Chapter 106: Don’t be soft-hearted at this moment...

As night falls, there is the occasional sound of dogs barking, but most of the time there is only the whistling cold wind. Every household closes its doors and courtyards. The end of the year is approaching, and it is almost time for families to reunite.

Zhao Changning's house was brightly lit. Without Grandma Xu, no one was sweeping the thick snow in the yard. The courtyard wall seemed to be much higher under the snow.

The firewood that Grandma Xu used to organize neatly is now piled in a mess in the corner, covered by thick snow, and it is unknown whether it can be burned.

Gao Cong looked at Mingxuan angrily, "You're a guest, why are you fighting with me for the kitchen?"

Mingxuan smiled good-naturedly. "Changning likes some dishes, so I cooked them myself to show my sincerity. Also, I chopped some extra firewood, so you can save some effort."

"Hmph, why are you showing off? I can chop wood, too." Gao Cong looked at Mingxuan with a bad face. He picked up some spareribs and said, "It's just so-so. Zhao Changning, do you like it?"

Zhao Changning nodded. "It's better than what you cook. But you can't just give me porridge right after I arrive, right? My stomach is not working properly, not my tongue. And the porridge you cooked is mushy at the bottom."

"You, eat it or not." Gao Cong glared at him and ate the rice with the bowl in his hand angrily.

The more he ate, the angrier he got. Not only was he a brilliant scholar, he could even ride a horse and fight bandits, but how could he cook such delicious food? It was truly disgusting.

After dinner, Zhao Changning asked him to wash the dishes.

Gao Cong was unhappy, "Why should I go?" He glanced at Mingxuan.

Zhao Changning frowned, "Do you want me to go?"

She held down Mingxuan who was about to stand up and said coldly, "You just said Mingxuan was a guest. What happened? You were lying just now."

Gao Cong was so angry that he could only go to the kitchen with his dishes and chopsticks, cursing.

In such a cold day, he, a delicate man, had to wash dishes. Zhao Changning, this bad woman, should have run away with the money. She had to suffer here every day and had to wash dishes for Zhao Changning's wild man.

He was so angry.

Mingxuan smiled and shook his head, "Why do you have to tease him? He's just a little young."

"Young?" Zhao Changning curled his lips. "When we were his age, we wouldn't have messed up the house like this. He has to live on his own eventually. He can't always rely on others."

Mingxuan looked at Zhao Changning in the candlelight from the lantern under the eaves. After not seeing her for a long time, she seemed more dazzling and graceful than before.

"What do you think of what I just said?"

Zhao Changning nodded. "There are pros and cons. In the long run, what you said about suppressing merchants is correct. Zuo Yu wrote me a letter saying that fewer and fewer people are farming in Jiangxi. That's a land of fish and rice. Silver can never replace food. This is not a long-term solution."

Mingxuan nodded. "Now that silk is exported, the people's lives have indeed become much better. However, I have been trying to stop the weaving bureau from encroaching on farmland to plant mulberry trees. However, I can only stop the officials, not the people. If they choose, they will still plant mulberry trees instead of rice paddies. In the end, how can the honest people be defeated by the merchants? Who will control the land in the end? The Maritime Customs Office has indeed made great contributions to Dayong in the past two years, but it cannot last forever. The country is based on the people, and the country is also established for the people. Merchants are prone to profit, so we should be vigilant."

Zhao Changning nodded. Feeling a little full, she said to Mingxuan, "Let's go for a walk outside together?"

Mingxuan smiled and followed her out the door. He was tall, and in just a few steps he was in front of Zhao Changning. He opened the gate first, lowered his head and said softly, "Please come in, Lady Scribe."

It was a rare opportunity for Zhao Changning to relax, and since he hadn't seen Mingxuan for a long time, a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

"The emphasis on agriculture and the suppression of commerce is an ancient practice. I understand this, and the emperor certainly understands it, too."

She lifted her foot and stepped on the snow, making a crunching sound. "But this matter must be carefully considered. A sudden change would be difficult for both merchants and the people to accept. Besides, Dayong still needs the money for the time being, so we have to think about it carefully."

Mingxuan watched her walking briskly in the snow. The world was silent, with only the dim moonlight shining. Fortunately, the snow was bright, and he could see her relaxed and comfortable smile.

Just at this time it started snowing, drifting down in the night, as white as goose feathers.

