Transmigrated to the Northern Song Dynasty as a County Magistrate (GL) - Chapter 93

93: Applying for Honorary Titles for Fan Zhuzhu and Yun Jingchu

Though Ma Zhusege had given her a month, Tian Qingyi—who disliked delays—immediately sent Qingyu to instruct Shi Qian to thoroughly investigate Yuan Changzhong’s background.

Shi Qian proved remarkably efficient, uncovering Yuan’s complete history in under ten days. The man was exceptionally skilled at catching spies, having appeared in Kaifeng seemingly out of nowhere a year prior before attaching himself to Chief Councillor Wang’s faction. Subsequently, eight low-level Liao operatives embedded throughout the city were captured and executed with extreme prejudice.

Eccentric in personality, Yuan was cold-faced and taciturn, preferring solitude. He never drank tea, substituting alcohol during obligatory tea occasions. Despite his affiliation with Wang’s faction, he disdained its other members, making few friends.

Six months earlier, under Wang’s arrangement, Yuan had entered officialdom through hereditary privilege, obtaining a low-ranking ninth-grade military position. After proving his worth by capturing spies, he was promoted to eighth-grade Eastern Palace Attendant, reportedly with actual responsibilities.

While Shi Qian couldn’t ascertain his specific duties, Tian Qingyi knew perfectly well—Chief Councillor Wang had instructed her to monitor this very matter. Though reluctant, she had to make some effort to maintain appearances. Yet whatever schemes Wang and Yuan had concocted were doomed to fail.

Tian Qingyi hadn’t anticipated Yuan’s connection to the recently captured Liao spies. Cold sweat broke down her back—was this man their handler? At minimum, he must have been part of their network; otherwise, how could an outsider know their identities?

What a piece of work—not only betraying his country and superiors but climbing over his colleagues’ corpses! A truly ruthless character!

To determine whether Yuan’s tea avoidance was preference or physiological, Tian Qingyi took advantage of Chief Councillor Wang’s pre-New Year banquet to “accidentally” spill tea into Yuan’s wine. However, the evening setting and Yuan’s alcohol-flushed face made it impossible to discern any physical reaction, forcing her to abandon this line temporarily.

The ensuing days were filled with endless banquets—colleagues’ gatherings were tolerable, but the Emperor’s feasts proved overly elaborate and restrictive, leaving attendees still hungry afterward. Tian Qingyi often stopped for street food on her way home, satisfying both palate and stomach.

She had intended to personally train Yuchen in martial arts, but New Year commitments and reluctance to disrupt studies led her to appoint Zhou Ba as instructor instead, requiring Wanyue to participate as well—for at least a year, whether she enjoyed it or not.

Though Li Yan privately considered martial training useless for women, Tian Qingyi’s explanation about health benefits and companionship for Yuchen—with a firm one-year limit—left her no grounds for objection.

In previous years when Tian Qingyi was absent, junior clan members would visit on the second day of New Year with gifts and elders’ regards. This year, knowing Tian Qingyi’s early schedule was packed, they delayed their visit by two days. The delegation unexpectedly included Jiufang Lai and other long-absent relatives—clearly seeking favors.

Tian Qingyi entertained them lavishly, exchanging generous gifts while formally announcing Yuchen’s identity during the banquet. After explaining the boy’s age and backstory, Jiufang Lai instantly deduced this wasn’t Yun Jingchu’s biological child, secretly pleased his nephew wasn’t as devoted as he appeared.

Outwardly congratulatory, Jiufang Lai assigned Yuchen the generational ranking “Twelfth” and promised immediate ancestral notification and clan registry updates.

The Jiufang genealogy, compiled after Jiufang Xin’s rise, included both genders due to the family’s small size—though women were only recorded with their own and husbands’ names, without further descendants.

Jiufang Xin had been family head until his death, when the clan recommended Tian Qingyi as successor. Pleading official duties and inexperience, she declined and nominated Jiufang Lai instead, who accepted after token refusal. Other relatives dared not object—without Jiufang Xin, they’d never have achieved official household status with its tax exemptions and corvée relief, let alone their current comfortable lives.

Surprised by Jiufang Lai’s cooperativeness, Tian Qingyi remained wary of excessive demands, deliberately preventing him from broaching his agenda until she “drunkenly” excused herself.

Frustrated, Jiufang Lai returned the next morning with nephews to corner Tian Qingyi at Shangfu Courtyard. Forced to receive them, she heard his request for official appointments, thinly veiled as criticism for “favoring outsiders over family.”

Though most Jiufang hereditary appointees hadn’t received actual posts over the years, their ranks had steadily increased. Zhang Sancheng’s son’s appointment resulted from monetary influence, not her efforts—a fact Jiufang Lai surely knew. Their framing was clearly an attempt to extract positions through guilt.

