Chapter 165 Lady Meng, the Holy Mother Invites You...

Chapter 165 Lady Meng, the Holy Mother Invites You...

The twenty ships carried 214 money carts. The official ship that Meng Qing was on had ten money carts parked on its deck, but only the cart bodies were visible; there were no oxen or horses pulling them.

Because soldiers patrolled the deck, ordinary people could not walk on the deck at will. Meng Qing did not consider himself an idle person, but did not want to cause trouble. He only went to the deck on New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival to enjoy the lively scene of people on both sides of the Yellow River burning firecrackers and releasing river lanterns. He spent the rest of the days in the cabin, either chatting with Meng Chun or learning to play chess with Meng Chun from Yin Mingfu.

Life on the ship was boring and agonizing. Meng Qing stayed on the ship for a month. When she finally landed on the land of Chang'an, she felt as if half a year had already passed.

"Excuse me, are you Madam Meng?" A servant in blue came through the crowd. "My name is Deng Xiaoliu. I am a servant of the Minister's Mansion. I was ordered by my master to come to the ferry to meet you."

Meng Qing nodded and said politely, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Minister."

The servant smiled and led the way, saying, "Please follow me. The ferry crossing is too crowded for the carriage to pass. We'll stop in a small alley near Chang Le Fang."

Meng Qing glanced back and saw Yin Mingfu nodding at her from about two zhang away, indicating that she could leave without worry.

After Meng Qing and her brother disappeared from sight, Yin Mingfu glanced at the soldiers unloading the money carts, then went to say goodbye to Prefect Zheng and left as well.

About half an hour later, Meng Qing and Meng Chun arrived at Yongchang Ward, where the Minister's Mansion was located, by carriage. After getting off the carriage, they could see the red palace wall not far away.

"Sister, is the palace right inside the palace walls?" Meng Chun asked excitedly. "I never thought I would be so close to the palace in my lifetime."

"The section ahead is the Imperial City, where the offices of the Three Departments and Six Ministries are located. The section behind is the Palace City, where the Emperor resides and meets with his ministers," the servant explained. "Gentlemen, please follow me."

Meng Qing led Meng Chun into the Minister's residence. They passed through three courtyards, crossed six thresholds, and made eight turns before finally arriving at the reception hall in the backyard. They were greeted by Minister Zheng's third son.

“My father hasn’t finished his shift yet. He’ll be quite busy these next few days. Please stay here for now,” Zheng Sanlang said. He pointed to the servant waiting beside him and said, “Deng Xiaoliu is my attendant. He’s familiar with all parts of Chang’an. If you wish to go out for a stroll, have him show you the way.”

Meng Qing thanked him.

"Seeing how tired you both look, I won't bother you any longer. Once you've rested, the manor will prepare a banquet to welcome you back," Zheng Sanlang said. "Xiao Liu, lead the two distinguished guests to rest."

"Gentlemen, please follow me," the servant said.

Meng Qing and Meng Chun got up and left again. After passing through two more doors and a long corridor, the siblings arrived at a courtyard.

The maids and servants in the courtyard had already started preparing when the Meng siblings entered the Minister's residence. As soon as Meng Qing and Meng Chun entered the courtyard, the maids immediately brought out steaming hot food to the table.

After Meng Qing finished eating, someone immediately brought her hot water. She took a bath and, with the help of her maid, lay down in the soft quilt and fell asleep.

Meng Qing slept from the afternoon until the next morning. When she woke up, her bones felt so weak from sleeping.

"My lady, are you awake?" A maid named Dong'er came in around the screen. "Would you like to get up? I'll get you some clothes."

"Get up." Meng Qing nodded. "Is my little brother up yet?"

“My lord got up an hour ago and has already had breakfast,” the maid said.

Meng Qing was dressed and washed by her maid, indulging in the life of an official's wife.

"Sister," Meng Chun said, waiting in the outer hall, "Breakfast is here, come and eat."

