The rain poured down in torrents, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, the water dripping from the eaves seemed endless...
It was rare to have such heavy rain in autumn.
Brother Ding returned from the covered walkway, his shoes and the hem of his robe completely soaked. Jin Niang had a servant fetch his clothes, and he changed directly behind the screen before settling down to do his schoolwork.
"Hurry and finish your work, son. Once you're done, we can have our meal early. The rain is so heavy today, your father is still at the yamen, who knows when he'll be back?" Jin Niang was quite worried.
As the Prefect of Kaifeng, Jiang Xian not only had to manage the flooding caused by the heavy rain but also properly settle the disaster victims and report to his superiors. He was undoubtedly swamped with work. Originally, he was on leave today, yet he had to get up early.
The sky grew dark from the rain. Jin Niang lit two candles for her son, and Brother Ding diligently wrote his lessons beside them.
She then went to the inner chamber with Ying, and couldn't help but say, "I was just so happy that our son-in-law and Brother Ning both passed the preliminary exams, but then such a thing happens. I wonder how our lord is faring?"
Under such circumstances, it was inevitable for everyone to feel apprehensive.
Ying said, "But the Chief Councillor of the Jixian Hall previously thought highly of our lord too."
"Partisan politics, seeing things in black and white, overcorrecting mistakes to the extreme. Even if the Chief Councillor himself holds no grudge against our lord, there will be a group of people who will push forward and attack him." Although Jin Niang was not part of the official circles, being an onlooker sometimes made things clearer.
Just as Jin Niang, as the mistress of the inner household, had Ying as her most capable assistant. If Ying disliked someone, Jin Niang couldn't very well force her to accept them. She would also consider Ying's feelings, as Ying was closer and more useful than others.
The same principle applied to the Chief Councillor. Although Jiang Xian was not a die-hard member of the Shen faction, when the Shen faction was in power, he worked diligently for them. Would the Chief Councillor's men easily let him off?
For his position, they would surely want to install their own people.
Back when Madam Zheng married Master Jiang the Sixth, she replaced all of the Sixth Madam's people too.
Hearing this, Ying also felt vaguely worried, but Jin Niang remained steady. "It's alright. Over these years, we've acquired quite a bit of property. There aren't any major expenses, it should be enough for us."
If he can no longer be an official, building a good reputation is also fine. After all, Jiang Xian has served as an official for many years. Brother Ning's scholarly pursuits and the imperial examinations depend on his own ability, and Brother Ding is sure to follow in his brother's footsteps.
Thinking this way, she herself felt much more at ease.
Ying nodded slowly. Since returning to the capital these years, although Eldest Sister's marriage cost a considerable sum, the mistress had further expanded the family's assets. The postal inn was enlarged, another hundred mu of land was bought in Wu County, a hundred mu of farmland was purchased in Bianjing, and a two-courtyard, three-bay house near the Imperial Academy was acquired. Overall, there had been many gains.
Moreover, even the bamboo, flowers, lotus leaves, and seedpods from their own garden, along with fish and shrimp raised in the pond, brought in quite a bit of income.
In the years since Eldest Sister married, the mistress had stopped having new gold and silver jewelry made and even sold some of the overly outdated pieces. Old silks and teas were often disposed of. The family was actually quite well-off.
After tallying the assets once more, Jin Niang's current cash holdings were something even Ying and Jiang Xian might not truly know the full amount of. She simply kept saving, and it had become quite substantial.
Not counting the gold exchanged for four thousand strings of cash, there was nearly twenty thousand strings.
Meanwhile, Madam Xu
poured out all the bitterness she had suffered over the years to Jiang Yan—how her brother-in-law and his wife looked down on her, how her mother-in-law Madam Zheng suppressed her—all in one go.
Jiang Yan held her shoulders and said, "My wife, you have suffered."
Madam Xu had grown much fuller over the years, ever since giving birth to Sister Jun. The family even hired a nun who had returned to secular life to cook vegetarian dishes, yet despite this, she kept gaining weight.
But she usually prided herself on being frugal and simple, rarely making new clothes. Her old garments tightly constrained her flesh.
However, the gloom on her face and the puffiness around her eyes were not lost on Jiang Yan. He knew they had endured hardships.
Madam Xu smiled. "With your words, how could I have suffered? Fortunately, all the hardship was not in vain."
"Yes, all these years I have followed the old master in compiling books, benefiting immensely. Now is precisely the time to set things right." Jiang Yan stood with his hands behind his back, like a sword about to be drawn from its sheath, gleaming coldly.
Madam Xu thought of Jiang Fang but remained silent. She knew her good days were about to come.
