When court was dismissed, Minister Gao Xuan of the Ministry of Revenue deliberately walked slower, just to wait for Qin Jue.
Two years ago, former Minister of Personnel Su Xing retired, and Qin Jue succeeded Old Master Su to become the head of the Ministry of Personnel.
Last winter, Minister Zhang Xiu of the Ministry of Revenue slipped and fell when he went to court, breaking his leg. The position of Minister of Revenue has been vacant ever since.
Gao Xuan thought this minister position was definitely his, and was extremely happy about it. He was just waiting for the emperor to issue an appointment edict at any time. But who would have thought, he would wait from last year until this year. Seeing that most of this year has passed again, the position still has no candidate, Gao Xuan was anxious.
He wanted to ask Qin Jue, the current Minister of Personnel and royal uncle, to see if he could get some inside news from him. Seeing Qin Jue come out, he quickly fell two steps behind and saluted, "Minister Qin, please wait!"
Qin Jue also returned a half bow, and said politely, "What can I do for Minister Gao?" He could guess with his toes what this old guy was up to.
To be honest, Gao Xuan had been working hard in the Ministry of Revenue for many years. Although he didn't make any great achievements, he also didn't make any big mistakes. Judging only by his seniority, it was enough.
But the position of the Minister of the Six Ministries was a big deal. It was equivalent to being a chancellor in previous dynasties. To sit in this position, one must not only be capable, but also skilled. Vision, ability, and grit were all indispensable.
Especially the Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry of Revenue held the purse strings of Da Xia. The selection of its head was even more prudent. This Gao Xuan was still lacking.
However, as colleagues in the same court, even if one knows some results in advance, one still has to keep up appearances.
Gao Xuan asked carefully, "Since Minister Zhang retired, the Ministry of Revenue has been without a head for nearly a year. May I ask if Minister Qin has heard about His Majesty's plans?"
Qin Jue said indifferently, "No!"
Gao Xuan obviously didn't believe it: "Minister Qin, why are you deceiving me? You are the minister of personnel and the emperor's uncle. How could you not have any news?"
Qin Jue said, "Minister Gao, watch your words. Although Qin is the head of the Ministry of Personnel, he would not dare to rashly guess the emperor's heart. Please don't make things difficult for Gao Xuan!" With the conversation going to this point, Gao Xuan could no longer pester him. He could only bid farewell and left unhappily.
The ministers watched from afar, and they all shook their heads. This Gao Xuan was really obtuse.
His Majesty would rather leave the position of Minister of Revenue vacant for nearly a year, without mentioning anything about a successor. Anyone with eyes could see who he was keeping the position for. Only this Gao Xuan still couldn't see it clearly, or rather, couldn't let go.
Alas, what a fool!
Jiang Wenyuan saw that his daughter had been carrying a large wooden box all the way. No matter getting on or off the carriage, she would carry it with her, and put a share of food in front of the box when eating.
Although his daughter always had her reasons for doing things, Jiang Wenyuan still couldn't help asking when they stopped to rest at noon: "Dear, is there a living thing in the box you're carrying? Do you want me to hold it for you?"
Jiang Yuqing shook her head, gently stroked the box, and smiled a little sadly, "It's grave soil. I took it from the tombs of the heroes outside Yumen Pass.
Most of them never went to the capital in their lifetime. I want to take them to see how prosperous this land they guarded has become."
Jiang Wenyuan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes turned red. He said, "That's right! When we return to the capital, we will build another martyrs' shrine next to our ancestral hall in the back garden to enshrine them forever. They should not be forgotten."
"Thank you, Dad!"
Jiang Wenyuan stroked his daughter's head, with a slightly bitter smile.
His daughter looked so happy every day. He thought she had already forgotten those pains, but it turned out she had been immersed in that pain all the time and never walked out of it.
Some people and some things were destined to be forever engraved in her memory. She would not deliberately recall them, but would never forget them.
Jiang Wenyuan knew, and everyone else knew too.
