Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Calling the shots
"... ...There is already a rumor in the capital that the Shao family is going to marry the Du family, but the Second Master has someone keep it a secret from us, waiting for the palace to grant the marriage on Mid-Autumn Festival in ten days."
After Ruan Gong finished speaking, Qiu Lin clenched his hands.
"Is the Second Master confused? The young lady is in charge of the family affairs in Qingzhou. She has been following the Second Master closely and sending a lot of money to him every year. When he received the money, he never asked about the young lady. Now that Shao has come to his house, he has married the young lady off without even asking any questions!..."
Qiu Lin's angry voice was illuminated by the shaking cage lamp and dissolved into the thin moonlight.
Du Lingjing looked up at the rare moon shadow between the clouds in the night sky, connected to the undulating Yanshan Mountains. It was a beautiful scenery that was not found in Qingzhou and was unique to the capital.
She lived in the capital with her father for eight years and grew up in the capital.
At first, she returned to her hometown in Qingzhou to observe mourning for her grandfather. She was always thinking about this paradise of her childhood and wondering when she could go back.
But gradually, she heard from the official transcripts, letters to old friends, and her father's mouth that many people came and went in the capital.
The new policies implemented by my father when he was in office were shelved and silently collapsed after he left Beijing. Those who were familiar with them in Beijing left, and even the few who stayed were no longer the same as they were before.
The capital city no longer seemed the place she once was familiar with.
After that, my father finished his mourning period and returned to Beijing to resume his job.
After thinking it over, she said to her father, "Dad's new policies were not well received. It seems that the new emperor does not value them, or even approves of them. If that is the case, Dad may not be able to realize his ambitions as he did when the previous emperor was alive. In my opinion, it might not be the best choice for Grandfather to resign and return to his hometown to study."
When my father heard this, instead of sighing, he laughed.
"My son is really outspoken. Is he making a statement on behalf of his father? He must be depressed and frustrated, right?"
She doesn't have to hide anything in front of her father.
"Dad, doesn't he think so?"
She was not overly pessimistic, and what she said was all true. Dad also smiled and nodded.
"My son is right. The emperor does not recognize the new policies of your father. But scholars who are well-read in poetry and books serve as officials. Is it just to be appreciated by the emperor? I think that the laws of nature are constant. They do not exist for the sake of Yao or Jie. The purpose of studying and serving as officials is to follow the four lines of the Song Dynasty."
Those four sentences.
Establish a mind for heaven and earth, establish a mission for the people, carry on the lost knowledge of the ancient sages, and bring peace to the world for all generations.
Du Lingjing was silent at that time.
Dad is right. Scholars strive for those four sentences. But without the appreciation of the king, how can they reach those four sentences?
Dad patted her shoulder.
"Even if you are not appreciated, you have to do it. Even if it is impossible to promote it, you have to push it. Even if nine out of ten results are as you guessed, isn't there still that one out of ten?"
Dad is always like this, daring to go against the world's will.
She could only pack her bags for her father, who asked her to stay in her hometown and continue to manage Mianlou. "My daughter likes quietness, so it's better for her not to go to the capital." After saying that, she set out on the journey back to the capital alone.
However, she never expected that her father would die on the way to Beijing before he even reached the capital...
She never thought of the city again.
Who would go to this place of power struggle and right and wrong, except for those who enjoy indulging themselves in it and people like my father who prefer to go to the tiger's den?
She collected eight volumes of Song Dynasty books along the way and arrived at the gate of the capital city. She was originally planning to stop, but unexpectedly, outside the city gate, she heard about her "big happy event" ten days later.
Inexplicably, she always felt that there was an invisible hand holding her back, forcing her to enter the capital...
"Young lady? Why are you distracted? The second master is going to send the young lady to someone else as a remarriage." Qiu Lin was so angry.
Ruan Gong said that the matter has not been finalized yet, "but if the second master sends the name card to the clan office too early, it will be difficult to handle."
They both looked over at her.
Du Lingjing lowered her eyelids, then slowly raised them again.
"Then let's go to Beijing."
*
Entering the city from the Chaoyang Gate in the east, Kyoto woke up in the morning with the lingering rain of yesterday, and the number of people gradually increased.
Du Lingjing and his party entered the city as soon as the city gate opened. As soon as they turned from Chaoyangmen Street to Chongwenmen Street, they met a group of people surrounding an official in scarlet court robes.
