trade off
When Shen Qingyan's carriage rolled over the bluestone pavement of the capital, all he could hear was the boiling noise of the capital.
Outside the car window, on both sides of the streets, you can see a "Pearl" flag with a black background and gold embroidery every few meters. It flutters in the spring breeze, and the brand new flag surface hurts people's eyes.
There is a light burning in the eyes of the people in the capital, a light of great hope for the future.
Your Highness, you really did it.
Before he could finish his sigh, the carriage slowly stopped.
A noisy voice from outside, respectful and enthusiastic, pulled him out of his thoughts.
"But is it the carriage of Lord Shen from Mingzhou?"
"Quick! Report immediately, we are here to welcome Lord Shen!"
The attendant carefully lifted a corner of the curtain, and Shen Qingyan was slightly stunned.
I saw that dozens of officials in robes of various colors had gathered on the roadside. The leaders were of high rank. They all had smiles on their faces and bowed, blocking the road tightly. It was obvious that they had been waiting for a long time.
He had no choice but to get off the car, and as soon as he stood still, he was surrounded by a crowd.
“Mr. Shen has had a hard time along the way!”
"I have long admired Mr. Shen's great name. Seeing him today, I can see that he is truly extraordinary!"
An old official with half-white hair and beard squeezed to the front, his tone even more earnest: "Mr. Shen is an old minister of Your Highness's Qianmen Palace, and he has made great contributions to the emperor! Your Highness relied on Mr. Shen a lot when he was in Mingzhou. This time, His Highness came to the capital because he urgently needs Mr. Shen to take charge of the overall situation and stabilize the court!"
Another person immediately joined in: "Exactly! Now that the court has just been established, there is a lot of work to be done. We need a man of such talent as Lord Shen to lead the way! This position of Prime Minister must belong to Lord Shen! We will need his guidance and support in the future!"
"Mr. Shen is a role model for civil officials and a master of Confucianism. It is a blessing for the country and for us scholars to have you assist His Highness!"
The voices of flattery came like a tide. Shen Qingyan maintained his usual calm expression, but his heart was inevitably stirred.
As the Prime Minister, he manages the yin and yang, harmonizes the affairs of state, and makes his ruler a Yao or Shun...
This is indeed the position that all civil officials in the world dream of, and it is also the ambition buried deep in his heart. Now it seems to be within reach. His Highness trusts him and everyone recommends him, as if a smooth road to success has been paved under his feet.
But when he glanced at these eager and unfamiliar faces, he naturally understood what was behind their flattery. The water in the capital was much more muddy than that in Mingzhou, and he could not relax.
He raised his hand slightly, silencing everyone's words. His voice was gentle yet distant: "My lords, thank you for your kind words. Qingyan is a mere scholar, devoting himself to the king's affairs. Your Highness has restored order, which is the will of heaven. How dare Qingyan take credit for it? Now that everything is undecided, the first priority is to meet with Your Highness and listen to his instructions. All other matters are not subject to discussion."
He continued, "Qing Yan needs to go to the palace to see the emperor immediately. I appreciate your kindness. I will take my leave."
After saying this, he ignored the crowd's renewed attempts to persuade him to stay, bowed slightly, turned around, and got into the carriage, ordering, "Go straight to the palace."
The carriage started again, leaving those unwilling gazes behind.
Shen Qingyan leaned against the car wall and closed his eyes.
The position of Prime Minister is certainly tempting, but what he wants to see more at this moment is the prince whom he has not seen for three years.
I wonder how she's doing now? After all this, is she still the same determined princess from Mingzhou? Is she still sitting securely on the throne?
*
Imperial Palace, Xuehan Hall.
This place was originally the residence of Concubine Yu, where Ning Lingyi lived from childhood to adulthood. It was later abandoned, but overnight, it was restored to its original state, elegantly furnished and offering a tranquil and warm atmosphere.
