A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

“Your Highness.” Jiuzhu looked at Chen Wang with a serious expression: “If you say that again in the future, chennu will really be angry with you.”

 

Her Masters had said that she was born intelligent; they would not lie to her.

 

“En, I was wrong.” Chen Wang smiled: “Our Jiuzhu is like a white cloud in the clear sky, a canoe on the blue surface of a river, and a red plum thriving in the midst of snow.”

 

Jiuzhu looked at him blankly, but he chuckled softly without any explanation. 

 

“Let’s go.” Chen Wang held her hand gently. Her palm was very hot; the heat spread across his fingertips to his limbs and down to his bones.

 

“Go where?” Jiuzhu obediently let him lead her around.

 

“Go inside and rest for a while.” He sighed: “You are sweaty all over from running. You will easily catch a cold if you stay outside in the cool wind.”

 

“That is not possible.” Jiuzhu said confidently, “I’m very healthy.”

 

“Be obedient, don’t make trouble.” Chen Wang did not let go of her hand. Rather, he pulled her inside. 

 

“Your Highness… I am not an official appointed by the imperial court. It will only stir up trouble for you if I step into the bureau of the Ministry of Rites.” Jiuzhu still had concerns.

 

“You are Ben Wang’s future Wangfei and a xianzhu appointed by His Majesty, the Emperor himself. You are naturally worthy enough to enter the Ministry of Rites.” He shielded Jiuzhu from the wind and led her to his own workroom: “With Ben Wang here, who will dare to say anything?”

 

Pulling her inside, Chen Wang handed her a dry cotton towel: “Your back is also sweaty. Wipe yourself with this towel. I will keep an eye on the outside.”

 

Saying this, he helped her close the door of the room and retreated a few steps to stand with his back facing the door.

 

“Did you see that? His Highness just brought a girl into his workroom.”

 

“He actually did this right under Assistant Minister Ming’s nose?”

 

“Shh, keep your voice down. Assistant Minister Ming is here.”

 

“Why are the expressions of my coworkers so strange?” Walking into the room, Ming Jingzhou noticed that the lords were looking at him from time to time. But whenever he lifted his face, they instantly withdrew their gazes. He asked with a smile: “Is something the matter?”

 

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.” From the bunch, one forced a laugh and changed the subject: “Where is Brother Ming planning to go?”

 

“Oh, I found a few interesting pieces of writing so I am going to ask His Highness Chen Wang to make a copy of it.” He shook the book in his hand: “My Lords, please excuse me.”

 

“Ai ai ai.” The lords hurriedly stopped Ming Jingzhou: “Brother Ming, you still need to make a draft of the return gifts to be sent to each of the countries. Why don’t we help you deliver the book?”

 

Many of the neighbouring countries had sent congratulatory gifts for Qi Wang’s wedding so Da Cheng now needed to send gifts in return.

 

“Why trouble yourselves with this trivial matter, My Lords.” Ming Jingzhou put the book into his sleeves: “Everyone need not inconvenience themselves, I will return in a jiffy.”

 

“Over… Everything’s over.” The officials became anxious as they helplessly watched Ming Jingzhou go out.

 

“With Brother Ming’s temperament, it shouldn’t get out of hand, should it?”

 

“Even if his temper is good, he will not tolerate his future son-in-law bringing a woman into the bureau right in front of his eyes ah.”

 

“Then what do we do?”

 

“What can we do?” Minister Li En appeared at this time, “Two of you come with me. We can step in if matters get out of control.”

 

“My Lord is right!” The officials came back to their senses: “Quick quick quick. Go stop Brother Ming.”

 

“Ming Xiaozhu.” Chen Wang knocked twice on the door softly: “Are you done yet?”

 

“Yes.” Jiuzhu opened the door and turned her neck: “It’s just that the back of my neck feels a bit uncomfortable.”

 

Chen Wang glanced at her white and delicate neck and swiftly turned his gaze: “That’s nothing, maybe you are just not relaxed yet. It will be fine after a moment.”

 

“En.” Jiuzhu touched her nape in discomfort.

 

“Get inside, I’ll have my subordinates brew a new pot of tea for you and arrange a carriage to drop you home later. From now on, you must bring a few people with you whenever you leave your residence. As a dignified Xianzhu, you need to pay attention to some rules.”

 

After saying this, he stretched out his hand to pull Jiuzhu’s wrist.

 

“Your Highness, what are you doing?” As soon as Ming Jingzhou walked into the corridor, he saw a part of a women’s dress peeking out from Chen Wang’s workroom. His eyes abruptly turned frigid.

 

“Father.” Hearing Ming Jingzhou’s voice, Jiuzhu tilted her body and poked her head out: “You came just in time. I was planning to ask His Highness to send someone to call you.”

 

“Why is Jiuzhu here?” Ming Jingzhou asked, with the corners of his mouth rising and his gaze turning warm and loving. 

