In March, Old Lady Cheng's room was filled with people as usual. Qingfu was holding Cheng Enbao and sitting at the small tea table. Cheng Enbao was already a four year old boy, but she still held him in her arms all day long and didn't walk leisurely.
The Nguyễn Clan wasn't as dignified as Qingfu. She stood next to Old Lady Cheng and constantly pulled at her handkerchief, looking a bit restless. After a while, a servant finally ran in and stopped far away from the doorway to kowtow: "This one pays his respects to the Old Lady! Greetings to the Old Lady and to the Young Masters and Young Ladies. "
The Nguyễn Clan's eyes immediately lit up. Even Qingfu raised her head. Old Madame Cheng was old, so she was good at maintaining her composure. Hearing that, she still asked calmly, "Jiu Ye's transfer order has been issued? What did the person who brought the good news say? "
"Great news. The Ninth Masters has accepted a position in the Ministry of Works and will be appointed as a doctor in Yu Heng's Department for Purging Officials."
The women all let out an "ah" sound. The Nguyễn Clan was most concerned about this. She didn't understand the long list of official titles and only knew to ask: "What rank is it?"
"Fifth rank."
"Fifth rank." The Nguyễn Clan muttered. Her mood was a bit complicated. On one hand, she was proud that Cheng Yuanz was only fifth rank. Instead of being promoted, he was demoted. On the other hand, she was a bit worried for the Cheng Family. After all, Cheng Yuanz had the highest rank in the Marquis Household and had the best future. If he couldn't be promoted, then the Marquis of Yichun would only decline even more.
Other than the Nguyễn Clan, no one else in the room spoke. However, there was no doubt that the Nguyễn Clan said what everyone was thinking. Cheng Min persuaded Old Lady Cheng to use money to build a relationship with Cheng Yuanz. Old Lady Cheng was not happy, but she knew rationally that Cheng Min was right. Old Lady Cheng wanted to use this opportunity to control the son of a concubine. She wanted him to know that he shouldn't think that he could get rid of his official mother's control just because he was an official. In the end, before Old Lady Cheng could put on airs, Cheng Yuanz's transfer order was issued.
Old Madam Cheng was a little disappointed when she heard about the official position, but she was more pleased in secret. It wasn't that this position wasn't high, it was just that it was far from what everyone had imagined of a young genius entering the Imperial Academy.
There was an order to the granting of official positions. The smoothest path to success was to enter the Imperial Academy as a Grand Scholar. After a few years of hardship, they would be sent to Shangzhou to be a prefect. After two terms, they would be transferred back to the capital to join the six ministries. Generally, those who could enter places like the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of Personnel were the default Grand Scholars of the Imperial Academy. After seven or eight years in the six ministries, they would be promoted from assistant minister to minister. If there were no major mistakes during their term, they would be able to enter the Imperial Academy as an elder. If one died, they would be promoted by one.
This was the ideal resume for the scholars of the world. If one didn't enter the second grade in the Imperial Academy, it was better not to participate. The rest of one's life was destined not to be high. If one didn't enter the Imperial Academy as the first official in the Imperial Academy, then their future prospects would be limited.
For someone like Cheng Yuanz who was transferred to another province after the Imperial Academy, it was no wonder that the Duke House of Chang felt that it was because the Cheng Family didn't take care of things and delayed the future of their children and grandchildren. Now that he was finally transferred back to the capital, everyone was eagerly waiting for Cheng Yuanz to study at the Academy of History or other noble places. In the end, he went to the Ministry of Works.
Among the six ministries, the Ministry of Appointments was the leader, followed by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War. The Ministry of Works was the subordinate.
Old Lady Cheng didn't understand what a doctor of the Yuheng Department for Purging Officials was. She only knew that Cheng Yuanz entered the poorest and most tiring Ministry of Works. Based on her many years of life experience, if he entered the Ministry of Works without entering the Imperial Academy, his future prospects for promotion would be cut off.
