Chapter 119

Chapter 119

Aware that the noblewomen usually did not eat much before entering the palace, the Empress first instructed her servants to serve some delectable snacks. Meng Die did not hesitate and picked a few of her favorites, ensuring she wouldn't go hungry.

The Empress looked delighted. She appreciated Meng Die's casual demeanor: "I kept you here today to give you a word of advice."

Meng Die wiped her mouth: "Your Majesty, what is it?"

The Empress replied: "If the silk carpets can indeed sell well overseas, our dynasty will certainly promote their production in the northern regions. Both His Majesty and I find your factory model commendable. However, allowing women to work outside might provoke widespread astonishment when the time comes."

Meng Die: "This matter benefits both our nation and its people. Whoever has questions, I will provide answers."

The Empress's face lit up with a smile. "His Majesty and I also considered your willingness to answer. However, His Majesty mentioned that the Great Yi Dynasty is vast, and news doesn't spread quickly. Many people are not in the capital. By the time they learn of this and come to the city to inquire, you might spend an entire year, or even two or three years, solely explaining to them."

Meng Die's eyes sparkled with excitement.

The Empress: "Inspired by the past debates among the Five Teachings of Xiliang Kingdom, His Majesty has ordered a grand platform to be built beside the National Academy. The stage is already completed, and at the appropriate time, an imperial edict will be issued to inform the entire realm. Anyone with thoughts or queries can seek your clarification on the designated days. After that period, you would be free from further obligation to respond."

Meng Die: "This humble servant thanks Her Majesty for her consideration. May I know when it will commence?"

The Empress looked at Meng Die and sighed softly, "His Majesty and I believe that the New Year would be the ideal time. However, this matter cannot be rushed; we must carefully deliberate. It's likely that we won't see any progress until autumn."

Meng Die understood. After the debate in the New Year, if their side emerged victorious, the Emperor could immediately issue an edict, allowing the northern villages to commence the silk-reeling, dyeing, and weaving processes this year.

If they won the debate in autumn, the weaving of silk rugs would have to wait until next year, meaning another year would be lost. The Emperor and Empress undoubtedly wished for the treasury to be replenished as soon as possible.

But now, with Hai Guanxing and his family still absent, the Emperor and Empress were uncertain about the outcome of the silk rugs. If things went wrong before the edict was issued, it would merely be a minor setback for Meng Die, perhaps earning her a few taunts. The loss would be hers alone, and others would simply view it as a humorous spectacle.

But once the edict was pronounced, the situation would change. If they made a grand spectacle, inviting public scrutiny, only to find that the silk rugs didn't sell, it would no longer be a mere embarrassment. It would become a blemish on the Emperor's entire reign.

Meng Die replied, "Your subject understands. I shall devote myself to studying diligently and make ample preparations upon my return."

The Empress nodded in approval.

"A message from the Imperial Consort and Princess Qing Yi, they request an audience," announced an attendant.

A glint of excitement shone in the Empress's eyes. "Hurry and invite them in."

Meng Die promptly rose to her feet.

A young matron led a boy of around five or six years into the chamber, "Greetings, Mother Empress/Grand Empress Dowager."

The Empress smiled, and both of them rose. The Crown Princess's gaze fell upon Meng Die. Meng Die bowed to them, "Greetings to Your Highness, greetings to Lady Qing Yi."

Crown Princess: "You may rise."

After the Crown Princess and Qing Yi took their seats, Meng Die seated herself again. Qing Yi looked at Meng Die curiously, "Grand Empress Dowager, is she the person you mentioned who is very knowledgeable?"

The Empress nodded with a smile, "Yes, don't underestimate her just because she's a woman; her talents are exceptional."

Qing Yi: "Better than Meng Yuan?"

The Empress couldn't help but laugh. "How ironic. She is Meng Yuan's identical sister, born of the same mother."

Qing Yi gazed at Meng Die with wide-eyed astonishment, a glimmer of understanding flickering in her eyes. "What does 'first-rate court favorite' mean? The Grand Tutor said they are those who only flatter and fawn, always agreeing with the emperor's every word." Qing Yi wrinkled her tiny nose, clearly still puzzled.

Meng Die's eyebrows twitched. Her dear brother, the one who often played tricks on her, must have faithfully relayed her harsh words to the Young Prince. Otherwise, why would he specifically ask her this question!

