The next day, an inner eunuch arrived at the Princess's Mansion with gifts from Emperor Long Sheng, handing them over to Ding Yun.
Three tokens and three identity plaques.
The three tokens were for either entering the Imperial Academy to study or for joining the Imperial Guard to take orders.
The three identity plaques were for serving as imperial guards.
Additionally, a verbal message from the Emperor was delivered to Ding Yun's two sons, instructing them to attend court and participate in governance starting from the following day.
Perhaps fearing they might not fully grasp the Emperor's intentions, the eunuch, after conveying the verbal message, privately explained what the Emperor expected them to do during court sessions. Only then did he depart with peace of mind.
There was no question as to who would receive the three identity plaques.
This had long been decided by Ding Yun.
As soon as the eunuch left, Ding Yun immediately summoned the three children she had previously recommended. She distributed the identity plaques to them and then had a wet nurse guide them aside to explain where to report for their imperial guard duties in the palace and what common sense precautions to observe while working.
“You must have heard just now, the three identity plaques were decided long ago, each based on individual merit, so that aspect for these three cannot change.
However, these three tokens are an unexpected bonus.
I happen to have three sons, so there are three branches.
Each of you can take one. You can decide among yourselves which descendant of your branch will use it.
But you must understand, this opportunity is not for you to trifle with. If you do not wish for your descendants to fall into commoner status or something similar in the future,
then they must rely on this opportunity to slowly climb their way up.
Therefore, it is best to choose a descendant who is talented, capable, or at least knows how to strive for improvement. If it is given to someone who is incapable of improvement,
then your branch deserves to decline.”
After a brief explanation and admonition, Ding Yun distributed the newly acquired three tokens. Although the eldest son had passed away, his daughter-in-law was still alive.
So, she directly gave the token to her daughter-in-law.
She had done her best to secure whatever she could for them. If they still proved to be mediocre and showed no progress, then as their ancestor, she could do no more!
After all, even members of the imperial clan were now subject to assessments.
Those who failed the assessments could not inherit their titles.
If they did not strive for themselves, what could she do?
After distributing the tokens, Ding Yun immediately stated:
“Since the tokens have been distributed, let’s discuss the matter of dividing the family property. Traditionally, the eldest legitimate son receives seven-tenths, while the remaining legitimate sons share the remaining three-tenths. If there are illegitimate sons, an additional tenth must be reserved for them.
This is to preserve the family fortune as much as possible, preventing it from becoming diluted through equal division. This is especially true in families with many offspring, where a wealthy household can easily become that of minor landlords or gentry after division, with the family completely declining and losing its former prosperity within two generations.
However, you are all my sons.
Those three tokens can be considered a foundation for each generation to establish themselves in the future. Therefore, the division of property will be according to the annual income distribution. The eldest branch will receive forty percent, the second and third branches will each receive thirty percent. As for my personal assets, they will not be divided for now. Who they are given to will depend on which family can produce a promising descendant first.
Also, from now on, the income from my farms and my official salary will no longer be distributed. You must gradually get used to a life without me. Either find ways to earn money yourself or find ways to save.
This income will be saved or used to invest in the family business. Every three years, there will be a full clan assessment, and the rewards will be given to the children in the family who have strived hard over the past three years.
Or to children who have achieved something through their own efforts!
Whether it is in officialdom or other endeavors!
In all walks of life, there are experts. As long as there is outstanding contribution and achievement in a certain field, rewards can be given.
I will establish specific regulations for this later.”
“Regardless of how much family property remains, please discuss and divide it here today. After the division, you and your children, which means the generation of my grandchildren, can continue to reside in the Princess’s Mansion. Everyone else must move out.
Of course, if you wish to move out,
you may do so!
Just visit me on festivals and holidays. There’s no need to come for morning greetings every day, which is a waste of time.
With that time…
it’s better to have the children recognize a few more characters!”
Ding Yun had put considerable effort into ensuring her descendants would strive for self-reliance. She planned not only to divide the family immediately but also to establish a reward system using her personal assets and income, which could be considered a form of incentive.
After all, she genuinely lacked the energy to constantly push them.
She couldn't possibly supervise so many children; she could only rely on their self-awareness and offer some benefits to keep them engaged.
However, her two sons and three daughters-in-law were truly taken aback by her directness and decisiveness. It took them a while to react and try to persuade her.
They spoke of the saying that children don't divide the family while parents are alive and that large families must stick together to survive.
The reason they hadn't objected before was that Ding Yun had only mentioned dividing the family in passing and hadn't intended to do it immediately. Their focus had been more on her promise to help them obtain official positions.
The yet-to-be-initiated division of the family was therefore not a priority.
Now that official positions were secured, and this division would also reduce their mother’s annual income of forty thousand taels, they were naturally reluctant. Even though Ding Yun stated that the ultimate income would still be used as rewards for promising descendants, they were unwilling to see income they could receive without any effort now become income that was conditional.
And they were unsure if their descendants would prove successful.
Whether they would be able to receive these rewards.
In short, they were old and only desired stability, not change. They wanted to continue relying on their parents for a few more years, and only after they could no longer do so, or their mother passed away and there was no one left to rely on, would they consider other options.
But Ding Yun clearly had no intention of letting them continue to be dependent, as it would only make them useless. Therefore, the more they tried to persuade her, the more resolute Ding Yun's determination to divide the family became.
Finally, she directly instructed a wet nurse to summon people from the Imperial Clan Court, along with those responsible for household registration, to preside over the division of the family.
With the relevant supervisors and specialists present, Ding Yun immediately changed her plan, stating:
“Originally, I only intended to make a rough division of the family, separating the three sons into three branches. I was too lazy to manage the rest. But now, thinking about it, it’s better to go all the way. Grandchildren have already been born, and so many people living together is truly inappropriate. So, let’s divide thoroughly.
All those who are already married will be separated.
Anyone who is married will be separated.
Only those who are not yet married will temporarily remain with their parents. All others will be separated. Do not imperial princes also establish their own residences after they are married?
This shows that there is no such principle as not dividing the family while parents are alive.
The family property will also be divided thoroughly. Each family may receive a little less, but it’s fine. Anyway, I still have an annual income of forty thousand taels. After completely separating, you will each plan for your own family and your own small household.
The triennial assessment I mentioned earlier remains unchanged. Whoever achieves something or makes a contribution, I will absolutely not be stingy with rewards. Even if the assets received are not substantial, as long as they receive two or three rewards from me, their final fortune will definitely not be meager. So, let’s proceed with the family division!”