Di Ming

Chapter 345 The two women meet again, reminiscing about the past.

Zhuang Tingjian, dressed in a mink coat and a fox fur hat, breathed out white puffs of air and said, "This is my first time in Beijing. I didn't expect it to be so cold!"

After speaking, he gracefully stepped down from the carriage with the help of a servant.

"Baby, meet daddy!"

"Your son greets your father-in-law!"

Zhuang Shu and Feng Menglong bowed and greeted him together, saying in unison, "Why did you suddenly come to the capital, sir? We haven't received any letters from you..."

The two were quite surprised.

Today is the ninth day of the first lunar month. The journey from Nanjing to Beijing takes more than twenty days. So, it seems the adults weren't home for the New Year; they were spending it on the road. This is highly unusual. Could something have happened?

Seeing that the adult's complexion was rosy and his body was healthy, the two breathed a sigh of relief and quickly invited Zhuang Tingjian into the courtyard.

Zhuang Tingjian first examined his daughter, noticing that her complexion was much better than before, and breathed a sigh of relief. He then looked at the baby girl in her swaddling clothes and said with a joyful expression:

"Come here, let Grandpa give you a hug!"

He took the child, looked at the little guy's rosy cheeks, and chuckled:

"She looks just like Fourth Sister. Back then, Fourth Sister was just born and she was just as adorable... Eighteen years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Fourth Sister is now a mother herself. My heart is... greatly comforted."

“Father…” Zhuang Shu smiled through her tears, “It is your unfilial daughter who has failed you.”

"You are very filial, and I am very pleased with you," Zhuang Tingjian said with emotion, knowing his daughter's thoughts.

"Fourth Sister, all I've ever wanted is for you to be safe, happy, and blessed. I've never expected you to rise to a high position or bring glory to the family. Seeing you two living in harmony and having a happy marriage makes me content."

After saying that, he looked up at the courtyard and said, "Is this the house that Zhihu gave you in the letter? It's not easy to have a house like this in the inner city of Beijing! Zhihu is really thoughtful."

He spoke with great emotion, "I only heard yesterday that Zhu Zhihu has been granted the title of Marquis of Jiangning. It's truly remarkable. In the more than four hundred years since Qin Hui was granted the title of Duke, Zhu Zhihu is the only person from Jiangning to have been granted a title."

"This..." Feng Menglong was stunned. "Father-in-law..."

His father-in-law was right in himself; since Qin Hui, only Zhu Yin had been granted a title in Jiangning. However, it was inappropriate to bring up Qin Hui. He wanted to correct his father-in-law, but he didn't know how to begin.

Zhuang Tingjian realized he had misspoke and laughed, saying, "Let's stick to the facts, let's stick to the facts."

When the guests in the courtyard saw that Feng Menglong's father-in-law had arrived, they all stood up and bowed respectfully, addressing him as "Uncle".

In reality, Zhuang Tingjian didn't know a single one of these impoverished scholars.

Zhuang Shu personally brewed tea for her father and arranged for the servants to feed his horse. Feng Menglong then invited his father-in-law to sit down in the study.

"Is your arrival in the capital at this time for official matters?" Feng Menglong asked bluntly.

Zhuang Tingjian nodded, patting his swaddled granddaughter. "Youlong, my two terms as magistrate of Jiangning are almost up, but I am not a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations)... Youlong, you are a smart man, and you have seen the world in Beijing these past two years. In your opinion, how will you arrange my next official position?"

Feng Menglong thought to himself, "Just as I thought." His father-in-law had been serving as the magistrate of Jiangning County for over five years, and his second term would end in a few months. The magistrate of Jiangning was a sixth-rank official in the capital, and was usually a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

My father-in-law was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. He was promoted to magistrate of Jiangning County because of his meritorious service in cracking a major Jesuit case.

Logically, the next step up would be the fifth rank. However, for a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination), the fifth rank was a major hurdle. Many Juren officials never reached the seventh rank in their entire lives, let alone the fifth.

This put my father-in-law in a very awkward position. His two terms were up, and he had served in Jiangning County for too long, having previously been the county magistrate, so he had to be transferred away from Jiangning.

