Chapter 82: Turning Against Master Chen

"The Emperor's decree has been issued. On the first day of the first month of the third year of the Linde era, the Emperor will lead the Empress, members of the imperial family, and officials to Mount Tai to perform the Fengshan ceremony," Du Min said.

"Today is the first day of the eighth month of the early years of the Linde era. There are still one year and four months until the first day of the first month of the third year of the Linde era. There is still plenty of time," Meng Qing said.

"No, no, no." Du Min waved his hand. "The Emperor is still in Luoyang. He will return to Chang'an at the end of the year and then travel to Luoyang with the officials of Chang'an in February or March next year. From Luoyang, he will set off for Mount Tai. We have less than half a year to prepare."

"Are there any quantity requirements for the paper offerings?" Meng Qing asked.

“Yes, but I don’t know the exact number. We’ll know once the Ministry of Rites determines the sacrificial procedures and the deities to be worshipped,” Du Min said. “The number is definitely not small.”

Meng Qing frowned, “The forty apprentices in the private school can only do odd jobs. Only your second brother can help me with bone setting, fattening, and paper pasting. If there are too many, I may not be able to handle it.”

“I can also help. The Ministry of Rites is preparing for the Fengshan ceremony, and I, a mere minor official, can't get involved. I guess it's not my business, but I can come back and help.” Du Min had been practicing diligently for more than three months, and although he was still a bit rusty with bone-setting, he had already mastered fat-building and paper- pasting.

"That's the only way." Meng Qing had no other choice but to urge him, "Go ask the Vice Minister of Rites for a set of regulations tomorrow. Are there any requirements on the style and size of the three sacrificial animals: pig, cow, and sheep? Decide on it as soon as possible so I can get started."

However, Meng Qing's worries didn't last long. Two days later, Master Chen borrowed ten craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department. He personally escorted the craftsmen to the school and said, "Madam Meng, the Fengshan ceremony is a major event concerning the national system. The sacrificial offerings cannot be wrong. You are still young and have never seen such a grand occasion, nor do you understand royal etiquette and taboos. I'm worried you might make a mistake, so I've hired ten experienced craftsmen to supervise you. They are all highly experienced and skilled craftsmen with high comprehension and quick learning ability. Have them watch you make paper-mache funerary objects and teach them as soon as possible. Once they've learned, they can help you."

Du Min didn't go to the Ministry of Rites today. After hearing what Master Chen said, he felt dizzy. "Master Chen, does the Vice Minister know about this?"

Master Chen was annoyed that the Vice Minister was trying to pressure him again. At the same time, he found it amusing that Du Min didn't think that just because Vice Minister Zheng had visited the school, it had become a favorite of the Vice Minister.

"The Vice Minister is very busy with official duties and has many things to worry about. Why should he bother with such a small matter? If we have to ask him for permission for everything, what are we supposed to do with our salaries?" Master Chen glanced at Du Min with disdain, then turned to Meng Qing and threatened, "Madam Meng? You don't want to agree? Do you think this free school is yours alone? Do you want to take all the credit?"

"I don't have that idea. I'm just worried that I'm of low rank and my skills are not as refined as those of the royal craftsmen. I'm not qualified to be a teacher." Meng Qing didn't want to invite a few big shots to control her. She wanted to establish her position properly so that no matter how skilled someone was, they would have to maintain their status as an apprentice when they came to learn a craft from her.

“You’re joking, Master. In terms of rank, we are the ones who are inferior. We came to the free school to learn a trade, not to cause trouble. Rest assured, we will do as you instruct us during our time at the school,” said the middle-aged craftsman in the lead.

"Any other opinions?" Master Chen asked.

Meng Qing looked at Du Min, who lowered his eyes and pondered for a few moments. He didn't want to offend anyone, nor could he afford to offend the Shaofujian behind the craftsmen. He nodded slightly.

"No objections," Meng Qing said.

Master Chen noticed the tension between the two men, snorted, and walked away with a flick of his sleeve.