He stood out among the crowd, having just come out of court. Everyone bowed to him, greeted him, and asked him in a low voice about the day's affairs.
The man's voice was low and his words were blocked by the crowd.
Du Lingjing only glanced at the edge of the car window, and then ordered Changpu, who was driving, to avoid the nobleman, go around to Dengshi Road, and then turn to the alley of Chengqingfang.
The carriage turned around, and someone on the side of the road asked in confusion, "Why did the marquis come to East City after leaving court this morning? It's very strange."
The person who spoke did not clearly say which marquis he was, and the carriage did not stop turning its wheels.
On the noisy road, the man in the scarlet court robe embroidered with a unicorn said a few words, then said goodbye to the crowd and mounted his horse.
He glanced across the alley and took a quick look at the fluttering curtain of the carriage.
*
Du Mansion in Chengqingfang.
Du Zhiqi went to the study to get the name card he had written last night. He had thought about it for a long time last night in order to write this name card to be submitted to the clan office.
After breakfast, he took his business card and prepared to go out. Du Runqing came to see him to the door.
Unexpectedly, before the servant could go up to knock on the door, he saw the old doorman who was guarding the door came out tremblingly and opened the door in advance.
This old doorman had been guarding the Du Mansion in Chengqingfang since his grandfather was an official, and had watched the eldest master Du Zhili rise from an ordinary official to a cabinet minister in a few years. After the eldest master returned to his hometown to observe mourning, the Du family in Chengqingfang was deserted for many years until the second wife came to Beijing to recuperate after being injured last year, when someone moved in again.
The old doorman was old, and last time Du Zhiqi came home, he knocked on the door for a long time, but he didn't hear it. Du Zhiqi was unhappy, so Du Runqing said that the old doorman was deaf and blind, and he would send him to the country farm after this big event was over and there was free manpower.
But today, for some reason, before the father and daughter could even go forward, they saw the old doorman hurriedly open the door.
But the old gatekeeper had no intention of turning around to invite the second master. Instead, he held onto the creaking old door and stepped out.
His old voice sounded unusually urgent.
"Girl? Is the girl back?"
Du Runqing was startled by the word "girl", and he found himself just inside the door.
But the next moment, a clear sound like a spring appeared outside the door, and someone stepped forward and supported the old doorman.
"Wen Bo, it's me. I'm back."
The door of the mansion creaked open and a visitor stood in front of the door. She was wearing a bamboo-moon-colored cloak, and the morning breeze made her hair flutter like a dancing butterfly. She held onto old Wenbo, and Wenbo also held her with trembling hands.
"The girl... finally came back to the capital!"
Du Lingjing felt a pang in the corner of her eyes when she heard this call.
When she left Beijing, Wen Bo was able to help her carry the box onto the carriage, and he also told her that she would still follow her father back after the mourning period was over. "Miss, you haven't left Beijing for many years. How are you going to get used to it this time?"
Nine years passed in a flash. Wen Bo was so old that he could not straighten his bent back, and his father had left them long ago.
She wiped her eyes lightly, helped the excited Wen Bo up and walked towards the tall and wide gate of the mansion. She raised her eyes slightly and saw the person standing inside the door.
She had long, slender eyebrows and clear eyes like water. She raised her eyes and looked at them.
"Uncle, second sister. I haven't seen you for many years. Are you all well?"
Du Zhiqi and his daughter Du Runqing stood there in a daze.
Du Zhiqi did not look directly at his niece, but put his hands behind his back to avoid her gaze. However, Du Runqing secretly glanced at this unfamiliar elder sister.
The eldest sister is tall, wearing a shadow green jacket and moon-white skirt under a bamboo-moon-colored cloak. She stands on the bluestone slabs that have been washed clean by the rain, as if she has walked out of the clouds and water, pure and untainted, with only a faint scent of books wafting from her sleeves.
Du Runqing watched for a while until Du Lingjing came forward to greet Du Zhiqi, then she quickly greeted her elder sister as well.
Ruan Gong and Qiu Lin brought the gifts they had prepared. No one mentioned anything else, so Du Runqing quickly asked someone to serve tea and personally led Du Lingjing to the hall.
No one was more familiar with every tree and blade of grass in this mansion than Du Lingjing. She did not need anyone to lead the way. She had watched her sister grow from a short little girl into a graceful young lady with a long face and some of the bright and intelligent looks of the Gu family.
