Chapter 219 Lady Wu
The gifts for the children on the oxcart were almost all unwrapped. Mencius' parents, having heard the news, rushed over. They hadn't seen their son for three years, and on their way, their excitement and joy grew stronger. But upon seeing him, the words that had been brewing on their lips wouldn't come out, for fear that if they did, they would lose control and become too sentimental.
"You've gotten a bit stronger." Meng's father patted Meng Chun's back twice. "You've become more robust."
"My dear child, you didn't even send a letter before you came back so we could have gone to Luoyang to pick you up." Meng's mother held Meng Chun's hand. "How's business in Suzhou? Are you leaving again after this trip?"
"It went smoothly." Meng Chun avoided the latter question, not wanting to talk about parting. He looked at his elderly parents and said, "My sister has taken such good care of you. You look exactly the same as you did three years ago, and you're even more energetic."
When Meng Chun's mother noticed that he had changed, he became much more composed, and wrinkles had even appeared at the corners of his eyes.
"You came back alone?" she asked. "Do you want your father and me to come back with you this time?"
Meng Chun understood what she meant, and he smiled helplessly, "You came back alone, so you don't need to come back with me. Life on the ship is too grueling, you don't need to suffer like that."
“In three months, you will be twenty-nine years old,” Meng’s mother reminded her. “Your older sister is only three years older than you, and Wangzhou is already thirteen.”
"It's my sister's fault for getting married too early." Meng Chun acted shamelessly, pulling Wang Zhou over and saying, "I'll wait a few more years and get married together with my nephew."
"Then you'll have to wait a while. Nephews follow their uncles' example, so I reckon you won't get married until you're thirty." Wang Zhou teased deliberately, "When I'm thirty, you'll be forty-six, the little uncle will become the old uncle, and you'll still be able to get married?"
"Keep joking. When your mother comes back, I'll get her to arrange a marriage for you first." Meng Chun pushed him away. Seeing Yin Caiwei walk in, he stopped joking and said, "It's getting late, let's eat."
Yin Caiwei nodded, "Uncle Meng, Aunt Pan, I have already written the letter and will send it to Luoyang tomorrow. My second sister-in-law will come back as soon as she receives the letter."
"There's no rush these few days, no need to send letters. I'll be staying at home for at least two months, so don't disturb my sister's important business," Meng Chun quickly stopped her.
"No, Second Sister-in-law won't let personal matters interfere with official business. I'll let her know in advance, and she'll be happy on her way back." Yin Caiwei sat down and instructed, "Next time you come back, send a message in advance so your family knows beforehand and will be happy for days."
"Listen to his third aunt," Meng's mother said.
"Okay," Meng Chun replied.
Once they started eating, there was no more idle chatter.
After sitting idly for a while after the meal, Meng Chun, along with his parents, rode home in a horse-drawn carriage.
"When did my sister go to Luoyang? What was it for?" Meng Chun asked on the way.
“They set off eight days ago, so they've probably been here for two or three days,” Meng’s father replied. “I don’t know what it’s about, but it’s probably not bad. It’s probably about rewarding merits. The female saint promised three years ago that if your sister could make another contribution, she would be granted the title of Lady of the County.”
At first, Meng's father wanted to be reserved and low-key, but once he started talking, he couldn't stop, and by the end, he was all smiles.
"Have I told you that your sister can wear a purple robe now?" Meng's mother asked. "When your sister went to Luoyang this time, she brought with her the purple robe bestowed by the female sage, saying that she would wear it when she went to the palace to pay her respects."
"I know, you told me that in your letter." Meng Chun nodded. He felt the carriage slow down, followed by the sound of a door opening, and knew that he had arrived home.
"We're home," said Meng's father. "This house is a three-courtyard house, registered under your sister's name."
Meng Chun said "Oh," and after the carriage came to a stop, he jumped off first and helped his parents off the carriage.
"My lord, it's been three years! You've finally returned. Your two masters have been thinking of you so much." Sister-in-law Wang greeted him, glancing outside. The door was closed, and no one else came in. Her husband and father-in-law hadn't come back.
“The Chen brothers have also returned. They’re still in Luoyang, guarding the boat for me. They should be able to come over in a few days,” Meng Chun said.
"Really?" Sister Wang immediately perked up, her voice rising, "Thank you, sir, thank you, sir."
"Do you still have boats in Luoyang? What are they transporting?" Meng's father asked.
"Half of the ship's silk is for my sister, so she can convert it into money and use it to build the Junjun Mansion." This was 30,000 that Meng Chun borrowed from Meng Qing four years ago, but she couldn't possibly have that much money on the surface, so he could only use the pretense of giving it to her.
"I'll go to Luoyang again tomorrow." Meng Chun couldn't wait any longer. He returned to the backyard with his parents. There were no servants around. He asked about the matter that was on his mind, "The Yellow River in Wen County has been reinforced with dikes. The Yellow River won't flood anymore. The local people won't have to move south anymore, right?"
