Marrying a treacherous official

A stick of benzoin was burning in the side room, its thin, straight smoke floating in the night.

The lingering fragrance of agarwood wafted out, enveloping people in a spring drowsiness.

Yunji, however, was not sleepy at all, gazing absently at the lonely moon hanging outside the window.

She followed Madam You to Lingshan Temple to offer incense and pray. She stepped into this muddy water and her feet got wet no matter what she did. There was no way to get out unscathed.

Lady You, eager to climb the social ladder by currying favor with the powerful, must have bribed the examiners of the Ministry of Rites for Cui Gongquan, so that he could rise rapidly in rank after entering officialdom.

But she never had any intention of taking such crooked paths.

Gu Jinyu was able to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) based solely on his talent and learning. This was true in his past life and it will be true in this life as well. There is no need for her to go to unnecessary trouble and ruin his future.

She suddenly remembered how Cui Zemin had harshly criticized her for being hypocritical in the past.

Therefore, in his eyes, in his past life, she and the You family were in cahoots, betraying him for Gu Jinyu's fame and fortune, and he was forced into the vortex of power, which is why he hated her so much.

Yunjikong gazed at the long night and sighed sadly.

The illusions she couldn't see through before still cloud her vision time and time again.

With the imperial examinations approaching, Gu Jinyu is currently studying in seclusion at Bailu Academy, under the strict supervision of the headmaster. No one can disturb him. As long as she goes to Lingshan Temple to worship Buddha until the end of the spring examinations, keeping a distance from each other will allow her to extricate him from this matter as much as possible.

Even if it's just for show to outsiders, it's fine.

Before the scientific expedition, she must not have any private contact with Gu Jinyu.

Shi Ling rode his horse down the mountain and headed to the Tiger Wing Army's camp overnight.

He hurriedly entered the main tent, knelt down, and reported:

"Just as the general predicted, Vice Minister Wei indeed sent Zhou Hanlin's wife to act as the First Madam's advocate."

"What did she say?"

"The First Madam politely declined Madam Zhou's kind offer."

Cui Zemin stared blankly as the patrolling guards walked past the tent, their torches, held high, snaking like dragons, stretching to the edge of the dark night.

He was deliberately testing Gu Yunji.

This result was both within his expectations and unexpected.

Given her proud and self-disciplined nature, she would never associate with evil people or do something as disgraceful as stealing exam questions.

But she has betrayed him for the sake of the Gu family more than once or twice, and has used many underhanded methods. Who knows, this time she might just close her eyes again and blindly send Gu Jinyu to the top.

But she rejected the offer without even thinking about it; he was being petty after all.

Gao Jie leaned against the cot, patiently waiting for him to speak, but he didn't hear him say anything for a long time.

He saw the guard kneeling on the ground with his back straight, and he felt tired just looking at him. He raised his hand and waved him away, and then got down to business.

"Should we keep pressing that message we mentioned before?"

"What's the rush?"

"This is firsthand information; I've had it with you for three days, and you've been holding back for a full three days!"

Gao Jie had spent countless resources to uncover this secret matter. Once he got the information, he rushed to the camp and immediately reported it to Cui Zeming.

Who would have thought that Cui Zemin would suppress the news and delay in responding?

Even more unexpectedly, he was detained in the camp along with this news, confined to the main tent for three whole days without being allowed to leave.

"General Cui, such indecisiveness is not your usual decisive style."

Cui Zemin gave him a gloomy look, and Gao Jie raised his hand and slapped himself across the face.

"I'll slap him, okay?"

Gao Jie felt fear at the thought of Huo Xi's rotten buttocks covered in countless sores. He would rather have his mouth slapped raw than be dragged out and beaten with military rods.

"But this matter can't be delayed any longer. Once the news gets out, it won't be able to be suppressed no matter what. You still need to make a decision as soon as possible."

"Leave it alone."

Cui Zemin gave him a definite answer.

Gao Jie sat up straight on his cot. The first-hand information he had gone through so much trouble to get had been circulated around him, but he hadn't gotten anything out of it and just left it at that.

"This matter involves the First Madam and concerns your position as Prime Minister. You cannot let your guard down against the First Madam and leak the information just because of a guard's words."

"Let those civil officials fight like dogs, why should I interfere?"

Cui Zemin had already made up his mind to sit back and watch the tigers fight.

Gao Jie gave him a final piece of advice: "If you take it so easy, you might lose all your potential."

Cui Zemin's current situation in the imperial court can be described as being besieged on all sides.

Led by Ge Lao, the veteran civil officials pressed Emperor Chenghe step by step, advising him to separate civil and military powers, divide the administration between the two offices, and cautiously grant military generals the position of Privy Councilor, while retaining the highest-ranking military general's power to make decisions on state affairs as the Chancellor.

Although no names were mentioned, he was the only one in the court to hold both of these important positions. How was this any different from directly petitioning to remove him from his military power?

The military officers submitted memorials opposing the matter, and Emperor Chenghe had no choice but to temporarily suppress it.

Meanwhile, the rising civil officials led by Vice Minister Wei were secretly trying to win him over, hoping to join forces with him to eliminate the old ministers who held high positions in the court.

Therefore, Vice Minister Wei used the promise of official rank as bait and sent Zhou Hanlin's wife to entice Gu Yunji.

Gao Jie advised him to conspire with Vice Minister Wei to first eliminate these cunning and treacherous old ministers, and then turn their attention to these ambitious new talents.

But he simply stood still, wanting to watch these civil officials fight to the death.

"Shi Ling, come in."

"Your subordinate is here."

"Who gave you permission to go out?"

Hearing this light and dismissive accusation, Shi Ling felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced at Gao Jie sitting on the throne and said aggrievedly, "This humble general knows his crime."

Not content with Gao Jiezi slapping him once, Cui Zeming wanted to slap him again in person.

He lay dejectedly on his cot, about to close his eyes and drift off to sleep, when he heard Cui Zemin ask softly:

"When does Madam plan to return home?"

"This humble general...does not know..."

Surprised, Shi Ling immediately added, "After returning to the East Manor, I will go and gather information."

Seeing that the general did not respond for a long time, he quickly added, "I sent someone to tell the general as soon as I received the news."

Cui Zemin then let him go. "Get out."

Gao Jie lay on his cot, unable to close his eyes no matter what.

"Is news of when the First Madam will return to the manor more important than the firsthand information I obtained by spending a fortune? Is it worth you chasing after her like this?"

Cui Zemin ignored him and instead picked up the white jade cup on the long table, examining it carefully in his hand.

The mutton fat jade is pure and simple, plain and without patterns. The delicate touch in your hand is like wisps of smoke winding around your fingers, but it cannot compare to the warmth and plumpness of her body.