Chapter 453 — Autumn Wind
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 2 of 4
Miao Zhi forced down the anger in her heart and said in a low voice, "What do you mean by that, brother? You come so rarely—why must you needle me the moment you see me, as if I were some ingrate? There's no one else here. If you have something to say, just say it straight out. Why beat around the bush and expect me to read between the lines?"
Miao Anping had come to ask a favor, so naturally he would not press her. At her words he promptly took the way out offered him. "Your brother's no good with words—surely you won't hold it against me." Then he glanced at his cousin and lowered his voice. "I didn't come for anything else. I hear Jurong County is adding two constable posts. Put in a word with the Second Lord for us—leave one of the slots to our family. Then the Miao family will have a future too, and won't have to watch our step around everyone. Who knows, we might even rise from petty clerk to proper official!"
Clerks could pass their posts down to their sons.
Miao Zhi laughed in sheer fury. "You think the Second Lord is some great lord of the Ministry of Personnel? That we can do whatever we please?"
Miao Anping said shamelessly, "The Second Lord may not have much ability, but his father the Duke of Ying can put in a word, and his brother Song Yantang can put in a word too! Even if the two of them can't, they know far more high officials and men of power than the likes of us common folk. One person asks another, one person finds another—how could it fail? You're just afraid of the trouble and don't want to help, aren't you? Don't be a fool! When your sister-in-law walks about outside, everyone addresses her as 'Lady Dou.' How illustrious her family is, I needn't remind you. You may think your own family shames you now, and you'd rather stand by with your hands folded and curry favor with the Song household, unwilling to lift a finger for your own kin. But in a few years, when the Miao family hasn't even the money to beat a silver locket for your child, I'd like to see how you keep up appearances then!"
Miao Zhi was so angry she was on the verge of tears, yet she could not deny that there was sense in what Miao Anping said.
She had no choice but to say, "I'll try to ask the Second Lord."
Only then did Miao Anping smile. He leaned back carelessly in the armchair. "We'll take our midday meal here today. Go tell the kitchen to prepare a few good dishes to go with wine—I'll have a cup or two with my brother-in-law."
How would Miao Zhi dare let Song Han come and play host? If Miao Anping noticed anything amiss, the Miao family would devour her alive!
She could not help saying, "You think everyone's as shiftless as you! The Second Lord goes to school every day—how could he drink at midday? If you want a drink, have one with our sixth cousin!"
At that, Miao Zhi's sixth cousin came over, grinning and joking. "Little auntie, I hear the Duke of Ying was once the Emperor's adopted son—whatever they have in the imperial palace, his family has. I'm not asking for much. Just bring out a few jars of that imperially bestowed wine for us to taste, and our trip to the Yingzhen Duke's residence won't have been for nothing. When folks back home ask about it, I'll have something to tell them!"
Something to brag about to the idle hangers-on in the county, more like!
Miao Zhi could not be bothered to call him out. She shot Ji Hong a look, signaling her to go arrange things in the kitchen.
A first-rate banquet was one thing, but this imperially bestowed wine—did the tea and wine stores even have such a thing?
Ji Hong ran about in a fluster and went to find Qixia.
Since Miao Zhi had entered the household, Qixia had served only in the study, and she and Miao Zhi and the others kept to their own wells and rivers—peaceably enough, without crossing paths.