Chapter 503 Three Years After Three Years
The deeper into autumn, the later it gets light.
As dawn broke, a layer of white frost could be seen on the ground, and the maple trees on the mountain had already turned red, looking beautiful from afar.
A horse galloped in, its hooves treading on the morning frost, and came to a stop at the gate of the mansion.
Yan Hong was sweeping the steps at the entrance when she saw the person coming and immediately said, "Cheng Bing, you're finally back! These past two days, Anren has been thinking about news from the provincial capital. Come in quickly... Oh no, wait, Anren is still sleeping. You should go sit in the flower hall and have something to eat first."
Cheng Wanwan thought Cheng Bing would come back the next day, but he stayed there for three days. She was worried that something had happened.
She didn't sleep well last night, and when she got up early, Ninglan came to report that Cheng Bing had returned.
Cheng Bing rode his horse all night, had some porridge and breakfast in the flower hall, and seemed to be in good spirits. He quickly gave a detailed report on what had happened in the provincial capital.
Cheng Wanwan looked on incredulously: "You mean, all the scholars who went to the official's private banquet that night were arrested?"
"I was waiting for news from the government, which is why I came back late. Yesterday afternoon, more than a hundred candidates were released, but they are not allowed to participate in next year's metropolitan examination. They must wait another three years," Cheng Bing replied. "Please rest assured, Madam, Young Master Cheng and Young Master Shen are both fine. After the lease on the courtyard expires this month, the two young masters will head to the capital."
Cheng Wanwan was still shaken.
The scholars who attended the official's private banquet that night brought gifts because they were hoping to improve their future. Who would have thought that some low-class literati would drink and make merry in public and even invite courtesans to accompany them? This was seen by the scholars who had not passed the imperial examinations, so they gathered together and went to the government office to report it.
A gathering of four or five literati at brothels was considered elegant.
But with over a hundred scholars and dozens of prostitutes accompanying them, it's tantamount to a mass debauchery, utterly disgracing the reputation of scholars and intellectuals.
He's only a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination), yet he dares to openly insult culture. If he were to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) or Gongshi (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination), would the entire Great Yu Dynasty still be saved?
Therefore, the governor ordered all the successful candidates in the imperial examinations to be arrested.
However, these scholars had not committed any major offenses. They were only detained for two days before being released, but they were punished by being barred from participating in the metropolitan examination in February of the following year. This punishment was quite severe.
Three years after three years, how many three-year periods does one have in a lifetime?
Fortunately, the two children were not implicated, otherwise they would have suffered an even greater blow.
"You've had a tough time these past few days, go back to your room and rest."
Cheng Bing bowed and thanked him before leaving.
Cheng Wanwan changed her clothes and prepared to go to Hekou County to check on the progress of the birthday gift so she could make plans in advance.
Just as they reached the gate of the courtyard, they saw Aunt Wang rushing over: "Auntie Dashan, Shagen's wife is in labor, she's about to give birth. I heard the baby has a big head, so it's going to be difficult..."
Cheng Wanwan mentally calculated the time and realized that it was about time for her to give birth. The baby's head was large, which would make it easy for her to have a difficult delivery, and the mother would probably suffer a lot.
"I think this is her retribution," Aunt Wang sneered. "These past few days, Silly Root's mother has been pressuring her for that thousand taels of silver, but she hid it so well that she hasn't been found. Silly Root's mother is almost driven mad with anger. If she weren't pregnant, Silly Root's mother would definitely have made Silly Root divorce this ungrateful daughter-in-law. Isn't this a disgrace to our Dahe Village..."
Cheng Wanwan disagreed, saying, "Many women in the village have had difficult childbirths. It's all retribution. Don't say things like that again."
"I'm just standing up for you," Aunt Wang sighed. "You helped them so much, and this wretched thing stabbed you in the back. No wonder everyone in Osmanthus Village is a bad person. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled when Mudskipper gets a wife in the future..."
Cheng Wanwan chuckled: "Don't worry, Mudfish's wife will definitely be good."
