The Prince's Mansion in Jiangning naturally could not compare to the imperial palace, but its architectural style was more suited to the Jiangnan region, possessing a unique charm of its own.
Eunuchs had arrived earlier to prepare the place, so upon Qi Daiyu and the others' arrival in Jiangning, they could move in directly. Due to limited space, most imperial consorts shared courtyards, typically one high-ranking consort with two or three lower-ranking ones.
Sharing a courtyard with Qi Daiyu were Feng Qi and Fan Ningyan. Both were familiar to her and on good terms, making for a peaceful coexistence.
The princes and princesses resided in the front courtyards. This was the first time Siyu had lived apart from Qi Daiyu. Far from being sad, she was extremely excited, prompting Qi Daiyu to tap her forehead and call her a "heartless little thing."
Siyu hugged Qi Daiyu's arm, cooing, "I heard my maternal grandparents are right here in Jiangning. I begged Eldest Sister to take me out, so I can visit them on your behalf, Mother!"
Hearing this, Qi Daiyu felt a stir in her heart. "Siyu, would you like to visit your uncle?"
Siyu tilted her head. "Eldest Uncle is with the entourage, haven't I seen him already on the journey?" The Emperor was touring, so officers from the Tiger Guard and Imperial Forest Guard were mobilized, including Qi Chuchu. Thus, Siyu had already seen Qi Chuchu during the earlier part of the trip.
Qi Daiyu shook her head. "It's your uncle from the Qin family, your birth mother's brother."
Qi Daiyu had never hidden Qin Saizhu's existence from Siyu. She would even tell Siyu stories about Qin Saizhu from time to time. Every year, on Qin Saizhu's birthday and death anniversary, she would take Siyu to the Qixiang Palace to remember her.
Qin Saizhu's maiden family was in Sichuan, but Qi Daiyu had heard that her younger brother had been appointed a few years prior as the Assistant Prefect of Anzhou, under Jiangning's jurisdiction. Since the Emperor's tour had reached Jiangning, all officials, big and small, were now in the prefectural city, so Qin Lian should be there too.
Siyu blinked. All her impressions of her birth mother came from Qi Daiyu's stories. Admittedly, she felt immense gratitude towards her birth mother and was often curious about her appearance, but she truly held no particular feelings for the Qin family or that Qin uncle.
However, seeing the expectant look on Qi Daiyu's face, Siyu grinned, revealing dimples on her cheeks just like Qin Saizhu's. "Then tomorrow, I'll first visit my maternal grandparents, and then go see Uncle Qin!"
Qi Daiyu smiled too. "Good."
Meanwhile, in the mansion's study, Qi Caishang, in full official attire, knelt properly on the ground, reporting to Jiang Yuan on the state of Jiangning's officials and the people's livelihood.
Jiang Yuan was looking down at the lengthy memorial he had written. Seizing the opportunity, Qi Caishang secretly studied the Emperor.
Tsk, even after all these years, he still wasn't used to having the Emperor as a son-in-law... well, not exactly a son-in-law either. Strictly speaking, his daughter was only the Emperor's consort.
Thinking this, Qi Caishang felt even more discontent and his scrutiny of Jiang Yuan grew more critical.
His posture was imposing, his grip on the brush firm. Having personally been on the battlefield, his physical foundation was good, not the frail, weak type of a sickly person.
He had grown a beard, adding to his imperial majesty, but the dark circles under his eyes spoke of chronic fatigue. Combined with the wrinkles that inevitably came with age, his looks had diminished somewhat. He's not even as good-looking as I am, and I'm already fifty-six! Qi Caishang thought rather darkly.
If he weren't the Emperor, if he weren't the Emperor... he might not even be worthy of his Daiyu. He comforted himself: Strictly speaking, the Emperor isn't really Daiyu's husband either. So what is he? A kept man?
Qi Caishang was startled by his own thought, then chuckled inwardly at his own audacity. After all, he was only thinking it.