Ning Lingyi took off all her armor and wore only a plain soft nightgown, lying on the warm couch by the window. Concubine Yu was sitting beside the couch, holding a bowl of warm soup in her hand, blowing it cool and carefully feeding it to her daughter's lips, looking very indulgent.
"Drink slowly, it's still hot."
Concubine Yu's voice was so gentle that water could drip out of it, and her eyes never left her daughter's face. Her eyes were full of the caution that had been lost and regained, and the deep and inextricable heartache.
Ning Lingyi obediently opened her mouth and swallowed the soup.
Next to her mother, there was a long-lost relaxation and fatigue between her eyebrows. She tilted her head slightly, put her cheek against her mother's warm and dry palm, and rubbed it gently.
The commander-in-chief of the army, the ruler of a country, has now become a child in his mother's eyes.
Mother, you gave birth to me, raised me, caressed me, nurtured me, brought me up, cared for me and fed me, and carried me in and out of your womb. Just looking at the mother in front of her, Ning Lingyi felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She held back her tears and enjoyed the sweetness.
"The soup here is still delicious." She muttered softly.
Jade Concubine's eyes were slightly red, and she forced a smile and said, "If it tastes good, drink more. Look how thin you are. You must have suffered a lot in the past three years."
Her fingertips gently brushed across the faint dark circles under Ning Lingyi's eyes, which were filled with countless days and nights of exhaustion. She didn't care about anything else. As long as her daughter was safe, she was willing to give up even her life.
The hall was filled with the scent of incense, and sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting mottled and quiet shadows.
Ning Lingyi was almost intoxicated by this peace. Everything in the outside world, the urgent government affairs, the ministers eagerly waiting for rewards, and the country in need of reconstruction, seemed to be isolated from her.
At this moment, faint footsteps were heard outside the palace, and a palace maid whispered behind the beaded curtain, "Your Highness, Madam Dowager, news has come from outside the palace that Master Shen Qingyan of Mingzhou has arrived in the capital and is requesting an audience with Your Highness."
Ning Lingyi's eyes suddenly lit up with a genuine light when she heard this, and she subconsciously sat up: "Is Qingyan here? Hurry and call him..."
"Yier." Concubine Yu gently pressed her shoulders, her voice still gentle, but with a barely perceptible solemnity.
Ning Lingyi paused and looked at her mother in confusion.
Concubine Yu dismissed the palace maids, stroked her daughter's hair, and said softly, "Your meeting with him now isn't a reunion of old friends from Mingzhou, but a king meeting his subjects. Have you thought about how to reward him after meeting him? Will you choose him or Mr. Nong Zishi for the highly anticipated position of Prime Minister?"
"Of course..." Ning Lingyi blurted out, but stopped suddenly halfway through her words.
Farmer Stone...
The scholar who came to surrender to her when she was in the most difficult time with no soldiers and no food, the counselor who held up the overall situation when she was ill and whose temples turned white for her, the loyal minister who helped her conquer Xue Cheng, stabilize Heshuo, and finally march towards the capital.
To her, Shen Qingyan is her original intention, her foundation, her most solid backing during her years in Mingzhou, and the first subject who truly belongs to her. He was hurt for her and was a loyal subject who still accepted and supported her even when she was alone.
There is only one position of Prime Minister.
Ning Lingyi fell silent. The relaxation and joy she had just felt disappeared, and a sense of weighing the pros and cons of an emperor quietly weighed on her heart.
Concubine Yu noticed her daughter's slight struggle and gently took her into her arms, patting her back as she did when she was little.
"Mother knows your difficulties." She sighed.
"But this is the path you are taking. From now on, your every word, action, and gesture will be scrutinized by countless people. Your likes and dislikes will become the direction of the wind; every bit of your favor will be seen as a favor. Many people will flatter you, curry favor with you, and even... deceive you."
"If you don't think carefully and lose your judgment, you will be pushed step by step onto a path that is not what you originally wanted to take."
