Yuwen Tong suggested Ling Zhang confer with Ling Zhaowen, but after hearing this, Ling Zhang perceptively sensed that there was something inappropriate about it.
“You’re the emperor, and your decision about the transfer of my uncle shouldn’t be based on the result of my consultation with my uncle,” observed Ling Zhang, his eyebrows contracting.
Seeing as Yuwen Tong was the emperor, a matter as important as the transfer of someone to the position of Shengzhou governor shouldn’t be left to him and his uncle to use their discretion, although his relations with Yuwen Tong were special.
Ling Zhang’s comment was perceptive, but Yuwen Tong was astonished by it, fixing Ling Zhang a stare.
“Although I’m a little worried, you shouldn’t let it affect your decision. If you feel that transferring my uncle to the position of Shengzhou governor is the right thing to do, then–”
Before Ling Zhang could finish his sentence, Yuwen Tong abruptly jerked him into his embrace.
Then Yuwen Tong chuckled beside his ear, “Soon we’ll be a married couple, and all that is mine is yours. Right now we’re discussing this as husband and wife.”
A married couple? Husband and wife? A flush spread over Ling Zhang’s face all the way to his ears. “Say something sensible.”
Yuwen Tong replied, “This couldn’t be more sensible. The wedding ceremony is very close, and I won’t let you chicken out. I know what you mean. In a sense, it is indeed a little selfish of me to transfer your uncle to the position of Shengzhou governor, but the precondition for it is that your uncle has what it takes to stand the test. I have faith in your uncle.”
Ling Zhang kept silent for a few moments before he asked, “You really think so?”
Yuwen Tong responded, “Yeah. You don’t even believe in your own uncle?”
Of course Ling Zhang believed in his own uncle, but he was still unable to dismiss his apprehension, which was why he wanted Yuwen Tong to give it some more thought before making a decision.
“I see. I’ll inform my uncle of it beforehand so that he could prepare himself for it,” said Ling Zhang.
Having made a decision, Ling Zhang wouldn’t say anything more. In his eyes, it was more important for him to support Yuwen Tong than to worry about things and question his judgement.
Yuwen Tong, who was quite shrewd, was observing and analyzing Ling Zhang’s every move, so he naturally was aware of what Ling Zhang’s reaction meant, but this was also the very reason why he found it difficult to control his emotions.
“Even if you’re to confer with your uncle, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to do it. Tonight what you should do is rest well.”
While saying this, he drew Ling Zhang towards the bedchamber.
Ling Zhang, who was still pondering how to talk with his uncle about this matter the next day, subconsciously walked forward with Yuwen Tong. When he became conscious of externals, he had already been stripped naked.
…
The next day, Ling Zhang went to see Ling Zhaowen.
“What’s the matter? You seem to have trouble starting a conversation with me. I’m your uncle. You can talk with me about anything,” Ling Zhaowen said to Ling Zhang.
Ling Zhang collected his thoughts. “Uncle, Xu Lingyun, the Shengzhou governor, will be transferred to Cangzhou, and his post will fall vacant. His Majesty has decided to appoint you in his stead. Early tomorrow morning someone will come here from the palace to deliver a verbal instruction from His Majesty, summoning you to the palace.”
Ling Zhaowen was somewhat astonished at these words, but he gave no other particular reaction. This news came as something of a surprise to him.
“Appointing me the Shengzhou governor? Uh… nobody raised any objections in the imperial court?”
Ling Zhang shook his head. “The decision is final.”
Ling Zhaowen thought about it very carefully for a few moments and then said, “I see. I’ll prepare myself to go to the palace tomorrow morning.”
Seeing Ling Zhaowen didn’t appear awkward or flustered at all and looked very composed, Ling Zhang asked, “Does this not strike you as too sudden, Uncle?”
Ling Zhaowen said, “It’s indeed quite sudden.”
