Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 405: Cui Family (Part 1)
With the two obstructive imperial envoys gone, Nanyang Prince Mansion finally regained its usual peace.
After Jiang Shaohua personally wrote the memorial, she also penned a few letters to the Capital City. The next task was to wait.
Contending with Prime Minister Wang is certainly never an easy matter; it cannot be rushed.
The back-and-forth of official documents and petitions can take more than half a month just on the road. Factoring in the courtiers’ discussions and deliberations, and the struggle between the Grand Empress Dowager’s Faction and the Prime Minister’s Faction, the time consumed is even longer.
One must simply wait patiently. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Song Yuan also wrote a letter and sent it to the Boling Cui Family.
The Boling Cui Family’s response was much quicker than the court’s, with a reply arriving in less than half a month.
"Reporting to the Commandery Princess, the Boling Cui Family has sent a letter." Song Yuan reported with a smile: "Delivering the letter are the eldest son of the Cui Family Master and the elder from Cui Du’s branch."
The eldest son of the Cui Family, destined to be the future Family Head. Cui Du hails from a collateral branch, yet his branch’s elders have also come. This shows the Boling Cui Family’s esteem for Cui Du—something they cannot afford to neglect.
The new grain from Nanyang County was quickly promoted throughout the North. Located in Dingzhou, Boling County is one of the North’s most renowned noble families, and they are certainly not strangers to the highly drought-resistant, high-yield corn and sweet potatoes. In fact, the head of the Boling Cui Family, a man of decisiveness, was among the earliest to purchase these new grain seeds from Tang’s Grain Shop. After a year of bumper harvests, they extolled the new grain.
They had privately inquired who exactly cultivated this new grain, but it was in vain, as the people from Tang’s Grain Shop kept their lips tightly sealed, revealing nothing.
Who would have thought, after all the inquiries, that the cultivator’s surname was Cui, a disciple of the Boling Cui Family!
Indeed, Cui Du is a son of the Cui Family! At his birth, auspicious omens appeared, and the Family Head personally gave him his name.
As for why he later ended up in Nanyang County, there are indeed some convoluted stories involved. However, these stories are of little importance. What matters is that the most outstanding disciple of the Cui Family is now a capable minister of Nanyang County and a pillar of talent for Da Liang.
The court is surely going to bestow much honor. This glory belongs not only to Nanyang County and Cui Du but also to the Boling Cui Family.
After reading the letter from the Cui Family Master, Jiang Shaohua smiled: "This old fox is quite quick to seize the opportunity."
The prosperity of a family has never been the affair of one or two people; it requires the family to unite and strive, generation after generation. Ultimately, it depends on people. These people must be able, promising, and capable sons.
Jiang Shaohua previously arranged Cui Du’s identity as a descendant of the Cui Family, which was merely a trivial matter for the Cui Family. Including Cui Du in the family genealogy was to give face to the Nanyang County Princess. There was no further interaction afterward.
Now it is different. With Cui Du being so young and accomplished, he might have even greater prospects in the future; thus, the Boling Cui Family must take him seriously and show goodwill.
Being someone from a noble family himself, Song Yuan naturally understands the conduct and manners of great families. He said with a smile, "This is also a good thing for Cui Du."
The Cui Family sent people to bring Cui Du’s identity to light. In the future, whenever Cui Du encounters any matters, the Cui Family will have to step forward and exert effort.
Jiang Shaohua smiled and acknowledged, then instructed, "Invite the Cui Family members in; I shall meet with them."
...
A moment later, the party from the Cui Family entered the main hall.
There were six people in total, all direct descendants of the Cui Family. The eldest, with hair graying, was about sixty years old, while the youngest was only sixteen or seventeen. The leading man, around forty, stood in his prime, of medium stature, with a proper appearance and an impressive demeanor. He was Cui Ping, the eldest son of the Cui Family Master.
Cui Ping led the group to pay respects: "Greetings to the Commandery Princess."
This Nanyang County Princess, in just a few years, had taken control of Nanyang and made a remarkable impact in the Capital City, earning considerable fame. Who would have thought that she was so young and beautiful?
A person’s capabilities have nothing to do with age, nor is it important if they are male or female. What matters is that, in front of us, stands a true tigress, whose gentle appearance belies her fierce strength and shrewdness.
Establishing grain shops in the Northern States to promote new grains while quietly gathering and aiding the hungry; such actions are certainly not concealed from the true nobility of the North. A mere Tang Family could not wield such power; it was the Nanyang County Princess who stood behind them.
The Boling Cui Family, after having operated in Boling County for hundreds of years with extensive connections, withstood several years of natural disasters, and Boling County remained relatively peaceful. Unlike the rest of the counties in Dingzhou, where countless people fled, abandoning their homes and livelihoods. Many were discreetly taken by the "house servants" of Tang’s Grain Shop and quietly resettled back in Nanyang County.
Amid the plague in Pingzhou, while the court was indifferent, Nanyang Prince Mansion dispatched people with dozens of carts of medicine to Pingzhou.
This indicates clearly that the Nanyang County Princess is by no means ordinary.
The Cui Family seized the opportunity of petitioning the court for Cui Du’s commendation and reward with subtle implications behind their visit to the Nanyang Prince Mansion, which both parties fully understand.
Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Everyone may dispense with the formalities, please be seated, and let’s converse." She then ordered the officials of the Prince Mansion to come for a meeting.
Cui Ping, being from a noble family and having passed the scholar exams in his youth, carried himself with grace and propriety.
This lively exchange of pleasantries took up almost half of the day.
By noon, the Prince Mansion hosted a welcoming banquet, the scale of which surpassed even that of the two imperial envoys who had not long departed.
The welcoming banquet was lively. After a few cups of wine, the Cui Family members quickly became acquainted with the Prince Mansion officials. Unfortunately, Cui Du was at the field manor and could not return in time.
"I shall promptly send someone to the field manor with a message. By tomorrow at the latest, Cui Du should be back at the Prince Mansion," Jiang Shaohua said with a friendly smile to Cui Ping, her tone warm and kind.
Cui Ping immediately responded, "I was just about to ask the Commandery Princess. I wish to lead the family members to visit the field manor, firstly, to meet with Cui Du earlier, and secondly, to learn from the field manor."
After a brief consideration, Jiang Shaohua smiled in agreement.
Cui Ping’s personal intent, or rather the intent of the Boling Cui Family, was easy to discern. She also wanted to see how Cui Du would react when facing the "family."
...
Cui Ping, acting decisively, led his family on horseback to the field manor that very afternoon.
Song Yuan personally escorted them, serving as a guide.
After a quick hour’s ride, they halted to rest and drink water. Cui Ping naturally sidled up to Song Yuan to converse.
Song Yuan’s aunt had married into the Cui Family, making Song Yuan and Cui Ping equals in familial hierarchy.
Cui Ping spoke with a warm tone, as if greeting a close nephew: "When my aunt was alive, she was kind and benevolent, respected by all. Unfortunately, both my aunt and my cousin passed away early, leaving only a son. Fortunately, you sheltered him at the Prince Mansion, or else he could not have achieved his current status."
This reflected Cui Ping’s expertise in dealing with people.
The Commandery Princess had not yet reached marriageable age, so discussing taking a spouse into the family was premature. To spread the word would portray the Cui Family as impatient and eager, casting them in an unfavorable light.
Therefore, the one who sheltered Cui Du that day had to be Song Yuan, not the Commandery Princess.
