Chapter 7

She looked at him with a face full of confusion

"According to protocol, neither the Minister of Rites nor the Chief Minister has such authority. However, Ruan Dongqian, you should understand what role I play, should you not?" After a pause, he lowered his head to look at the right hand that was tightly gripping his arm.

Can her heart only accommodate the common people of the world

The East did not say anything further, only stating: "Call your sworn brother in. I fear your wound may bleed again."

Is your sworn brother in trouble

"Do not pay attention to him; he is overthinking. Look at me, I am in good spirits today, am I not?" she said with a smile

Feng Yilang's expression darkened, while Ruan Dong's face remained unchanged. With a cheerful laugh, he said: "Brother Yilang, you wait outside. It is most likely the Chief Minister who wants to discuss official matters with me, it won't take long."

"It is not suitable to meet guests?" The East is neither a smile nor a smile: "Brother Ruan, I have sent the finest golden ointment from the palace, and I specifically consulted the imperial physician, ordering him to prepare medicine to strengthen the body. How is it that Minister Ruan's health is so poor that even the precious medicine from the palace cannot help him recover quickly?"

She was forcibly shaken awake, her eyes still heavy with sleep, and she saw her brother Yi sitting at the edge of the bed with a gentle smile.

If I were truly to eliminate all opposition, there would not be a powerful figure like you today; if I were to eliminate all opposition, the court would only be left with those loyal to me, and you would have no chance of securing even the humble position of a deputy minister

Ruan Dong, seeing his expression of entitlement, suddenly asked:

The elegantly dressed Oriental Fei walked in, and upon her gaze landing on her face, he clearly paused in surprise

So, was it you who blinded the former inspector-general Ruan Woqiu's eyes

I am worried about you, so I came back to take you home together. Winter has come, your hand ... ...

Dongfang Fei and she gazed at each other, a hint of mischief curling at the corners of their mouths. "How can you tell?"

Feng Yilang has always been aware of the gravity of situations; even though she was extremely reluctant to be alone with Dongfang Fei, she could only nod and say

Thank you for your kindness, my lord. It is truly because my family member has injured their finger and has been suffering from a high fever ever since, leaving them unable to get out of bed until now. " Feng Yilang said gently, unable to hide his concern

Adult, Ichiro asks you to return to the small cabin, and you are not allowed to go back to the large dormitory

Half a month?" she exclaimed in disbelief, "Isn't today just the sixth day of the month?"

The East is not entirely indifferent to rumors; I was about to casually admit it when I suddenly realized that her attitude was very serious. "By the way, you are a distant relative of Ruan Woqiu, no wonder you care so much about him. Tell me, what is your identity in asking me this?"

Dong Gu laughed heartily. "Dong Gu, if it were the you from last year, you probably wouldn't even deign to touch the tea I drank. This year, you finally have a bit of an official air about you..." His expression was somewhat complex as he reached up to touch her face. She did not move at all. "Dong Gu, my heart is truly filled with mixed emotions." He changed the affectionate term he used.

She has to get up before dawn tomorrow; she cannot let Ichirō notice her weary appearance, or she will have to face his reprimand again. Just as she was about to take off her outer garment, she suddenly realized that someone was in the room

She was so excited that her left hand pressed against the bed, and although her little finger was wrapped in layers of gauze, one corner of what should have been a complete hand was now missing.

The next day

A cunning glimmer flashed in Dongfang's eyes, but when he saw Feng Yilang take a thick coat and drape it over her, the corners of his mouth tightened again. "Call your strategist out, I have matters to discuss with you"

Indeed, but... my lord, you are after all from the Ministry of Revenue, there is no need for you to engage in such laborious tasks. Moreover, the project is progressing smoothly, with the Chief Minister as your backing, no one dares to intervene. You can take more rest.

Scoundrel! He rose with a flick of his sleeve and said in a deep voice, "Minister Ruan, I never speak lightly. If you dare to treat me with falsehoods, do not blame me for being heartless!"

