When the relevant news reached the common folk, Ding Yun was left speechless. It seemed like everything was somehow her fault. Fortunately, she had only fabricated a Moon Goddess image without using her real face or identity. If she had, she would have been constantly pestered by Emperor Longsheng for immortality. However, even then, Ding Yun would have been powerless to stop it and would have simply continued to feign ignorance, closing her doors and living her own life, indifferent to the seasons outside her princess's mansion.
As for the common people, they gossiped and discussed the matter for a short while before returning to their daily grind of earning a living. After all, the Emperor's quest for divine favor had no bearing on them. It didn't increase taxes or impose forced labor. As long as their own interests weren't affected, he could do whatever he pleased.
Only a handful of loyal civil and military officials were deeply concerned, as if the sky were falling. Even then, this was a minority. Another portion of the officials was already busy figuring out how to seize this opportunity, find the right angle, and seek immortality to please Emperor Longsheng and secure promotions and noble titles.
In short, at present, Emperor Longsheng's actions had a limited impact. In fact, because he worried that his disaster relief efforts might displease the "celestial maiden," he attached particular importance to the current relief operations. This even made many of his subordinates hesitant to embezzle relief funds, leading to a remarkably swift distribution of aid.
...
Time flew by, and it was New Year's again. As this was the third year agreed upon, Ding Yun had prepared one hundred thousand taels of silver. Before the New Year, she began instructing her subordinates to investigate the actions and achievements of her descendants over the past three years, in preparation for the rewards for the three-year assessment.
However, upon receiving the investigation results, Ding Yun could only say she was somewhat happy, but not entirely. While her descendants had indeed made some progress, it was exceedingly little. For instance, those attending the Imperial Academy were still studying, with no significant accomplishments. The others had, at best, managed to pass the preliminary imperial examination as a *tongsheng*, but had not even reached the level of *xiucai*. Three businesses had gone bankrupt. The only one who had achieved anything remotely commendable had relied on the financial backing of his wife's family, who were from a merchant background, to stabilize his business and begin generating profit within three years.
As for those pursuing a military career, they were essentially in the same state as three years ago. Qin Yuan, for example, was still a personal guard. Of the two who had obtained minor military merits, one was living idly at home, while the other had bought a military position, that of a centurion on the frontier. He was currently serving in the northern territories. Due to the distance, the exact situation was unclear, but at least this great-grandson, Qin Yangchun, showed ambition.
Then there were the descendants learning weaving and embroidery. After nearly two years, no one had yet successfully completed the tasks.
Upon concluding her investigation, Ding Yun's first action was to reduce the allocated silver. For such meager achievements, they expected to receive one hundred thousand taels? To put it bluntly, if they were to be sold as they were, they wouldn't fetch that sum. Therefore, Ding Yun directly deducted sixty thousand taels from the original one hundred thousand and then sent word for them to return home for the New Year and the promised assessment.
The assessment differed. For adult descendants, Ding Yun primarily inquired about their progress and achievements over the past three years. For minors, she prepared several tests to gauge their learning and knowledge acquisition during this period. Consequently, the assessment itself was not lengthy, taking only a day. Ding Yun graded the papers overnight, and the results were out the following day.
"Last night, I finished grading your papers. Additionally, I had people investigate your changes and progress over the past three years. Now, I will announce the assessment results. Those whose papers received an 'A' grade will be rewarded with one thousand taels each. For a 'B' grade, five hundred taels; for a 'C' grade, one hundred taels; and for a 'D' grade, ten taels. You can collect your rewards from the treasury later. Your papers have just been distributed. The remaining seven families, whose situations are virtually unchanged from three years ago, may now return home. The three families that went bankrupt in business will each receive five hundred taels from the treasury. Although you were unsuccessful, you at least showed some ambition, even if your abilities were insufficient. Continue to work hard. The three who passed as *tongsheng* will each be rewarded with two thousand taels. I also recall that a few of you got engaged a few months ago and will be married next year, correct? You will each receive two thousand taels as well. For the men, it will serve as betrothal gifts, and for the women, as dowries! Those who passed as *tongsheng* should not feel discouraged. Your marriages are a one-time event. If you later become *xiucai* or *juren*, there will be further rewards. Everyone I've mentioned can now leave. Qin Yangchun's wife, please stay behind; I have something to say!"
Having easily announced the predetermined rewards, Ding Yun began dismissing those mentioned, while specifically asking Qin Yangchun's wife to remain. Once everyone else had left, Ding Yun beckoned Qin Yangchun's wife to her side, patted her hand, and smiled.
"Do not worry. Keeping you here is not a bad thing. Looking back over these three years, Yangchun has been the boldest and most driven. Whether the Qin family can maintain its standing in aristocratic circles after my passing will likely depend on him. Although he hasn't progressed much in these three years due to the lack of warfare, the fact that he dared to go to the frontier surpasses his peers. Originally, I intended to reward you with ten thousand taels. But then I thought, with him serving on the frontier, money alone wouldn't be very useful. So, I am giving you one thousand taels for daily expenses. I will add a bit more myself to see if I can equip him with divine weapons and protective armor. In addition, I will help him build connections within the military and send him some money so he can foster good relationships with his superiors and maintain his own personnel. What do you think of this arrangement..."
Up to this point, Qin Yangchun seemed to be the only one with potential. With no other viable options, Ding Yun chose to invest in him, hoping he could truly establish himself and pass down the Qin family's legacy. During Qin Yangchun's time on the frontier, Qin Xushi's primary concern was his safety, with other matters being secondary. Therefore, upon hearing Ding Yun's intention to procure divine weapons and protective armor for him, she naturally agreed. After all, as long as he was alive, everything was possible. She now had only one daughter. If her husband were to meet with misfortune, ten thousand taels would be of little use; there was even a question of whether her daughter could be protected.
"What the Ancestor is considering is precisely what I worry about. I have no need for money in the capital. Why not give the remaining silver to my husband? That way, I can also feel more at ease staying in the capital!"
"No, you should have some money. It will also give him peace of mind knowing you are secure on the frontier!" Ding Yun politely refused, then handed her a one-thousand-tael bank note. She then inquired about further details, such as what Qin Yangchun might need on the frontier and if there was anything she could do to help prepare items to send to him.
After dismissing her descendants, Ding Yun made additional preparations specifically for her great-grandson, Qin Yangchun. For instance, she purchased a merchant caravan to operate exclusively along the trade route from the capital to Qin Yangchun's location, facilitating the transport of goods and communication. After all, he was now the sole promising candidate in the family, and ample resources could be allocated to him. As for the other descendants, if they were not capable and lacked ambition, wouldn't the money spent on them be a waste?