No sooner had Master Chen left than Du Min followed him out. One rode in a donkey cart, the other on foot. Du Min hurried along, entering the Ministry of Rites before Master Chen. Master Chen arrived just as Du Min entered the office of the Vice Minister of Rites.

"My lord, Assistant Minister Chen has something to report," a servant said as he entered.

“My lord, I know why you have come here. You have borrowed ten craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department to help make paper offerings for the Fengshan ceremony at the charity school,” Du Min said first.

Minister Zheng suddenly raised his head.

"The craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department want to learn the craft of making paper-mache funerary objects from my second sister-in-law. The master has already sent them over," Du Min continued. "I asked you if you knew about this, and he said you are too busy with official duties to consult you on everything. But I just feel something is wrong. Maybe I'm being petty, but the Free School belongs to the Ministry of Rites. If the paper-mache offerings are noticed by the emperor during the Fengshan ceremony, the credit will belong solely to the Ministry of Rites. Now that the craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department are involved, won't some of the credit be shared?"

Zheng Shilang's face was gloomy. He looked towards the door and said, "Let Chen Yuanwailang in."

When Master Chen entered, he found Du Min inside. For a moment, he was dazed. Wasn't this person in the free school?

"Master Chen, what do you have to report?" Minister Zheng asked Du Min directly in front of him, without letting him leave.

“I visited the charity school today and found it to be in disarray. I am worried that this may cause problems with the Fengshan ceremony, so I have come to ask you, sir, if I may be allowed to take charge of the school’s affairs and handle the paper offerings for the Fengshan ceremony,” said Master Chen.

"How do you plan to govern? Are you asking the Director of the Imperial Household Department for help?" Vice Minister Zheng slammed his fist on the table in anger. "Do you even remember your place? Are you an official of the Ministry of Rites or the Director of the Imperial Household Department?"

Master Chen was startled. He glanced at Du Min and asked, "I don't know what Scholar Du said to you. I invited the craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department to help out of consideration for adding icing on the cake. The free school is currently managed by Meng Qing, but she is just a peasant woman, a merchant's daughter, with a narrow perspective and limited knowledge. Can she independently handle the paper offerings for the Fengshan ceremony? Would offerings made by her offend the sage? What's wrong with having royal craftsmen overseeing things to avoid any problems in this regard?"

"What is the Ministry of Rites good for? Which official in the entire court understands the sacrificial system as well as the officials in the Ministry of Rites? The Ministry of Rites has four departments, and from the enthronement of the emperor to the funerals of the imperial family, which procedure is not handled by the Ministry of Rites?" Vice Minister Zheng stood up and walked up to Chen Yuanwai to question him, "You, a mere Assistant Minister of Rites, invite craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department to oversee the sacrificial affairs for the Ministry of Rites. Where do you place the officials of the Ministry of Rites? You still have the nerve to ask the schools under your jurisdiction for instructions? What role would you play? Aren't there craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department overseeing things for you? Why would you be needed?"

Master Chen blushed with embarrassment. He finally realized his mistake and hurriedly apologized, saying, "My lord, please calm down. I was mistaken. I only considered that the school was short-handed, while the craftsmen of the Imperial Household Department were very experienced. That was my consideration. I only thought about making the paper offerings for the Fengshan ceremony as perfect as possible."

Du Min scoffed inwardly. What do you mean by overthinking it? In his opinion, he was overthinking it. Master Chen's move was probably to suppress him, not wanting him to monopolize the glory brought by the paper offerings. He also wanted to share the credit and take over the free school in the name of the craftsmen of the Imperial Household Department.

“Chen Mingzhang, Chen Mingzhang, you’ve wasted one or two decades in officialdom. You can’t even consider a problem that a newly appointed scholar could think of. You’re so muddle-headed, how can I dare to entrust you with any tasks?” Minister Zheng shook his head. “The craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department were hired by you, so send them back. Don’t interfere with the rest.”