She did not expect such an answer, and after giving him a deep glance, she said hoarsely

"Indeed," the imperial physician said cautiously, "early this morning, Minister Ruan sent a generous gift, expressing gratitude for the prescription provided by this official, and then departed the capital."

Brother Ichiro did not tell her! She should have realized that when it involved her body, Brother Ichiro and Huaining would definitely deceive her.

The salaries of the court officials in the dynasty were already pitifully low, and the official residences were not this extravagant; they were all funded by the "embezzled money" collectively provided by the neighboring county magistrates.

I cannot do it. How about this, I will ask Huaining, he is strong and healthy, and can accompany you until old age

Seeing her look confused, he laughed heartily. Just as he was about to sit on the edge of the bed, Feng Yilang moved a chair over and invited him to sit. He gazed meaningfully at Feng Yilang, conceding and sitting in the chair instead, and said with a smile:

One is a folding fan splashed with ink, and the other is a fan broken in two.

If only I could be more attentive, many matters would not have to burden those around me

Before entering the court to serve as an official, I had heard that the Eastern ruler is not one to be easily swayed by emotions; if anyone dares to oppose him, he will surely seek to eliminate them completely

Ruan Dong endured this wave of pain before finally managing a bitter smile

Ruan Dong did not take it to heart. "Even if I appear as foolish as a pig in front of the Grand Chancellor, it would not be surprising..." She tilted her head and thought for a long time, then lightly coughed and said: "Every move you make is observed by the court officials. It is you... who deliberately made it widely known that you fetched medicine from the Imperial Medical Bureau, isn't it?"

The night breeze blew gently, and as Ruan Dong turned around, her long hair slightly disheveled, it brushed against her beautiful face, accentuating a touch of allure. "Sun Zixiao, it's so late, aren't you going to go back and sleep?" she smiled.

It is not possible, I still have to go back. Sun Zixiao is a talented individual, but with you not around, I am always worried that he will not dare to take charge of important matters and will allow other officials to act recklessly

Offend? Sir Ruan, do you know where your greatest mistake lies? Even if someone calls you brother today, you should not speak your heart and soul openly. You must remember that while they are brothers with you today, there is no guarantee they won't stab you in the back tomorrow

She is not a fierce woman, yet Huaining is so frightened. She is very clear that her feelings for Yilang and Huaining are only those of a close brotherly companion, willing to go to great lengths for them without regret until death. As for the love between husband and wife, she does not quite understand it yet

Ruan Dong, unaware of his complicated thoughts, made his way back to the small house in the dark.

Esteemed Prime Minister, my esteemed master has not yet fully recovered. If she experiences any discomfort, please allow her to rest for the time being. On another day, my esteemed master will certainly visit in person to continue our official matters. The tone also subtly suggests a pretext for winter, indicating that if anything feels amiss, one should feign fatigue

Upon entering the room, she did not light a candle. Her eyesight was quite good; after entering the room, she walked directly to the cabinet, on which were placed two large gifts that Dongfang Fei had previously sent.

This time's gift... The adult should like it. Although I can't believe it, this kind of rumor has been around for more than a day or two. The adult is already in his twenties this year, and no one has seen him visit a brothel, especially with his appearance. Naturally... I don't know why I feel a bit dejected. Forget it, let's go to the big dormitory today.

She felt at ease and asked, "Yilang, you and Huaining were supposed to be in Jinjiang, why have you suddenly returned?"

"Tomorrow morning..." Brother Yichiro and Huaining went to the other end of the project. Minister Ruan should know that they will not return to sleep tonight, so he should have known who was in the house by now, right? Since the uproar between Minister Ruan and Dongfang Fei, the local officials have changed their attitudes, all of them currying favor, seizing every opportunity to present gifts... Sun Zixiao scratched his head, fully aware that this is the norm in officialdom, yet he always felt that although Minister Ruan accepted the gifts with a smile, he did not seem particularly pleased.