Promotion is extremely difficult. But if it's a lateral transfer... what local official position is better than that of a county magistrate in the capital?
If nothing unexpected happens, he will most likely be assigned to one of the various ministries in Nanjing as a minor, insignificant sixth-rank official.

A sixth-rank official in Beijing certainly carries considerable weight. But what about an official in Nanjing? It's a sinecure, nowhere near as powerful as the magistrate of Jiangning.
Feng Menglong answered without hesitation: "In my humble opinion, my father-in-law will most likely take over as the head of a department in Nanjing, which is also a departmental position."

Zhuang Tingjian nodded, "You and I are thinking about the same thing. It should be a lateral transfer to a position of director. But being a director in Nanjing... a director is a very leisurely job."

Feng Menglong realized he was bad at comforting people, so he could only force a smile and say:

"It's good to have nothing to do. Many people would love to have such a peaceful life. Over the years, you have devoted yourself to governing the people and have worked tirelessly. You are truly loyal to the country and devoted to your duties. Your reputation is not only admired by me, but also known throughout Nanjing. After years of being overworked with official documents, you deserve some peace and quiet. When you have nothing to do, you can enjoy a carefree life."

Zhuang Tingjian handed the child to Feng Menglong, stroking his beard with a wry smile, and said:

"But I am only in my forties. I am not in my prime, but I dare not say I am old either. Why should I avoid leisure? I am not afraid of hardship or fatigue. I still want to do more for the court. Why should I be afraid of the tedious paperwork? At my age, I should be doing things. I am afraid of leisure."

Feng Menglong opened his mouth, but was speechless. His father-in-law said he wasn't afraid of hardship or fatigue, but rather of idleness; what could he say?
As the father-in-law and son-in-law were talking, Zhuang Shu entered carrying a teacup. She glanced at her father and smiled sweetly, "Sir, you've come to the capital this time to seek an official position, haven't you?"

Zhuang Tingjian glared at his daughter. "What do you mean by seeking an official position? You're utterly clueless. I've come to see you all and my granddaughter. Even if I were just inquiring about the workings of officialdom, it wouldn't be considered seeking an official position."

Zhuang Shu knew what was going on, but she didn't say anything to avoid embarrassing her father. She said meaningfully, "It's already 4:45 AM, so Zhihu should be arriving soon."

Upon hearing the name "Child Tiger," Zhuang Tingjian's spirits lifted, and his eyes lit up. "Child Tiger is coming today too?"

"Of course." Zhuang Shu couldn't help but feel a little proud. "Zhihu is a kind and old-fashioned man. He already had a relationship with our family, and now he is also Feng Lang's good friend and the child's godfather. Even if others don't come, he will definitely come. Even if he becomes the Grand Secretary, he will not look down on our family."

Zhuang Tingjian said, "The young tiger is not the same as before, so you must treat him well. I brought some silver with me, so you should take it quickly and buy plenty of good wine and food."

Feng Menglong laughed and said, "Sir, there's no need for that. We still have plenty of gold and silver at home, all from Zhihu's salary. Zhihu doesn't stand on ceremony; being too polite would only make us feel distant."

Zhuang Tingjian sighed, "It's been years since I last saw him. I never imagined that the young tiger could have such good fortune. I knew back then that he was no ordinary person, but I still greatly underestimated him."

Zhuang Shu said, "You two talk, I'll wait outside the courtyard."

After saying that, she took the child from her husband's arms and carried him out of the study.

Zhuang Tingjian glanced at Feng Menglong and nodded slightly, saying:
"Youlong, you're much more composed and calm than before. It's clear that Zhihu trusts you a lot. But you can't be so discouraged just because you failed the exam twice. Are you just going to stay in the Zhu family as a clerk forever?"

"A man who studies for the imperial examinations should ultimately become an official; that is the right path."

Feng Menglong laughed and said, "I'm not in a hurry. Let's wait a few more years. There's trouble in Korea now, and Zhihu might have to go there again. I plan to go with him."

