Chapter 362: Reconciliation Between Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law

The gate of the mansion opened, and Lady Pei stepped forward quickly, accompanied by two maids. She had already been informed by the gatekeeper that Li Qing’an had been seen. She immediately ordered her servants to clean the house and prepare a feast to welcome her son-in-law back. But as he didn’t arrive after a long wait, Lady Pei came out to check and immediately saw a crowd of young women surrounding Li Qing’an. The one at the front, dressed in a yellow skirt, wasn’t her younger daughter Mingzhu?

Lady Pei was furious. She had no time for her to go on blind dates, yet she was full of energy when it came to pestering her brother-in-law. Her face darkened as she strode forward and snapped, “What are you doing here?”

The women were terrified and fell silent, scattering to the sides. Mingzhu, afraid of her mother, lowered her head. Lady Pei glanced at her—her daughter had her eyebrows and lips painted, dressed in flashy clothes. Yesterday, when asked to go on a blind date, she claimed makeup would cause rashes, so she went bare-faced and in disheveled clothes, only to be laughed at by others. But now she was dressed like a fairy.

The more Lady Pei thought about it, the angrier she became. She scolded her, “Go back to your room and wash up! Stop embarrassing me here!”

Mingzhu, scolded in front of Li Qing’an, felt extremely aggrieved. Her eyes reddened as she choked up, “Fine! I’ll go! Who scolds others like you?”

She turned and ran back into the mansion, crying. The other women found it uninteresting and left one after another.

Lady Pei watched her daughter’s retreating figure and sighed secretly. She turned to Li Qing’an with a wry smile and said, “Sigh! This girl is already nineteen, but still acts like a child. When will she grow up?”

Li Qing’an smiled. Lady Pei continued, “Some say she’s innocent and endearing, but I think innocence also depends on age. Being innocent at thirteen is charming, but being innocent at nineteen is a bit troublesome.”

She shook her head. “Never mind her. Seventh Brother, please come inside with me.”

Li Qing’an followed his mother-in-law inside. As they walked, he asked, “I heard your father was demoted to a lower position. What happened?”

“It’s all because he spoke recklessly while drunk. He was at a gathering with friends and, drunk, criticized the emperor for being incompetent. As a result, he was reported. Fortunately, Prime Minister Wang interceded for him, so he didn’t end up in prison. Otherwise, he might have lost his position altogether.”

Madam Pei sighed, but the fact that Li Qing’an was willing to ask about her husband also brought her some comfort. She had always had a concern—how to improve the relationship between her husband and son-in-law. Although her husband had initially opposed this marriage, that was in the past. Her daughter was now married to Li Qing’an, and Madam Pei hoped her husband could reconcile with him—not just for the sake of her daughter, but also for the future of the family. When she left, she greeted her husband, but he just kept his head down reading, saying nothing. She had no choice but to ask her younger brother to persuade him.

Seeing that Madam Pei seemed preoccupied, Li Qing’an stopped asking further and said with a smile, “Where’s my uncle? He was supposed to come today. Has he arrived?”

“He’s an impatient person. He arrived early. The whole family is here.”

Madam Pei seemed to remember something and turned around. She saw a shy young girl following them. She quickly smiled and pulled the girl over, saying, “Your aunt just scolded your cousin. Don’t be scared.”

Li Qing’an noticed that the girl was pretty and delicate, about fourteen or fifteen years old. She seemed to be among the group of women earlier. He asked with a smile, “Who is she?”

“That’s your uncle’s younger daughter. Her name is Pei Yu.”

Madam Pei then instructed her, “Yu, have you greeted your uncle?”

“Uncle!” Pei Yu lowered her head and called out softly like a kitten.

Li Qing’an quickly took out a thumb-sized bead from his pocket and handed it to her, saying with a smile, “Here, this is a gift to welcome you.”

Pei Yu hurriedly shook her head, hiding her hands behind her back, refusing to accept it. Madam Pei said with a smile, “It’s okay. We’re all one family. This is your uncle’s thought. Please accept it!”

Persuaded by her aunt, Pei Yu reluctantly took the bead, thanked Li Qing’an, and said, “I’ll go look for Sister Mingzhu.”

Her face was red as she lowered her head and rushed off. Madam Pei watched her retreating figure and sighed, “A few years ago, she was just an ignorant little girl. In the blink of an eye, she’s grown into a young woman. In another two years, she’ll be ready to get married. Sigh! When will my daughter stop giving me worry?”

