She wanted to avenge herself, eliminate the villain who threatened her for Qingchen, and do something for the people of the world. Even if she failed, she might pay with her life.

But she didn't care anymore; she had made up her mind.

Mingxiang had imagined the scene of killing Xu Yan countless times in her mind last night. How to take out the dagger, how to pull it out of its sheath, how to stab it, and how to surrender herself after stabbing Xu Yan... she had thought of all of these things.

Along the way, orioles and butterflies fluttered, the grass was fresh and green, and willows hung down their silken ribbons, entwining the spring breeze.

But she had no interest in admiring the scenery. She was very nervous, and her hands were trembling slightly at her sides.

Xu Silin turned to look at her and noticed that she seemed a little uneasy, so he comforted her, "I know you're still getting used to things since you're new here. It's just a cup of tea, don't be nervous."

Mingxiang slightly clenched the sleeve of her gorgeous dress and replied, "Mm."

“I have already instructed the servants to invite the opera troupe,” he continued. “After the tea ceremony, the opera troupe should arrive soon. You can watch the opera for a while, and if you want to eat anything, just tell the kitchen to make it. Now that you are mine, you don’t need to do anything. Just enjoy yourself. In your spare time, you can walk around the mansion or do some needlework, whatever you like.”

Mingxiang blinked her eyelashes. "Mmm."

I'm afraid she won't be able to live such a comfortable life.

When the two arrived at the main hall, Xu Yan and his wife were already seated inside.

Xu Yan appeared expressionless, while Xu Silin's mother, Madam Gu, wore a smile. She was unaware of Ming Xiang's loss of virginity, and was delighted that her son had finally brought a woman home, even if she was just a concubine.

"Father, Mother, I've brought Mingxiang to serve you both tea."

Xu Yan simply gave a faint "hmm".

He initially disagreed with his son's insistence on taking Mingxiang as a concubine. A girl from an ordinary family was not qualified to enter his Xu household, and since she had lost her virginity, she was even less qualified.

Faced with Xu Silin's insistence, he eventually gave in. Frankly speaking, for the Xu family, taking a concubine was no big deal; it was just another servant. Besides, his son had already proactively sought out members of the Xu faction and secured the position of Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, focusing his attention on important matters, which pleased him greatly. As for other trivial matters, let him do as he pleased.

Xu Silin and Ming Xiang knelt down before them, and then the two of them took the tea from the maids.

He lowered his head slightly and raised the teacup. "Father, Mother, thank you for raising me. I wish you both a long and healthy life. Mingxiang is my concubine, and she will serve and honor you well alongside me from now on."

Xu Yan remained silent, his slightly cloudy eyes fixed on them. Madam Gu smiled and said "good" twice.

Mingxiang followed Xu Silin's example, raising the teacup high. Because her fingers trembled slightly, the lid gently tapped against the bowl, making a few crisp sounds.

The dagger was tucked in her sleeve, and it felt rather heavy.

After Xu Yan took the tea from his son, he lifted the lid, blew on it, and brought the gaiwan to his lips. Gu Shi also took the tea from Ming Xiangjing.

Just then, Mingxiang suddenly took out a dagger from her sleeve and stabbed it into Xu Yan's chest with all her might!

Xu Yan was enjoying a fine spring tea, his view blocked by the gaiwan, and did not notice the swift movement.

Just as the dagger was about to pierce his chest, Xu Silin suddenly stretched out his arm and grabbed Ming Xiang's hand, "Ming Xiang!"

"Let me go!" she cried out as she struggled.

However, the woman's strength was no match for the man's. After a struggle, the dagger failed to pierce Xu Yan's chest and instead stabbed into Xu Silin's arm, leaving a long gash.

"Ugh!" he couldn't help but groan in pain.

Madam Gu was shocked by the scene, staring in panic at her son's bleeding arm, "This...this is..."

Xu Yan put down the covered bowl, immediately snatched the dagger from Ming Xiang's hand, and then shouted, "Someone, go and fetch a doctor immediately, and drag this girl away!"

