The Lady of the Minister Ye left the Royal Palace and returned to the Ye Xiang Residence, where she sighed as she saw Ye Guixue.
Ye Guixue smiled and asked, "Mother, did you see the Little Princess?"
"I did, she’s extremely beautiful, she will certainly grow up to be a delightful young lady," the Lady of the Minister Ye envied, "Son, you can’t spend all your days buried in government affairs, you should also look for a wife. Little Qiuying was so eager when she saw the Little Princess, saying she wants a little sister just like her."
Ye Guixue caught the crucial point, "Little darling?"
"Right, the Little Princess’s nickname is Little Darling." The Lady of the Minister Ye smiled, "She indeed lives up to that name."
She scolded lightly, "Don’t change the subject, I’m discussing serious matters with you. Now that you have moved on, you should find a wife to bring home. Little Qiuying is too lonely."
Ye Guixue was speechless, "Mother, Little Qiuying’s loneliness has nothing to do with your son. You should ask older brother to remarry."
"I have always been handling your brother’s matters, it’s just that Mother hasn’t found a suitable one yet. After all, he is remarrying, unlike you," the Lady of the Minister Ye said, "For him, suitability is all that matters, but for you, your mother hopes you find someone you are fond of. Even if she’s not your preferred choice, getting along for a lifetime still requires mutual compatibility."
Ye Guixue nodded, "Mother, rest assured."
The Lady of the Minister Ye, seeing that he did not refuse to marry, felt much more at ease, "Don’t think I’m nagging, take some concern for yourself. The girls I find agreeable may not appeal to you, after all. You still have to make your own choice."
Ye Guixue nodded.
The Lady of the Minister Ye stopped talking and, with Qiuying in tow, prepared to leave.
Qiuying stood still, "Grandmother, may I stay and speak privately with Uncle for a moment, if that’s all right?"
The Lady of the Minister Ye was immediately delighted, tapped her nose, "A trip to Daliang has done you well, having stayed in the Eastern Palace for a year, you are like a little adult now. Go ahead, I’ll leave first."
The Lady of the Minister Ye left, and Ye Guixue looked down at Qiuying and smiled, "What do you want to talk about?"
"Uncle, let’s go to your study to talk," Qiuying proposed.
"Okay," Ye Guixue agreed.
The two went to Ye Guixue’s study together.
Inside the room, Qiuying asked in a low voice, "Uncle, what kind of girl do you want to marry?"
Ye Guixue chuckled, "Why? Even you are concerned about my marriage now?"
Qiuying sighed, "Uncle, have you truly let go of Sister Su Qi?"
"I have indeed let go." Ye Guixue’s expression was candid, just as sincere as when he was in Daliang speaking to her, "Uncle is not Zhou Gu; changing his situation, he can’t achieve what he did for the Princess, abandoning the Qingyun Road he chose since childhood, and burning his boats to forge an uncertain future with her. Now it’s simply that he has succeeded, but back then, with multiple deadly dangers and close calls with death, he barely survived. He could do such a thing because the Princess also admired him. What do I have to hold onto? Why should I torment myself? Self-inflicted suffering?"
Qiuying let out a heavy sigh of relief, showing a smile. Since she had returned to Nanchu, Uncle has been busy until now, and as a child, she had no chance to have a proper talk with him. Now that she could hear Uncle speaking so seriously to her, with her young heart on edge, she finally felt thoroughly relieved.
She looked up with a smiling face, "Uncle, since that’s the case, take your time in choosing. You are still young, don’t listen to Grandmother and become too anxious. I don’t feel lonely at all, and I believe that, with you being so good, one day, you will certainly find a girl you adore."
Ye Guixue chuckled, "Alright."
Qiuying pondered for a moment longer, "Uncle, actually, the three newly recognized female officials from last year are all quite beautiful. Especially Nangong Ya, although she’s from the Nangong family, I’ve met her once and found her personality to be resilient and fun, not afraid of hardships, and in dealing with people, she is graceful and dignified..."
Ye Guixue chuckled and touched her head, "Is there anything else? If not, hurry up and go to sleep."
Ye Qiuying stuck out her tongue, "That’s all."
She was urged by Ye Guixue to go to bed. At the door, she added one more sentence, "Little Uncle, there’s one thing Grandma said that’s right. Don’t get stuck in government affairs all day long. You need to take some interest yourself and have a look at the young ladies."
Ye Guixue waved his hands, chuckling as he rubbed his forehead, "Off you go."
After Ye Qiuying closed the door and left, Ye Guixue sat down and continued to work on the official documents piled on his desk.
The Princess was in confinement and not attending Morning Court Meetings, so the Nanchu King, as ruler, had no choice but to get busy again, since he ought to attend to the matters of the state from his position.
After being busy for forty days, he finally looked forward to the day when Su Rong came out of her confinement. That evening, he said to his daughter, "I intend to abdicate. Agree or not, you must agree."
Su Rong had just finished her confinement and indulged in a brisk bath, feeling relaxed all over, her hair still damp, when her father dropped this bombshell on her. She looked at him with a touch of amusement, "You’ve been on the throne for seventeen or eighteen years, what’s the harm in holding on a little longer?"
"I can’t stand it anymore; I want to dote on my grandchildren." The Nanchu King, busy as he had been over the past month and not having the time to even see his little granddaughter, was very dissatisfied. He couldn’t wait to wash his hands of this position, "Just take it, will you? What’s the use of delaying? Once you take the throne, Zhou Gu will be promoted to the King’s husband. He won’t have to go to the Ministry of Revenue every day then, and in the future, he’ll have the authority to govern with you and take a lot of burdens off your shoulders."
The current husband of the Princess, after all, was different. Although he was also important, he wasn’t the King’s husband. There were some matters he couldn’t overstep with Su Rong and exert royal authority. Even his memorandums had to be submitted through proper channels.
"Alright then," Su Rong herself felt it was about time and agreed.
The Nanchu King immediately became happy, "Shall we set your coronation ceremony after our little darling’s full-moon celebration?"
"Alright."
Hearing that, the Nanchu King didn’t say much more. He stood up and walked out, "I’ll have the Ministry of Rites begin the preparations immediately."
The Ministry of Rites had actually been preparing for the abdication of the King and the Princess’s ascension for a year now, and as the event was drawing near, it wouldn’t be too hectic. Once the date was set, it would be manageable.
Old Chief of Staff Sun Chunwang from the Ministry of Revenue was discussing his retirement with Zhou Gu, and he took Zhou Gu’s hand, saying, "I am old, Master of the Princess. With your talent and ability, you should take over my position sooner rather than later."
Zhou Gu laughed and shook his head, "Old Chief of Staff, I think you’re still strong and energetic. You can hold on for a few more years."
"No, no, no," Sun Chunwang shook his head repeatedly.
Zhou Gu sighed, "You don’t have a choice, I’m afraid. You might have to hang in there for a few more years. After all, my father-in-law can’t wait to abdicate."
With a look of helplessness, he continued, "Once he abdicates and the Princess takes the throne, do you think I can continue to stay at the Ministry of Revenue?"
Sun Chunwang: "..."
As the King’s husband... then... that was out of the question. Sharing the reign with the King, two sovereigns presiding over the court – how could the current Master of the Princess stay in the Ministry of Revenue any longer?
He felt like crying, "I am much older than the King, what am I supposed to do now?"
Zhou Gu smiled at him, "Hang in there for a few more years and train Xingzhi. My cousin has the talent for it."
Sun Chunwang: "..."
Cui Xingzhi was just too young. He had to hold on for a few more years, didn’t he? At least three or five years, surely? It was enough to exhaust an old man.
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