Those in the clan who had helped Jiang Xian bully her, she would absolutely seek revenge on them one by one.
Compared to the plight of the three Jiang brothers, Sun Shichen had already been dismissed from office. Initially, Sun Shichen held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that since he wasn't a high-ranking official, no one would probably notice him.
Unexpectedly, he was also dismissed. Sun Shichen and Fourth Sister Zhou were beside themselves with grief.
Fourth Sister Zhou herself had never encountered such a major event. Despite being usually full of ideas, faced with this sudden situation, she first went to Jiang Fang's house to find Third Sister Zhou. Third Sister Zhou, however, was extremely composed. She was to follow Jiang Fang into exile and needed to prepare their belongings. If demoted, they couldn't stay in official residences and would have to rent a house outside.
Their four sons would also have to go with them. She had much to do. Seeing her younger sister, she said, "Don't you still have your hometown? Return to your hometown."
Fourth Sister Zhou thought, why should they return to their hometown when they were living perfectly well here? Ancient times were not like modern times where you could arrive in a short while. The hardship of travel by boat and carriage made one very prone to illness...
Third Sister Zhou had said all she intended. She didn't know if her husband would be reinstated, but she would follow him. A woman follows her husband as a horse follows its rider, as a dog follows its master. Her husband was full of talent and ability; she couldn't bear to do otherwise.
While Fourth Sister Zhou was pondering this, Jiang Xian returned home. It was already dawn the next day.
Jin Niang had the bathhouse prepare hot water for him to bathe. After bathing, she had him change into comfortable clothes and brought him hot congee, delicate pastries, and a few side dishes.
"Whenever I am at my lowest, with you, my wife, arranging everything for me, I fear nothing." Drinking the congee, Jiang Xian, feeling utterly exhausted both physically and mentally, finally felt somewhat relaxed.
Jin Niang smiled. "At worst, you can resign from office. I've thought it through. We never had great expectations for our Brother Ning, but now that he has passed the preliminary exam, his chances of passing the provincial exam are about fifty percent. That way, you can cultivate your reputation at home, and our son can also uphold the family's standing."
Jiang Xian said, "My dear, it hasn't come to that yet. I am not Jiang Fang, who goes to extremes in everything. The Emperor still remembers past sentiments; he was merely demoted and exiled, without widespread repercussions. Even his brother-in-law Sun Shichen was only dismissed from office."
"Not going to extremes, being a moderate, can also easily lead to being squeezed out. But don't worry, I can certainly support you. Come closer." Jin Niang beckoned him to lean in.
Jiang Xian was still somewhat reluctant, but upon hearing the number Jin Niang mentioned, his eyes widened and he even cupped his ear: "Didn't you say business hasn't been very good lately? How is there so much money?"
He knew perfectly well the family had just managed a major event—their daughter's wedding—which had cost a great deal of silver.
"Anyway, telling you is just to let you know we'll have more silver coming in at the end of the year. So, whether you take this official post or not doesn't matter. After all, our son is going to make something of himself too. You can just stay home and properly tutor Brother Ding," Jin Niang said with a laugh.
Jiang Xian, however, shook his head: "Look at the Zhou family. Old Master Zhou failed to resume his post, and Zhou Cunzhi is isolated and weak. Now that the Jixian Chancellor has taken office, he might be the one who can finally return."
"Who would think of him at a time like this?" Jin Niang was puzzled.
Jiang Xian gave a slight smile: "Me. I'll do him a favor, as a gesture of goodwill."
"You've truly become a master at being an official," Jin Niang said. "But, your eldest brother has returned now and hasn't said a word on behalf of your second brother. Back when your second brother returned to Bianjing, your eldest brother even talked about finding him an official position."
Jiang Xian curled his lip in a smile: "You're joking. Times have changed. What are so-called treacherous ministers or virtuous men in this world? It's merely a matter of going with the tide or against it."
The next day, the sky cleared, and Bianjing was as it always had been.
Madam Meng from across the way came over. In recent years, Consort Qiao had given birth to another daughter and was granted the title of Wancong. As her elder sister, Madam Meng was overjoyed. This whole business of factions and parties hadn't affected her at all, so her mood remained completely undisturbed.
"Madam Jiang, how are things? I heard your daughter gave birth a few days ago."
Jiang Niang smiled: "Yes, just past the full month. I've already been to see her."
Young Master Wei the Seventh had passed the provincial examination, and Sister Jun had given birth to a son. Speaking of which, Sister Jun and her sister-in-law, Madam Wang, seemed to have swapped patterns. Madam Wang had a son first, then followed with a daughter.
