Chapter 61: Marriage Alliance and the Path of Promotion

Although the matter was never fully resolved before Chao Yehhan was dismissed from his post and imprisoned, Jiang Qingshi suspected that Zhuo Zhiming’s case was also connected to Chao Yehhan.

Yet Zhuo Zhiming ultimately never received the vindication he deserved. When his three-year term concluded, he was assigned to serve as a County Magistrate in the provinces. At their farewell, Jiang Qingshi’s heart was filled with regret. From their days taking the Imperial Examination together, he and Zhuo Zhiming had never been separated. Now, two kindred spirits were ultimately being parted by fate.

“Brother Jiang, you needn’t feel regret on my behalf,” Zhuo Zhiming said, a rare smile gracing his face. “In truth, my aspiration from the very beginning has always been to serve the common people. Now, as a county official, I can better work for their welfare. To me, this is no different from holding office in the capital. You must continue to shine brightly in Jingshi. Neither of us should betray the ideals we once held.”

Faced with such sincerity from Zhuo Zhiming, even Jiang Qingshi often felt inadequate by comparison. At this moment, all words seemed pale and superfluous. Jiang Qingshi simply patted Zhuo Zhiming’s shoulder and said, “Well said. We must both remain true to our original aspirations and fight for Da Liang!”

After seeing Zhuo Zhiming off, Jiang Qingshi visited Chao Yehhan in prison. Chao Yehhan had gone mad by then, wielding a writing brush to scrawl and smear on the cell walls while reciting delirious poetry. He would burst into manic laughter at the sight of anyone, leaving it unclear whether his madness was genuine or feigned.

Seeing Chao Yehhan in this state, Jiang Qingshi felt only sorrow. The once celebrated Dinggao Talent of Da Liang had ultimately been reduced to this wretched state by the jealousy and resentment in his own heart.

The scheme to frame him couldn’t have been Chao Yehhan’s doing alone. But with Chao Yehhan in this condition, the mastermind behind it would likely never see the light of day.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qingshi was promoted to the Office of the Supervisor of Instruction. This office served as a transitional institution for Hanlin Academy officials’ promotions while also being responsible for the Crown Prince’s education, document compilation, and royal ceremonies. Jiang Qingshi’s new position was Left Zhongyun of the Left Spring Workshop, a rank of 6a. Though only one grade higher than his previous role as Hanlin Academy Compiler, Jiang Qingshi understood this was a crucial stepping stone.

This represented Emperor Jingrui’s trust in him, and he couldn’t betray that trust.

A year later, Jiang Qingshi became Left Shuzi of the Left Spring Workshop while concurrently serving as Hanlin Academy Attendant Reader. Everyone at court envied Jiang Qingshi for enjoying Emperor Jingrui’s favor, but Jiang Qingshi himself remained humble and steady, handling every matter with his characteristic reliability.

After another year and a half, Jiang Qingshi had risen to Junior Zhan Shi of the Office of the Supervisor of Instruction. As the deputy head of the office, this was a position of considerable prestige. It was around this time that Jiang Zhimiao celebrated his tenth birthday.

Unbeknownst to him, Jiang Zhimiao had already spent ten years in this world. Watching both his father and mother excel in their respective fields over the past two years had made Jiang Zhimiao somewhat ashamed of himself. A year ago, he’d had a sudden inspiration to print and sell the stories he remembered from his previous life. To his surprise, they became an instant sensation, and the pen name “Young Master Xiaoyao” that he’d casually chosen for himself became the most mysterious and popular literary figure in the common quarters.

Who could have imagined that the renowned Young Master Xiaoyao was merely a ten-year-old child?

Many young women from boudoirs became enamored with Young Master Xiaoyao’s works, constantly fantasizing about what kind of person he might be, whether he was married, and if he was as exceptional as Da Liang’s most handsome man—Jiang Qingshi, the Tanhua.

