Chapter 316 People in love always feel insecure and anxious.
The "Regulations on the Imperial Examinations" state that those who entered officialdom through hereditary privilege accounted for 30%. A side note states: The imperial examinations should eliminate the abuses of hereditary privilege; candidates from humble backgrounds should be allowed to recommend themselves for the provincial examinations; and a policy essay section should be added to the palace examinations…
"Local officials sell salt themselves, and clerks take advantage of this to commit fraud." (Side note: Salt and iron production could be supervised by the government and managed by merchants. A system of thirteen saltworks and saltworks was established, allowing wealthy households to purchase salt permits and transport the salt themselves. The government would collect two-tenths of the permits as tax...)
The eight characters “slaves and lowly people are treated like livestock” were crossed out in red ink, with a note beside them: Abolish the slave system, replace it with wage labor, establish “People's Protection Homes” to house refugees, teach them weaving and crafting skills, and sell their finished products to fund the homes…
......
As Prince Rui read through the annotations, he grew increasingly alarmed. If all of these were implemented, what kind of country would Da Gan become?
Prince Rui ran his fingers along the slightly yellowed pages of the book, his eyes growing increasingly dark. Although he didn't participate in court affairs, he was well-versed in literature. Throughout history, which official dedicated to reform had ever met a good end?
"Your Highness."
Jiang Yu's voice rang out, and Prince Rui came back to his senses. He turned his head and saw Jiang Yu walking out from behind the table, where Xia He and his attendants were setting out the meal.
Prince Rui glanced down at the book in his hand, hesitated for a moment before putting it back, then walked to Jiang Yu's side and watched her wash her hands. Her fair and slender fingers seemed to gleam, incredibly beautiful. However, he clearly saw the thin callus on the knuckle of Jiang Yu's right middle finger; people who write frequently often develop such calluses on their hands.
His hands involuntarily clasped together because he had just had a shameful thought: to touch the calluses.
At this moment, Jiang Yujing finished washing her hands and turned to let Xia He change the water so that Prince Rui could also wash his hands. Just then, Prince Rui's ears turned red, because he had just wanted to use the water that Jiang Yujing had used to wash his hands.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he realized he had been somewhat reckless.
Although Prince Rui's inner world was in turmoil, his outward appearance remained calm, which Jiang Yu did not notice at all. However, when Prince Rui washed his hands, Jiang Yu glanced at his slender, well-defined fingers and thought to herself, "How beautiful."
Although the official canteen didn't cater to every official's taste, the food was still decent, and there was a good variety of dishes. Xia He and Prince Rui's attendant brought over a small amount of different dishes, making Jiang Yu's large table a bit crowded.
Having spent time together several times, the two were already acquainted. Jiang Yu didn't stand on ceremony with him, walked to the chair behind the table, sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and began to eat. Prince Rui couldn't help but smile; he was pleased that Jiang Yu was so at ease with him.
"I just saw a book with your annotations," Prince Rui said casually, but with a hint of nervousness in his voice. While Jiang Yu's annotations weren't confidential, it wasn't convenient to display them publicly right now. He wondered if Jiang Yu would mind discussing this with him.
Jiang Yu's expression remained unchanged after hearing this, and instead asked, "What does Your Highness think?"
Although many people come and go in her study every day, almost no one actually goes up to the bookshelves to browse the books. Prince Rui was the first.
"Unique insights?" Prince Rui replied to her.
"Doesn't Your Highness think I'm unorthodox?" The question was asked casually, but Jiang Yu's gaze was very serious.
Prince Rui put down his chopsticks and replied seriously, "No, from the beginning of history to the present day, only by constantly progressing can we remain invincible."
"Does Your Highness consider my insights to be progressive?" Jiang Yu asked again.
“Of course.” Prince Rui answered without hesitation, and added, “When the Great Way prevails, the world belongs to all. The people are the foundation of this world. Only when the people are well can the country and the world be stable and prosperous. Your ideas… are very good.”
"Haha." Jiang Yu laughed, genuinely happy. How could she not be happy when her insights and ideals were recognized? She picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and placed it on Prince Rui's small plate, saying cheerfully, "Your Highness, please eat."
Prince Rui was taken aback, then grinned, looking somewhat silly. Even so, he was still so handsome that it was impossible to look away. He lowered his head and put the food Jiang Yu had placed on his plate into his mouth, his expression one of pure enjoyment, as if the food were the most delicious thing in the world.
Seeing Prince Rui's expression, Jiang Yu's eyes flickered. She wasn't a teenage girl; she had lived to be thirty in her previous life, and with her experiences in this life, she couldn't possibly be completely oblivious to Prince Rui's behavior.
She lowered her eyes, picked up some food, and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly. For her now, matters of the heart required both following her heart and being cautious. After all, she was no ordinary young lady; she was the Duke of Chu, and all her actions were tied to the fate of her entire family.
But if she truly likes someone, she won't back down because of practical difficulties. So, the key point is whether she truly likes them. Again, she's not a teenage girl who, just because she has a crush on someone, thinks she loves them and would live or die for them.
At her age, with her past experiences, she wouldn't suddenly fall head over heels in love based on a single word or action. She needed to understand her own feelings and assess whether they were truly compatible.
Of course, "suitable" refers to whether personalities, values, and pursuits align. As for external obstacles, we can find ways to overcome them.
Jiang Yu was lost in thought for a moment, and ate in silence. Seeing this, Prince Rui began to feel uneasy. Had he been too smug, and Jiang Yu had noticed something, or perhaps displeased him?
It can only be said that when it comes to love, people who fall in love will always feel anxious and insecure, and even the smartest and wisest people are no exception.
The meal remained quiet until the two finished eating. Jiang Yu had finished her work, and since it wasn't yet time to meet with the Ding family, she suggested going to Prince Rui's research lab, to which Prince Rui readily agreed.
The two then took sedan chairs to the Tiangong Division. In Prince Rui's research room, Jiang Yu saw the preliminary form of the cannon, which was very similar in shape to the first generation of cannons.
"This is the cannon barrel," Prince Rui explained the structure of the cannon he had built to Jiang Yu. At this moment, he was no longer as apprehensive or hesitant as before, and he spoke very seriously and professionally.
“The cannon barrel is three and a half inches long.” Prince Rui gestured with his hand to indicate the diameter of the cannon barrel, explaining to Jiang Yu, “It’s the diameter of a circle.”
Jiang Yu nodded, "I've read 'The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art'."
In other words, you don't need to explain the technical jargon to me. Prince Rui blushed slightly, and Jiang Yu's eyes crinkled when she saw this; this man was truly unusually shy.
"The diameter of the cannon barrel is determined by the size of the cannonball. The size of the cannonball..." Prince Rui explained to Jiang Yu in detail. Jiang Yu listened carefully, and by the time he finished speaking, it was almost time to go to his appointment.
However, after gaining a deeper understanding of the cannons made by Prince Rui, Jiang Yu did have some ideas, but she still needed to think things through more clearly.
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