Chapter 725

Chapter 732: Urgent Summons (Part 1)

Eleventh Miss was also somewhat worried.

Earlier in the year, a censor had impeached noble families for massively encroaching on private farmlands, with the Zhou family also on the list. The emperor ordered these noble and meritorious families to return the lands and summoned them to the palace for a warning. Despite this, some imperial relatives still feigned compliance while secretly disobeying, returning small plots in place of large ones or underreporting their numbers. Minister Chen submitted a memorial requesting that the emperor reclaim the official farmlands used as salaries for the nobility and instead have the court pay annual stipends.

Because this matter involved too many parties and was of great significance, and with the New Year approaching, the emperor used the holiday as an excuse to pigeonhole the memorial without response.

Zhou Shizheng had approached Lord Xu about this matter: "...Without the estate farmlands, relying on the court to pay annual stipends would mean we’d have to defer to the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household Department. You know those Palace Secretaries in the Ministry of Revenue—their ranks may be low, but their bureaucratic airs are overwhelming. If they say, 'The national treasury is empty; we’ll pay when appropriate,' we’ll have no choice but to bribe these people. The silver is a small matter, but I fear the dignity of noble and meritorious families will be completely lost... Yinghua, this must not happen. You must oppose it to the end."

If the bestowed farmlands were reclaimed, the Xu family would also suffer significant losses—not to mention the two hundred-qing longevity estates bestowed by the previous emperor to the Grand Madame, even the Baoding estate’s horse ranch was bestowed land.

A single stone could stir waves, especially when it concerned their own interests. Lord Xu had long heard about this and said wryly, "Let’s see what the emperor thinks first."

Zhou Shizheng, displeased by his lack of enthusiasm, said, "Yinghua, this isn’t just about one family. Don’t make everyone feel disheartened."

He made it sound as though everyone looked up to him.

"Am I not relying on bestowed farmland to make a living?" Lord Xu frowned. "But the era name has just changed. I have no idea what the emperor is thinking. This isn’t the time to act on reckless bravery."

"Otherwise, why would I come to discuss it with you?" Zhou Shizheng widened his eyes. "A few days ago, the emperor summoned me to the palace and talked all about how you’ve been lying low these past few years. As for the land enclosure, aside from a few impoverished families in Yanjing, only your family and that kid from the Marquis of Weibei haven’t gotten involved. He told me to learn from you. I don’t care about others; I’ll just follow your lead."

"In that case, what are you worried about?" Lord Xu laughed. "Just follow me around."

"But I am worried," Zhou Shizheng grumbled. "Others might not know about your family’s affairs, but I do. Your family has plenty of ancestral farmlands, and the Grand Madame’s longevity estates can eventually be converted into ancestral farmlands. No matter what, the emperor can’t possibly reclaim your ancestral farmlands, right? Besides, you still have that income from the military—at least a hundred thousand taels a year, right? It’s not that I don’t want to make the emperor look good, but I have to be able to afford it. For example, several elderly women from my great-grandfather’s generation still receive three hundred taels of silver annually for their upkeep. I can’t let that end with me—I can’t bear that reputation." Still unsatisfied, he called out to Deng Hua, "Tell your kitchen staff I’m staying for dinner. First, bring me steamed abalone, then shark fin with vegetables, stir-fried sea cucumber, roasted suckling pig, whole lamb..."

The fact that he could lounge on Lord Xu’s customary recliner and boldly order these dishes itself spoke volumes about Zhou Shizheng’s friendship with Lord Xu. Deng Hua naturally didn’t make a sound, respectfully acknowledged the order, repeated the dishes to ensure accuracy, and withdrew with lowered eyes.

Lord Xu laughed. "I still have some excellent Jinhua wine here. Want a few jars?"

"Of course, bring a few jars," Zhou Shizheng said without hesitation. "Not only that, but sneak out some of the *Lao Jun Mei* tea the emperor bestowed upon the Grand Madame during the New Year for me to try." He rubbed his slightly bulging neck. "Eating such nourishing food, Longjing or Wuyi tea just won’t do."

Lord Xu laughed heartily. "You think we’re still kids, 'sneak some out for a taste'." He ordered a servant nearby, "Go tell the Grand Madame that Zhou family’s Third Young Master is here and wants to sneak some of her *Lao Jun Mei* tea to drink."

A short while later, the servant returned with a half-catty white-bottomed blue-and-white porcelain jar: "The Grand Madame says to let Lord Zhou take it back to try."

Zhou Shizheng took it with a smile.

The meal lasted until the moon rose above the willow trees before he took his leave.

Eleventh Miss helped Lord Xu change clothes: "My lord, is this a case of 'when gods fight, mortals suffer'?"

"'When gods fight, mortals suffer'," Lord Xu murmured the phrase twice and laughed. "That’s quite apt." He then waved his hand, indicating no need to change into everyday robes, and sat in his inner garments on the large kang (heated bed) by the window. He took a sip of tea and sighed, "Reclaiming bestowed farmlands is just an excuse. Everyone knows this matter is too significant; a single misstep could offend all the nobility and meritorious officials of the Great Zhou. Minister Chen is just using this to test the emperor’s attitude toward him, so he knows where the bottom line is when he acts in the future. Otherwise, why would he submit this memorial right before the New Year? If the emperor also wants to test Minister Chen’s attitude, he definitely won’t agree to reclaim the bestowed farmlands. In that case, with court officials submitting memorials and the cabinet debating, it’ll take a year or two without any conclusion. Why should we jump out and add to the chaos? A single misstep could give those officials a handle to use us as pawns, putting the emperor in a difficult position..." Here, his tone grew hesitant. "What I fear is that the emperor intends to rectify the court and approves Minister Chen’s memorial... then it’ll be hard to handle."