But the next moment, he saw the expression on Ling Zhang’s face and came to understand what Ling Zhang meant. With a smile, he said, “But I’m not completely unprepared. I know that I’ll surely be transferred to another post after the change of your identity. Your father has no intention of pursuing a political career, and your grandfather is in his declining years, but someone in our family has to assume the responsibility for bringing honor to the family name and making it worthy of your status, so that people wouldn’t look down upon us. There was a time when I was wondering what kind of arrangements His Majesty would make. It never crossed my mind that I’d be transferred to the position of Shengzhou governor.
The post is one rank higher than my present one. It’s not a high-profile promotion but a fairly reasonable one. The only part that surprises me is that it’s Shengzhou that His Majesty is transferring me to. The North-western Army is stationed not far away from Shengzhou, and Governor Xu has been governing the prefecture for many years, so the overall situation there is stable. If I go there, the most important thing I’ll have to do is enforce the newly issued decrees to help the people there restore their lives and get everything back on track as quick as possible in the post-war period, and make some achievements in my official career. It’ll be a very good opportunity for me to toughen up, and it’s a very good job too.”
After Ling Zhang heard Ling Zhaowen’s words, the light dawned on him. He suddenly came to realize that Shengzhou was just the place his uncle needed to go to, that Yuwen Tong must have given it quite some thought before making this decision, that the night before it’d been totally unnecessary for him to subconsciously worry at the beginning that his uncle might not be able to handle that job.
“Are you worried about me?” Ling Zhaowen asked with a smile. “You may rest assured that I’ll achieve something and I won’t embarrass you. I’m looking forward to this job.”
“That’s not what I mean, Uncle,” said Ling Zhang.
Ling Zhaowen patted his shoulder. “I know. This transfer is a great opportunity for both me and our family, and I won’t let it slip away. I just wonder when I’m supposed to take office. Did His Majesty mention it to you?”
Ling Zhang shook his head. “No, but I think it’s after my and his wedding ceremony. Xu Lingyun will depart for Cangzhou in two days, and they can’t let the position of Shengzhou governor stay vacant for long.”
Ling Zhaowen also had a deduction about the time he was supposed to assume office, which was very close to the one Ling Zhang told him. “It seems that I’ll have to make some arrangements in advance.”
“About Aunt Caiwei…”
“She’ll have to stay in this city. The journey will be too weary for her to make.”
Ling Zhaowen answered the question in a very calm tone. His decision about this matter was very definite. Fu Caiwei was pregnant, and a long journey was bad for her health, so it’d be best if she stayed in the capital city waiting for the baby to come.
“You’re going to be separated from Aunt Caiwei…” said Ling Zhang.
Ling Zhaowen chuckled, “It’ll only be a temporary separation. My only concern is whether she’ll be delivered of the baby safely.”
Ling Zhang hurriedly said, “I promise I won’t let anything happen to Aunt Caiwei!”
Ling Zhaowen said, “I know. Since I’ll go to Shengzhou, you’ll have to take on the responsibility for taking care of our family. If possible, I’ll figure out a way to come back when the baby is due.”
They’d have to make some careful preparations for this matter, and whether his uncle would be able to come back would depend on the specific circumstances at that time. It was too early to talk about that.
…
The next day, Ling Zhaowen was summoned to the imperial palace. As Ling Zhang had told him, he was promoted to the position of Shengzhou governor, which was one rank higher than his previous post. The official seal and the papers of transfer had been issued to him, but the tailors were still working on his official robes. Apart from him, Xu Lingyun and Xiao Ziyan had also been transferred to other posts, both of whom had to depart for Cangzhou in two days, which was rather short notice.
Some of the courtiers were surprised at the transfer of the three of them. Others were unsurprised. Old Master Ji and Chu Liangyan, who had been informed of it some time ago, were totally unperturbed.
Ling Zhaowen was Ling Zhang’s uncle, the only member of the Ling family who was pursuing a political career. Neither Ling Zhang’s father nor his grandfather were government officials, so it was a natural thing that Ling Zhaowen had been promoted, and all people found it understandable. Xu Lingyun’s transfer to Cangzhou, however, surprised many.