Do not overthink, take your time to recover your health first

She hesitated for a moment and replied in a smooth and clever manner

She did not notice that his actions were somewhat unusual and candidly said: "It hurts so much. Last year, I dared to chop off my fingers in prison because I thought the master could do it; there is no reason I cannot do it..."

It was only in the past two years that she realized these gifts had ulterior motives. Has the mockery from the East, which was once a jest, now come to fruition? What has become of the current Ruan Dong? Has she been splattered with ink, or has she been severed in two?

"Is it that serious?" Dongfang Feilian smiled lightly. "Alright, since you insist that only your sworn brother can take his pulse, then you should clarify the details clearly. I will relay them to the imperial physician, so he can prepare a few excellent prescriptions to send over"

Dongfang was taken aback and exclaimed, "What?"

Suddenly, he burst into laughter, laughing uncontrollably.

More than a year later

Although Ruan Woqiu and I are distant relatives, I hold him in great admiration

No, that is the truth of the past, the story of today. In the future, the truths you and I experience will also become stories passed down through generations. The future of the East, whether it be Fei or Ruan Dongqian, will merely be stories told by others. " She raised her eyes to look at him and smiled, saying: "Brother, today has already passed the day of the Spring Festival, are you here to catch me in a mistake?"

"Ruan Donggu, does it not hurt?" He carefully held her left hand and said with ulterior motives, "If you break a finger, if you were a young lady, you would not be able to get married."

Haha, even I do not understand how someone as straightforward as you could comprehend such complex emotions? Before you, the only person I held dear was that righteous Ruan Woqiu. He was unable to kneel before me before he was poisoned and resigned from his official position. In my anger, I ordered the local authorities to capture the original culprit within three days and execute them on the spot

Ruan Dong gazed at him for a while before asking in confusion: "Your Excellency the Chief Minister, are you saying that regardless of whether it is the Chief Minister of the Cabinet or the Eastern Fei, who is without status, I should respond with falsehoods?"

What are you afraid of? Are you worried that the reported project funds will be siphoned off little by little into the pockets of officials? You need not worry, for I have already made it clear that all aspects of the project, from the funding to the hiring of workers, will be reviewed by me.

I must return on the seventh day of the first month

Last year's Ruan Donggu, this year's Ruan Donggu... He can hardly wait for next year's and the year after's Ruan Donggu, as long as she remains unchanged, he will look forward to seeing her year after year. The project is indeed a significant matter; has she never considered how much of her youth it would consume? In her heart, apart from the common people, has she never yearned for spring? Has no man ever occupied a place in her heart?

How could such delicate touch and such slender physique belong to a man

Upon waking again, her spirits had lifted considerably. The weather had also warmed up a bit. With just a glance, she heard a young man outside saying, "My master is still unwell and it is truly inappropriate for him to receive guests"

Lord Guan

"Deputy Minister Ruan, can you guess why, in just a few short days, you have suddenly become the favored one in the court, with all the officials eager to present you with gifts?" Noticing her stealing glances at Feng Yilang, he impatiently remarked, "Without your strategist, have you turned into a complete fool?"

I do not understand

His gaze fell on her left hand, and he suddenly asked: "If Ruan Woqiu were in front of you today, would you block her?"

Her left hand was constantly burning; whenever the pain subsided a little, someone would secretly ignite the fire again, driving her nearly to madness. Since taking office, most of the suffering she endured was psychological, with few instances of excruciating physical pain, especially when a part of her body was literally severed. That kind of pain had caused her to faint several times at first, and although she later learned to endure the pain, she ultimately realized that she was not as capable as men.

It is a daughter! It is definitely a daughter! He would never mistake it!

Finish it early, so everyone can feel at ease. She stifled a yawn and, seeing her grandson staring at her foolishly, she smiled again: Alright, if you have nothing to do, you should head back soon.

