All Under Heaven

Personality determines fate.

The Chen family of Changle was a large clan, when tracing it back to its ancestry, perhaps it was not as illustrious and ancient as the Zhao family, but it was still larger than the Zhao clan. After a hundred years of reproduction and creations of new bloodlines in the clan, it had long become difficult to keep up with the offspring in the outer branches of the family. There were even many members of the Chen family who were not familiar with everyone’s names in the family, let alone outsiders. Taking for example, the family that Zhao Su had an engagement with, although it was Chen Zhu’s second uncle’s daughter, in reality, this second uncle1 was not a close blood relative and in fact, Chen Zhu could only really call him a ‘first-cousin once removed’2, there were still many layers separating them.

Since the Chen family were large, they naturally also had a lot of members who had achieved scholarly honour. Aside from Chen Zhu, there were also a few other sons of the Chen clan who had become court officials and were in post in other counties, therefore, the Chen family were highly respected in Changle.

However, the more people there are, the more worries there are.

After Maiden Chen who had been engaged to Zhao Su, succumbed to her illness, and Chen Zhu’s first cousin once removed decided that he wanted to matchmake his concubine-born daughter to Zhao Su, there were many in the clan who were watching and ridiculing, waiting for him to make a fool out of himself. Some of them said he was using his daughter to hitch a ride to the sky on the dragon and phoenix3, there were others who said that since the younger sister had died, he might as well use the elder sister to profit in a niggardly fashion. In a blink of an eye, a snowstorm of rumours and gossip had arisen in the Chen family.

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And all this was very far from Zhao Su’s knowledge in the capital.

The Prince of Jing’s palace plot, the demise of Jiajing, the ascension of a new Emperor, the transition to a new ruler – all these changes happened in a blink of an eye. All the civil officials up and down the imperial court were trying to figure out a way to protect their own official position and trying to figure out how their new ruler thought. Because Zhao Su was already working for the Prince of Yu manor previously, he also had a lot of affairs to put in order which left no time to consider the matter of his marriage. However, at this moment, a letter came from Changle from his mother telling him that her health was deteriorating and urging him to get married soon, and finally this brought Zhao Su’s thoughts back onto the Chen family of Changle.

Earlier, the Chen family’s daughter passed away suddenly and the matter of his marriage was put to the side. It was said that the Chen family had the intention of offering their concubine-born daughter as his concubine, but Zhao Su was not born and bred in the Ming Dynasty, he did not really see any importance to whether a maiden was legitimate-born or concubine-born. He had to marry a wife anyway, so why not just take the concubine-born daughter as his legitimate wife, killing two birds with one stone – not only could he fulfil his promise to his mother, it would also please the Chen family.

He had made up his mind and wrote a letter back to his mother asking her to propose marriage to the Chen family on his behalf. Unbeknownst to him, because of his decision, the Chen family got into a huge quarrel, the most unsatisfied person naturally was Chen Zhu’s first cousin once removed’s legitimate wife.

At Chen Manor, a young maiden was hanging her head low standing beside the bed, there was an unfinished flower embroidery in her hands. Compared to the young married woman sitting on the eight immortals table, she was much more plain and less captivating to look at. She was wearing light-blue robes, without any odornments or any jewellery, her hairstyle was also simple and neat with only a simple jade hairpin in it, which could not be considered as a particularly precious item either.

“Greetings to jiejie.” The young maiden spoke very quietly, still hanging her head low, perhaps, it was due to being used to her lowly status that made her speak quietly and carefully, not at all like the elegant and pronounced voice of other maidens of great households, but instead her face carried a hint of compromise and suffering.

“Meimei is too courteous.” Seeing her face, a barely noticeable frown appeared on the young married woman’s face and then disappeared. She was wearing a pink skirt4, light yellow straight-collared button up jacket5. Her hair was brushed up into a double bun6, with a white jade plum blossom hairpin with coral jewels inset. She was the embodiment of grace and beauty, natural and unrestrained, there was a difference of heaven and earth between her and the young maiden.

“I came for a home visit and thought I’d also come to see you. Chen Xue sat down and smiled as she spoke.

The owner of the house was called Chen Pin, and was Chen Zhu’s first cousin once removed. He had four daughters, the one who had been previously engaged to Zhao Su and then passed away was the youngest daughter of the four. Chen Xue was born of his second wife and the young maiden opposite Chen Xue was Chen Hui who was born of his third wife.

