Chapter 45: Leveraging the Situation
In the eighth month of the fourteenth year of the Yongxing era, the imperial commissioner censors who had been touring the various regions on behalf of the Emperor for a full year began to return one after another, each with their own findings. In every region, there were, to varying degrees, cases of families concealing the crimes of their relatives, but the case involving the Qinzhou Prefect's office was by far the most shocking. Her Majesty personally summoned Fang Jian to hear about the current situation in Qinzhou. Over the past year, the powerful clans and officials of Qinzhou had been thoroughly uprooted. With the great families' vitality severely damaged, the young women of the new generation seized the opportunity to take control as heads of their households, cooperating with Fang Jian and the new prefect to turn the entire prefecture upside down in their investigation. Wei Qi listened carefully, inwardly pleased. She had initially placed this as a casual, spare chess piece, waiting for a lucky break, but she had unexpectedly brought Qinzhou under her control ahead of schedule. The imperial heart was greatly pleased. Wei Qi offered Fang Jian much encouragement and promoted her one grade, from junior sixth rank to senior sixth rank, to remain an Investigating Censor in the Censorate.
After leaving the palace gates, Fang Jian returned home to bathe and change her clothes. Estimating it was about time for officials to be getting off duty, she headed to the Gao estate to pay her respects to Gao Yunqu. She had been stationed outside the capital for a year, and thus had not seen Gao Yunqu for a year. Returning to the long-missed Capital City, her heart leaped with a certain joy.
When she arrived at the Gao estate, Gao Yunqu had not yet returned. Gao Yuan came to receive her. They too had not seen each other in a long time, so they waited together to welcome Gao Yunqu home from the office. They had barely exchanged a few words when they saw Gao Yunqu in the distance, dressed in scarlet, her wide sleeves fluttering as she strode through the gatehouse. She seemed to be pondering something, her steps swift. It was but a few dozen paces from the gatehouse to the main hall, yet Fang Jian stared at Gao Yunqu without blinking, greedily tracing every detail of her form while she remained unaware. Time seemed to slow down, and she just watched, her gaze fixed, for a long, long time.
As she drew closer, Gao Yunqu finally saw her and abruptly slowed her pace, resuming a steady and composed manner as she approached with a smile. "You're back?"
"Yes, Teacher." Fang Jian reined in her gaze just before Gao Yunqu could notice, bowing respectfully. She followed by her side, taking the official hat Gao Yunqu removed and holding it for her. She walked half a step behind Gao Yunqu, and when she looked up, her eyes met with Gao Yunqu's perfectly straight back. At this distance, she could even smell the scent of incense on Gao Yunqu's person. It was still so familiar, sending her thoughts into a turbulent surge.
Gao Yunqu treated her as she always had, with a warmth that was not without encouragement. But Fang Jian felt that no matter what she said or did, it made her own ears burn and her heart pound. After the meal, Fang Jian used the excuse of being weary from her journey to take her leave of Gao Yunqu. Gao Yunqu naturally had no objection, but after a moment's hesitation, she said, "You needn't come here so frequently from now on."
"Teacher?" Fang Jian's heart tightened, terrified that Gao Yunqu had seen through her.
"Be obedient. Don't ask." Gao Yunqu's voice was still gentle and calm, with no hint of anger or any other meaning.
Fang Jian was utterly bewildered, but she still answered obediently.
The next day, she invited Cui Miao to her home for drinks. Having just returned, she had a few days of short leave, while Cui Miao came over after finishing her duties at the office.
They also had not seen each other for a year. Although they had corresponded through letters, it was no substitute for meeting in person. After they were seated and had exchanged a few pleasantries, Fang Jian asked impatiently, "Xinmeng, do you know what has happened with Lord Gao? Why did she tell me to visit her less often?"
"I knew you were going to ask," Cui Miao said. "Lord Gao's current situation at court is not very good. She probably told you to keep your distance because she's afraid you'll be affected."
"How bad is it?" Upon hearing this, Fang Jian paused the hand holding her chopsticks. She was somewhat surprised; neither Gao Yunqu nor Cui Miao had mentioned this in their letters over the past year. It must be a recent development.
"Lord Gao has always advocated for two things: one, the Merit Evaluation System for officials, and two, the law of official avoidance. Before, these two policies were used to strike at the Cai Faction, and everyone applauded. But now, the court is dominated by the Reformist Faction, and some within it do not wish to see Lord Gao succeed." Cui Miao gave a bitter smile. "Chancellor Fan has eyes only for her grand plan of tax reform and doesn't manage the faction very tightly. Below her, the Reformist Faction has split into many sub-factions with differing political views, leading to much discord. And Lord Gao, well, she doesn't belong to any side. She is single-mindedly serving as Her Majesty's pure and solitary minister, and her proposals harm everyone's interests, so naturally, she is ostracized by them."