Considering the young age of only six, Meng Die carefully composed her words in her mind: "Flatterers indeed blindly comply, but compliance doesn't necessarily make one a flatterer. For instance, if it's late and it's usually the time when Your Highness would go to bed, but today you've found an enjoyable pastime and wish to continue playing, if someone were to agree with Your Highness, saying that playing a while longer wouldn't matter, and that delaying sleep is insignificant, then their actions would align with those of a typical flatterer."

"If His Highness genuinely intended to retire for the night, and someone around him kindly reminds him to do so, then that would not fall under the category of being a favorite. Hence, whether or not it counts as being a favorite depends on whether what His Highness originally intended to do was right or wrong."

Qing Yi shifted her short legs. "Then how do you know if you're right or wrong?"

Meng Die replied, "That requires His Highness to distinguish between right and wrong."

Qing Yi asked, "But how do you distinguish between right and wrong?"

Two distinct laughter echoed in the room. The more obvious one came from the Princess Consort, whose shoulders were shaking from laughter, while the less obvious titter belonged to the Empress, who was holding back her smile with pursed lips.

Meng Die's lips also curled up, though she rather appreciated inquisitive minds: "This requires His Highness to learn bit by bit about various aspects of life. The more knowledgeable you are, the less likely you'll be deceived and the better you'll be at discerning right from wrong."

Meng Die stood up and bowed to the Empress, who nodded, albeit puzzled.

She then gestured to a young palace maid outside the palace. The maid was surprised but composed herself as she entered the hall, first paying her respects to the Empress, then to Meng Die. "Please instruct me, County Princess."

Qing Yi looked curiously between the palace maid and Meng Die.

Meng Die smiled at the maid. "There's no need to be nervous. What's your name, and where were you from before entering the palace?"

Concubine: "Replying to County Lady, this servant's name is Fushou. Before entering the palace, I was from Guanhua Village in Tongren County, Anqing Prefecture."

Meng Die: "When you were at home, how much did your family spend annually on necessities like oil, salt, vegetables, and clothing? Please give me a detailed account."

Fushou pondered for a moment. "My family was poor. We usually ate rough rice, which sold for five coins per catty. I often didn't have enough to eat, so our annual consumption of rice wouldn't exceed a hundred and ten catties, approximately five hundred coins. Our family seldom used oil, so I don't know its price. We didn't consume much salt either, around one hundred and fifty coins a year. Vegetables grew in our fields, so they were free. Meat was too expensive for us; we raised a few chickens, so we didn't need to buy eggs. As for clothes, I wore hand-me-downs from my elder sisters. I never had a new garment tailored in a year, so that didn't cost anything. Thus, our total annual expenditure was roughly half an ounce of silver."

The Empress let out a long sigh and couldn't help but intervene. "Is every household in your village as impoverished as yours?"

Fushou hurriedly explained: "Replying to Her Majesty, most families in the village fare better than mine. Our poverty stems from my father's early passing, followed by my mother contracting an illness during the birth of my younger brother. Her health has not been good since. My siblings and I were also young, so our daily livelihood mainly relied on assistance from relatives and friends."

The Empress' face lit up again. "So that's how it is. How are most other families faring?"

Harvest replied, "In response to Your Highness, most families also don't buy vegetables. However, they do purchase meat during festive seasons and for spring plowing and autumn harvest as a treat. They roughly need one to two taels of silver per year. Every household raises chickens, so there's no need to buy chicken or eggs. One tael of silver is sufficient for oil, salt, soy sauce, and the like. Clothes aren't updated annually, but each person definitely has a set without patches. Along with blankets that need replacing, one tael of silver is more than enough. The only major expense is food, but I'm not too clear on the specifics. Lately, life has been better, and many households can afford to buy japonica rice and wheat flour."

The Empress nodded in satisfaction.

Meng Die looked at Qing Yi. "Did you hear that, Your Highness? Harvest's annual expenditure at home amounts to half a tael of silver."

Qing Yi nodded.

Meng Die smiled and said, "Let me share my expenses as well. I consume glutinous rice, white flour, fragrant rice, and red bean rice, which amounts to roughly thirty taels of silver a year. As for meat, I have pork in every meal, chicken, mutton in winter, crabs in autumn, fresh fish in summer, and occasionally venison. Just for the meat, it costs at least a hundred taels of silver annually. The oil, salt, and soy sauce don't cost much, no more than ten taels a year. I need at least two new outfits per season, each ranging from seven to eight taels, or even up to several hundred."