Mingxiang lost her dagger, and Xu Silin released her wrist, clutching his own wound. Blood trickled from between his fingers, dripping onto the ground.

Ming Xiang, however, refused to give up and tried to snatch the dagger back from Xu Yan's hand. "Xu Yan, I'll kill you! I'll kill you, you shameless bastard!"

This action earned her a slap from Xu Yan. With a loud "smack," Ming Xiang was struck hard, her frail body unable to withstand such a heavy blow, and she fell to the ground. Her face stung with pain.

The servants rushed in quickly and restrained her.

Xu Yan narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Drag him away and beat him to death."

"No!" Xu Silin suddenly spoke, reaching out to help her stand up. "No one is allowed to hurt her."

Madam Gu said anxiously, "Son...but she's going to hurt your father!"

Xu Silin slightly raised his chin, glanced at his father, and said coldly, "He was the one who wronged Mingxiang first. Now that she is my concubine, I will not allow you to harm her."

He could understand her desire for revenge, and besides, if something happened to her, he wouldn't be able to explain it to Qingchen.

After a moment of silence, Xu Yan suddenly dropped the dagger in his hand. "Take her away and lock her up first."

"Lin'er, how are you? Does it hurt?" Seeing her son injured, Madam Gu was so distressed that tears were about to fall. "This girl is really... It's her great fortune to be able to enter my Xu family, how could she be so ungrateful and hurt your father..."

Xu Silin did not answer, but simply looked at Xu Yan quietly.

Xu Yan's face was indifferent, his expression unreadable.

...

Mingxiang was taken back to her room and locked up.

She leaned against the headboard, silently shedding tears that quickly soaked the bed curtains. Her cheek, which Xu Yan had slapped, and her wrist, which Xu Silin had gripped tightly, still ached faintly.

She was so close, so very close, to avenging herself and ridding Qingchen and the people of this scourge.

Unfortunately, she ultimately failed to do so.

"Brother Qingchen... I'm sorry."

...

The doctor arrived at Xu Silin's room quickly, applied medicine, and bandaged his wound.

Madam Gu kept asking questions until the doctor reassured her that "it's nothing serious." After the wound was treated, Xu Silin comforted his mother for a few moments before going to Mingxiang's courtyard.

When he pushed open the door, Mingxiang was still leaning against the headboard, tears streaming down her face, occasionally sobbing.

He entered the house, walked up to her, and asked, "Are you alright?"

Mingxiang did not look up.

She hadn't expected that he would come back, and so quickly, even after she had stabbed him. She remained silent. At this moment, she had nothing to say to this stranger with whom she had such a close relationship, because she had intended to kill his father right in front of him.

Xu Silin lowered his injured arm and said, "I know you hate him. I understand what you did just now. I don't blame you."

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a slanted glow on his face. His youthful features remained handsome, yet a hint of coldness and weariness lingered in his eyes.

Mingxiang blinked slightly, her eyelashes wet with tears.

He doesn't blame her?

“I know you resent him and want revenge, which is only natural.” He paused for a moment, then said, “But he is my father, so I have to stop you. I can’t just watch him die in front of me.”

“You can’t move around freely these days. Stay in this courtyard for now. Everything else I promised you will remain the same. If you want to see a play, I can have them come to this courtyard. And if you want anything to eat, just tell the kitchen to make it…”

"Why don't you kill me!" She suddenly looked up at him, shouting in despair, "I want to kill him, kill that ruthless, corrupt bastard! I want to kill him to avenge myself, to make sure he can never threaten Brother Qingchen again! Why don't you kill me!"

Knowing she harbored hatred for his father, why did he still bring her into this mansion? Why was he so kind to her? Why did he say he understood and told her to live well after she killed his father?

Mingxiang cried and screamed, almost sobbing uncontrollably, her frail shoulders trembling incessantly. Her gaze, fixed on him, was filled with complex emotions.

Xu Silin remained silent for a long time before saying, "I know he's not a good person. But he is my father."

With that, he turned around and walked to the door. "Mingxiang, I'm sorry. I will treat you well."