Sir, I noticed that Minister Ruan is in a weakened state, so I have prepared a few additional prescriptions for him to take on his journey, which will greatly benefit his recovery from the injury

"My lord! Lord Ruan!" Sun Zixiao hurriedly chased after him

Ruan Dongqian, you have been bedridden for half a month

Suddenly, as if recalling something, Dongfang Fei asked the imperial physician, "What kind of generous gift did she send?"

"Nari郎哥, marry me, alright?" she casually replied

Indeed. She said with a bitter smile, "This time, I truly understand the gap between us. If it were Huaining who had lost a finger, it wouldn't be like me, suffering from a continuous high fever..."

Embezzling money... She sighed, realizing that she could not compromise her principles for mutual benefit. She would never be able to accomplish many of the things she wanted to do. However, at the moment of receiving, the pain in her heart was more intense than losing a finger, so painful that she once hid away and cried uncontrollably. Now... she no longer cried, almost numb. Perhaps in the future, she would still find joy in receiving, she thought to herself with self-mockery.

Indeed, whenever she experiences the arrival of Gui Water, she always feels unwell. Brother Yilang and Huaining always prepare hot water and wait outside the door for her to bathe. She happily called out: "Brother Yilang, why haven't you lit the lamp? It's so late, and I still have to trouble you..."

She made a funny face and said, "I understand... Grandson Xiao, do you have something to say?"

Ruan Donggu, do you remember that I most detest false words, especially from you? You may put on a facade for others, but you are not allowed to wear a mask in front of me, do you understand?" Dongfang Fei Jian Feng Yilang hurriedly entered the room, glanced at Ruan Donggu once more, and said: "I will come to see you another day, make sure to rest well.

The Eastern figure did not lower their gaze, gripping the handle of the fan tightly. After a long while, the corners of their mouth slowly curled up, allowing the imperial physicians to breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course, it is not a big deal she candidly said it is just that it has become widely known and it is exhausting to receive gifts from everyone

The imperial physician, upon hearing this, realized that he had pleased the relevant parties, and could not help but feel delighted

Although no one answered him, she knew that Ichiro was speaking to Huaining

Although she did not understand why he was so obsessed with this matter, she stated frankly: "I would go through fire and water for him, and I would have no regrets even in death"

It is merely the fifth day. She carefully tucked her long hair behind her.

"Brother Ichiro... what date is it today?" She opened her mouth, weakly allowing him to feed her the medicine

Although Dongfang Fei felt displeased upon hearing her mention her adoptive brother again, he could not help but smile when he heard her clear and untainted laughter once more, even if it still carried a hint of weakness

These precious medicinal materials come from the palace; he is being overly considerate of past grievances, which has surpassed the rivalry with his opponent. Feng Yilang pondered, feeling somewhat perplexed.

"Haha, it's just a minor injury..." Seeing his cold smile, she sighed inwardly. Her understanding was that it was a small injury, but unfortunately, her body was truly uncooperative, so she had no choice but to obediently call for Brother Yi.

The Prime Minister... ...

One moment he addressed the gentleman, the next he used respectful language. Although the Eastern manner may seem harsh, he did not say much. He walked to the bedside and smiled, saying: "Minister Ruan, your complexion is pale, yet your spirit seems good. I suppose losing a finger is not a big deal for you."

"No." He fed her the medicine bite by bite, and after she finally managed to swallow it with difficulty, he helped her adjust the blanket and said gently, "Dong Gu, no matter what, you are just a girl."

The man from the East did not turn back until the door behind him was slightly ajar, at which point he regarded her with a serious expression. ... Ruan Dong's physique was indeed slender, unlike that of an ordinary man, especially after falling ill; his complexion was pale and weak. If he were to change out of his male attire, one could easily mistake him for a young maiden, and no one would raise any doubts.

