Ning Yuxuan didn't want to Qian Yingchen to marry Zhu Yurun. He had told Qian Yingchen to go to Zhu Residence to make it known what his stance on this position was in order to avoid losing face. But, this new outcome of Assistant Minister Zhu rejecting the offer was an even better one.
The Grand Tutor's granddaughter was naturally more suitable for Qian Yingchen than Zhu Yurun. Marquis Moyu had considered the matter, and Peng Clan's background would be more beneficial for Qian Yingchen to rise up in the ranks.
They were currently in a good period. The country didn't have any enemy countries that could rival it or have any powerful wicked court officials. It shouldn't be difficult to bring about a golden age. However, Zhao Li was obviously too inflexible for political affairs. He wasn't willing to compromise and was even worse at winning over the loyalty of the court officials.
Right now, he and Ning Yuxuan were people on the same boat. One person's success or failure meant the same for the other person. And so, Ning Yuxuan would naturally do his best to help maintain the stability of the nation.
Many people in the imperial court had given their allegiance to Zhao Li when he was only the second prince. Once he ascended the throne, these people felt content to rest on their laurels and spend their time seeking pleasure. As a result, it was difficult to find dependable people to take on important responsibilities. Grand Tutor Peng had been a chief figure through the reign of three emperors. With his help, he would naturally be able to manage the imperial court more securely.
It would soon be time for ancestor veneration ceremony, and Marquis Moyu was planning on using some heavenly phenomenon to convert the hearts of the common people. He would definitely need some important court officials to assist with this performance, and he had many great uses for Grand Tutor Peng.
As Ji Man watched his response, she thought about Grand Tutor Peng too. If she were him, she would also think that it was good for Qian Yingchen to not marry Zhu Yurun. However, when she thought of that wretched-looking smile, Ji Man couldn't help feeling a bit sorrowful.
What was the point of talking about feelings to a person in a high position? In the end, benefits were the most important thing.
However, this time Ning Yuxuan had neglected to think about the people below as he focused on the people above. Although Assistant Minister Zhu was only an assistant minister, he was still a fourth-ranked court official in the Ministry of Revenue. If he decided to become a turncoat, it was possible that a moment's negligence could destroy a dynasty.
Ji Man didn't say any additional words. When she turned around to leave while holding Haohao, Ning Yuxuan suddenly stretched his hand out and stopped her.
Marquis Moyu raised his head and looked at her as he asked, "Have you missed me during the past few days?"
Ji Man insincerely smiled. "I missed you so much."
There was a trace of disappointment in his eyes. Ning Yuxuan took his hand back, pursed his lips, and said, "Stop interfering in Zhu Yurun's matter. Just peacefully stay here to teach Haohao."
"En." Although her lips agreed, she didn't look at him. Ji Man held Haohao as she walked to her room. She kept him amused by asking, "Do you want teacher to teach you to how to paint with sugar? You can even eat your paintings after you're done."
(T/N: Sugar painting is done by drizzling hot, liquid sugar onto a flat surface to create two-dimensional outlines. Below are three pictures.)
Haohao blinked, and the two pigtails behind his head waved back and forth. "I want to paint the sun."
"Why the sun?" Ji Man was smiling so big that her eyes closed.
"Because the sun covers the world. I'll be able to eat lots of candy." Haohao stretched out his little hands to gesture a very big circle.
Ji Man found his words and gesture very amusing. She rubbed her face against his little face. Even separated by a layer of fake skin, she could feel that this little fellow's skin was as tender as silken tofu.
Right after Ji Man walked through a covered corridor, they bumped into Liu Hanyun, who was holding Xi-er's hand as they walked. "Teacher Ji."
Ji Man put away her smile and stopped walking to call out, "Madam."
Liu Hanyun wasn't smiling. She looked at Haohao for a long time before turning her head to look at Ji Man. "Why do you insist on coming back?"
Ji Man chuckled. "This one is Haohao's teacher. It's only natural that this one will come back. Actually, this one wants to ask Madam, where were you planning on sending this one?"