After Gao Yunqu was appointed Head of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, she began implementing the Merit Evaluation System there. The Court of Imperial Entertainments was a tangled mess of conflicting interests, yet she managed to patiently sort through them one by one. The new Triennial Capital Evaluation was approaching after the new year. Gao Yunqu had compiled the results from the trial runs in the Censorate and the Court of Imperial Entertainments over the past few years and, a few days ago, submitted a memorial to the throne, petitioning Her Majesty to implement the Merit Evaluation System in all capital offices starting with next year's evaluation. Her Majesty did not directly approve but ordered the Council of State to discuss it. The Emperor's ambiguous attitude gave the court officials ideas, and the voices of opposition grew clamorous. Gao Yunqu was hit with another wave of impeachments and was now at the heart of the storm.
"Speaking of which, I don't quite understand Lord Gao's actions either," Cui Miao added. "The law of avoidance has not yet been settled. Why bring up the merit evaluation again at this time? What is Lord Gao in such a hurry for? Linshen, do you know?"
Fang Jian was silent. She lifted the wine jug and took two large gulps. The strong liquor was harsh, reddening the corners of her eyes. She said in a cold voice, "My lord is beating the mountain to frighten the tiger. She doesn't truly intend to implement the Merit Evaluation System immediately. I think, first, it is to let everyone know Her Majesty's resolve, and second, it is to use something even more objectionable to make everyone compromise."
"You're saying that to prevent the full implementation of the Merit Evaluation System, the court officials will make concessions elsewhere?" Cui Miao said in shock. "Is… is it worth her putting herself in such a dangerous position for this?"
"Didn't you say she is Her Majesty's pure and solitary minister? She blocks the arrows for Her Majesty, so Her Majesty must protect her." A dull ache spread through Fang Jian's heart. My lord, but what if Her Majesty cannot protect you? What if Her Majesty abandons you? At that point, you will be doomed beyond redemption. My lord, have you considered that?
"Right," Cui Miao remembered something and asked, "did you receive the invitation from Fan Wensong for a welcome party on the rest day?"
Fang Jian nodded. Wensong was Fan Tingrong's courtesy name. She had received her invitation as soon as she returned.
Cui Miao's tone was laced with sarcasm. "She's quite the hot commodity among the young officials these days."
"Well, she is Chancellor Fan's niece. Since the Chancellor has no accomplished children of her own, it looks like she's cultivating her with great care."
"Hah, and a whole crowd has gathered around her, flattering her so much she's lost her bearings. She's no longer the Fan Wensong we used to know."
"It seems a great deal has happened this past year."
"You'll see when you go."
A few days later, on the rest day, Fang Jian accepted Fan Tingrong's invitation and went to the banquet at Yuehe Hall. Only upon arrival did she discover that, besides a few familiar classmates, there were many other young officials present.
Seeing her enter, Fan Tingrong hurried to greet her. Pulling her inside, she introduced her to the crowd, "Everyone, everyone, this is Censor Fang Jian, our dynasty's youngest Triple First, the investigating censor in last year's Petition Drum case, and now, having just completed a tour of Qinzhou, she is truly rising step by step. She caught Her Majesty's eye early on, and her future is limitless!"
"Censor Fang is a young talent. We have long heard of you, and it is our great fortune to finally meet you today."
"You flatter me. It is an honor to meet all of you, my colleagues." Fang Jian was embarrassed by the praise and quickly returned the salutes of those who bowed to her with clasped hands.
Fan Tingrong put an arm around her shoulders in a show of intimacy, leading her around the tables to meet people: a fifth-rank Vice Director from the Ministry of Personnel, a junior sixth-rank Secretary from the Ministry of Justice, a senior sixth-rank Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a junior seventh-rank Registrar from the Court of State Ceremonial… From the eighth and ninth ranks to the fifth and sixth, there were officials from seemingly every government office. Fang Jian had long known that Fan Tingrong had a wide social circle, but this was the first time she had experienced it firsthand.
Cui Miao was also at the banquet. There was a hint of mockery in her eyes, though she maintained a smile on her face as she spoke with their former classmate, Yao Xingquan. This classmate had taken the imperial examinations in the same year as them but had not passed. She graduated from the Imperial Academy last year, was appointed to a junior eighth-rank position, and was now a Registrar at the Court of Imperial Entertainments.
After being led around for a full circle of introductions, Fang Jian was finally seated at her table. Fan Tingrong announced the start of the banquet, and the food, wine, music, dancing, and even young male and female companions were brought out one by one. The guests present began to enjoy themselves with practiced ease.