"My second sister has grown a lot taller, her appearance has matured, and her demeanor has become more outstanding."
Du Lingjing praised him, but Du Runqing felt a little nervous and didn't know how to respond for a moment, so he listened to Du Lingjing.
"No need to lead the way, second sister. I have something I want to discuss with my uncle in his study first."
After she finished speaking, she looked at Du Zhiqi intently.
If the father and daughter still had some hope just now, now they have all fallen to the ground.
Du Runqing looked at his father with a tense expression, while Du Zhiqi spoke with a grim expression.
"Then let's go to the study."
... ...
The windows of the large study were opened, and the fragrance of books blew out of the window, leaving only a dull silence.
Du Lingjing didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly.
"I heard that my uncle has found a noble family for my niece. I appreciate it. But since he is a top scholar in the imperial examination, he can marry any noble lady. I don't know why he suddenly wants to marry into the Du family?"
Seeing that his niece was indeed unwilling, Du Zhiqi suppressed his annoyance.
"Although there are many noble ladies in the capital, Shao is a second wife, Du is of suitable family background, and you are of the same age as him. Isn't this a good match?"
Shao Boju is now 24 years old, just one year older than her, so he is indeed suitable in terms of age. However, it is common for high-ranking officials to have a ten- to twenty-year age difference when remarrying, so the age difference is not a big deal.
Seeing that her uncle was avoiding the question, Du Lingjing knew that at this point, he was no longer willing to try to fool around.
She smiled and shook her head. "My niece doesn't think it's a good match. I've already been engaged to Qianyun. How can I be a good match with someone else? But my second sister is about to reach the age of marriage in a month. Why doesn't uncle let her get engaged to Shao?"
These words made Du Zhiqi feel annoyed and he couldn't control himself anymore.
It's not like he didn't mention this to the Shao family, but the Shao family only wanted the elder's only daughter. If his Runqing could do it, why would he need to count on his niece?
He looked very unhappy and didn't want to play around with his niece anymore.
"Your father is a cabinet minister after all, so the Shao family must have their own considerations for choosing you."
He turned his face away, hoping that his niece would understand and stop asking questions.
However, the niece asked again, "But uncle, have you ever thought about what the Shaw family wants to do by relying on your father's name?"
"What?" Du Zhiqi was even more annoyed. "You studied with your father for many years, how come you can't even understand this?"
He said, "Shao Boju is the cousin of Prince Yong. Prince Yong is the oldest. If he wants to rule the East Palace, he needs the support of the court officials, especially the civil officials. Although he has the help of Dou Ge Lao, he can go one step further. If he marries you, the people who followed the Du family in the past will also be by Prince Yong's side."
He finished in one breath, glaring at his niece.
"If you can't even understand this, why do you obey my instructions? I won't harm you!"
Du Zhiqi's words shocked Ruan Gong and Qiulin who were waiting in the yard. Qiulin clenched his fists immediately, while Ruan Gong was ready to break into the study at any time.
In the study, Du Lingjing's face remained calm.
She first picked up the teapot and refilled Du Zhiqi's teacup with water, then refilled herself half a cup, picked up the teacup and took a sip.
After putting it down, he spoke slowly, but his words made Du Zhiqi's hand holding the tea bowl tremble.
"Uncle, since you understand that the Shao family wants to add more wings to Prince Yong, have you ever thought about how many people are left who support my father after six years of death? The Du family can only give a little help to Prince Yong. In terms of the merits of following the dragon, they can no longer compare to Dou Ge Lao and others. But the two families have become married, and the Du family will put all their wealth and even the fate of the family on Prince Yong."
She paused here and glanced at her uncle.
"If Prince Yong fails to enter the East Palace, and the prince is Prince Hui, the concubine's son, then what will happen to my uncle? What will happen to the Du family?"
The current emperor was not in good health, so he appointed a crown prince soon after he ascended the throne. The crown prince was the legitimate son of the queen, the eldest son, and was supported by the whole court. However, the crown prince died of a sudden illness in the fifth year of Yinyou.
After the Crown Prince, the Emperor had three other princes, namely the second prince, Prince Yong, born to Concubine Shao, the third prince, Prince Cheng, born to Concubine Liang, and the young fourth prince, Prince Hui, born to Concubine Gui.