Although Qi Caishang thought this way, it didn't mean he lacked respect for the Emperor. If he were evaluating him as an emperor—who was he to evaluate the emperor? But from the perspective of evaluating a son-in-law, in Qi Caishang's heart, Jiang Yuan as a "son-in-law" couldn't hold a candle to Zhou Yue at all.
Zhou Yue was so good! Willing to strive, filial, and treated his Qinglong well. He had only Qinglong as his principal wife, no messy concubines or maidservants. Now that was a good son-in-law!
Jiang Yuan finished reading the memorial and looked up, catching the complex expression on Qi Caishang's face. Puzzled, he said, "Minister Qi?"
Qi Caishang snapped back to attention, assuming a solemn expression. "Your Majesty."
Jiang Yuan put down the memorial with a smile. "On Our journey south, everything We have seen matches what is written in your memorial. The people live and work in peace, the fields are full of harvest signs. You have not spoken falsely."
Provincial Governors were the Emperor's trusted ministers, acting as his eyes and ears. But governors were also officials, also human. There had been cases of governors being bribed and corrupted by local officials, falsifying reports.
Jiang Yuan's "surprise inspection" this time was precisely to guard against Qi Caishang deceiving him in the memorial. The tour was a sudden decision, leaving almost no time for preparation before departure. With such tight timing, local officials had little chance to fabricate anything.
Therefore, at least fifty or sixty percent of what he had seen along the way was genuine. And even fifty or sixty percent was excellent.
For an emperor, nothing brought greater satisfaction than seeing the people under his rule well-fed and well-clothed.
Seeing the Emperor's satisfied expression, the shrewd Qi Caishang immediately flattered, "This is all due to Your Majesty's diligent governance. Your Majesty is most wise!"
Flattery was always pleasant to hear. Jiang Yuan's smile widened.
"For your service as Governor of Jiangning, your contribution is not small. Well then, is there anything you wish to request? As long as it is not excessive, it can be granted."
Qi Caishang's eyes lit up. He actually did have something!
But he couldn't just say it directly.
So he hesitated for a long while, putting on an expression of great reluctance yet feeling compelled to speak. "Your Majesty, this subject does indeed have an impertinent request. Ever since learning the imperial carriage would reach Jiangning, the people have been overjoyed. Officials like Minister Liu were especially delighted and specifically built a 'Garden of Integrity and Loyalty' in the southern suburbs, humbly requesting Your Majesty to grace it with a visit."
Garden of Integrity and Loyalty? The intention behind the name was plain to see.
Flattery from local officials was nothing strange. What Jiang Yuan cared about was something else. He raised an eyebrow. "Minister Qi, are you seeking merit on behalf of Minister Liu and the others?"
Qi Caishang then gave a bitter smile, pulling out another memorial from his robe and presenting it. "This subject would feel uneasy not speaking of it!"
Jiang Yuan opened the memorial, his smile growing even wider. "Are these all the gifts you've received?"
Indeed, the memorial listed all the various gifts Qi Caishang had received over the years.
Qi Caishang: "Your Majesty trusted this subject to appoint me as Governor of Jiangning. Even back in the capital, I knew: being an official is difficult; being a good official is even harder. These past two years, I have truly been trembling with fear, unable to sleep at night. But water that is too clear has no fish. If I had arrogantly refused all these things, it would have been too difficult to integrate into the local official circles. Helplessly, I had no choice but to accept these items."
"However, this subject dared not use them privately. I ordered my wife to store them all safely and register them in this ledger. Your Majesty, everything I have received in these two years is listed in this register. Your Majesty need only send someone to my residence to inspect and collect them."
Jiang Yuan, however, waved his hand. "Since it was given to you, you should keep it. As you said, 'water too clear breeds no fish.' I still need you to continue being my eyes and ears here in Jiangning." As he spoke, he lowered his head to examine the items listed in the booklet.
Truly a place of wealth and luxury. Some of these items were no worse than those used in the palace. The officials of Jiangning truly had audacious courage! A cold glint flashed in Jiang Yuan's eyes.
