Chapter 168 This humble official pays respects to the Lady of the County...

Chapter 168 This humble official pays respects to the Lady of the County...

Meng Chun remained silent. He recalled Master Konghui's prediction when he left Wuxian three years ago: it would harm himself and his family. For the past three years, he had never dared to forget it. Because of this prediction, he could only suppress any thoughts he had. When he had conflicts with his parents about marriage, he dared not utter a word in rebuttal and could only leave for distant lands.

"What's wrong? Are you reluctant to part with your money?" Meng Qing asked.

“A little.” Meng Chun smiled. “Do you still remember the warning my uncle gave me? In order to change my place of residence, I donated all my family’s wealth. It just goes to show that it hurts both myself and my family.”

"The harm to yourself refers to the resentment that will torment you, as evidenced by your continued celibacy. Changing your household registration is beneficial to you. As for the harm to your family, donating all your wealth will harm them, but you and your parents can still earn money. I also manage the charitable schools in twenty-three prefectures. After changing your household registration, you can work under me, either as a teacher or as the head of the charitable school in Huai Prefecture. The money you earn will be enough to support your family." At this point, Meng Qing bowed to the north with her hands clasped. She smiled and said, "I don't know if the Sage intended it or not, but because of me, your parents have the status of aristocrats, but they still retain their merchant household registration. They can still do business. You can even put one or two of your most profitable workshops under their names before donating the money. You can then use the money they earn to buy land and property, which will at least ensure that you and your children are wealthy for life."

Meng Chun immediately beamed with joy, and the last trace of worry on her face vanished.

"Indeed, how come I didn't think of that?" Meng Chun laughed heartily, then bowed to the north with his hands clasped, "Thank you for your grace, Holy Lady."

After saying this, he turned around and bowed to Meng Qing, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your wise counsel."

Meng Qing reached out to help him up, and said with a smile, "No need for formalities."

Meng Chun laughed heartily, then bowed deeply, saying, "This humble subject pays respects to Lady Meng."

Meng Qing stood with his hands behind his back and said loudly, "My brother, you may dispense with the formalities."

Meng Chun threw her head back and laughed, "Sister, congratulations!"

"Congratulations to you as well, the princess's younger brother."

Meng Chun was overjoyed; his sister was truly amazing.

"Sister, hurry up and change into Zhai Yi," he urged. "Hey? Why is there another garment in this box?"

Meng Qing also noticed. She handed the Zhai Yi to Meng Chun and took out another set of gorgeous clothes from the box. Unlike the dark blue Zhai Yi embroidered with five-colored birds, this dress had three colors: scarlet, green, and blue, with scarlet as the main color.

“This should be formal attire, similar to an official’s robe,” Meng Qing pondered. “The ceremonial robe you have should be for more formal occasions, such as when entering the palace for an audience.”

"That's really meticulous," Meng Chun said. "You should go and try it."

Meng Qing responded and left with her formal attire and hairpin.

But there were no wigs, cosmetics, or makeup items in the house, so Meng Qing immediately sent her maid out to buy some. She and Meng Chun continued to study the gifts bestowed by the female saint with great interest.

It wasn't until noon that the maid finished buying everything. Meng Qing quickly ate something to fill her stomach, then sat happily in front of the dressing mirror while the maid surrounded her and did her makeup.

Two maids busied themselves for an hour before Meng Qing's makeup and hair were finally finished. With the flower hairpin on her head, she got up, took off her clothes, and changed into a brightly colored formal dress.

The door opened, and Meng Qing, supported by two maids, walked out. "Little brother, look quickly."

“My sister was born to be a precious person. This magnificent brocade robe has been twenty-eight years late, and it has finally found its owner.” Meng Chun was about to shed tears again. The red, green, and cyan colors finally rightfully belonged to Meng Qing.

“Sister, from today onwards, you must wear red and green every day,” Meng Chun said. “Red and green suit you especially well.”

Meng Qing nodded, and the flower hairpin on her head trembled.

"It's so beautiful! It's so hard!" Meng Chun wiped away his tears, let out a long breath, but the tears kept falling. He turned his back, looked up, and choked out, "Sister, you did it, and I have to do it too. I can't let my children be born into a lowly family and follow the same path as you and me."

"You will do it." Meng Qing also wanted to cry. "Don't cry, or I'll cry too."

Meng Chun went to the kitchen to fetch a ladle of water to wash his face. After washing it twice, he straightened up and let his eyes shed tears freely. Once the bitterness in his heart had subsided, he washed his face thoroughly before going out.

As the sunset appeared, Meng Qing sat in the pavilion admiring the magnificent colors of the sunset, and Meng Chun also sat down beside him, gazing at it quietly.

The colors of the sunset slowly faded, and a chill rose from the ground. Meng Qing felt cold, so she got up and went back inside to change her clothes.

"Go to the East Market and buy two jars of good wine. My brother and I will drink to our hearts' content tonight," Meng Qing said.

Meng Chun exclaimed "Hey!" and went back into the house to grab five strings of copper coins before running out the door.

Meng Qing tried on the Zhai Yi again inside the room, and she took it off with satisfaction, changing into her own old clothes.

