On the eve of the Lunar New Year, Yu Mingyue received a letter from her elder brother. He had successfully arrived at Yumenguan.
By the Zoumachuan, by the Xuehai, the vast desert stretches to the sky. Yu Mingyue could imagine the scene described in the poem: a river of gravel as large as a bucket, rolling with the wind.
Yu Mingyue carefully put away the letter. Although her brother was stationed at Yumenguan, just like in the storybooks, this was his own choice this time.
This time, she would no longer be a burden to her brother. She would be his support, protecting the Yu family until he returned.
Chai Xinye was dead. Without his instigation, the aristocratic families would not hold her brother, Jiayan, responsible for their families' decline.
Although the aristocratic families had declined, they had all managed to preserve their family members. They at least had a chance to make a comeback, and their younger generations could participate in the imperial examinations like all other scholars.
She could not change the course of history. The aristocratic families were destined to decline, and only then could the Nine-Rank System be abolished and the imperial examinations be promoted to select talent widely.
This was a change of eras, just as the Nine-Rank System had replaced hereditary rule.
She hoped that in the future, Great Wei could truly achieve a prosperous nation and a contented populace, where scholars uphold the imperial court, generals defend the land, and the nation resides in its vast expanse, stands in its rightful position, and follows the great path of the world.
Yu Mingyue looked up. The fireworks in the dark blue sky were brilliant. As the sun shines and the moon gives light, she wished her distant friends and family a happy new year, everlasting joy, and shared happiness year after year.
"Sister, fireworks, let's set off fireworks!" Yu Liulang clapped his hands excitedly.
Yu Liuniang then smiled and stepped forward. Today was the first day of the new year, and even her second brother was not in his room reading but celebrating with everyone.
Her second brother would be taking the imperial examination next year and had been studying diligently in his room. Not only was he studying himself, but he was also urging their third and fourth brothers to study with him, showing the demeanor of an elder brother.
Yu Mingchuan watched the rising fireworks and thought of his elder brother, who was far away at Yumenguan. He knew the Duke's mansion was facing difficulties.
The Yu family had no one in the imperial court, and the Emperor was wary of these hereditary dukes and marquises. Their uncle and elder brother were defending the country abroad, risking their lives to show their loyalty to the Emperor and ensure their family's safety.
He could not just enjoy their protection; he was also a descendant of the Yu family, and the family's rise and fall were his responsibility.
"Your grandmother sent a letter," Second Master Yu dared to mention it only on this joyous occasion.
"Grandmother sends several letters every month; it's not unusual," Yu Mingyue said, not caring at all.
The old woman, after returning to the old residence, was still restless, slandering her mother's reputation in front of relatives. Every letter was a complaint about the old house being dilapidated, the maids not being clever enough, and the lack of money.
Second Master Yu chuckled awkwardly. "Your grandmother wants Fourth Sister and Fifth Brother to return to the capital after the new year. She says Fourth Sister is of marriageable age and fears she will be delayed in the old home. She also wants the Duke's mansion to find a renowned teacher for Fifth Brother's studies."
He also knew that the Old Madam's current predicament was her own doing, but she was still his elderly mother. She cried in her letters, and he couldn't just ignore it.
"With the Old Madam in charge of Fourth Sister's marriage, how could my mother have a say? This is disrespectful to the Old Madam," Yu Mingyue said with a smile, looking at Second Master Yu. "Second Uncle, you are aware of our family's current situation. If Fourth Sister and Fifth Brother enter the capital, it will be Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt next. You are not unaware of Fourth Uncle's ambition. If they cause trouble then, and Father and eldest brother are not here, if Second Uncle can handle it, I, as a junior, have no objections."
Second Master Yu gave two dry chuckles. "Second Uncle was merely asking for Sixth Sister's opinion. I cannot make decisions on this matter. Your Fourth Uncle and his family are taking good care of your grandmother at the old residence. It's good, it's good!"
This girl was getting more and more formidable. Fortunately, he hadn't agreed.