Master Chen's heart skipped a beat. Judging from Minister Zheng's attitude, he was afraid that his year-end assessment would be in trouble. He said in a panic, "Sir, please give me another chance to make amends. I will definitely consult you and the physician on everything in the future."

“What use is a junior official like you if you have to ask us for permission on everything? We might as well find someone else to do it.” Minister Zheng simply stated bluntly, “Get out of here, don’t delay my work.”

Master Chen was completely exhausted, his face was covered in sweat, and he looked two or three years older in an instant.

Du Min stood to the side, his mouth and nose focused on his heart, even slowing his breathing, afraid that Master Chen would notice him.

Master Chen walked out with his shoulders slumped.

"Remember to send the craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department away. Find a proper reason, and don't make things awkward," Minister Zheng reminded him.

Master Chen turned around and responded, then gave Du Min a venomous look as he left.

Du Min saw this, and his face turned ugly.

Vice Minister Zheng glanced at him and advised, "You should consult more books on sacrificial rites from the Ministry of Rites. You are in charge of the first step in approving the paper offerings. If there are any uncertainties, consult with Vice Minister Cui of the Ministry of Rites. If he is unsure, then consult me."

"My lord, do you think it was a mistake for me to come directly to you for instructions on this matter today?" Du Min asked with a bitter face. "Master Chen helped me get into officialdom, but I offended him today. I have no choice but to come to you. I asked him about it when I was at the charity school, but he insisted on doing it his own way. After all, the charity school belongs to the Ministry of Rites, and you are in charge of it."

“What you did today was right. Chen Yuanwailang has been in officialdom longer than I have. He has some arrogance in front of you officials and he won’t listen to ordinary people,” Zheng Shilang said without looking up. “I’m suggesting that you consult Cui Langzhong directly about the matter of the free school. I will then arrange for him to be in charge of following up on the affairs of the free school.”

Du Min instantly understood that Master Chen was going to be sidelined in the Ministry of Rites.

"I understand, I will go and pay my respects to Physician Cui immediately." Du Min took his leave.

Master Chen's duty room was next to Doctor Cui's duty room. When Du Min came out of Doctor Cui's duty room, he immediately saw Zhao Xingwu standing guard three steps away with a gloomy face.

"Scholar Du, the master requests your presence," Zhao Xingwu said sarcastically.

Du Min walked into Master Chen's duty room, and the door immediately closed from the outside. He glanced back, then walked in with firm steps.

"This humble official greets Your Excellency." He bowed respectfully with his hands clasped.

Master Chen sat at the head of the table, coldly observing him. "Should I congratulate you on climbing the social ladder?"

"Your Excellency misunderstands. I was merely fulfilling my duty as an official and had no intention of climbing the social ladder," Du Min said, lowering his eyes.

"Your humble servant? What kind of official are you?" Master Chen sneered.

Even a high-ranking official is still an official.

"I've promoted a wolf in sheep's clothing, who chases after eagles all day but never expected to have his eyes pecked out by one." Seeing his calm demeanor, Master Chen was enraged. "Du Min, I haven't offended you, have I? Why are you so determined to oppose me? Is this how you repay me?"

"Your Excellency has misunderstood. I have no intention of opposing you." Du Min replied in the same tone.

"No intention of opposing me? How do you explain today's events? You walked all the way to the Ministry of Rites before me, running all the way to file a complaint against me? I must have done you a favor." Master Chen stood up. "I brought you all the way from Wu County to Chang'an, and then led you into the Ministry of Rites, and you want to bring me down?"

Du Min raised his head. He really wanted to say that it was difficult for Master Chen to be able to say such things so eloquently, only mentioning gratitude and not hatred.

"You can't bring me down, but I can destroy you." Master Chen walked up to Du Min with his hands behind his back and said with a sinister smile, "Your unfilial act of disowning your parents is known to all the students of the Wu County Prefectural School. Do you think you can keep your status as a Jinshi if this gets out?"

"My lord, are you finally giving up on pretending? Do you want to completely break off relations?" Du Min's expression changed.

