Duan Mingxi quickly submitted her third uncle’s name for the position. Her uncle had previously served in the Dali Temple as an adjudicator. A temporary transfer to the Imperial Horse Bureau was manageable.
Soon, Xiao Muchen sent back a confirmation: her uncle was appointed to the bureau.
The Four Divisions, Eight Bureaus, and Twelve Agencies, though not holding high-ranking positions, wield real power and are trusted by the emperor.
All the seal-holding positions here are held by eunuchs, the emperor’s close confidants.
During Emperor Gaozong’s reign, all positions in the 24 Departments were exclusively held by eunuchs. However, after incidents of eunuchs colluding with court officials to deceive the emperor, Emperor Wenzong introduced a reform. Since then, aside from the seal-holding eunuchs, other positions began to be filled by court officials.
Figures like Xie Fang are examples of this change.
When Mingxi went to visit the Third Madam, the latter was completely stunned by the news she had just received.
Wasn’t Mingxi supposed to be preoccupied with matters concerning the Second Master?
“Second Uncle’s position hasn’t been secured yet, and my husband’s appointment comes first?”
“Mingxi, your Third Uncle must be thrilled—this is a position in the Imperial Horse Bureau!” The Third Madam was overjoyed, her smile unstoppable. It felt like a golden opportunity had fallen straight from the heavens, leaving her utterly dazed.
Mingxi nodded. “Tell Third Uncle that the Imperial Horse Bureau is just a transitional position. Once he starts, he should avoid vying for power and instead focus on building connections quietly.”
The Third Madam nodded earnestly. “I’ll definitely tell him. It’s just unfortunate he’s not at home today—he went to help your Second Uncle with some matters on the estate.”
Mingxi handed over the appointment documents to the Third Madam and left.
The Third Madam immediately sent someone to summon the Third Master back to the residence. Her heart was racing with excitement—it all felt so sudden and overwhelming.
It wasn’t long before the Third Master, having received the news, rushed back on horseback. Holding the documents in hand, he stood in a daze as he met his wife.
The couple exchanged incredulous looks.
After a long silence, the Third Master finally said, “I thought I’d have to wait until Second Brother’s matters were resolved before it’d be my turn.”
Since Mingxi was chosen as Duan Wangfei, many people had tried to curry favor with him, but the Third Master hadn’t dared to accept any overtures.
His eldest niece wasn’t an ordinary person. Just look at how the main branch had been completely subdued under her management—none of them dared to utter a word. In front of her, he didn’t dare to flaunt his status as her uncle.
He had mentally prepared himself for a long period of patience and restraint, but now, here it was.
“Something just happened with the Imperial Horse Bureau, and now this position is handed to me,” the Third Master said, narrowing his eyes. “This is a role earned by stepping over the face of Xingan Marquis.”
The Third Madam, looking at her husband, said reassuringly, “What’s there to fear? His Majesty entrusted Duan Wang with investigating the Imperial Horse Bureau. Of course, there would be some benefits to give out. Appointing you as Qianshu isn’t surprising at all. After all, we’re family. Doesn’t the saying go, ‘Promote the worthy without avoiding family ties’?”
The Third Master gave his wife a long-suffering look. Am I the worthy one? No, he was just the family tie.
But now that the opportunity was here, he couldn’t afford to embarrass Duan Wang or Mingxi. If he was going to take on this role, he had to do it well.
“What else did Mingxi instruct you about?”
“She said that once you start at the Imperial Horse Bureau, you must keep a low profile and focus on building relationships. She also mentioned that this position is only temporary.”
The Third Master’s heart skipped a beat, and his expression turned serious. “Got it.”
The Third Madam, however, voiced a concern. “Do you think Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law will be upset about this?”
The Third Master shook his head. “No. Mingxi must have already made arrangements for them. They’ll have their share of security. I’m just picking up the leftovers. Better that the benefit stays within the family than ends up in someone else’s hands—they’ll be happy about it.”
Hearing this reasoning, the Third Madam felt relieved.
The news of the Third Master being appointed as Qianshu of the Imperial Horse Bureau quickly spread throughout the Marquis residence. The Old Madam was delighted and immediately wanted to host a banquet to celebrate.
It was only after the Third Master reminded her to keep things low-key that she relented, understanding that this was Mingxi’s suggestion. Instead, she proposed a small family gathering.