He will take good care of Qingchen.

Side hall of Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Rui leaned back on the couch, half-closing his eyes as he looked at the cabinet ministers in front of him.

"Do any of you gentlemen have any further objections? If not, then it's settled. Shen Qingchen will be appointed as the Prefect of Yuanjiang, Yunnan."

The Ming Dynasty had two capitals and thirteen provinces. Yunnan Province was the southernmost province and the farthest from the capital. Below the province were prefectures, each headed by a prefect, a fourth-rank official, who was in charge of the prefecture's administration, including military affairs, patrols, grain management, agriculture, water conservancy, military farms, and horse breeding. He was respectfully addressed as "Prefectural Governor".

The three elders responded in unison, and then Zhu Rui waved his hand, "You may leave."

After leaving the Qianqing Palace, Grand Secretary Zhang, who was over fifty years old, walked beside Song Yue and said, "Although both are fourth-rank official positions, once you reach a prefecture, you are truly in charge of the affairs of a region. I remember that Grand Secretary Song's student is only twenty years old. Prefects at the age of twenty are extremely rare. After gaining experience in the provinces, he can return to the capital in ten or eight years. He will be no more than thirty years old then, and it will be no problem for him to be promoted to a second or third-rank official. If you ask me, firstly, it is because he is ambitious and capable, and secondly, it is also thanks to having you as his teacher, Grand Secretary. Your student should really thank you properly."

Upon hearing this, Song Yue, who was descending the steps, did not reply but simply nodded slightly to indicate that he had heard.

If she knew about Yunnan, she probably wouldn't thank him.

Half an hour ago, Emperor Zhu Rui summoned several cabinet ministers to the Qianqing Palace, saying that the former prefect of Yuanjiang had met with an accident and had been killed by the White Lotus Rebellion. Yunnan is a remote region bordering other countries, and it is also one of the main gathering places of the White Lotus Rebellion. The importance of the prefectures and governors under its jurisdiction is self-evident. It is necessary to maintain local stability and prevent major chaos.

Once the position of prefectural governor became vacant, someone needed to fill it immediately. Therefore, Zhu Rui summoned the cabinet members to ask for their opinions.

Grand Secretary Xu Yan was on leave today, so only three people came to the Qianqing Palace, including Song Yue. After listening to Zhu Rui's explanation regarding the selection of the successor as the prefect of Yuanjiang, Song Yue recommended Shen Qingchen to him.

The reasons for the recommendation are simple. First, Qingchen has rendered several meritorious services, and her intelligence and adaptability are beyond question. Second, she has served in the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites, possessing experience in handling matters such as patrolling, grain management, agriculture, water conservancy, military farms, and horse breeding, making her perfectly suited to be a prefect. Third, Qingchen has recently done a good job in settling foreigners who have come to the Ming Dynasty, and Yunnan borders foreign countries, inevitably requiring the dealing with many barbarians, a situation she is absolutely capable of handling.

Zhu Rui nodded with satisfaction after hearing these three reasons. Actually, he wasn't so surprised when Song Yue recommended Shen Qingchen. Before summoning these cabinet members, he had already considered Qingchen as an ideal candidate. Qingchen was a talent he had personally discovered, a rare pillar of the Ming Dynasty, and would inevitably be entrusted with important responsibilities in the future. What she lacked was precisely experience in specific local affairs. This trip to Yunnan would be a good opportunity for her to gain experience.

Things will definitely be different in three to five years.

The other two senior cabinet members had no objections, and the matter was settled.

When Song Yue returned to the government office, Zhao Qiran happened to arrive.

When he heard that Song Yue had recommended Qingchen to Yunnan, he was stunned and said, "Yunnan? Don't you know what kind of place that is? It's such a remote place with barbarians and a bunch of White Lotus Sect people. Why did you recommend him there? Wouldn't it be better to let him stay in the court and find an opportunity to promote him to a position in the capital to help us? Who knows when he will come back? Three or five years is not long, ten or eight years is not short. We will lose one more helper... I really don't understand what you are thinking."

