Chapter 94

At Prince Chu’s Palace:

When Ji Yanming said he had to leave for a while, the King of Chu was surprised. “Do you really have to leave now?”

Ji Yanming sighed. “Do you have a better candidate?”

“Not yet,” the King of Chu replied. “But I’ll miss you, and I feel uneasy.”

“Your Highness, you joke. With Prince Rui demoted and imprisoned, who could challenge you? You have the emperor’s trust. Now it’s time to win over others. You’ve got Tao Sheng, the Luo family, and His Majesty on your side. What’s to worry about?”

The King of Chu still looked sad. Ji Yanming said, “If I can’t make it back for your 40th birthday, I’ll send a gift.”

The King of Chu was shocked. “Fortieth birthday? Is that how old I am?”

Recently, Lord Jiang, the Minister of Rites, had mentioned how he was aging, feeling weaker and not as capable. The King of Chu didn’t think much of it. “You civil officials always think too much.”

But Ji Yanming’s words hit home. Even princes and ministers couldn’t escape aging.

Ji Yanming then explained the situation in court and advised how the King of Chu should act with the emperor.

“As long as you don’t make any big mistakes, you’re in a strong position. You don’t need to go overboard. Just maintain your image and stay composed,” Ji Yanming said.

After discussing everything, Ji Yanming prepared to leave. The King of Chu stopped him: “Are you just leaving like this? What about Tao Sheng?”

“I’ve already said goodbye.”

“Just a goodbye?” The King of Chu wasn’t satisfied. “Why not express your feelings?”

Ji Yanming raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

The King of Chu thought back to their conversation about how Ji Yanming could win Tao Sheng’s heart. Only once Ji Yanming was strong and secure could he settle down with Tao Sheng.

The King of Chu clenched his fist. He would help Ji Yanming win Tao Sheng’s heart as soon as possible.

_

It was common for Ji Yanming to go on business trips, but this one would be longer. Tao Sheng and Su Jia were used to it.

After Ji Yanming left, Tao Sheng’s peaceful life started to feel a bit more uncertain.

Two months later, as winter started, the weather grew cooler. Zhang Xinyue came back from overseas and visited Tao Sheng, bringing many bags.

The Zhang family was lucky. They had been doing business abroad for the last six months and had avoided a recent incident.

This time, Zhang Xinyue went on a boat trip with her father. After returning, she seemed more cheerful and confident.

She brought six boxes of gifts for Tao Sheng. The gatekeeper at the Luo residence was surprised by Miss Zhang’s generosity.

Tao Sheng pulled her friend aside and whispered, “You’re being too generous. It makes me look like I’m accepting gifts. I’ve been an official for many years, and I don’t want my good reputation ruined.”

Zhang Xinyue smiled. “Six is an auspicious number. It’s not a big deal; it’s just some earthenware^[1]refers to Simple pottery or ceramic items, often used for practical gifts.. Don’t take it too seriously like others do.”

Tao Sheng knew her well. These things didn’t mean much to Zhang Xinyue, but if Tao Sheng didn’t accept them, Zhang Xinyue would be upset.

Tao Sheng finally accepted the gifts and invited her friend inside. They talked about recent events for a while. Then Tao Sheng noticed the bracelet on Zhang Xinyue’s wrist.

“Your bracelet is beautiful and looks different from the usual Great Zhou Dynasty style. Did uncle buy it for you while you were out?” Tao Sheng asked.

Zhang Xinyue blushed and shyly answered, “It was given to me by the young master of the Li family.”

Tao Sheng remembered a letter from Zhang Xinyue and asked, “Is it the man uncle arranged for you to marry?”

Zhang Xinyue nodded. “Yes, it’s him.”

The Li family had been royal for generations. The second son of the Li family and Zhang Xinyue had known each other since childhood and were very close.

Rumor had it that their wedding was set for the next spring. Tao Sheng felt genuinely happy for her friend.

“Enough about me. How about you?” Zhang Xinyue asked. “Have Madam Luo and Madam Su found someone for you?”

Tao Sheng replied, “They did show me a few names.”

But neither of her mothers was in a hurry for Tao Sheng to get married. They seemed to want to keep her around a little longer.

Recently, many young men had been introduced to Tao Sheng by Grand Master Luo and Luo Ming. Even the Emperor, though old, had become interested in matchmaking and introduced two young men to Tao Sheng.

The Emperor was only trying to help, and Tao Sheng wasn’t pressured. He told her it was fine to reject them if she didn’t like them, as the most important thing was for the two to meet.

Tao Sheng, now nineteen, was at the typical marriageable age in this world. But since she was an official in the Imperial Music Bureau, she had until 25 to marry, which made this matter urgent but not immediately pressing.

Zhang Xinyue asked, “Do you like any of them?”

Tao Sheng thought for a moment, then replied, “Not yet.”

Maybe because she spent so much time with Ji Yanming, she compared everyone she met to him. In this comparison, Ji Yanming stood out, being far superior in looks and intelligence compared to the others.

Zhang Xinyue propped up her chin and encouraged her, “You’re amazing, Tao Sheng. You can take your time. Don’t settle for anything less than what you want.”

Tao Sheng smiled, “You can’t be too picky, though.”

Tao Sheng knew that finding a partner wasn’t just about her personal happiness—it was about the family’s peace and future too.

Zhang Xinyue laughed at Tao Sheng’s determined look. Tao Sheng would definitely find the right person.

_

Perhaps Tao Sheng was now at the age when she should find a partner. After the Emperor, Grand Master Luo, and others introduced young men to her, even the King of Chu started asking about it.

“I hear you’ve been meeting young men recently. If you like any of them, let me know,” said the King of Chu.

Tao Sheng replied, “The young men I’ve met are good, but when I really get to know them, something feels missing.”

The King of Chu sighed in relief but didn’t show it.”You and Xiao Ji have both had difficult relationships. It’s better for you two to be together. It would ease everyone’s minds and save all the trouble.”

Tao Sheng’s heart raced for a moment, but recalling Ji Yanming’s description from the original text, he was known as an impartial and cold person, someone who had never considered love. She quickly pushed the thought aside.

“Your Highness, please stop joking with me.”

Almost instantly, the King of Chu sensed Tao Sheng’s mood change.

Earlier, she had been calm when discussing marriage, as if it were a business matter. But now, upon hearing Ji Yanming’s name, she seemed distracted.

Realizing Tao Sheng’s shift in demeanor, the King of Chu fell into deep thought.

Is she interested in Ji Yanming?