Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1155 Following His Intentions to Donate an Official Position

A gentle breeze swept through the main hall of the Ministry of Justice.

Following Luo Yunhou's words, Lord Meng of the Censorate and Lord Feng of the Court of Judicial Review rose together, bid farewell to the officials, and hurriedly followed after them.

The remaining people had no interest in waiting. Since they all had their own ideas, it would have been better not to come to the meeting today. Grand Secretary Gu, dragging his weary body, sighed.

"Eunuch Chen, now that the matter has been discussed, everyone may disperse. If there is anything else, write it down in a memorial and submit it to the Cabinet for review. All that needs to be reviewed has been reviewed, and all that needs to be asked has been asked. If there are still any questions, Eunuch Chen, you can consider and decide for yourself."

The memorials that were just written, besides being drafted by Shen Zhongxin, also had the signatures of Wei Zhanying, Vice Minister of War, Lou Xiaoruo, Vice Minister of Works, and Yang Zhuo, Vice Minister of Personnel. It seems that the Grand Secretary had other instructions. I wonder if Yang Zhuo of the Ministry of Rites had Lu Wenshan's request.

"Hmph, Grand Secretary Gu, I have great respect for you, but you have no regard for me or the Directorate of Ceremonial. Since the conviction has already been made, why change it again and again? The secret report I just relayed is not false. Perhaps the news will be sent to the cabinet tomorrow. You should think it over carefully."

Unfortunately, Gu Yichen paid no heed to these ambiguous words. The court was now well-equipped with a strong army and abundant provisions. In addition, the silver plundered from the southern part of the capital was enough to fill the court's deficit. Therefore, it was not up to the people of the Directorate of Ceremonial to seduce him.

"Eunuch Chen, it's getting late. Since the matter has been discussed, I won't stay any longer."

Without replying to Chen Hui, he got up to leave. As soon as he moved, the others also got up and left together. In an instant, only Eunuch Chen from the Directorate of Ceremonial and Ma Fei remained in the room. The two looked embarrassed, with both resentment and embarrassment. Looking at the sealed memorial on the table, a hint of hesitation flashed in their eyes. Ma Fei couldn't help but ask.
“Eunuch Chen, it seems that these people have their own selfish motives. If we submit these proposals, we don’t know how the Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus will choose. If they agree with some of their opinions, our Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs will be in a terrible situation.”

He agreed to the power struggle, but given how far things had escalated, it was clear that the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was at a disadvantage.

"What's the rush? The memorial needs to be sent over. Without comparison, our loyalty cannot be demonstrated. Which of these people isn't trying to exonerate Xu Changwen? Marquis Luoyun was even more straightforward, releasing him. Gu Yichen, that old fox, is using the 'delay' tactic, dragging it out until no one cares before taking action. As for what the eldest son wrote, although I haven't seen it, I can guess that he might be trying to atone for his crimes through meritorious service."

Chen Hui sneered and dismissively touched the folded document on the table.
"These people, who consider themselves superior, want to be prostitutes while also wanting to maintain a virtuous image. There's no such thing as a free lunch."

Ma Fei was slightly taken aback, and replied in surprise,

"What you say is true, but each side has its own memorials, and the Emperor's mind is unpredictable. What if…"

If they choose someone else's memorial, wouldn't the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs be in a very awkward position?

"Then we can only leave it to fate. We servants want to serve the court and the emperor. What does it matter if we suffer some blame? Besides, a secret report came from the Imperial City Guard in the capital. The Donghu spies have found out about the Honglu Temple and sent the message back to the north. I am still a little panicked. Do you think that Marquis Qieti might invade the border again?"

The imperial court has already fought several major battles, and the reserves in the capital have been depleted beyond measure. If the borders become unstable, will the imperial court still be able to cope? The four princes and eight dukes are in grave danger.

"This...no way, Eunuch Chen. The northern border is dangerous, but it's not a problem to defend it. Even if we have to risk attrition to send troops to defend the city, as long as the Right Wise King and Marquis Qieti haven't entered the pass, there's nothing to worry about."

Ma Fei hesitated slightly, but every year the Donghu people would try to enter the pass, and they always escaped unscathed, as the Liu family was still guarding the border in northern Shanxi.

"Sigh, let's hope so. Even a polymath has his difficulties."

Eunuch Chen waved his sleeve, sighed, and left with his men.

The next morning,

The capital remained calm, but news of the brightly lit Ministry of Justice hall last night spread throughout the city, and many influential figures began to inquire about it.