Hearing the Emperor instruct him to keep the items, Qi Caishang inwardly rejoiced. Just as he expected! If the Emperor hadn't known about these things, it would have been a grave crime of corruption. But by reporting them proactively to the Emperor, given His Majesty's broad-mindedness and vision, he would naturally look down upon such trifles!
He would only tell him to keep them.
And now that these items had passed under the Emperor's gaze, he could use them with complete peace of mind.
"Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for the generous gifts," he said, framing it all as imperial bestowals.
Jiang Yuan had already formed his own thoughts on the matter and set it aside. He then asked Qi Caishang, "This hardly counts as a reward. Is there anything else you wish to request?"
The moment was ripe. Qi Caishang chuckled, nearly revealing his true nature. "Your Majesty, if there is one thing your servant truly wishes to request, there is indeed a matter. When your servant came to Jiangning two years ago, my elderly mother and wife followed me here. Now, my mother is advanced in years, and her health is declining. Her only wish is to see her grandchildren one more time. I have one son and two daughters. Seeing my eldest son and youngest daughter is not difficult, but my eldest daughter... that is, Consort Hui... is exceedingly hard to meet."
"Your Majesty, I earnestly beseech you, in consideration of my mother's loving heart, to grant Consort Hui the honor of a provincial family visit. Perhaps... this may be the last chance for grandmother and granddaughter to see each other in this lifetime."
As Qi Caishang spoke, his eyes reddened. His words were extremely earnest, presenting the very picture of a filial son.
Jiang Yuan hadn't expected Qi Caishang's request to be this.
He hesitated.
Qi Caishang was a minister he valued, and Qi Daiyu was his beloved Consort Hui. If they were in the capital, allowing Consort Hui a family visit would be nothing.
But now they were outside the palace. The Qi residence in Jiangning could hardly be considered the proper family home. Allowing Consort Hui to visit...
But soon, Jiang Yuan thought of the Empress Dowager.
These past few years, the Empress Dowager's health had also been failing. Sometimes, in her drowsy moments, she would often murmur about his sister, whom fate had taken. Jiang Yuan thought that perhaps in old age, people always yearn for family reunions. He could somewhat understand Qi Caishang's sentiment.
Thus, he said, "I will have the Crown Prince and General Mingwei escort Consort Hui for the provincial visit." He paused briefly, then added, "And the Third Princess as well."
The Crown Prince, as the eldest son, was now thirteen and capable enough to be of use. With her own brother, Qi Chuchu, providing escort, Consort Hui's visit should be without incident.
As for why he included Siyu, Jiang Yuan felt that even if he didn't issue the edict, Siyu would surely pester him until he did. He might as well save himself the trouble and order it now.
He had actually succeeded!
Qi Caishang immediately knelt and kowtowed again. "Your Majesty's gracious kindness! Your Majesty's gracious kindness!" This kneel was filled with genuine sincerity.
As for the matter of the provincial visit, Qi Daiyu only learned about it after Siyu had already returned from her outing.
At that time, Siyu was sharing her experience with her. "Grandmother was so happy to see me! She made all sorts of delicious pastries for me to eat. My stomach was practically stuffed full!"
"Uncle Qin was very different from what I imagined, but he was very kind to me too. When I left, he gave me lots of chili peppers. He said they could be used to make hot pot base, that my mother loved the hometown-style hot pot seasoning the most. Mother, shall we try it sometime?"
Qi Daiyu smiled and said, "Alright."
Then, Quan Fuhai arrived with the news of the provincial visit.
The teacup in Qi Daiyu's hand immediately fell to the floor.
Provincial... visit?
To be honest, the thought of reuniting with Mrs. Wan and the old lady again made her quite happy. But previous meetings had always been within the palace, constrained by palace regulations and worries about too many eyes and ears and walls having ears. Their conversations had never delved too deep, and the exchange of emotions remained somewhat superficial.
But a provincial visit... that would truly be returning to her maiden home.
For no particular reason, Qi Daiyu suddenly began to feel nervous.
