Chapter 115
Jiang Shi’s arrival at the Directorate of Commerce and Customs was truly a timely blessing. Otherwise, between establishing offices and stationing personnel in every province and running a school at the former residence, Cui Lanyin simply wouldn’t have had enough people to manage everything.
Of this older male cousin, Cui Lanyin had only childhood memories. What she knew of him otherwise came through the letters exchanged between their two families.
Unlike Tan Shao and Hong Ji, who were both quick-witted and gifted at their studies, Jiang Shi had passed the provincial examination through sheer luck. The previous year, Jiang Zhian had correctly guessed several of the examination questions for him.
After grinding away at his studies for so many years, Jiang Zhian already knew that his eldest son was not cut out for scholarship and had accepted that he would go no further than the licentiate level. Before the provincial examination, father and son had agreed that it would be Jiang Shi’s final attempt.
No one had expected him to pass. It was like meat pies falling from the sky.
Still, both father and son knew that such luck would not come a second time. After arriving in Yingcheng and learning that vacancies could be filled through an assessment, Jiang Zhian had signed Jiang Shi up for it.
Jiang Shi was unlikely to make much progress in his studies, but he understood practical affairs. When Jiang Zhian had served as a vice prefect in Wuzhou, Jiang Shi had handled many of the miscellaneous tasks for him. He was practically worth an entire aide.
The Emperor had also decreed that practical ability would be the priority in this assessment. Cui Sheng had made inquiries among his acquaintances and returned with the news that Jiang Shi was sure to pass.
Every department was short-handed these days. Someone as capable in practical matters as Jiang Shi—and who was also her cousin—would surely receive some consideration from the Ministry of Personnel. At the very least, an eighth-rank post was within reach.
With such a bright future already laid out before him, Jiang Shi had given it up without asking for anything in return. He had not even mentioned it to her. Instead, he had quietly approached Chief Aide Song and begun helping with matters at the former residence.
Neither Jiang Zhian nor Madam Gu had objected in the slightest, and Young Madam Dong and the Dong family had likewise raised no objections.
When Cui Lanyin heard about it from the Chief Aide, she was both touched and distressed.
She told the Emperor about the matter and said bluntly, “My relatives are helping me without asking for anything in return. I can’t simply take it for granted. Find a position for my older cousin. I won’t complain whether it’s ninth rank or eighth rank.”
“So the Empress is asking for official posts for her maternal relatives now?” the Emperor said, though the smile in his eyes made it clear that he was delighted by Cui Lanyin’s attitude.
“Are you going to allow it or not?”
“I entrusted the Directorate of Commerce and Customs to you, so you have the final say. If you want to appoint someone, simply do so.” The Emperor even began instructing her. “The Director is of the fifth rank, and the Deputy Director is of the seventh rank. It would be wrong to shortchange your own family. For now, establish a seventh-rank Administrative Secretary position and have your cousin serve in it. Once the Directorate of Commerce and Customs stands on equal footing with the other departments, the ranks of the positions beneath you will be yours to decide.”
“It can be done that way?” Cui Lanyin’s lips parted slightly. Like a little fawn lost in the woods, her eyes were filled with innocent bewilderment.
Unable to resist, the Emperor leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead. “There’s always room for flexibility.”
With the Emperor backing her up, Cui Lanyin was free to act boldly. The next day, she issued an official appointment making Jiang Shi an Administrative Secretary in the Directorate of Commerce and Customs.
The Emperor had not submitted the appointments of the Director and Deputy Director of the Directorate of Commerce and Customs to the Ministry of Personnel in the first place. Cui Lanyin followed his example. Since the salaries of everyone in the directorate, from the highest official to the lowest clerk, would not come from the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Personnel had no grounds to take charge of their appointments either.
On the fifth day of the second month, after finishing her breakfast, Cui Lanyin told the Emperor that she would return before the palace gates closed. Then she left the palace with Buyu, Chiyun, and Chiyue.
She had informed Chief Aide Song the day before that no one needed to come to the palace today. If she had time in the afternoon, she would go to the former residence.
She had two reasons for making the trip. First, she wanted to lend her support to Cui Jian, Cui Yu, and Cui Zhongzhuang, who would be sitting for the county examination the following day. Second, she was desperately craving Cui Sheng’s cooking.
For some reason, her appetite had been insatiable lately. Whenever she craved something, she had to eat it immediately. Otherwise, she could not even sleep properly at night.
And so, in full view of the assembled court officials, the Empress boarded a carriage in the front courtyard of Yanhuadian and left the palace openly, without hiding her identity in the least.
Song Zhang of the Directorate of Commerce and Customs could enter the palace whenever he wished. Why did the Empress still need to leave the palace herself?
What was more, she had not brought her ceremonial escort or carriage. She had simply departed in a single four-horse carriage. There was nothing regal about it at all.
But when the officials met the Emperor’s solemn expression, they knew that urging him to remonstrate would be pointless. The Emperor would only answer with, “My family affairs are none of your concern,” and that would be the end of it. The officials could only swallow their words once again.