Madam Meng smiled: "Congratulations, congratulations."
"Nothing much to congratulate about. Now we're worrying about next year's provincial exams," Jin Niang said.
The Meng family's eldest son was quite outstanding, the second son less so, and the third son, Meng Sanlang, was still a decent scholar. So Madam Meng's pressure wasn't too great. Having one son to overshadow the concubine-born ones was enough; the second son had no worry about an official post through hereditary privilege, and the third couldn't compare anyway.
Madam Meng laughed: "Since ancient times, heroes emerge from among the youth. Your eldest son is sure to succeed."
As the two chatted, Eldest Miss Sun was anxious about her natal family's situation, but also grateful she had decisively chosen the Meng family. Looking at Madam Jiang, who remained composed and spirited, chatting and laughing as usual, it seemed the tense and perilous court situation hadn't affected her in the slightest.
While they were talking, they heard that Sister Jun had arrived. The Jixian Chancellor's ability to rise to his position this time was entirely due to the recommendation of Grand Master Wei. Grand Master Wei was now the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (a high-ranking chancellor). He originally thought Chancellor Shen was good, but later, seeing various measures that overcorrected to the point of excess, he felt it wasn't actually beneficial for the common people.
As the daughter-in-law of the chancellor, Sister Jun received great courtesy. Even Madam Meng stood up deferentially and, seeing her enter, didn't leave, staying just to say a word.
"Eldest Sister is back. Your mother was just praising you," Madam Meng said.
Sister Jun did not put on airs due to her status. Instead, she performed the etiquette of a junior: "My mother often says that when she's not home, you often come over to chat, and you get along very well. I happened to bring some tea. Please take some back to try. If it's good, I'll bring more next time I come."
Madam Meng was overjoyed to receive it. Upon leaving, she even said to her daughters-in-law: "That Eldest Miss Jiang is truly excellent. She doesn't put on airs, and her words are so considerate."
Eldest Miss Sun recalled what her third aunt had said: the Emperor was bound to still support the new policies. As long as he supported the new policies, the Shen faction would eventually be reinstated. In the future, might the Wei family not come to a good end?
Just as when the Shen faction's power had reached its zenith, they probably never imagined this day either.
However, Sister Jun hardly needed her to worry. As soon as the others left, she affectionately sat down next to her mother.
"You didn't bring Jiaojiao back," Jin Niang said with a smile.
Sister Jun replied: "Jiaojiao is with my mother-in-law. My eldest sister-in-law's two daughters are looking after her, so I felt at ease coming back."
Jin Niang said: "When children are little, they most like to be with their own parents. In the future, if you want to raise the children yourself, come back less often. If there's anything, just send a message."
"You don't visit the Wei household much either. I certainly have to come back and see you. When I gave birth to my son, you stayed with me for several days," Sister Jun said, thinking of how much her mother had done for her. Although she occasionally complained a little, it was always with her best interests at heart.
"Now that you have both a son and a daughter, I am at ease. In the future, do be mindful. More children means more hardship for the mother; having too many births is not a good thing," Jin Niang still admonished.
Of course, Sister Jun hadn't come back just to chat about these things. She was discussing Brother Ning's marriage with Jin Niang: "After Brother Ning passes the provincial exam this time, many people have been asking me about him. Among them is a family named Zhu, originally from Luoyang. Although the girl isn't considered exceptionally beautiful, her temperament is said to be excellent. Mother, when you have time, why not come over? I can introduce you."
This was, of course, her daughter's good intention, but Jin Niang took such matters very seriously. The Jiang family was no longer the minor official's household it once was, and her son was both talented and thoughtful. Therefore, finding a daughter-in-law required caution.
"An introduction isn't necessary. If fate allows, we'll meet naturally. With all these factions now, it's better to wait a bit. Besides, let's talk after your brother takes the provincial exams. We mustn't distract him now," Jin Niang said with a smile.
Actually, when she went out, she did meet people, but this required spending a long time to investigate thoroughly.
Moreover, it was different for men and women—this was a practical issue—so Jin Niang wasn't overly worried. Otherwise, they might end up with someone like Madam Xu, who seemed fine on the surface but was actually all show and no substance.
Speaking of Madam Xu, Jin Niang laughed: "Your eldest aunt even hired a nun to cook, but she's gotten fatter the more she eats. Do you know why?"
Sister Jun widened her eyes: "Why?"
"Do you know the secret to making vegetarian dishes delicious? It's using more oil. All dishes that are deep-fried or oil-blanched have a better color. And those winter mushroom dumplings she loves? They're fried in oil multiple times, that's why they're so tasty. Last time I went to her place and had some, I could tell the secret right away," Jin Niang said, laughing.
