Chapter 10: Donation on Behalf of the Mother

The next day at the morning court, Gu Liu, the Heir of Prince Xuan, submitted a proposal to solicit donations of money and grain for disaster relief. Emperor Kangzhi approved the request, and the Governor of Luoyang was given full authority over the matter.

When the news reached Bidan Courtyard, Tang Zhao boarded her carriage and headed for the Luoyang Prefectural Office.

The Luoyang Prefectural Office handled all matters, large and small, for Luoyang and its surrounding counties and townships. To facilitate the public in filing petitions, a special Northern Ward had been established.

Yin Wei, the Governor of Luoyang, had just returned from the morning court and was contemplating how to carry out the disaster relief fundraising.

He sighed, "This matter is thorny. We cannot fail to collect, yet we cannot force collection; and we certainly cannot collect an insufficient amount. The disaster victims are waiting for this money."

The advisor squinted, "How does the Governor suggest we begin?"

Donations are not something one can simply solicit on a whim; who takes the lead, how much is donated, and how it is collected—the nuances within were profound.

"The Imperial Clan," Yin Wei said, sitting upright in his chair, his right index finger tapping the table slowly and rhythmically. "This matter was proposed by the Heir of Prince Xuan; the Prince Xuan estate must inevitably be the one to stick its neck out."

The advisor breathed a sigh of relief. "Prince Xuan is the Emperor’s own son and the commander of the Northwest. With his noble status and illustrious military achievements, if the Prince Xuan estate takes the lead, the prominent clans and noble officials of Luoyang will surely give them some face, making the Governor’s task much easier."

Yin Wei nodded.

"I only wonder, will it be the Princess Consort or the Heir’s Consort representing the Prince Xuan estate?"

Although both could represent the estate, the implications were quite different.

At that moment, a bailiff ran in to report, "Reporting to my Lord, the wife of the General of the Flying Cavalry has come to pay a visit."

"Who?" Yin Wei’s hand, holding his teacup, paused.

The bailiff, thinking his Lord hadn't heard clearly, said loudly, "The wife of the General of the Flying Cavalry, the Fifth Young Mistress of the Prince Xuan estate, has come to pay a visit."

Yin Wei and the advisor exchanged a glance and hurried to the main hall of the prefectural office.

Because disaster victims had flooded into Luoyang, several cases of robbery and theft had occurred. To maintain stability, the Governor had left only one clerk and a bailiff to guard the main gate, sending everyone else out.

It was Tang Zhao’s first time in the prefectural office, and she looked around with curiosity, looking here and touching there.

The newly hired clerk served tea, wanting to remind her that the prefectural office was a restricted area, but he didn't dare. He opened his mouth and closed it, over and over again.

The clerk stood to the side as if his feet were nailed to the floor, gazing longingly toward the inner office. When he saw the Governor arrive, he was moved to tears of excitement.

Yin Wei stepped forward to pay his respects, "This official, the Governor of Luoyang, greets the Fifth Young Mistress."

The Governor of Luoyang and the General of the Flying Cavalry were both fourth-rank officials. Although the Great Yu did not favor civil officials over military ones, it still followed the custom of the previous dynasty where civil officials held a half-rank higher status. Strictly speaking, Yin Wei’s rank was higher than Gu Ci’s.

However, Gu Ci was also the legitimate son of Prince Xuan and the Emperor’s own grandson—a true scion of the dragon and phoenix.

Among the Gu imperial clan, Gu Ci’s lineage was among the very best.

Tang Zhao did not wish to use her husband's status to intimidate others, so she stood up and returned the greeting, "Governor, you are too polite."

"Young Mistress, please sit," Yin Wei said with pleasantries. "I wonder what important matter brings you here today?"

Tang Zhao got straight to the point, "To donate money!"

Yin Wei and the advisor exchanged a glance. Yin Wei deliberated, "Is the Young Mistress donating on behalf of the Prince Xuan estate?"

"No," Tang Zhao said very bluntly.

Yin Wei:...

"My husband spoke to me about the disaster relief donations. The silver that I, as the Young Mistress of the Prince Xuan estate, ought to contribute has already been handed over to the Heir’s Consort," Tang Zhao met the gaze of the man opposite her. "Today, I am here representing only myself!"