"And there are Wuzhi County and Wude County, which are also affected by the Yellow River," Meng's mother said. "I talked to your sister about this three years ago. She said that relocation is inevitable, as Huaizhou can no longer support population growth. I didn't tell you this in a letter because I was afraid someone would see it. But no one can say for sure when this will be implemented. Your father and I both think you shouldn't delay any longer. If you find a suitable girl, get married and have children. We'll see how things go."
Meng Chun dared not gamble. Once he married and had children, would his wife and children be able to change their household registration along with him? It was uncertain. His sister had been granted the title of Lady of the County, and although Du Li could wear silk and ride in a carriage, she was still just an ordinary citizen. What if the child born earlier was implicated by him and could not change his merchant registration? Wouldn't that be harmful?
"I'm going to Luoyang. I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning," Meng Chun said.
“Alright.” Meng’s father did not object. He and his wife could not help with Meng Chun’s matter, nor did they dare to interfere.
Meng Chun rested at home for one night, and the next morning, before dawn, he quietly slipped away, fearing that he would run into Lü Bu and his party again.
At the same time, Meng Qing and Du Li, far away in Luoyang, had just woken up. Meng Qing and Du Min were to enter the palace to pay their respects today and needed to wait in the palace before the officials finished their court session.
Du Li got out of bed and lit the lamp. After changing his clothes, he opened the door and went out, calling a maid to come in and help Meng Qing change her clothes.
Half an hour later, Meng Qing came out wearing a purple robe and a brand-new floral crown.
"Second sister-in-law, you really look good in anything. Looking at you like this, I feel like you were born to be a noblewoman. You have such an aura." Du Min didn't hold back his praise. He stepped forward and stared at the purple robe, making no attempt to hide the greed in his eyes. "Purple is indeed more noble than scarlet."
Meng Qing shook his sleeves, feeling extremely smug.
Du Li brought over a plate of osmanthus cake and jujube cake, saying, "Don't do it yourself, I'll feed you so your hands don't get dirty and you have to wash them."
To enter the palace and avoid needing to use the restroom, Meng Qing and Du Min could only eat pastries to fill their stomachs.
"Why didn't you feed me just now?" Du Min nitpicked.
"Aren't you disgusting?" Du Li glanced at him with disdain. "I've noticed you're becoming more and more shameless."
As soon as he said it, Du Min felt disgusted, but he could only accept the insult.
Meng Qing ate until she was half full, then waved her hand and said she wouldn't eat anymore, "It's too dry."
Du Li took the tea handed to her by the maid and said, "It's okay to rinse my mouth and drink a couple of sips."
Seeing that it was almost time, Du Min sent his attendants to arrange the carriage.
After a cup of tea, the three of them went out together and rode in two separate carriages.
The two sages moved to Luoyang two years ago and have been living in the newly built Shangyang Palace ever since, where they hold morning court sessions and meet with their officials.
Half an hour later, the sun rose, and Meng Qing and Du Min's carriage arrived at Shangyang Palace. The uncle and sister-in-law got off the carriage, and the next part of the journey was to walk into the palace.
Du Li straightened Meng Qing's clothes and said, "Go inside, I'll wait for you outside."
"Second sister-in-law, let's go." Du Min walked over.
Looking at the palace bathed in golden light, Meng Qing let out a long sigh, "I never thought I'd be able to enter the palace a second time."
“There will be many more times in the future.” Du Min put one hand behind his back and reached out the other. “Lord Meng, please.”
Meng Qing took a step forward, and Du Min followed a step behind. The two figures, one in purple and one in crimson, maintained a distance of one in front of the other, but from a distance, they looked like they were walking side by side.
Du Li watched silently, swallowing his envy, and sincerely congratulated Meng Qing and Du Min. This ambitious alliance, after thirteen years of hard work, had finally walked side by side from the fields into the palace, and both had achieved their goals.
Before entering the palace gate, Meng Qing turned around for a look, and Du Min followed suit.
Du Li saw it, so he quickly took a few steps to close the distance and waved.
Meng Qing turned around and continued walking.
Du Min followed behind.
"Lady Meng, we meet again." The female official who saw Meng Qing off from Zichen Palace three years ago came forward to greet you. "The Empress has arranged for me to welcome Lady Meng and Prefect Du."
"Last time I was in Chang'an, I was in such a hurry that I didn't have time to ask the lady-in-waiting how to address her," Meng Qing asked.
“My surname is Wang, and I am a Shanggong in the Shanggong Bureau.”
"Lady Wang, we'd be grateful if you could come and greet us. We really don't know how to get around," Meng Qing said. "Please lead the way."
"This way, please."
"Are the two sages still holding court?" Du Min asked.
