80 Perfect Match
◎ "I'm a better match for you, right?"◎
As soon as he finished speaking, the imperial study fell silent.
Gu Ningxi didn't respond, but just looked up at him with her clear and bright eyes, looking stubborn and pitiful.
"stand up."
Although Lu Jing's face was still cold, he had already stretched out his hand.
Gu Ningxi hid his hands in his sleeves and remained motionless.
Lu Jing said: "...I promise you."
Outside the imperial study, Sun Jing listened to the calming movements in the inner room, and his heart, which had been hanging in the air until now, finally relaxed.
His Majesty and Lord Gu had a quarrel, and the whole imperial court was in chaos.
Sun Jing breathed a sigh of relief and sent a message to the kitchen. He guessed that His Majesty would invite Lord Gu to have lunch in the palace today, so he had someone prepare some of Lord Gu's favorite food early.
The sun shone brightly, slanting into the east room of the imperial study. Gu Ningxi and Lu Jing sat together beneath the bright window. Looking up, they could see the dazzling array of rare ornaments on the multi-treasure shelf.
Lu Jing moved all the morning government affairs to the afternoon. The two of them stared at each other in silence for a while. Gu Ningxi first asked himself the question in his heart: "How did His Majesty know this?"
She had been confused by this in both of her lives and felt that this time should be different.
Lu Jing only said: "Your cousin told me."
"That's impossible."
"Do you trust him so much?"
Gu Ningxi certainly believed in his cousin's character. "Besides, our two families are related by marriage. How would it benefit him if he revealed my identity?"
"So you're confident in entrusting this secret to him?"
"It wasn't me," Gu Ningxi said helplessly. "It was my mother who told him. She didn't even discuss it with me beforehand."
As Lu Jing heard every word, he forgot everything he wanted to say.
It was like a gentle breeze blowing away the morning mist, and golden light shone into the mountains and forests, passing through the narrow and secluded paths, giving people a sense of sudden enlightenment.
Lu Jing confirmed again: "Didn't you say that yourself?"
Gu Ningxi realized it later, and he seemed to care about this matter particularly.
She recalled that in her dream, he had asked her the same question: "Meng Mingxuan, did he already know your identity?"
The anger revealed in his words was far greater than the crime of deceiving the emperor mentioned earlier.
In the dream, he didn't seem to care about her side in the party struggle, but was more concerned about such trivial details.
Gu Ningxi tilted her head, and suddenly a blessing came to her mind.
She said, "Then Your Majesty, do you know why my mother told my cousin alone?"
Lu Jing was still immersed in the joy of having his misunderstanding cleared up, and subconsciously asked, "Why?"
There was still a hint of ease and joy in his voice.
"Because mother wants to marry me to my cousin." Gu Ningxi looked innocent. "Mother likes my cousin's character and personality, and the Meng family has a clean family background. She wants to strengthen the relationship between our two families."
"She was afraid her cousin would misunderstand her, so she broke off the relationship from the beginning and told him early on."
The situation was so different that Lu Jing silently suppressed all smiles.
Gu Ningxi's smile became more charming, and there was a hint of cunning in it.
As childhood sweethearts for many years, Lu Jing certainly understood her personality.
Since Yuan Le could say it so openly, Lu Jing asked, "You have no feelings for him, right?"
"This is my personal matter," Gu Ningxi said, leisurely holding the teacup. "Why does Your Majesty ask this?"
Their eyes met, and even though some answers were already tacitly understood, it was still far from enough.
Lu Jingwang looked at the jade-like face of the person in front of him, and his heart had never beaten so fast as it did at this moment.
On the treasure rack not far away, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, who was charging into battle alone, was so angry that he wanted to chop off people's heads with the wooden sword in his hand.
If he doesn't speak clearly anymore, when will he be able to find a partner?
On the side, another pair of little wooden figures, one standing and one sitting, one moving and one still, one bending the bow and drawing the arrow, and the other lowering his eyes to read, are extremely well-matched.
Lu Jing said: "I am more suitable for you, right?"
…
The sun was shining brightly. After having lunch in the palace, Gu Ningxi returned to the Marquis Xuanping's Mansion and put aside all his worries.
Her head touched the soft pillow, and she just wanted to sleep from afternoon to dusk to make up for the worries and insomnia she had experienced in recent days.
Just as she changed into her pajamas, the transfer document from the Ministry of Personnel arrived.
Of course, she was not sent out. She still retained the official position of the fifth-rank Langzhong of the Ministry of Works, and also served as the sixth-rank Zhongshu Sheren, replacing the previous position of Prince Zhongyun.
On the surface, the Zhongshu Sheren was only of the sixth rank, but he served in the imperial court, was responsible for drafting imperial edicts, and was in charge of handling memorials. He was a well-deserved confidant of the emperor.
According to the imperial decree, there were four secretaries in the Secretariat, but the emperor expanded this to six. Besides Gu Ningxi, another official from the Ministry of Revenue was selected. He was a Jinshi who passed the imperial examination a year later than her, and his surname was Qiu.