Liu Hanyun had already heard that Marquis Moyu had kicked out the servants that had taken Ji Man away. Her expression was even more ill-intentioned than before as she looked at Ji Man. "I won't do anything if you stay within your role as a teacher. If you continue to have devious intentions of seducing the marquis, then don't blame me for being rude."
Ji Man nodded. Liu Hanyun certainly show sufficient attitude for a main wife. She was no longer someone that was unaware, and her demeanor had changed to one that was fitting a matriarch.
"This one understands." She really didn't have any intention of seducing the marquis. She was just a passerby. It wouldn't be good to leave behind too many feelings here. It was just that she sometimes had to play along in order to meet her goal.
That's right, she was just playing along.
After returning to her courtyard, she handed Haohao over to a servant girl to play with him while she returned to her room to manage her accounts. Her rice business was going very smoothly, and her income from it was also considerable. After paying the wages of Yan Buba and the shop assistants as well as transportation and store fees, her profit for this month was one thousand three hundred teals. Although it wasn't as profitable as selling cold cream, there was enough working capital.
It would soon be the ancestor veneration ceremony, and Wu Yong had sent her message about Zhangjun Prince's order. On the day of the ceremony, she had to think of a way to lead Marquis Moyu to Quyi Pavilion.
Quyi Pavilion was a resting spot on the way to the Temple of Heaven, so it wouldn't be difficult to lead him there. But, what was Zhao Zhe planning on doing there? Zhao Zhe wouldn't do something that wasn't useful.
Ji Man thought that Zhao Zhe was truly talented in using people. Why was he insisting on using her to deal with Ning Yuxuan? She had only come to Marquis Moyu's estate because she wanted to spend time with Haohao.
Actually, Zhangjun Prince probably still didn't trust her. When he had ordered her to steal the signature steal, he was just testing her sincerity. He was like a child playing house. Why would he possibly have such an urgent need to tamper with an official document? However, by the time that she realized this, it was already too late. He was already praising her to the high heavens for being able to handle assignments so well.
This time he wanted Ning Yuxuan to go to Quyi Pavilion. Could this just be another test? What could possibly happen just from resting at Quyi Pavilion for a bit?
Steward Qian came over with newly made clothes. He was all smiles as he looked at Ji Man and said, "Teacher Ji, this is a gift from the marquis. There were only two bolts of this satin fabric in the estate this year. One bolt was used for the marquis, and other bolt was used for you. Please have a look."
Stunned, Ji Man turned her head to the side to look at the item in his hands and took it from him. "Thank you for your trouble, Steward Qian."
This extravagant silvery brocade satin robe was definitely worthy of being worn by a noble. She didn't know what Ning Yuxuan was thinking to have a mere teacher wear something so expensive.
After silently ridiculing him, Ji Man still changed into the robe and took a hard look of herself in the blurry mirror.
It looked pretty good.
---
In this time period, the ancestor veneration ceremony was a superstitious activity to prove that the Heavens had chosen the emperor. The new emperor had only recently ascended the throne, and the people's hearts were unsteady. It was only natural to depend on using the Heavens to get everyone to surrender and pay allegiance to the new emperor. Ning Yuxuan had already put everything into place. A mechanism had been installed on the altar so that it would appear as if the new emperor was emitting a golden light on the day of the ceremony. He had also hired craftsmen to build a mysterious giant golden dragon-shaped kite. When the time came, the kite would be released into the sky.
Everything was in place. On the day of the ancestor veneration ceremony, after Ning Yuxuan had washed up and put on his clothes, he left to go to the Temple of Heaven. As soon as he walked out of the estate, Ji Man followed right after him.
They were a bit far from the Temple of Heaven, but in order to show respect for the imperial ancestors, they had to walk there instead of taking a carriage. The streets were crowded with the commonfolk that were walking in the same direction. Ji Man looked at that faraway person, who was wearing court attire, and sneakily followed after him.
She had already thought of a plan for the simple task. When they were near Quyi Pavilion, she would just appear in front of him and pull him into the pavilion.