As the two were talking, someone came to report that Shagen's wife had given birth to a daughter.
Although the villagers didn't like Sun Shuiqin, she was the daughter-in-law of Shagen's family, and the villagers had a good relationship with Shagen's family. Since their family had a new member, they naturally had to go and give some congratulatory gifts.
Cheng Wanwan didn't go herself, but asked Cao Yingying to make the trip for her, delivering twenty eggs and a pork knuckle.
She herself traveled by horse-drawn carriage to Hekou County and went straight to Cao Family Embroidery Workshop.
To expedite the completion of the birthday gift, Cao Defu hired eighteen skilled embroiderers in Huzhou. While bedding and undergarments might seem simple, these were gifts for the Emperor, and every detail had to be meticulously chosen. Most importantly, the garments featured exquisite embroidery, which was the primary reason for the need for so many embroiderers.
The items used by the emperor had to have dragon patterns, as this was a symbol of the emperor. She also personally designed different forms of the character "寿" (longevity) and embroidered them all over her clothes and quilts.
"It's beautifully embroidered." Cao Defu exclaimed as he looked at the bright yellow imperial undergarment. "The color is beautiful, the embroidery is beautiful, and the workmanship is exquisite. His Majesty will surely be very satisfied with this birthday gift."
Cheng Wanwan carefully examined every detail and found it to be extremely well done.
She asked, "Can your Cao family's merchant ships travel to the capital by water?"
Cao Defu shook his head and said, "The canal transport is managed by the government, and each region is strictly controlled. The Cao family can only go to nearby places like Nanyang and Quanzhou. If they want to go to the capital, they must register at least three months in advance. Moreover, the Emperor's birthday is coming soon, and the waterways in the capital will be even more strictly controlled."
Cheng Wanwan nodded to indicate that she understood.
It seemed she could only ask a security escort agency to help her get there, but even after arriving in the capital, she didn't know anyone to help her transfer the package to the palace.
These days, not having connections is a real headache.
“However, I heard that Lord Lin is also going to send congratulatory gifts to the capital. Why don’t you go with the Lin family, my dear mother-in-law?” Cao Defu scratched his head and said, “Lord Lin seems to be from the capital. He will return to the capital sooner or later. He should be able to take care of you along the way and there shouldn’t be any problems.”
Cheng Wanwan laughed. Yes, how could she have forgotten about Lord Lin?
On the once-every-ten-year birthday celebration, apart from officials of the seventh, eighth, and ninth ranks serving in remote areas, almost all other officials are required to send congratulatory gifts. Lord Wu has his wife in the capital to help with the arrangements, so he doesn't need to worry about it. However, Lord Lin's entire family is here, so he definitely needs to personally prepare birthday gifts and arrange for them to be sent to the capital with the Lin family. This way, he won't have to worry about so many things.
Cheng Wanwan immediately went to the Lin family mansion.
The Lin family also lived in Hekou County. Lord Lin was an imperial censor, whose job was to supervise the eight counties and towns around Hekou County. Although he was only a seventh-rank official, his power was slightly greater than that of a county magistrate. This is why the Zheng family had no power to resist when the Lin family targeted them.
"A fellow resident of Sui'an, a rare guest indeed!" Madam Lin greeted them with a broad smile. "Why didn't you send someone to let us know you were coming? I would have had tea prepared. Come, come, come in and have a seat."
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "This was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I hope it didn't bother Madam Lin."
“You flatter me, Mr. Sui An. You are my daughter’s savior. Our Lin family has always wanted to repay your kindness.” Madam Lin asked someone to serve tea, her face full of embarrassment. “It’s just that Mr. Sui An is only a sixth-rank official, while my husband is only a seventh-rank official. We really can’t help her much. So we’ve kept this kindness in our hearts.”
“Even if I hadn’t intervened that day, Miss Lin would have been fine. Let’s not dwell on the life-saving grace.” Cheng Wanwan went straight to the point. “I’ve come here today because I do have a favor to ask of the Lin family.”
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