyoto is bustling at night. The pleasure boats by the lake are filled with music, and the boats are full of lights, shining brightly, giving the impression of a world of drunkenness and dreams.

A sedan chair carried Xie Junling through the night, and after a few twists and turns, they finally arrived at the residence of Lord Gu, the Minister of Rites. They entered through a side door and did not attract anyone's attention.

A banquet had already been set up inside. When he entered the room, Lord Gu, with his white hair and beard, personally welcomed him in. When he saw Xie Junling, his eyes filled with tears. The hot tears accumulated in his bulging eye sockets. He called out "Ling'er" several times in a trembling voice before he stopped.

Xie Junling remained neither humble nor overbearing, bowing and greeting. In the officialdom, he was his superior, and in the family, he... was his grandfather.

But Lord Gu was a truly bad grandfather, having watched his own daughter die without saving her, claiming she had drowned. Had he not achieved the top spot in the imperial examination, Lord Gu probably wouldn't have even looked upon him with respect—after all, his descendants, as a result of their retribution, were unable to achieve fame and honor, unable to even earn the title of Jinshi. They had to resort to bribery to obtain even a minor official position, a disgrace.

The Gu family couldn't just collapse like this. Since Xie Junling, a dark horse, had appeared midway, they naturally had to make good use of him. Lord Gu's self-torture tactics were useless, and he embarrassedly wiped away his tears.

He is indeed an old fox, and has mastered the art of changing his face to perfection. If showing kindness doesn't work, then he will establish his authority. There is always something he can do.

It is good to hold grudges. The more such people hold grudges, the more resolute they become.

He still can't forget that Xie Junling, at such a young age, knelt in the backyard for three days to seek medical treatment for his mother.

It was snowing at the time, and his knees were covered in ice. To say he wasn't cold or in pain would be a lie. The boy was also smart; he didn't kneel at the main gate, to avoid drawing attention. He knew his identity, and that of his mother, the daughter of the Gu family, were secrets. If they were made public, Master Gu would kill them, not to mention saving them.

But he was cruel at that time, and he didn't even look at him or give him any money.

It was she who abandoned her family and eloped with that servant, and gave birth to such a weird beast. She had to bear the consequences of her own actions. If she were to be overly affectionate to her children in everything, the world would be in chaos.

Unfortunately, the little bastard he despised had become successful, forcing him to win him over and revitalize the Gu family. After all, he was half of the Gu family's bloodline, so as long as he...

After a while, Lord Gu invited Xie Junling to take the seat and ordered someone to brew him some fine bitter tea. He then spoke to him, "You've just entered the officialdom and don't know how deep the waters are. If you don't rely on a party to make a living, even if you are in a clean position, you will either be demoted or suppressed.

These people are not vegetarians. If they want to reach the highest position in the government, they must have their own ways. Have you figured this out?"

"I understand. Thank you, Lord Gu, for your teachings." Xie Junling could be unkind to him, but he would not show his likes and dislikes directly. He still had to survive in this big dye vat, so he had to leave a way out for everything.

"You are my grandson who has been away from home. How can I not love you? Do you really think I can bear to hurt Wan'er? She is my own daughter."

After he finished speaking, he burst into tears again, making it hard to tell whether he was telling the truth or not.

Xie Junling remained silent, so Lord Gu naturally assumed he was lost in thought. After a moment, he added, "This is perfect now. Others don't know our blood connection. I'll marry your cousin to you, strengthening our relationship. What do you think? This way, you and I will be tied together. From now on, our family's honor and disgrace will be linked. Isn't the Gu family's bloodline your bloodline?"

His calculation was ingenious. He used marriage to tie Xie Junling to his side. In the future, he would have to consider his wife's family when making decisions. Isn't that a good idea?

"Your humble servant..." Xie Junling was about to speak, reminding himself that he was already married, but was interrupted by Lord Gu. "As for your country wife, I have naturally sent her away for you. Ling'er, your grandfather is doing this for your own good. You should understand."

He believed that he had used this tactic of combining kindness and force very effectively.

Xie Junling wouldn't be ungrateful, and there was no need to refuse. It was a sure win for everyone, and he had put so much thought into paving the way for him, so how could he refuse?
But as soon as he heard these words, Xie Junling felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. It was winter, and the cold wind penetrated the crack in the door, blew on his face, and pierced into his heart, making him bitterly cold.

After a while, his voice became hoarse and he asked, "How is my wife?"

Lord Gu frowned, "Except, of course."

well.

Xie Junling closed his eyes. He couldn't say it to his face - if Lu Baoer loses even a single hair, I will make sure that your entire Gu family is buried with her.

But he could turn around and leave without saying a word, letting his attitude determine his voice.

Is he incompetent? Of course not.

This officialdom is so dirty and there is no control over it.

He originally thought that he had to be stronger in order to protect his mother and his wife.

Later, he found that no matter where he was, he had no control over his own situation.

He would continue to climb up, and one day, he would get his revenge.

It was snowing again, and under the light, the thin outlines of the broken snow were reflected.

He took two steps forward, turned around, lifted his robe, and knelt down to pay his respects to Lord Gu.

It was snowing again, and he remembered his childhood, kneeling in the snow, his knees aching so much that he felt desperate, and no one helped him.

A man's knees are made of gold; he kneels before heaven and earth above and his parents below. This is the etiquette of gratitude for his birth. He is taking care of his parents on behalf of his mother.

From then on, he had nothing to do with the Gu family.

He didn't want to express his position so quickly. As soon as he arrived in Kyoto and clashed with a third-rank official, he was afraid that he would encounter some hardships and unnecessary complications.

The next day, Xie Junling took leave on the pretext of feeling unwell. At daybreak, he found a driver and rode as fast as he could along the road to Kyoto.

Along the way, we heard some noise. It was said that someone died two nights ago. There were many women's jewelry next to the dead body. It was possible that a young lady from an official family encountered bandits and was robbed.

As he was talking excitedly, the man even took out the jade pendant he had picked up and showed it to others for their inspection - he wasn't sure if it was good jade, but he would know after he pawned it in a pawnshop today when the hype died down.

Xie Junling closed his eyes, unsure what to say. He remembered the jade, and the lifelike cat carved into it. It was left to Lu Baoer by her father, and she had always treated it like a treasure.

I went to the scene of the accident to look for the person, but there was no movement at all.

There was no body, no carriage.

It seems that this time, she is in great danger.

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(End of this chapter)