Old Lady Cheng unconsciously calmed down. She thought to herself, what youth fourth rank, Imperial Academy? No matter how nice it sounded, he was still mediocre and mediocre. Qingfu had the same thoughts as Old Lady Cheng. She sneered in her heart, but didn't show it on her face. She laughed and shouted, "It's a good thing that he was given an official position. How many people in the capital have been idle for two or three years and still can't get promoted? Come, give him a reward. "
The pageboy received his reward and left happily. Cheng Yujin saw the expressions of Qingfu and the others and secretly shook her head. In order to accurately find potential stocks, she had specially researched the positions of the imperial court. The more she knew, the better she could understand the knack of changing positions.
For example, this time, although a fifth-rank doctor was lower than Cheng Yuanz's fourth-rank when he was sent out, how could an official in the capital be the same as an official sent out? Even a second-rank official from another province would still have to make arrangements for the capital during festivals. In terms of power, they couldn't compare to a fourth-rank official in the capital.
Therefore, Cheng Yuanz was transferred back to the capital and successfully received an official position. It was a genuine promotion. He entered one of the six ministries. Although it was a subordinate Ministry of Works, the Yuheng Department's doctor was in charge of the production of the various official stores, military expenditures, military supplies, the production and accounting of firearms, as well as smelting and casting money. This was a position with real power, and it was the core group.
Although the position was small and inconspicuous, it was extremely important.
Cheng Yujin didn't feel that Cheng Yuanz's career had failed, but since Old Lady Cheng and Qingfu were willing to think this way, why should she expose them? As a result, Cheng Yujin also smiled and didn't say anything.
However, being promoted to an official was still a happy matter. No one from the Cheng Family had entered the six ministries before, and Cheng Yuanz was still far above the Cheng Family's average. Old Lady Cheng pretended to feel sorry for her two daughters-in-law for a while, then said, "Promotion and demotion are common occurrences for officials. Let the Ninth Masters remain calm and don't let a single setback dampen his ambition. After all, I am his legitimate mother. No matter what happens to him, I still have to fulfill my duty as a mother. How about this, take a hundred taels of silver from the public funds and give it to the Ninth Masters as a subsidy to hold a promotion banquet for him. As for who to invite and how to do it, let him decide for himself. "
A hundred taels. The Nguyễn Clan was secretly speechless. Her monthly allowance was only thirty taels. She wasn't like Qingfu, who had a sky-high dowry. She had to carefully plan her expenses in order to live a decent life. In the end, Old Lady Cheng gave Cheng Yuanz a hundred taels with a wave of her hand.
There was a huge difference between having an official position and not having one.
As they entered the third month, the weather gradually became warmer. The flowerbeds sprouted new green, and flowers could be seen everywhere in the courtyard. The womenfolk also gradually changed into light spring clothing.
In Jinning Courtyard, Cheng Yujin was wearing a white top with golden begonia embroidered on the lower edge. It was as if the begonia flowers had spread to her skirt. Her skirt was the same color, but there were faint golden patterns. Cheng Yujin sat in the embroidery room and pierced the needles vertically, not destroying the embroidery thread on the opposite side. Her needles were well-proportioned, and she took care of both sides. She finished embroidering a character and pierced the short needles several times in a row, hiding the end of the thread and not showing the end of the thread on either side.
Lian Qiao watched from the side and sighed in amazement. Cheng Yujin's embroidery was very small, but every piece was exquisite enough to dominate the scene. It was clearly different from ordinary embroidery. Especially her double-sided embroidery, it was simply amazing. Lian Qiao admired her very much. Her eldest miss had always done things perfectly. As long as she started, she would do it to the best of her ability. Even her embroidery movements were smooth and beautiful.
Lian Qiao saw Cheng Yujin put down the needles and hurriedly came over to massage Cheng Yujin's shoulders. "Miss, you've been embroidering for a while. Take a rest."
"En." Cheng Yujin responded. Suddenly, she asked, "Ninth Uncle has a guest today, right?"
"Yes, he has a banquet in the outer courtyard. I heard that Second Master Xu also came."
Cheng Yujin thought for a moment and asked, "When did it start?"
Lian Qiao frowned and thought. She had a sharp tongue and knew many servant girls. Usually, she was in charge of gathering information. Lian Qiao thought for a moment and said, "It's been a while, about two hours ago."
