The Lucky Farmgirl

Director Xiao’s eyes rolled. He wasn’t good at quarreling, but Manbao was.

He cleared his throat lightly, stroked his beard and carefully thought back, then immediately named three people. "It was just as they said."

Manbao glared. "One from the Ministry of Personnel, one from the Ministry of Revenue, and one from the Ministry of Rites. I haven’t offended any of them."

Director Xiao said, "You’ve offended plenty of people. And once you’re in officialdom, who knows which careless sentence offends someone, or which matter ends up blocking someone’s way? So there’s no need to think about exactly whom you offended."

But Manbao began to think in earnest. "No, that’s not right. This started from the State Duke Zhao’s manor. I’m the innocent bystander getting dragged in."

It took Director Xiao a while to understand what she meant. Imperial Doctor Lu frowned and said, "The State Duke Zhao is doing perfectly fine. Who would target him? His Majesty and the State Duke Zhao have always been close."

Director Xiao nodded repeatedly.

The empress was virtuous and had always restrained the Zhao Family, and the Zhao sons in the capital were just ordinary wastrel noble sons at most. They liked spending money and playing polo, acted high-handed and a bit dissolute, but they would never break the law.

So the court officials were quite satisfied with this generation of imperial in-laws. Besides, the State Duke Zhao wasn’t just some outer relative of the throne; he’d followed the emperor through life-and-death battles, all right?

Back then the emperor even had to call him "big brother."

Director Xiao said, "Who would poke at the State Duke Zhao for no reason? I still think the issue lies with you. Didn’t you mouth off too much at the grand court sessions those two years ago?"

"Impossible." Manbao refused to carry the blame. "How many times have I even spoken up at grand court? Even my dad isn’t that petty."

"But the State Duke Zhao is quite well-liked in court, and I hear he’ll soon be made Minister of Ministry of War."

Manbao blinked. "Isn’t Minister Li currently serving as Minister of Ministry of War? He’s stepping down?"

"Minister Li’s health has deteriorated," Director Xiao sighed. "I just went to see him last month. I’d say he has at most half a year left."

When Manbao heard this, she fell silent for a moment to show her sorrow. It was said that this Minister Li was formidable, hailed as the God of War of Great Jin. He’d even been ordered to write a military treatise. Rumor had it that it was currently stored in the palace, and apart from a few meritorious generals, ordinary people had no access to it.

After a moment of silence, Manbao confirmed to herself that this was indeed Zhao Family’s matter, and the blame had simply been dumped on her. Hmph, clearly someone else had their eye on the seat of Minister of Ministry of War.

The Three Departments and Six Ministries—never mind the Three Departments, that was the Prime Minister’s territory. The Secretariat and the Chancellery were crucial, but the six ministers under the Department of State Affairs were just as important.

One radish per pit: if the radish hasn’t been pulled out, the others can’t squeeze in. Once one radish is finally out, anyone interested will naturally shove hard to get in, and while they’re at it, they’ll kick away the other radishes who also want to plant themselves there.

Manbao wrote a letter to Bai Shan, telling him to go find Zhao Liulang. She had taken the blame and been scolded in grand court for nothing. This matter could not just be brushed aside like that, or else in the future anyone would be able to slap a pot on her head whenever they liked.

After receiving Zhou Man’s letter, Bai Shan thought briefly, then put it into a drawer. He pulled out paper and wrote a single line in reply: "Calm your mind and be at ease, do not be impatient or restless, and focus on your experiments."

Bai Shan folded the paper and tucked it into a pouch, planning to have Brother Zhou Wu deliver it tomorrow.

Bai Erlang sauntered over and said to him, "Feng Zongping says he’s already reserved seats at Primus Pavilion. Tomorrow all we need to bring are our mouths and stomachs."

Seeing Bai Shan writing a letter, he asked, "What’s going on?"

Bai Shan finished the letter and handed it to Daji. "Send this to Zhao Liulang and tell him we’re inviting him to drink at home."

