Chapter 85: Appointment
After the Duke of Zhenguo talked with Madam Ming, Madam Ming was so angry that she didn't sleep for half the night. She was only concerned about the good of this family, but ended up causing hatred. Let them do whatever they want, whether it's her grandson's marriage or his career, she doesn't care!
Madam Ming was joking, but on the day when Ming Huazhang went to the Ministry of Personnel for the examination, she couldn't help but prick up her ears to inquire about the news in the court. Madam Ming still had some hope in her heart, but after the transfer order from the Ministry of Personnel came down, her last hope was shattered.
Ming Huazhang actually went to Jingzhao Prefecture, and was promoted to the fourth-rank Shaoyin as soon as he was released from prison.
Although Chang'an was the capital and was full of officials, the Three Provinces and Six Ministries and Jingzhao Prefecture were actually two systems.
The three provinces and six ministries drafted imperial edicts and formulated policies, which was the central court that oversaw the entire country; while Jingzhao Prefecture was a local official system. The so-called Jing refers to a very large area, and Zhao refers to a large number. Jingzhao is the majestic style of a capital of a great country. The capital was located, was a clear distinction, and the chief executive was honored as Jingzhao Yin.
Shaoyin was the deputy of Jingzhao Yin, assisting in the affairs of Chang'an and the surrounding 23 counties. However, it was not easy to be a local official in the capital, and Jingzhao Yin resigned again. The former Shaoyin was promoted to Jingzhao Yin, and the position of Shaoyin was vacant, which was taken by Ming Huazhang.
It is said that it is difficult to pass the imperial examinations, and only one Jinshi can be selected from among thousands. However, there are many Jinshi who have waited for many years but still cannot be selected for an official position. Ming Huazhang started from the fourth rank, which should be very lucky. However, after the Ministry of Personnel issued the official appointment order, not many people came to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to congratulate him, which shows that Jingzhao Prefecture is really easy to be blamed.
Madam Ming was quite depressed and had no mood to attend the next palace banquet. The Duke of Zhenguo had no principal wife, and the second and third wives were not enough to represent the mansion. In the end, it was the brother and sister Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang who entered the Daming Palace for the banquet.
As autumn deepened, Chang'an became colder and colder. Frosted leaves fell all over the ground beside the Taiye Lake. Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang stepped on the fallen leaves and whispered, "Today is the royal family banquet. His Majesty has granted the new Jinshi a gracious permission to bring their families in. There will probably be many royal children. Keep your distance from them. Don't act rashly if something happens. Let me know first."
Ming Huashang nodded. Ming Huazhang didn't need to remind her. She saw many sedan chairs and processes along the way. Princesses and county heads were everywhere, which was enough to show the level of this palace banquet. The empress allowed the scholars to attend the royal family banquet. came.
Ming Huashang noticed the Marquis of Jiang'an Mansion. She looked around the Yu Garden and saw Jiang Ling and Ren Yao standing by the lake talking. Ming Huashang wanted to find them, but at that moment, other scholars came to greet Ming Huazhang. Ming Huashang quickly said from behind him, "Second brother, I saw Sister Ren and Jiang Ling. I'm going to find them."
Before Ming Huazhang could react, she had already run away. Ming Huazhang was quite helpless. In her mind, how many people were ahead of him? Was she so busy that she couldn't even wait for a greeting?
A fellow Jinshi noticed that Ming Huazhang kept glacing back and asked, "Brother Ming, who was that lady just now..."
Ming Huazhang retracted his remaining gaze and sighed, "She is my sister."
"It turned out to be your sister." The other student was delighted. "Brother Ming is as beautiful as a willow in the spring moon. I didn't expect your sister is also a beautiful lady. I wonder if your sister is married?"
Ming Huazhang's expression turned cold, and he said, "No. But she is devoted to cultivation, and now she is a nun under the tutelage of Qingmiao Zhenren, and has no intention of marriage."
The classmate sighed softly, and looked very regretful. Ming Huashang didn't know that Ming Huazhang was ruining her love affair outside. She quickly ran to the other side of the lake and waved to the two people from a distance: "Sister Ren, Jiang Ling!"
Jiang Ling turned around and saw Ming Huashang, and couldn't help but sighed: "Why is she everywhere?"