The Old Master, who hadn’t been feeling well and had been recuperating in his quarters, summoned Mingxi and the Third Master to discuss the matter upon hearing the news.
After learning the details, the Old Master said to Mingxi, “I know you’re young, but you have strong opinions. Even so, don’t be overly ambitious.”
“Yes,” Mingxi nodded. “Grandfather, please rest assured.”
When it came to this granddaughter, the Old Master felt a bit powerless. After all, when Mingxi was first brought back to the family, the disgraceful actions of the eldest daughter-in-law had gone unchecked by him.
However, when reprimanding his own son, he felt much more confident. “Since Duan Wang arranged this role for you, make sure to consult him often. As an official, you must be cautious and avoid repeating the mistake of letting Duke Zhen capture a weakness and have you dismissed again.”
“Father, I’ve learned my lesson. This time, I’ll be careful,” the Third Master assured, bowing deeply. “Back when I was at Dali Temple, I was careless and fell into a trap. This time, I’ll be prepared.”
The Third Master’s previous dismissal had indeed been unfair. But with the Marquis household being no match for Duke Zhen’s influence, they had been forced to swallow the injustice.
Now, however, things were different. The Third Master chuckled inwardly. One day, I’ll personally settle this score.
Duan Mingxi, after some thought, turned to the Third Master and said, “This position was secured at the expense of Xingan Marquis. Keep in mind that the Marquis eldest daughter is Jin Wangfei. My relationship with Chu Qingying is good, and her older sister is Yu Wangfei. This means your position will inevitably be precarious, Third Uncle.”
Mingxi’s words were clear. The competition for the shizi position in Jingyuan Marquis household involved both Yu Wangfei and Jin Wangfei. Mingxi stood with Yu Wangfei, so it was inevitable that Jin Wangfei would see their family as a thorn in her side.
Now, with Third Uncle taking over Xingan Marquis’s post, he’d face hostility not just from the earl but potentially from Jin Wang’s camp as well.
If you can hold this position, there may be further opportunities down the line. If not, it’s better not to aim higher.
“I understand,” Third Uncle replied solemnly.
The Old Master observed this exchange and felt reassured. As long as the family worked together, their prospects would only improve, and his heart felt at ease.
Due to Third Master’s low-profile approach, his appointment didn’t cause much stir.
Shortly after taking office, Third Master Duan visited Duan Wang’s residence to express his gratitude, but Duan Wang didn’t see him.
Undeterred, Third Uncle resolved to find another opportunity to thank him later.
***
At Yu Wang’s residence.
Yu Wang regarded his Wangfei with a frown. “Who would have thought this matter would end up benefiting the Dingyuan Marquis’s family? Did you know about this?”
Feigning surprise, Yu Wangfei replied, “How could I, Wangye? How would I know anything about the Dingyuan Marquis’s affairs?”
“Isn’t Qingying close to Duan Mingxi?” Yu Wang seemed skeptical but noted his Wangfei’s sincere expression.
She smiled gently and replied, “Wangye, while my sister is friendly with Miss Duan, she wouldn’t involve herself in their family matters. They’re just young ladies exchanging pleasantries. You know Qingying’s character—she has no interest in meddling with such things.”
Yu Wang nodded slightly, though he still found the situation suspicious. “Xingan Marquis suffered a heavy loss this time, and now he wouldn’t dare interfere with the Marquisate. As for the shizi title, I’ll discuss it with your father. You needn’t worry.”
Yu Wangfei looked pleasantly surprised. “Really?” Then, her expression turned to worry. “But wouldn’t this cause trouble for Wangye? I don’t want to make things difficult because of my family’s matters.”
Yu Wang, seeing his wife still worried about him, softened his tone. “The timing wasn’t right before, but now that the opportunity has come, we can’t miss it. I promised you I would handle this, and I always keep my word.”
Yu Wangfei’s eyes reddened as she stepped forward to hold Yu Wang’s hand. “I lost my mother at a young age. If I hadn’t married Wangye, how could I have enjoyed such good days? As husband and wife, I naturally put you first.”
Yu Wang was in high spirits, gently patting her hand. “I understand your intentions. Don’t worry.”
“With Wangye around, how could I not feel assured? I just feel bad that you’re running around for the sake of my family,” she replied.
Satisfied, Yu Wang left.
After he had gone, Yu Wangfei pulled out a handkerchief, wiped away her tears, and spat lightly.
How shameless!
