Chapter 58

In the afternoon, under the corridor outside the main hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion, several late cherry trees were in full bloom. The pink and white petals rustled on the bluestone slabs, and were crushed by the soapy boots of the servants, leaving tiny traces of fragrance.

Minister of Revenue Xu Jiang had just handed in his visiting card and was being led inside by his housekeeper when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind him.

When he turned around, he saw Ji Zeming, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, rushing towards him. The eldest son of the Prime Minister's family was usually calm and composed, but now he seemed to be hurried by something urgent.

"Young Master Ji, please stay." Xu Jiang spoke quickly, bowing and smiling. "I was wondering who it was. It turned out to be Ze Ming. Where are you going in such a hurry?"

Ji Zeming's steps suddenly stopped, perhaps because he was running too fast, his chest still heaving slightly. He raised his eyes to see who was coming, quickly suppressed his expression and bowed, responding, "Enter the palace."

Xu Jiang was surprised and asked, "What? Entering the palace?"

Then, on second thought, she realized that he was still worried about the Crown Prince, so she said, "In order to make Li Yin obedient, no one has entered the palace. What are you trying to do?"

Ji Zeming whispered, "So even if it's just for myself, I want to go and see it."

Xu Jiang couldn't help but feel angry when he saw that he failed to stop it.

Seeing that Xu Jiang no longer stopped him, Ji Zeming was about to leave when he heard a majestic voice behind him: "Ming'er..."

Ji Zeming hid in the dark corner where no one could see him, feeling helpless. He slowly closed his eyes, as if he wanted to temporarily seal away all the complicated emotions in his heart.

In a moment, he straightened his back, turned around, and walked towards his father.

When he got closer, he bowed respectfully. Although his voice was steady, it could not hide the bitterness in it: "Father."

Ji Ke walked slowly to him and said in an unrecognizable voice, "You think the Crown Prince, who grew up with you, is pitiful, right?"

Ji Zeming was silent for a while before he said, "I think your highness's decision is correct."

Ji Ke looked at his son standing with his head bowed in the hall, his brows slightly furrowed, and finally turned into a long sigh. The breath seemed to be wrapped in half a lifetime of hardships and helplessness, and slowly dissipated in the silent corridor.

He raised his hand to stroke the slight beard under his chin, and said in a dull, slightly hoarse voice, "Yes..." The last syllable was long, "At first, who wouldn't think that being upright and honest is the right way to live? But in this world, things are not so black and white."

Then, his throat moved, and his tone became more mature: "I don't know, sometimes, even if it is 'right' with all the reasons, it may not necessarily allow the people to live a stable life..."

Ji Zeming was silent for a moment, then he raised his head and looked directly at his father. For the first time, he defied his father and said directly, "Frankly speaking, I cannot agree with this."

Ji Ke looked at him, as if waiting for him to continue.

Ji Zeming paused and continued, "How will expanding our family's influence contribute to the happiness of the people?"

Ji Ke asked in return, "Do you think that if the forces are dispersed, they will coexist?"

Ji Zeming didn't say anything.

Ji Ke continued, "On the contrary, it will cause unnecessary quarrels."

After a pause, he added: "Politics is not about being friends with the people, but about powerful people taking control and guiding the people."

Ji Zeming had no way to refute this, so he changed the subject and pressed on, "So is marrying the Minister of War also a way to maintain power?"

Ji Ke did not deny it and admitted it directly.

"Father," Ji Zeming took a deep breath, mustered up all his courage, and said in a trembling voice, "Then I don't want to. I don't want an arranged marriage. I want to marry the woman I like."

As soon as he said this, he felt his heart in his throat. He stared at his father's face nervously, waiting for the unknown storm to come.

Upon hearing this, Ji Ke suddenly stopped what he was doing, slowly raised his head, and looked at Ji Zeming with a sharp gaze, with majesty and disbelief mixed in his eyes, as if he was looking at a strange son.

"What did you say?" My father's voice was low and cold, with an unquestionable sense of oppression.

Ji Zeming's scalp tingled under his father's gaze, but he still steeled himself and straightened his spine, repeating, "Father, I don't want an arranged marriage. If this marriage is solely about family interests and devoid of any affection, I simply cannot accept it."

After saying that, he left without waiting for Ji Ke to speak.

——

Zhao Yan'er has not given up yet. Today she went to the palace to ask for advice from Luo Neiguan.

Zhao Yan'er and Luo San'er sat opposite each other. Zhao Yan'er looked relaxed, while Luo San'er looked anxious. Who wouldn't feel uncomfortable? Outside the palace, this was like an employer falling in love with a matchmaker, so Luo San'er felt a little uneasy.