"This is what you forced me to do, and it's all your doing," Master Chen sneered. "I'll give you a choice. If you can't find a way to change my impression of the Vice Minister in the next three months, and I get a low score in my year-end assessment, you can slink back to Wu County next year."

Du Min was not afraid. "Sir, have you forgotten that you played a crucial role in enabling me to participate in the prefectural examination? It was you who found other candidates from the same prefecture to act as guarantors for me when I came to Chang'an as a tribute student. If I were to be accused of filial impiety, you, as the recommender, would not fare well. We might even end up on the same boat back to Wu County."

"You!" Master Chen lost his composure instantly, his confident calm vanishing in an instant. He violently grabbed Du Min's shoulder, his face contorted with rage as he cursed, "You ungrateful wretch! Is this how you treat your benefactor?"

"Benefactor?" Du Min shook off the hand on his shoulder, took a step back, and lied, "I inquired with Minister Zheng. The reason you were able to rise again after the mourning period was because the paper offerings caused a stir in Chang'an. It was the paper offerings that echoed the sage's advocacy of simple burials. It was because he believed that the paper offerings had greater value that you were given the opportunity to rise again. Master Chen, you also know that you rose again through the paper offerings, right? I am like the paper offerings; I am your tool and stepping stone for rising again. Don't pretend to help me without expecting anything in return."

Master Chen's mask was exposed. He glanced to the side with a flicker in his eyes. The words came from the Vice Minister's mouth, and he couldn't refute them.

"As for why I'm now a lowly, unranked official in the Ministry of Rites, isn't it all your fault? You sabotaged Prefect Yin's memorial, your aim was to use me to promote you by using paper offerings. I was just retaliating in kind, and you can't even handle that? You're so angry just because you got a low score in the assessment, and you ruined my position as an eighth-rank county magistrate. How do you think I'd be grateful to you?" Du Min finally said what he had been holding back for so long, and he felt extremely relieved.

"No matter how eloquent you are, the fact is that without me, you would not have passed the imperial examination." Master Chen was still determined to use his gratitude to bind Du Min.

“Without me as a cover, you can’t make a comeback.” Du Min found it extremely boring that he was still using the same old tricks. He would rather go back and accompany Wang Zhou to the ferry to herd geese than waste his time on this.

"Lord Chen, the feud between us is inextricably linked. We could have cooperated and achieved a win-win situation, but you insisted on using me as a stepping stone, leading us to mutual animosity. It's truly regrettable. I didn't want to spell things out, but you insisted on tearing off the mask. Since things have come to this, let's each take a step back and wish each other well." Du Min spoke insincerely, then retorted with a threat: "No matter how successful my career is, it will take me at least ten years to reach the position of a sixth-rank official, while you already have it. I have nothing; the only thing I fear is my status as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). If you ruin me, this sixth-rank official position will no longer belong to the Chen family. You should consider this carefully."

Master Chen was unwilling, but no matter how unwilling he was, there was nothing he could do.

"Don't try to trip me up again. Once is never enough. We're barefoot, we're not afraid of you wearing shoes." Du Min gave this final instruction before turning to leave.

"Wait a minute," Chen Yuanwai called out to him. "Let's put aside our past grievances and work together again. You're currently without rank or grade, which makes things inconvenient for you. The Vice Minister is busy with official duties and can't always ask for your permission. Why don't I act as your cover and make things easier for you?"

Du Min looked him up and down with a half-smile. He had broadened his horizons and learned something new. Du Min was still too thin-skinned.

Master Chen ignored his gaze and continued, “The officials in Chang’an all know that you, Du Min, passed the imperial examination and entered the Ministry of Rites through the path paved by me, Chen Mingzhang. I am your mentor, and you are my student. If you want to sever ties with me, it is you who will be feared, not me. People will all condemn you for using your mentor and then discarding him, calling you an ingrate. Such a person is not worth befriending.”

Du Min suppressed his smile.

"Have you made up your mind?" Master Chen asked.

