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Chapter 100
After passing Pingliang, King Huan kept teasing Tao Sheng.
“I admit my mistake. My nephew’s information was wrong. No one could have predicted he’d confuse the two cities of Pingliang and Liangzhou!”
The situation seemed like it was a trick on Tao Sheng.
“Don’t you know the King of Chu?” King Huan continued. “When you meet him next time, have a good conversation with him.”
Tao Sheng replied calmly, “I’m fine, don’t worry, Your Majesty.”
In fact, Tao Sheng had already known that Ji Yanming’s whereabouts were uncertain and had little hope of meeting him. When she first heard she wouldn’t see him on this trip, she was disappointed, but since she was mentally prepared, her mood quickly returned to normal.
King Huan kept trying to comfort her, but Tao Sheng finally asked, “Do I look like I’m in a bad mood now?”
Prince Huan didn’t interact much with Tao Sheng, so he could only compare her current mood with their previous encounters.
“It’s not that bad. You just seem a little different.”
He remembered the last time they met in Ling State, Tao Sheng had a bright smile, sparkling eyes, and was lively and smart. She seemed radiant.
King Huan carefully chose his words and said, “It seems like you’ve lost some of your usual happiness and liveliness.”
Throughout the trip, Tao Sheng had seemed quiet and distant.
It’s not that being quiet is bad, but the contrast with before was so great that King Huan felt guilty and wondered if his careless words had made her too disappointed about not meeting Ji Yanming.
Tao Sheng hadn’t realized there was such a big difference between the two trips.
Last time in Ling State, there was the threat of war, and King Rui was also on her mind. But being with Ji Yanming had given her a sense of security and allowed her to relax.
This time, Ji Yanming wasn’t there, and with the age gap between her and King Huan, she didn’t know what to say.
The difference wasn’t really about her mood but rather about the person she was with.
“It’s really okay,” Tao Sheng gently explained. “Maybe I’ve just gotten older and don’t feel like talking anymore.”
After all, nearly three years had passed since her time in Ling State.
The word “old” seemed to sting, and King Huan quickly placed his hand over his chest.
He suddenly felt hurt and didn’t want to talk anymore.
_
Tao Sheng and Ji Yanming missed each other again by accident, but Su Jia met Ji Yanming earlier.
When Ji Yanming and his team were on patrol near the capital, they asked for permission to return. But when they got home, they discovered Tao Sheng had just left for the northern border and had not even sent the letter Ji Yanming had left for her.
Some things are better discussed when Tao Sheng isn’t around. Ji Yanming asked his mother directly, “What’s going on with the Chu family?”
“Tao Sheng seems to think the Chu family and the second young master Chu aren’t bad, but she’s not entirely satisfied with them.”
Recently, Madam Chu visited Su Jia to talk about Tao Sheng’s work in the court. It was then that Su Jia realized what Madam Chu had in mind.
It seems there are no big problems with the Chu family, or even with Chu Xun himself. The main obstacle to the marriage now is the mother-in-law, Madam Chu.
Madam Chu always says, “We are a well-behaved family.” Although she genuinely likes Tao Sheng, she worries about Tao Sheng’s future public appearances.
Ji Yanming wasn’t surprised: “Doesn’t the Chu family also have weaknesses?”
Su Jia looked disappointed: “The future mother-in-law is sensible and gentle, and treats Tao Sheng very well. She just wants Tao Sheng to stay at home, take care of her husband and children, and live the life of a rich wife. She means well.”
“I’ve already talked to His Majesty when I returned to the palace. His Majesty said that although the work is nearly done, I should stay another year so I can be promoted to a higher rank when we return to the capital.”
Officials above the fourth rank have a fixed number of years before promotion. Ji Yanming had done his work and should now get his deserved reward.
“A year?” Su Jia frowned. “That’s at least twelve months. Aren’t you worried something might happen?”
So, is she the only one worried?
Ji Yanming understood Tao Sheng well: “She’s not someone who would easily compromise.”
