Jiang-zhou.
The autumn rain kept falling in a fine drizzle, never stopping. At the mouth of the alley, Cheng Si-lang stood under his umbrella and hesitated. Every time he felt like taking a walk, he would end up coming here to his younger sister’s place –
Even though she was no longer here.
Behind him came the sound of hoofbeats, clattering against the rain-soaked bluestone street. Just from the sound alone, one could tell who it was.
They said this was the most fashionable horseshoe in the capital these days – nailed or branded onto the hoof, it could protect the horse’s feet. No one knew who had first come up with the idea, but after Steward Cao was the first to use it here in Jiang-zhou, many families had begun thinking about having it done to their own horses as well. Only, for now, the local blacksmith shops weren’t quite able to manage it. Unlike Steward Cao, who was so rich and extravagant that he had directly brought in two farriers from the capital.
“Fourth Young Master!” Steward Cao called out.
At the sound of his voice, Cheng Si-lang quickly turned around.
“Steward Cao, no need for such formality,” he said.
But it was already too late – dressed in a fine oilcloth raincoat and wearing a bamboo hat, Steward Cao still bowed with scrupulous respect, not showing the slightest slackness.
“You’ve come at just the right time, Fourth Young Master. I’ve just acquired some fine tea – rainy days are perfect for tasting it.” He finished his salute, then smiled as he spoke.
Cheng Si-lang hesitated briefly, then nodded his assent.
“Is she doing well in the capital?”
“Rest assured – when has Miss ever not been well?”
“Has she sent any letters back?”
“Fourth Young Master, Miss doesn’t like to talk, nor does she like to write letters.”
“That’s true enough…”
As the two of them walked and talked, they had just reached the front gate when they saw two women holding umbrellas, smiling ingratiatingly as they came up.
“I’ve told you already – money can’t be given without my mistress’s permission,” Steward Cao said.
The two women stammered, not daring to argue further, and withdrew.
“That was…?” Cheng Si-lang asked.
“It was the Second Madam asking for money, saying it was for Second Master’s use,” Steward Cao replied carelessly.
Second Master’s three-year term of office was about to end, so it was time to start currying favor for his transfer.
“Please, Fourth Young Master.”
Steward Cao’s words interrupted Cheng Si-lang’s train of thought, and he smiled, nodded, and stepped inside.
“Not give it? Needs his mistress’s permission?”
Second Madam Cheng demanded, glaring at the maids.
The maids nodded.
“Bah!” Second Madam spat. “Now you say you need your mistress’s permission? Yet when you’re watching an opera and feel pleased enough to throw money onto the stage, you don’t need her permission then! And another thing – what do you mean your mistress? She belong to my household!”
Fuming, she let out a huff, lifted the teacup from the table, took a sip, and immediately spat it out.
“What kind of tea is this! Is it even drinkable?” she shouted.
The maids kept their heads lowered, not daring to speak. The household was no longer what it used to be…
“We can’t even split the family, and we’re being dragged down by them…”
Second Madam Cheng paced back and forth in the room, fuming nonstop.
“Go, tell the First Madam to quickly send money to Second Master. If his future prospects are delayed, can they afford the blame?”
The maids hurried to their feet and left, and as they walked away they could still hear Second Madam’s voice behind them:
“…Now that the household has been ruined by them, everything depends on our master. If you don’t act with sharp eyes and quick hands, what then – will you only be satisfied once my husband’s career is destroyed?”
The maids quickened their steps and went farther off.
“I understand,” said First Madam Cheng.
But the maids before her did not rise and withdraw.
“First Madam, it needs to be done quickly,” they said, heads lowered.
Seeing such an attitude, some time ago First Madam Cheng would still have felt a pang of disorientation, but by now she was already used to it.
“Go on,” she said, taking the storeroom key and handing it to the stewardess at her side. “Draw the money and send it all to Second Master.”
The stewardess looked somewhat hesitant.
“But…” she began, wanting to say something, when First Madam Cheng shook her head and cut her off.
“She’s right – his career prospects matter most. If even that is gone, then everything truly will be gone.”
The stewardess answered softly and went out.
By now, many of the household’s maids had been sold off. When the people withdrew, the place inside and out was very quiet.
First Madam Cheng sat staring blankly at the table before her. She was leafing through the account books, trying to see what else in the household might still be sold.
