Chapter 111

To be honest, before the tea banquet, the reputation of this Young master Jiang had sunk to the bottom of the pit, beyond salvage.

But who would have thought that despite such a foul reputation, both the Crown Prince and the great Confucian scholar would step forward to vouch for him?

Once touched by the hands of nobility, even the foulest of things can emit a faint fragrance.

Rumors even began to circulate that Jiang Herun had studied divination in the state of Bo and was exceptionally skilled in feng shui. It was said that both the Crown Prince and Master Mufeng had once faced calamities, and it was Jiang Herun who adjusted the feng shui of their residences, altering the layout of their homes to avert disaster.

Have you not noticed that the gate of Master Mufeng’s residence has been replaced with a new one?

It is said that it was personally delivered by Minister Jiang—crafted from high-quality rosewood, with intricate carvings adorning the entire facade. It looks quite impressive, and perhaps it is another feng shui masterpiece, ushering in auspicious energy for Master Mufeng’s household.

Moreover, Minister Jiang’s efforts in constructing local earth god temples across the countryside are said to have warded off a decade-long cycle of droughts and floods, bringing peace and prosperity to the Great Qi.

Jiang Xiurun had no idea who was spreading these rumors, but they were so vivid and detailed that even she was tempted to invite this feng shui master to arrange her own home’s energy.

On this day of rest, after days of exhaustion, she finally had a chance to relax.

She lay sprawled on her couch, muttering to herself.

Qian’er, who was writing nearby, looked up and asked her mistress who she intended to consult for feng shui.

Jiang Xiurun scratched her back with a long-handled jade ruyi scepter, then glanced lazily at Qian’er and said, “Of course, I want to set up a peach blossom formation for you! If things don’t work out with that Dou Siwu, we’ll need to attract some other talented suitors. But since you’re determined to cut ties with him, why did you help him copy two volumes of Confucian classics?”

Upon hearing this, a faint blush spread across Qian’er’s wheat-colored skin.

It turned out that Master Mufeng had punished Dou Siwu with ten volumes of copying, and there was no room for negotiation.

The master believed that although Dou Siwu was straightforward, his actions were too reckless, and he needed to be taught a lesson.

Copying the classics might be manageable for others, but for Dou Siwu, it was akin to enduring the ten great tortures.

He had barely finished half before complaining incessantly.

Recently, he had also taken up a temporary position in the Ministry of War, which left him with plenty of free time.

During his shifts, he would wander over to the Agricultural Department, just two alleys away, and chat idly with Qian’er, who was on duty at the gate.

Somehow, after a few exchanges, Qian’er ended up agreeing to copy two volumes for him, helping the young general out of his predicament.

Jiang Xiurun had once seen Qian’er’s handwriting, and surprisingly, the two of them had a similar style—both messy and erratic, like snakes slithering through grass.

Even Master Mufeng would have a hard time spotting the forgery.

When Qian’er saw her mistress teasing her, she blushed briefly but quickly regained her composure.

“If it weren’t for the fact that he got into trouble with the master because of you, I wouldn’t have bothered helping him. Didn’t I already tell you? There’s no future between us.”

Jiang Xiurun suddenly remembered that Madam Dou had begun searching for a suitable match for her son, so she didn’t press further.

Still, she couldn’t help feeling a pang of regret for Qian’er, thinking that it was her own fault for holding Qian’er back.

When would Qian’er finally rise to prominence and showcase her talents as a heroic woman?

As the two of them sat in their respective melancholy, Feng Liwu returned from his official duties.

He had been extremely busy today, but he remembered that it was his little concubine’s day off.

So, he woke up early, handled some urgent matters, and then hurried back to spend some quality time with her.

In recent days, she had been sleeping in late, and he had secretly hoped that she might be pregnant.

But the physician who came to check her pulse said there were no signs of pregnancy.

Disappointed, Feng Liwu realized that he had been too busy lately, and so had Minister Jiang.

Sometimes, she returned home even later than he did.

He had been neglecting his little Xiurun.

So, he decided to take her to nearby Mingshan for a day trip during her day off.

Mingshan was famous for its hot springs, which left the skin smooth and supple, and for a type of mountain frog that thrived there.

In autumn, these frogs were at their fattest, preparing for hibernation.

Catching them, skinning them, and roasting them over a charcoal fire in the mountains resulted in exceptionally tender and delicious meat.

Most importantly, Feng Liwu had heard that the oil from female frogs was highly nourishing, especially for women, as it helped regulate the body and made conception easier.

So, today, Feng Liwu took Jiang Xiurun to soak in the hot springs and enjoy some roasted frog.

The reputation of these mountain frogs was so well-known that every autumn, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, nobles from the capital would bring their families to Mingshan to soak in the hot springs and feast on frog meat.

As a result, the official road was bustling with luxurious carriages, and makeshift tents lined the sides of the road, left by previous travelers for others to use.

The journey was leisurely, with frequent stops, exuding a relaxed, outing-like atmosphere.

Jiang Xiurun had dressed in women’s clothing for this trip, but instead of adorning herself with golden hairpins, she opted for a playful “falling horse” hairstyle, secured with a simple pearl headband.

She wore a light blue dress with an orchid pattern, which stood out beautifully against the backdrop of red and yellow autumn leaves.

Jiang Xiurun’s usual style was bold and glamorous, but this youthful, lighthearted outfit gave her a fresh, innocent charm, like a budding flower exuding a delicate fragrance.

Feng Liwu couldn’t help but stare at her for a long time.

Who would have guessed that this sweet, charming young lady, who could captivate the hearts of many young men, was the same Minister Jiang who had recently been making waves in the political arena, locked in fierce battles with the Ministry of Waterworks?

