Chapter 831 A Dream of Youth 363

This corner is secluded, so no one else will hear it. Xiuling is the Empress's person, but she has actually been Xie Ning's person for a long time. And Xiuling's spies in the palace naturally serve Xie Ning.

Regarding news from within the palace, whether it's from Yan Xi, Xie Wangzhi, Eunuch Ding, or other undercover agents, Xie Ning never listens to just one person. He listens to multiple perspectives to gain a more comprehensive understanding.

For example, Xie Ning was unaware that the young princess of Princess De'an's family had gotten together with Yan Xi.

Yan Xi only told Xie Ning about Xiang Youyi, but didn't mention Jia Yue.

"My lord..." In Xiuling's view, this was Yanxi's distrust of Xie Ning.

"Well, you should avoid going to the palace these days if you don't have anything to do."

Xie Ning didn't think Yan Xi was hiding things from him because she didn't trust him enough. On the contrary, she felt that Yan Xi thought too highly of her, which was why she was unwilling to show him the dark side.

She displayed her ambition and cunning, but was reluctant to let Xie Ning see her ruthlessness.

The world is never black and white. Xie Ning will pretend not to know, so that Yan Xi will have some reservations and constraints, thus showing more of the white side.

Because people generally prefer benevolent rulers who conform to the norms of etiquette, even if the current emperor is a woman.

Xiuling watched Xie Ning's figure gradually disappear into the rain. Fine raindrops drifted in the wind, and withered branches sprouted green buds... Spring was coming.

The Northern Jin Dynasty, still wary of the power of the Zhou Dynasty's gunpowder, did not dare to go too far and eventually withdrew its troops.

During the peace negotiations, some people suggested to Gu Yan that they could give up everything and exchange it for Xie Ning.

The person who made the suggestion was Xiao Chu. Gu Yan was only tempted for a moment before quickly dismissing the idea. Although there were indeed many fools in the Great Zhou, there were still ministers with sharp eyes.

To personally hand the knife to the Northern Jin Dynasty, are you out of your mind?

So apart from some money and grain, Gu Yan only wanted the King of Wei. This man had murdered his grandmother and father, and he would definitely bring him back to Northern Jin to torture him severely.

The Great Zhou didn't care about the King of Wei. Someone even suggested exchanging the King of Wei for the Great Zhou general who had surrendered. Gu Yan was unwilling, as the Great Zhou general was quite capable in battle and he wanted to keep him.

He will come to the Great Zhou when he becomes powerful!

If the Zhou general can't come back to punish them, they can only take their anger out on his family and relatives.

Even the fine spring rain couldn't wash away the bloodstains on the execution ground.

Busy with many things, Xie Ning felt somewhat guilty when she came to the history museum to proofread astronomical books from various dynasties. She had been too busy and hadn't touched these books in a long time.

Bai Jianzheng did not blame Xie Ning, because this collation work was a tedious and lengthy task. When Emperor Jing gave Xie Ning this official position, it was only to have Xie Ning design instruments with the Imperial Observatory.

However, Xie Ning is quite responsible and still manages to find time to proofread books even in his busy schedule.

"Has the auspicious day been chosen?" This auspicious day is naturally the day Yan Xi officially ascends the throne. Before that, Emperor Jing and others must be buried.

Xie Ning knew a little about Emperor Jing's mausoleum. Previously, the court was short of money, and any money it had was put into military affairs. Emperor Jing was also frugal. During the western expedition, he took out the money he had saved for building his mausoleum, so the mausoleum was not completed until he died.

In the end, the Empress Dowager used her own funds to make up for the deficit, and by the time the imperial mausoleum was completed, it should be almost finished.

"It's been chosen. His Majesty has selected the ninth day of the fifth month."

Xie Ning had seen Bai Jianzheng perform divination. She could discuss some numerology with Bai Jianzheng, but she knew nothing about divination, and she didn't understand astrology either.

Although she was no longer a pure materialist, Xie Ning still didn't quite understand these metaphysical matters.

Bai Jianzheng did want to teach Xie Ning, but after performing divination for her, he gave up because Xie Ning was not yet ready to learn. She was not yet enlightened and lacked faith, so she could not enter this field.

Despite his eccentricities, Xie Ning still prefers to deal with numbers.

Numbers don't deceive her; by "deception," I mean being shrouded in layers of mystery. Xie Ning prefers simple, straightforward calculation results to guesswork.

But who says divination isn't a form of calculation? Divination, divination, is itself a form of calculation.

Bai Jianzheng stroked his beard. He felt that Xie Ning was talented, but lacked integrity, which was a great pity.