Zhuang Tingjian did not try to persuade him further. He knew very well that although his fourth son-in-law was a gentle and refined gentleman, he was also insightful and extremely opinionated.

Feng Menglong said, "According to regulations, the Ministry of Personnel in Nanjing can appoint and dismiss officials of the fourth rank and below in Southern Zhili. You also have connections in the Ministry of Personnel in Nanjing, so why not do it here instead of coming to Beijing, a place where you know no one?"

Zhuang Tingjian took a sip of tea, his expression somewhat helpless. "I've already tried to get the best positions. The best I could get were a judge or vice-prefect in an outlying prefecture, or the salt tax supervisor. My dear son-in-law, I'm someone who likes to do practical things. Over the years, as the magistrate of Jiangning County, I've done quite a bit for the people. But these official positions make it difficult to do anything for the people."

"Even if you become a judge, a sub-prefect, or a salt tax commissioner, the chances of actually getting the job are slim. The most likely position is that of a manager in one of the various departments in Nanjing. In the end, you're not a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations)."

What he said is true. The positions of magistrate, sub-prefect, and salt commissioner are all sixth-rank officials, but they are all officials in charge of specific affairs and have no decision-making power. Compared to the county magistrate in the capital, their real power is far less.

Jiangning County is a county under the jurisdiction of the capital, with a population exceeding 600,000, roughly the same as that of a large prefecture. If someone were transferred to an outer prefecture as the third or fourth-in-command, wouldn't that be a demotion?

Not to mention that even these official positions were difficult to secure, and most would likely remain leisurely positions as minor officials in various departments in Nanjing. How could Zhuang Tingjian not feel disappointed?

Official rank is useless; what matters is real power. Otherwise, why would a second-rank provincial governor be less powerful than a seventh-rank imperial inspector?

Therefore, he was unwilling to give up and went north, arriving in Beijing to seek an official position before the New Year was even over.

He didn't have many connections in Beijing. His biggest connection was Zhu Yin.

Knowing the situation, Feng Menglong, to avoid embarrassing his father-in-law, took the initiative to say:
“Father-in-law, your arrival today is timely. Zhihu mentioned you before, saying that he hadn’t seen you for several years and wondered if you were well and healthy. He also said that your talent was enough to govern a region.”

"In my opinion, Chihu still wants to help the adults take another step forward."

Zhu Yin did indeed say this. In Zhu Yin's view, Zhuang Tingjian was highly capable and dedicated to his work. Although he was not a clean and honest official, he was a good and capable minister, which was rare.

"Oh?" Zhuang Tingjian was actually a little flattered. "Zhihu really said that?"

Feng Menglong laughed and said, "How could I dare to make things up? Zhihu did say it, and more than once. When Zhihu sees Father-in-law this time, he will most likely ask about it out of concern."

Feng Menglong didn't blame his father-in-law for being greedy for official positions. Although he had never been an official, he knew how painful it would be for someone who had held real power for many years to lose it.

Hearing his son-in-law say this, Zhuang Tingjian couldn't help but feel even more expectant. However, along with the anticipation, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

How unpredictable life is! In just a few short years, his and Zhu Yin's positions had reversed. The boy who once earnestly instructed him and treated him with utmost respect was now a high-ranking official, a powerful figure who could provide shelter from the wind and rain.

Thinking of this, Zhuang Tingjian felt a mix of emotions, but more than anything, he felt gratified and proud of Zhu Yin. After all, he had been Zhu Yin's mentor back then.

...

As soon as Zhuang Shu stepped out of the study, she saw seven or eight maids chatting idly around a stove in the corridor of the side room. She immediately stamped her bound feet and cursed:

"A bunch of gossipy scoundrels! The courtyard is full of guests, and the family is busy with the wedding banquet, but you all have no interest in doing anything and are just slacking off here! Do you think you can just freeload off the Feng family's food?"

She had a real headache dealing with this group of "Beijing slaves" from Beijing.

Since Feng Menglong became Zhu Yin's advisor, the Feng family's life in Beijing suddenly became much more comfortable. They not only owned a three-courtyard, three-room mansion in the inner city of Beijing, but also bought more than ten maids to serve them. However, most of these maids were from the capital, and even though they had become servants, they were still very proud and were used to being outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, making them difficult to manage.