When they arrived at the foot of Mingshan, many carriages were already parked under the grand stone archway.

The local official in charge of patrolling the mountain hurried over and informed them that the most scenic path on the southern side of the mountain had been reserved for the Crown Prince.

However, the precious frogs that produced the nourishing oil were only available for a few days each year.

If missed, one would have to wait another year.

Although the nobles of Luo’an City, eager for offspring, had heard that the Crown Prince was bringing his concubine and would need some space, many still came.

Feng Liwu didn’t want to appear aloof.

The hot springs and frogs were natural treasures, meant to be shared with everyone.

So, he declined the local officials’ offer to clear the mountain path for him.

However, he did reserve a secluded spot near a stream and waterfall, where they could enjoy the mountain scenery and soak in the hot springs in peace.

Mingshan was a popular destination for nobles, so the mountain paths were gentle and easy to climb.

Even women, using specially made bamboo walking sticks, could make their way up leisurely.

Along the way, there were pavilions and stone tablets inscribed with the works of great scholars from past dynasties, adding to the charm of the hike.

As soon as Feng Liwu stepped out of the carriage, he was greeted by familiar nobles.

Since this was not a formal court setting, they didn’t discuss official matters.

Instead, the men gathered to chat about other topics.

Meanwhile, the noblewomen also gathered together, following their husbands and chatting merrily as they made their way up the mountain.

Although Jiang Xiurun didn’t have the Crown Prince’s network of informants to keep her updated on the movements of the court officials, she believed that the most valuable information often came from servants or the women of the household.

Sure enough, before they had even reached the halfway point, Jiang Xiurun learned from the flattering wife of the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue that Meng Xian, the Minister of the Ministry of Waterworks, had lost out to her “brother,” Jiang Herun, in a dispute over the construction of the Huainan water canal.

The juicy project that Meng Xian had been eyeing had slipped through his fingers, and he had returned home in a rage, taking it out on his favorite concubine.

It was said that the concubine, who was quite beautiful, had been beaten until her face swelled like a pig’s head.

This incident brought great satisfaction to Meng Xian’s wife, who had long resented the concubine for stealing her husband’s affection.

She shared the story with her close friends among the noblewomen, turning it into a joke.

Jiang Xiurun smiled shyly and said she knew nothing about her “brother’s” political affairs.

However, she added that a man who hit women was no true gentleman.

She had heard that such men were often impotent and took their frustrations out on women.

She wondered if Minister Meng had come to Mingshan to catch some frogs and replenish his lacking vitality.

Concubine Yao’s blunt remarks sent the noblewomen into fits of laughter.

It was no wonder Meng Xian was so furious.

The Ministry of Waterworks had a habit of snatching profitable projects from the Agricultural Department, leaving the difficult and unprofitable ones behind.

The construction of water canals involved funds from various counties and districts.

If handled properly, one could simply dig a few ditches and pocket the rest of the money.

Such a lucrative project was not something Meng Xian was willing to let go of.

He had argued fiercely in court, insisting that it should fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Waterworks.

The Ministry of Waterworks had a long history of bullying the Agricultural Department.

Hadn’t the previous Minister of Agriculture been driven to resignation by their harassment?

Now, with a young and inexperienced newcomer like Jiang Herun in charge, who had never even demanded the funds that the Ministry of Waterworks had withheld in the past, Meng Xian thought he would be easy to manipulate.

But to his surprise, as soon as he proposed taking over the water canal project, Jiang Herun had sneered and compared him to a mythical gluttonous beast, saying he had eyes bigger than his stomach and warning him not to choke on his greed.

Meng Xian had never been publicly humiliated like this before.

He angrily retorted that Jiang Herun was being disrespectful and lacked proper etiquette in front of the Emperor.

But Jiang Xiurun, using the debating skills she had honed in the academy, had her subordinates bring out detailed records of the Ministry of Waterworks’ past projects.

These records, which the Agricultural Department had spent half a month compiling, clearly showed the discrepancies between the amounts of materials the Ministry of Waterworks had reported to the court and what had actually been used.

The measurements were precise down to the smallest unit, and each section had been verified and stamped by both the Agricultural Department and the Hanlin Academy to ensure accuracy.

The Ministry of Waterworks’ projects were notoriously inflated, and the discrepancies were so glaring that they shocked everyone present.

After Jiang Xiurun finished reading the records, she asked Minister Meng how much funding he planned to request from the court for the water canal project and how many canals he actually intended to dig.

Caught off guard, Meng Xian could only bluster and call Jiang Herun a slanderous brat.

Jiang Xiurun then shouted back, suggesting that Minister Meng take a few doses of rhubarb to help him digest his excessive greed, lest it rot in his stomach.

If not for the intervention of other officials, Meng Xian might have lunged at Minister Jiang.

In the end, both Emperor Duanqing and the Crown Prince sternly reprimanded the two and docked three months of their salaries to put an end to the commotion.

Although he had been exposed, Meng Xian remained unafraid.

His family, the Mengs, were the backbone of Emperor Duanqing’s reign.

As long as the Emperor remained on the throne, he could handle ten Jiang Xiurun’s accusing him.

However, Emperor Duanqing still needed to maintain some semblance of dignity.

The court historians, who were present during the dispute, recorded everything in detail.

The amount Meng Xian had requested for the water canal project was exorbitant, and the national treasury couldn’t cover it.

In contrast, the Agricultural Department’s proposed budget was surprisingly low.

Although the Emperor didn’t want to investigate Meng Xian’s past embezzlement, the water canal project ultimately fell to the Agricultural Department.

Having suffered such a public humiliation and lost a lucrative project, it was no wonder Meng Xian had gone home and taken his anger out on his concubine.