This was the first time Fang Jian had attended such a banquet. The last time they had a small gathering, they had merely drunk wine and listened to music; it was nowhere near as extravagant as this. She sat with Cui Miao and whispered, "Is it always like this in the capital now?"
Cui Miao leaned closer and replied, "This is the style of the Chancellor's niece. You'll get used to it after a few more times."
From the other side, Fan Tingrong noticed her reserve and smiled. "Linshen, do you prefer men or women? Why haven't you chosen someone to keep you company?"
"That won't be necessary…" Fang Jian looked uncomfortable.
"Linshen, don't tell me you still haven't…" Fan Tingrong lowered her voice, giving her a knowing look, then changed the subject. "Don't worry, big sister will show you how to have fun."
She beckoned to a young female courtesan. "Come, keep this Lord Fang good company."
The young woman obediently sat down beside Fang Jian and poured her wine. The rich, gaudy scent of perfume from the woman's body wafted over, causing Fang Jian's mind to drift. It was also incense, but Gao Yunqu's scent always left her mesmerized and infatuated, while this fragrance felt cloyingly sweet.
Fang Jian accepted the wine cup she offered but gestured for her not to get too close. The young woman was perceptive and only poured her wine and made conversation without pressing nearer.
For a time, wine cups clinked and everyone chatted merrily. It was unclear who started it, but the conversation turned to politics. As all present were young officials, they naturally had opinions to share. Then, it was also unclear who brought up Gao Yunqu, but the room suddenly fell silent.
Fan Tingrong quickly tried to smooth things over. "Why bring up Lord Gao? Lord Gao is different from us."
"What's there not to bring up? It's not like Gao Lushuang is some taboo subject."
"Yes, yes, since she's been mentioned, why don't we all discuss her Merit Evaluation System?"
"Are there any colleagues from the Censorate or the Court of Imperial Entertainments here?"
Yao Xingquan spoke up. "I, Yao Xingquan, am a humble junior eighth-rank Registrar at the Court of Imperial Entertainments."
"Good, then please, Registrar Yao, tell us about matters in the Court of Imperial Entertainments."
Yao Xingquan then gave a dramatic and emotional account of Gao Yunqu's Merit Evaluation System at the Court of Imperial Entertainments, describing it as a source of unbearable suffering, with not only an increased workload but also many new restrictions.
The more Fang Jian listened, the more uneasy she felt. She frowned, but Cui Miao pressed down on the back of her hand. She looked at Cui Miao, who gave her a slight shake of her head.
The topic of Gao Yunqu passed in a flash. After listening to Yao Xingquan's complaints and sharing a laugh at Gao Yunqu's eagerness for quick success, the group moved on to other subjects.
When the banquet ended, Fan Tingrong personally saw Fang Jian out, her intention to curry favor perfectly clear. "Linshen, we have been classmates for many years. I know your foresight better than anyone, and I hope you can join me in achieving great things."
Fang Jian nodded in agreement and thanked her repeatedly before taking her leave.
Once in the carriage, she looked at Cui Miao, who was traveling with her, and hesitated to speak.
Cui Miao understood. "Now you know why I said what I did?"
"I thought it was just a small gathering of classmates. I didn't expect such a grand affair." Fang Jian found some pastries in the food box she always kept in her carriage, popped one into her mouth, and offered some to Cui Miao. Her heart had been in her throat throughout the banquet, so she hadn't eaten well.
"I told you, times have changed. Before, she was just the niece from the Minister's estate; now, she's the Left Chancellor's niece," Cui Miao said mockingly.
"And Yao Xingquan?" Fang Jian frowned.
"Yao Xingquan obtained her official post through the Fan family's connections. The Court of Imperial Entertainments used to be a lucrative position; you couldn't get in without some connections. Because of that, she's been heavily restricted by Lord Gao. With the extra income gone, and coming from a humble family, her life isn't easy. She relies entirely on Fan Wensong's support, so hasn't she naturally become Fan Wensong's lackey?"
"If I'm not mistaken, was Wensong trying to recruit me just now?" Fang Jian asked again.
"Ha, so you understood?" Cui Miao teased her. "So, are you going to respond to her?"
"Of course. Why not?" Fang Jian's starry eyes held a smile.
Cui Miao was stunned. "Why? Can you tolerate them speaking of Lord Gao like that?"
"My progress is still too slow. If someone can give me leverage, why shouldn't I take it?"
Cui Miao looked up at her friend. The young woman's eyes were filled to the brim with ambition, making her seem, for a moment, like a stranger.
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