Sister Jun laughed so hard she rocked back and forth.
Being with her mother, it seemed there were no great troubles; there was always plenty to laugh about. She had originally wanted to ask about her father's affairs, but her mother didn't know either. Jin Niang said: "Your father knows the official world better than I do. I can only manage the things within my control. What I can't control, it's no use thinking too much about."
She had handled almost everything she could. As for Jiang Xian's affairs, he had to handle them himself.
Sister Jun nodded, "That's true. By the way, Mother, didn't you have Chunxian learn culinary skills from Sister Juxiang for many years? She is excellent at making soups and broths. Now she's in the main kitchen, specifically in charge of the soup station. Just as you said, 'moistening things silently,' now I have someone in the main kitchen too."
"That's right, it will be more convenient for you to order food and drink in the future. Speaking of which, the Shen faction isn't doing well lately. Has your Eighth Sister-in-law been affected?" Jin Niang inquired.
Sister Jun smiled, "The Wei family has weathered many storms. Whose official career is without its ups and downs? She's not very favored by Second Aunt at home now, but fortunately, she knows her place and doesn't show herself much."
"Your Second Aunt is known as a Bodhisattva. How could anyone not get along with her?" Jin Niang found it strange.
The more someone cares about their reputation, the less likely they are to openly break face. Taking advantage of their concern for appearances makes them easier to manage.
Sister Jun shrugged, "She overthinks things. Seventh Young Master passed the provincial examination, and she asked me if I was satisfied now. I truly don't understand what she meant."
Why is she still hung up on the possibility of marrying Wei Seventh Young Master back then...
Jin Niang laughed, "Her behavior only shows she's not doing well. If it were me, the worse my life was, the less I would show it, to avoid becoming a laughingstock."
"Yes, I've heard some gossip passed to me, saying she thinks my mother-in-law treats me very well, that I have good fortune, and that this fortune should have been hers." Sister Jun was angry, but even telling Wei Seventh Young Master about such talk would only cause unnecessary trouble.
Just as Mother said, one must hold back some things. Talking about everything without restraint every day creates problems where there were none.
Jin Niang also advised her, "Now your husband has passed the provincial examination, you have a son and a daughter, and your relationship is good. Before, your mother-in-law made insinuations about you being intolerant, but now she regards you differently. All this is the result of your careful efforts. In my opinion, these people only see the outcome for others, not their hardships. Grand Lady Wei is a hundred times more shrewd than Second Aunt. Seeing you serve and stand on ceremony in front of her even pained my heart. If she had to do it, could she endure it..."
"That's what I think too. Second Aunt didn't even make her stand on ceremony much at the beginning and wasn't very difficult. When she quarreled with Eighth Brother before, Second Aunt even took her side, yet she went around calling her a smiling tiger? Regardless of whether she's smiling or not, she at least superficially helped you, right? She's not your own mother; who would always side with you?" Sister Jun felt these words could only be spoken to her mother.
Jin Niang nodded, "You see this clearly. Books speak of brotherly love and respect, but more often brothers fight over inheritance. They also talk of kind mothers-in-law and filial daughters-in-law, but how many mothers-in-law in this world don't want to assert their authority over their daughters-in-law? Taking a few kind words from others as if they were from one's own mother... one must still stand on one's own feet."
The mother and daughter talked some more. Finally, as Sister Jun was leaving, she said, "Mother, if anything happens to Father, you must send word to let me know."
Jin Niang felt a warmth in her heart and nodded emphatically.
After the Chancellor of the Jixian Hall returned, he was appointed Chief Councillor and Vice Director of the Chancellery, making him the nominal head of the government. Jiang Yan's status also rose accordingly, promoted to Left Assistant Director of the Department of State Affairs, a fourth-rank official. Madam Xu, shedding her previous gloom, hosted a grand banquet.
Jin Niang sat for a while there before returning home.
She happened to run into Brother Ning coming back. Jin Niang smiled, "Why are you back at this time?"
"You've been so busy you forgot, today is the Winter Hearth Festival. Also, the National University allows those of us who have passed the provincial examination, if our families are in Bianjing, to live outside while preparing for next year's ministry examination. I wanted to come back." Brother Ning had been forced to board; he preferred living at home.
Jin Niang smiled, "That's fine. But before the ministry examination, don't go out. Focus on studying at home."
Brother Ning agreed readily.
Afterwards, Jin Niang sent someone to the Imperial Academy to fetch his luggage. Brother Ning also invited a fellow student to stay at their home. Jin Niang tidied up a guest room and had the servants take good care of him.