On his way out of the palace, Ling Zhaowen chanced upon Xu Lingyun and Xiao Ziyan. Xu Lingyun offered to go to the Ling Mansion to be a guest. Naturally, Ling Zhaowen agreed readily.
Ling Zhaowen had a shrewd deduction about the reason why Xu Lingyun offered to go to the Ling Mansion to be a guest despite his tight schedule.
Predictably, after taking a seat in the Ling Mansion, Xu Lingyun brought up the matter of Shengzhou and talked a lot with Ling Zhaowen, the would-be Shengzhou governor.
Xu Lingyun didn’t really have to do this, but he did, so Ling Zhaowen naturally lodged this favor in his mind.
Ling Zhang, who could tell why Xu Lingyun was doing this, naturally decided to bear this favor in mind as well.
After his talk with Ling Zhaowen was over, Xu Lingyun had a word with Ling Zhang in private.
Ling Zhang invited him to his courtyard house to take a seat. “I’m much obliged to you for offering my uncle so many tips, Governor Xu.”
“It’s my pleasure, Childe Ling. Governor Ling and I are both His Majesty’s servants. Sparing Governor Ling some trouble is the least I could do,” said Xu Lingyun.
“No matter what, I’ll keep your kindness in mind. You and Deputy Commander Xiao are going to depart for Cangzhou in two days. Have you got everything you need? Is there anything I could do to help?” asked Ling Zhang.
Xu Lingyun replied, “It’s just a couple of traveling bags that we need to prepare. Some guards will be accompanying us on the journey, and they’ll take care of everything for us, so for the moment there’s nothing we couldn’t handle, but Ziyan and I both find it regrettable that we won’t be able to attend your and His Majesty’s wedding ceremony. Your wedding was the very reason why we came to this city, but now what with the urgent situation in Cangzhou, we have to leave ahead of schedule. The imperial wedding is probably going to be quite an occasion. It saddens me that we’ll miss such a spectacular scene.”
Ling Zhang chuckled, “Believe me, it’ll be nothing but a miscellany of meaningless formalities. If you two really feel regretful, I’ll intercede with His Majesty and have him give you two the permission to stay until after our wedding to depart.”
Xu Lingyun dissolved into laughter. “It’s a joke. The matter of Cangzhou can’t wait. Ziyan and I both have sense of perspective. Although we feel it regrettable to miss your and His Majesty’s wedding, it is within our power to deliver the wedding gift to you beforehand. We’ve handed it over to His Majesty already earlier this day. You’ll see it after you enter the palace. I hope it won’t strike you as unpresentable.”
“That’ll never happen. It’s a token of your benediction, which we’ll both cherish,” said Ling Zhang. “I’m afraid you two won’t be able to get any leisure anytime soon after you go to Cangzhou. If you need any help from the imperial court or me, all you have to do is ask.”
Ling Zhang was fully aware that given Xu Lingyun’s abilities and dash, he would be transferred back to a position of responsibility in the capital city sooner or later, that this job in Cangzhou would be the springboard for Xu Lingyun’s future transfer back to the capital city. Xu Lingyun would definitely have to handle the matter of Cangzhou with distinction, and it was undoubtedly impossible for him and Xiao Ziyan to achieve that unaided. They would surely need some help from the capital city.
Unsurprisingly, Xu Lingyun was very happy to hear this promise from Ling Zhang. “I’m very grateful for your kindness, Childe Ling.”
Xu Lingyun was a great talker, and the two of them sat there for a long time, chatting about a lot of things. During the long talk, they naturally got more acquainted with each other and even found that they were fairly like-minded, so the mood was much more relaxed and pleasant.
By paying the Ling Mansion a visit, Xu Lingyun had made overtures to Ling Zhang on his own initiative, and Ling Zhang had given him his word, so both of them were satisfied.
Before long, Xu Lingyun and Xiao Ziyan took their leave. Ling Zhang personally walked them to the front gates of the Ling Mansion.
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