Chapter 268: Retreat bravely from the rapids

Chapter 268: Retreat bravely from the rapids

Watching Princess Taiping and the female official enter the main hall one after the other, Meng Qing and the others turned and left. With palace servants leading the way, the four of them tacitly remained silent throughout the journey.

Leaving the palace, a carriage traveled along the palace road without stopping, directly entering Yingtian Gate.

"Your Excellency, who is this person? How dare they enter the palace in a carriage?" Du Min asked.

"Your Excellency, it is the eminent monk Konghui."

Du Min looked at Meng Qing, and Meng Qing met his gaze. He thought to himself that he should visit Master Kong Hui at Baima Temple in the next couple of days.

“Go to Quanshanfang and take a look at the houses. We’ll move here on an auspicious day after the Lantern Festival. Quanshanfang is close to the palace, which will make it convenient for you to go to and from work.” Meng Qing changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, my Minister's residence is also in Quanshanfang, but I haven't been there yet." Du Min reached out to help Yin Caiwei into the carriage and asked, "Are you and the two children moving to the Minister's residence, or staying at your second sister-in-law's residence?"

"If you don't mind, Second Sister-in-law, I'll stay at your place." Yin Caiwei had already gotten used to living with her brother and sister-in-law's family.

“I couldn’t be happier, how could I complain? If you three move out, we’ll be sad. The mansion will feel empty, loose, and desolate.” Meng Qing stopped on the carriage shaft and said, “Living in the government office, you’ll have to move every time the third son’s official position changes, which is very troublesome. Now that I have a mansion bestowed by the Empress Dowager, I can live here for decades or even centuries. If you come and live with me, you’ll be spared the trouble of moving again.”

"Once Wangzhou and Wangchuan get married and have children, the house will be lively," Yin Caiwei thought to herself. She couldn't live here forever; she would have to move eventually.

“We’re not going to sell the house we live in now. Once the two brothers get married, they’ll move in together and let the younger generation get used to living together.” Meng Qing wasn’t joking. Fewer people means fewer conflicts. Without elders interfering, young people of similar age tend to get along better.

“Just like us.” Yin Caiwei thought this was a good idea. “Second sister-in-law, second brother, you watched Wangshan grow up. You held him in your arms when he was little and you cherish him in your hearts when he grew up. He is both a nephew and a son. I’ll speak up for him today. Leave one of the three courtyards in that house for him. When he gets married, he can move in with his brother and sister-in-law.”

“Okay, as long as he and his niece-in-law are willing to move there.” Meng Qing had no objections.

Yin Caiwei glanced at Du Min subtly. With this father around, Wang Shan wouldn't want to live under his nose in the future.

Meng Qing bent down and climbed into the carriage, with Du Li following closely behind.

Seeing this, Yin Caiwei also climbed into the carriage. Du Min glanced at her thoughtfully, then stepped onto the carriage bench and got into the carriage.

The two carriages started moving one after the other. Du Min sat in the carriage and stared at Yin Caiwei. He tentatively said, "During the three years of mourning, I did not use the income from my official land for expenses. In a few days, I will give it to my second sister-in-law so that she can expand the house by adding another courtyard behind the main house. If there are any brothers behind Wangshan, they can move there after they get married."

"Do you want to take a concubine?" Yin Caiwei asked.

Du Min shook his head, "You're not going to have my baby?"

“You have no feelings for children, having another one would only increase the number, it would make no difference to you, so don’t have any more.” Yin Caiwei could not have any more children for him, so in order to dissuade him, she gave a powerful argument: “Wang Zhou can get married and have children by now. In a few years, your second sister-in-law and second brother will be holding and raising grandchildren. Where will they have the extra energy to raise your children? If you give birth but don’t teach them, you’ll raise another spoiled brat, and all the achievements you and your second sister-in-law have worked so hard for will be ruined by him.”

Du Min wavered, that much is true.

“Be patient with Wangshan. He is your own son, with the blood of the Yin family. He has been taught by his elders and guided by his elder brother. He will not let you down. Your mantle has an heir.” Yin Caiwei also understood his inner conflict. “Besides, even if Wangshan is slightly inferior, there are still Wangzhou and Wangchuan. They can uphold the reputation of your Du family.”

“Hmm.” Du Min was convinced. “With those three brothers, my Du family will have no worries about not having many descendants.”

Yin Caiwei glanced at him and said casually, "Don't get pregnant outside. We don't allow any shady people in this house. Second Sister-in-law is even kicking her son and daughter-in-law out to live separately. If you dare to bring back any shady people, you won't be allowed into Lady Wu's residence."

Du Min snorted coldly, "You're so good at looking down on people."

He was out there carrying out official business with his head in his hands; he had no time to sleep with women.

Yin Caiwei smiled upon hearing this.

Du Min snorted again, "Satisfied now?"

Yin Caiwei remained silent.

The carriage stopped, and the coachman outside said, "Sir, Madam, we have arrived."

Du Min stepped out of the carriage first. As soon as he looked up, the red palace walls were right in front of him, and he could see half of the palace at a glance.

“Living here, I won’t be late for the morning court even if I walk.” Du Min jumped off the carriage.

"Come on, let's go inside and take a look," Meng Qing called out, leading the way through the door.

The former owner of this mansion was a descendant of a founding hero. The mansion's layout is exquisite, with a picturesque scene at every turn. The covered walkways are interconnected, leading to a crescent-shaped lake, its surface frozen, with fish visible in its center. Further on, passing through a wall, lies the main hall, with a pot of withered lotus in each of the four corners of the entrance. Inside, the doors, windows, and beams have been repainted, and a faint scent of lacquer lingers in the air. To either side of the main hall is a garden, and to the other a rock garden. Plum blossoms are in full bloom in the garden, while ice flowers adorn the rocks in the rock garden…

We strolled around, stopping frequently, until we had explored the entire house, and it was already dusk.