“Everyone has their own fate. Mother shouldn’t worry too much,” Li Qing’an comforted Madam Pei before entering the mansion with her.

……

In the study of the Du Gu family, Pei Min was trying to persuade Du Gu Haoran to reconcile with Li Qing’an.

“Haoran, I’m not criticizing you here, but you really don’t need to hold a grudge. He is your son-in-law and younger than you. At such a young age, he has already reached the highest ranks in government. On a personal level, this is your honor; on a broader scale, it’s an opportunity for your once-isolated family to rise again. Ever since he came to the capital this time, I could tell he was there specifically to support the crown prince to ascend the throne. That means he will hold even greater power. Haoran, this is a chance—you must seize it.”

Dugu Haoran sat on the soft cushion reading a book, head bowed in silence. Initially, because the emperor also favored his daughter, he had intended to send her to the palace. Though under pressure, he agreed to let Li Qing’an marry his daughter, but he never managed to regain his face. Moreover, during the New Year this year, he drank with some friends and spoke rashly, angering the emperor, which led to his demotion to Deputy Minister of Rites. Although this incident seemed unrelated to Li Qing’an, Dugu Haoran insisted that it was because of the matter involving Mingyue that he was demoted—after all, it was still Li Qing’an who had brought it upon him, and his resentment toward Li Qing’an remained unshaken.

However, that morning, he also heard that the emperor had fallen seriously ill and was in a coma. This news shocked him greatly. He had always thought the emperor could still rule for another ten or twenty years; he never expected him to fall so quickly. This made him secretly relieved—thankfully, he hadn’t sent his daughter to the palace. Otherwise, not only would his daughter be in trouble, but his dream of becoming prime minister would also be short-lived.

Because of this incident, Dugu Haoran’s prejudice against Li Qing’an diminished somewhat. With Pei Min’s persuasion, he became somewhat inclined to change his mind. The key issue now was that he still couldn’t bring himself to accept it.

Pei Min saw that his brother-in-law was considering it and continued to persuade him, “This afternoon, when they went out of the city to welcome Qing’an, you weren’t there, but I was. It was clear that the crown prince trusted him greatly. Now that the emperor has fallen ill and the crown prince is about to ascend the throne, Li Qing’an is rushing back. In doing so, he will gain credit for supporting the crown prince. As rewards are given based on merit, he will be the first to benefit. At the same time, people like Yang Guozhong and Chen Xilie will be demoted, and the crown prince will surely promote a group of newcomers. As Li Qing’an’s father-in-law and someone who has been prime minister before, if he speaks in your favor, you will surely have a place in the new government. Haoran, what others can only dream of, you can have easily. That’s why I say—it’s your chance!”

Having spoken to this point, if Du Gu Hao Ran still remained unmoved, it would be self-deception. His dream had always been to return to power, and sending his daughter to the palace was also for that purpose. Pei Min’s persuasion finally moved him. He sighed and said, “It’s not for power I’m doing this. I’m thinking of my daughter. I don’t want her to suffer. Well, for my daughter’s sake, I’ll sacrifice my pride and drink with him!”

Seeing that he had agreed, Pei Min was overjoyed and quickly said, “I’m here! I’ll smooth things over so you won’t feel embarrassed. Let’s go now!”

The two stood up and walked forward to the courtyard, one in front of the other.

The banquet was already set up—actually just a family meal—with a table full of delicious dishes. The wine was top-quality Gaochang wine that had been stored in Du Gu’s cellar for twenty years, only taken out once during Mingyue’s wedding last time.

There weren’t many guests: Du Gu Hao Ran and his wife, Pei Min and his wife, along with their two sons, Mingyi and Zhili, and two daughters, Mingzhu and Pei Yu. Additionally, Lady Zhang also attended, making a total of ten people, just enough to fill the table. Du Gu Hao Ran, as the host, sat in the center seat, with Pei Min and Li Qingan on either side. The other women and children sat casually. In terms of seniority, Lady Zhang should have sat at the head of the table, but she refused stubbornly, so everyone had to go along with her.

Seeing her husband agree to come, Lady Pei’s face lit up with joy. She personally poured wine for everyone. First, she poured a glass for her husband and Pei Min, then filled Li Qingan’s glass. With some regret, she said, “It’s a shame Mingyue couldn’t come back too. Otherwise, the whole family would be together.”