As soon as Feng Yilang opened his mouth, he was reprimanded by Dongfang Fei

Ruan Dong stared at him and asked in a muted voice, "Do you also have this right?"

Is she really planning to dedicate herself completely until death? She rushes to the battlefield before her injuries have healed; such impulsiveness truly makes me feel both pity and excitement. This straightforward girl, clearly she needed his discreet support to get out of bed yesterday, yet today she is eager to set off.

In the winter, it was just the right moment to see, and I couldn't help but chuckle quietly; soon, I truly could not hold on any longer, allowing my consciousness to drift in the void of darkness

The East did not look back, startled, instinctively reaching forward to hold her left hand, the stump of her missing finger faintly stained with blood

The fifth day... it's alright, there are still two days left, right? She was a bit tired, but still remembered to ask: "Have the seven people arrived?"

"A story is just a story," he said casually

"It's a trivial matter, I don't mind..." She chuckled drowsily, "Anyway, this is something I shouldn't have kept in the first place, being a year late is already quite good..."

Regardless of the crime committed by the offender, they should be fairly judged according to the law

Dongfang Fei smiled and said, "I can do whatever I want, and you should have understood this long ago." He gently pressed down her cool little hand and shifted his gaze to her left hand

You are a young lady, and in the future, you will get married

The East is not a first encounter; it instantly feels familiar, familiar enough that I saw it yesterday in the dilapidated house of the Ruan family

"Has it arrived again?" Ichiro's voice seemed to drift from afar: "Thanks to the Eastern envoy who delivered the fine medicinal materials, otherwise Dong Gu's wound would not have healed so smoothly."

The fingertip gliding over her neck suddenly froze. Dongfang Fei squinted and snorted: "You seem to have quite a few admirers, one Ruan Woqiu, one your sworn brother, who else will there be tomorrow?"

It is time to take the medicine. Take the medicine and then go to sleep

No, today is already the 17th. It is a direct order from me, requiring you to take an additional month off

Feng Yilang gently brushed her sweaty bangs with compassion and said

Upon realizing how many common people would suffer as a result, she hurriedly attempted to get out of bed to bow in apology. In her haste, her left hand struck the bedpost, and she involuntarily let out a soft exclamation.

The Eastern figure, not smiling, moved to the edge of the bed, observing that she still did not mind. He began to doubt whether he had misidentified her gender. "I truly wish to personally destroy your hardened bones, yet every time I see you, I am compelled to bow and scrape. This makes me both furious and vexed. Dong Gu, do you understand why?"

It may be due to her elder brother; she wanted to respond but found herself unable to voice her thoughts. Since childhood, she had heard of the great reputation of Dongfang Fei, and before entering the court, she had firmly believed him to be a malignant tumor within the court. She thought that if he were removed, a prosperous era would surely follow. However... Seeing is believing; he clearly has the potential to be a good official, so why does he allow himself to be governed by his preferences?

"Did you not ask me why I have a deep affection for Ruan Woqiu? It is because he is the person I admire the most, standing tall and working for the welfare of the people. His status in my heart is unmatched by anyone else," she said with a look of longing.

Of course, it must be blocked! It absolutely must be blocked!

His brows were furrowed as he asked in a deep voice

Upon hearing this, Ruan Dong faintly sensed something unusual, and it was evident that Yi Lang also noticed that something was amiss with Dongfang. She hurriedly called out, "Yi Lang, please invite the Prime Minister in." She quickly sat up, casually put on the clothes at the head of the bed, and ensured that she did not reveal any signs of being a daughter.

Ruan Dong had previously seen him turn hostile without warning, truly a person of unpredictable moods. If he were to turn against her, she would be indifferent; however, now the entire Jinjiang project is under his review. If he becomes displeased, it is likely that this project will take at least ten years to complete.

Upon hearing this, Huaining, who had just entered the room, became as stiff as stone.