"If I could be granted the title of Duke and have a Duke's mansion bestowed by the imperial court in this lifetime, I would have no other desires." After touring around, Du Min fell in love with the mansion, and a new greed arose within him.

“You’ve barely become prime minister before you’re already eyeing the title. Once you have the title, you’ll have other ideas. It’s impossible for you to be without desires.” Du Li didn’t believe him.

"With the position of prime minister and the title of duke, what else could I possibly want?" Du Min asked.

"Immortality," Meng Qing replied.

Du Min clapped his hands, "Great idea!"

Meng Qing chuckled, "Stop joking, let's go home, or the curfew will start soon."

The four of them returned to their residence, located northwest of Shangyang Palace, by carriage. Upon entering, they learned that Governor Zheng had just left a short while before the incense sticks had burned.

"Did he say what he wanted to see us about? Or when he would come again?" Du Min asked.

“He didn’t say anything. After he arrived, he sat here alone for an hour, seemingly deep in thought. Perhaps he had figured it out. He left without leaving a message,” Wang Zhou replied.

"It seems he's looking for a quiet place to think things through. Don't worry about it; he'll come back if he has something to do," Du Min said. He instructed his servants to prepare the meal; he had been walking around the palace for half a day and was already starving.

With this on her mind, Meng Qing stayed home for a day the next day to wait. When Governor Zheng did not come again, she left home to visit Master Konghui at Baima Temple.

When Master Konghui saw her, he glanced at her and sighed heavily.

Meng Qing smiled obsequiously, "Uncle, it's been so many years since I last saw you. You've become even more awe-inspiring."

What do you want now?

"It's nothing, I just wanted to come and see you and thank you." Meng Qing said with a flattering smile, then asked shyly, "Did my niece cause you any trouble?"

What do you think?

“I don’t think it should be a problem.” Meng Qing picked up a prayer mat and moved it to the side of Master Kong Hui. She sat down cross-legged and said in a low voice, “Uncle, you are older than Empress Wu. What are you afraid of? Even if the later ones really want to settle scores, you may have already passed away by then. As an enlightened monk, who would dare to lay a finger on you?”

"Thanks to Benefactor Meng, this old monk will never become an enlightened high monk." Master Konghui said sarcastically, "Xu Maogong, as a founding hero, was exhumed and mutilated last year. Why should I escape? How is what you did any different from what Xu Jingye did?"

“As the Buddhist teachings say, when a person dies, it’s like a lamp going out; everything returns to dust. You have rendered meritorious service in assisting the emperor, and after your passing, you can transcend reincarnation. All that’s left is a stinking carcass. Even if your bones are crushed and your ashes scattered, what does it matter to you? There was once a high monk who cut off his own flesh to feed an eagle, so why should he fear losing his flesh?” Meng Qing said eloquently.

"I am not afraid, and neither are you?" Master Konghui asked.

"I am not afraid. I do not believe that my achievements in this life are due to the offerings of my descendants in my previous life. By the same token, even if this physical body of mine is destroyed, it will not affect my ability to live a wonderful life in my next life," Meng Qing said confidently.

Master Konghui remained silent for a while, then advised, "I have no fear of death, but I fear dying with my eyes open. The palace intrigues and political upheavals are beyond the reach of a woman like you. You'd better keep a low profile and lie low for a few years. If possible, stay away from Luoyang."

Meng Qing looked thoughtful. "Uncle, did Empress Wu reward you? I started the uprising in your name, and as responders, Master Kongzhi and Senior Brother Huijue were both rewarded. She shouldn't treat you unfairly."

"Empress Wu intended to appoint me as the Imperial Preceptor, but I refused," Master Konghui revealed. He explained that he entered the palace through Meng Qing's connections, and now, because of Meng Qing, he was to be appointed Imperial Preceptor. As a monk, he was too deeply entangled with his lay relatives. Moreover, Meng Qing's brother-in-law held a high-ranking position in the court, as did his father-in-law, and her son had also entered officialdom and reached marriageable age. At that time, Wangzhou's in-laws would also undoubtedly hold high-ranking positions in the government. Bearing the title of Imperial Preceptor, he had deep connections with many people in the court, which would inevitably arouse Empress Wu's suspicion sooner or later. Even officials might use this relationship to create trouble. If he made a wrong move, he and Meng Qing's entire lineage would die with regrets.

“I visited Empress Dowager Wu in the palace the day before yesterday. After the Lantern Festival, I will leave the capital to travel around and spread the teachings in various places. Kongzhi will be in charge of things in Luoyang, while I will go to the local areas to enlighten the people.” Master Konghui revealed, and warned, “You should be wary of Kongzhi. He is an ambitious and unrealistic person, and he is also a dogmatic person who does not care about human feelings. If he is in a difficult situation, he will sacrifice you and climb over you to get ahead.”

“I also plan to leave the capital.” Meng Qing intended to extricate himself from the turmoil and fade out of the sight of the Li Tang imperial family. “I will go to Hanoi County to visit my parents another day, and then return to the capital to meet the emperor and request an imperial decree to inspect the libraries in various places and find talents for Empress Dowager Wu.”

Inspecting libraries would serve two purposes: firstly, it would promote the improvement of libraries in various regions; secondly, it would allow her to cultivate a good reputation for herself and Empress Wu among scholars, which would be beneficial both publicly and privately.

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Author's note: See you tomorrow night.