During the day, Brother Ning and his classmate studied together in the study of the east wing. At night, they returned to their respective rooms for evening study. Jin Niang sent over candles and incense, not hindering their diligent studies.
She just made sure their daily needs were well taken care of. Jin Niang said to Juxiang, "In the morning, you must boil an egg or steam an egg custard, have a few side dishes, and rotate between baked flatbread, steamed buns, wontons, botuo noodles, and regular noodles. For lunch, alternate between beef, mutton, chicken legs, perch, and prawns. For dinner, don't cook anything too greasy or heavy."
Juxiang smiled, "Don't worry, I'll definitely prepare good meals for the Young Master."
Jin Niang smiled and nodded.
During the midday meal, Jin Niang asked Jiang Xian, "Xuan'er passed the provincial exam this year. If he doesn't pass the ministry exam, will he continue trying, or will he seek an alternative official post through hereditary privilege? What does Eldest Brother think?"
Jiang Xian thought hard, "I haven't heard Eldest Brother mention it."
"Really? But he only has this one son, doesn't he?" Jin Niang also found it strange.
Jiang Xian smiled, "He should still want him to take the exams. What future do the young men of our family have if they don't? However, even the Chancellor's own son, who became a Presented Scholar at twenty, only holds a minor post. The higher one's official rank, unless one's offspring are exceptionally talented, sending them out to serve as officials might bring disaster upon the family."
Jin Niang agreed with this view.
With the Chancellor of the Jixian Hall in power, of course he had to repeal some of Former Chancellor Shen's policies. Implementing these changes was troublesome, but Jiang Xian harbored no reservations and completed the reorganization entirely within seven days.
Around this time, Jiang Fang left the capital, and Sun Shichen and his wife prepared to return to their hometown.
Eldest Miss Sun prepared ample travel provisions, including sixty strings of cash, and also gave a set of jewelry to her younger sister. She told her, "Go back and take good care of our parents."
Second Miss Sun wiped away tears.
The mood was somewhat melancholy, as the novel was written from Wu Luan's perspective, and writing up to this point meant it was nearly complete. Zhou Cunzhi was said to be returning, thanks to Jiang Xian's plea for mercy, thus fulfilling the novel's arc. Everything that followed wasn't written in the book, so she didn't know either.
...
Jiang Yan said to Madam Xu, "I repeatedly advised Second Brother in letters, but he never listened to me, and this is the outcome."
"Back when your second brother was influential, you never used the fact that he was adopted out against him. Instead, you covered for him in every way. Even when forced to resign from office, you didn't ask him for help. Now, the tide has simply turned." Madam Xu said.
Jiang Yan fell somewhat silent.
Madam Xu couldn't help but think of Jiang Xian. Compared to Jiang Fang, who was adopted out, Jiang Xian and his wife had not only publicly humiliated her in front of the clan before but also showed her no respect whatsoever. That couple didn't support the elders either, leaving it all to her.
But she couldn't say these things in front of Jiang Yan. She only said, "Your second brother was also stubborn in his own views; he can't blame others. But what about the Sixteenth Young Master?"
"The Sixteenth Young Master... if he aligns himself with the Chancellor of the Jixian Hall, that would of course be very good too." Jiang Yan said.
Madam Xu said with a smile, "I see that the Sixteenth Young Master is one who takes the milk and calls the giver mother. This is something I, as his elder sister-in-law, observed quite clearly back in the capital. When the Shen family was around, he would run over to their house every single day."
Jiang Yan reprimanded his wife, yet his brow remained tightly furrowed.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xian had completed the tasks assigned by the Chief Minister of the Jixian Hall quite well, but he still faced impeachment from the minister's own faction, who accused him of ulterior motives—how he once served the Shen faction, and now served the Chief Minister of the Jixian Hall.
The Chief Minister himself stated that Jiang Xian was not such a man, and that they had often corresponded in the past, but even he himself had been swept along by the tide, let alone Jiang Xian.
Thus, on the eighth day of the eleventh lunar month, Jiang Xian was transferred from his post as the Prefect of Kaifeng to assume the role of Transport Commissioner for the Jingxi Circuit, and was to depart for Luoyang to take up his post immediately.
Although it was technically a promotion, Jin Niang found herself in a dilemma. Brother Ning was to take the Provincial Examination next year, so she could not leave. Yet, she was also somewhat uneasy about her husband going to Luoyang alone. Should she choose her husband or her son?
As she was pondering this, she saw Jiang Xian enter, carrying her favorite osmanthus milk pudding. Jin Niang looked at him and asked, "How do you have time to make this? This requires quite some effort."
