98. Draft

"Alright," Xie Wenling wiped away Jin Lanyue's tears and comforted her, "Look, if we see each other every day, isn't it the same as if I'm still living in your mansion?"

The little dumpling thought about it and realized that it made sense.

Not wanting to put Brother Xie in a difficult position, she obediently nodded: "Yes, Brother Xie, please remember Yue'er..."

"It definitely will."

At this moment, Jin Qizhi and his second brother came looking for them.

The two were afraid that their younger sister would be sad and cry, so they kept thinking about how to cheer her up along the way.

The second brother even started urging Jin Qizhi to quickly think of a way to keep Xie Wenling with his sister.

The two men arrived at this moment and, seeing that their sister's emotions were gradually stabilizing, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Jin Qizhi stepped forward first and said, "Cousin, Father asked me to ask if we need any help?"

Xie Wenling stood up, his usual expression returning: "No need, it's all taken care of."

The second brother leaned over and mysteriously pulled a paper package from his pocket: "Look, Yue'er, this is osmanthus sugar that was just made in the kitchen!"

This was also his "secret weapon" to appease his younger sister.

The little dumpling's eyes lit up, and she happily took the candy. Then, after a moment's thought, she presented it to Xie Wenling like a precious treasure: "Brother Xie, take some candy to eat on the way!"

Xie Wenling looked at the oil paper package, carefully took it and put it into his bag: "Okay, thank you, County Princess."

He had almost finished packing his things, and it was time for him to leave.

The little dumpling clung tightly to Xie Wenling's clothes.

Xie Wenling bent down and picked her up: "Have you finished your homework, Princess? I want to hear you recite the new poems you've learned tomorrow, okay?"

"Yue'er can recite so many poems now!" the little dumpling exclaimed eagerly. "She knows 'Spring Dawn' and 'Quiet Night Thoughts'!"

"What about 'Sympathy for the Peasants'?"

The little dumpling immediately wilted: "Two more lines to go..."

A hint of a smile flashed in Xie Wenling's eyes: "Then I've decided to listen to 'Sympathy for the Peasants' tomorrow."

"Okay! Yue'er will memorize it today! You'll definitely be able to do it!" The little dumpling nodded vigorously and finally let go of her hand.

Xie Wenling stepped out the door: "Let's go back."

He took one last look at the little dumpling, then got into the carriage.

Jin Qizhi took his sister's hand: "Stop looking, brother will take you to fly a kite."

My second brother chimed in, "I'll teach you how to play pitch-pot!"

The little dumpling nodded and followed his brothers back to the mansion.

"It's okay, we'll see each other tomorrow, and then we can see each other every day," her second brother comforted her.

"Uh-huh!"

-

The next day.

Early morning.

The Golden Palace.

The young emperor sat upright, listening to the cacophony of advice from his courtiers.

“Your Majesty, I believe the most urgent task is to enrich the harem,” said Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites, stepping forward first. “A country cannot be without an heir for a single day, and a ruler cannot have few offspring!”

Wei Xiuming looked up at him, already knowing in his heart that he couldn't escape this situation.

Sure enough, when they mentioned it, his expression remained completely unchanged.

Beneath the nine-layered golden dragon crown, no one could see his face clearly.

Seeing that he remained silent, she wanted to sneak a peek, but was afraid of accidentally angering the emperor.

After a long while, Wei Xiuming nodded slightly: "What Minister Wang said is absolutely right."

Upon hearing this, the court officials breathed a huge sigh of relief.

My anxiety was immediately replaced by ambition.

They rushed forward to take their places.

"Your Majesty!" Minister Zhang from the Ministry of Revenue said eagerly, "My daughter is only sixteen years old and is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She is most suitable to serve Your Majesty."

"Lord Zhang, you are mistaken!" Minister Li of the Ministry of Works immediately retorted, "Your daughter only came of age last year and is still young. On the other hand, my niece is already eighteen, and is dignified and virtuous..."

“Lord Li, your words are inappropriate!” Minister Zhao of the Ministry of War, with his pregnant belly, pushed forward. “My daughter is seventeen this year. She is not only well-educated and reasonable, but also proficient in riding and archery. She is far superior to ordinary women. Only someone like her is worthy to be the mother of the nation!”