Within the Imperial Palace

The hour of Mao (5-7 AM) has passed.

Xuanhe Gate
Historically a crucial exit for palace servants, the Xuanhe Gate was a heavily guarded entrance. In the early morning light, several imperial guards struggled to push open the two heavy, vermilion-lacquered gates. The heavy hinges creaked under the strain, and the palace gates swung open. The blue-robed eunuchs from the Twenty-Four Directorates, carrying slips of paper, left the palace to run errands, waiting for the gates to open so they could emerge from the palace.

At this time,
Lai Da, who had been waiting outside the palace for some time, was carrying a visiting card from the Rongguo Mansion. He and Lai Wang had been waiting patiently for some time. Seeing the palace gates open, the two men were overjoyed.
"They're coming out! Quick, aim carefully!"

Lai Da, who had been waiting in the shadow of the palace wall behind a gnarled old locust tree, was suddenly startled. His cloudy eyes shot out an urgent light, but there were too many people, so he couldn't find it anywhere.

The servants he brought with him, and Laiwang, who had been specially instructed by the Second Madam to come along, also nervously stood on tiptoe, craning their necks and looking like hooks, desperately searching among the crowd of people in indigo, turquoise, and dark brown robes. He saw a jumble of heads in the crowd, faces blurred, and the styles of the palace robes were mostly similar. He felt dizzy, his heart was pounding, and his palms were covered in a layer of cold, sticky sweat.

Just then, a blurry, familiar figure came into view, and he shouted,
"Over there! Look at the base of the east wall!"

Laiwang almost lost his voice, and hurriedly nudged Lai Da with his elbow. He held his breath first. Lai Da's gaze was like a swift arrow, instantly fixing on the three or five people who had just come out from the side gate of the Yiyuan Hall on the east side.

The one in the middle,
He was slightly plump but walked with a steady gait. He wore a dark brown lining with dark cloud patterns that had been washed until it was slightly faded, and an outer purple official robe with a round collar and wide sleeves. The silk sash tied around his waist was extremely simple.

The most striking thing was the official hat Liu Gonggong wore, which was the kind of hat that eunuchs usually wore, with a turquoise bead on the top, and his round face that seemed to always have a hint of a smile. He was the head of the laundry department of the Inner Palace, and there were two or three obsequious eunuchs around him.

Like an arrow released from a bow, Lai Da pulled Lai Wang through the gaps in the crowd, ignoring the surprised looks from those around them, and eagerly approached Eunuch Liu.

A strong aroma of incense wafted over first, causing Lai Da to stumble. He endured the smell, bowing and scraping, forcing a fawning smile onto his face.

"Greetings to Eunuch Liu! Your servant, Lai Da, has been waiting here for you, sir, at the behest of my second mistress!"

Lai Da's voice was extremely low but clear, almost whispered into his ear.

Liu, the eunuch in his purple official robe, stopped in his tracks, slightly raised his eyelids, and used his superficial, unfeeling gaze to examine Lai Da and the terrified Lai Wang.

Supported by two eunuchs, he walked straight out. Upon seeing the two people waiting outside the palace gates, a smile flickered in his eyes; they were familiar faces.
"Oh? Someone from the Rong family?"

He slowly uttered a few words, his voice unhurried and gentle, like a cotton rope soaked in oil.

"It's strange today. Why does the Rongguo Mansion have the leisure to come to my place?"

Eunuch Liu made no attempt to conceal it. Xuanhe Gate was where the Imperial Household Department sold official positions through donations. Basically, any son of a noble or aristocratic family who wanted to secure a future for their child would come here to wait.
Upon hearing Liu Gonggong's question, Lai Dayi immediately pursed his lips and smiled ingratiatingly.

"Father-in-law, you are indeed very perceptive. My second mistress has a request. This is a visiting card from my grandmother. I hope you will do me the honor of discussing this with me at the restaurant across the street."

"What are you discussing? You probably want to find an official position for someone in your household."

With a hint of smugness, Eunuch Liu waved his sleeve.

"Yes Yes Yes,"

Lai Da bent over even lower.
“Eunuch Liu is very perceptive. Our Second Mistress remembers your kindness last time and specially sent me here today, hoping to help the family’s treasure.” “What’s the rush?”

The smile on Eunuch Liu's lips suddenly deepened, like a gentle ripple melting on ice, interrupting Lai Da's stammering statement. His gaze shifted, sweeping over the rows of shops and bustling streets outside the palace gates, finally settling on a two-story tavern with a sign that read "Xiangmanlou," which swayed gently in the damp morning breeze.