Zhao Yan'er leaned closer and whispered, "I often go to the bookstore outside the palace. Last time, Her Royal Highness the Princess gave me a few books from the palace library. They're pretty good, and I can recommend them to you."

Luo Sanrong nodded and agreed, "You said you like reading!"

Zhao Yan'er didn't respond to the question. Instead, she looked around with a vigilant look. Seeing that no one was around, she slowly approached, lowered her voice, and said mysteriously, "But to be honest, there are other reasons why I often go to the palace."

Luo Sanrong's heart suddenly tightened, and he pretended to be puzzled and said "hmm".

Zhao Yan'er twisted her fingertips together, lowered her eyes for a long while before looking up and whispered, "Actually, the person I told you about last time is actually in the palace, and he's someone you know, Luo Neiguan."

Luo Sanrong's hand paused, waiting for her to continue saying the name.

"It's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Zhao Yan'er said.

Luo Sanrong remained silent because she really didn't know what to say.

Zhao Yaner looked at Luo Sanrong's stunned expression, waved her five fingers in front of Luo Sanrong's eyes, and said in surprise: "Ah? You are scared."

Luo Sanrong came back to his senses.

Zhao Yaner held her face in her hands and complained in distress, "Every time I only answer when it's necessary, and now I'm too lazy to even find an excuse."

Seeing a palace maid passing by, Zhao Yan'er realized that her posture was a bit indecent. Just as she was about to adjust her sitting position, her sleeve accidentally brushed the table, sweeping the fan to the ground.

Luo Sanrong instinctively reached out to pick it up, and as expected, the 'Heart of Eternity' given by Li Yin was revealed. Zhao Yaner exclaimed, her eyes fell on the bracelet, and she said to her, "I've seen that too."

Luo Sanrong hurriedly straightened his sleeves, lowered his head and said nothing.

Zhao Yaner came close to her and gossiped, "Each of you should take one. Even if you separate, you will meet again in the end."

Luo Sanrong shook his head and said, "I didn't know it had such a meaning."

Zhao Yaner teased, "You accepted the gift without even knowing its meaning?"

"Ah..." She sighed softly, her voice gentle yet lamenting, like a breeze blowing across a lake, creating ripples. "I don't know who it is, but it seems she's a woman like me, unwilling to consider the consequences. She actually gave a man such a gift."

After saying that, she slowly put down the fan in her hand, and her white jade-like fingers gently stroked the edge of the fan. The expression on her face seemed to be recalling something, and seemed to be helpless about what was happening before her.

Luo Sanrong remained silent as usual, but his thoughts had already drifted away to who knows where.

I was once angry at my mother for asking me to dress as a man, and I once questioned her. She promised to tell me the truth when she grew up. However, before I grew up, she and her mother were separated, and I seemed to have gotten used to dressing like a man.

As for Li Yin, he was an accident in his life...

When dusk came into the private room overlooking the river, Li Yin was sitting by the window.

In the celadon wine glass on the table, the remaining wine swayed into tiny golden waves, making the icy cracks on the cup body even clearer.

His fingertips rubbed unconsciously, back and forth, as if counting the direction of the cracks.

Outside the window, the boatwoman rowed and sang, her soft Wu dialect mingling with the sound of the water, making his voice even deeper: "It seems that the news of the chaos in the court has reached here."

The person opposite nodded.

After taking a sip of tea, he said slowly, "Because the originally scheduled imperial examination was cancelled, everyone is saying that the candidates' day starts and ends with cursing His Highness."

The voice had a kind of indifferent and gloating tone.

The person who spoke was Mr. Chashan, who was visited by Li Yinsan. Mr. Chashan didn't want to come out of seclusion, but he couldn't stand this rogue prince sending people to disturb his leisurely life all day long, so he had to come and see his fun.

Mr. Dashan asked, "Are you still going to carry out the exam as planned?"

Li Yin put down his wine glass, tapped his fingertips on the table, and said, "The struggle has begun."

Mr. Chashan urged, "This concerns your dignity, Your Highness. You won't admit defeat, will you?"

Li Yin didn't say anything, but it seemed that he had decided to fight to the end.

Chashan slowly swallowed a mouthful of tea, gently stroking the rim of the cup with his fingertips, and said slowly, "If it comes to winning or losing between husband and wife, then the inevitable result is the separation of the wife and children."

Li Yin showed a puzzled expression, not understanding why he started talking about the topic of "separation of wife and children".

Mr. Dashan explained, “Of course, in the beginning, it was to correct the flaws of the civil service examination and select the necessary talents, but now, is the goal of this struggle victory or reform?”

The words woke Li Yin up from his dream, and he began to look thoughtful.

Chashan sighed, “It’s so hard to keep your original aspiration.”