Confusion flickered in Qing Yi's eyes.

Meng Die's smile widened. "Does His Highness think that Palace Maid Fushou was lying?"

Fushou jumped in fright and quickly knelt down. "Every word I spoke was true, not a single lie, Your Majesty."

The Empress chuckled. "Rise, Fushou. County Master Meng is teaching His Highness a lesson."

Only then did Shuo Feng rise to his feet.

Qing Yi observed Shuo Feng and nodded. "She doesn't seem to be lying."

Meng Die asked, "Does Your Highness think that this minister is lying?"

Qing Yi glanced at Meng Die and shook his head. "No, you don't seem to be lying either."

Meng Die continued, "The truth is, neither Shuo Feng nor I are lying. We're both speaking the truth. Yet, the accounts of the same incident differ vastly."

"Your Highness, the book teaches that to gain clarity, one must listen to all sides, but to be misled is to trust only one perspective. It means hearing from both nobles like myself and common folk like Harvest, considering the voices of men as well as women. Only by assembling all perspectives can one grasp the full picture of a matter. With this comprehensive understanding, Your Highness will be able to distinguish right from wrong."

Qing Yi sat motionless, her eyes shining brightly as she gazed at Meng Die for a moment before saying, "I understand now. I can't just listen to the Grand Tutor, but also need to hear what Palace Attendant Meng has to say, and even listen to the whispers of the young palace maids and eunuchs."

Meng Die barely managed to stifle her laughter, resorting to pinching herself discreetly. She mentally apologized to Prime Minister Qiao, for she truly hadn't meant any disrespect.

The Crown Princess had already laughed politely, admiration shining in her eyes as she looked at Meng Die. No wonder Queen Mother said she was highly talented and could explain complex matters in simple terms. Perhaps Qing Yi didn't yet understand the full significance of her words today or the concept of social hierarchy, but Meng Die had set a fine example, leaving a profound impression on Qing Yi about the importance of listening to diverse opinions. Whether one was a crown prince or an emperor, the greatest fear was to be biased and listen only to one side.

The Empress also smiled, casting a teasing glance at Meng Die, while subtly conveying a hidden message. Meng Die assumed an innocent expression. The Empress's smile widened.

After some more casual conversation, Meng Die took her leave.

Once Meng Die had exited the grand hall, Qing Yi leaped from his chair and dashed over to the Empress's side, climbing up onto her throne. "Grandmother, can she be my tutor?"

The Empress laughed heartily. "Are you not afraid of hurting Tutor Qiao's feelings by saying that?"

Prime Minister Qiao Wanming was already in his seventies, an age at which he could have retired with honor. However, he still held onto his position, though he no longer actively participated in political affairs. His main focus these days was teaching the Crown Prince's eldest son, Prince Qing Yi. He was also the prince's official mentor, openly acknowledged by Qing Yi.

Qing Yi was taken aback and let out a sigh, as if he were much older than his years. The tutor was kind to him, but he truly did not wish to attend the tutor's lessons.

The Crown Princess chuckled again. "Mother, if I were in your position, I would choose Meng Die too. She's much more amusing than Master Qiao."

The Empress looked at her helplessly. "You!" Then, she hugged Qing Yi again. "If you like her, I can ask her to visit the palace often. And Meng Yuan, her older brother, I suppose he's equally amusing."

At the mention of Meng Yuan, Qing Yi nodded eagerly.

Unbeknownst to Meng Die, her example had left a deep impression on the little one. Back at her family's residence, Meng Die washed up and fell asleep immediately. It had been an exhausting day.

The next day was the second day of the lunar month. Meng Die returned to her parents' home with several pieces of good news. Her father and uncle were excelling in their military positions in Ganzhou, which was no surprise. More importantly, Meng Die's twin sister, Meng Yu, had been betrothed to the eldest grandson of Admiral Tang.

Meng Die looked at Madam Hu in surprise. "She agreed?" Meng Yu had always been fond of gentle scholars since she was young. From their correspondence over the past two years, it was clear that her feelings hadn't changed. So why would she suddenly want to marry a young general?

Madam Hu nodded. "It's her own wish." She explained the reason.