Logically, the older second prince would be the best candidate for the crown prince, but Concubine Shao died early, and the emperor favored Concubine Lu, who came from the Yongding Marquis Mansion.
Unfortunately, the Empress was devastated by the death of the Crown Prince and had been bedridden for many years. No one knew whether the Emperor would appoint the Imperial Concubine as the successor if the Empress died.
If the Imperial Concubine becomes the Empress, Prince Hui will no longer be the fourth prince, but the only legitimate son of the Emperor, and will be the undisputed candidate for the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.
Most of the civil officials supported Prince Yong, led by Dou Ge Lao, while the military officials supported Prince Hui and gathered around the Yongding Marquis's mansion. As the emperor's health deteriorated, the two factions' original secret struggle gradually came to the surface.
The Du family is far away from the center of power. As long as they don't get involved, it will make no difference to the Du family whether Prince Yong or Prince Hui ascends the throne in the future. On the contrary, in order to win over court officials, the Du family still has other hopes.
Du Ling looked at his uncle silently.
Why doesn't Du Zhiqi have such concerns?
But after his eldest brother passed away, the new policy was displaced, and he, like the new policy, was abandoned in a remote place outside Beijing.
When his eldest brother was alive, he never tried his best to help him get promoted. After his eldest brother passed away, he was neglected and unable to make a name for himself.
This time it was the Shao family that handed him the branch to cross the river, so how could he not grab it?
As for the future... Du Zhiqi made up his mind, "Since you have chosen the path of following the emperor, no matter what the result is, I, as the head of the family, will bear the responsibility."
"Then uncle has chosen this path for the entire Du family. Has he discussed it with other members of the Du family?"
In addition to Du Zhiqi, the Qingzhou Du family has several other candidates who have passed the imperial examinations, and may even soon produce the next Jinshi. However, in order to conceal the secret from his niece, how could Du Zhiqi have leaked any information to his hometown in Qingzhou?
No one else knew about it except him.
Du Lingjing's voice was slow, but it was like a pair of scissors, piercing Du Zhiqi's most vulnerable heart.
He stood up suddenly and swept the tea bowl beside him away. The tea bowl fell to the ground and broke into pieces, and Du Zhiqi's face turned blue and red.
"Who is in charge of the Du family, me or you, Du Lingjing?!"
There was deathly silence in the room. In the yard, Ruan Gong almost rushed in through the door.
Du Lingjing looked through the window and stopped him.
The study was quiet and the layout had not changed much, but Du Lingjing only then realized that her father's study was completely different from before.
There were no piles of documents on the desk that his father had complained about, no recliner under the window where he would lie down when he couldn't sleep all night over the new policy, the books he loved so much on the bookshelf were moved to the edge, and even the porcelain jar with his scrolls in it was moved to the corner.
Not to mention, when her father was personally educating her, he specially made a set of round and plump low tables and stools for the little girl.
At that time, my father was not yet a high-ranking official and had some free time. Whenever he saw her write something decent, he could not help but hold her up high in excitement and say, "My Jingniang is really talented in literature!"
But she didn't understand at that time, and just kept reminding her father, "Dad, my daughter is grown up, you can't hold her so high."
Dad couldn't help laughing, "She's only seven years old, how can she be so grown up? Even if she's seventeen, she's still Dad's little Jingniang!"
But her father would never have thought that when she was seventeen, she no longer had a father, and she would never have one again...
Du Lingjing's eyes swept across every brick and tile in the study. The closer she looked, the less she could detect any trace of her father's past.
My father walked away.
She suddenly felt that this was a good idea. She didn't want her father to see his only brother and his daughter arguing fiercely in his study room.
If you see it, Dad will be sad...
The study is quiet. A gentle breeze blows in from the window, bringing a faint scent of books into the study.
Du Lingjing suppressed the sadness in his heart and lowered his eyes slightly.
"My niece has no intention of overstepping her authority."
She slowed down her words, and Du Zhiqi didn't want to have a bad relationship with her, so he sat down.
Du Lingjing thought for a moment and spoke to him again.
“My niece really doesn’t want to marry anyone other than Sanlang, but Shao suddenly proposed to marry me this time, and wanted to settle it before the Mid-Autumn Festival without any warning. Even if it is to help Prince Yong, it is too hasty.
"It was so hasty that my niece thought there might be something fishy going on that we were not aware of."
These words made Du Zhiqi raise his eyes.
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