"Yes," Wang Shanggong replied, leading Meng Qing and Du Min through the north gate.
After walking for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Meng Qing and Du Min entered a palace, where they could clearly hear voices coming from the palace next door, separated by only one wall.
"The court session is over. You two please wait here until I come to fetch you," said Lady Wang before leaving.
Meng Qing and Du Min sat quietly for about half an hour when Wang Shanggong came to invite them, and the two followed her into the main hall next door.
"Your humble servant Meng Qing pays her respects to Your Majesty."
"Your subject Du Min pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Rise," the female saint said. "Take a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Meng Qing and Du Min said in unison.
There were no curtains in this palace, and when Meng Qing looked up, he was immediately faced by the female saint at the head of the table.
The female saint smiled. "Lady Meng, would you like to step forward and take a closer look?"
Meng Qing quickly lowered her eyes, "This humble woman has offended you."
The female saint didn't mean that, but she didn't explain either. "This robe suits you quite well, but it's a pity your rank isn't up to par; it's somewhat unworthy of the title. I've heard that the Qingniao Academy, which you personally managed, has benefited twenty-two prefectures, which is one achievement. Governor Du mentioned in an official document that the paper mill in Huai Prefecture was founded at your suggestion, and that you initiated the gathering of scholars and literati from Huai Prefecture to raise grain and funds from local gentry and wealthy merchants. These two things ensured the smooth completion of the three-year project to build the Yellow River embankment in Wen County, with no casualties or complaints among the laborers—this is another achievement. I promised that if you made another contribution, you would be granted the title of Lady of the Prefecture, and this was announced to all civil and military officials this morning. From this day forward, you, Meng Qing, are the Lady of Wu Prefecture, holding the rank of third grade, and enjoying an annual salary of one thousand strings of cash."
Overjoyed, Meng Qing bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you."
"Please rise, Madam." The female saint raised her hand.
Meng Qing's wish came true, and she radiated joy.
Du Min knelt to one side, his hands sweating with nervousness. Was he about to be promoted?
"Du Biejia".
"Your subject is present."
"You used the resources of an entire prefecture to support Wen County, completely eradicating the root cause of the Yellow River's recurrence of flooding in the Wen County section. You should be rewarded for your merits. However, after reading your memorial, I discovered that you plan to follow the same approach used in governing Wen County in Henan, Wuzhi, and Wude Counties, and continue with large-scale projects?" the female sage inquired.
Du Min's heart skipped a beat. "You think this is inappropriate?"
“No, you have the determination and perseverance, and you don’t even need the court’s approval. I would be happy to see it happen.” The female sage picked up two official documents, which the eunuch took and walked toward Du Min.
"Wen County has been under governance for three years, and there are still three counties to go. It will take at least nine more years. You've spent twelve years on this matter. Have you thought about how much benefit you'll gain?" the female sage asked. "As far as I know, you've occupied more than 400 mu of farmland by building dikes and widening canals. Although you've compensated with money, it's a fact that farmers have less land."
Du Min flipped through the official documents, his mind racing. He caught the key point: the female saint was concerned about the land owned by the farmers.
"How many able-bodied men in Huai Prefecture have no land under their names? And how many have less than twenty mu of land under their names?" the female sage asked. "With farmers having no land to distribute and the population increasing year by year, if this situation continues, will farmers have any surplus to pay taxes? Will Huai Prefecture be able to collect its grain taxes in full?"
Meng Qing realized that the female saint supported the relocation of people, and this plan could alleviate the conflict between people and land in Huaizhou.
Du Min also considered this aspect, and he said, "If the court allows the relocation of people from Huai Prefecture, I am willing to oversee the relocation project."
"Besides relocating people, are there any other methods? Methods that other prefectures and counties can follow, methods that can increase grain taxes?" The female sage looked at him.
Du Min immediately had a guess: the female saint wanted him to get land from the bureaucrats and landlords and distribute it to the landless farmers, or even force the farmers and merchants to separate their households. Only by increasing the number of households could the grain tax increase.
This conjecture soaked Du Min's back with sweat. If he dared to accept this task, he would be making an enemy of the world, and he estimated he wouldn't live to see this winter.
"Have you figured it out?" the female saint asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I have a plan. Let the merchants use their money to buy land, divide up the land that the landlords and gentry have occupied in excess, and then distribute the purchased land to the farmers who have lost their land. This measure will guide the farmers to divide their households." Du Min had his eye on the wealthy merchants.
"Merchants don't get up early for nothing; what do you have to offer in exchange?"
“Change my household registration and grant me a nominal position,” Du Min said.
The female saint shook her head. "Merchants can enter officialdom by changing their household registration. Their next plan is to annex land and become a large landowner. The land that flows out of their hands will return to them."
Meng Qing remained silent. The female saint had not misjudged her at all; this was exactly how she had planned for Meng Chun.
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