They weren’t mistaken about this – since Young Master Xiaoyao was Jiang Qingshi’s biological son, their appearances naturally bore some resemblance…

With his mother, himself, and his aunt all being skilled at earning money, their family had already accumulated more wealth than they could possibly spend. Jiang Zhimiao often worried about his father, fearing that one day his father might suddenly get into trouble. If officials came to investigate and confiscate their property, seeing how wealthy they were, they might truly suspect his father was a major corrupt official…

Yet in reality, his father was truly just living off others’ earnings…

Jiang Zhimiao had initially worried that his father would criticize him for not focusing on proper pursuits, so he hadn’t dared to let Jiang Qingshi know about his growing fame. But Jiang Qingshi was exceptionally perceptive and quickly deduced from Jiang Zhimiao’s unusual behavior that he was hiding something. Under his father’s intimidating presence, Jiang Zhimiao soon confessed everything.

Anxiously awaiting his father’s reprimand, Jiang Zhimiao was surprised when Jiang Qingshi merely pondered for a long moment before looking at him meaningfully.

“Miao Ge’er, you’ve loved these things since childhood. I don’t want to stop you. Since you enjoy it, go ahead and pursue it freely.”

“Really?” Jiang Zhimiao felt a surge of excitement, but then reconsidered, feeling he might have been too impulsive. “But Father serves in court – won’t this cause trouble for you? And you’ve always hoped I would study seriously and eventually take the Imperial Examination like you did. I’m afraid I’ve disappointed you…”

“You’re my son. How could I easily say I’m disappointed in you?”

Jiang Qingshi smiled, creating a rare, solemn heart-to-heart moment between father and son.

“Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles – my perspective has changed from before. As long as you haven’t neglected your studies because of this, it could become another path for your future. But Miao Ge’er, you must keep your identity well concealed. Don’t let others know about it.”

“Only our family of three knows right now – even Aunt doesn’t know.” Jiang Zhimiao nodded repeatedly. “I understand this could bring trouble to you, Father. I’ll be extra careful.”

“Be doubly cautious in your future actions. Tomorrow I’ll find you a stand-in – you only need to work behind the scenes.” Jiang Qingshi pondered. “It’s not that I’m afraid you’ll bring me trouble, Miao Ge’er. Many of your ideas surpass this era. In the future, I might need to rely on you. Keeping your identity hidden now could serve as our trump card later.”

Jiang Zhimiao felt like he couldn’t see through his father again.

“Father, what are you planning to do?”

Jiang Zhimiao suddenly felt somewhat afraid.

“I don’t plan to do anything.” Jiang Qingshi smiled mysteriously. “What I will or won’t do – these things will only become clear in the future. Miao Ge’er, you don’t need to hide anything from me. You’ve grown up now, and I won’t treat you like a child anymore.”

“Yes!” Jiang Zhimiao nodded emphatically. “I’ve finally grown up and can help Father protect Mother!”

But Jiang Qingshi fell silent. Deep down, Jiang Zhimiao was still somewhat afraid of his father, and seeing him silent made him anxious.

“Father, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Do you think,” Jiang Qingshi gave him an ambiguous look, “your mother needs the two of us to protect her?”

Remembering how even the Duke of Yingguo couldn’t last two moves against his mother, Jiang Zhimiao nodded in agreement.

Well… Mother really didn’t seem to need their protection.

Just as life was progressing smoothly and peacefully, an unexpected upheaval occurred. Yu Country suddenly launched an attack on Da Liang on a rainy night, catching Da Liang completely off guard. In an instant, the landscape changed dramatically as Da Liang lost three cities in quick succession. Emperor Jingrui, shocked and enraged, fell gravely ill, coughing incessantly in his bed. Despite his condition, he dragged his ailing body to summon his key ministers, hoping to devise a solution.

The cabinet, led by Chen Yanfeng, ultimately proposed a strategy of negotiating peace with Yu Country. Since Da Liang had long been free from war while Yu Country had rapidly risen in recent years, engaging in full-scale conflict would likely lead to Da Liang’s defeat, exhausting both its people and resources.

