As dusk approached, Zhang Dahai finished his tasks and emerged from the First Prince's mansion. At the turn of the corner, he saw Minister Lin, who had been waiting for him.
Neither spoke. They walked in single file to the nearest restaurant, took a private room, ordered some dishes, and ate in silence.
When only remnants of food remained on the table, Minister Lin waved his hand, signaling for everyone to withdraw.
After a moment, he said meaningfully, "I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to meddle in the affairs of the capital after only being here a few days. Take my advice and withdraw quickly. I'll handle the Second Prince; I'll make sure he doesn't blame you."
Zhang Dahai calmly sipped his tea and retorted mockingly, "May I ask in what capacity you are ordering me around, Minister Lin? We are neither related by blood nor by marriage. Why should I listen to you?"
"I'm doing this for your own good. Do you know how deep these waters run? One wrong move could cost your entire family their heads. Throughout history, the struggle for succession has resulted in countless deaths and injuries. How can you be so sure the Second Prince will ascend to the throne?" Minister Lin felt a pang in his chest at Zhang Dahai's words and continued with earnest sincerity.
"Don't worry, even if heads roll, there's no apparent connection between us, so you won't be implicated. I'll handle my own affairs. It's best if you don't get involved."
"How can I not be implicated? Everyone who needs to know knows about our relationship. If something happens to you, the Lin family won't fare well either." Minister Lin was nearly exasperated, feeling his son was as stubborn as a block of wood, completely impervious to advice.
"After all this talk, you're just afraid of being implicated by me, aren't you? Rest assured, we can go to the yamen right now and sign a deed to sever our father-son relationship. From this point on, we'll go our separate ways, with no connection whatsoever." Zhang Dahai stated resolutely. He knew Minister Lin was truly concerned about being implicated. If they could sever ties, it would be a blessing in disguise for him. With the Lin family's large household, he genuinely didn't want any involvement with them.
At his words, Minister Lin fell silent. Truthfully, he had considered this. While he trusted his father-in-law implicitly, believing that his father-in-law's long-standing success was due to his extraordinary courage and foresight, he couldn't understand why his father-in-law hadn't intervened in Zhang Dahai's situation. Even if Zhang Dahai was clever and possessed business acumen, he was just a country boy. What experience did he have? How could he understand the intricacies of the court? Or was he a genius?
He was unsure and said softly, "How can you speak like that, my child? I am concerned about you and afraid you will suffer losses. How could you say such hurtful words? But I hope you will consider what I've said today. With the Lin family and the Marquis of Anning's estate behind you, ordinary people wouldn't dare to touch you. We don't need to be involved in the struggle for the throne."
Zhang Dahai couldn't be bothered to respond. They both knew what the other was thinking, and there was no point in prolonging the conversation when they disagreed.
Seeing that his persuasion had no effect and had only made him half-dead with anger, Minister Lin suppressed his urge to lash out, bid Zhang Dahai a perfunctory farewell, and left.
When he returned home, the children were already asleep. Only Wu Caiwei was waiting. They exchanged a knowing smile, their unspoken understanding filling the air.
"I heard Minister Lin sought you out today?" Wu Caiwei asked casually as they strolled in their courtyard.
"Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have returned so late."
"I knew why he was looking for you even if you hadn't said anything. However, we have many ways to deal with those two. There's no need for you to step into danger." They had long navigated the treacherous waters of the palace. Once, they had been Emperor and Empress; this time, they were paving the way for others, and there was no need to invest so much genuine emotion.
"I know, but we can't always rely on the Marquis of Anning and the Lin family to live in this world. That's only when their interests are not threatened. If their interests are threatened, they will undoubtedly abandon us first. And this time, a mere Fifth Prince dares to bully us. What about next time when we encounter other princes? Will we have to yield everywhere?" Zhang Dahai voiced his true feelings.
"I worry about you. I know there must be something extraordinary about the Second Prince that led you to choose him. But we are flesh and blood. Even if we constantly travel between worlds, we can still die when truly in danger, and die ignominiously. Who knows if we will meet again in the next world."
Zhang Dahai pulled her into his arms, his voice filled with emotion, "Don't worry, I'll think of you and prioritize my own safety. I want to grow old with you in my next life, not die prematurely."
Wu Caiwei sighed and wrapped her arms around his waist, "Just know that. Don't try to be brave in anything you do. We're past that age."
Zhang Dahai grumbled a little, "I've lived as an old monster, yet you treat me like a child?"
Wu Caiwei thought about it and couldn't help but laugh. She had been interacting with the children a lot recently, constantly reminding them of things, which had inadvertently led to her adopting that habit when speaking to Zhang Dahai.
"Let's not worry about that. With that time, you could concern yourself with the marriage prospects of your sisters. Of course, if suitable matches aren't found, there's no need to force it."
Wu Caiwei nodded. Having spent so much time with her sisters, she knew they were all kind people. She also knew that the eldest and second eldest had been severely hurt in their previous marriages, leading to a psychological aversion to men. This was a deep-seated issue that needed to be addressed.
The next day, Zhang Hexiang and Zhang Taohong noticed the change in their future mother. Despite their resistance, she insisted on them accompanying her in her business dealings.
Having hidden in the backyard for so long, the two, unfamiliar with the capital, dared not speak to anyone and silently stayed behind Wu Caiwei.
Seeing their fearful demeanor, Wu Caiwei shook her head. However, she patiently kept the two sisters following her, explaining the principles of interacting with people as they walked.
For several consecutive days, although the sisters still dared not interact with others, they were not without gains. For instance, they both looked at Wu Caiwei with starry eyes. Ever since meeting their future mother, their lives had been as different as night and day. They had spoken highly of her behind her back.
But after truly interacting with her, they realized how remarkable she was. Watching her, a woman, direct people orderly, and negotiate business deals with an advantage, was something they had never dared to dream of. In their perception, women should stay at home and raise children. Seeing her walk openly in the world, like a beam of light, illuminated their hearts.
Wu Caiwei seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire, "I used to be as timid as you. But people must grow; you can't always seek help from others. And how boring is it to hide in the backyard your entire life? As long as you wish to change, you can also be respected like me."
Zhang Taohong's face immediately showed a look of longing. After a moment, she sighed, "How can we compare to you? You are literate and can calculate numbers so quickly. We know nothing."