Chapter 121: Insight - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 121: Insight

As soon as she arrived at the corridor, Feng Jinyao heard the lively voices of her family. Upon entering, she indeed saw the entire family present.

Her grandparents sat high on the main seat, her parents and older brother and sister-in-law sat on the left, while her two uncles and their wives, along with her cousin Siruo whom she hadn't seen in many days, were seated on the right.

"Grandfather, Grandmother, please forgive my tardiness." Feng Jinyao said respectfully, bowing deeply towards the elderly couple. This etiquette should have been performed on the second day of the new year, but unfortunately, the Feng family had kept their doors closed until today.

"Rise quickly, rise quickly," the elderly couple gestured lightly, and Cui Gu, beside Madam Bai, stepped forward to help her up. Feng Jinyao then respectfully bowed towards her uncles and aunts. "Greetings to Uncle and Aunt."

Bai Lin, the wife of her eldest uncle, frowned deeply upon hearing about her recent activities. Without waiting for others to speak, she spoke out, "You, child, are naturally delicate, yet you still went to take care of your eldest nephew. When we heard about it, we worried for half a month."

Feng Jinyao smiled and looked at the concerned expressions of the elders, quickly apologizing.

"Aunt Lin is correct. It was a sudden situation at the time. I will certainly be more careful in the future."

Although called 'reprimands,' they were actually expressions of concern. It felt good to be cared for like this, and Madame Feng wiped away her tears.

"Alright, alright, the storm has finally passed. We also brought some supplements bestowed by His Majesty. Once Yunhe's illness is completely cured, the two of you can return to court. Otherwise, if someone finds a fault, it will be difficult to clear your name."

After all, smallpox is contagious. A slight oversight could lead to complications.

"Don't worry, Father-in-law. Your son-in-law knows what to do."

"Hmm, I came today to discuss another matter with you. Let them accompany your mother for a chat."

"Yes, let's go to the study."

Seeing Bai Xiang stand up, the two uncles followed suit. Feng Jinxu had already entered officialdom, so naturally he had to go with them. Feng Jinlin, however, felt a bit awkward, unsure whether he should go or not.

"Come, although you haven't entered officialdom yet, there are some things you should understand." Bai Xiang noticed his hesitation and specifically addressed him.

Feng Jinlin suppressed his usual rebelliousness and respectfully replied, "Yes."

After the men in the hall had filed out, Bai Siruo, who had been hesitant to speak loudly earlier, finally spoke up.

"Ah Yao, I was so worried about you."

"It's the New Year; don't say such things randomly. Go touch the wood." Bai Lin reminded her, watching the two of them get along so well, she was genuinely happy.

Turning to Princess Wen Yi sitting next to Madam Feng, she spoke up.

"Big Brother has suffered these days. We brought many supplements. When he's better, remember to stew them for him. As for you, with two bodies, you must be extra careful. Calculate the days; the peak of summer will be when you give birth. The imperial city has always been hot in summer. Fortunately, this time, I brought a cool jade cushion for you. It's suitable for lowering temperature without causing coldness."

Madam Wen was pleasantly surprised. She had been married for many years and had not interacted much with her relatives. Unexpectedly, her eldest sister-in-law was so thoughtful.

"Thank you for your concern, eldest sister-in-law."

"Don't thank me. Thank your fourth sister-in-law. This is her dowry."

She teasingly pointed to Princess Wen Yi sitting next to her.

Princess Wen Yi was from a princely family, and her dowry might include things from the palace. This revelation surprised everyone, and Madam Wen hesitated over whether she could accept it.

"Good child, please sit down quickly. Your two sister-in-laws have many good things. Just use them."

Madam Bai spoke up, and everyone present burst into laughter.

Gradually, Madam Wen's restraint eased, and amidst the lively chatter of the women and girls of the family, they discussed the gossip of the capital city for a while and ordered the meal to be prepared. Finally, they could enjoy a proper reunion dinner together.

Meanwhile, in the study, a looming storm was brewing.

Feng Hai frowned tightly. He had thought his father-in-law called him for something else, but unexpectedly, it was about his promotion.

"Did Big Brother really say that?"

"Yes, the transfer order is already being drafted. It should be issued in a few days."

The Feng family had just closed its doors due to smallpox, and now they were unable to attend the New Year's court. Yet, the promotion order was already in progress?

Thinking back on these unsettling days, he speculated that there must be a 'divine intervention' at play.

"I originally thought that you could stay in the capital this time to help each other at home. I never expected it would be a transfer. However, this position of Inspector of Transport is indeed a promotion, and after three years abroad, returning will surely lead to commanding the Ministry of Revenue, a position as Chief Secretary that cannot be escaped."

Bai Xiang spoke with confidence. Although he was only a fifth-ranking Hanlin Academician, he had plenty of opportunities to gauge the Emperor's intentions.

Originally, the position set for Feng Hai was Vice Minister of Revenue. Unexpectedly, Mr. Wang, who was originally supposed to be transferred as Inspector of Transport, had made a mistake. The Ministry of Personnel urgently submitted a new list, and with a stroke of the Emperor's pen, this plum job fell to his brother-in-law.

Inspector of Transport held more real power than Vice Minister of Revenue.

Although it was an official posted outside the capital, they controlled not only the transport of grain in the thirteen provinces of Zhejiang but also commanded a naval camp of three thousand troops.

In previous years, major aristocratic families had scrambled desperately for this position. It was unexpected that his brother-in-law would have such luck, truly turning a disadvantage into an advantage.

Unfortunately, before Grandfather Bai could celebrate for his brother-in-law, he saw Bai Xiang's dark face and silence.

Seeing his father's unusual expression, Fourth Uncle pulled his sleeve to warn him not to be too happy too soon.

After a moment, Bai Xiang spoke slowly.

"Inspector of Transport may look like a plum job to outsiders, but I think it's a hot potato. If you do well, it's your duty as a subject. However, if there are any mishaps, it could lead to the downfall of our entire family. Feng Hai, what do you think?"

"Father-in-law, over the years at the Ministry of Revenue, I've had some dealings with the Transport Bureau. There are many undercurrents involved in the transport of grain. Not to mention the resentment caused by levying grain taxes, just the logistics of grain transportation alone is a battleground. From Zhenjiang, where seven million stones of grain are dispatched, to Dongdu, barely half remains by the time it arrives. You can imagine the enormity of the losses along the way."

"Is what you're saying true?"

Bai Xiang was surprised. Grain loss during transportation was normal and he could understand if officials at various levels skimmed off some. But barely half remaining was an exaggeration.

Feng Hai's expression was serious as he nodded solemnly.

What was frightening was that such situations were tacitly accepted in the court. No one dared to speak out. Fortunately, the granaries in the capital were full now. If... he really didn't dare to think about the consequences.