He had just arrived at the Daming Palace and had finally gotten rid of the social engagements at the Jiang'an Marquis' Mansion. He hadn't even spoken a few words to Ren Yao when Ming Huashang showed up again.
Unfortunately, people do not share the same joys and sorrows. Ren Yao and Ming Huashang were very happy to see each other. Ming Huashang jumped in front of Ren Yao like a rabbit and asked, "Sister Ren, have you been dismissed from your official position?"
"I'm here!" Ren Yao received the dispatch order from the Ministry of War yesterday. She was just about to share her joy with Ming Huashang, and happened to meet her today. Ren Yao said excitedly: "I finally have an official position, I am the Yihui Captain of the Yulin Army!"
"Really?" Ming Huashang was happier than hearing that she would be an official. She smiled and said, "That's great. The Yulin Army is the imperial guards of the Northern Yamen. They guard the Xuanwu Gate and are responsible for guarding the gates of the capital and the palace. They are the emperor's personal troops! Congratulations, Sister Ren!"
The two of them talked and laughed together, totally ignoring Jiang Ling. Jiang Ling was not happy about being ignored, so he sneered and said, "It's just a seventh-rank lieutenant, a small position, and it's not worth your happiness."
Ming Huashang glared at him unhappily, "Shut up, it's the position that's important, not the rank! Besides, everything is difficult at the beginning. Sister Ren finally got an official position. Although there are female officials in the court now, they basically serve His Majesty in the inner palace. There is no precedent for women to be officials in the outer court, especially in the army. Sister Ren is the first person in the world, can't you say something nice?"
Jiang Ling groaned and said, "You are too optimistic. It is because there were no women before that it is not a good place for her to go there. The lieutenant has to patrol and guard at night. He has no power, but he has to abide by a lot of rules. I don't know how she will be harassed by those soldiers after she enters the Northern Yamen! You are still like a fool, playing with her here."
Ming Huashang also knew that it was not easy. For a woman to enter a field that had long been monopolized by men, she would not become the darling or the fan of everyone as women imagined. Instead, she would be isolated by an invisible barrier. No matter where she went, she would be looked at and stared at, and even gossiped about and made obscene jokes. It would be extremely difficult to get to the core.
But the difficulties will not disappear just because they throw cold water on her. It is better to let Ren Yao step into her new journey with a good mood. Ming Huashang said: "Sister Ren, don't worry about him. You have already taken this step, and you have fulfilled the dreams of countless women. From now on, you just need to move forward. It will not be worse than before."
Ren Yao was a little nervous about the future, but after hearing Ming Huashang's words, she calmed down and gained courage. Yes, it won't be worse than before. She practiced spear skills for ten years for an illusory dream. Is the Yulin Army more difficult than practicing martial arts?
She wanted to accomplish something, to prove to her grandmother, the empress, and everyone in the world that she was capable of inheriting the Pingnan Marquisate, and she would go on even if there were mountains of swords and seas of fire ahead. Ren Yao held Ming Huashang's hand tightly and said, "Shangshang, thank you. If you hadn't spoken for me that day in Furong Garden, I would never have had this opportunity."
"Sister Ren, you don't have to thank me. This is your own achievement." Ming Huashang said with a smile, "It is because you study hard and practice day and night that you can make such a stunning performance on the battlefield. This is what you deserve."
Ren Yao was touched, but he didn't know what to say, so he just hugged Ming Huashang tightly. Jiang Ling watched them thanking each other, and his teeth ached. He said in a gloomy tone: "Enough, you keep calling each other sisters. If you don't know, you two would think you are acting."
Ming Huashang could no longer bear it, so she turned around and glared at him: "Jiang Ling, did you take the wrong medicine today? I was talking to Sister Ren, why are you whining?"
Jiang Ling hummed for a while and whispered, "You only talk but never do anything."
Coincidentally, Ming Huashang had good hearing today and heard it all. She sneered and asked, "So what practical things did you do?"
Jiang Ling was questioned and was so angry that he shouted without stopping, "Of course I did it! I..."
Ming Huashang didn't hear clearly, so she turned her head to ask, "What did you say?"
Jiang Ling was embarrassed, and without even opening his mouth, he mumbled, "I asked my father to put me in the Yulin Army."
Jiang Ling seemed unable to open his mouth. Ren Yao still didn't hear clearly, and asked with frowned eyebrows: "What did he say?"