Even her own family had not expected that, after becoming Empress, Cui Lanyin would still be able to return whenever she pleased.
The examination was to begin the next day. Hong Ji had given Cui Jian and the other two boys leave starting the day before, telling them to relax as much as possible for these two days.
Cui Lanyin had sent Buyu in ahead of her to stop the family from coming out to greet her.
Once she was seated, Cui Lanyin had Zhichun summon Madam Gu and Jiang Xian. Before long, Lady Ding arrived with all the younger members of the second branch as well. A lively group gathered in the main room of Lady Jiang’s chambers, chatting together.
Cui Mian had never agreed to let Lady Chang leave the house, so during this period, Lady Ding had been bringing Cui Lanting over to the main branch.
Cui Lanyin distributed the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones she had brought with her. The coveted Yuhuang brushes, pine-soot ink, Xuesu paper, and Yuntai inkstones—items that ordinary people might never obtain even after years of searching—were handed out by her as though they cost nothing. Even Hong Ji felt sorry for the Emperor.
The gifts were so precious that the four boys from the second branch, including Cui Fu, hardly dared accept them. Cui Yu in particular tried to stuff his share into Cui Jian’s hands.
“You keep it for me,” he said. “No one in my room knows what they’re worth, and I wouldn’t dare let them store something like this carelessly.”
Though he said it that way, everyone could tell that he had no intention of taking them back.
Cui Jian held them away. “We’re family. Do you think I don’t know that you keep anything important under your own control? No one in your room would even dare touch them.”
“Brother Yu,” Cui Lanyin said solemnly, inventing a story on the spot, “I dug these out of His Majesty’s Western Library. They’ve all been infused with dragon aura.”
The moment Hong Ji heard that, he said, “I’ll put mine on my writing desk when I get back.”
Cui Jian added, “I think it should go on the table beside the bed too, so it can receive blessings day and night.”
Hong Ji nodded. “That makes sense. Then we’ll put them all there.”
Watching Cui Yu clutch his share protectively, Cui Lanyin struggled to suppress her laughter. She had only made it up on a whim, but they had actually believed her.
How could the Emperor, who could memorize a person’s face with a single glance, possibly have been willing to part with his writing implements? She had asked Qian He to find them in the storehouses.
Afterward, the women moved into the sitting room to play with Little Fen. The baby was utterly adorable, especially when he smiled and giggled at people. Cui Lanyin could never get enough of looking at him.
She had Buyu bring over a sandalwood box, then opened it and pushed it in front of Little Fen.
“This is a gift from your second maternal aunt. You can wear something different depending on your mood, all right?”
Inside were a gold lock, a gold qilin, a gold neck ring, a jade safety plaque, a jade pendant engraved with his zodiac animal, strings of jade beads, and more—an entire box filled with ornaments for a child.
Cui Lanzhi exclaimed in surprise, “He couldn’t wear all that even if he tried. You’re spoiling him far too much.”
Cui Lanyin paid no attention and simply continued speaking to Little Fen. “Your aunt is trying to win you over in advance, Little Fen. We have an agreement, remember? When you come to your aunt’s house in the future, you have to help take care of your little sister.”
Perhaps he understood her. Little Fen began bobbing his head, his mouth making a series of nonsensical “puh-puh-puh” sounds.
Lady Jiang laughed as she took him into her arms. “Are you agreeing, or aren’t you?”
With one hand free, Cui Lanzhi quietly leaned toward Cui Lanyin and said, “I asked my husband whether our younger brother has a chance of passing. He refused to reveal a single thing. But when I brought up Brother Yu, he said Young Master Yu was certain to pass. What do you make of that, Your Highness? Is he avoiding saying outright that our younger brother is only there to accompany him?”
Cui Lanyin had already figured it out. “Little Brother hasn’t even studied for a full year. He only started applying himself seriously after Brother-in-law passed the provincial examination. Even a prodigy couldn’t pass in such a short time. This attempt is merely for him to gain some experience and broaden his horizons, so why are you getting your hopes up?”
“True.” Cui Lanzhi immediately let the matter go.
Cui Lanyin added, “I’ve told you so many times—don’t keep calling me ‘Your Highness.’ It sounds far too distant. I really don’t like hearing it.”
Madam Gu thought for a moment before suggesting a compromise. “Then we’ll continue addressing you as we always have at home. Outside, however, we still have to call you ‘Your Highness.’ It concerns the dignity of the imperial family, so we can’t be careless.”
Madam Gu was right, and Cui Lanyin smiled and agreed.
Cui Lanyin then asked, “Has Father been busy lately? What time does he usually come home?”
“It seems His Majesty assigned your father a task. He’s been terribly busy these days—he leaves early and comes home late, and even after eating, he spends half the night puttering around in his study,” Lady Jiang replied.
Cui Lanyin swallowed. Did that mean she wouldn’t be able to eat any of her father’s cooking?