A flash of astonishment crossed Yin Wei’s face.

"I wonder what, no—what Miss Tang intends to donate?" Yin Wei asked, his expression turning serious.

Chunfeng stepped forward, gently placing an exquisitely crafted sandalwood box onto the desk, and pulled a small, delicate key from her sleeve.

*Click!* The golden lock opened at the sound.

The advisor couldn't help but swallow hard, his eyes filled with reverence.

Just this box and the golden lock were worth more than he could earn in a lifetime of working at the prefectural office.

Chunfeng opened the box and stood silently to the side.

Seeing the contents of the box, Yin Wei’s pupils contracted.

On the red-backed, gold-dusted rice paper, the five characters "Supervised by the Imperial Household Department" shone brilliantly.

"This is..." Yin Wei’s throat tightened.

"My dowry list," Tang Zhao pushed the entire box toward Yin Wei. "Everything written here is donated to the state."

Tang Zhao said the most domineering words in the lightest of tones.

Yin Wei:...

The advisor:...

"Miss Tang, are you serious?" Yin Wei reminded her, "If I record this in the official register, Miss Tang will not be able to take it back if you regret it later."

Tang Zhao tapped her cheek with a finger as delicate as a scallion and smiled, "I don't have a face thick enough to take back something I’ve already donated."

A hint of a smile flashed in Yin Wei’s eyes. He looked at the young woman, who was about the same age as his own daughter, and put away his jest, saying solemnly

"My Lord, these riches are merely 'adding flowers to a brocade' for me, but for the disaster victims, they are 'charcoal in the snow'."

"With a great disaster at hand, though I am but a woman, I am willing to contribute my part to the country and the people, just as any man would!"

The hall fell into a deep silence.

"Good! Good! Good!" This was the most gratifying and heartening day Yin Wei had experienced since the disaster began.

If everyone in the world were like Miss Tang, why would there be any worry about the victims lacking food or clothing, or the Emperor worrying about the disaster remaining unresolved?

Yin Wei stood up and bowed respectfully, "On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of disaster victims in Luoyang, I thank Miss Tang for her generous donation."

The advisor also bowed sincerely.

Tang Zhao stepped aside to avoid the gesture, "Governor, you are shaming me. I am merely donating some money; the disaster relief work is incredibly complex and rests entirely on your shoulders. The victims and I see your hard work and keep it in our hearts."

Yin Wei’s eyes turned red.

He had spent fifteen years studying by the light of the snow, twenty years working diligently as an official, loyal to the Emperor and devoted to the people. All he had ever sought was to have a clear conscience.

He had not expected that, besides the Emperor, there would be someone who understood him.

"Miss Tang’s righteous act, I will certainly report truthfully to the Emperor," Yin Wei promised. "I will not let the loyalty and righteousness of a benevolent and filial person be buried by the snow."

Tang Zhao’s eyes lit up, and she became even easier to talk to, "Since my dowry entered the Prince Xuan estate, I have kept it in the storehouse and never touched it. You may come to collect it at any time, or I can have someone send it over."

"How could I trouble Miss Tang further? I will personally lead men to collect it," Yin Wei was restless; the sooner he received it, the sooner the victims would be secure.

"Governor, please be patient," Tang Zhao said, finally managing to interject before Yin Wei could arrange the men and carriages. "I have one more thing to inform you of."

"Please speak, Miss Tang," Yin Wei suppressed his overwhelming anxiety and joy.

Chunfeng took out another sandalwood box and placed it on the desk. Tang Zhao personally took the key from her purse, opened the box, and handed it to Yin Wei.

Yin Wei was puzzled. He took it and looked—it was another dowry list.

"What does Miss Tang mean by this?"

Tang Zhao flipped to the last page of the list and pointed to the seal on it, asking, "Does the Governor recognize this seal?"

"Naturally, this is the official seal of the Governor of Luoyang," he used it every day.

Tang Zhao felt at ease and casually dropped another depth charge, stunning everyone into dizziness.

"I, Tang Zhao, on behalf of my late mother—the daughter of the Protector General and the original wife of the Duke of Wei, Lady Song—donate this dowry to provide relief for the disaster victims!"