Ming Huashang was close by and understood every word. She looked at Jiang Ling in surprise and glanced at Ren Yao with the corner of her eyes, as if she understood something. She smiled and said to Ren Yao, "I didn't hear it either. Sister Ren, go ask him."
Ren Yao questioned Jiang Ling, but this time Jiang Ling refused to say anything. Ming Huashang watched Ren Yao hit Jiang Ling rudely, and Jiang Ling just dodged and didn't fight back, and she thought to herself, no wonder.
Why did she only just discover this obvious thing?
Ming Huashang did not stay to disturb them. She noticed Su Xingzhi and Su Yuji standing on the other side and left quietly.
Ming Huashang ran to the Su brothers and sisters like a little rabbit on a picnic, and said with a smile: "Mr. Su, Sister Su, may you be blessed with good health and happiness!"
Su Xingzhi was started by her and politely replied, "Madam Ming, how are you?"
Ming Huashang seemed to not notice the strangeness of the Su brothers and sisters, and asked in a familiar manner: "Sister Su, last time in Furong Garden, I was taken away by the elders before I had time to say goodbye. I was so rude. How are you these days?"
Su Yuji was silent for a moment, silently reflecting on herself. Are she and Ming Huashang really familiar with each other? Su Yuji said, "It's OK."
"That's good." Ming Huashang said with crooked eyes, "I regretted it after I got home. I shouldn't have left you, a woman, outside. I should have asked the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to arrange a carriage to take you home. If you have any inconvenience in Chang'an, you can come to me. I will help you if I can. If I can't help, my second brother will help you."
Su Yuji didn't know much about the life of the nobles. Could it be that these young ladies of the nobles were so warm and hospitable when they socialized? Su Yuji politely declined: "Thank you, but my brother and I can still handle it. I don't want to worry about it, Madam Ming."
Ming Huashang understood that as genuine peasants from humble backgrounds, they would certainly be more cautious than willing to accept the overtures of the powerful.
When Ming Huashang, Jiang Ling and Ren Yao go out, they never care who pays or who pays the bill, because they are of similar family background and can easily ask for money back next time. Money is the least important thing for them. But when facing the poor Su brothers and sisters, money is closely related to their lives, so Ming Huashang can no longer be so generous.
If you want both parties to maintain a healthy relationship, the first thing to do is to respect each other's living environment.
Ming Huashang did not force herself to be friendly and said, "Sister Su, you don't have to be so polite. I am doing this for my second brother. He went to Jingzhao Prefecture to serve as Shao Yin, a place with little money, many things to do and offending people. If he offends someone accidentally, please help Su Zhuangyuan to mediate."
In fact, Ming Huashang was just looking for a reason to allow both parties to communicate on an equal footing, but Su Xingzhi and Su Yuji showed understanding after hearing it. Ming Huashang's eyebrows moved and asked, "By the way, I wonder where Su Zhuangyuan is working?"
Su Xingzhi thought Ming Huashang had heard about his going to the Observatory long ago, so she came to try to build a relationship. He did not expose her question and said, "Fortunately, your majesty trusts me. I have been ordered to go to the Observatory to serve as the Supervisory Secretary."
Ming Huashang secretly took a breath, the Supervisor of the Procuratorate, Yu Shi! Although this is just a minor official under the eighth rank, his power is not small.
The duty of the Supervisory Secretary was to supervise all officials. It was under the jurisdiction of the Taiyuan, Dianyuan and Chayuan. The Chayuan was responsible for inspecting all officials, inspecting prefectures and counties, overseeing prisons, and regulating court rituals. The main duties of the Supervisory Secretary were to supervise the Shangshu Province and the six ministries, and even attend the Shangshu Province meetings. The second was to go on diplomatic missions to local prefectures and counties to inspect the local administration, official conduct, diseases, floods and droughts. If there were corrupt officials, he could report them directly to the emperor.
It can be seen that the Queen trusts Su Xingzhi very much, and he has truly become the Queen's eyes and ears. Ming Huashang is increasingly satisfied with Su Xingzhi. Her brother is poor but ambitious. Although his family is poor, he has a bright future!