As he spoke, he pursed his lips indignantly, almost uttering the words "inexplicable."

"What's there to not understand? The court needs her, she's suitable, so it's only right to recommend her." Song Yue sat at his desk, personally drafting the document for Shen Qingchen's transfer, and replied indifferently without looking up.

His fingers, long and slender with distinct knuckles, wrote each character clearly and without the slightest hesitation.

“What do you mean, ‘appropriate’? I bet you two have some kind of falling out. You’re not satisfied with him and want to get rid of him.” Zhao Qiran said bluntly, “No, I have to go and ask him. If there really is something wrong, just have him apologize to you properly.”

"Don't go, and don't ask," Song Yue said. "There's nothing there. I've already given my reasons: the court needs her, she's suitable, that's all."

"I don't believe it." Zhao Qiran said this, got up, and left.

He had to ask Qingchen himself.

Yunnan.

Song Yue watched his retreating figure, remained silent for a moment, and then lowered his head to continue writing his documents.

Zhao Qiran rushed out of Song Yue's place in a flurry of activity, and then rushed into Shen Qingchen's official residence in the same flurry of activity.

Qingchen was handling official business when he saw Zhao's hurried appearance. He invited him to sit down and asked, puzzled, "Is there something you need, Lord Zhao?"

"It's big! It's about you!" Qingchen, who had been transferred, recounted the whole story in one breath, barely catching his breath.

Qingchen was stunned, staring blankly ahead. "He wants me to go to Yunnan..."

“I say, what’s wrong between you two? Did you have some kind of conflict with your teacher? He’s never been a petty person, just a bit stubborn. I don’t know what happened this time. If you really did something wrong, quickly apologize to him and ask him not to send you to Yunnan.”

Zhao Qiran's words echoed in her ears, but in Qingchen's mind, various scenes of her time with Song Yue appeared one after another, scene after scene, both real and blurry, as if they had just happened yesterday, yet also feeling so distant.

It feels like a different world.

Yunnan……

Seeing that she was lost in thought, Zhao Qiran said urgently, "What are you thinking about? Do as I say."

"It's nothing," she said, shaking her head and forcing a smile. "Since the teacher wants me to go, then I'll go. He must have his reasons for recommending me."

Leaving the capital, far from the court's intrigues, to do practical things for the people of Yunnan—that's actually quite good. Last year on the Double Ninth Festival, she made a vow to become a good official, and now Heaven is giving her the opportunity to fulfill it. He wants her to leave, so let her go.

Zhao Qiran was stunned. "Shen Qingchen, have you lost your mind? That place is far away and poor, with so many barbarians and White Lotus Sect members. What are you going there for? Let me tell you, the previous prefect of Yuanjiang was killed by the White Lotus Sect. Anyone else would rather stay in the capital as a minor official of the seventh rank than go there. You're so young, already the Junior Chamberlain of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, accompanying the Crown Prince. Why would you go to a place like that..."

After a moment of silence, Qingchen said, "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Zhao. I understand."

"You understand, yet you still insist on going?!" Zhao Qiran said angrily. "I said, why are you two, teacher and student, so stubborn and inflexible? Can't you sit down and talk things out calmly?"

“My teacher is too busy,” Qingchen said calmly, then glanced down at the documents on his desk. “Lord Zhao, I’m being transferred, and there are still many things to take care of here… I won’t keep you any longer.”

"Fine, fine, I'm leaving. You're all like this, I can't be bothered with you anymore!" Zhao Qiran was a little tired after failing to persuade the teacher and student. As soon as Qingchen finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves, got up and left.

Qingchen sat at her desk, staring blankly at his back. The white light fell on her, making her look gloomy.

Then, like Song Yue, she lowered her head and continued to handle her official duties.

Zhao Qiran didn't understand why, when someone doesn't want to give a reason, even sitting face to face, they remain silent.

After the duty was over, Song Yue was about to leave through the Daming Gate when Lu Shenyun, who had been waiting for him, stood in front of him.

"Did Lord Lu need something from me?"

Why did you let her leave?