Chapter 35: The Fifth Sister's Hardships Again (Sixth Update, Third Update)

  "Chui Rusong, you underestimate Jiang Xia too much."

  Jiang Xia helped Cui Ruxue up from his embrace, then walked around behind her and picked up the thin gauze she had taken off from the ground to put it back on for her. Next, Jiang Xia took out a lighter from his pocket and lit it, then lit the candles.

  The room was suddenly bright, and everything could be seen clearly. Cui Ruxue's face turned red, while Jiang Xia looked at her with a calm expression.

  After a moment of silence, Jiang Xia said: "Firstly, I must admit that I, Jiang Xia, am not a decent person, on the contrary, I'm quite lecherous. Secondly, I also have to admit that you, Cui Ruxue, are very beautiful and I do have those kinds of thoughts about you. However, I hope you can remember that I, Jiang Xia, have standards for the women I get involved with, I'm not the kind of person who grabs onto any woman like a starving man pouncing on food."

  If I were to have a relationship with my woman, I hope she would be genuinely willing to be with me, wholeheartedly loving and liking me, and willing to unite with me. This union is not just physical, but more so a fusion of souls.

  Perhaps these are somewhat vague and elusive to you, but they are very important to me, Jiang Xia. There is not much fun in life, and this happens to be the most enjoyable one among many pleasures. I hope it is the supreme enjoyment, rather than a instinctual release like beasts.

  "Besides, you just said that I should have married you and carried on the family line, but because Nü has feelings for me, you want me to give her up. Take back those words, don't say them again. I, Jiang Xia, am a living person, and who I want to be with is my own choice, you can't control me at all, let alone talk about 'giving' me away? You're trying to give away something that was never yours to begin with? You overestimate yourself and underestimate me."

  "I saved you because I was in a good mood and felt like it. The promise of devoting myself to you was just something I said on a whim, I don't need any repayment from you. It's getting late, so you should head back to your room and get some rest."

  Choi Yu-shuang was stunned, everything Jiang Xia said was something she had never heard before. This was a completely new idea, involving many things, including love, freedom, dignity, independence and so on... These principles became clear and easy to understand when spoken from Jiang Xia's mouth, but also made people feel obscure and profound.

  Cui Ruxiang stared blankly at Jiang Xia, subconsciously taking two steps towards the door before suddenly stopping and turning around to face Jiang Xia, saying: "I... I'm sorry, I was wrong."

  Jiang Xia didn't respond to Cui Ruxue's words. Cui Ruxue said in a low voice, "Excuse me," and then walked out of the room.

  Just as he was about to step out of the room, Jiang Xia suddenly called out: "Wait a minute."

  Cui Ruxue paused slightly, then stopped and turned to look at Jiang Xia. Jiang Xia turned around and looked at Cui Ruxue, his mouth corners slightly raised, drawing a faint smile. This faint smile made Cui Ruxue feel somewhat unusual in her heart, as if the smile had a power that could penetrate people's hearts and leave an impression.

  "After returning to your room, don't rush to sleep immediately. Circulate the true energy for two large cycles and then go to bed; otherwise, your internal injury will leave a root of disease."

  After hearing Jiang Xia's words, Cui Ruxue didn't know why, but she suddenly felt a sourness in her nose and had an urge to cry. It wasn't just that she wanted to cry, but also that she wanted to rush into Jiang Xia's arms and cry. Since the incident at home, she had always told herself to be strong, and after traveling the world for so long, she had always relied on herself for everything. For a long time... it had been a long time since she had felt someone's concern.

  Chui Rusong's eyes welled up with tears, she took two deep breaths to hold back her tears and said: "Thank you for your concern, I will be fine."

  "Hmm." Jiang Xia nodded slightly and then said: "Goodbye."

  Cui Ruxiang also nodded at Jiang Xia, then prepared to leave. At the moment of leaving, she finally couldn't help but say to Jiang Xia: "In the past... I'm sorry."

  Jiang Xia responded with a warm smile, like the bright sunshine on a spring day, indicating that he didn't take it to heart. This smile made Cui Ruxue's heart tremble slightly.

  Cui Ruxiang said in a low voice: "Goodbye." Then she ran away quickly.

  Listening to Cui Ruxue's fading footsteps, Jiang Xia stood still for half a minute. After a moment of silence, he suddenly raised his right hand and slapped himself hard on the face, "Damn it, what a poser! Now that the duck has flown away, I'll see how you explain this to your brother."

  Jiang Xia looked down and saw that the high bulge had already puffed out the hem of his clothes into a "convex" shape. Jiang Xia sighed deeply and lamented, "Heaven's fault, can be violated, self-righteousness is unbearable..."

  After finishing speaking, Jiang Xia's face turned heavy as he lifted his right hand. He gazed at the center of his palm with deep emotion and said: "Fifth sister, it seems you'll have to suffer again."

  The moon is full, and the bright moon seems like a pure jade plate. The faint moonlight makes the night very quiet.

  Cui Ruxue sat beside the windowsill, gazing at the moonlight, her mind filled with what Jiang Xia had just said. That faint smile and warm expression seemed to carry a power that warmed one's heart, and at this moment, Cui Ruxue's heart was warm and cozy.

  "He seems... actually not bad at all."

  As soon as she muttered to herself, Cui Ruxue's face turned red immediately. She touched her slightly hot cheeks, and Cui Ruxue exclaimed in a low voice: "My god, what am I thinking? Am I going to compete with Nianshu again?"

  "No, that's not right. Jiang Xia said it himself, he chooses who he wants to be with, and feelings can't be forced. I don't have the qualifications to force him either. If he chooses me......" Cui Ruxue's heart suddenly became a bit messy, she couldn't understand what she was thinking, and her frustrated mood made her lose interest in appreciating the moonlight. She simply walked over to the bed, covered her head with the blanket, and started sleeping.