Did they think her a fool?

Certainly not! Tian Qingyi outlined two options: first, combining their funds with hers to lobby independently; second, taking the hereditary privilege examinations for automatic appointments.

Fearing potential repercussions for Tian Qingyi, Jiufang Lai chose the first option after careful consideration—had the exams been viable, his sons and nephews wouldn’t remain postless.

Tian Qingyi ultimately pledged ten thousand coins available upon request—strictly for securing clan appointments. Any misuse would terminate all future assistance.

Years of interaction had taught Jiufang Lai his nephew’s lingering resentment meant limited—but not nonexistent—support.

Finally allowed outside, Yuchen and Wanyue seized every opportunity to explore, braving winter’s chill with rosy cheeks and unbridled enthusiasm. New Year festivities particularly dazzled them, though their martial instructor Zhou Ba and attendants proved inescapable. Fear of reprimand ensured they returned by the second night watch at latest.

While others reveled in New Year merriment, Tian Qingyi stalked her prey under cover of darkness. After days waiting along Yuan Changzhong’s habitual route, she struck during the Lantern Festival.

The drowning verdict came by month’s end. Chief Councillor Wang, suspecting Liao assassination, demanded reinvestigation—only to receive the same conclusion after another month. His own investigators found no anomalies—no wounds, no poison, with silt in Yuan’s nose and mouth confirming drowning.

Forced to accept the findings despite private suspicions, Wang swallowed his anger—both he and the Emperor suffered from “Liao-phobia,” preferring paid peace to confrontation. A dead traitor hardly warranted risking conflict.

Tian Qingyi similarly fulfilled Ma Zhusege’s second condition on schedule—though with the promised half-truths. Such information, unknown even to most Song officials, would hardly raise Liao suspicions.

As informant, she minimally complied—sending two or three annual “secrets” about court affairs (known to officials but not commoners) alongside customary gifts.

Ma Zhusege’s final demand arrived later than expected—summer of the third year. Expecting more intelligence gathering, Tian Qingyi instead found instructions to retrieve his wife and four-year-old from Xiongzhou to Kaifeng, raising the child to adulthood. In return, he would erase all traces of Guihai’s existence—even his successor would remain ignorant.

This revelation shattered Tian Qingyi’s image of Ma Zhusege as an ascetically loyal servant—he was merely human, with all the corresponding desires and vulnerabilities.

Her final spy missive contained just eight characters: “As you wish—my word is bond.” She instructed Qingyu to have Shi Qian hire reliable escorts, posing as distant relatives—specifically, a cousin from Ma Zhusege’s Xiongzhou identity’s maternal family.

After settling this matter, she joyfully shared the news with Yun Jingchu. Celebrating Tian Qingyi’s newfound freedom and fresh start, they drank themselves into stupor, sleeping until the next afternoon.

Last year, Tian Qingyi had secured Yuchen an hereditary ninth-grade civil position—through grand ceremonial rites. Though under twenty, Yuchen could enjoy this sinecure—a privilege Tian Qingyi somewhat envied.

Over the years, she’d maintained intermittent correspondence with Xun Chang. His congratulations on her recent promotion to Court of the Imperial Granary included local delicacies from his family—reciprocated with Kaifeng specialties.

After three magistrate terms, Xun Chang had risen to prefect—still serving in Suizhou. The adage “connections ease officialdom” rang true—without Chief Councillor Wang’s patronage, Tian Qingyi might have shared Xun Chang’s trajectory.

Previously burdened by mission pressures, she’d striven relentlessly. With Ma Zhusege’s impending demise, that drive evaporated—she now desired only routine service until resignation became feasible. The bureaucracy overflowed with buck-passing officials; her absence would go unnoticed.

As fifth-rank Shaofu Jian, she now qualified to request honorary titles. Remembering Fan Zhuzhu’s longstanding desire for the phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, Tian Qingyi immediately petitioned for both Fan Zhuzhu and Yun Jingchu. Only Jiufang Xin’s deceased principal wife’s prior title had prevented Fan Zhuzhu’s earlier eligibility—official protocol prioritized legal mothers over birth mothers.

The fifth-rank titles arrived by year’s end, officially making both women imperial honorary consorts. Fan Zhuzhu celebrated extravagantly, hosting all relatives and friends. Though Yun Jingchu typically disdained such honors, her beloved’s gesture delighted her.

After the New Year, Tian Qingyi submitted her resignation—only to have it rejected by Emperor Liu E, who instead elevated Fan Zhuzhu’s title as consolation. Chief Councillor Wang also summoned her for encouragement, urging continued service for future prospects.