Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Yao Niang had initially been one-third suspicious of the Fan family's intentions, but now, seeing the state of Lady Fan, she was about seven or eight parts convinced.

"Lady Shen, I have always heard of your remarkable talent in painting from my boudoir, and I truly admire you. I wonder if I could visit to seek your guidance in the future?" Fan Ruhui smiled as she approached.

Yao Niang remained composed, "Miss..."

Fan Ruhui replied, "I am Fan Ruhui, and my father is the newly appointed Left Censor-in-Chief."

In fact, Yao Niang had already known this. Now hearing it from her, she quickly responded, "So you are the daughter of the Chief Censor. If Miss Fan is willing, please feel free to visit me anytime."

Fan Ruhui then said, "Thank you very much."

The two exchanged a few polite words before Lady Qing came over and said, "Sister-in-law, it's time to take our seats."

Yao Niang followed Lady Qing, casting a deep glance at Lady Fan as they passed. Only then did Lady Fan realize how absurd her behavior had been; as a second-rank mandarin's wife, she had been intimidated by a seventh-rank official's wife.

Initially, Yao Niang believed that those who reached a certain level of office or status were necessarily superior to others. Later, she admitted that while some were indeed capable, others might not be due to connections, luck, or being chosen as non-threatening figures in political struggles...

These people might not even have high moral standards, but they knew how to hide their flaws and manage situations.

Because Yao Niang was pregnant, many dishes on the table were unsuitable for her, so she ate only a little and left early. With Lady Shen Er's history of harming children, no one could dine peacefully in their household.

However, Shen Linfeng was different. Uncle Shen Er had always supported his nephew, whose own son only held the rank of a scholar, unlike Shen Linfeng, who was already in the Imperial Academy with a promising future.

"Once, I conversed with Zhou Gongjin, like drinking fine wine, unaware of my own intoxication. Now, conversing with Lord Shen, it is the same."

Shen Linfeng was truly a man of broad-mindedness and magnanimity, speaking eloquently and proficient in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Everyone regarded him as precious as jade.

But this piece of jade behaved differently outside and inside. At home, he immediately lay down on the couch, complaining of fatigue, yawning, "Uncle made me attend social gatherings, and now my back is killing me."

"Don't exaggerate. I saw how agile you were playing polo," Yao Niang brought him a cup of sobering tea and handed it to him.

Shen Linfeng said, "Those activities don't require much thought, but talking to people does. It's exhausting."

Yao Niang then recounted the events with the Fan family and Lady Ping: "My aunt, whose father serves as Deputy Censor-in-Chief, rarely interacts with us. Now she insists on getting involved in my grandfather's affairs. I fear they are setting a trap, though I don't know why."

The political arena is treacherous; one cannot easily trust others.

Shen Linfeng nodded, "Chief Censor Fan was transferred to the capital from elsewhere. Because he was directly appointed by imperial decree, it might be to ensure he remains impartial. If you seek her help, it could be seen as an admission of connection to the Duke of Wei's residence. It would be better to pretend ignorance."

"I think the same. The situation is unpredictable. We must trust Grandfather. Unless he instructs us otherwise, acting rashly could ruin everything," Yao Niang said.

After discussing, Yao Niang personally wrote a letter and sent it to the Yan family under cover of night. Yan Mai had just returned from the office. Despite his age, he was not one to idle.

However, he faced impeachment and would be suspended pending investigation starting the next day.

Fortunately, Yao Niang's letter arrived. They agreed that if a steamed bun was delivered at night, it would contain a letter. Yan Mai opened it and chuckled at the antics of the Fan family woman. Chief Censor Fan was determined to make the Duke of Wei's case ironclad, unwilling to clear himself and eager to implicate everyone else. Fortunately, Yao Niang hadn't fallen for it.

Speaking up for the Duke of Wei might displease the Emperor for now, but it would earn a place in history and satisfy his conscience.

Moreover, stepping aside was wise. He regretted not entering the central government, where the cabinet ministers did not support his reforms. Staying would mean constant constraints and inability to act. Remaining here was no longer comfortable.

In a moment, Yan Mai made his decision.

The next day, he instructed Li Shi and her son to return to Jin Ling: "Your parents are in Jin Ling. I am already half in the grave. Your father cannot be reinstated, and I face accusations. It's best for you and your son to go to Jin Ling."

Li Shi cried, "Grandfather, is there really no way out?"

"I, Yan Mai, have lived my life under the vast sky and earth. Although I did not know the Duke of Wei, he has contributed to the state. If His Majesty cannot preserve the dignity of his old ministers, who would dare to dedicate themselves to the state in the future? My decision is made; you two should leave as soon as possible." Yan Mai closed his eyes and said no more.

Li Shi had no choice but to seek out Yao Niang, who replied, "Sister-in-law, it's indeed inconvenient for you with your young child. I've spoken to Gongding, and he will arrange a boat for you. I think it's best if you return to Jin Ling, especially during these turbulent times."

"Little sister, is there really no hope left?" Li Shi's father was also forced to resign from office, her husband had yet to be reinstated, and now her grandfather was about to resign as well. Her husband was also facing demotion. This truly seemed like a case of things not going according to one’s wishes.

Seeing Li Shi like this, Yao Niang felt even more acutely the unpredictability of life. She comforted Li Shi, saying, "This is how the political world works. Returning to Jin Ling, Sister-in-law, will allow you to visit our ancestral home there."

Leaving the matter to Shen Linfeng was naturally the right choice. Within three days, he had arranged a boat for them, and Li Shi and her son had no choice but to board it and return home.

