Chapter 181 Promotion
A month later, the coronation ceremony was held again, and it was prepared more thoroughly and was more grand than the first time.
The crown prince officially ascended the throne as emperor, changed the country's name to Hongxing, and this year is now known as the first year of Hongxing.
After Emperor Hongxing ascended the throne, he conferred titles upon his Crown Princess Zhao as Empress, Consort Lin as Consort Xian, Prince Li Ke as Crown Prince, and Princess Li Yu as Princess Qingning. Other concubines were also granted corresponding titles.
After sealing the harem, it was the turn of the court. The officials who had rendered meritorious service before Emperor Hongxing ascended the throne were all promoted. Gu Henian, the former dean of Wanshan Academy, was promoted from a commoner to a Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy and was granted the title of Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince. Meng Guanqi, the newly appointed third-ranked scholar, was promoted from a compiler of the Hanlin Academy to a lecturer of the Hanlin Academy and served in the imperial court. Pang Shi, the former commander of the Eastern Palace Guards, took over as the commander of the Imperial Guards, and Li Xiaoxiao, a first-class guard, took over as the commander of the Eastern Palace Guards. There were also minor changes in other personnel.
These personnel changes were naturally approved by the cabinet. Seeing that Emperor Hongxing had only changed the head of security and a few close secretaries, while most of the officials were still the same as Emperor Jian'an's old team, the cabinet was quite satisfied. This face had to be given to the new emperor.
The slight criticism was directed at Meng Guanqi and his wife.
Meng Guanqi was the third-ranked scholar in this imperial examination. He was promoted from a seventh-rank compiler to a sixth-rank lecturer in just three or four months after being appointed to his official post. This promotion was unusually rapid, but he was a legitimate Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and had rendered meritorious service to the new emperor. While a two-rank promotion was indeed fast, it wasn't unprecedented, so it was still somewhat acceptable. However, his wife, Li Xiaoxiao, was promoted from a guard to a third-rank commander of the Eastern Palace guards in a single leap. This was simply meteoric, and it was against the rules!
A junior censor raised concerns with several ministers, questioning whether Emperor Hongxing was showing too much favor to Li Xiaoxiao. The ministers gave him a stare, which made the junior censor feel uneasy. Then they went about their own business.
The junior censor was humiliated and left in disgrace; after his experience spread, no one ever mentioned it again.
The emperor had no objection, the empress had no objection, the crown prince had no objection, and even the senior cabinet members did not express their opinions; they must be bored to jump out and oppose it.
Besides, no one from the military ranks objected, so what's the point of you, a civil official, standing up like this? She didn't take your place or block your future, and she's not even on your side. What are you trying to achieve by jumping up like this?
Although the junior censor who jumped high didn't fall too badly, he still got a faux pas, so naturally no one followed suit. The military officers were even quieter; they had all witnessed Li Xiaoxiao's true abilities. If you're not convinced, go up and try it yourself. You can talk after you can beat her.
If Pang Shi hadn't served the new emperor for so long, the position of commander of the Imperial Guards might have been given to Li Xiaoxiao.
This minor incident subsided quickly, so much so that even Li Xiaoxiao, the person involved, hadn't heard about it. She happily received her appointment letter and an even more imposing suit of armor. This was armor specially made for her by the Imperial Household Department, personally instructed by the Crown Princess—no, now the Empress. The ladies from the Imperial Workshop came over with soft measuring tapes to measure her body size, and the armor made fit her perfectly. It was exceptionally well-crafted and exceptionally imposing.
When she got home, she made a point of dressing up for Meng Guanqi to see, and proudly declared, "Don't I look like a female general?"
Meng Guanqi bowed deeply to her with a solemn expression: "General Li, I pay my respects."
The two laughed and joked for a while. Meng Guanqi pulled her to lie down on the kang (a heated brick bed), panting, "My wife, it looks like I'll be eating your bread for quite a while... I'm a sixth-rank official now, and you're a third-rank official. There are five ranks between us. It might take me ten or twenty years to reach the third rank, and I'll be eating your bread for ten or twenty years!"
Li Xiaoxiao rolled over and pinned him beneath her, whispering close to his nose, "It's okay, just eat. You don't eat much anyway, just do your best elsewhere..."
Meng Guanqi sprang up and pinned the female general beneath him: "Isn't that enough effort? If you want me to put in the effort, then you can't use any force. Just lie there quietly and don't move..."
Since Zheng Mian's incident, the couple has not been in the mood for intimacy, and it has been quite a while since they have been intimate.
Meng Guanqi glanced at the sky outside, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately his emotions prevailed. He picked up the female general and carried her into the inner room, saying, "Let's have dinner a little later..."