  It's the same full moon and the same moonlight. But different people have different thoughts and worries when facing it, just like Li Dongyang now.

  Just closed a Qunfang Pavilion, now another Xiangyao Mountain Villa has emerged. Qunfang Pavilion was just a small disturbance, but Xiangyao Mountain Villa has become a scourge. Among the wealthy merchants and nobles in the capital, all are infatuated with this place, from which it can be seen how extravagant and decadent it is.

  Qunfang Pavilion was like that because of Jiang Xia, and this carefree mountain villa was also because of Jiang Xia. When the world is about to be in chaos, a monster will surely emerge, and Jiang Xia is probably that monster. If this monster is not eliminated, the Great Ming Dynasty will never have a peaceful day."

  After muttering to himself for half a day, a resolute glint flashed across Li Dongyang's eyes, as if he had made up his mind about something.

  The next morning.

  The sun had just begun to rise from the east, and Zhu Houzhao was already getting out of bed to prepare for his morning duties.

  Following the teachings of Taizu, the emperor's morning court should be held every day. However, as it was passed down from generation to generation, the morning court changed from being held daily to every other day, and then to the current three days a week. By the time of Zhu Houzhao, even holding the morning court once every three days could not be guaranteed, because he would often find excuses not to attend.

  But today is different, last night Zhu Houzhao received the news that Henan is experiencing a severe drought with thousands of miles of barren land, and the disaster situation is very urgent. Such a major event, Zhu Houzhao did not dare to delay, so he decided to convene an early court meeting today to discuss this matter with all officials.

  The morning ritual of the Ming dynasty was very strict, and by the end of the hour of Ox, high-ranking officials had to start waiting outside the Meridian Gate. The Meridian Gate is the main gate of the Imperial City, with three gates, the middle one being the imperial road, which is not often opened, and the two side gates are for the generals on duty and the guards holding flags to enter and exit.

  On either side of the Meridian Gate, there is a gate called the Left and Right Wing Gates, which are the gates for officials to enter the palace. The building above the Meridian Gate is called "Five Phoenixes", where the morning bell and drum are set up, managed by eunuchs from the Bell and Drum Office.

  At the hour of Chou, the officials wait. At the end of the hour of Yin, the drummers and trumpeters of the Imperial Guard begin to beat the drums and blow the trumpets. At this moment, all civil and military officials must take their positions in order of rank. The civil officials stand on the left, the military officials on the right. Both sides are arranged in three rows each. The person standing at the head of each row is naturally the chief of the civil and military officials respectively.

  The top three officials of the Wen Guan San Lie are Li Bu Shangshu Jing Gui, Hu Bu Shangshu Li Dongyang, and Li Bu Shangshu Cao Yuan. The top three military officials are Left Commander-in-Chief Jiang Hualong, Minister of War Mao Wenhui, and Right Commander-in-Chief Shangguan Wu.

  The position of Minister of War is probably well understood by everyone, but the Dūdù Fǔ (Capital Governor's Office) may not be very clear to many people. In the Ming Dynasty, the Ministry of War had the power to mobilize troops, but it did not directly command them, while the Dūdù Fǔ was the highest military institution commanding the national army, and its full name should be called Wǔ Jūn Dūdù Fǔ (Five Armies Capital Governor's Office).

  The Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions are mutually restrictive, each existing to prevent the other from becoming too powerful, lest they threaten the Jiangshan Sheji of the Great Ming. In terms of hierarchy, both belong to central institutions and should be considered equal.

  As the drum beats, the left and right gates open separately. The civil officials walk through the left gate, while the military officials walk through the right gate. Proceeding straight ahead, they arrive at the Golden Water Bridge, which is located on the Golden Water River in the square in front of the Taihe Gate within the Imperial Palace, and consists of five single-arch stone bridges made of white marble.

  After passing Jinshui Bridge is the square, in the square, all officials must first form up in order, then wait for the announcement to enter and pay respects.

  After hearing the announcement, all officials entered the Taihe Hall in order and knelt down to pay their respects to Zhu Houzhao with one kneel and three knocks, shouting "Long live the Emperor".

  Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "All of you, stand up."

  "Thanks to Your Majesty." After all officials stood up, the high-ranking attendant in front of the Golden Stage loudly proclaimed: "Officials with business to report step forward; those without business may withdraw from court!"

  Li Dongyang took a step forward and bowed his head, saying: "I beg to report to Your Majesty, I have something to memorialize."

  "Please speak, Taifu." said Zhu Houzhao.

  "Your Majesty, Henan is suffering from a severe drought, the disaster situation is grim, and the people are in dire need of grain relief. I hope Your Majesty will make a decision on this matter."

  Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "I received a report from the Imperial Guard last night. I'd like to ask you, Grand Tutor, how much grain is needed for disaster relief, and what's the equivalent value in silver?"

  "The Emperor, we need to prepare 2 million dan of grain and fodder, which is equivalent to 1 million taels of white silver. However, this is only a temporary solution. If we want to help the Henan disaster victims recover and resume production, I'm afraid we'll need at least another 2 million taels of white silver."

  "So that's thirty million taels of silver?" Zhu Houzhao took a deep breath, and then asked again: "Then, Taifu, tell me, how much silver is left in the national treasury now?"

  Li Dongyang bowed and said: "In reply to the Emperor's words, there are currently 400,000 taels of white silver, 30,000 taels of gold, and a certain amount of copper coins in the national treasury."

  It's hard work now at 5 am, the tiger is still typing, wuwuwu... seeking comfort, let's continue on our journey...