Lengxiang Courtyard was completely renovated.
Xiao Yun wanted to stay in the courtyard for a while longer, but as elders, Old Madam Wang and Madam Bai could not stay for too long. After exchanging pleasantries, they prepared to leave.
However, Wang Qinglin wished to spend more time with Xiao Yun.
But before Madam Bai could say anything, Old Madam Wang instructed the three "third wheels" to leave as well.
Old Madam Wang was unaware of the intentions of Wang Qinglin and her mother. She was solely focused on fostering a closer relationship between Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao, hoping it would benefit the Wang family in the future.
Wang Qinglin had no valid reason to stay, so she left too.
The men in plain, dark attire brought by Xiao Yun stood guard outside the courtyard like door gods, daring no one to approach.
Wang Qingyao's boudoir had been divided into two rooms by a screen. The inner room served as the bedroom, while the outer room was now a study.
The display shelves held few decorative items, mostly books, with a predominance of calligraphy practice sheets, which Wang Qingyao found somewhat disappointing.
Xiao Yun took note, "She likes collecting books."
On the new desk, following Wang Qingyao's previous habits, the poetry collection she was transcribing was laid out as it was.
Xiao Yun glanced at it a few times, his eyes crinkling with delight. "I merely mentioned it, and you took it to heart. I happen to know people at the printing house, and if things move quickly, it can be printed by the middle of next month..."
Wang Qingyao blinked, then realized, "No, this is for my elder brother."
"Wang Zijing?"
Wang Qingyao nodded. Seeing Xiao Yun's expression darken slightly, she explained, "Elder brother only collects them; he doesn't pass them on. It won't affect your business."
As she said this, a hint of hesitation flickered across her face.
After all, these poems were not her original works. Even with the excuse of them appearing in her dreams, openly selling someone else's writings for profit felt somewhat unethical.
In modern terms, it was an infringement of intellectual property.
If it were for collection and private study, it would be acceptable.
Xiao Yun did not miss her hesitation. A heavy stone seemed to press down on his heart, making him feel闷闷的.
He let out an "Oh" and walked around the desk a few times.
Wang Qingyao watched him pace.
On the fifth circuit, he stopped, placed his hands behind his back, and said to Wang Qingyao, "I suddenly remembered I have some matters to attend to at the shops outside. I'll be going now."
His tone was curt.
Wang Qingyao let out a soft chuckle. She recalled the last time Xiao Mo used the same excuse, and Xiao Yun had mocked him.
Xiao Yun was bewildered by her laughter. He had been about to leave, but now he felt too embarrassed to walk away.
"What are you laughing at?"
After asking, he too remembered the time at the Fang family when Xiao Mo had used the same excuse to escape a matchmaking session. He couldn't help but laugh himself.
"What are you sulking about?" Wang Qingyao walked up to him, tilting her head to look at him.
She was a head shorter than Xiao Yun, so standing face to face, she had to look up. Of course, if her nutrition had been adequate in the past, she wouldn't have been this short.
Xiao Yun lowered his head slightly, his gaze meeting hers. "Is it that obvious?"
Wang Qingyao nodded solemnly.
Xiao Yun sheepishly touched his nose. "I just felt you valued Wang Zijing more..."
Towards the end, he himself felt it was being overly sensitive.
He, Prince Ding'an, the little tyrant of Duanjing, known for his charm and unrestrained spirit, when did he ever fuss over such trivial matters?
A smile played on Wang Qingyao's lips. She couldn't help but want to laugh, but mindful of Xiao Yun's feelings, she managed to suppress it and proceeded to explain the concept of intellectual property to him.
Xiao Yun understood. "But are the people in these dreams real?"
"I don't know," Wang Qingyao said indifferently. "Let's just assume they are."
Xiao Yun had no choice but to abandon his idea of printing and selling the poetry collection for profit.
After three days of transcribing, Wang Qingyao finally finished the poetry collection and instructed Yin Zhu to deliver it to Wang Zijing's courtyard.
Yin Zhu returned shortly after, looking quite indignant.
"The嬷嬷 at the gate wouldn't let me in. She said the First Madam ordered that the maids from our Lengxiang Courtyard are strictly forbidden from entering the eldest young master's Honghu Courtyard. Honestly, what do they take me for?"
