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After hearing the Crown Prince’s words, Lu Man looked at the Princess with newfound respect. The old lady enjoyed the trust of the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Apart from occasionally putting aside her dignity to request an official position for her descendants, she always knew her place and never overstepped her bounds. She had even reminded Lu Man that if she were no longer around, Lu Man should remember the benefits to the royal family rather than the sentimental ties. For decades, she had been cautious and maintained a delicate relationship with the Emperor and the Crown Prince, caring for her brother and nephew while adhering to her duties as a subject. This was probably why they continued to remember this rare familial affection without feeling averse to it.
The Princess then composed her expression of joy and said, “The Emperor confided in me that Zhanwei performed several extraordinary feats in this war. The smooth conduct of the war and its swift conclusion were not only due to Grand Marshal Xie’s brilliant military tactics but also to Zhanwei’s indispensable contributions. The Emperor also praised him for his youthful talent and said that he is a pillar of the Dachun. The Emperor intends to bestow a baronial title upon Zhanwei and promote him to the rank of Assistant Grand Coordinator of the Central Army, a second-grade official.”
Lu Man was taken aback and exclaimed, “So high?”
Not only was a title being granted, but also a high-ranking official position.
Princess Changting nodded and continued, “Zhanwei is too young and prefers unconventional methods. His motives for going to war were not entirely pure. I believe that at his age, it is not appropriate for him to hold such a high position. With the current unclear situation in the court, I fear that if I am no longer around, he might make a misstep and be exploited, which would be the end of our family… This time, the Emperor will also greatly reward the Xie father and son. But according to the Emperor, Old Duke Xie has already declined the Emperor’s kindness on behalf of Grand Marshal Xie and intends to resign from his official post and relinquish military power. The Xie family, favored by the Emperor and having produced a Crown Prince’s Consort, with several generations of high military prestige, dare not hold too much military power, lest the Emperor disapprove. Their actions are not only to make it easier for the future Crown Princess to navigate but also to pave the way for Xie Dalang and to advance by retreating… We should learn from them. I thought that the title could be accepted, just a barony. But the authority of the Assistant Grand Coordinator is too great, and Zhanwei will only be twenty-two next year. Before he tempers his character and fully gains the trust of the Emperor and the Crown Prince, he should not enter the highest military power circle. I helped him decline the offer, saying that Zhanwei’s abilities and cultivation are insufficient, and his achievements were coincidental. I requested the Emperor to refine him for a few more years, preferably not letting him become a military officer. After much consideration, the Emperor said that his strategic abilities are exceptional, and it would be a waste for him not to pursue a military career. The title will still be granted, but the official rank will not be too high, at most a third-grade military officer.” She then said to Lu Man, “Good child, I am not trying to block Zhanwei’s path or favor the legitimate over the illegitimate. I am truly doing this for his own good. If he cannot understand, you must persuade him. Becoming a third-grade official at such a young age is already quite an achievement.”
The Emperor was comforted to see his old sister so virtuous. The military achievements Zhanwei had achieved this time were indeed significant, even comparable to those of Grand Marshal Xie. Many old ministers said that without Zhanwei’s leadership of the Black Furry Camp, the war would have lasted at least three more years. Three years—not to mention the additional suffering of the border residents, the financial expenditure of the court would have been enormous. Therefore, in terms of military achievements alone, the rewards given to him were not excessive.
The Emperor’s concerns were in line with those of his old sister. Both Jiang Zhanwei and Xie Yu were the pillars of national defense that he had left to his sons. He also felt that although Jiang Zhanwei was exceptionally talented, he was too young and did not like to follow conventional wisdom, thus requiring further refinement.
However, he was hesitant due to Jiang Zhanwei’s significant achievements and the Princess’s face, and he did not want to openly suppress Jiang Zhanwei. Unexpectedly, the Princess herself took the initiative to propose it.
The Emperor was happy and even made a wish that he would consider the official positions of Marquis Jiang and the Jiang Yuanchong the following year, knowing that this was a major concern for the Princess.
The Princess instinctively felt that she should refuse this kindness, as it was a benefit gained by suppressing her grandson from a concubine.
Within the family, using one descendant to secure benefits for another, or sacrificing the interests of individual descendants for the benefit of the entire family, was a common occurrence.
However, this grandson from a concubine had been suppressed by the family and had even become estranged from it. He had tried every means to escape the family’s control, and the achievements he had earned with his life were now being given to other sons, or rather, his interests were being sacrificed for the entire family. This seemed unfair to the grandson from a concubine.
But the old lady was truly reluctant to refuse, as the promotion of the Eldest and Third sons had always been a concern for her. It was easy to talk about officials below the fourth rank, but promotion above the fourth rank was not easy. Her family did not have a good relationship with Empress Wang’s family, who had been operating in the court for decades and had many supporters. There were two occasions when the Emperor wanted to move the Eldest son to a different position, but Empress Wang’s faction found excuses to block it. Not to mention the incompetent Second son, whose official career had reached its peak. But the other two sons were truly outstanding, upright, diligent, and loyal to the monarch…
The old lady did not dare to mention this matter to Lu Man, still feeling somewhat embarrassed. Her actions were not to suppress the concubine’s son and elevate the legitimate son, and they were indeed for Jiang Zhanwei’s long-term development. Perhaps the Emperor also had this intention, but the outcome of the matter was that the concubine’s grandson’s future was being suppressed to secure benefits for the legitimate sons. She thought that in the future, she would compensate Jiang Zhanwei more from her private treasury and tell the Eldest and Third sons to treat Jiang Zhanwei’s family better and better…
Lu Man was unaware of the Princess’s internal struggles but felt that the Princess’s concerns were valid. From being suppressed as a concubine’s son to becoming a Baron and a high-ranking official of the second grade, such a smooth and rapid ascent could easily lead to an extreme inflation of self-confidence. Moreover, Jiang Zhanwei’s personality was already peculiar, without further refinement, problems could easily arise. Jiang Zhanwei’s ability to achieve so many merits was due to his own capabilities, but there were also other (coincidental factors) at play.
Having lived two lives and experienced a brush with death, Lu Man saw many things clearly. Peace and happiness were more important than anything else. Powerful officials, especially those with bad tempers, rarely had good outcomes…
However, she felt that the Princess should not have made decisions on Jiang Zhanwei’s behalf. Old Duke Xie might have made decisions for his son after discussing it with him through a messenger. Moreover, Grand Marshal Xie was a duke and was making way for his son and daughter, he had no grievances.
But what about Jiang Zhanwei? In this family, he was not a legitimate son or grandson who enjoyed the full protection and honor of the family. Although the family provided him with a life of comfort, it had always ruthlessly suppressed him and treated his mother and siblings with indifference. He had endured hardships since childhood and, as an adult, had gone to great lengths to pursue his career, not just for himself but also for those he wanted to protect.
Those achievements were earned with his life and had nothing to do with this family (excluding herself as an outsider).
The Princess’s overstepping to decide his future was unfair to him and could easily provoke his resentment.
Thinking of his stubborn and cold face, Lu Man felt a twinge of heartache.