Aside from Chen Hui, all the other daughters of the house were legitimate-born.

Chen Xue got married two years ago, her husband’s family were from a neighbouring county, so she rarely came home to visit, and even more rarely talked to her concubine-born younger sister. Today, she had turned up because Chen Hui was incredibly displeased and apprehensive.

“Thank you jiejie for coming to see me.” She mumbled and then had nothing more to say. The two sisters stared at each other in silence, the moment was rather awkward.

Chen Xue was scornful but slapped a smile on her face: “I heard some good news and especially came to congratulate you, meimei.” Seeing Chen Hui’s amazement, she continued: “Last time, do you still remember that father wanted to matchmake you with the Zhao family as a concubine.”

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“Yes, I remember.”

“The Zhao family have sent someone today to inform us that they want to take you as the legitimate wife.”

Chen Hui was greatly shocked: “Jiejie, what do you mean?”

Chen Xue smiled sweetly and said: “Do you really think I’d believe your lies? I heard from mother and I have also seen the letter and the matchmaker, it is all true. Father is delighted and has already agreed to it.”

“…….” Chen Hui opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.

She couldn’t understand, she was a concubine-born daughter who was not favoured, why would the Zhao family look so highly upon her.

She also couldn’t understand how such a blessing could befall onto her.

Even if in this house, there were no longer any unmarried legitimate-born daughters, there were still many maidens in the wider clan. And her husband-to-be…… she had heard the maidservants gossiping that he was a young talent and had achieved tanhua at the imperial examinations, and was now an official in the capital with boundless prospects.

The gap in status between the two of them was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Chen Hui was silent for a while and didn’t react, there was no agreement, nor delight, all that was present was a very unstable and disturbing feeling.

Chen Xue said internally to herself that this marriage should have gone to her legitimate-born sister, but in the end, this usually obsequious concubine-born sister ended up being the one who profited.

Thinking like that, she felt more and more that this sister in front of her was unworthy, and her smile exhibited a touch of contempt.

“Meimei is truly fortunate. Poor Lan’er was unlucky, she died before even getting married, perhaps her luck got transferred over to you?”

Chen Hui jumped from fright, even her face showed her terror. “No, no, I.…..”

This kind of girl, how could she be let out in public, she would lose face for the Chen family!

“I heard that this Zhao da-ren’s mother was also a maidservant, afterwards, using the capabilities of her son she was able to rise up and be promoted to legitimate status. Who knows, perhaps, she saw your status and felt a familiarity with you so she wants you to serve her over there. There’s still another two months before you marry, you should take this opportunity to learn some etiquette and customs, so as to not embarrass the Chen family.”

Although she was brimming with smiles on the outside, every word was like hidden needles, and every syllable filled with sarcasm. Chen Hui became pale but did not dare to retort.

She had long been accustomed to these kinds of cold remarks. The Chen family was at least considered open-minded as concubine-born daughters were also allowed to study and practise calligraphy. But having been born of a lower status, there was still a difference between them, plus, her mother had once been the personal maidservant of her father’s legitimate wife. And it was rumoured that her mother had schemed to get pregnant. This made her legitimate-born sisters look at her in a different light. Over a long period of time like this, Chen Hui had become quiet and reserved and had very little courage to defend herself. When anything happened, she preferred to run and hide, and had never really had anyone close to her to unload her worries. Keeping everything inside, naturally made her carry all the weight on her shoulders, bringing a sadness and sorrow on her face that brought displeasure to the people who saw her.

When Chen Xue saw that she did not reply, she continued to say a few more words but got bored and then got up and left.

But the matter did not resolve here, just like Chen Xue, the people of the manor and the wider clan believed that Chen Hui was profiting off her dead sister, if her sister had not passed away, would she have ever been able to be so lucky?

As rumours and gossip escalated, eventually, Chen Hui also caught wind of it. However, she spent all day everyday hiding inside her chambers so she had no way of standing up for herself, so things escalated further until the days were nearing for her to get married that things began to slowly calm down.

If she had been someone who was more brazen, perhaps she would have thought ‘the more you want to think badly of me, the more I will demonstrate to you that I don’t care and then I’ll happily go and get married’, because the majority of the voices were just envious, and the only way to deal with envy was to strongly make a statement to make the envious ones kneel and bow at one’s feet.