Da Liang sent envoys to negotiate peace with Yu Country, but Yu Country made exorbitant demands: not only did they require Da Liang to pay annual tribute and cede two cities, but they also demanded that Chengle Princess be sent for a political marriage.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingrui was both shocked and furious, collapsing onto his sickbed, barely able to rise. Chengle Princess wished to act as regent in her father’s stead, but Chen Yanfeng rejected the idea, citing that women should not interfere in state affairs. The cabinet quickly drafted a proposal to negotiate peace with Yu Country. In the end, the matter was resolved with Da Liang ceding one city, paying annual tribute to Yu Country, and sending Chengle Princess for the political marriage.

After this incident, the entire court was shrouded in a haze of sorrow. Many court officials advocated for war, but they had no voice against the overwhelming majority in favor of peace. It was said that Chengle Princess did not resist; after bidding farewell to Emperor Jingrui, she resolutely embarked on her journey to the political marriage, leaving behind a single remark:

“With a court like this, Da Liang is in peril.”

Emperor Jingrui valued Chengle Princess above all his children. Now, due to Da Liang’s weakness, he had to sacrifice his daughter by marrying her off to the Yu Country monarch, who was nearly twenty years her senior. The emperor coughed up blood in despair, his hatred for Chen Yanfeng and others deepening.

It was from this period that emerging officials like Jiang Qingshi and Xie Qinghe began to gain Emperor Jingrui’s clear favor.

The emperor even ordered the Crown Prince to study under Jiang Qingshi, appointing him as the Crown Prince’s tutor. Since Jiang Qingshi was already serving in the Office of the Supervisor of Instruction, taking on the role of instructing the Crown Prince was not out of place. However, being under thirty, his appointment as the Crown Prince’s tutor seemed somewhat premature. It was evident that Emperor Jingrui regarded him as a trusted confidant, intending for him to counterbalance other factions in the court.

Jiang Qingshi understood that serving as the emperor’s blade was no easy task, but he had no room to retreat. He could only accept his role and strive to be the sharp weapon in the emperor’s hands.

The current Crown Prince, born to the Empress, was fifteen years old, of mediocre talent and timid by nature. Previously, Jiang Qingshi had not understood why Xie Qinghe held such a dim view of Da Liang’s future heir. Now, after close interaction with the Crown Prince, he realized Xie Qinghe’s concerns were justified.

The current emperor had only two sons: the Crown Prince Li Yunchu, born to the Empress, and Prince Xin Li Yuanyuan, born to Consort Liu. Consort Liu’s brother held military power at the border, and Consort Liu herself had always been arrogant in the palace, looking down on everyone and subtly seeking to replace the Empress. Consort Liu strongly desired her son Li Yuanyuan to become the Crown Prince and frequently opposed the Empress in the palace. Unfortunately, Li Yuanyuan was also of mediocre talent, even less capable than the Crown Prince.

Nevertheless, the court was divided into two factions: one supporting the Crown Prince and the other supporting Prince Xin. However, since the Crown Prince was the legitimate heir, the majority of key cabinet ministers still supported him.

Two more years passed, and by the time Jiang Qingshi had just turned thirty, he had already assumed the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Xie Qinghe had now become the Assistant Imperial Censor of the Censorate. However, Xie Qinghe’s marital situation was causing the old marquis great distress. While his son’s official career was flourishing, he was already twenty-five or twenty-six years old yet showed no intention of marrying. As Xie Qinghe was the only male heir of the Xie family, this weighed heavily on the old marquis’s mind.

But ever since Da Liang suffered humiliation under the unequal treaty imposed by Yu Country, Xie Qinghe had lost all interest in starting a family. He was a genuine advocate for war, believing that Da Liang, in its current state of national weakness, should immediately implement reforms to enrich the country and strengthen its military. Although Da Liang currently had Consort Liu’s brother providing external support, he did not follow imperial commands, instead focusing entirely on competing with Emperor Jingrui in hopes of securing the empress position for his sister and having the Prince of Xin succeed as Crown Prince.

Author’s note: Today’s chapter features fathers getting continuous promotions~