Kang Yueran listened to Chai Shijing's heartbeat and said, "If I really die one day, or disappear, Ah Jing, don't worry. Wait for me, I will definitely come back to find you."
"Don't say anything unlucky. Besides, once you're dead, even if you come back, you'll be separated by the Yin and Yang. Yueran, I want to marry you, make you queen, share the Great Yong kingdom with you, and finally, be buried with you for eternity."
Kang Yueran left Chai Shijing's arms, looked into Chai Shijing's eyes, and said seriously: "Ajing, I can't tell you the reason, but you have to remember what I just said."
There was no trace of playfulness on her face, and Chai Shijing suddenly felt panic in his heart, "What do you mean? Yueran, are you really going to die? Are you going to disappear suddenly?"
"I'm saying just in case. My master is very powerful. Even if I really disappear, he will find me. So don't be stupid. Just wait for me to come back."
Chai Shijing nodded and said, "Don't take risks alone next time."
The two of them each had their own thoughts and hugged each other for a long time without speaking.
There was a sound and Chai Shiqin came.
He came to apologize to Kang Yueran, "I didn't invite Lu Fang originally, it was my second brother who brought Lu Fang here."
This matter could not be blamed on Chai Shiqin. "I'm fine now. But you, did Prince Jin cause you any trouble?"
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Kang. Second brother just asked me to take good care of the servants. He is doing this for my own good."
He had just opened his office, and all his servants were recommended by the Shaofu. Some of them were spies from other families. He had found reasons to send some of them away, but there were still some.
Kang Yueran felt quite sympathetic towards Chai Shiqin. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You are a prince. If you don't like any servant, you can just sell him off."
Chai Shiqin smiled and said, "How can I sell someone just because I don't like him? However, I will discipline the people in the mansion. Miss Kang, thank you!"
"You're welcome!" She did not mention that Chai Shiqin had mistaken her for the Princess of a County, so as not to embarrass Chai Shiqin.
Three days later, Lu Guang could not bear the torture and admitted that he had killed Lu Fang. He was sentenced to exile 500 miles away.
On the day of his departure, only the wife of the Earl of Guangji went to see him off. When Lu Guang saw his mother, he burst into tears and cried out that he was wronged. But no one believed him, and he was sent away anyway.
After Lu Fang died, Concubine Liu asked Duke Lu to take Wan Qier home, but after Chai Shibo's publicity, many people in the high-ranking families in the capital knew that Wan Qier had an affair with Lu Guang.
Finally, Duke Lu bought a nunnery on the outskirts of the city and sent Wan Qi'er there, saying she was to practice Buddhism with her hair uncut. On the first day at the nunnery, Wan Qi'er miscarried.
The common people in the capital were discussing this case, but the powerful and the aristocratic families had no interest in it. This was because Emperor Jianning had proposed during the morning court session to establish maritime transport offices in Anzhou, Quanzhou, and Haizhou, and no one had any objection to this.
Immediately afterwards, Emperor Jianning proposed that in order to appease the merchants, he decided to allow the sons of merchants to take the imperial examinations.
This affected the interests of many people, and the ministers all tried to dissuade him. Finally, Emperor Jianning fainted from anger on the spot.
Chai Shijing and other princes all went to the palace to attend to the emperor's illness. Kang Yueran also heard the news. She guessed that the ministers would oppose it, but she did not expect that Emperor Jianning would faint from anger.
Kang Yueran suddenly remembered what Chai Shijing had said three years ago: Emperor Jianning's health wasn't as good as it looked. Since he had fainted from anger today, it was likely that Emperor Jianning's health wasn't just bad, but very poor.
She could guess that Emperor Jianning was in poor health, and Duke Lu must have guessed it too. The emperor's health was failing, and the fight for the throne was about to enter a fierce stage.
Kang Yueran was planning in her mind that once the matter with the Maritime Transport Office was settled, she would go to Ningzhou to get rid of Duke Lu's private soldiers first.
As for the Qin family, perhaps she could use the matter of private soldiers to test the Qin family.
At night, Emperor Jianning woke up and ordered all the princes to go back.
He left only Li Xi and the imperial physician Hang in the palace. "How much longer do I have?"
Imperial Physician Hang knelt on the ground, beads of sweat dripping onto the marble floor. "Your Majesty, your Majesty has been working tirelessly for Dayong for decades, and it has indeed damaged the dragon's body. If your Majesty can rest well, I am willing to do my best to protect your Majesty..."
"What I'm asking is, how many days are left? I want to hear the truth!"
Imperial Physician Hang closed his eyes and said, "Five years!" If he rests well, he can live for five years.
No one would feel good if they heard that they only had five years to live.
After a long while, Emperor Jianning murmured, "Five years? That's good! I can go and accompany Qiu'er."
Imperial Physician Hang pretended not to hear, apologized, and went out to prepare the medicine himself.
Li Xi comforted Emperor Jianning, "Your Majesty is blessed by Heaven. You will surely be able to turn misfortune into good fortune and live a long and healthy life."
"You old man, that's all lies. Who can be immortal for ten thousand years? If I were immortal for ten thousand years, Qiu'er would definitely not wait for me. You know she has no patience."
Li Xi knelt before the dragon couch, tears streaming down his face, "Your Majesty..."
"Don't cry. Now everyone in the court knows that I'm in poor health. The Crown Prince and Prince Ping will definitely make some moves. Well, let them fight. Before I die, I will definitely avenge Qiu'er."
Emperor Jianning was right. Chai Shirong was the crown prince and lived in the Eastern Palace. He could not leave the palace and could not go to see Duke Lu. However, he was extremely anxious, so he had to feign illness and asked Empress Wan to come and talk to him.
At this time, Duke Lu was traveling in a simple carriage and wearing simple clothes, going to someone else's house.
When Chai Shijing returned home, Kang Yueran was waiting for him. The two talked about what happened today.
The next day, Emperor Jianning insisted on attending the morning court. His face looked sick and he coughed from time to time.
He continued to propose allowing the sons of merchants to take the imperial examinations. Whenever a court official objected, Emperor Jianning would cough violently, drowning out the voices of the officials.
After this happened many times, everyone understood that Emperor Jianning did it on purpose.
No one dared to defy the emperor, and no one could bear the guilt of angering him to death. No one dared to speak.
Emperor Jianning smiled and ordered that the edict be drafted as soon as possible and conveyed to the local authorities as soon as possible.
Chai Shibo took the initiative to step forward and recommend himself, "Your Majesty, I would like to take charge of the affairs of the Anzhou Maritime Transport Office." His eyes were filled with worry, and he choked up and said, "Father, I have grown up and I also want to share your worries."
Emperor Jianning was touched, but he was unforgiving. "Do you want to share my worries, or do you want to go to Anzhou to play?"
"Father, your son is a serious man."
"Hmph! When have you ever done anything serious? Of the three states, Anzhou is closest to the capital, so I'm relieved that you're going there. Do your job well, don't be careless, and don't play around!"
Chai Shibo kowtowed and said, "Yes!"
Chai Shilun also stood up and said, "Father, please let your son go to Quanzhou. My seventh brother is already doing great things. As the second brother, I can't just sit around in the capital."
Emperor Jianning glanced at Duke Lu, whose expression remained calm and unresponsive. "Quanzhou has more maritime merchants than Anzhou, but you are much more stable than Prince Ning. So, you should go to Quanzhou."
Chai Shilun was overjoyed and kowtowed heavily, "Thank you, father! I will definitely not let you down."
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