Her gaze fell upon the pages – it was an old ledger, and a name, both strange and familiar, surfaced before her eyes.
Zhou Ge-niang.
First Madam Cheng slowly reached out her hand and stroked the name.
“I’ll listen to you. Whatever you say, I’ll do.”
A loud, ringing woman’s voice seemed to sound at her ear.
Though Zhou had been trained in the proper teachings for women, she was after all from a military family, and always carried a touch of roughness.
Back then, First Madam always held a trace of scorn in her heart – she couldn’t speak well, only act.
Later, after marrying this concubine-turned-wife from a cultured scholarly family, gentle and refined, articulate and eloquent, everything about her seemed so pleasing.
But looking at it now – what good is being able to speak? All it amounted to was bullying her own people, while Zhou Ge-niang, back then, would only ever stand up to defend her own.
First Madam Cheng’s hand caressed the name, and tears could not help but spill down.
“I don’t want to die. I cannot die. If I die, what will become of Jiao Jiao…”
“I think I won’t recover this time…”
First Madam Cheng bent over the table and began to weep.
If only Ge-niang were still here – how wonderful it would be if Ge-niang were still here.
A cough came from within the hall. First Madam Cheng hurriedly stifled her sobs, hastily wiping away her tears as she rose and went inside.
“Master, you’re awake?” she asked.
But on the couch she saw that First Master Cheng had already woken, a scroll held in his hand.
“I never slept,” he said.
Never slept… then he must have heard everything just now.
First Madam Cheng sat down, raised a hand to wipe her tears. First Master Cheng did not speak, only kept looking at the scroll in his hand. After a while, as she finished crying, she asked him what he was reading.
“The clan genealogy,” Elder Master Cheng said.
“What are you looking at that for?” First Madam Cheng asked.
First Master Cheng gave a faint smile and pointed at a name on it.
“Do you still remember how Father gave her this name back then?” he said.
First Madam Cheng was startled. Her? She leaned over to look.
Cheng Fang.
Who was Cheng Fang?
Her gaze shifted upward, and there she saw the name of Second Master Cheng. At once, her chest tightened painfully.
“Don’t look anymore, and don’t think about it,” she said through tears.
First Master Cheng gave a slight smile.
“Why shouldn’t I look, why shouldn’t I think? These are real people and real events. Feeling upset or unhappy – if I simply don’t look and don’t think, will they cease to exist and just pass away? The harder the difficulty we face, the more seriously we must confront it, without running or avoiding.” he said.
First Madam Cheng wiped her tears, a little helpless.
“But the doctor said, with your illness you mustn’t get angry,” she reminded him gently.
Every time he looked at that girl’s name he became angry – did he really have to get angry to death for it to count?
First Master Cheng ignored her and kept his eyes fixed on the name in the scroll.
“Cheng Fang – that name was originally meant for a boy. It means brightness, light. Father knew I was mediocre, and Second Brother no better, so the future of the Cheng family would have to rest on the next generation…” he went on.
At these words, First Madam Cheng wept even harder.
“But our family’s future was ruined by her!” she cried.
“No,” First Master Cheng said.
No? First Madam Cheng looked at him through her tears. He had grown thin, his sickly appearance worse than before, and for days he had hardly spoken, looking as if lost in deep thought. She had even said a doctor should be brought to examine him.
Was this… madness?
“Think about it – if she has the power to ruin our family’s future, then of course she also has the power to uphold it. It’s really the same principle,” First Master Cheng said – and at that, he suddenly burst out laughing.
What kind of principle was that? He must truly be mad.
First Madam Cheng stared at him, dumbfounded.
At the same time, in the prefectural magistrate of Luo-zhou –
Second Master Cheng was seeing off a middle-aged man, his manner tinged with respect.
“Don’t worry, my lord has this matter well in hand,” the man said.
“This is a little something for your trouble – take it for some tea.” Second Master Cheng handed over an envelope.
The man accepted it without the slightest hesitation.
Second Master Cheng’s expression grew even more cheerful.
“Then I won’t see you out personally,” he said.
The man nodded knowingly and turned to leave.
“Oh, right – don’t forget to make the rounds up above, either,” he added, pointing with his hand as he remembered something.
Second Master Cheng quickly nodded.
“Thank you for the reminder. I’ve already sent it up,” he replied.