By then, Mingzhu had washed off her makeup and put on a simple dress. The resentment from her mother’s scolding earlier had long been forgotten. She picked a grape, put it in her mouth, and said while eating, “Mom, my sister also has a big family. If she came back, things would be chaotic there.”

Lady Pei glared at her sharply and said, “Adults are talking—children shouldn’t interrupt!”

Mingzhu lowered her head, pouted, and said softly, “Just now you said I was immature, and now you call me a child.”

Seeing that she still dared to talk back, Lady Pei angrily rebuked her, “If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute. Look at Yu—she’s much younger than you, but she’s quiet and polite. Unlike you, who talks recklessly and shows no manners at all.”

“That’s because you didn’t teach me well!” Mingzhu muttered.

“You!” Lady Pei angrily slammed the wine pot on the table.

Pei Min’s wife hurriedly advised, “Elder sister, today is the day Qing’an returns home. It’s rare for us all to be together—let’s not be angry with Mingzhu anymore.”
Madam Zhang also smiled and said, “We’re all one family. It’s normal to laugh and chat during a family meal. Mingzhu is very well-behaved outside; she would never say anything inappropriate. Right, her uncle, Haoran?”
Dugu Haoran and Pei Min both nodded. Pei Min said with a smile, “Elder sister, forget it! It’s a family meal after all—no outsiders around. I think it’s better if we’re casual.”
Seeing everyone agree, Madam Pei glared at her daughter. “Hmph! I’ll deal with you later.”
Mingzhu stuck out her tongue slightly. As she turned her gaze, she saw Li Qing’an holding a wine glass, looking at her with a hint of schadenfreude in his eyes. She reluctantly turned away and went to chat with Pei Yu.
At that moment, Madam Pei smiled at Li Qing’an and asked, “Young Seventh, how long do you plan to stay this time?”
Li Qing’an quickly bowed and replied, “There are many affairs in Anxi. I can stay at most half a month. If everything goes well, perhaps only ten days.”
Dugu Haoran spoke up, “Then what brought you back?”
Li Qing’an replied politely, “I originally came to report on the situation in Hezhong to the emperor. But on the way, I heard that the emperor had encountered trouble, and worried about chaos in the court, I rushed back to restore order.”
“Oh! I heard you brought three thousand cavalry back, and the crown prince allowed you to station troops in the city. You must maintain strict discipline—don’t let your soldiers cause trouble in the capital.”
“Please rest assured, Father-in-law. The Anxi army is always disciplined and will never cause trouble in the capital.”
Seeing that Li Qing’an had already addressed her as Father-in-law, Madam Pei was afraid her husband might be arrogant and refuse to show respect, ruining Li Qing’an’s good intentions. So she quickly gave her brother a signal.
Pei Min understood and stood up with a smile, raising his glass. “Come! This drink is to welcome Qing’an home. Let’s drink it together—to wish Qing’an an early son, to wish my elder sister and brother-in-law an early grandson, to wish Madam Zhang eternal youth, and to wish Mingzhu finding a suitable husband soon. Of course, I also hope Mingyi and Zhili will quickly become officials and get rich, so I can enjoy peace early.”
Everyone laughed and raised their glasses together. “Let’s drink this!”
They drank the wine in one gulp. Li Qing’an also raised his glass to Dugu Haoran with a smile and said, “I also wish Father-in-law to become prime minister soon.”
Dugu Haoran’s heart skipped a beat. He smiled narrowed-eyed and gently clinked his glass with Li Qing’an’s. “I wish you success in your efforts too.”
Their eyes met, and they both understood each other. They raised their glasses together and drank the wine. Everyone sat down, chatting and laughing, and the banquet became lively.