“Even the biggest things shouldn’t be discussed in the spotlight.”

He nodded slightly, his chin tilted slightly towards the direction of the tavern.
"Is your second wife still talking at the usual place?"

"Yes, Eunuch Liu, my grandmother is waiting over there."

Seeing Lai Da take out the visiting card from his arms, Eunuch Liu's eyes lit up. He carefully took it and looked at the seal. It was indeed the seal of the Rongguo Mansion. But he didn't know who the old lady of the Rongguo Mansion wanted to secure an official position for this time.
"Alright, lead the way. It's true, it's been a long time since I've seen Second Madam."

"Please come this way, Father-in-law."

Lai Da helped Liu Gonggong into the carriage, then quickly gave Lai Wang a look. He drove the carriage to the courtyard of the restaurant at the east end of the street and stopped. As soon as they stopped, the two of them hurriedly helped Liu Gonggong down and, surrounded by others, strolled leisurely towards Xiangmanlou, their backs dignified.

After the group went up to the private room on the second floor.

The innermost side room is the Green Bamboo Pavilion. It is a secluded place, and outside the window is a patch of greenery on the side of the palace wall. Amidst the rustling of branches and leaves, the majestic red walls and golden tiles appear and disappear.

Laiwang carefully pushed open the carved door, and Eunuch Liu slowly walked in. Inside the room, there was an eight-immortal table by the window, with two armchairs, arranged in a very elegant and comfortable manner. A large sandalwood food box had already been prepared on the table. When the lid was lifted, wisps of sweet and cloying aroma rose up. It was the newly made eight-treasure candied fruit from Yaoji Shop. Along with it were four small dishes and a pot of fine Jiangnan wine.

Beside the table stood Wang Xifeng, who had been waiting for a long time. She rose and offered a greeting.

"Oh dear, we've been waiting for you so long! Finally, Eunuch Liu has arrived. Ping'er, serve tea."

Wang Xifeng wore a royal blue silk robe with peony and cloud patterns on the sleeves, paired with a pomegranate red pleated silk skirt. A red gold filigree phoenix hairpin was inserted in her hair, with a pearl tassel in the phoenix's beak, and heavy white jade beads on her earlobes.

Her wealth and status caught Liu Gonggong's eye. As expected of the second mistress of Rongguo Mansion, few ladies in the capital have such demeanor.
"Good, it's better to meet you at the right time than sooner or later. You've come at just the right moment. These past few days, the Imperial Household Department has given me quite a few slips of paper. Since I had nothing to do, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs gave me some less important positions. I didn't expect to meet you like this, with the magpie chirping. Look at you, I like your outfit very much."

Eunuch Liu walked to the table, picked up a piece of pastry, put it in his mouth, and nodded in satisfaction. The Yaoji Trading Company was indeed growing bigger and bigger.
"Look at what you're saying. In the whole capital, who doesn't know about your kindness, Father-in-law? But then again, just because we don't see each other sometimes doesn't mean we won't see each other again. If it happens by chance, life still goes on, doesn't it?"

After sitting down, he pulled out a few silver notes from his sleeve, placed them on the table, and pushed them over. Eunuch Liu picked up his tea, took a sip, and with his other hand, he reached over and lightly unfolded half of them. They were two large bank notes from Yunhai Bank, exactly six hundred taels of silver. He gently stroked the clear red seal with his fingertips, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, before expressionlessly stuffing the bank notes back into the hidden pocket in his sleeve.

"Oh dear, Second Madam is so generous. Before I even said anything, she brought the money over. Everyone says Second Madam is a capable person, and it's absolutely true."

Eunuch Liu's smile was sincere yet worldly, carrying a subtle and sophisticated air, which seemed to have a deeper meaning.

"Look at what Eunuch Liu is saying. I am just a woman, what burden do I have to carry? It is an honor for me to invite you here today. I wonder if Eunuch Liu can finally rest today?"

As the servants outside carried the wine and dishes inside, a full table of food was soon laid out, making the room even more lively. Eunuch Liu squinted, but his gaze seemed to be drawn to Wang Xifeng's graceful figure as he slowly swept his eyes over her.

"Oh my, Second Madam's complexion is so good, even a Bodhisattva would be alarmed."

Eunuch Liu swallowed hard, took a sip from the wine cup, and instantly the aroma of the wine permeated his entire body.