Emperor Qianyuan remained silent, but Lady Fan said to her daughter with a raised brow, "I can't believe you were so afraid of her before. Look at what’s happening to the Yan family now."

Fan Ruhui shook her head, "Mother, since Father has decided on the Zhou family's young master, please don't say anything about others."

"You just don’t care."

"It’s not that I don’t care. I’m actually worried about Father. Now that Father is helping His Majesty to settle accounts with the Duke of Wei, if he goes too far, what will his fate be different from Grand Secretary Yan’s? Grand Secretary Yan has already incurred the wrath of many, and offending colleagues in politics is a major taboo." Fan Ruhui no longer wanted to hear any of this.

In her eyes, her mother always thought about getting more than she deserved, wanting to snatch whatever she couldn’t get, which had almost become a habit.

For in the local government, if you were humble and reasonable everywhere, you wouldn’t get anywhere today.

Lady Fan snorted coldly, "You don’t need to worry about that. I just can’t stand that a mere seventh-rank official’s wife, at such a young age, disrespects me. It makes me furious."

"Mother, let it go. Why do you care so much about these things? The Shen family is not like the Yan family. The Shen family is flourishing, with many talented descendants." Fan Ruhui tried to dissuade her mother.

Seeing her daughter like this, Lady Fan sighed, "You, your temperament is becoming increasingly indifferent. Can’t you see that Zhou Lingguang wants to marry into our family for its power and influence? Your marriage has been fraught with difficulties. I sought out Shen Linfeng because of his outstanding talent, appearance, and career prospects."

Fan Ruhui stood up and supported her mother’s arm, "Mother, I know you’re doing this for my own good, but everyone has their own destiny. Though I don’t believe in fate, I don’t want to ruin someone else’s marriage."

At home, Lady Fan held a small engagement ceremony for her daughter, and Qing Da Niang and others attended. She naturally didn’t invite Yao Niang, who was irrelevant to them. However, during the New Year’s banquet, her family was not in the capital, and her grandfather had matters to attend to and did not come. Qing Da Niang also feared being implicated, so on the sixth day of the first month, she claimed she had to visit the Fan family and did not come over.

But Yao Niang didn’t mind; with her pregnancy, fewer people around was better.

Now, rumors were flying, and Shen Linfeng was very concerned that his wife might hear gossip. Therefore, no matter how late he returned, he would always bring a doll or a toy to cheer Yao Niang up.

"Look what I bought for you today, my dear," Shen Linfeng entered with a light step.

Yao Niang exclaimed, "It’s a Persian doll."

"Yes, I asked a foreign merchant to buy it. He said it came from Persia," Shen Linfeng sat next to Yao Niang, gently stroking her hair.

Yao Niang was delighted, "Thank you, Gongding, for thinking of me so much."

"It’s only natural. The imperial decree will likely be issued early next year," Shen Linfeng glanced out the window.

Sure enough, at the beginning of the year, Shen Linfeng was appointed as a compiler in the Imperial Academy and entered the Wenyuan Pavilion.

Yao Niang hadn’t been happy for long when news came that the Duke of Wei’s eldest and third sons had hanged themselves, and the Duke of Wei’s mother, unable to bear the humiliation of being searched, threw herself down a well. Yan Mai, feeling compassion, still spoke up for justice, arguing that the Duke of Wei had died in battle, and treating him thus was unbearable. Emperor Qianyuan accepted Yan Mai’s advice and preserved the Wei family’s land and residence to support the Duke’s widow, but he deeply resented Yan Mai.

The Censorate and the Jinyiwei attacked Yan Mai for shielding the Duke of Wei’s crimes. Emperor Qianyuan ordered Yan Mai to defend himself, and after Yan Mai submitted a petition admitting his mistakes, the emperor became furious and stripped him of his rank and dismissed him from service.

Yao Niang and Shen Linfeng saw Yan Mai off as he left the capital. Yan Mai, however, looked relaxed and told Shen Linfeng, "These so-called censors, mere seventh-rank officials, can now challenge their superiors. I am old, with only a patriotic heart left, but now I am alone. I entrust my granddaughter to you. She is about to give birth, and I cannot be by her side."

"Rest assured, I will take good care of her," Shen Linfeng promised.

Yan Mai then pulled his granddaughter aside and whispered, "I am stepping down, and Prime Minister Wen will also retire. Deputy Minister Zhao will soon be promoted. The Emperor trusts Deputy Minister Zhao, but someone must restrain him. Your father will likely be reinstated soon. Besides, I have quarreled with the reformists, while your father is part of the reformist faction. We seem clearly divided, and the Emperor won’t treat us equally."

Yao Niang was surprised. She knew her grandfather was telling her this out of fear that her family’s demotion might affect her unborn child, but he had revealed his true thoughts to her.

"Grandfather, I understand," Yao Niang said.

At that moment, the setting sun cast a glow over the riverbank, and Yan Mai recited, "In my youth, I entered the imperial city. Meeting friends over wine, we were all the finest. Thirty years have passed like a dream, causing sorrow. On the road, my temples are already gray. Occasionally revisiting the Pengqiao, I feel ashamed without needing others to mock me. Looking in the mirror, leaning against the tower, everything is gone. In a small boat, the moon, flute, and rain-soaked cloak, all is at rest."

Seeing Yan Mai’s back, Shen Linfeng sighed, "A great minister like Yan Mai has come to this."

Indeed, to deceive others, one must first deceive oneself. Anyone looking at Yan Mai would see that he could never rise again. Yao Niang took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears, "Now that Grandfather has left us, my husband, we can only rely on each other in the future."