"Did you eat last night?" Meng Qing asked. "I slept until now and didn't even wake up last night."

Dong'er smiled gently, "After my wife and husband fell asleep, I lit some calming incense in the room. This was instructed by our madam, as you two have been floating on the water for over a month, and it's easy for you to have nightmares and not sleep well on the first night after landing."

Meng Qing was surprised, "Madam is so thoughtful, please convey our thanks."

Yesterday, only Zheng Sanlang came out to greet them upon entering the mansion. The lady of the mansion did not show up. Meng Qing figured that the other party might not want to entertain a guest with whom she had no common topics, especially since she and Meng Chun were in the funeral business. The other party probably felt uncomfortable.

For this reason, Meng Qing did not offer to express her gratitude in person.

The maid should be.

After having breakfast, Meng Qing took Meng Chun out of the mansion. Under Deng Xiaoliu's arrangement, the two took a carriage to the most bustling teahouse in Chang'an. As she expected, everyone in the teahouse was talking about the money transport cart from the previous day.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out upstairs. Someone was cursing something, followed by the sound of tables and chairs falling over. Meng Chun told Meng Qing not to move, and he rushed upstairs to join the crowd.

Half an incense stick later, Meng Chun came downstairs. He patted the tea foam that had accidentally gotten on his sleeve and said, "A group of scholars got into an argument, and in the heat of the moment, they even overturned the stall."

"What's all the noise about?" Meng Qing asked.

Meng Chun glanced at Deng Xiaoliu, who shook his head and said, "I didn't hear you clearly."

Deng Xiaoliu gave an awkward smile and said, "I'm going to the outhouse."

Meng Chun sat down, his face full of interest, and said, "The group of scholars upstairs are cursing Minister Zheng, cursing him for using any means to get promoted, causing them to study hard for decades, only to have to deal with business after passing the imperial examination."

Meng Qing recalled Deng Xiaoliu's expression and realized that this was not the first time such a thing had happened.

Just as one wave subsided, another group of scholars in white robes entered the teahouse. Each of them had an indignant expression and was muttering that they would abandon the exam and vowed never to become an official or have anything to do with Ming Dynasty artifacts.

Meng Qing and Meng Chun sat in the teahouse for a whole day, watching seven farces, six of which were all about cursing Minister Zheng.

The siblings had originally planned to visit the Chang'an Yishu (a private school), but worried that their whereabouts would be exposed and they would be angered by the indignant young students, so they gave up the idea and went to Qujiang Pool instead.

That afternoon, after returning from Ci'en Temple, Meng Qing was about to lie down to rest when a servant informed him that Minister Zheng had summoned him.

When Meng Qing arrived at Minister Zheng's study, she found that in addition to Minister Zheng, there was also a beautiful woman beside him. She bowed and said, "This humble woman greets Minister Zheng and Madam Zheng."

"Please rise." Madam Cui helped Meng Qing up and said apologetically, "I have been suffering from a cold these past few days and have not been in good spirits. I have neglected to entertain our distinguished guests. Please forgive me, Madam."

"Madam, you're too kind. My brother and I have been eating and staying well at your residence these past few days. We have carriages waiting for us when we travel, and servants even pay for our outings. We've been living a very comfortable life," Meng Qing said with a smile. "We come from a humble family, and this treatment is already excellent. If you were to treat us with even more formality, we would feel quite constrained."

“I was thinking of arranging a welcome banquet at home tonight…” Madam Cui hesitated, glancing at Minister Zheng.

"No need, no need." Meng Qing refused. She was too lazy to bother with formalities and didn't want to bother with social niceties.

Minister Zheng suppressed his displeasure and said, "Go and have a servant bring over a few dishes of tea and snacks."

Madam Cui smiled at Meng Qing, then opened the door and went out.

Meng Qing's gaze shifted, and she immediately understood that Minister Zheng was displeased with Madam Cui's actions.

