Congratulations? Receive the imperial decree?
Qingchen was stunned for a moment, and felt her heart beating a little faster.
"Your humble servant receives the imperial decree."
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shen Qingchen, the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Yunnan, is self-disciplined and respectful, possesses exceptional talent, is adept at pacifying and governing, always deeply concerned about the people's suffering, and never forgets his responsibility to care for and protect them... He is hereby appointed as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue... and shall proceed to the capital to assume his post."
The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the Provincial Administration Commissioner were both officials of the third rank, but one was a local official and the other was an important member of the central management of the Ming Dynasty. The difference in their importance was self-evident.
When Qingchen received the imperial decree, he was still not fully in a daze.
She arrived in Yunnan last spring, served as prefect for nine months, and then as provincial treasurer for four months. In just over a year, she is about to return to the capital. This time, she will be appointed as a third-rank official, the Vice Minister of Revenue, who is in charge of the nation's finances. The announcement of the imperial decree makes it seem unreal.
She was somewhat puzzled. This imperial edict came so suddenly, only three months after the previous one. Whose idea was it?
Who advised Zhu Rui, or did Zhu Rui act unilaterally?
"Thank you for conveying the imperial decree, Your Excellency. May I ask when I may proceed to the capital?"
The man said, “The imperial edict did not specify a return date, so naturally, the sooner the better, from the moment the edict is received. If Lord Shen has settled matters here, he should set off as soon as possible… You have only been in Yunnan for a short year, yet you have already achieved remarkable results such as producing two harvests of rice in a year and allowing the White Lotus sect members to return to the fields. This has already spread throughout the court, and everyone admires you greatly. His Majesty has also praised you highly, which is why he hopes you will return to the capital soon to display your even greater talents.”
Qingchen nodded. "So, it was His Majesty who ordered me to return. May I ask, sir, what will happen to the Cabinet upon my return...?"
The man smiled. "Sir, you want to know Grand Secretary Xu's opinion because you protected His Highness the Crown Prince in the Imperial Palace, right? Don't worry, when the Emperor requested your return to the capital, Grand Secretary Xu agreed. However..."
"What do you mean?" She didn't care much about Xu Yan.
The man said with some confusion, "But it's Grand Secretary Song. You are Grand Secretary Song's student, so in theory, Grand Secretary Song should be the most pleased to see you return to the capital. But I heard... that Grand Secretary Song seems to have some objections to this, and even angered the Emperor."
Qingchen's eyes dimmed. "What objection is it?"
"Your teacher said you should gain more experience in Yunnan. A year or so is too short. Although you have achieved some political success, it's not enough to be proud of. You need three to five years to truly gain experience. However, Grand Secretary Song has always been like this. Even though he has done very well, he is always humble. A strict teacher produces outstanding students. You are his student, so he will inevitably hold you to his own standards. But how many officials in the court are like him? Don't take it to heart. He just wants you to do better... Besides, the country still belongs to the Emperor. The Emperor's decision to send you back to the capital is an acknowledgment of your abilities. You can prove it to Grand Secretary Song when you get there..."
The truth was not much different from what she had imagined. Song Yue still didn't want her to go back. Was he being strict with her, or did he have other ideas? She didn't know. She seemed to have lost her usual rational and clear judgment when it came to everything concerning that person.
He didn't want her to go back, but Zhu Rui insisted that she go back. How did she feel when her advice was not adopted by the monarch and she angered the monarch?
He's so resistant to her going back, but does he even realize that she doesn't actually want to go back that much? The rice in Yunnan isn't ripe yet, the dikes aren't finished, the barbarians she's sought refuge with aren't fully settled, and the warhorses she's had specially chosen to be raised are still foals... She still has many things to finish here, and she's not in a hurry to go back. Besides, her relationship with Song Yue is still unclear; how would she face him if they met?
It is appropriate to be respectful and courteous, and greet the Grand Secretary as if there were no prior connection.
I should still say with a smile: Teacher, I'm back.
If we hadn't parted ways back then, we wouldn't be so hesitant to meet again today.
"Thank you for telling me, sir. You've had a long journey, sir. Please have some tea here," Qingchen invited.
The official delivering the imperial decree shook his head. "No need to be so polite, Lord Shen. I have other matters to attend to and must be leaving now. Oh, by the way, this is something that Lord Lu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard asked me to give to you, sir."
Qingchen took the item and examined it. "A Jinyiwei token?"
"This is Lord Lu's command token," the man said. "Lord Lu said that the journey is long and arduous, and he's worried about your safety with only a dozen or so guards escorting you. With this token, you can simply show it to the post station official, and the local Imperial Guards will come to protect you... You and Lord Lu are close friends, aren't you? Lord Lu is truly concerned for you, even entrusting you with this token..."
Lu Shenyun's face immediately flashed into Qingchen's mind—cold and aloof, yet incredibly thoughtful, and still so kind to her. Compared to him, her teacher seemed rather heartless.
Thinking of this, Qingchen smiled wryly, put away the token, and saw the imperial messenger out of the yamen.
Xie Wenyuan had just come in through the main gate when he heard that Qingchen was leaving, and he was stunned for a long time.
Are you leaving already?
Such excellent officials, such excellent superiors—he only encountered two in his decades-long life. Sadly, their fates differed; he couldn't follow them for long, nor could he dedicate himself alongside them for the sake of the nation and its people. Upon reflection, perhaps this was inevitable. Precisely because they were both so good, he needed to realize his ambitions on a broader stage; to be buried in obscurity would be a misfortune for the nation.
"My lord, let me help you pack your belongings..."
Qingchen shook his head, "Please bring me all the official business I haven't finished yet. I need to sort everything out before I can leave..."
"Yes." Xie Wenyuan nodded and left.
Even though she was about to return to the capital to take up an official post, her mind was still on the political affairs of this remote corner. Even Cheng Yuanzhi, who was once regarded as the best governor of Yunnan, did not fully hand over his duties to her when he left.
It seems that Lord Song, who was still in Zhejiang back then, was just like her.
The news that Qingchen was returning to the capital spread like wildfire, reaching Meng Gexing's ears in less than three days.
At that moment, he was happily eating chicken with his younger brother when he heard the news. In a fit of anger, he swept all the food and drinks on the table onto the floor.
"You damned emperor Zhu Rui, I curse your ancestors!"
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