Afterwards, whenever they ate or rested, everyone would specially reserve a seat for "them", put out a set of bowls and chopsticks, and add dishes. No one felt scared or unlucky.
After a month and eleven days of bumps, the convoy finally entered the capital on the fourteenth day of the ninth month at dusk. When Jiang Yuqing saw the city gate, she gently patted the box beside her and smiled, "Comrades, we have arrived in the capital!"
Jiang Yujiang and Jiang Yuchuan had been waiting at the city gate for a whole afternoon. At this time, when they saw the convoy coming from afar, they couldn't help getting excited immediately.
There was no need to check the insignia. Jiang family’s convoy had no insignia. One could recognize it at a glance, because alongside the convoy ran a deer and a tiger.
These two peculiar animals, along with the legendary experience of their owner's family, were the talk of the town.
Jiang Yuqing sat in the second carriage and saw her brothers from afar. Seeing her brothers waving at her, she also stuck her head out of the carriage and waved hard at her brothers.
When the carriages came closer, the family got off the carriages. The two brothers came up quickly to greet them.
"Greetings to Father and Mother!" Jiang Yuchuan, now a graceful fifteen-year-old teenager, was slightly taller than his father. Full of youthful spirit and the dignified manner of the heir apparent of a duke.
Jiang Wenyuan patted his son's hand approvingly, "Well done! You did very good!"
"It was Father and Mother who taught me well!" He also rubbed his sister's little head, "Dear, you've grown up and become more beautiful."
Jiang Yuqing enjoyed rubbing her eldest brother's hand and flattered unabashedly, "Brother has become more handsome too. And Brother passed the provincial examination. You are the best and most handsome brother in the world."
Jiang Yujiang beside them protested, "Oh, so only your Seventh Brother is handsome, and Eldest Brother is not handsome?" Jiang Yuqing, the master flatterer, went online immediately: "Handsome, of course handsome. My brothers are all handsome, there are no ugly ones in our family!"
Everyone laughed. It was an eye-opener to see someone praise others while praising herself as well.
Jiang Wenyuan looked at his eldest nephew, who had become more handsome and steady after six years, and was very happy to pat him on the shoulder, "In a blink of an eye, you have grown up so much. How nice!"
Lady Lu said proudly, "Which child in our family is not good? It's just, Jiang Yujiang, shouldn't you start a family too?"
Facing the marriage urging from Aunt San as soon as they met, Jiang Yujiang was also very helpless. He had to say vaguely, "If Nephew has someone he fancies, he will definitely tell Aunt!"
Jiang Yuqing didn't want her big brother to be embarrassed by Mother, so she went forward and pulled Jiang Yujiang's hand coquettishly, "Big Brother, do you want a hug?"
Jiang Yujiang chuckled, and dotingly patted her forehead, "No, you've already grown up. You can't hug anymore. But I can still piggyback you!" After saying that, he turned around and squatted down, just like when she was little.
Jiang Yuqing was overjoyed and ran up to jump on her big brother's back. The corners of her mouth were raised high. Lady Lu scolded her for being naughty with her mouth, but was delighted in her heart that there was no estrangement between the siblings even after not seeing each other for years. This was great!
After some small talk at the city gate, everyone rode into the city. There would be time to talk after returning home.
Compared with six years ago, the capital seemed to have become more prosperous. Although it was dusk, the vendors who were selling goods on the street didn’t have any decreasing.
Jiang Yujiang said that the capital had lifted the curfew two years ago. Therefore, even at night, the people of the capital were free to move around. After two years of development, a night market of considerable size had now formed.
The people of the capital were also gradually beginning to enjoy this convenient life.
The former Marquis Fu of Qingzhou had become the Duke Fu. The plaque above the gate had also been changed to six vermilion Chinese characters written by the emperor himself: "Imperially commissioned Jiang Dukedom Residence".
When the carriages arrived at the gate of the Duke Fu, Zhao the housekeeper was seen leading all the servants to stand on both sides to welcome them.
