Two days before Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao went to Shengjing, Lu Zhaozhao handed over the remaining dowry list to Tong Huaqiong, asking her to manage it.
This level of trust is truly rare.
Initially, Tong Huaqiong planned to transport this batch of dowry to the provincial city.
But she worried that it might draw too much attention and could be robbed on the way, leading to more loss than gain.
It was Mrs. Hong who reminded Tong Huaqiong.
She said that in the past, many noble families and officials in Shengjing were confiscated, and the pardoned women and children struggled when they returned to their hometowns due to the lack of property. But some foresighted families would register part of their assets as sacrificial land, so even if the family declined, the women and children could still live steadily when they returned to their hometowns.
Many descendants of confiscated officials relied on sacrificial land to continue their education, waiting for the day the court granted amnesty, then turning to the imperial examinations to make a comeback.
Tong Huaqiong was not very familiar with such maneuvers of the time, so she carefully inquired of Mrs. Hong.
After Mrs. Hong’s explanation, Tong Huaqiong understood that sacrificial land was a special land system based on patriarchal society at the time, mainly used for ancestral worship, embodying filial piety.
In this dynasty, which governs under the principle of filial piety, not even the emperor would dare to confiscate sacrificial land, risking public outrage.
Therefore, some noble families would convert part of their assets into sacrificial land, effectively providing a safety net for future generations.
Although called sacrificial land, very few actually use it for ancestral worship; most were fertile lands and estates under the guise of sacrificial land.
Tong Huaqiong thus had the idea of converting Lu Zhaozhao’s dowry into sacrificial land.
After all, it was certain that Jingzhe would pursue a career in bureaucracy.
The path of an official was treacherous in ancient times; encountering a mad emperor could easily result in beheading or family confiscation.
Naturally, Tong Huaqiong hoped for Jingzhe’s safety, but it never hurt to plan ahead.
She didn’t want to end up penniless, starting anew with a battered body after losing everything.
If, as Mrs. Hong suggested, there was sacrificial land as a guarantee, there would still be a fallback in case of confiscation.
However, converting Lu Zhaozhao’s dowry into sacrificial land might seem unethical since Tong Huaqiong also heard that dowries were not confiscated with family estates.
Mrs. Hong said, "Not confiscating dowries is just what they say. When it really happens, who cares if it’s a dowry? Sacrificial land is different; it’s under the watchful eyes of everyone."
Her words solidified Tong Huaqiong’s decision to manage sacrificial land.
After all, the property would still be registered in Lu Zhaozhao’s name.
Now that Lu Zhaozhao and Jingzhe were tied together, if Jingzhe faced trouble, Lu Zhaozhao would also suffer, making this piece of sacrificial land a safeguard for their descendants.
"But there is a problem; sacrificial land is communal property within the clan and is managed by the clan leader, and I don’t get along with the clan leader of the Gu Family," Tong Huaqiong said.
She didn’t want the clan leader managing the sacrificial land.
She had long considered replacing the clan leader and had discussed it with Gu’s second uncle and aunt, but since the current clan leader was elected by the entire clan, it was not something Tong Huaqiong could change with a few words.
Unless Jingzhe excelled in the imperial exam, giving them an excuse to replace him.
Tong Huaqiong had already thought it through, planning to let Gu Daqiao or Gu Fengnian take over as clan leader then.
It might take a few years to achieve this.
Mrs. Hong said with a smile, "Like many private properties registered as sacrificial land, the manager can also be an empty shell."
Although Mrs. Hong’s words were vague, Tong Huaqiong understood.
It meant that while sacrificial land was registered as such, it could be farmed as ordinary land or leased to tenant farmers.
Who actually manages it doesn’t matter.
This is akin to commercial apartments later on still being used as private residences.
Thus, on the night before Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao departed for the capital, Tong Huaqiong told Lu Zhaozhao about the idea of using part of Lu Zhaozhao’s dowry to arrange sacrificial land, as after all, the dowry was Lu Zhaozhao’s and her opinion should be respected.
Lu Zhaozhao had no objections.
In fact, upon hearing about the sacrificial land, Lu Zhaozhao added that they could allow some poor yet well-standing families in the clan to farm it at a very low rent, equivalent to managing the land for themselves. Moreover, part of the production from the sacrificial land could support educating children with potential in the clan.
Lu Zhaozhao, a native of this era, naturally trusted the power of the clan.
Which noble family does not unite within the clan, investing in the impoverished but ambitious youth who could be absorbed into family power if their own members fall short?
The more successful members in the clan, the stronger the force others would not dare underestimate.
The Gu Family descended from generations of poor farmers, until today when only one scholar, Jingzhe, appeared.
Jingzhe’s official career was doomed to be less smooth than that of children from noble families.
Even her brother, despite being a Champion Scholar, was still constrained by noble families.
Financing the education of the clan’s children was meant to provide support for Jingzhe.
After all, with a powerful clan, individuals can be sheltered under the clan’s big tree.
This is how hundred-year-old clans can thrive without collapsing.
Lu Zhaozhao thought far ahead, and naturally, Tong Huaqiong was willing to follow her suggestions.
After all, it was Lu Zhaozhao’s dowry, and whether she wanted to convert it into sacrificial land or support the clan’s education, Tong Huaqiong would fully respect her wishes.
Soon after Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao left for the capital, Tong Huaqiong gathered the Gu Family, hastily announcing two things within the clan.
First was the conversion into sacrificial land, and second was funding the education of talented children in the clan.
Of course, she attributed both achievements to Lu Zhaozhao.
As a modern person, Tong Huaqiong had no sentimental attachment to the clan, but Lu Zhaozhao was different. Based on the trajectory of her past life, Jingzhe was destined to shine in the officialdom, with Lu Zhaozhao, as a minister’s wife, being a figure of influence within the clan.
Tong Huaqiong had to increase her presence in the clan to elevate her status within it.
Indeed, upon learning of Lu Zhaozhao’s "plans," many in the clan cried with excitement.
After all, even if Jingzhe succeeded in the future, not everyone could benefit directly.
But Lu Zhaozhao’s sacrificial land was different.
They could rent and cultivate it, help guard it, and if they did well, they wouldn’t need to worry about basic necessities, even if not becoming extremely wealthy.
More importantly, their children would have the opportunity for free education.
If they excelled, pursuing an official career was a promising future.
Even if they didn’t, being literate and numerate, they could work as a small steward under Tong Huaqiong or Lu Zhaozhao, living a comfortable life.
Gu Daqiao was appointed as the steward of the Weaving Workshop because he was literate and competent, even when his leg was injured.
Even the Gujia Clan Leader, occupying the top position overrun by Tong Huaqiong, was visibly moved.
This indicated that Jingzhe still held the clan in regard, and marrying this wife was the right decision for Jingzhe.
All grievances against Jingzhe for neglecting the clan vanished.