“Madam is a noble lady from a prominent family, while I am the daughter of a merchant. She is the wife of a minister, while I am the wife of a farmer. Our backgrounds are worlds apart. Not to mention, I am in the funeral industry, which is considered unlucky by most people. We have nothing to talk about. Please don’t blame Madam for being impolite, sir.” Meng Qing suddenly spoke up, shattering the dignity that Minister Zheng had maintained.

Minister Zheng: ...

He didn't know how to react for a moment.

"Alas, it was our negligence, and it was my fault. I have been busy with court affairs these past few days and neglected my family matters," Minister Zheng said apologetically. "I benefited the most from your advice this time, and I should have been treated with great hospitality. However, my family has acted rudely, and I am truly ashamed to face anyone."

Meng Qing remained silent.

Minister Zheng glanced at her and said, "All the officials in the court know that you single-handedly established the school and that you also offered the plan. I intend to recommend you for merit and have a monument erected in your hometown to commend your virtue."

Meng Qing looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated.

“What do you want to say? Just say it,” said Minister Zheng.

"Du Min will never return to Wu County to serve as an official, and I will never return to live in Wu County again. I will neither hear of nor use the good reputation gained from erecting monuments and commendations. What I want is some real benefit. If Your Excellency wishes to recommend someone for me, I do not want gold, silver, or silk, nor do I want a good reputation. I only want a reward of wearing a scarlet and purple crown and gold and jade." Meng Qing wanted to raise her head, but thinking of Du Min's words, and knowing that Minister Zheng was a man who could not tolerate a woman's pride and ambition, she lowered her head again.

Meng Qing stared at her blue cotton jacket and trousers, feigning weakness and pity: "I was born a merchant's daughter, and after growing up, I married a farmer. For nearly ten years, I schemed and plotted, but all the fame and fortune I gained went to others. I received nothing, and my life didn't change much. Recently, I suddenly realized that the affairs of the free school are no longer under my management, and there will be no chance to change my later life. Only if my son is fortunate enough to become a high-ranking official decades later, and he petitions for an official title for me, can I wear the purple robe. But this hope is too slim, and I'm afraid I won't live to see that day. My lord, I've lived for twenty-eight years, and I've only ever worn a light red dress on my wedding day..."

"I will go to the palace right away and ask for a reward of a scarlet and purple crown and gold and jade for you." Minister Zheng agreed. "Just this reward? Is there anything else? You really don't want a monument or a memorial?"

"I have another request," Meng Qing said, her face full of sorrow. "The free schools that I helped establish last year could be returned to my management. I personally selected the heads of these schools in twenty-three prefectures, including Luozhou. At the time, I promised them in the name of the Ministry of Rites that they could stay with the schools until the day they died, as long as they were willing to go to other places to establish schools and develop markets. If these schools change hands, it would be tantamount to stealing the fruits of their hard work, and I would bear the infamy for the rest of my life."

Minister Zheng, reflecting on the infamy he had borne over the past few months, could empathize deeply with him. It didn't matter to him who managed the school; he looked down on those ignorant and reckless fools and preferred to give it to Meng Qing.

"Alright, I will give the order that all the existing free schools will be under your management." Minister Zheng agreed.

Meng Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "This humble woman thanks Your Excellency for your kindness."

Minister Zheng found it amusing, and she even thanked him.

"Go and wait for news. I will go to the palace to ask for a reward on your behalf."

*

Three days later, as Meng Qing and Meng Chun were measuring the width of Zhuque Street with their feet, a pale-faced, beardless eunuch silently approached and called out to her, "Madam Meng, the Empress invites you."

"Me? A female saint?" Meng Qing was shocked.

"Yes, the Holy Woman wishes to see you. Please follow me."

Meng Qing was pleasantly surprised. She quickly followed and turned back to tell him, "Little brother, wait for me here."