Seeing Jiang Wenyuan and his wife getting off the carriage, he quickly knelt down to greet them.
After an absence of six years, living in this magnificent mansion again, looking at everything that was once familiar yet somewhat strange, Jiang Wenyuan couldn't help feeling emotional.
This time, they would probably stay for a long time.
The family had prepared a sumptuous banquet to welcome the masters home. Jiang Wenyuan appreciated that his servants had been conscientious in keeping the family for them all these years. Therefore, as soon as he returned, he rewarded them with two months' salary. The servants were overjoyed.
At the family banquet table, besides the Jiang family of four, there were also Jiang Yujiang and Dr. Qiu, Jiang Wenyuan asked them to add another chair and set of bowls and chopsticks.
After people moved chairs over, Jiang Yuqing put the wooden box on the chair, and when he put down bowls, chopsticks, wine cups and other utensils, the two Jiang family boys immediately understood.
When looking at the simple wooden box again, there was only heartache and respect left in their eyes.
After the meal, Jiang Wenyuan called Steward Zhao and told him to invite the best craftsman tomorrow to build another martyrs' shrine next to the ancestral hall in the mansion. Steward Zhao's respect for this Duke Jiang then went up another level.
After days of traveling by horse and carriage, everyone was a little tired. After eating, they talked briefly and then went back to their rooms to rest.
It was an uneventful night.
The next day, September 15, was one of the five court sessions. The current dynasty implemented a system of court sessions every three days, with full court sessions on the 1st and 15th.
Jiang Wenyuan got up before dawn, put on the purple court dress worn by dukes, and went to the palace gate early to await the emperor's summons.
The court session did not start early. He could hear layers of summons from inside: "Summon Duke Jiang Wenyuan to enter the hall!"
This was the first time in nine years of serving as an official that Jiang Wenyuan had stepped into the Golden Phoenix Hall, but he did not seem nervous at all. Calm and dignified, vigorous and resolute, he embodied both scholarly grace and rugged toughness. He knelt down on one knee and paid his respects: "Your subject, Jiang Wenyuan, paying respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years!"
Emperor Xia Jing personally walked down from his throne, helped him up, and said, "Dear Minister, you must have had a tiring journey. Please rise quickly!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The emperor's cordiality made all the ministers' eyes turn hot. But their eyes turning hot was pointless - who among them had Jiang Wenyuan's capabilities?
After that, the emperor asked in detail about the events in Su Prefecture, and Jiang Wenyuan answered every question.
The emperor was very satisfied and asked again, "What are Your Excellency's plans for the future?"
Jiang Wenyuan replied, "I await Your Majesty's orders!"
The emperor then said, "Ever since Minister Zhang retired from his position in the Ministry of Revenue, the post of Minister of Revenue has remained vacant. As things stand, I shall have you take up this heavy responsibility!" As soon as his voice fell, the ministers all looked as if this was precisely what they had expected.
Jiang Wenyuan knelt down and touched his forehead to the ground again. "Your subject Jiang Wenyuan thanks Your Majesty for his abundant grace. I will certainly fulfill my duties with utmost diligence and live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"
After court, several officials who were usually on good terms just patted Gao Xuan on the shoulder and said, "Take it easy!" before leaving, leaving only Gao Xuan standing there with a bitter taste in his mouth.
He was not unaware that the emperor favored Jiang Wenyuan. He had just always harbored some unwillingness and wishful thinking about that position never having been filled before.
Now that things were finally settled, he could also extinguish that delusion. To be honest, if anyone else had taken over as Minister, he would not have been convinced.
Only with Jiang Wenyuan, even he could not say anything bad. Hadn't you noticed that a large part of the credit for the current abundant state treasury of Da Xia was Jiang Wenyuan's direct or indirect contribution?
Oh well, with such an exceptional talent as the head official of the Ministry of Revenue, his days ahead would be much easier too. After understanding this point, much of the depression in Gao Xuan's heart also dissipated, and he strode out of the palace.
