Those who could “abandon family for justice” like he just did were not ordinary people.

The King of Chu believed that only someone like him, with perseverance, determination, and goals, was destined to be the ultimate winner on the lonely path to becoming emperor.

After being rejected by the King of Chu, Prince Li didn’t give up. Two days later, he went to Xuanzheng Hall to test the emperor’s attitude.

Many in the court wanted to marry their daughters to Ji Yanming. In the past, the emperor would smile at such proposals and say that even he couldn’t decide marriage matters and that they should talk to Ji Yanming himself.

But lately, after hearing about Tao Sheng’s difficult life, the emperor grew suspicious whenever someone proposed a marriage to Ji Yanming.

Tao Sheng already had a tough life. If Ji Yanming remarried, his new wife would take over the household, and Tao Sheng would need her approval for household finances. Her life would likely become even harder.

Zhenning was known for being straightforward and spoiled. If Ji Yanming remarried, Tao Sheng would suffer under Zhenning’s control.

Although the emperor admired Ji Yanming’s contributions to the court and how he helped the King of Chu get back on track, he still sided with Tao Sheng.

The emperor, who had always been protective of those close to him, rejected Prince Li’s proposal.

Prince Li couldn’t understand why he was being rejected by both the King of Chu and the emperor.

Who had he offended?

_

The emperor, pleased with helping Tao Sheng avoid a crisis, invited her to come over and play some cheerful tunes for him.

After Tao Sheng finished playing and had some snacks, the emperor said, “Today is Ji Yanming’s duty day. It’s getting dark, so you two should head back together. It’ll be safer to have company.”

As Gao Zhen watched the cousins leave, his eyes flashed knowingly.

After years of serving the emperor, Eunuch Gao knew this wasn’t just a simple matter of sending them home together.

Originally, Ji Yanming should have finished his duty half an hour ago, but the emperor delayed him by asking him to copy two volumes of official documents so that he could leave with Tao Sheng.

The emperor noticed the look on Gao Zhen’s face. Sipping his lotus seed soup, he smiled meaningfully, hiding his thoughts.

After Prince Li’s proposal, the emperor realized that Ji Yanming would eventually marry, and Tao Sheng would also need to marry someday.

Tao Sheng was only Ji Yanming’s aunt’s adopted daughter. If she didn’t have a good relationship with her only male relative, her life would become even harder when she got married. If she faced trouble with her in-laws, she’d have no support from her family.

Especially since her cousin, Ji Yanming, was such a cold-hearted person.

Tao Sheng and Ji Yanming have both made great contributions to the court and are so busy every day that they probably don’t have much time to talk with each other. Now that there is an opportunity, it’s natural for them to build a better friendship and give Tao Sheng more protection.

The emperor thought this way, feeling that having such a careful and thoughtful emperor is a blessing for the people and a fortune for the Great Zhou.

The emperor smiled, satisfied with his thoughts.

_

Tao Sheng didn’t expect that today, by coincidence, she would leave the palace and head home with Ji Yanming.

Just after they stepped out of Xuan Zheng Hall together, they bumped into Concubine Rong, who had just been summoned.

Concubine Rong and Tao Sheng were of similar age and familiar with each other. When she saw Tao Sheng, she smiled and came over to greet her, jokingly saying, “I was wondering who it was, turns out to be ‘Concubine Li.’”

Since rumors spread in the palace that Tao Sheng was the reincarnation of Li Yannian, she was nicknamed “Concubine Li.” ^[1]Li Yannian was a famous musician during the Han Dynasty. Rong Fei had often accompanied the emperor, and Tao Sheng had played the zither for them a few times. Tao Sheng had also said good things about Concubine Rong to the emperor, so the two had grown familiar with each other, and it was normal for them to joke around sometimes.

Tao Sheng was anxious to leave the palace before the gates closed. After exchanging a few brief greetings with Concubine Rong, she quickly said goodbye and left.

After Concubine Rong left, Ji Yanming belatedly asked, “What does ‘Lady Li’ mean?”

Tao Sheng explained the story of Li Yannian, who played the zither for Emperor Wu of Han and, with his talent, helped his sister, Lady Li, become the emperor’s favorite concubine and his brother, Li Guangli, become a general.

Ji Yanming’s eyes flashed with understanding. “No wonder Mr. Shi asked me the other day if I got my position as deputy envoy through nepotism. There’s another meaning behind it.”

Tao Sheng hadn’t expected that this exaggerated story would spread to Ji Yanming’s workplace. She smiled helplessly and asked, “Does anyone really believe that?”

Ji Yanming smiled gently, his expression softer than the moonlight. “Most people believe it.”

“Really?” Tao Sheng looked doubtful. Since Ji Yanming was joking for once, she didn’t want to spoil the mood. “Then, cousin, you’ll have to try to please me.”

“Then I’ll do just that.” Ji Yanming responded easily, taking something out from his sleeve. “Stretch out your hand.”

Is this a serious thank-you gift?

Tao Sheng stretched out her hand, confused. She felt Ji Yanming place something cold in her palm.

Looking down, under the light from the bird-carved palace lanterns, she saw a pair of jade bracelets.

The jade bracelets had excellent clarity and quality.

Tao Sheng was so surprised she almost lost her balance.

“Cousin, where did you get these bracelets?”

“I bought them earlier today when I passed by Wanfuzhai.”

He actually bought them?

Tao Sheng carefully examined the jade bracelets again.

A bracelet of this quality would cost at least ten years of Ji Yanming’s salary, and he had bought two!

Was he planning for the whole family to wear matching ones?

“Then why did you suddenly think of buying them?” Tao Sheng stammered.

“Merchants from Dai ^[2]Dai is a neighboring state. brought these to the capital. I heard this style had never been sold in any store in Beijing.”

Recently, relations between Great Zhou and Ling State had been tense, and in the spirit of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Great Zhou and Dai State had begun to mend their ties. Trade between the two countries had become frequent, and many merchants brought local specialties and jewelry to Beijing for sale.

“A family like ours can’t just buy things like this.” Tao Sheng held the bracelet tightly, afraid she might drop something worth ten years of living expenses. “We have to think about how we’ll live in the future.”

Ji Yanming smiled softly. “I didn’t think much at the time.”

That day, Ji Yanming had passed by the Eastern Palace and overheard Princess Hui’an asking her cousin for two pairs of bracelets sold by merchants from Dai State.

Princess Hui’an said that these bracelets were the most fashionable in the capital, made from rare materials not often seen in Great Zhou. She insisted that, as the legitimate daughter of the Crown Prince, she had to have them if other girls did.

Ji Yanming had felt a sudden impulse.

If other girls had them, how could his Ah Sheng not?

***

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