Cheng Yujin nodded and stood up. "Let's go. There's one word that I'm not sure about. Let's go to Ninth Uncle's study and see how he writes it."
Lian Qiao was startled. "Miss, there's no one in the Ninth Masters' courtyard right now. Do you still want to go?"
"Of course." Cheng Yujin's face was serious. "The congratulatory gift for the Emperor is such an important matter. How can it be delayed? Ninth Uncle isn't here, so I'll think about it myself. Go and prepare some snacks. Maybe Ninth Uncle drank some wine. Leave some for him to sober up. "
Lian Qiao was a little confused. Dugeaux gently nudged her with her elbow. She seemed to wake up from a dream and went outside to prepare the snacks. Dugeaux could see that there was an ulterior motive. The eldest miss was scheming again.
Dugeaux understood in her heart, but she didn't say anything. She moved quickly and quickly tidied up the needles and thread on the table. She asked, "Miss, do you want to change your clothes?"
"No need. I'm going to visit Ninth Uncle. It's better to be more domestic." Cheng Yujin straightened her skirt and said with satisfaction, "Let's go."
There was no one in Cheng Yujin's courtyard. Cheng Yujin came to the study every day, so the servants in Chen Ming Courtyard were very familiar with her. The servant asked if he could ask Cheng Yujin to come back. Cheng Yujin said there was no need. She sat in the eastern room and took out a pen and paper. She copied Cheng Yujin's words stroke by stroke.
After a while, footsteps could be heard outside. Cheng Yujin had returned. But from the sound of it, there were other people.
The servant ran over and reported to Cheng Yujin, "Ninth Masters, the eldest miss is inside. She has been sitting there for almost an hour."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Yujin appeared beside the multi-treasure pavilion. She smiled and greeted Cheng Yujin, "Ninth Uncle, you're back."
Cheng Yujin was a little absent-minded for a moment. It was as if Cheng Yujin also belonged in this room and had been waiting for him to come back. Cheng Yujin quickly calmed down and asked, "Why are you here? Why are you sitting alone? "
"I'm not sure how to write a word, so I wanted to ask Ninth Uncle. Since you weren't here, I sat here and waited for a while. "Cheng Yujin walked out of the eastern room and saw the people behind Cheng Yujin. She was stunned for a moment and looked at Cheng Yujin hesitantly. "Ninth Uncle, this is …"
Cheng Yujin's confused mind suddenly cleared up. He turned around and glanced at the people behind him. These were the young people he had high hopes for. After the banquet had ended, he brought a few people he was familiar with into the room to talk. Those who could enter Cheng Yujin's eyes were all young talents with good prospects.
So this was the purpose. Was he under a spell just now? He actually thought that she was waiting for him.
Cheng Yujin got her wish and turned her gaze to the guests behind Cheng Yujin. She originally thought that Cheng Yujin was a Jinshi in the 19th year of Jianwu. There were only a few Jinshi in a year. As long as they were on the same roll, there would be an additional layer of closeness that others didn't have. Cheng Yujin had been away for many years and had just returned. Taking advantage of the time when he was about to be promoted, there should be many Jinshi in the same year coming to visit him. After the banquet, there was no guarantee that they would find another place to talk. Cheng Yujin came to Cheng Yujin's courtyard to gamble. Reality proved that she had won.
Cheng Yujin was the first to notice the two young people. One of them was cheerful and liked to laugh, while the other was taciturn. After that, she saw that Xu Zhixian was also there. However, the most disappointing one was Huo Changyuan.
When Xu Zhixian saw her, he asked curiously, "Sister Jin, why are you here too?"
Cheng Yujin's gaze swept past Huo Changyuan. She was too lazy to pay any attention to him. She looked at Xu Zhixian with a smile and properly bowed. "Second Cousin."
The fair and handsome young man laughed. "Oh, your family is interesting. Why is one calling you sister and the other calling you brother? Who's the older one? "
Cheng Yujin was waiting for these words. She looked at Cheng Yujin and asked, "Ninth Uncle, who is this?"
Cheng Yujin quietly looked at Cheng Yujin. Did she take him for a fool? She was weighing pork and even came here to pick it?
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