Only then did he say to Bai Erlang, "I’m arranging a meal with Zhao Liulang. Today in the palace, when you saw Princess Mingda, did Princess Changyu really say that Manbao is going to be granted a title?"

Because the Ministry of Personnel exams were next month, even though they hadn’t passed yet, court regulations required that they leave the Chongwen Pavilion.

This was also a measure to prevent the crown prince from forming factions in court and cultivating his own power base. So those who had already passed the jinshi and Ming Classic exams had to leave the Chongwen Pavilion before they officially took the Ministry of Personnel exam to receive appointments.

Bai Erlang also went to apply for graduation today, but the Chongwen Pavilion didn’t approve it. So, sulking, he went to squat in the drill grounds with Yin Huo, and there he ran into Princess Mingda and Princess Changyu, who had slipped out to find him.

Princess Mingda hadn’t seen them for some time, so she wanted to come and visit. Princess Changyu, on the other hand, had come along purely out of boredom.

Then Princess Changyu told Bai Erlang, "My imperial father said that with this round of smallpox inoculation, Zhou Man has rendered great service and is to be granted the title of xiangzhu."

As for why the emperor told the two princesses, naturally it was because he had a loose tongue.

He’d just woken from his nap and happened to run into his two daughters coming to pay their respects to the empress. While the three of them were having afternoon tea, he just couldn’t hold his tongue.

But Princess Changyu had also said, "The imperial edict hasn’t been issued yet. I’m telling you in secret, so you mustn’t tell anyone else."

Seeing Yin Huo standing to the side, Princess Changyu added on the tail of her words, "You too, you’re not allowed to tell anyone."

Princess Mingda: "...That’s exactly what Father said to you when he told you this."

Sure enough, Bai Erlang hadn’t been able to hold it in either. As soon as he found Bai Shan he whispered it to him, and not only to him—before leaving the palace, when he went to see Mr. Zhuang, he told Mr. Zhuang as well.

So Liu Huan knew too...

If Bai Shan hadn’t sternly ordered them not to pass it on to anyone else—not even their grandparents—the number of people in the know would probably have kept snowballing.

Bai Shan said, "Manbao has already lost a title once. This time she absolutely can’t lose it again, so in the next couple of days you must watch your tongue."

Bai Erlang said, "Rest assured, I definitely won’t spread the news about Manbao being granted a title anymore."

Bai Shan said, "It’s not just that. If you hear anyone badmouthing her outside, don’t say a word either. Act as if you don’t know anything about it. His Majesty and the ministers will make their own fair judgment."

Bai Erlang was puzzled. "Why would anyone say bad things about her? Isn’t she the little miracle doctor? She’s always been the type who cures illnesses and saves lives. Who would speak ill of her?"

Bai Shan smiled faintly. "She’s not money. How could everyone like her? And even with money, there are always those who treat it like dirt."

Bai Shan took out Manbao’s letter and handed it to him.

As soon as Bai Erlang finished reading it, he couldn’t help slapping the table. "Well now, after all the kindness we’ve shown Zhao Liu, his family turns around and bullies Manbao!"

Bai Shan nodded as well, but still said, "The Zhao Family is the Zhao Family, and Zhao Liu is Zhao Liu. He can’t call the shots for the Zhao Family. Just look at the State Duchess Zhao—she’s the one who actually calls the shots, and even she couldn’t stop this. So this really can’t be blamed on Zhao Liulang. But we won’t swallow this grievance for nothing, nor will we carry this blame for nothing."

Right now it was better not to move than to move; they should quietly secure the title first, then talk. So, at this stage, Manbao needed to behave a bit more obediently.

If they really clashed head-on with those people in court, turning a minor issue into a major one, what if Manbao’s title flew away again?

Bai Shan had a strange feeling that if they really kicked up a fuss, Manbao’s title might indeed fly away—and not only fly away, but it would be even harder to get her granted another one in the future. No matter how great her merits, the palace would no longer bestow honors so easily.

Bai Shan tapped the table and lowered his gaze, thinking to himself: So, rather than arguing back, we might as well take some tangible benefits.

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