Meng Chun returned as darkness fell, carrying two jars of wine in his hands and a bulging bundle on his back.

"Why are you back so late? What else did you buy?" Meng Qing asked, waiting outside the door.

"You'll be wearing a silk jacket and skirt. Starting tomorrow, you won't be wearing hemp clothes anymore," Meng Chun announced. "You can make do with this for now. Tomorrow I'll go with you to the embroidery shop to take your measurements, and we'll make a few more brocade outfits."

“Okay.” Meng Qing wasn’t going to spoil the mood. “How much did this outfit cost? Did you bring enough money? Or did you buy it on credit?”

"I still have the money pouch I prepared for tipping. I bought this outfit with ten silver coins," Meng Chun said. "Is the food ready? Let's go for a drink."

"Alright, now it's time for your wine." Meng Qing took the bundle and handed it to the maid.

“Sister, I thought about it on the way here. This house is a bit small and doesn’t do justice to the nameplate of the County Lord’s Mansion. Once I’ve made some money back in Wu County, I’ll come back to Chang’an and buy you a large five-courtyard house,” Meng Chun said again.

"I have money, I'll buy it myself. If not in Chang'an, I plan to buy in Luoyang." Meng Qing tore off the jar seal and poured wine. The good houses in Chang'an had already been divided up, and she couldn't buy them even if she had the money, so she might as well buy in Luoyang. The Shangyang Palace, located southwest of Luoyang and north of the Luo River, was nearing completion. She planned to pay a high price to buy a piece of land near the Shangyang Palace and build her own residence.

“Then I’ll settle down in Luoyang from now on.” Meng Chun picked up her wine bowl. “Sister, let me toast you.”

Meng Qing and her brother clinked their bowls together, and the two siblings tacitly drank the wine in one gulp.

"Ha! It's freezing my teeth!" Meng Qing picked up a piece of venison with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.

Meng Chun instructed her maid to take the unopened wine jar to the kitchen, scald it with hot water, and then bring it back.

"Sister, when are we going back?" he asked. "The letter that was sent back a few days ago by Minister Zheng's carrier pigeon should have reached Heqing County by now, and it should be delivered to Huaizhou in a few more days. I don't know if Father and Mother stayed in Heqing County or went to Huaizhou with Du Laosan. My brother-in-law should have taken the two children to Huaizhou."

“Didn’t you want to see the newly appointed scholars parade through the streets on horseback? We’ll head back after the provincial exam results are released,” Meng Qing said.

"I won't look anymore. I'll come back to see it when my eldest nephew passes the imperial examination." Meng Chun couldn't wait to take his wealth and servants back to Wu County to make money.

"I'll see before I leave," Meng Qing insisted, wanting to see if her suggestion had been adopted.

Meng Chun was deeply moved. "Sister, you've been so good to me. Let me toast you again."

Meng Qing smiled, offering no explanation and letting him misunderstand.

After finishing a jar of wine, the siblings were both drunk. They then each had another bowl, stopping just before they were completely intoxicated. They went back to their room to sleep, feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

*

Heqing County.

Du Li was also drinking with his father-in-law and mother-in-law. Meng's father was flushed and extremely excited. He was lying on the table laughing loudly.

"Grandpa, you've been laughing all night." Wangzhou rested his chin on his hand, looking at Meng's father. "Are you drunk?"

"I'm not drunk." Meng's father was still clear-headed. He threw his head back and laughed loudly, "My daughter has been granted the title of County Princess, and I've benefited from it too. I'm so happy. Wangzhou, aren't you happy?"

"Happy," Wang Zhou replied for the thirteenth time.

"My daughter has actually been bestowed the title of Lady of the County by the female sage!" Father Meng murmured again, "My daughter is truly capable."

Mencius' mother nodded in agreement, "I'm going to write to her uncles. Our Pan family's daughter has made something of herself."

“It’s from our Meng family,” Father Meng said, arguing. “I want to write a letter to my eldest brother.”

"Without Pan, where would you come from, Meng?" Meng's mother kicked him. "Meng Qing was born to me, Pan Suyue."

"Don't fight, Dad, Mom. If you two start arguing and fighting, I'll tell on Qingniang when she gets back." Du Li quickly intervened to mediate. "There's no Mengqing without Pan and Meng. Don't fight or snatch, you both have a share."

Mencius' mother kicked Mencius' father again before pulling her foot back.

"Have another bowl." Meng's mother poured a bowl of wine for Meng's father. "Here, drink it."

"You'll get drunk if you drink any more," Du Li advised. "Let's drink again tomorrow."

Mencius' mother waved her hand at him, urging Mencius' father to drink another bowl of wine.

After drinking a bowl of wine, Meng's father fell asleep on the table, no longer laughing or muttering.

"Alright, help the old man back to his room to sleep," said Meng's mother.

Du Li carried Meng's father away, and Wang Zhou went to help Meng's mother, but she wouldn't let him, saying, "My dear, go further away, I don't want you to trip over."

"Young man, walk a little further away, I'll help you," said Sister Wang.