Lord Xu was the emperor’s uncle. When the time came, all the noble families would follow his lead. If he obediently allowed the emperor to reclaim the bestowed farmlands, he would become a traitor to the nobility, and the Xu family might be ostracized from this circle. If he argued with the emperor, the new emperor, in the process of establishing his authority, might use Lord Xu as an example to warn others.

The best approach would be to shift everyone’s attention to the empress’s maternal family, but the empress’s father was Zhou Shizheng, his childhood friend...

"Since the emperor pigeonholed the memorial, he must have his reasons," Eleventh Miss said, handing him casual shoes to change into. "As you told Lord Zhou, let’s wait and see. There are always more solutions than difficulties."

"'There are always more solutions than difficulties'," Lord Xu repeated with a serious expression. "Another wise saying from my virtuous wife."

Eleventh Miss laughed at his feigned solemnity.

Lord Xu took the opportunity to pull her into his embrace...

Remembering this, her face grew slightly warm. The carriage came to a stop, and the cautious voice of the attendant following the carriage came through the curtain: "Madam, we’ve arrived at the inn."

Eleventh Miss quickly composed herself and glanced self-consciously at her two daughters-in-law. Lady Jiang seemed somewhat distracted, while Yingniang looked at her expectantly, waiting for her reply. Their expressions seemed normal, and only then did her heart settled.

"Your father has always been cautious, so nothing will go wrong."

Yingniang nodded in agreement, quickly stepping out of the carriage first before turning to help Eleven Lady alight. Jiang Shi, Xu Sizhun, Xu Sijie, and a large group of maids and older women followed closely behind, escorting her into the reserved west courtyard.

Jiang Shi promptly directed the maids to replace the bedding and utensils with those they had brought along, while also arranging for the older women to boil water and prepare meals in the kitchen.

Eleven Lady sat at the square table in the main hall, calculating the days.

It had been nearly three months. Everyone had waited and observed for quite some time, and it was about time to discuss the matter again... Could it be that the Emperor’s urgent summoning Lord Xu to the palace was related to this?

She slept restlessly that night and headed for Yanjing at the break of dawn the next day, arriving only by evening when lanterns were lit.

Lord Xu had not yet returned.

Elder Madam asked in confusion, "What? Weren’t you together?"

Not wanting to worry the Elder Madam, Eleven Lady replied with a smile, "We ran into Lord Zhou at the city gate, and the Marquis was called away by him."

The Elder Madam chuckled upon hearing this. "If he was dragged away by him, it’s certainly not for anything good. I think you shouldn’t wait for him today—rest early. He’ll be lucky to return by tomorrow."

Eleven Lady smiled and agreed, then joined the Second Madam in coaxing the Elder Madam to rest.

The Second Madam saw her out and said, "I heard the Emperor intends to reclaim the bestowed lands from the nobles and high-ranking officials? If that’s truly the case, we shouldn’t lose more than we gain. Whatever the Emperor says, we should comply. As long as the Emperor holds you in regard, you won’t go hungry."

"I will convey your words to the Marquis," Eleven Lady replied, feeling that their understanding of court affairs was superficial. It was best to offer less of such comforting advice to avoid influencing Lord Xu’s judgment.

Seeing her lack of interest, the Second Madam did not press further and simply nodded before returning to her room.

Jie Xiang helped her take down her hair and whispered, "Second Madam, some people prefer magnolia flowers, while others favor plantain lilies. The Fourth Madam enjoys matters of the inner household—she wouldn’t get it even if you told her."

The Second Madam smiled faintly but said nothing.

Jie Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, helped her settle into bed, tucked in the corners of the quilt, and extinguished the lamp before quietly slipping out.

In the silence of the night-shrouded room, a long sigh echoed: "She doesn’t need to bother with these matters—someone else will handle them for her... Truly, she is a fortunate one."

Eleven Lady returned to her room and had Amber retrieve a few cleverly designed handkerchiefs from the bottom of a chest. "Take these to the Weibei Marquis residence? Check if the Weibei Marquis is at home."

From what Lord Xu had said, the Lin family also held a considerable amount of bestowed land. If it were about reclaiming bestowed lands, the Lin family couldn’t possibly stay out of it.

Amber returned quickly. "Marquis Lin is at home. Madam Lin sends her thanks and says the Marquis is currently worried and upset about the reclaiming of bestowed lands. She will visit you in a couple of days."

Eleven Lady nodded and sat lost in thought.

So, Lord Xu’s entry into the palace had nothing to do with the reclaiming of bestowed lands? If that were the case, why did he stay overnight in the palace?

She slept fitfully and, upon waking the next morning, immediately asked, "Has there been any word from the Marquis?"

Lengxiang, who was on duty, hurriedly replied, "The Marquis returned last night but, seeing that you were already asleep and not wanting to disturb you, he rested in the outer study."

Lord Xu most enjoyed waking her in the middle of the night to have his way while she was drowsy, justifying it by saying, "You look most charming when you’re half-asleep."

Eleven Lady was taken aback.

After dressing neatly, she hurried to Lord Xu’s outer study without even stopping for breakfast.