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Chu Lingxuan shook his head, “This position is highly coveted, with many people vying for it, including factions supporting the Second Prince and the Third Prince. Father-in-law is blocking their path, so they are sure to cause trouble for him. If father-in-law had no vulnerabilities, it would be fine, but not only does he have them, his hometown’s dirty laundry is widely known, and rumors spread like wildfire.” Pausing, she continued, “There are already accusations against father-in-law, claiming that upon gaining official status, he divorced his lawful wife, remarried, accepted hefty bribes, acquired hundreds of acres of land within three months, bought a luxurious mansion in town, turned a blind eye to the Zhao family’s wrongdoings, leading to several families being destroyed and displaced, and more. If his past service in Jiangnan is brought up, it will complicate matters even further.”
Shocked, Chen Feng asked, “Will my father be okay?”
Chu Lingxuan held her hand and reassured her, “Don’t worry, there will be a solution.”
Chen Feng was in a state of panic. Even without mentioning his time in Jiangnan, Chen Shiying’s past deeds were enough to cause trouble. She had come to regard Chen Shiying as her own father, couldn’t bear to see him suffer, and certainly didn’t want any harm to befall him. He was in his thirties, at the peak of his life – what would happen if something went wrong? And what about the entire family, including the devoted Madam Jiang, the newly born Yuchao, how would they cope?
Chu Lingxuan led her to sit by the bed, explaining, “The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works, an elderly man, had expressed his intent to resign half a year ago. We assumed that if the Emperor valued father-in-law, he would appoint him to this position. Two months ago, Zhang Cifu suddenly fell ill and passed away, prompting the former Minister of Personnel to replace him, then the Assistant Minister filled the Minister’s position, leaving the Assistant Minister position vacant. The Emperor has always admired father-in-law, especially upon learning that father-in-law’s daughter is the foster mother of the Emperor’s eleventh son, our son. Perhaps the Emperor intended to offer this significant role to father-in-law… Unfortunately, father-in-law has been trapped by that wicked woman from the Zhao family, leaving him vulnerable. While father-in-law is usually tactful, some may choose not to bring up his past misdeeds, but now that he has obstructed others’ paths, they will use those against him. To thoroughly discredit father-in-law, they might even gather evidence of his wrongdoings in Jiangnan…”
Dingzhou Prefecture was not far from the capital, only a little over two hundred miles. Chen Shiying was a notable figure there, and many officials and commoners were familiar with his affairs. The actions of old lady Zhao were like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
Perhaps Chen Shiying was aware of his past “blemishes”, usually navigating smoothly in official circles and in life.
However, this time, his eagerness to make a difference for the people and his high profile had attracted unwanted attention. Additionally, the Emperor’s desire for him to hold a significant position, obstructing others’ paths, had led to the exposure of his past.
“Will anything happen to my father?” Chen Feng asked.
Chu Lingxuan reassured her, “Even if the claim of your father divorcing his lawful wife after gaining official status is proven, it would only tarnish his reputation, not lead to a major issue. Besides, this wasn’t his doing, he was young at the time and unaware of your mother’s status as a fake bride. When your mother was expelled from the household, your father wasn’t present. The concern is that out of filial piety, your father might choose to remain silent and shoulder the blame for that vile woman.”
“That can’t be! That wicked old lady caused harm to my mother and me, and now she’s harming my father. He must not bear the blame for her actions.” Chen Feng declared.
Chu Lingxuan nodded, “Of course. We know the situation best, and if your father doesn’t speak up, I will have others speak for him.” She continued, “The land purchases in the countryside, the mansion in town, that money came from the Tang family, and old Lady Zhao’s involvement – your father was unaware. These matters can’t be entirely blamed on your father, at most, he was negligent in supervising the family. Fortunately, last year, your father took action against those involved in the Zhao family’s misdeeds, returning their ill-gotten gains. Otherwise, your father would have been in a real bind.”
Chen Feng added, “What about my father’s tenure in Jiangnan? He wouldn’t have been involved in corruption.”
She said this somewhat unsurely. Her father came from humble beginnings but was now wealthy.
Chu Lingxuan was most concerned about Chen Shiying’s time in Jiangnan. However, his knowledge of his activities there was limited, unsure of when evidence might have been gathered.
Reflecting, he said, “Your father is cautious, honest, and unlikely to engage in corrupt practices. Your step mother’s dowry was substantial, and she was astute in business – earning significant wealth. The Tang family, sending gifts to ensure their daughter’s well-being in the Chen household, is not unusual. Even if your father might have done something slightly inappropriate, given his intelligence and reputation, he wouldn’t have left himself vulnerable. The concern is that old Lady Zhao or the Tang family could have acted unlawfully behind his back…”
Chen Feng, calmer now, shared the same thoughts. Chen Shiying was careful and had always aimed to be an upright official. While he amassed wealth quickly, he might have skirted the lines occasionally but wouldn’t have embezzled. And he wouldn’t have left himself exposed. Chu Lingxuan was right – his wealth likely came from Madam Jiang and the Tang family. However, his lack of wrongdoing didn’t mean the wicked old lady or the Tang family hadn’t misbehaved or acted under his authority.
Unfamiliar with the laws of the time, she asked, “What would be the best and worst outcomes for my father?”
Chu Lingxuan pondered and replied, “Setting aside the Jiangnan affairs, while your father may have been lax in managing his family, his successful promotion of high-yield crops is undeniable and cannot be erased. The best outcome would be a reprimand from the Emperor but still retaining his position as the Dingzhou Prefecture Magistrate. The worst-case scenario would involve proving his moral shortcomings, neglecting his lawful wife, accepting bribes, leading to a complete downfall… As for the Jiangnan matters, we can only speculate, we don’t know how it will unfold. Tomorrow, when you visit your maternal home, ask mother-in-law. If there are any issues, we should be prepared early…”
Chen Feng held Chu Lingxuan’s hand tightly, “Lingxuan, you must help my father. Currently, only your Chu family, your uncle Lou’s family, and perhaps the Ninth Prince, Prince Rui, can assist him… Oh, and the Ninth Prince owes me a favor, they must help.”
Chu Lingxuan agreed, “I will go to Shizhou Prefecture tomorrow to see my uncle. He’s your father’s immediate superior, and his stance is crucial. I’ll also write to Third Uncle and Prince Rui, with uncle Luo (Steward Luo) delivering the letters. Until your father is safe, uncle Luo will run errands in the capital. The Ninth Prince will likely speak in favor of your father privately to the Emperor. However, publicly advocating for your father would only stir up opposition from the Second Prince’s faction. This would only worsen your father’s situation. If your father hasn’t erred in Jiangnan, let’s hope his merits balance any faults, even if he retains a lower rank, it would allow for a future recovery…”