Sitting in the position of Zhongshu Sheren, as long as he does not get involved in any major treason case, it is a clear indication that he will be highly valued by the emperor.
Gu Ningxi looked at the signature and saw that it wasn't written today. Instead, the transfer order had been issued long before she requested to be transferred out of town.
The news spread quickly throughout Xuanping Mansion. Since the new emperor ascended the throne, the Marquisate's status within the court had declined significantly, and many matters were known more slowly than those of other mansions. Among the new generation of Gu family nephews entering officialdom, Gu Ningxi had the most impressive achievements in the imperial examinations and held the highest official rank.
After receiving such an imperial edict suddenly, Marquis Xuanping pondered for a long time and felt that the emperor's mind was unpredictable.
He naturally wanted to ask Gu Ningxi, but he had to choose his words carefully first.
Mrs. Meng did not have such concerns. She did not understand the affairs of the court and only judged from the Marquis's words and actions that Xier had been promoted again.
"How could this be? Doesn't that mean your marriage will be delayed again?"
"Well, I don't want to get married yet." Gu Ningxi explained everything. "I went to His Majesty to plead my case, and he gave me this opportunity because of our long-standing friendship."
"This..." Mrs. Meng was so shocked by this sudden change that she could hardly recover.
Gu Ningxi lowered her head. Even though she agreed to be with him, she was not ready to tell her mother about what happened between them.
"The emperor's order cannot be disobeyed." Gu Ningxi brought up Lu Jing without any burden, "There's no need to talk about marriage now."
Mrs. Meng was helpless, her hopes dashed. Although she didn't dare to do so, she couldn't help but secretly complain to the emperor.
The Marquis's Mansion was finally preparing to arrange a marriage for Xier, but if it weren't for His Majesty, her daughter would have been able to get married.
In Songmo Courtyard, compared to Marquis Xuanping's many speculations, Old Marquis Gu was much more indifferent.
Life and death are all granted by heaven. In any case, in this matter, it was Your Majesty who compromised first.
The marriage was put on hold for the time being, and Lord Gu ordered a family banquet to be held on a chosen day to celebrate for Gu Ningxi.
After all, it was a happy event in the Marquis' Mansion, which swept away the decadence of the Gu family in recent times.
The spring night was warm, and Gu Ningxi had to go back to the Ministry of Works tomorrow, so he went to bed early.
I thought I could fall asleep quickly, but when I closed my eyes, that person's figure suddenly appeared in my mind.
In the past, they were good friends besides the ruler and his subjects, but from now on...it seems that things will become different.
…
It was late at night. In the imperial study, Sun Jing saw that his Majesty was still fiddling with the three wooden figures.
There were no important government affairs in the afternoon, but His Majesty was busy until dusk.
Occasionally, Sun Jing would enter to serve tea and would see His Majesty holding the imperial pen in a trance.
"Your Majesty," Sun Jing said respectfully, "It's getting late. Why don't you return to your bedroom and rest?"
Despite ascending the throne, Lu Jing did not move into the Taiji Palace, but instead ordered the renovation of the Ruihe Hall. The Ministry of Works was already drawing up plans for an expansion of the hall to better suit imperial specifications.
"Okay."
Lu Jing rearranged the three little figures and placed Yuan Le in the center.
He tossed and turned today, thinking about three things in total.
It was obvious that he and Yuan Le knew each other first, so why didn’t the wife of Marquis Xuanping take a liking to him?
He continued to think, and then he said, as expected, the cousin of the Meng family did not seem to be the type of person Yuan Le liked.
He placed the three wooden figures back in a prominent place on the Treasure Pavilion, and finally thought that his birthday would be in two months.
He wanted Yuan Le to carve another little wooden figure for him.
…
After returning to the Ministry of Works after several days, Gu Ningxi first went to pay a visit to the Shangshu and Shilang.
She has been sick at home for some time, and her accumulated tasks have been taken over by a new doctor from the Ministry of Works.
She had not attended court for more than ten days, and the changes and arrangements in the court were more than she had imagined.
When His Majesty the Prince of Shu left the capital, a group of loyal officials from the Eastern Palace followed him to Shu. Many of the remaining Eastern Palace acolytes requested to be exiled. Among them were some truly talented scholars, and Your Majesty still employed them without any particular criteria, greatly reassuring both new and old court officials.
Minister Li was not at all surprised that Gu Ningxi was promoted to the position of Zhongshu Sheren.
Zhongshu Sheren are traditionally appointed from the Imperial Academy, often from the Imperial Library. Because they frequently await summons, younger officials are typically chosen. This eliminates many candidates. The original four Zhongshu Sheren were all promoted by the retired emperor. Your Majesty has only recently ascended the throne, and replacing all of them would create a reputation for disrespect. Adding two more would be the best option.