When the Meng family first arrived at the border, the Tang family showed them favor and support due to the Marquis Yongyi's influence. Over time, a bond of friendship naturally formed between the two families. They often visited each other, and the Tang family admired the Meng family's upbringing. They were fond of the Meng children and had long wished for an alliance. Unfortunately, either they were too young or their ages didn't match. Only Tang Ti, the eldest grandson of the Commander Tang, was a perfect match for Meng Yu. Alas, Meng Yu didn't fancy young generals; she preferred gentle scholars. Because of this, the marriage proposal remained unfulfilled.

Recently, a group of ruthless bandits escaped to the border area. One day, while Meng Yu was hiking, she witnessed these bandits raiding a village at the foot of the mountain. She was contemplating how to help the villagers when a squad of soldiers appeared, led by none other than Commander Tang's eldest grandson, Tang Xiao.

The Tang family had been monitoring these bandits for some time, and Tang Xiao had been pursuing them lately. However, the bandits were cunning and skilled at concealing their whereabouts. It wasn't until they were almost out of supplies and desperate for a robbery that Tang Xiao finally caught up with them, shooting their leader with an arrow on the spot.

Meng Die props her chin on her left hand, sighing softly. "I thought it was going to be a classic tale of a beauty in distress, saved by a hero, only to repay him with her heart. But turns out she fell for his impressive horsemanship and archery skills."

The women in the room tittered softly.

Madam Hu couldn't help but chide with a smile, "You're being deliberately vague again."

Meng Die chuckles and asks, "And what about my younger brother?"

The mention of Meng Huai brings a smile to Madam Hu's face. "His fiancée is the daughter of a local tribal chief. Ahem, she's had her eye on him for two or three years now."

Meng Die blinked, then blinked again. Customs in the frontier were vastly different from those in the capital; there, even girls could ride horses and shoot arrows, and they could inherit the title of chieftain from their fathers or mothers (the Great Yi Dynasty would also confer corresponding official ranks). Overall, they were bold and uninhibited.

Meng Die's younger brother, Meng Huai, as described by his sister, was so bashful that if he were dressed in a skirt, no one would doubt his femininity.

A fiery young lady and a shy young lad – Meng Die could almost visualize a 100,000-word romance novel in her mind within seconds. Wait, stop, she couldn't let her thoughts wander any further.

To conceal her runaway imagination, Meng Die coughed lightly and asked, "Where will the wedding ceremony for my younger brother take place?"

Madam Hu: "I suppose there will be two ceremonies. The girl's parents have already passed away, and her grandmother is the chieftain. She will inherit the position from her grandmother, which requires an imperial investiture from the court. Thus, they'll hold the wedding here in the capital. When they return to Ganzhou, another ceremony will be held according to their customs."

Meng Die nodded repeatedly. "I see, so that's how it is."

Amidst laughter and chatter, the family spent a lively time together. On the third day of the new year, Hu Baoping and his wife, along with their daughter Hu Zhiyun and her husband, arrived at the Meng residence, bearing numerous gifts. Meng Die was quite surprised.

That evening, she found an opportunity to ask Meng Tingyi, "Grandfather, is this all because of the succession to the Count Yongping title?"

Meng Tingyi nodded. "The Supreme Court has already finished its investigation, and all the accomplices have been apprehended. After the fifteenth day of the first month, when His Majesty resumes his official duties, the verdict will be announced immediately. It's likely that the women won't be implicated, but many of the men in our household are gamblers and were involved as well." Apart from those who were still young and ignorant, the rest would most probably face the death penalty.

Even without Meng Tingyi finishing his sentence, Meng Die understood the implications. "They brought this upon themselves."

Meng Tingyi chose not to comment directly. "His Majesty wishes to honor the late Count Yongping's legacy by allowing his legitimate second son, Zhou Jue, to inherit the title. He has shown no interest in such matters, having held only an honorary position these years. As for the spies, I have thoroughly investigated and apprehended those involved. I have also subtly conveyed His Majesty's intentions."

Meng Die chuckled. "Grandfather, you're being too subtle. Mr. Zhou has lived as a wealthy man all these years. Now that the title has unexpectedly fallen upon him, he must be tempted. But he hasn't been blinded by power. With the spy incident, he's probably worried about any potential issues with inheriting the title. He's unsure whether to accept it or decline, isn't he?"

Meng Tingyi nodded in agreement.