“But Madam Chu doesn’t know this yet,” Su Jia said. “Xiao Sheng was suddenly sent to Ling State by His Majesty. He returned, quickly packed his bags, and didn’t even have time to say goodbye to Chu Xun before leaving with King Huan for the north.”
Ji Yanming replied, “That’s actually good.”
In a year, everything would be clear.
_
Tao Sheng met Ji Yanming again in a private garden on the Luo River’s bank.
After successfully completing a task in the Ling Kingdom, King Huan heard that Ji Yanming was returning to the capital from Luoyang. So, he decided to take a small detour and meet Ji Yanming, planning to return to the capital together. This also allowed King Huan to trick Tao Sheng out.
The attendant following Ji Yanming recognized Tao Sheng and happily said: “Miss Luo, you’re here! It’s been three years since we last met. Our master is thrilled to see you.”
He led Tao Sheng to the study to meet Ji Yanming.
Ji Yanming sat in the middle of the study, talking to some local officials. His words were simple and sharp, his tone low but cold: “In this case, there’s no need to keep any of them. Lord Tang should understand what I mean.”
Tao Sheng entered at that moment, seeing Ji Yanming in a new light. He seemed to be the same Ji Yanming she’d read about in the book.
Over the years, many events had unfolded.
The prince rebelled, but was quickly suppressed by the emperor and disgraced.
Shen Ruojin was defeated, and Guan Muyun made a fuss, but they were still locked together.
After being imprisoned for a year, Prince Rui managed to move the emperor and ended his imprisonment. The emperor, with no one else around, still favored him among the princes and had the support of many backers.
Ji Yanming, once a suspicious official from the book, has now become a powerful figure in the court.
Tao Sheng felt as if she was trapped by fate.
In the book, Ji Yanming didn’t gain power until he was nearly thirty. But now, at just twenty-two, he held the power of life and death. All local officials had to follow his orders.
They hadn’t seen each other in three years. During that time, Ji Yanming returned to Beijing twice for some reason, but Tao Sheng had been away on business, avoiding him perfectly.
Today, the discussion was nearly over.
Ji Yanming looked up and met Tao Sheng’s surprised gaze. He waved to the two prefects sitting next to him and said, “You may go back now.”
His methods were harsh, and many people in the area resented him for it.
After investigating, some local forces planned to target the sisters Su Jia, Su Wan, and Tao Sheng to find a weakness, or at least take revenge.
That’s why Ji Yanming was so angry.
Ji Yanming had received an urgent message from King Huan, sent from four hundred miles away. He knew Tao Sheng would be arriving in the next few days. He thought he would feel calm seeing her again after waiting, but he was wrong.
He walked slowly to her side, his heart pounding.
There were so many things he wanted to ask her.
How had she been living in the capital? Was she busy with her work? Had Prince Rui given her trouble again? Was her trip to Ling State smooth?
But instead of asking any of that, Ji Yanming chose the most difficult topic.
“I heard from my mother about the Chu family. How do you get along with Chu Xun?”
“It’s not bad,” Tao Sheng replied, surprised that Ji Yanming’s first question was about him. “I heard from aunt that his mother has some concerns about my work, and His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu doesn’t like it much, but for me, he is already the most suitable person.”
She was no longer young. In this era, a girl of this age should be married.
However, female officials in the palace weren’t allowed to marry until they were twenty-five. She was now in a higher position and had become the designated successor to the Grand Music Order, so everyone was more understanding.
“The most suitable person?” Ji Yanming repeated what Tao Sheng had just said. “Just now, I saw you were in a daze when you came in. Could it be that you were thinking about him?”
Tao Sheng shook her head. “No.”
She didn’t expect Ji Yanming to notice her so soon.
In fact, she had been thinking about the plot in the original story, but she couldn’t tell Ji Yanming that.
Tao Sheng had thought their reunion would be joyful and encouraging, but the mood grew more depressing as they talked.
She wanted to lighten things up, so she pretended to be relaxed and joked with Ji Yanming: “What about you? What have you been thinking about in the three years since you left the capital?”
“I’m thinking of you.”
Tao Sheng was surprised. “What?”
Ji Yanming repeated, “I’m thinking of you.”
***
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Vyl[Translator]
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