The Ministry of Works originally held the lowest rank among the six ministries. However, with the unification of the country and the establishment of a several-year peace treaty with the Turks, the court and the people enjoyed a period of rest and recuperation, with reduced taxes and levies. With the development of farmland and irrigation systems across the country, and the initial success of local agricultural tool promotion, the Ministry of Works could now demonstrate its capabilities. The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice have temporarily taken a back seat. Many of the officials Your Majesty has recently appointed to the Secretariat and the Ministry of Revenue hail from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue.
Many of the six ministries have recently added new staff to their quotas. Minister Li smiled and said, "You now have Doctor Deng to share your responsibilities in the Ministry of Works. You should focus more on the Emperor's presence."
Gu Ningxi thanked Minister Li for his advice. Doctor Deng was also a gentle and kind person. The two of them helped each other and divided their responsibilities, making their official duties easier.
Gu Ningxi from Jiangnan has already sent a letter to inform her cousin about her recent situation in the court.
In fact, it would be better for her to stay in Kyoto, as it would be more convenient for her to take care of her mother and grandparents.
After spending half a day sorting out the new affairs of the Ministry of Works, Gu Ningxi informed Doctor Deng and headed towards the Imperial Study.
The duty rooms of the six ministries are right next to the palace wall, and behind the Imperial Study there is a row of duty rooms specially for the duty needs of the Secretariat.
Of the four original Zhongshu Sheren, Lord Zhao Feng was the most experienced and would coordinate some of the routine matters. Gu Ningxi and another Sheren Qiu were new to the position and would be observing and learning more for now, not rushing into any duties.
After a day's work, Gu Ningxi had a rough idea of his new job.
She tidied up her desk and her mood changed unconsciously.
When she was in the court, she could only consider herself a passerby. Her biggest goal was to accumulate enough political achievements to be transferred to a distant place, take her mother out of the mansion, and live the life she wanted.
Now that the charge of deceiving the emperor had been cleared, a great deal of the burden had been lifted from her heart. Her original plans had been completely disrupted, and for a moment she felt lost and at a loss.
What should she do in the future?
She noticed a change in the Marquis's attitude towards her. The Marquis's family lost power, and she gradually gained a firm foothold in the court, no longer being a pawn at the mercy of her family.
Ultimately, it all comes down to the word "power".
But Gu Ningxi's heart didn't completely relax. Many of the scenes in his dream had come true. So, he, he really would -
There was a knock on the door, but Gu Ningxi did not close it.
She raised her eyes, and Xie Qian smiled and said, "Why is Lord Gu so lost in thought here?"
Gu Ningxi smiled back at him: "I'm just thinking about a new job."
Xie Qian nodded: "Is Master Gu's illness cured?"
When Gu Ningxi was ill and staying at home, Xie Qian had gone to visit her once, but he was turned away by Marquis Xuanping and was unable to see her.
Gu Ningxi understood Xie Qian's concern and said, "I'm fine now. Thank you for your concern, Brother Huaicheng."
It happened to be time for the shift to end, and the two of them were returning home together.
Xie Qian has always admired Gu Ningxi's character and talent, but in the past, due to the factions of the Eastern Palace and Prince Zhao's Mansion, they had to leave room for interaction with each other to avoid trouble.
Now that His Majesty is very much intending to make use of Lord Gu, they will have one less layer of scruples in their interactions.
The two of them left the palace together and chatted for a while. Xie Qian said, "I've also been learning wood carving recently, and I know how difficult it is."
To have the skills of Lord Gu, I'm afraid it will take many years of practice.
Gu Ningxi was very optimistic about Xie Qian: "A martial artist's strength can defeat even the most skilled. Learning wood carving can also achieve twice the result with half the effort."
Xie Qian smiled, Lord Gu's words gave him more confidence.
Before they had gone far, Xie Qian mentioned that he was preparing to bring his mother to the capital. Gu Ningxi, knowing that he had spent time with Prince Zhao on the battlefield, carefully considered her words, wanting to ask Xie Qian if His Majesty had suffered any injuries on the battlefield, when Steward Sun hurriedly caught up behind them.
Xie Qian had just been reporting on military affairs in the imperial study, and thought that something important had happened and the emperor had summoned him back.
Sun Jing saw the courtesy and said, "Master Gu, His Majesty wants to see you."
Lord Gu is very busy today, so His Majesty asked him to pay attention to the movements in the duty room and wait for Lord Gu to meet him when he is free.
He didn't notice it at all, and Lord Gu left the palace. Fortunately, he caught up with him in time.
Xie Qian didn't ask any more questions about government affairs, but nodded to Gu Ningxi. He returned home on his own, agreeing to bring his wood carvings to Gu Ningxi in two days.
Gu Ningxi followed Manager Sun back and saw His Majesty sitting in the corridor of the Imperial Study waiting for her not far away.
【Author’s words】
Xiao Lu: First day of love! Waiting for my wife to finish her work [Spread flowers]
Wait [scatter flowers]
Wait [Milk Tea]
etc. [sunglasses]
——Where is your wife?
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