Everyone had left, leaving only Wang Zhou in the hall. He stared blankly at the crescent moon hanging in the sky, and finally sighed.

"Why are you sighing? Are you unhappy?" Du Li came over carrying a basin.

"Happy," Wang Zhou said lazily.

"Missing your mother?" Du Li guessed.

Wang Zhou nodded.

“I miss her too.” Du Li stopped rushing to fetch water and sat down next to Wang Zhou, saying, “The days with your mother were wonderful, and time flew by. Now that she’s gone, the days seem to drag on.”

Wang Zhou suddenly felt like laughing.

“Write a letter to your third uncle tomorrow and tell him this good news,” Du Li said.

“I also received a letter from my third uncle today. He urged us to go to Huaizhou as soon as possible,” Wang Zhou said.

"Ignore him," Du Licai refused to go.

Wang Zhou laughed, then leaned against Du Li and said, "Father, I even swore to get my mother an official title, but she did it herself. All that determination I had been holding onto just vanished."

"Your father doesn't have one yet, so let's earn him an imperial title."

Wang Zhou laughed out loud, "Imperial titles are for the mothers and wives of officials."

Du Li laughed too, "If you want that kind of energy, Dad can pretend to be your mother."

Wang Zhou gave a disdainful "Eh."

Du Li put his arm around Wang Zhou and said, "I was just teasing you. Your mother once said that people only like those who are valuable. That's both true and false. You and Wang Chuan are my and your mother's children, and our love for you is unconditional. But to outsiders, whether in private school, officialdom, or even in marriage, it's people who are valuable who are welcomed. You should cultivate yourself into a valuable person, just like your mother, not for her or for me, but only for yourself. That's how the world is: mediocre people are despised, while good generals are respected."

"I want to become someone like my mother, someone who can be of great use to both my family and my country." Wang Zhou regained his energy.

“Yes.” Du Li patted him. “Wash yourself tonight and watch over your little brother for me. I’m going to take care of your grandfather.”

Wang Zhou agreed, then stood up and ran off.

The next day.

Wang Zhou wrote three letters on behalf of others: one to Baima Temple in Luoyang, one to Wu County, and one to Huai Prefecture.

Nine days later, Du Min rode his horse to Heqing County and went directly to the county government office to find Wang Zhou. "Your mother has been conferred the title of Lady of Wu County?"

"Yes, didn't I write to you? Why did you come here again?" Wang Zhou asked in surprise.

"What are you writing? It's all incoherent and nonsensical," Du Min said disdainfully. "When is your mother coming back? We'll go to Luoyang to pick her up."

Wang Zhou shook his head. "Your second sister-in-law didn't say."

Du Min glared at him. "Pack your things and come with me to Huaizhou."

“No, I’m going to wait for my mother to come back in Heqing County.” Wang Zhou refused. He picked up his book box and said, “Come on, come back with me. Don’t stay at the inn tonight.”

When Du Min led his horse and Wang Zhou to Xingjiaofang, a carrier pigeon flew away from Chang'an.

*

On the ninth day of the third month, Meng Qing and Meng Chun boarded an official ship bound for Luoyang, carrying the imperial edict and gifts bestowed by the female saint.

When the official ship arrived in Luoyang, it was already the sixth day of the fourth month.

The Luoyang County government had changed hands. Meng Qing and Meng Chun planned to rest at the post station for two days before heading to Heqing County. When Meng Qing took out her imperial edict of investiture, a postman opened a birdcage, and the carrier pigeon inside flew away from Luoyang.

Meng Qing and Meng Chun rested at the post station for one night. The next day, they went to Baima Temple to visit Master Konghui. However, when they arrived at the temple, they were told by the monks that Master Konghui had left three days earlier.

"Where did he go? Did he leave any message?" Meng Qing asked.

"I don't know, he didn't leave any message," the monk said. "Five days ago, a pale-faced, beardless man came to the temple and specifically asked to see him. A day later, Master Konghui left, and it was that man who came to pick him up."

"Fair-skinned and beardless? How old?" A guess popped into Meng Qing's mind. "Is the other party a eunuch?"

The monk nodded. "It does resemble it, benefactor. Are you aware of anything about it?"

Meng Qing's eyes darted around, she smiled and shook her head, then pulled Meng Chun away.

"Sister, could it be that someone from the palace wants to see Uncle?" Meng Chun asked, rubbing her chin.

"Maybe," Meng Qing said. "He didn't leave us any message, so we're not going to bother with him anymore."

The siblings rested in Luoyang for another day before hiring five horse-drawn carriages to carry the rewards away from Luoyang.

Two days later, the carriage crossed the pontoon bridge and arrived in Heqing County. Halfway there, a loud commotion of gongs and drums suddenly came from ahead. Meng Qing lifted the carriage curtain and saw his family whom he had not seen for a long time.

"Du Min, the Prefect of Huai Prefecture, has come to Heqing County to respectfully welcome Lady Meng." Du Min stepped forward first and knelt down in full view of everyone. "This humble official greets Lady Meng."

"Your son kowtows to the Lady of the County and inquires about her well-being." Wang Zhou knelt down behind Du Min and kowtowed.