“The Vice Minister has put Dr. Cui in charge of the school’s affairs and told me to consult Dr. Cui on anything. How can I act under your name?” Du Min shook his head. “Lord Chen, I have not severed ties with you, nor have we become enemies. We are both doing well. As long as you do not harm me again, I will not drag you down. That’s all. You are busy, I will go back now.”

Du Min opened the door, and Zhao Xingwu made a move to stop him. Du Min gave him a cold look, and he awkwardly lowered his hand.

As Du Min walked out of the Ministry of Rites, he glanced back. Had all past favors and grudges been forgotten? What a joke.

Back at the school, Du Min went to help in the backyard. Only his brother, sister-in-law, and Wang Zhou were there. He spoke without restraint and explained everything frankly.

"They turned against each other so easily? He won't resort to any more dirty tricks?" Du Li asked.

“In the past, I compromised and tolerated him because I still needed his help. Now he’s useless to me. What he can threaten me, I can threaten him too. He can only use old grievances to threaten me now. He’s already played all his cards. How can he use any more dirty tricks?” Du Min sighed.

"Why are you still sighing?" Meng Qing asked.

"You told me to use him to nourish myself, but I failed to do so and didn't get any advantage from him," Du Min said regretfully.

“You said he’s useless to you, isn’t that nourishing you? How else can you nourish yourself? Break his ribs and throw him into a pot to make soup?” Meng Qing thought he was too greedy. “You’ve already made a name for yourself, bypassed him to get in touch with the Vice Minister of Rites, and now you’ve hitched a ride on Cui Langzhong’s ship, what more do you want?”

“I earned all of this through my own efforts, not through the connections I made with Master Chen,” Du Min said resentfully. “I originally intended to acquire his network, such as Dr. Xu. Master Chen must have had many students, some successful and some not, and there must be others in Chang’an. Unfortunately, Master Chen was very wary of me and had no intention of introducing me to anyone.”

“As long as you don’t openly fall out with him, you can still use your status as his student to get to know people. This title will be useful when you encounter problems or people in the future,” Meng Qing said. “I reckon Master Chen knows this, which is why he can use this bait to lure you in.”

Du Min nodded. "That makes sense."

Meng Qing didn't say anything more. She squatted down and carefully pasted paper onto the pig's leg.

Du Li watched for a while, then went to the front yard to supervise the work. A short while later, he came to the back yard and said, "Zhao Xingwu has arrived. He has taken away ten craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department."

Meng Qing felt a little regretful, "These ten craftsmen have a very down-to-earth work attitude. If they could stay at the academy, they would be my good helpers."

“They’ve learned your skills, and they’ll only become more proficient. In the future, your private school will never be able to cross the threshold of the royal family,” Du Min warned.

“Are you confused? If this free school were to serve the royal family, I wouldn’t be able to escape.” Meng Qing glared at him, then stood up and walked around, rubbing her back. She said, “Only if paper effigies could enter the Imperial Household Department and be made by craftsmen and appear in the royal sacrifices every year would their status be unshakeable. Even if our humble free school is nominally affiliated with the Ministry of Rites, it can only serve the common people.”

Meng Qing's self-positioning remained unchanged: she wanted to use the name of the Qingniao Paper Craft Academy to expand beyond Chang'an, establishing more academies and recruiting students in counties and prefectures outside of Chang'an, allowing the seeds of paper crafts to fly from the capital to all corners of the land and take root in the Tang Dynasty. Once the academy reached the common people, with Du Min's support, the authority over the academy could finally return to her hands.

Du Min thought for a moment and asked, "If your Meng family's paper horse shop were to borrow ten embroiderers from the embroidery workshop to learn how to make paper funerary objects, do you think the embroidery workshop would agree?"

Meng Qing frowned. She was about to say that he was talking about the embroidery workshop for no reason, but she realized what he meant when she said, "The Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Rites are not the same department. Master Chen, a sixth-rank official, can easily lend out ten craftsmen with just a word. This shows that the Imperial Household Department also has this idea."