He watched the snowflakes falling on her shoulders and black hair bit by bit. His mind had wandered far away, but his brain was still thinking.

"It's good that you understand. All these years, thanks to you, Changning, I am really grateful to you in my heart. I can't even find a way to repay you."

Zhao Changning pursed his lips and smiled, then turned back to look at him with bright eyes, "Didn't you already thank me by cooking for me?"

"I don't think it's enough." Mingxuan walked over to Zhao Changning with his long legs, gently raised his hand to brush the snow off her shoulders, and his tone was as sticky as honey. "My gratitude is far from enough for a meal."

His eyes were dark and gloomy, like a whirlpool that draws people in, hiding raging waves. As he walked forward, the candlelight under the eaves circled around his sharp and distinct outline, dim and ambiguous.

Zhao Changning's heart skipped a beat, as if poked by something, and he suddenly felt numb and achy. There was a strange light in his eyes as he looked at Mingxuan.

She raised an eyebrow, as if having a premonition, and walked backwards in the snow, saying hoarsely as she walked, "How many meals will be enough?"

Mingxuan didn't say anything. Seeing her retreat, he took only one step with his long legs and caught up with her. In the dark, he held her hand face to face, his eyes surprisingly bright.

"It'll take a lot of meals. One hundred? One thousand? Ten thousand?"

Zhao Changning remained silent, just looking up at him. After so many years, the elegance of this third place winner in the imperial examination remained unchanged. He was less bookish, but more resolute.

Snow was falling all over the sky, the moonlight was hazy, the world was silent, and it seemed as if they were the only two left in the world, accompanying and relying on each other.

She just watched Mingxuan walk up to her, watched the scorching light in his eyes, watched his hair gradually turn white with snow, and her heart seemed to be burned as well, like the wind blowing through the treetops, swaying, and her mind was a little dazed for a moment.

Mingxuan took another step closer, his voice hoarse, "Changning, you like to eat, right?"

Zhao Changning felt that he was too close to her, their breaths were indistinguishable, and she could even smell a faint hint of cooking smoke on his body, which came from cooking for her. This made her cold heart soften uncontrollably.

She smiled, her eyes curved, "Guess?"

Mingxuan leaned over with lightning speed, mustered up his courage, and broke the rules in his heart, gently touching his forehead with hers, "You like it."

Zhao Changning narrowed his eyes and was about to speak when he suddenly saw a man walking quickly behind Mingxuan from over his shoulder. Because the weather was too cold, the man was wrapped tightly from head to toe and walked hurriedly past the two of them.

The snow fell silently, with only the crunching sound of snow being stepped on, gradually fading away.

She only felt that the figure looked a little familiar, but she really couldn't remember it in this situation, nor could she concentrate on thinking about it. Fortunately, her mind was completely back at this moment.

Zhao Changning suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

Mingxuan had been staring at her expression carefully, and when he saw the coldness in her eyes return, he couldn't help but be stunned.

He was so sensitive, especially at a time like this. "What's wrong? Changning?"

Zhao Changning's gaze fell on Mingxuan's face again, full of scrutiny and speculation. She looked straight into his eyes and suddenly smiled.

"I'm reminding myself not to be soft-hearted at this moment. My problems won't go away just by relying on a man."

Mingxuan opened his mouth, "Changning, we..."

Zhao Changning knew what he hadn't said. She wasn't one to drag her feet, not even with words. "Mingxuan, love is fleeting."

Mingxuan was about to speak when he was interrupted by Zhao Changning.

"I've gone through so much hardship and used all my strength to get to where I am now, not for an illusory, fleeting love. Mingxuan, we both know in our hearts that you can't cook for me forever. You shouldn't say that. It will make me think that you are no different from those ordinary men with smooth talk. After all, you have your ideals, and I have mine."

Mingxuan didn't expect Zhao Changning to say it so bluntly, but thinking of the light in her eyes just now, he said gently: "Changning, this is not contradictory. I won't stop you, but this doesn't mean that my love is so terrifying."

Zhao Changning took two steps back and raised his hand to stop Mingxuan who was about to follow.

"When I read the Ballad of Mulan, I encountered a strange dilemma. When Mulan was needed, it was "I am willing to buy a saddle and horse, and from now on serve my master in the army." When she was not needed, it became "Mulan does not need a minister" and "put on her makeup in front of the mirror." It was obvious that power was so hard to come by in a court full of men, and she had so many ambitions in her heart, but she was asked to retire. I think Mulan must have been very painful at that time."