"Isn't Lord Zhao's ambition a bit too great? He's even starting to covet the Empress's position!" Lord Wang immediately rebuked him righteously and sternly. "Moreover, the selection of concubines is the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites. How can you overstep your bounds?"

Lord Zhao retorted, "Lord Wang, you are mistaken! It is a subject's duty to share His Majesty's burdens!"

Everyone was talking at once, arguing heatedly about whose daughter should be chosen to enter the palace and whose daughter was qualified to be the empress.

"Your Majesty!" Minister Wang coughed heavily. "In my opinion, the position of Empress should be filled by a virtuous and capable woman. My granddaughter has been well-versed in the 'Admonitions for Women' since childhood, and is most suitable!"

"Lord Wang, you are mistaken!" Lord Zhao immediately jumped out. "Your granddaughter is only fifteen years old. How can she bear the heavy responsibility of being the mother of the nation? My daughter is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and is known as the 'Little Zhuge Liang' even in her youth..."

"Lord Zhao!" Minister Li of the Ministry of Works interrupted, "Your daughter was arguing with someone in the street last year, causing a great uproar throughout the city. How can she be expected to be the mother of the nation?"

Lord Zhao's face flushed red, and he stood with his hands on his hips, cursing, "You're talking nonsense! Which of your dog eyes did you see that?!"

"I saw it with both eyes!"

"You bastard, are your eyes some kind of telescopic vision or X-ray vision?! You can open your eyes and see right through the street while someone's still sitting on a chair?!"

"Hey, why are you swearing? You have no manners at all!"

"What kind of manners do I, a military officer, need? Keep babbling and I'll beat you up!"

"you!"

"Your Majesty!" Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Revenue stepped forward, "My daughter is beautiful and dignified, and proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting..."

"Lord Zhang!" Lord Zhao immediately changed his target, sneering, "I heard that your daughter just broke off her engagement last month. How can such a fickle woman be worthy of His Majesty?"

Lord Zhang stamped his foot in anger: "Don't talk nonsense! That's because—"

"Your Majesty!" Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Justice, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, "I have a daughter, seventeen years old, who is extremely well-educated and sensible..."

"Lord Zhou!" Lord Zhao sneered, "Wasn't your daughter punished and confined to her quarters last year for secretly reading forbidden books?"

"You're talking nonsense!" Lord Zhou was so angry that his face turned pale.

That's enough.

Wei Xiuming gently tapped the armrest.

The sound was not loud; it could even be considered very quiet in the noisy main hall.

But even such a slight sound instantly silenced everyone, causing them to stand up obediently and properly.

“My dear ministers, I want to hear you discuss important matters, not listen to your mutual attacks,” Wei Xiuming said.

"Your Majesty is wise," Minister Wang said, seizing the opportunity, "This old minister believes that we should first establish an empress, and then select concubines..."

"Lord Wang, you are mistaken!" Lord Zhao immediately objected. "We should select more women to enrich the imperial harem..."

"Lord Zhao!" Lord Wang's beard trembled with anger. "Are you trying to teach me how to do things?"

"Your subject dares not! Your subject only..." Despite being a military officer, Lord Zhao still managed to exchange words with the civil official, proving himself to be no less eloquent than the other.

"Your Majesty!" The minister ignored him, "This old minister believes..."

"Your Majesty!" Minister Zhao interjected, "I believe..."

The court immediately erupted into another uproar.

"Silence!" the head eunuch shouted.

"Alright," Wei Xiuming gently raised his hand, and the court fell silent once more. "Your loyalty is commendable. As for the selection of the empress and consorts..."

His gaze swept over the faces in the court.

They looked completely different, but their expressions were all the same: anticipation and ambition.

Among them, Lord Zhao's behavior was the most obvious, while Lord Wang was the most confident.

Wei Xiuming's gaze finally fell on Lord Zhao: "Minister Zhao, I'll leave this matter to you."

Lord Zhao was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Your subject will certainly do his utmost!"

"Your Majesty!" Lord Wang exclaimed in disbelief, "The selection of imperial concubines has always been handled by the Ministry of Rites..."

“Minister Wang is getting on in years, and I cannot bear to see you overworked,” Wei Xiuming interrupted gently but firmly. “Court adjourned.”

The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment and could only reply in unison, "We take our leave."