Meng Die understood the situation. Zhou Jue, unable to excel in literature or martial arts, was at a loss. None of the people around him could offer advice. Eventually, he turned to his granddaughter or granddaughter-in-law – someone with ties to the Meng family.

Meng Tingyi was shrewd; even with his younger brother's betrayal, he managed to protect his entire family. If Zhou Jue could receive guidance from Meng Tingyi, he would surely make the right choice. Thus, he prepared a generous gift for the Hu family, hoping they would deliver it to the Mengs. It would be even better if Zhou Jue himself paid a visit afterward.

Meng Die inquired, "What is Grandfather's opinion?"

Meng Tingyi replied with composure, "The other party has shown sincerity. I've instructed your cousin to convey to Mr. Zhou that he should not accept the title, let alone stay in the capital. It would be best for him to return to his hometown immediately. Even if the title holds no actual power, once accepted, he would have to attend court sessions, and potential adversaries could lurk around him. Given his inability to discern intentions, a slight oversight on his part might lead to disastrous consequences."

Meng Die added, "Moreover, with Count Yongping causing such turmoil now, even though His Majesty is not one to hold grudges, he will surely view their family with disfavor. It would be better for him to resign proactively, leaving a good impression. Perhaps His Majesty might even extend more protection to their lineage."

Meng Tingyi gazed at Meng Die.

Meng Die pretended innocence, but Meng Tingyi continued to look at her. Defeated, she tugged on Meng Tingyi's sleeve and began to pout. "Oh, Grandfather, I understand, I understand. One mustn't speculate about the emperor's intentions – I know it's a major taboo. I promise I won't discuss this with others."

Meng Tingyi finally retracted his gaze with satisfaction.

On the fourth day of the lunar new year, Meng Die climbed into her carriage to return to Marquis Yongyi's residence. Seated inside, she lifted the carriage curtain slightly and gazed outside. The Meng family's mansion was also located in the east, where nobles resided, and shops were scarce. With the festive season, the entire street appeared even more deserted.

Meng Die lowered the curtain and turned to Xing Huang, "How are things with Lu Wei and the others?"

Xing Huang's eyes immediately sparkled, "Didn't Chief Manager Fan mention before the new year that he had found two lion dance troupes and invited three opera troupes? The female workers all received the news. During these two days of visiting relatives for the new year, they must have spread the word. Last night, someone from our estate said that people were already staking out spots in front of the workshop."

Meng Die was taken aback, "So many people? It will definitely be lively over there today. When we get back, go to their side. For the lunch offering today, you can prepare a menu or something."

"Hmm."

Indeed, the factory was bustling with activity. Both lion dance troupes were putting on an impressive show, eliciting wave upon wave of applause. As the auspicious moment arrived, firecrackers cracked, and the gates that had been closed for several days swung open once more, allowing the female workers to enter in an orderly fashion.

At Lu Wei's command, the silk-reeling, dyeing, and weaving departments all sprang into action, marking the official resumption of work.

The lion dancers retreated, making way for a troupe of actors to perform a play. Naturally, it wasn't a romantic tale of scholarly heroes and beauties; instead, it adhered to Meng Die's request for themes of prosperity, hard work, and wealth accumulation.

In the past, such plays were not common, or rather, extremely rare. But since Meng Die specified this type of performance when the factory opened last year, and the troupe received thunderous applause for their rendition, these kinds of plays proliferated in the capital like bamboo shoots after rain, spreading at lightning speed to the surrounding areas.

At this moment, the opera troupes had no shortage of new plays to perform. Act after act, the applause from the enthralled crowd never ceased, filling the theater with rounds of cheers and accolades.

Meng Die returned to the Marquis's residence to visit Lady Marquis, who was in high spirits. Li You, residing in her native place Tianjin, had just sent a letter. Her husband, having distinguished himself by suppressing bandits prior to the New Year, received an imperial edict on the first day of the lunar year, bestowing upon him a promotion to the position of a full Third-Rank Colonel, a post endowed with actual authority.

Meng Die had no idea how old her uncle-in-law was, but judging from Li You's age, he was likely around thirty-six or thirty-seven. Without engaging in battles at the front lines, attaining the rank of a third-class military official at this age was quite remarkable. In another three or four years, he could be transferred to the capital. There, he could serve in the Ministry of War or under the Nine Gates Inspectorate, participating in crucial matters of the capital's defense.

In a nutshell, the person in question has an infinite horizon of prospects.