 

“Something happened so I…”

 

“Brother Ming!”

 

“Lord Ming!”

 

Just at this time, two officials rushed toward them, each one holding one of Ming Jingzhou’s arms: “I just got a new document but I don’t understand some parts of it. Help me understand the details.” 

 

“Yes yes, this list of gifts seems to have some problems. Why don’t you go through it once?”

 

“My Lords.” Fugui had just brewed a fresh pot of tea for the Ming family’s guniang. Seeing a group of officials blocking the hallway, he asked with a polite smile: “Can you all give way to this humble one?” 

 

The officials looked back at the tray Fugui was carrying and exclaimed inwardly: Ooh, the scented tea that women like! And snacks that only women like to eat!

 

Fugui was frightened by the stare of these lords and took a step back. Although Ming guniang was not from the Ministry of Rites, she was His Highness’s fiancée, a xianzhu appointed by His Majesty, and the daughter of the Assistant Minister of Rites. It was not a problem to let her sit in the bureau of the Ministry of Rites, was it?

 

“My Lords have come just in time.” The officials crowded in the corridor before Chen Wang’s workroom: “Ben Wang has received some new snacks and refreshments. Come and have a taste.”

 

The officials: What? Did he want to let them drink tea and watch him bring a girl inside right in front of Assistant Minister Ming’s eyes?

 

Your Highness Chen Wang, the Ministry of Rites has finally been almost completely renovated because of you. If Brother Ming hits you with a teacup in a fit of anger, it will be difficult for us coworkers.

 

“Many thanks, Your Highness.” Ming Jingzhou was the first one to speak: “Then xiaguan will take up your offer.”

 

After speaking, he turned to the others: “Please come in, everyone.”

 

“Please excuse us, please excuse us, please excuse us.” Soon, Chen Wang’s workroom was completely packed. They had barely taken their seats when they saw the little guniang walk toward Ming Jingzhou from Chen Wang’s side.

 

This scene made their hearts jump to their throats. 

 

Little guniang, you look quite clever and beautiful. Why are you acting so recklessly?

 

“Father, Daughter bought these snacks. Taste them quickly.” Jiuzhu placed the snack with Ming Jingzhou’s favorite flavor in front of him.

 

Fa-Father?

 

The apprehensive officials turned their heads to their Lord Minister and found that he had already begun sipping the tea with peace of mind. His expression was that of extreme satisfaction; clearly, he knew the identity of the little guniang.

 

Oh. They suddenly recalled that their Lord Minister had gone to the Ming family residence to announce the imperial decree. So he must have seen this little guniang there.

 

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It was really great that they did not have to get caught up in a fight between their coworker and Chen Wang.

 

Ming Jingzhou discovered the messy hair strewn on his daughter’s forehead was still wet, and her white cheeks had turned red: “Where did you come here from? And why aren’t you accompanied by anyone?”

 

“Daughter was in a hurry when she left the residence and overlooked this matter.” Jiuzhu smiled ingratiatingly at him: “Don’t be angry, Father. Daughter will surely keep it in mind next time.”

 

In the capital, many families had their own carriages. Once the carriages of two rich families crossed paths, the people inside each one would try to give way to the other and such push and pull would usually take a long time. Therefore, taking a carriage was much slower than going on foot. Jiuzhu was also afraid that her Zhou jiejie would misunderstand her Sixth Brother if she had to wait for a long time at the teahouse and so she ran all the way by herself.

 

After all, it could be considered doing meritorious deeds if she helped the lovers become husband and wife.

 

“If there is a next time, Father will ask your Mother to ground you.” Ming Jingzhou feigned seriousness: “Quickly greet your Uncles.”

 

“This junior greets Uncles.”

 

“We dare not, dare not. Xianzhu is being too courteous.” The officials rose to their feet and greeted Jiuzhu in return.

 

Ming Jingzhou lifted the lid of the teacup and glanced at the officials. He took in their expressions before speaking unhurriedly: “Fellow officials, she is your junior. It is only right for you all to accept her greeting.”

 

Everyone laughed and nodded, but in their hearts, they dare not really accept the gift from the Ming family’s guniang.

 

In terms of rank, she was a second-rank xianzhu; of a rank higher than most of the people present.

 

In terms of status, she was a future Wangfei. She would become a part of the imperial family after marriage. The imperial family was the monarch and they were the subjects. 

 

Except for the imperial family, who would really have the nerve to accept her greeting without reciprocation?

 

Witnessing this scene, Chen Wang felt that the officials of the Ministry of Rites were a lot smarter than the Zheng family.

 

He appreciated these tactful and intelligent officials.

 

“Your Highness, Lord Minister, Lord Assistant Minister, His Majesty has sent an urgent summon!”

 

A minor official’s anxious voice rang from the outside.

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