But personality determines fate, Chen Hui wasn’t like this, so day after day, she only continued to keep her silence, all the hidden whispers became a heavy silent burden that she locked up in her heart.

Emperor Jiajing had passed away, but because a new year had not passed, the newly crowned Emperor was still using Jiajing’s regnal name, and had to wait for the passing of the new lunar year in order to establish a new regnal name —— Longqing.

Now, it was the last month of the last year of Jiajing, although, there was bone-chilling wind, one could still feel change on the horizon, in the originally misty and mysterious Forbidden City, there were many eunuchs and palacemaids rushing about with hurried footsteps, carrying a preoccupied feeling that had not existed previously.

Making the palace that had once been filled with the sound of Daoist priests driving away evil seem much calmer.

Zhao Su waved his sleeve and then quick-footed towards the entrance of Xinuan Pavilion7 in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the eunuch guarding the entrance saw him, smiled and said: “Good morning Zhao da-ren, the Emperor is waiting for you!”

Zhao Su smiled and thanked him, and took out a small reward to give to him, after staring blankly for a short moment, the other reached out to receive it and was brimming with smiles, whispering: “His Majesty is in a great mood, please enter Zhao da-ren.”

After he entered, he indeed saw the newly enthroned Emperor sitting behind the desk with a brush pen in his hand, looking miserably at a never ending pile of memorials. Zhao Su thought it was quite humorous, he greeted the Emperor: “This official greets Your Majesty.”

Zhu Zaiji pained expression turned into delight and he quickly said: “Shaoyong, no need to be so courteous, I8 also need to congratulate you!”

Seeing Zhao Su’s confusion, he said: “I heard that you will be getting married soon, is that right?”

It turned out to be about that, when Zhang Juzheng asked about it, he naturally told him about the matter, but would never have thought that in a blink of an eye, even the Emperor had even heard about it. Zhao Su forced out a smile: “Your Majesty is wise9. I have precisely come to ask you for leave, once this official leaves, I won’t return to the capital until next year.”

Zhu Zaiji waved his hand: “Marriage is a serious matter, I will grant your leave. It is far away so I will not be able to make it to your wedding ceremony. When you return, I will bestow you with a congratulatory gift.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

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“There is also another matter to settle. You have done a great meritorious deed and cannot stay at this current rank, but I believe that if you are promoted too quickly, this will cause gossip amongst the other officials and won’t be beneficial to you. So I will wait until your return and promote you. Don’t take it to heart, oh, speaking of which, the position of Minister of Imperial Stud10 is vacant, a few days ago Xu Jie recommended a juren to me…..”

A new Emperor had ascended, promoting all the officials of the former Prince of Yu manor. Chen Yiqin and Zhang Juzheng entered the Grand Secretariat, Zhao Su was promoted to the Chancellor11 of the Directorate of Education, and went from a fifth-rank official to a fourth-rank official12. Considering his age, it was already a meteoric rise. Luckily, this position was noble, but did not have much authority, otherwise one impeachment by the Imperial Censors would have been incredibly troublesome for Zhao Su. However, Zhu Zaiji still believed that this official’s position was still not worthy of Zhao Su, and was thinking of promoting him again.

Zhao Su was speechless and quickly refused: “Thank you Your Majesty for the thought. This official’s capabilities are limited, and I am willing to polish up my abilities over the next few years.”

“Okay, okay, I won’t force you. Luckily you are Jun’er’s teacher and that holds a certain status, no one will dare to look down on you. Now as the Chancellor of the Directorate of Education, it is truly justifiable…..”

Zhu Zaiji continued to talk in a long-winded fashion, whilst Zhao Su listened to him, feeling moved but also wanting to laugh.

Compared to Jiajing, this new Emperor was much more kindhearted and generous. Chatting to him was just like it was before when they were at the Prince of Yu manor, without any signs of pressure.

The Emperor continued to say a few more words and then finally let him go.

Zhao Su bowed and requested his leave before walking towards the exit, when suddenly a person rushed towards him, the two of them shouted out ‘ow’ simultaneously whilst they knocked into each other.

He took another look and finally saw that it was Zhu Yijun who was utterly enraged for an unknown reason.