Cui Lanzhi had sharp eyes and noticed. Covering her mouth, she laughed. “Why are you just like I was when I was pregnant with Little Fen? It’s the same month, too. I craved food terribly back then. Fortunately, Father wasn’t busy at the time, so he could immediately make me whatever I wanted.”
Only then did Lady Jiang realize. “What’s so difficult about that? Just tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll have the servants prepare the ingredients.”
She then called toward the outer room, “Brother Jian, once you’ve finished lunch, go find your father and tell him that your second sister wants to eat his cooking.”
“I won’t even have to say much,” Cui Jian replied from outside. “Father will come rushing home on his own.”
It wasn’t a task that could be completed in a single day, and there was no harm in giving up the little time he had that evening. More importantly, Cui Lanyin felt that if she couldn’t have that one dish again, she wouldn’t be able to sleep that night. So she didn’t stop them.
Cui Lanyin listed the dishes she wanted for Lady Jiang, who then asked what she would like for lunch. Everyone began discussing the menu.
As they talked, it reached the hour of the Snake. Lady Jiang instructed the kitchen to start cooking.
Zhichun had just stepped outside to give the kitchen its instructions when she saw a group of people coming in. She hurriedly backed inside and reported, “His Majesty and Master Cui have returned together.”
Once the second month arrived, the rain began to fall. To let out the dampness, the windows were kept half-open during the day.
Through the windows, they could all see that the Emperor was indeed entering the courtyard alongside Cui Sheng.
Everyone hurriedly straightened their clothing and went out to welcome them. Seeing that Cui Lanyin remained seated, Lady Jiang assumed she was having trouble getting up and came over to help her. “Let me help you up.”
Cui Lanyin caught her hand instead, then called out to Madam Gu and Lady Ding as well. “My sisters and brother-in-law are enough to greet them. The elders should remain seated. We’re at home, so there’s no need for so many formalities. Even in the palace, I don’t go out to welcome him.”
“But that’s His Majesty, the Son of Heaven!” Lady Jiang could not make her budge. She shook off Cui Lanyin’s hand and left with Madam Gu and Lady Ding, bringing all the younger members of the family with them.
Only Cui Lanyin and Little Fen remained in the room, facing each other.
“Little Fen is still the most considerate to his aunt, isn’t he?” she said, making the child giggle.
Catching sight of the Emperor entering from the corner of her eye, Cui Lanyin asked him, “Why are you here? You didn’t say anything when I left.”
“I was afraid you wouldn’t get to eat your father-in-law’s cooking and would be unable to sleep tonight—and then find me displeasing again.”
“You sent someone to call Father back?”
Cui Sheng, who had come in a step behind him, answered first. “His Majesty personally went to the Ministry of Works to fetch me.” Even now, he still hadn’t recovered from the shock.
When the Minister of Works had accompanied the Emperor inside earlier, the Emperor had worn that same solemn, stern expression as always and said to him, “Yin wants to eat food from home.”
Cui Sheng had not known what expression to make.
He wasn’t worried that anyone would discover he often cooked at home. What he hadn’t expected was for the Emperor to have such an ordinary, down-to-earth side. It was completely at odds with the lofty, aloof Emperor he knew from court—the one whose presence inspired deep fear.
Cui Lanyin failed to notice her father’s strange expression. She shifted to the side. “Don’t just stand there. Sit down.”
Only then did the Emperor sit. “I thought you were going to kick me out.”
“Am I the sort of person who throws something away after using it?”
“You aren’t?” The Emperor shot her a sidelong glance.
Cui Lanyin immediately thought of the unrestrained nights they had shared recently and realized that the Emperor was speaking with hidden meaning. She snatched up the handkerchief from the small table and flung it at him.
“Fourth Young Master Zhao!”
The Emperor immediately replied tactfully, “It was only my petty suspicion.”
The whole family found themselves caught between coming in and retreating. They had known that the Emperor treated Cui Lanyin differently, but they had never imagined the two of them would interact like this. Cui Lanyin addressed the Emperor as “Fourth Young Master Zhao,” and he actually answered her. Even Lady Jiang and Cui Sheng had never been this casual with him.
Cui Lanyin hurriedly beckoned everyone inside to sit. “I told you already, there’s no need to be so formal in our own home.”
The Emperor also spoke up. “Everyone, sit. At home, I’m simply your son-in-law.” He looked toward Hong Ji. “Just treat me the same way you treat Lianfang.”
Only then did everyone take their seats.
Cui Sheng asked, “What would His Majesty and Your Highness like to eat?”
“The kitchen has already prepared everything. Father will know what to do once he takes a look,” Cui Lanyin said.
The Emperor then added, “I’ll have whatever Yin is having. If she likes it, I can eat it too.”
Cui Sheng did not think much of it. He agreed and went to the kitchen.
Madam Gu, however, felt extremely uneasy. This was the Emperor, after all. At present, they were newlyweds, still deep in the sweetness of marriage, so the Emperor generally wouldn’t take offense at such things. But what about the future? Why did Yin seem to be growing more and more naïve instead of becoming wiser?
Here it comes [mischievous grin].