Take today's banquet, for example. The main workers in the household are still the few servants brought from our hometown in Jiangnan. Although there are many of the newly purchased "Beijing servants," they are unwilling to work.

Seeing their mistress's anger, the lazy and slacking maids simply laughed and apologized before running off to do their work.

But once the mistress was out of sight, the group of people sauntered back to the backyard, sleeves tucked in, whispering and gossiping about their mistress:
"What's with the airs! She's just the daughter of a minor official from Jiangnan! Does she really think she's some high-ranking noblewoman?"

"Does she know how many officials there are in Beijing? Four thousand civil and military officials! Her father, a county magistrate from another region, is nothing. Even a turtle in the Yongding River would be more precious."

"Where is this? The inner city of Beijing! Not far away is Emperor Wanli's Forbidden City! A hailstone falling from the sky could hit a third or fourth-rank official!"

"You have to judge people by their appearance and their character. Let's not talk about anything else, just look at the guests who came to drink today. What kind of people are they? Scholars who have never passed the imperial examinations in a hundred years, poor peddlers who have never been able to rise above their station in three generations. Among the gifts they gave, there were three qian of silver, and very few gave even one tael."

"Hahaha, you dare to come to a wedding banquet for three taels of silver? Even the cheapest prostitute in Beijing would charge more than three taels of silver for a night of pleasure! This is too stingy."

"I used to be a servant in the Ministry of Personnel! What haven't I seen? What kind of guests come and go in the Ministry of Personnel? And look at this? Heh!"

"Isn't that right? When I'm at the residence of the Imperial Physician, isn't it always bustling with carriages and horses? When the master celebrates his birthday, the minimum gift from guests is twenty taels of silver..."

"Oh, I heard from the lady of the house that a distinguished guest has come to visit today. He's said to be the famous Mr. Zhihu? And that Mr. Zhihu is Miss's godfather?"

"You believe that? Mr. Zhihu is a star deity descended to earth, a peerless genius who passed the imperial examinations in all three levels and has made outstanding military achievements! He holds the official position of Minister of War, is also a palace guard, a tutor to princes, and has now been granted the title of Marquis of Jiangning! Would such an important figure come to the Feng family for a banquet? Would he become Miss's godfather?"

"This is just using someone else's name to make a big deal out of nothing, bragging without fear of backfiring. Who is the Marquis of Jiangning? Everyone in the world knows him. I heard that when he went to Japan, even the Japanese King knelt and kowtowed to him. How could the Feng family possibly be able to curry favor with someone like him?"

"Haha, the lady of the house also said that the head of the family is Mr. Zhihu's advisor. That's hilarious. He's just a lowly clerk in the Marquis's mansion, and he probably can't even exchange a single word with the Marquis of Jiangning."

"How busy is the Marquis of Jiangning? Why would he come here? The head of the family is just a scholar, without any official position. Would the Marquis of Jiangning even look at him?"

"Indeed. If Marquis Jiangning were to come to the Feng family, I'd be willing to change my mind!"

"That's right! If the Marquis of Jiangning could come to the Feng family, I'd write the character '田' backwards!"

These people were only interested in talking nonsense, doing their best to mock their master and venting their dissatisfaction with being scolded earlier.

But they didn't know that behind a pillar not far away, the mistress Zhuang Shu was trembling with rage.

Zhuang Shu never expected that these newly purchased maids would be so presumptuous and rude!
What a wicked servant who bullies his master, looking down on people like a dog!

When I bought slaves from the brokerage firm, they made it sound wonderful, but it turns out they were all this kind of scum.

These aren't servants, they're all masters and ladies!

What if the little tiger doesn't come today? Won't they laugh at me to death?

Just as Zhuang Shu was trembling with anger and cold, she suddenly heard a familiar voice calling out from the courtyard gate:
"Brother Youlong, Fourth Sister, I'm late!"

It's a tiger cub!