Yin Zhu was seething with unfairness.
Madam Bai tightly controlled Wang Zijing's courtyard and Wang Da's study, fearing the possibility of another concubine.
Wang Qingyao had no choice but to go herself.
The gatekeepers dared not stop her. She handed the poetry collection to Wang Zijing.
Wang Zijing was both surprised and delighted. "I've been busy with my new post these past few days and was planning to trouble my second sister in a couple of days. I never expected my second sister, with her nimble hands, to have already finished it."
Both Wang Zijing and Zeng Huai had entered the Hanlin Academy.
Zeng Huai was appointed as a Compiler in the Hanlin Academy, while Wang Zijing was appointed as an Editor, equivalent to a department-level official in modern times, both with brilliant futures ahead.
"Congratulations, elder brother," Wang Qingyao said.
Wang Zijing smiled and took a brocade box from a shelf, presenting it to her as a thank-you gift for the poetry collection.
Wang Zijing had prepared this gift long ago, intending to give it to Wang Qingyao when they were transcribing poems together.
Wang Qingyao, out of habit, used her clairvoyance to peek. It was a gilded silver incense ball with an openwork design of double butterflies dancing among flowers.
The incense ball clearly contained spices. As soon as she opened the box, Wang Qingyao detected a fresh and elegant fragrance.
"It's so beautiful," Wang Qingyao accepted it graciously. She had indeed put a lot of effort into transcribing the poetry collection.
Not long after, at Wang Zijing's urging, the Wang family made a formal betrothal to the Bai family, and the wedding date was set for April of the following year.
Concurrently, Bai Junzhu's marriage to Lord Cheng, the Minister of Revenue, was also finalized. As this was a remarriage, it was not as elaborate, and the wedding was planned for May.
However, shortly after the invitations were sent to various families, Lord Cheng suddenly died!
How did he die?
It was rumored that he died of sudden rigor mortis while engaging in lewd acts in a brothel. He was found completely naked, nearly driving the woman beneath him insane!
The death of a high-ranking official in a brothel was a major incident in Duanjing!
The Prefect of Duanjing dispatched a coroner to conduct an examination. The results revealed that Lord Cheng's body had long been weakened by indulgence in wine and women. He died of priapism, with no involvement from anyone else.
Lord Cheng's family was outraged and spread rumors that Bai Junzhu was a jinx who brought misfortune to her husbands!
Thus, a feud began between the Wang and Cheng families, turning a potential marriage into outright animosity.
Wang Da, however, was in high spirits.
Lord Cheng was originally scheduled to retire next year, meaning Wang Da would have to wait some time to assume the position of Minister of Revenue, and he worried about unforeseen complications.
Unexpectedly, Lord Cheng had died suddenly.
With Wang Zijing having recently gained the Emperor's favor, surely he, as his father, could also benefit, especially since no one was more suitable for the position.
Wang Da was practically humming a tune, thinking that Lord Cheng had died at the perfect time, a truly wonderful and joyous demise.
While he was lost in his pleasant dreams, the next day at court, when the Emperor mentioned the vacancy for the Minister of Revenue, he completely ignored Wang Da and appointed Prince Ding'an, Xiao Yun, to temporarily fill the position.
The entire court was in an uproar.
Prince Ding'an was known as a dissolute noble. Did he understand the ways of governance?
However, upon further reflection, the Ministry of Revenue managed household registration and finances. Prince Ding'an's family had been in commerce for three generations, possessing wealth comparable to a nation. Wasn't he precisely the right person for the job?
Wang Da's emotions were complex.
He could not afford to offend Prince Ding'an, and he was also about to become his nephew-in-law...
A close colleague comforted him, "The Emperor said it's temporary... Besides, His Highness still has..."
The colleague dared not utter the word "curse" that followed, but both understood its implication.
Having been immersed in the political arena for many years, Wang Da had long cultivated a smooth and worldly demeanor.
Missing out on the position of "Minister of Revenue" only caused him brief disappointment. By the time he returned home, his face, as usual, bore a calm and amiable smile.