He was just a minor official of low rank, not successful in officialdom, and even less so in the inner chambers. He couldn't suppress his fourth brother, let alone his elderly mother. If they returned to the mansion, they would likely revert to the chaotic days of the past.
His elderly mother always disliked him for not being as accomplished as his elder brother and not being as sweet-tongued as his fourth brother. She either looked down on him or gave him cold glances. His position in the mansion was only slightly better than that of his third brother.
Now, everything in the mansion was going well, and even his wife wasn't arguing with him anymore. His life was quite comfortable. It was better not to return to the past.
"Second Uncle, Second Brother is about to take the examination, Eldest Sister is about to be married, and Third Sister's marriage is not yet settled. The peace of the household is most important," Yu Mingyue said meaningfully.
The most feared thing was the Old Madam making her own decisions and letting Fourth Sister and Fifth Brother enter the capital first. Once they were in the mansion, it would be difficult to get rid of them.
Second Master Yu also thought of this, and then of his son's future. If these matters were to affect him and cause him to miss the spring examination, what then?
"Sixth Sister, rest assured. I will write to the old residence immediately and ask the clan leader to keep an eye on them."
Yu Mingyue smiled. "Second Uncle indeed has great insight."
Second Master Yu smiled so widely that his eyes disappeared, which was a rare compliment from this girl.
After a long while, he suddenly realized that he was the elder, and there was nothing to be happy about being praised by a junior.
No, no. These children were becoming more and more ambitious. As an elder, he couldn't fall behind. With his elder brother and the heir not in the capital, and his third brother not eloquent, all the social engagements for the Duke's mansion this year would fall on him.
Second Master Yu suddenly felt a heavy responsibility, and his gaze became more determined.
...
In the blink of an eye, it was the Lantern Festival banquet. Yu Mingyue wore a skirt made of Shu brocade, a gift from the Empress, which shimmered and was incredibly luxurious.
Yu Mingyue had a good complexion, with fair skin. The makeup only enhanced her beauty, with just a light application of lipstick, bringing out her exquisite features to the fullest.
Consort Cui nodded with satisfaction. It was elegant and not ostentatious, which was very good.
"Mother, after we enter the palace, I want to see Sister Luo and Yuxi. I heard Yuxi is pregnant."
Yu Mingyue had not seen them for a long time since her last hasty visit to the palace and truly missed them.
She had always thought that Youyou would be the first among them to get married and become pregnant, but she did not expect it to be Yuxi.
Consort Cui nodded. Xiao Che was already married, and father and son were both working hard for him, the future emperor. He would not act recklessly if he wanted to secure his position as Crown Prince.
The Eastern Palace had many consorts, concubines, and ladies-in-waiting. With the Crown Princess and Consort Mo protecting her, she was not worried.
As soon as Yu Mingyue entered the Eastern Palace, she encountered Feng Yingying. There is a saying that enemies meet on a narrow road, and the ancients were not wrong.
She suspected that Feng Yingying had specifically sent people to guard the entrance of the Eastern Palace, waiting for her.
Yu Mingyue originally didn't want to bother with her, but after all, she was now a consort. Even if someone protected her, she still had to put on a show of courtesy.
"This subject greets Consort," Yu Mingyue curtsied.
Feng Yingying looked at the fabric of Yu Mingyue's clothes with displeasure. This year, the tribute Shu brocade was all given to the Empress by the Emperor, and the Empress then distributed it to the Eastern Palace. Luo Lingyi had given it all to Mo Yuxi. She, as a consort of the Eastern Palace, felt truly humiliated.
Feng Yingying did not tell her to rise, so Yu Mingyue had to maintain her posture. Her etiquette was taught by the wet nurse of the Cui family since childhood. The depth of her knee bend and the angle of her head bow were as if measured. Even her bow exuded the pride of a noble lady from an aristocratic family.
Feng Yingying hated this demeanor of hers the most. "Don't think that just because you are wearing the fabric bestowed by the Empress, you can flaunt it and be arrogant."
"This subject would not dare!"