As a result, the two of them missed dinner that day, but the next morning they set out a table full of breakfast, and each of them sat on one side of the table and ate attentively.
The absence of elders in the family meant freedom, and no one dared to say anything to them despite the chaos. The two exchanged glances while eating, their affectionate behavior making Liu Zhi shudder with goosebumps.
But she was also envious. Meng Guanqi and Li Xiaoxiao's relationship seemed to be getting better and better. They were so affectionate. She wondered when they would have a child. After all, Meng Liniang was already five months pregnant and would give birth in a few more months.
The household is still too small. Ever since the lady took Rui Rui back to Biyang County, the two masters have been going to the palace and the government office during the day, leaving only servants at home, making the house feel empty.
Moreover, both masters are very easygoing people. They have very few chores every day and are only busy for an hour or two before they become idle. Liu Zhi has no choice but to help Xiu Mei take care of Xiao Yan Yue. Xiao Yan Yue is now the darling of the family, and everyone who sees her has to tease her.
If only the young mistress could have a baby for her to take care of, she wouldn't be so bored...
After sending both masters to the palace, Liu Zhi stayed in the bedroom to embroider purses. Li Xiaoxiao knew nothing about embroidery, and because she was often involved in martial arts, the purses wore out very quickly. Now that she was a third-rank official, she couldn't go out with tattered purses hanging on her and be laughed at. She had to make her some new ones...
Suddenly, a commotion arose in the front yard. Liu Zhi was startled and quickly went out to see what was going on.
Since Liu left, the second courtyard has been completely empty. Li Xiaoxiao and Meng Guanqi live in the third courtyard. The servants only clean the second courtyard from time to time. What happened?
When Liu Zhi arrived at the second courtyard, she saw Xiu Mei walking in with two elegantly dressed ladies. Xiu Mei was a little nervous and was carefully answering her questions.
Seeing Liu Zhi come out, Xiu Mei breathed a sigh of relief and quickly gestured for her to come over.
Upon closer inspection, Liu Zhi realized that the visitors were none other than Madam Nie, the first wife of the Meng family, and Madam Tang, the fifth wife.
She was taken aback and quickly stepped forward to bow, saying, "Greetings, First Madam, greetings, Fifth Madam."
Madam Nie and Madam Tang smiled and told her to dispense with formalities: "Who are you?"
Xiumei hurriedly said, "This is Granny Qi's granddaughter, Liuzhi, who is now the young mistress's personal maid..."
Madam Nie smiled and said, "So you're Granny Qi's granddaughter. You're practically an old-timer from our household."
Madam Tang quickly chimed in, "That's right! I remember you were just a few years old when you left the manor, and now you've grown into such a graceful and poised young man. It's clear that the kind of master you follow easily influences your temperament."
As the two ladies talked, they each gave Liu Zhi a purse as a gift, which made Liu Zhi feel flattered.
Liu Zhi quickly invited the two ladies into the reception room in the third courtyard, and instructed the maid to serve them tea. She and Xiu Mei stood and served them.
This was the first time that Madam Meng and Madam Tang had come to the Li residence. To be honest, although the house was quite well-maintained, it was not as nice as their own home. However, the style of the house was spacious and grand, and they could see various training equipment that they rarely saw in the courtyard. It looked no worse than the well-maintained flowers, plants and trees in their home.
However, since only two people lived in this house, the comfort level of the environment was far beyond what the Meng family could compare to. Both Madam Nie and Madam Tang couldn't help but feel a little envious.
With only two masters in such a large house, and the in-laws not even around, the young couple could do whatever they wanted without any rules or restrictions.
The maidservant served tea, and Liu Zhi offered it to Madam Nie and Madam Tang with a smile, saying, "Please have some tea, ladies. However, the eldest son and young mistress have both gone to the yamen. Is there anything you ladies would like me to convey to you?"
Nie and Tang naturally wouldn't visit without a reason, especially Nie, who came with a mission. The reason she brought Tang along was quite amusing: Meng Mao and Meng Guanqi had a good relationship, and Nie specifically asked her to come with them.
Madam Nie smiled and said, "I only found out from the master that Guanqi and Xiaoxiao have both been promoted, especially Xiaoxiao, who went directly from a first-class guard to a third-rank guard commander. Do you two masters have any plans for such a great thing?"
What arrangements? Xiumei and Liuzhi looked at Madam Nie and Madam Tang blankly.
Madam Nie sighed inwardly. After all, without a long-serving old servant, Xiumei, a young wife, and Liuzhi, a child, were not capable of handling things. Madam Liu was really something. She should have at least left Granny Qi with the young couple. Such a big thing as a promotion, yet she didn't understand social etiquette. If word got out, it would be disrespectful.