"I dare not say such things in front of my father-in-law. I am old and my beauty has faded. Please try these dishes, they are all your favorites."

Wang Xifeng had already handed over the chopsticks. The dishes on the table were all ordered according to the old rules, and they were all the finest delicacies. Liu Gonggong did not stand on ceremony. He took the chopsticks and ate a few bites. They were indeed very flavorful.

"Alright, the taste is still the same, but some things have changed. Since Second Madam is so sincere, please tell me, what are you thinking of this time?"

Eunuch Liu chuckled, leaning forward slightly. His round, bloodless face looked as if it were coated with a thin layer of wax in the morning light. He didn't dare to speak fully, for in the capital, things could always change until the very last moment.

"There's not much to do. Back at the Rongguo Mansion, the Old Madam often remembers how kind Eunuch Liu is. It's quite a coincidence that this time, it's about Baoyu's upcoming studies. The garden is scheduled to be completed next spring. If the Empress were to return home to visit her family, she would lose face because Baoyu failed the imperial examination this time. So, she's looking for an opportunity to buy Baoyu an official position. That should be enough."

Wang Xifeng smiled and picked up the freshly brewed pre-rain Longjing tea. The lid rubbed gently against the rim of the bowl, making a soft, pleasant scraping sound. She then pushed the cup of tea forward. Liu Gonggong immediately understood and, through the misty white steam, gazed meaningfully at Wang Xifeng.

"So it's just these trivial matters. The ladies work tirelessly day and night, all for the sake of the Emperor's will and the affairs of the state... But then again,"

He paused slightly, took a sip of tea, his Adam's apple bobbing imperceptibly, then lowered his voice, conveying a tacit understanding—it was simply a matter of buying an official position for a substantive post.
"Our masters are preoccupied with the affairs of the court and the world. We servants should not be negligent in sharing their burdens."

These words, though roundabout, clearly conveyed the meaning of "sharing the burdens."

A hint of joy flickered in Wang Xifeng's eyes, and her smile deepened.

“What Eunuch Liu said makes perfect sense! We have received the Emperor’s favor and only hope to find a safe and secure solution.”

"This matter is easy to handle. I wonder what rank of official position Second Madam wishes to donate for, and where she would like to serve in the actual post?"

Eunuch Liu glanced at Wang Xifeng's face.
"May I let you know, Father-in-law, that this time, Baoyu wants to take up a post in the Military Command, and he will take Xue Pan and his brother from the Xue family with him, so that they can look after each other."

Wang Xifeng quickly replied, and in doing so, she also mentioned the Xue family. Liu Gonggong suddenly seemed a little stunned. Could this Xue family be the Xue family from Jinling City in Jiangnan, seemingly related to Marquis Luoyun by marriage?

"The Military Commandery is a strategically important location in the capital region. Although its official rank is not high, it still has the sixth-rank official hat. An official position obtained through donation would require the fifth-rank official hat."

"It's a trivial matter," said Eunuch Liu slowly, gently setting down his teacup and tapping his fingers lightly on the warm surface of the bowl.

"But these somewhat leisurely positions are advantageous because they are grounded in the capital region, managing the patrols of the nine cities, fire prevention, thief suppression, and road clearing... They are real 'officials' and do not have to be far from the Emperor. When it is important, you can show your face in front of the Emperor, and when it is not important, the money naturally flows through your hands like water."

Suddenly stopping speaking, Liu Gonggong looked at Wang Xifeng, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, and smiled, leaning forward slightly.
"Second Madam's arrival is also a good opportunity. Just yesterday, two vacancies opened up, one for an inspector and the other for a registrar, both of which are sixth-rank positions."

Wang Xifeng's heart skipped a beat, but her smile grew even more warm and gentle, her phoenix eyes sparkling with laughter.

“Amitabha! Isn’t this just like a pillow being handed to someone who’s sleepy? Brother Bao’s personality is only at ease in the capital. The old lady in the mansion misses him the most. If she doesn’t see him for a day, she probably won’t be able to eat properly. As for Aunt Xue’s family, you’ve heard that Brother Pan is of age to start working and is just waiting for a proper job! But I don’t know how to arrange things for him.”

The question hit the nail on the head. There are rules for buying official positions. Eunuch Liu picked up the blue and white porcelain covered bowl, used the lid to skim off the two emerald green tea leaves floating on top, and looked into the swaying tea, showing a hint of deliberate contemplation.

(End of this chapter)