Zhuang Shu was overjoyed and exclaimed sweetly, "They're here! They're here!" She then carried the child and, with difficulty, ran out to greet them, her bound feet swaying gently.

Her shout startled the group of sycophantic servants who were gossiping about their master.

Did the lady of the house overhear again? And who is it that has come?
The group went outside together and saw a luxurious carriage drawn by a blue horse parked at the entrance, surrounded by riders on all sides, making quite a grand spectacle.

A handsome young man dressed in a flowing brocade robe and a jade belt was calmly stepping off the carriage.

Everyone was stunned when they saw the young man's noble bearing and imposing presence.

This young benefactor was someone they all looked up to.

It is indeed the Marquis of Jiangning!
Before anyone could react, a radiant beauty in flowing robes stepped out of the carriage. This woman was as beautiful as a fairy, with unparalleled elegance, but unfortunately, her large feet were an eyesore—of course, this was none other than Ning the Big-Footed.

Upon seeing the familiar little tiger, Zhuang Shu's nose suddenly stung, and tears almost welled up in her eyes. With a joyful, tearful expression, she said, "This humble servant..."

"Fourth Miss, don't bow!" Zhu Yin chuckled. "This is my adopted daughter? Let me hug her!"

"Mmm!" Zhuang Shu, her face flushed, handed the swaddled baby to Zhu Yin, then gave Ning Caiwei a deep bow, "This humble servant greets Madam..."

Ning Caiwei is a first-rank imperial lady, so of course she has to pay her respects.

"No need for formalities!" Ning Caiwei returned the greeting, "We're not outsiders, Fourth Miss, there's no need for such politeness."

Zhuang Shu smiled and said, "Etiquette must not be disregarded!"

The two women were each lost in their own thoughts. It was truly a case of... the two women meeting again, reminiscing about the past.

As the group began to talk, a large group of people suddenly knelt down, bowing in varying order and addressing each other in different ways.

"I've met the Marquis!"

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

"Greetings, Mr. Zhihu!"

"Greetings, Junior Marshal!"

The guests were fine with it, merely feeling a pleasant surprise. But the group of unruly servants who had previously criticized their master were horrified, their faces turning pale and on the verge of tears.

So, the Marquis of Jiangning really has come!

Moreover, judging from the situation, his relationship with the head of the family is far from ordinary; they must be close friends!

But then the Marquis of Jiangning laughed and said, "Fourth Miss, my adopted daughter really looks like you. Ah, such a soft and cute little thing, she's so pitiful and adorable."

Upon hearing these words, the group of unruly servants trembled even more.

A single word from the Marquis of Jiangning could condemn them to eternal damnation! The timid ones turned ashen-faced, wishing they could immediately apologize to Zhuang Shu and slap themselves in the face.

Just then, Feng Menglong and Zhuang Tingjian, who were in the inner study, finally arrived after hearing the news.

"My lord!" Feng Menglong bowed respectfully.

"Brother Youlong, congratulations!" Zhu Yin returned the greeting with a cupped hand, and suddenly saw Zhuang Tingjian behind Feng Menglong.

"Uncle!" Zhu Yin exclaimed with delight, quickly taking a few steps forward and bowing respectfully as a junior.
"Zhu Yin greets Uncle! What a pleasant surprise! I never expected Uncle to come to the capital!"

Ning Caiwei also greeted him with a smile, saying, "Caiwei greets Uncle!"

Zhuang Tingjian was deeply moved, his eyes welling up with tears. "No need for formalities! No need for formalities! Zhihu, Caiwei, it's been so many years since I last saw you, I almost didn't recognize you! It's wonderful to see you again today!"

Zhuang Shu's smile was exceptionally beautiful and gentle at this moment. She said, "Zhihu, Caiwei, come inside quickly, it's windy outside."

Zhu Yin defered to Zhuang Tingjian, saying, "Uncle, please!"

Zhuang Tingjian chuckled, "Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony, please!"

P.S.: Okay, I admit I'm being vulgar. This chapter was just showing off. I won't do it again next time. Sorry. Thanks, please vote for me and help me stay in the top 500!

(End of this chapter)