Wu Yong silently appeared in the crowd and quietly asked her, "Are you ready?"
Ji Man nodded and curiously asked, "I just need to bring him to Quyi Pavilion, right?"
Wu Yong nodded. "His Highness is already there waiting."
His Highness? Ji Man stumbled and almost fell down.
Didn't Zhangjun Prince return to his fiefdom already? Why was he still in the capital? Why was he waiting in Quyi Pavilion?
Wu Yong supported Ji Man with one hand and patted her shoulder. "I'll leave you to this."
"Okay..." Ji Man suddenly had an inkling of what was going on. Zhangjun Prince was in Quyi Pavilion. If Marquis Moyu was brought over there before the ancestor veneration ceremony...
Could it be that Zhangjun Prince wanted to incite disharmony between Marquis Moyu and the new emperor? If the new emperor found out that Marquis Moyu had secretly met with Zhangjun Prince in Quyi Pavilion, would he still continue to have absolute trust in Ning Yuxuan?
To gain this trust, Ning Yuxuan had opened the capital's gate, wiped out Nie Clan, and divorced her.
Ji Man furrowed her brow. As she took one step after another, she didn't notice that the person up ahead had turned around to look at her.
Ning Yuxuan was walking very slowly. The person following him was too lacking in ability and being too conspicuous. She hadn't even disguised her appearance or tried to avert her gaze as she followed him this entire way. What she was plotting now?
A person that looked like an ordinary citizen nonchalantly brushed past him and said into his ear, "Marquis, there's been a change in Quyi Pavilion. Everything else has been arranged properly, but there're someone that can't be seen in the pavilion."
Marquis Moyu nodded and continued walking forward.
Just as the day broke, the shadow of Quyi Pavilion could be seen. Ji Man felt an indescribable feeling. A moment of inattention combined with someone pushing her from behind made Ji Man's legs feel wobbly. She ended up falling to her knees.
At some unknown point, the person that had been walking in the front had come back and stopped in front of her. He stretched his hand out to pull her up and lightly said, "You should pay attention to the road when you're walking.
Ji Man raised her head up in surprise. Ning Yuxuan was slightly smiling. He looked especially handsome underneath the sunlight.
"Are you hurt?"
She suddenly had the feeling of being played with. Had he known that she was following him this entire time and was just pretending to not notice? Ji Man remained half-kneeling on the ground. In a somewhat annoyed tone, she retorted, "I'm fine."
"Do you want me to help you walk to that nearby Quyi Pavilion so you can sit down?" He asked.
Startled by this question, she looked at his court attire and saw parts of the silvery robe peaking out from beneath. She lowered her head even more and looked at her own attire. She pursed her lips and hesitated for a while before quietly saying, "No need."
Ning Yuxuan raised his eyebrows.
"I'm not hurt. I can continue walking. There's no need to go there to sit." Ji Man stood up and started walking forward.
"You don't want to go rest?" Marquis Moyu was slightly surprised.
"En." Ji Man lowered her eyes and chuckled. "It'll be better to go there earlier to watch the ancestor veneration ceremony."
Something faintly thawed in his eyes. Ning Yuxuan resumed walking. He passed Ji Man and walked over to join the formation of civil and military officials.
Quyi Pavilion was very quiet. Not many people had come over here to take a break. Wu Yong was standing in front of the pavilion. As he watched Ji Man's distant figure from the back, he shook his head.
---
The improvised special effects in ancient times weren't bad. When the empress pushed the new emperor, who was in his wheelchair, up to the altar, a golden light suddenly appeared around them and shocked the audience.
"Long live the emperor!" Grand Tutor Peng took the lead and knelt down. The people behind him also knelt down.
After the new emperor recited the ceremonial words, a golden dragon suddenly flew over the crowd. The common people cried out in alarm, and someone shouted, "His Majesty is a true descendent of dragons. Therefore, a real dragon has come down from the Heavens."
Hearing this loud proclamation, the ignorant masses knelt down. As Ji Man followed the crowd in kneeling down, she thought; these people were so easy to deceive.