Chapter 62: Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law Share One Heart

As the wedding date drew near, in accordance with the rules of propriety, it was no longer appropriate for Zhao Han to visit the Sheng family estate.

However, Sheng Hong ultimately failed to suppress the astonishment in his heart.

Using the pretext of discussing official business today, he specifically sent his trusted valet, Dong Rong, to invite Zhao Han into the manor for a private conversation.

Sheng Hong’s study was located in the side wing on the west side of the main courtyard. It was spacious and bright, with a few clumps of verdant bamboo planted outside the window, adding a sense of serene elegance.

When Zhao Han leisurely mentioned that the Emperor had bestowed upon him the courtesy name Chengyuan, Sheng Hong, who was in the midst of raising a teacup to his lips, suffered a violent hand tremor.

"Pfft—"

A mouthful of top-quality Liu'an tea spewed directly from his mouth, causing him to choke and cough repeatedly.

His aged face flushed crimson, and the teacup clattered as it tilted over on the nearby desk.

"Father-in-law, are you alright?"

Concern etched across his face, Zhao Han rose to offer a handkerchief, only to be fended off by Sheng Hong’s flailing sleeves.

"Cough, cough, cough... You... what did you say?"

Panicking, Sheng Hong hastily wiped the tea stains from his lapels with his sleeve, his mind consumed entirely by the news of the imperial courtesy name.

Regaining his breath at last, Sheng Hong widened his eyes, his voice trembling as he subconsciously lowered it to a whisper.

"My dear son-in-law!"

"As far as I know, since His Majesty ascended the throne, the number of times he has bestowed courtesy names upon subordinates can be counted on one hand."

"This is an immense honor, especially considering how young you are... Extraordinary... simply extraordinary..."

Maintaining his deferential posture, Zhao Han replied in a gentle voice, "Rest assured, Father-in-law, your son-in-law understands the gravity of this."

"These two characters, Chengyuan, are both a grace from heaven and a heavy responsibility."

"Walking the halls of the imperial court from now on, I shall forever keep in mind those eight words: walking on thin ice, trembling with cautious fear."

Strokeing his beard, Sheng Hong nodded repeatedly, "Ah, precisely."

Suddenly stretching his neck forward, he continued, "Having won the Emperor's favor, many in the court will undoubtedly seek to draw you into their fold. The factions of the Prince of Yong and the Prince of Yan are fighting like bickering roosters."

"You must remember this: the question of the imperial succession is like a red-hot branding iron—do not touch it!"

"I had you summoned to the estate today precisely for this matter."

With a calm and steady gaze, Zhao Han articulated every word clearly, "Your son-in-law understands. Henceforth, no matter when or where, I shall form no cliques and attach myself to no factions, serving solely as a pure official devoted to the welfare of the state."

"Very good. Indeed, my judgment of character was not wrong. From now on, the two of us, father-in-law and son-in-law, shall be of one heart, and we need not fear a stagnant official career!"

"I can rest completely assured entrusting Hua'er to you."

Turning his head to look at Zhao Han, Sheng Hong could not help the corners of his mouth from curling upward.

After some idle chat, the sun outside the window gradually sank toward the west.

Zhao Han rose to take his leave. Just as he turned past the hanging flower gate, a soft, sweet voice suddenly drifted to his ears.

"Elder Brother-in-law!"

Hearing this, Zhao Han paused in his tracks and looked back to see Minglan trotting over, holding up the hem of her skirt while the pearl ornaments in her hair swayed gently.

At this age, Minglan still retained a touch of childish innocence, yet the contours of her delicate, rounded face were beginning to emerge. In every expression and smile, the grace of her future years was faintly discernible.

"Sixth Young Lady." Zhao Han’s brow relaxed, his voice softening unconsciously. "Is there something you need of me?"

Minglan stopped three paces away from him and offered a proper, respectful curtsy.

Then, raising her small face, a pair of apricot eyes shimmering with watery light, she spoke.

"Little Madame said this is a token of her sincerity, wishing Elder Brother-in-law and Elder Sister a hundred years of harmony and a union like the zheng and se."

"Since it is inconvenient for her to show her face publicly, she figures that the next time Elder Brother-in-law visits the estate, it will most likely be for Elder Sister's home-visiting day."