Since the two servants were ignorant, Madam Nie simply said, "They have both been promoted. When and how to hold the banquet is a matter that needs to be planned. I was thinking that since my sister-in-law is not in the capital, Guanqi and Xiaoxiao might not understand these etiquettes, so I came with his fifth sister-in-law to give them some pointers and see if there is anything we can do to help."
When the new emperor ascended the throne, he continued to use the old leadership team from the time of Emperor Jian'an, making only minor personnel changes. These personnel lists became the focus of attention for almost the entire court, especially for Meng Guanqi and Li Xiaoxiao.
Meng Guanqi, a newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) who had been in office for less than three months, was promoted from the seventh rank to the sixth rank. Anyone with eyes could see that he had a bright future. Li Xiaoxiao was even more exaggerated. She was promoted from a first-class guard to the third-rank guard commander and became the first female general in the dynasty. She was responsible for the safety of the crown prince. It can be said that the young couple became the confidants of two generations of emperors ahead of time.
The glory of two emperors—what an honor! Anyone with ulterior motives would surely try every means to cultivate a good relationship with them.
The two of them probably didn't realize they had become a hot commodity. They hadn't even made arrangements at home and went straight to the government office without realizing it. Just wait, it won't be long before people come to their door with gifts and connections.
Nie felt a mix of pride and envy, but mostly she was disappointed in them. This young couple hadn't even whispered a word about such an important matter to the servants. Moreover, these servants not only knew nothing, but they also didn't bother to inquire and plan ahead for their masters. If it were their old steward, he would have already presented a plan for his masters to choose from.
"Oh, are you going to hold a banquet?" Xiumei and Liuzhi suddenly realized and were a little flustered. Yes, it was normal for their two masters to be promoted and hold a banquet, but they hadn't mentioned it at all when they got home. Given their usual habit of avoiding trouble, they thought they weren't going to hold one.
Seeing that Madam Nie and Madam Tang were looking at them with some displeasure, Xiumei quickly said, "Madam, Fifth Madam, the eldest young master and the young mistress are not home right now. They have to go to the yamen for the evening. When they return, I will ask them if the banquet is going to be held..."
Madam Nie retorted, "Let them try not to do it! In less than two days, people will be lining up in front of your mansion to give gifts. They'll all be asking when you're going to host a dinner party. Can you really say you won't?"
Xiumei and Liuzhi, lacking experience, were quite worried and wished they could immediately go to the palace to call Li Xiaoxiao and Meng Guanqi back.
Nie asked, "Will Guanqi go home for lunch at noon? It's getting late, so why don't my fifth sister-in-law and I wait for him here?"
Liu Zhi hurriedly said, "Young Master said he was recently transferred to the position of Lecturer and will be serving in the Emperor's presence. He won't be able to return home at noon as before, and I'm afraid he won't be back until late afternoon..."
Madam Nie was a little disappointed: "Never mind then. I was just here to offer some advice. This banquet is definitely going to be a big affair. We're all family, so let's not stand on ceremony. Your household may not have enough servants and may not understand the rules, but we have plenty of experienced servants who know best how to handle such important matters. Tell Guanqi and his wife not to be shy and to come to us for help anytime..."
Actually, she really wanted to take over and help them with the task, but since it was her first time visiting the Li family, she couldn't be too direct. She hoped that the two servants would understand her hints and pass the message on to Meng Guanqi and his wife.
Xiumei and Liuzhi saw off Madam Nie and Madam Tang with trepidation, and immediately went to discuss with Zhao Jian: "Madam is upset that we didn't serve our master, and she's planning to call people from the Meng family to help us with the banquet. What should we do?"
If Meng Guanqi really sends people from the Meng family to help take over this matter, it will be a real slap in the face for them, and the label of "incompetent" will be firmly stuck on their heads and they won't be able to get it off.
Perhaps they had become too comfortable after arriving at the Li residence and had lost all vigilance, which is why they didn't take their master's promotion seriously and took it for granted that Aze would come to stay at their home from time to time.
But outside, this is an immense honor, something many people would kill for, yet they simply ignored it.
Nie's reminder sent a chill down everyone's spine.
No, they absolutely cannot relinquish control of the banquet. Otherwise, if they do it once, others will have even more reason to interfere in their household affairs next time. They must handle this matter well so as not to worry their two masters.
Zhao Jian made a decisive decision: "Everyone, cheer up! We absolutely cannot give up this task. We must not only do it, but do it better than anyone else!"
Since taking over the management of the Li family, he had indeed never personally handled such a big matter. He also lacked his father's guidance and Qi Mama's help. However, he believed that they were not people who could do things overnight. Now that such a good opportunity was in front of him, he was determined to prove to the Meng family that the servants of the Li family were not inferior.
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