No, I must hold this thigh. Ming Huashang smiled and said, "So you are the Supervisor of the History Bureau. I am sorry for your disrespect. Su Zhuangyuan, you have not entered the History Bureau yet, can I call you Brother Su? You know my second brother's character. He is upright and strong, and he never knows how to write about current affairs. If someone impeaches him in the future, Brother Su must speak a fair word for him."
Ming Huashang kept talking and laughing, and her words to build relationships sounded very sweet. Su Xingzhi thought of Su Yuji's true identity and didn't want to be too tough with her family, so he smiled and said, "Mrs. Ming, you are too kind. I have been ordered by the emperor, so I will do my best and act impartially."
Not refusing outright was a good start. Ming Huashang smiled and said, "I believe Brother Su will be a good official. The flowers over there are blooming beautifully. Shall we go there for a walk?"
Ming Huazhang was just greeting someone when Ming Huashang disappeared. He first went to ask Jiang Ling and Ren Yao, but to their surprise, Ming Huashang was not there, and the two of them didn't notice where Ming Huashang had gone.
Ming Huazhang's heart skipped a beat and he hurried along the road to look for her. He asked people as he walked, and many terrible guesses flashed through his mind. He couldn't help but want to report to the steward to search the lake. At this time, he looked up and saw Ming Huachang in the pavilion on the other side of the lake, talking and laughing with his eyes curved.
Sitting opposite her was the person Ming Huazhang least wanted to see - Su Xingzhi.
In fact, there was a third person, Su Yuji, but Ming Huazhang could only see Ming Huachang's bright eyes. She had a pair of beautiful almond-shaped eyes, and when she looked at someone seriously, her eyes were focused and bright, clear and transparent, like a little deer.
He had heard his own heartbeat in such a look before, but now he saw that she was looking at another man with the same eyes.
This was the second time. The first time she agreed to go home with him, but she turned around and ran to Zhuque Street to see the top scholar. If he hadn't been there, she would have thrown the sachet down; the second time was now, she said she was going to meet a friend, but ended up meeting Su Xingzhi in private.
Xie Jichuan was right, she was indeed a liar with a sweet mouth and a hard heart. She said that she liked the second brother the most, that she didn't want to get married in the near future, and that the second brother was the only one in her heart. However, these were all false, there was nothing that was unique to him.
Ming Huashang was chatting happily, in fact, most of the time she and Su Yuji were chatting, and Su Xingzhi occasionally chimed in. Suddenly, she felt a chill for no reason. Ming Huashang turned around and saw Ming Huazhang coming in. He was standing under the crabapple tree in a daze. The fallen leaves were rustling down, and the ground was covered with gold and frost. He was in the midst of it, like the bright sun and moon in his arms, and also like a jade mountain about to collapse.
Ming Huashang was stunned for a moment, and only when Su Xingzhi stood up to greet her did she react and quickly stood up: "Second brother..."
Ming Huazhang walked slowly towards Ming Huashang, stepping over the bright fallen leaves. Ming Huashang inexplicably felt a sense of oppression, but Ming Huazhang's expression was still as bright and clear as the moon, frank and calm. He took Ming Huashang's hand, and said in a tone that was unmistakable: "Why did you come here? I've been looking for you for a long time."
Ming Huashang then realized that she had run away without saying hello to Ming Huazhang. She looked up at Ming Huazhang and her eyes collided with his. His eyes were dark, like an abyss with no bottom, which made Ming Huashang inexplicably terrified.
However, his voice was so calm, without a trace of anger. Ming Huashang thought it might be her illusion, so she smiled and said coquettishly, "Second brother, you are here! I saw you were busy, and thought you would be busy for a long time, so I just took a walk along the lake and happened to meet Brother Su and Sister Su. Second brother, Brother Su went to the Yushitai and is working as an inspector."
Ming Huazhang responded very calmly, thinking, she was lying again. If she had paid attention to him, she would not have said that he would have to socialize for a long time. In her heart, there was only Su Xingzhi. Now that Su Xingzhi has a bright future, she must be happier, right?
Ming Huashang originally wanted to hint to Ming Huazhang and Su Xingzhi to get close to each other. With Ming Huazhang's character, it would be difficult for him not to be impeached after he went to Jingzhao Prefecture. However, Ming Huazhang nodded slightly to Su Xingzhi indifferently, and his attitude could be described as indifferent: "My sister is ignorant and bothers you two. I will take her away."