At this moment, Pei Mingyi and Pei Zhili, under their father’s instruction, came to offer a toast to Li Qing’an. Both were in their early twenties, intelligent and capable, and Li Qing’an liked them very much. He smiled and asked, “What are you two cousins doing now?”
As the elder brother, Mingyi quickly replied, “We are both studying at the Hongwen Academy. This year, we have passed the Mingjing examination. As the saying goes, ‘Thirty is old for the Mingjing exam, but fifty is young for the Jinshi exam.’ That’s why we want to take the Jinshi exam next year. Please give us your continued support, brother-in-law.”
“Since you are my own brothers, of course I will. If you are willing to come to Anxi, I can arrange some work for you.”
Li Qing’an pondered for a moment before adding, “Or Hexi might also be an option.”
Pei Min and Du Gu Haoran exchanged a glance; they both understood Li Qing’an’s implied meaning. Pei Min quickly asked, “Is Qing’an planning to be transferred to Hexi?”
Li Qing’an shook his head and smiled, “Due to a severe shortage of troops, the crown prince is very worried about the Uyghurs invading Hexi. Today, he agreed to temporarily assign the area north of Zhangye to Anxi and Liangzhou to Longyou. That way, Ganzhou, Suzhou, Guazhou, and Shazhou will be under my jurisdiction. If you two cousins are willing, you can choose one of these counties to serve as a county magistrate or assistant magistrate.”
Pei Min was overjoyed. His two sons had already passed the Mingjing examination, which was sufficient for their career prospects. Since there were no available positions at the moment, he had allowed them to take the Jinshi exam. But since Li Qing’an was willing to nurture his sons, there was no need for them to take the Jinshi exam anymore. He knew there were several good counties in Hexi, such as Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Dunhuang—large counties with large populations and prosperity, where it would be easy to achieve results. By having them serve as county magistrates or assistants for a few years before being transferred to the capital, their promotion would be easier.
“Then I leave it to you, Qing’an. Come on! Mingyi and Zhili, you two brothers, offer another toast to your brother-in-law.”
The two brothers offered another toast to Li Qing’an. At this point, Du Gu Haoran beside them also became interested. He gently kicked his wife under the table, gave her a signal, and pointed at Li Qing’an.
Madam Pei understood her husband’s meaning. Unable to refuse, she spoke up. She smiled and said, “Seventh Brother, could you also help Mingyue’s brother? He is too honest and only knows how to work hard. He doesn’t know how to please his superiors. After four or five years as an official, he is still just an assistant magistrate in a small county. Let him help you!”

The Du Gu family had four children in total: three daughters, Mingjing, Mingyue, and Mingzhu. The eldest daughter, Mingjing, died in Khitan. They also had a son named Du Gu Mingyuan, who failed the imperial examinations and obtained a minor official position through his father’s influence as the clerk of Dingcheng County in Guangzhou. His relationship with the governor of Guangzhou was strained, making it difficult for him to be promoted. Du Gu Haoran’s own career was unstable, so he could hardly help his son either. In fact, Lady Pei had considered asking Li Qingan for help, but she didn’t want her son to go to Anxi, as it was too far away. Today, Li Qingan mentioned Hexi, which, though still somewhat remote, was much better than Anxi, so Lady Pei became interested.

Li Qingan nodded and said, “Actually, Mingyue has also told me that one of the important reasons for my return this time is to help my own relatives. If Mingyuan is willing, I plan to appoint him as the military counselor and county magistrate of Ganzhou, in charge of government affairs there.”

The Du Gu couple were overjoyed. By now, Du Gu Haoran had completely abandoned his preconceptions about Li Qingan. He said cheerfully, “Then I’ll write to ask Mingyuan to return to the capital right away. I’d also appreciate it if you could speak to the Ministry of Personnel.”

Li Qingan smiled and said, “No problem. The crown prince has agreed that I can directly appoint county magistrates and lower-ranking officials. As for the military counselor, who is a civil official in a military position, there’s no need to go through the imperial court either—I can appoint him directly. Both Anxi and Hexi are military governorates without governors, so the actual power of appointment lies with me. I can let Mingyuan go to Zhangye directly, and I’ll handle the registration with the Ministry of Personnel.”

In fact, reconciling with Du Gu Haoran was also an important goal of Li Qingan’s return to the capital. The Du Gu family was a prominent clan from Guanlong, with excellent relationships with the Changsun family, the Yuwen family, and the Pei family, who intermarried among themselves. For example, Du Gu Haoran married the daughter of Pei Yaoqing, while Pei Min’s wife was the sister of Changsun Quanxu. It was these marital ties that gradually formed a political group with common interests.

Since Li Qingan had married Du Gu Mingyue, he was connected to these prominent Guanlong clans. He needed their full support, and in return, he had to assist them so they could have a say in the politics of the Tang Dynasty.

At that moment, Li Qingan smiled at Du Gu Haoran and said, “I heard from Mingyue that your birthday is in a little over ten days. Why not invite more relatives and friends to celebrate it together? I’m already in Chang’an, so it would be a good chance for me to meet more relatives and friends as well.”

Pei Min reacted quickly; he immediately understood Li Qingan’s intention and said with a smile, “Very well, I’ll take care of it then. I’ll invite all the major families related to us and have them meet Qingan together.”