Mingxuan fell silent for a long time before he said bitterly, "Changning, I know your heart and your perseverance. I also know how difficult it has been for you. If there is no solution, I am willing to give up these things for you. You don't have to be like Mulan who gave up everything."

From the first time he met her, the more he got to know her, the more he understood what kind of person she was. She was smart and strong. It seemed that everything in the world would not catch her eye as long as she was not interested.

He had already been at a disadvantage.

"But Mulan is both me and you." Zhao Changning sighed. "Mingxuan, you were hesitating painfully just now, which shows your true heart. I don't want you to do anything for me, and I don't want you to give up your ideals. Please hold on to what is yours..."

She paused, "If it really comes to the end, all that will be left is the pain of you giving up everything for me, and we will become enemies."

After Zhao Changning said these words, she felt clear-headed and relaxed. It was as if something was dissipating from her body, and she became more determined and tenacious.

She also became clearer about her own path.

Mingxuan staggered and snowflakes fell all over his head.

He watched Zhao Changning retreat and wanted to reach out to grab her, but he found her cold gaze. His heart ached, and he said regardless: "If I have to choose between the two, I would choose you, Changning."

Zhao Changning had regained consciousness and gave him a distant smile, "Mingxuan, you're a little confused. I won't keep you here tonight."

Compared to power and the path she chose, all these things seemed insignificant.

She held her head high, her thoughts clear, and strode towards home.

Before we even arrived, in the vast snow, we could see Gao Cong from a distance, wrapped up like a ball, wearing an apron, holding a shovel in one hand and something in the other, looking around blankly in the alley.

Gao Cong saw Zhao Changning and ran over to him, shivering with cold. "When did you go out? I called you for a long time but you didn't respond. Where's Mingxuan?"

Zhao Changning tucked her hands into her sleeves, and a puff of white smoke came out of her mouth. She shrank her neck because of the cold.

"What?" She raised her chin and pointed at his hand.

Gao Cong was also curious. He spread his hands in front of her, and there was a mutton-fat jade pendant in the shape of a five-clawed dragon.

"I don't know. When I heard the noise, I could only see his back. I couldn't even stop him. It's so cold today. What's wrong with him?"

"What back?"

"A dark figure, wrapped up tightly from head to toe, I couldn't see its face clearly, and it ran very fast."

When Zhao Changning heard this, she was stunned. She recognized it at a glance. It was the emperor's personal item.

She thought of the figure just now, and a huge fear and regret arose in her heart. Could it be such a coincidence? How much of the scene just now did that person see? Was it someone sent by the emperor?

"Quick, find me a carriage."

Gao Cong frowned, his handsome face full of disgust, and said impatiently: "What are you doing in the middle of the night?"

Zhao Changning seemed to have lost consciousness. He stood in the snow in a daze and repeated, "Go find a carriage."

Gao Cong saw that her eyes were staring straight ahead, her face was as pale as snow, and her eyes were filled with undisguised fear and hesitation.

He was no fool, and having followed Zhao Changning for so long, his heart skipped a beat. He immediately said, "Okay, you go in and wait, I'll go right away."

After saying that, he didn't care about anything else and ran away with the shovel in his hand.

Zhao Changning stood motionless in the snow. She looked down at the jade pendant in her hand, confirmed it again, and finally let her hand drop in vain.

Just as she was walking towards the house, a black carriage with a brocade canopy stopped silently at the entrance of the alley, and the driver was waving at her.

Zhao Changning looked up and around, Gao Cong had already run away. She then remembered that to rent a carriage in Shuier Lane, she had to go to the main street, which was quite a distance.

She felt something in her heart and walked towards the carriage. Seeing that the driver was a thin and capable middle-aged man with haggard cheeks, she stood under the horse without moving.

The man clasped his fists towards her and said, "Nüshu Ling, please get on the carriage."

Zhao Changning's heart finally rose to her throat. She bit her lip hard, took a deep breath and got into the carriage. "It's so late, the palace gates are already locked. What are we doing?"

The man whispered, "The Emperor had already left the palace before the key was released."

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The author has something to say: Do not go gentle into that good night [Rose][Rose]