Only then did the man nod in satisfaction and take his leave.
Watching the man disappear through the gates of the residence, Second Master Cheng finally turned back, his expression light and at ease.
“Congratulations, Master,” two retainers came out with smiles and bowed. “This time, the position of Prefect of Laiyang is as good as settled.”
Second Master Cheng shook his head with a touch of modesty.
“Nothing is decided yet, nothing is decided,” he said – but his expression showed anything but uncertainty.
“It’s decided, it’s decided. Didn’t Liu Yukun already reply? His uncle has agreed, everything up and down the line has been taken care of,” one of the retainers said with a grin.
Second Master Cheng smiled without a word.
Back then, though he had not managed to win Zhang Chun’s support, the acquaintance he had made at the Zhang household – Liu Yukun – had turned out to be valuable. Over these three years their connection had never lapsed, and Liu Yukun’s official career had been smooth. Most crucial of all, his uncle, Liu Ping, was also enjoying a flourishing career.
By relying on their family’s influence this time, it ought to be no problem.
“At last you’ve secured the post in Laiyang,” the retainers sighed. “Even if it’s three years late.”
At those words, Second Master Cheng’s face instantly darkened.
Three years!
He ground his teeth. He should have had this position three years ago, yet someone had sabotaged his prospects, forcing him to waste three years in vain.
Three years! How many sets of three years does a lifetime hold!
“All right, Master – whatever the case, what matters is that your wish has finally come true,” the retainers quickly consoled him.
Second Master Cheng exhaled and nodded. Yes, it was true – his wish had come true. Cheerfully humming a little tune, he went inside.
In the capital, inside the Ministry of Personnel located within the Imperial City, things were rather quiet. The officials had all gathered along the small path leading toward the Council of State, whispering among themselves, until a heavy cough sounded behind them.
Everyone turned to look and saw a stern-faced official.
“Assistant Censor Liu,” they quickly saluted.
It was Liu Ping – Hanlin Academician, Drafter of Imperial Edicts, concurrently acting as Superintendent of the Imperial Academy, and serving as Right Remonstrator.
“This is hardly proper conduct,” Liu Ping said with a frown.
At once, everyone ducked their heads and scattered.
One official led Liu Ping into the main hall and respectfully presented a register.
“My lord, these are the postings for the current round of appointments. Please look them over.”
Liu Ping, without ceremony, opened it and flipped through a few pages. He stopped at one entry, tapped it with his finger.
“This one – leave it unchanged,” he said.
The official looked down in surprise, and when he saw the notation marked there, his surprise deepened.
“This… isn’t this the one that you, my lord…” he couldn’t help saying.
“What about me?” Liu Ping cut him off with a frown.
The official froze. But within the Imperial City, which official wasn’t sharp and quick-witted?
“My lord, you are right. With this major round of appointments that comes once every three years, we must exercise the utmost caution and conduct strict review,” he said, straightening his expression.
Liu Ping nodded, turned, and walked out.
The official stood in the hall, bewildered, and reopened the register.
“Could it be… they’ve had a falling out?” he muttered to himself.
Someone stepped up beside him, glanced sideways at the page, and gave a mocking laugh.
“Are you stupid? Don’t you see who this person is?” he said.
Who? The official carefully looked at the name.
Cheng Dong.
There were so many prefectural and county officials – how could he possibly remember them all?
“Cheng!” the other official reminded him, pointing toward the Imperial City. “We were just talking about the Northwest case – have you already forgotten?”
At once the official understood, and his face changed drastically. He snatched up his brush and with a few quick strokes crossed out Cheng Dong’s name, then added a couple more strokes to blot it out completely. Only then did he feel relieved.
“And he still dares to hope for promotion. With a daughter like that, the family’s ruin and destruction can’t be far off,” he muttered.
“Not necessarily,” the other official said. “The matter in the Northwest hasn’t been settled yet.”
The official curled his lip.
“The Northwest isn’t her domain,” he said. “And the army isn’t made up of commoners – do you think a bit of liquor will make them lose their wits?”
Well, that was true enough.
“But I really would like to see how she managed to summon heavenly thunder…”
“I’ve never actually seen lightning strike a person with my own eyes.”
Laughter and chatter rose in the hall as the two of them turned their heads toward the northwest.
How would the matter in the Northwest turn out in the end?
Yeah, how would?