Ning Lingyi listened to her mother's words, leaning against her warm embrace, feeling her unconditional love. Her voice was muffled, with a rare hint of confusion: "Mother, is it true that if I sit in that position, I'm destined to be alone?"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Yu smiled, tears in her laughter. She held her daughter's face and wiped away the moisture from her eyes. "Silly child, how could that be? You still have your mother. Even if everyone in the world has feelings for you, at least you still have your mother by your side. I only hope that my Yi'er is safe and happy."
Just these one sentence healed Ning Lingyi.
The world may fool her and the ministers may despise her, but her mother will never do so.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, although she still felt heavy, she had more strength from her mother. She could do it, she encouraged herself.
*
Afterwards, a banquet was held in the palace.
Beside the Chengrui Pavilion, the water ripples gently. The spring night wind is still chilly, but the pavilion is brightly lit and warm.
Ning Lingyi sat in the main seat, having changed into a solemn yet gentle palace dress. She looked much better than the previous two days. The people on her left and right were her subordinates.
Shen Qingyan and Nong Zishi met for the first time. One was elegant, the other refined; one was calm, the other thin. They greeted each other with a bow. There was scrutiny, curiosity, and a tacit understanding in their eyes.
Xue Cheng still had the demeanor of a military general, sitting upright; Su Qingfan's eyes had a clarity that could not be concealed even by the vicissitudes of life in the capital; Jing Zhao was also present, looking respectful, and compared to before, the arrogance of the prince of Jiangnan had been much less restrained.
Ning Lingyi raised her glass, her eyes slowly sweeping across every face present. Her voice was clear and gentle, "Today is not a grand banquet, but a family dinner. Lingyi can sit here thanks to all of your support. You are not ordinary ministers to me, but my backbone, the people Lingyi relies on as a great wall."
She spoke sincerely, "The empire has just been stabilized, Hebei has not yet recovered, and much remains to be done. The road ahead will be even more difficult than before. Lingyi is young and inexperienced, and will need your continued assistance in handling many state affairs. Together we will overcome these difficulties and bring peace and prosperity to the people of the world. Lingyi would like to thank you all in advance."
Everyone stood up, raised their glasses in return, and said, "I dare not," "It's my job," and "I am willing to die for Your Highness." Although their words were respectful, they all understood in their hearts that this was Your Highness's way of calming people's hearts, and it was also the beginning of imperial skills.
But after this incident, the uneasiness and speculation in everyone's hearts were indeed calmed down a lot, and even Jing Zhao drank the wine in the cup in one gulp.
The atmosphere at the banquet gradually became harmonious. Everyone talked about the situation in Hebei, the Northern Expedition plan, and the restoration of people's livelihood. Everyone had their own opinions, and there were occasional arguments, but they were kept within a friendly range.
Shen Qingyan and Nong Zishi exchanged a few words in a low voice about government affairs, and a hint of appreciation flashed in each other's eyes.
But they also knew in their hearts that there would be disputes in the court.
Ning Lingyi stood at the first seat, looking at everyone, and finally understood her father's original feelings. With the world's talents in hand, knowing and employing talents is the key. It turns out that the emperor's balance of power has existed since the beginning.
After the banquet, everyone took their leave.
Ning Lingyi stood alone in the pavilion, watching their receding figures blend into the night, and the gentle smile on her face gradually faded.
She did not return to her bedroom, but ordered someone to prepare a sedan chair, and quietly left the palace and drove towards a certain direction in the city.
The carriage stopped in front of a quiet alley.
She got out of the car, waved away her followers, and walked alone towards the unfamiliar vermilion lacquered gate at the end of the alley.
The stone lions in front of the gate are still there, but the lintel is empty. Only a few mottled traces remain where the name of the mansion used to be hung.
She stood quietly, looking up at the empty door lintel, the cold spring night wind blowing her clothes, and she did not move for a long time.
She didn't know if she would find the answer here, but she came anyway.
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