Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 803: Outside the Side Story (Part 1)

Chen Jinyu is about to be assigned elsewhere; the one who is most reluctant to let go is not Chancellor Chen, but the Emperor of Da Liang.

Jiang Shaohua held onto Chen Jinyu’s hand, unable to part with her, and called out her old nickname: "Sister Jin Yu, with you leaving, it’ll be at least five years. Can you really bear to leave me?"

Since she was ten, Chen Jinyu had been by her side. It has been exactly eleven years to this day. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

She had become accustomed to calling out to Chen Sheren. Also accustomed to chatting and laughing with Chen Sheren after handling state affairs and governance.

To be honest, she could leave Cui Du, but she could never part with Chen Jinyu.

Chen Jinyu was amused by Jiang Shaohua’s rare display of clinginess: "It’s not like I’m leaving and never coming back. I’ll just serve one term, and then return to Capital City in five years, transferring to the Six Ministries. By then, the Emperor will have enough of seeing me every day and might even find me bothersome."

Indeed, for Chen Jinyu to become a true official of Da Liang, she has to start from the ground up, step by step.

As reluctant as she was, she had to let Chen Jinyu leave Capital City.

Jiang Shaohua sighed: "You must write to me often after you leave."

Chen Jinyu laughed: "Of course. I’ll write you a letter every month. Hopefully, you won’t find me too noisy then."

Jiang Shaohua finally smiled: "How could I? By the way, just let me know where you wish to be posted."

That’s the benefit of being an Imperial Minister.

Just say the word to the Emperor about where you want to go.

Chen Jinyu already had a plan: "I want to go to Yu State. Previously, that corruption and selling of official titles case started in Yu State. Zhuo County Magistrate was executed, and the position of Prefectural Governor is vacant. I want to take up that position."

"The local people have endured hard times for a few years, and once I arrive, I intend to manage the people’s livelihood well, so they can live better lives."

"I also have a personal reason. My father is serving as Inspector in Yu State; if I take up a post there, I can be closer to my parents and visit them occasionally at the State Mansion."

Being posted elsewhere as an official is like this; you part ways and could be as far apart as heaven and earth. Governor Chen is in Yu State with his wife, Chen Haoran is in Bowan County with his wife and daughter, Chancellor Chen is in Capital City. The three generations of the family are far apart, relying only on letters to communicate.

Chen Jinyu seeks a posting elsewhere, hoping to be closer to her father.

Jiang Shaohua nodded in agreement: "Alright, you’ll go to Yu State." Then teasingly added: "Ma Yaosong will accompany you to your post and be your deputy. Publicly and privately, you have the power over him."

Chen Jinyu pursed her lips and smiled: "From the day I became the Commandery Princess Attendant ten years ago, I’ve always been one step ahead of him; he’s long since accustomed to it!"

Jiang Shaohua laughed heartily.

Actually, it’s the same with Cui Du. In public, she is the Empress, and Cui Du is her subject. In private, Cui Du is a live-in son-in-law, always a step below his wife.

The trend of strong women and weak men in marriages has quietly spread among female officials. Take Lu Qingqing and Cui Yun’er, for instance; both reached the age for marriage and took in live-in sons-in-law. The Lu Family and Cui Family are not fools; they raised female officials with care, and marrying them off would just benefit outsiders. Better to bring in a live-in son-in-law.

Of the three young housekeepers in the palace, none are married. They’re busy managing their duties during the day; would they later get married, serve their husbands, teach their children, and manage the family household?

From the moment they passed as female scholars and entered officialdom, their life paths have differed from ordinary women.

With Chen Jinyu’s posting elsewhere, the duties in her hands were all divided among Lu Zhen, Wang Shu, and Li Fangfei.

Before leaving, she privately instructed Lu Zhen: "Lu Zhen, you’re from Nanyang County; the Emperor holds you in special regard and trusts you. You also represent the face of Ye County Women’s Academy. You must be more cautious and meticulous in the palace."

This ’others’ refers to Wang Shu and Li Fangfei.

The two of them come from powerful families with strong backing, yet they both find themselves overshadowed by Lu Zhen. How could they accept that? On the surface, they maintain harmony, but privately they often compete.

After several years of experience in the palace, Lu Zhen had grown a lot; that exuberant, rebellious spirit had been quietly replaced by a steady demeanor. Hearing this, she smiled and said: "Rest assured, Chen Sheren, I will do my duties well and not disgrace the academy."

Chen Sheren patted Lu Zhen’s shoulder: "Good, I appreciate your determination."

Lowering her voice, she added: "The Emperor is usually busy with state affairs, but occasionally, he likes to chat leisurely in his free time; it’s a pastime and a way to relieve stress. Now that I’m leaving, the task of keeping the Emperor company with idle chatter is handed to you."

Lu Zhen straightened her back and readily agreed.

Chen Sheren gave detailed instructions for a long time before leaving Zhaohai Palace. After walking a short distance, she couldn’t help but turn around for another glance.

A familiar figure appeared at the palace gate.

It was her lifelong friend, Jiang Shaohua.

Chen Jinyu’s eyes welled up with tears.

From afar, Jiang Shaohua waved to Chen Jinyu.

Overcome with emotion, Chen Jinyu dashed to Jiang Shaohua’s side and hugged her tightly.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes were moist too. She gently patted Chen Jinyu’s back: "Sister Jin Yu, with you going so far away, take care on the journey."

...

Chen Jinyu, with red eyes, boarded the carriage. She cried all the way back, and by the time she returned home, her eyes were almost swollen from crying.

Ma Yaosong, seeing this, felt deeply pained and held his wife in his arms: "What happened? Didn’t you go to the palace to bid farewell to the Emperor? Why are you crying?"

Chen Jinyu sobbed uncontrollably: "I can’t bear to leave the Emperor."

Ma Yaosong gently patted his wife’s back, soothing her softly: "If you really don’t want to go, we won’t. We’ll just thick-skinnedly stay behind."

Chen Jinyu wiped her tears and said: "How can that be? I don’t want to rely on the Emperor’s and my grandfather’s protection all my life. I want to become a true key court official."

Ma Yaosong was only casually saying it. Personnel changes in the court are of great importance and can’t be treated as child’s play. Chen Jinyu seeking a post elsewhere was not only for her future career but also to avoid the suspicion of grandfather and granddaughter both having influence in the palace as imperial confidants.

Chancellor Chen now holds immense power under one person and above everyone else. Chen Jinyu cannot stay in the palace and should leave Capital City.

When she returns to the city in the future, it is not suitable for her to be an Imperial Minister anymore; transferring to the Six Ministries office is the right path.

After crying hard, Chen Jinyu felt somewhat calmer.

The couple packed their belongings, bade farewell to grandfather, and departed from Capital City while Kang was still asleep.

Upon leaving Capital City, after days of travel, Chen Jinyu finally broke free from the parting sorrows and had a smile on her face: "Previously, I traveled around with the Commandery Princess and stayed in Capital City for years; now finally, I’m going on a long journey again."

Ma Yaosong, sporting a short beard, had his handsome face tanned by the sun, showcasing the exceptional demeanor of a Da Liang official: "When we reach Yu State, we will first pay a visit to father-in-law and mother-in-law."

Chen Jinyu smiled gladly: "That’s what I was thinking too. It’s been five years since I last saw them; I even miss my mother’s nagging."

Ma Yaosong grinned: "You miss it now, but when you finally meet, in two days you’ll be complaining of a headache from it."