“That’s right.” Du Min laughed heartily. “This matter isn’t over yet. It’s easy for Master Chen to lend people out, but it will be difficult to return them. Second sister-in-law, think about what to say. You might need to step in to handle this matter.”

Just as Du Min had said, Master Chen waited for ten craftsmen outside Chang Le Fang. He then led the craftsmen back to the Imperial Household Department in a donkey cart. When the Imperial Household Department saw that the craftsmen, whom he had just taken away that morning, had been returned, he immediately became angry and said, "Master Chen, are these craftsmen not to your liking? Or have they done something wrong? They can't even do a small thing right, might as well kill them."

Master Chen was startled. "No, no, the school has enough apprentices..."

“Lord Chen, you’re lying. We’ve been at the school for most of the day and we saw it for ourselves. Only Master Meng is making paper effigies of funerary objects; the rest of the apprentices are doing odd jobs,” the craftsman said loudly.

The supervisor looked at Master Chen, who insisted with a stiff face that Meng Qing alone was enough.

The Director of the Imperial Household Department immediately turned hostile. "When you came to borrow people, you said all sorts of nice things, implying that it was to make the Emperor's Fengshan ceremony more solemn. It seemed that if I didn't lend people, I wouldn't be willing to contribute to the ceremony. I thought I couldn't offend the Ministry of Rites, so I didn't argue with you and carefully selected ten craftsmen for you. But you sent them back to me in less than a day. Do you look down on the craftsmen of our Imperial Household Department, or do you want to monopolize the glory of paper offerings? No one does things like this, treating us like we're at your beck and call. This is an insult. I have to go to the Vice Minister of Rites to have this decided."

Unable to stop him, Master Chen could only chase after him all the way back to the Ministry of Rites. The Vice Minister of Rites had nothing to say when he saw the man.

"Minister Zheng, your Ministry of Rites is responsible for sacrificial rites. When did you start taking over the crafts and skills of our Imperial Household Department?" The Imperial Household Department changed his tune as soon as he entered.

"What do you mean by that?" The Vice Minister of Rites feigned ignorance.

"This morning, your Ministry of Rites' Assistant Director borrowed ten craftsmen from our Imperial Household Department to help make paper offerings for the Fengshan Ceremony at the Free School. Preparing offerings is not your Ministry of Rites' responsibility, is it?" the Imperial Household Department Director explained.

"It's not under the Ministry of Rites because only the Yishu (charitable schools) can make paper offerings for the deceased. I can't find anyone else to do it." The Vice Minister of Rites knew that the situation was hopeless. Sure enough, the next moment he heard the Director of the Imperial Household Department say that the craftsmen would be sent to learn the craft.

“If the paper offerings are approved by the sage, then surely all the offerings used in future royal sacrificial ceremonies cannot come from the free schools of your Ministry of Rites? That would be against the rules. I will send the craftsmen there to help the female teachers at the free schools, and they can learn the craft as well,” the Director of the Imperial Household Department insisted.

“The private school only has one teacher, so he might not be able to teach his students.” The Vice Minister of Rites still tried to argue, “How about we send your craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department to learn a trade after the Fengshan ceremony?”

"Our craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department are quick learners, experienced, and learn their craft very fast. They won't bother your teachers at the free school; in fact, they can help you. This isn't something I made up; it's what your Ministry of Rites official said when he borrowed them."

The Vice Minister of Rites glanced at Master Chen, who was now drenched in cold sweat and ashen-faced.

“He is not in charge of the free school. I will get back to you after I have asked the person in charge,” the Vice Minister of Rites said solemnly. He made a promise: “The Ministry of Rites will not interfere with the duties of the Director of the Imperial Household Department.”

The Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Household Department left satisfied.

Only the Vice Minister of Rites and Master Chen remained in the duty room. He silently sized up Master Chen for a few moments and asked, "Who gave you this idea?"

"...Lu Sizheng." Master Chen also realized that this was a trap, but he couldn't understand why Lu Sizheng would harm him.

"Go down," said the Vice Minister of Rites.

Master Chen couldn't utter a sound; he knew his official career had come to an end.