For some reason, Su Xingzhi was also very cold towards Ming Huazhang and said, "No problem, please do as you please, Shao Yin Ming."
Ming Huazhang quietly circled Ming Huashang, turned around and left. When the two men could no longer hear him, Su Yuji asked Su Xingzhi curiously, "Brother, although Jingzhao Prefecture is a thankless job, with Ming Huazhang's ability, this may be a sharpening stone for him. There is no harm in making friends with Jingzhao Shaoyin in Chang'an, why are you so distant?"
On the other side, Ming Huachang was also asking the same question. Ming Huazhang seemed to laugh and said, "Whether you are a good official or not is your own business. I don't need my sister to pave the way for me."
Ming Huashang was a little unhappy and pushed him: "Second brother, what do you mean by that? Are you blaming me for taking the initiative and embarrassing you?"
"Then what do you mean?" Ming Huazhang's voice was extremely calm, like a glacier before a volcanic eruption, white and empty, setting the prairie on fire.
"I want to help you." Ming Huashang pouted slightly, feeling very aggrieved. "You are going to Jingzhao Prefecture soon. There have been 15 chief officials in the past ten years. This is still a third-rank Jingzhao Yin. I don't know how many junior Yins have been defeated. How dare you say that it will be different when it's your turn?"
Ming Huazhang secretly took a deep breath, controlled his rationality that was about to run away, and said to Ming Huashang: "Shangshang, I chose this path myself. No matter how difficult it is, I am willing to do it. Even if my career ends here, I will accept it. But you are different..."
Ming Huazhang paused as he spoke, and Ming Huashang raised her eyes and looked at him. Her clear eyes clearly asked, what's the difference?
What's the difference?
Probably, he could accept a life of darkness and lack of recognition, and he could accept having unfulfilled ambitions and a life of mediocrity, but he could not accept losing her.
This possibility, even if it only appeared in his mind in the form of a hypothesis, made his heart palpitate and he could hardly control himself.
But he couldn't say it. As long as he was her brother, he couldn't go beyond the etiquette of brother and sister. He didn't dare to let her wait, because even he didn't know if this road would end.
Ming Huazhang's heart was in turmoil for several times, but those shocks were finally suppressed and turned into a plain sentence: "Because you are my sister."
Ming Huashang's heart suddenly sank. After she came to her senses, she laughed at herself. What on earth was she expecting? Ming Huashang smiled and said, "Yes, my second brother is such a gentleman. No matter who is your sister, you will care about her and treat her well."
"What about you?"
Ming Huachang felt uncomfortable and said in a cold tone: "Why, do you think I treat you badly?"
"Very good." Ming Huazhang reached out and picked up a dead leaf floating in the air, and gently and calmly broke the leaf veins into pieces. "You are good to every 'brother'."
Ming Huashang hesitated shamefully, and his momentum gradually weakened: "You are my only second brother."
Ming Huazhang turned around and stared at her with an ambiguous look: "Are you sure?"
Ming Huashang nodded without any burden, thinking that since Su Xingzhi was the president of the bank at home, she should call him "eldest brother", and as for the second brother, there was only Ming Huazhang.
Ming Huazhang looked at her and smiled, saying, "Shangshang, how about we make an agreement? Let's not worry about the future, but before you get engaged, you are not allowed to let other men surpass me. Similarly, in my heart, you are also the first. How about it?"
The illusion of being close yet distant came back again. Is "the first" something a brother should say to his sister? Ming Huashang half-joked, "But second brother, you are going to marry a sister-in-law in the future, how can I be the first?"
"I will stay with you until you get married and have no sister-in-law." Ming Huazhang paused and said calmly, "Until you regret it."
In fact, if Ming Huazhang proposed it, I think the Duke of Zhenguo would not object. However, he couldn't do that. He couldn't delay another woman's life when his own future was uncertain.
But he still couldn't help but want to take a gamble. The empress agreed to move the capital, and Prince Luling had been appointed as the crown prince. Everything was going well. Perhaps, as long as she waited another two years to get married, he would still have a chance.
Ming Huashang chuckled and said in a proud tone, "If I stay at home and don't get married until I'm an old maid, will you support me for the rest of my life?"
Ming Huazhang looked into her eyes and smiled gently. His eyes were gentle, and for a moment they looked like childhood sweethearts, as if they had been together for a long time. "Okay."
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