"Thus, she asked me to deliver this wedding gift in advance, and hopes Elder Brother-in-law will not find it lacking."

With that, she carefully added, "Little Madame spent several nights embroidering this; the stitches are exceptionally fine."

Zhao Han accepted the piece and glanced at it, seeing an embroidery depicting a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water. He softly said, "Please convey my gratitude to Madame Wei, Sixth Young Lady."

"Later on, I shall surely find a top-quality rosewood frame to mount it, and hang it in the most prominent place in the side wing."

Upon hearing this, Minglan beamed brightly, revealing two sweet dimples. "As long as Elder Brother-in-law likes it."

With a graceful bow, she said, "Do take care on your way, Elder Brother-in-law. I must still pay a visit to First Madame to deliver the embroidered shoes Little Madame made for Elder Sister."

Following closely behind her, Xiaotao hastily curtsied as well, piping up in a crisp voice, "Take care, Elder Brother-in-law!"

No sooner had the words left her lips than the mistress and servant exchanged a glance and scurried off like a wisp of smoke.

Smiling, Zhao Han shook his head and walked straight out of the Sheng residence.

***

At the foot of the Imperial City, the Prince of Yan's Manor.

The Prince of Yan furrowed his brows deeply, pacing back and forth as if troubled by brooding grievances. "The famine in Liangzhe, yet His Majesty refuses to heed my advice to open the granaries and distribute grain."

"Instead, he listens to slanderous counsel and adopts some preposterous scheme of price stabilization!"

"If refugees rise up across Liangzhe and corpses litter the fields, I should like to see how they manage to clean up this mess!"

With that, he halted his stride and slammed a hand down angrily onto the rosewood desk, sending the teacups rattling.

Pang Bin, a Bureau Director in the Ministry of Revenue, spoke with utmost caution, "Your Highness, as far as this subordinate knows, His Majesty has lately been frequently summoning a Hanlin compiler by the name of Zhao Han."

Before he could finish, the Prince of Yan whirled around sharply, his piercing gaze sweeping across like the edge of a blade.

Pang Bin's voice dropped a fraction lower involuntarily. "The policy of price stabilization was precisely the policy proposal submitted by this very person."

Stealing a glance at the Prince of Yan’s expression, he cautiously added, "This subordinate has also heard that His Majesty has bestowed quite a number of rewards upon him recently."

"For a newly minted top scholar entering the court to not only make waves in the Hanlin Academy but also command such lavish imperial favor is truly a rarity."

Hearing this, the Prince of Yan tightly knitted his brows. "A top scholar... I never knew such a figure had emerged in the court."

"Is there someone backing him from the shadows?"

Pang Bin pondered for a moment, then bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, this subordinate has investigated thoroughly."

"This man comes from a merchant family in Yangzhou, and his newly betrothed bride's family is none other than Sheng Hong, a newly transferred Director of Merit in the capital."

With that, a trace of disdain crossed his face. "This subordinate has crossed paths with Sheng Hong a few times; the man is timid and overly cautious of trouble."

"Ridiculously enough, when this subordinate attempted to draw him into our fold on several occasions, he brushed me off with vague evasions."

"Truly a spineless creature who cannot mount the stage."

"If Zhao Han had anyone backing him, he certainly wouldn't have sought out such a father-in-law."

Hearing this, the tension in the Prince of Yan's brow relaxed slightly. He said in a deep voice, "We cannot yet fathom the mind of that old fogey in the palace, but keep a tight watch on any official who frequently enters the inner court."

"If this man truly possesses great talent, even if he cannot be made use of by us, he must under no circumstances fall into the clutches of that old scoundrel Zhao Zonghe (the Prince of Yong)!"

Qiu Zheng immediately acknowledged the order. "Your Highness is entirely correct."

"If soft methods fail, we shall resort to hard ones. It is high time he learned which mountain to bow to here in Bianjing City."

The Prince of Yan cast a brooding glance at Qiu Zheng, then turned to face the carved wooden lattice window.

The heavy dusk stretched his silhouette long and thin.

"Zhao Han..."

He murmured the name softly, tapping his fingertips rhythmically against the window frame with a dull thud, while a faint sense of unease quietly stirred in his heart.