"Imperial physician, you have done very well"

Left?

"Brother Ichiro once told me a story. He said that in the past, Lord Guan would cut his bones to treat his wounds, yet he could still read without changing his expression. I thought this little pain was nothing, but I didn't realize that when the knife came down, it felt as if my five fingers were severed and my entire palm was burned. I almost shed tears, despite my unwillingness to show weakness." She laughed self-deprecatingly, her laughter carrying a hint of spirit.

In any case, it is a fact that she is not as smart as him and Brother Yilang, so she simply shook her head to show him

It was only then that she realized the room was filled with gifts, given by different officials. When did she become the object of flattery among officials?

She noticed that his title had changed and hurriedly said: "If I have been disrespectful, I beg the esteemed Prime Minister for your forgiveness"

Although there are official residences here, the daily commute is truly a waste of time. Moreover, the expenses for the servants of the official residence could amount to the salaries of about ten workers for several months. She would rather live here and supervise the work closely.

The handsome face revealed a gloomy expression, and he coldly snorted with a laugh:

She suppressed the impulse to touch her face and secretly glanced at Feng Yilang, who was following her into the room. Only after confirming that she was not in trouble did she weakly smile and say: "Your Excellency, I am truly honored that you took the time out of your busy schedule to visit my humble abode. I hope you will forgive me for not being able to welcome you properly."

Feng Yilang nodded calmly upon hearing this. "What you said is true. Rest assured, you can sleep without worry; on the seventh day, I will definitely have you on the carriage."

"It was never going to be just me alone." She laughed heartily and said, "I have to head back first, see you tomorrow morning"

Winter is the reason? Winter is the reason?

Prime Minister

Do you take me for a man-eating tiger? Or is your master a young lady who cannot be alone in a room with a man?

She was taken aback; not to mention that Yilang would never act in such a manner, even the scent on the person was off...

"Deputy Minister Ruan, you are unwilling to even please me a little; what exactly have you learned in this officialdom?"

His five fingers glided over her slightly sickly cheeks, slowly descending to her delicate and fair neck. She did not make a sound; if it were not for his inherent arrogance, he might have truly been deceived by her.

The imperial physician hurriedly took out the "generous gift" that he dared not use from the cabinet

"It is rumored that Dongfang has been plotting to eliminate Ruan Woqiu, which is why on the day he went to the execution ground to save someone, he bribed bandits to blind him. After that, you visited him year after year, ensuring he would never regain his sight, until the Ruan family went missing, allowing him to escape your clutches. Did you truly do such a thing?" she asked, gazing intently at him.

The esteemed Prime Minister has sent over the highest quality medicine overnight and has come to inquire about my well-being... This is truly unbecoming of someone in the position of the Prime Minister. It is likely due to the brotherly bond we shared on the day of the New Year, for which I am deeply grateful.

Before she could finish her words, someone suddenly approached and forcefully embraced her from behind, catching her completely off guard

Brother Ichiro was speaking again, but his words were not clear. The god of sleep once again extinguished her consciousness, causing her to quickly sink into a dream

Hahaha! This Minister Ruan actually forwarded the gifts sent by other officials to the Imperial Physician! What a foolish girl! She is so ignorant of the ways of the world, yet she holds an official position in the court. Imperial Physician, remember not to let the Minister of Works see this gift. " After saying this, Dongfang Fei couldn't help but laugh again

You clearly have the ability to serve the dynasty, so why do you misuse your power to make the court so corrupt

Dongfang Feiwen was slightly surprised, and after pondering for a long time while looking at her face, finally said: "What do you think?"

Sun Zixiao replied, "Brother Yilang asked me to keep an eye on you. He said that you have not been well these past few days and should not overexert yourself. After nightfall, you must return to the residence to rest... In fact, he instructed me not to let you carry heavy trees." Sun Zixiao felt a bit wronged; he was merely a subordinate and had no way to stop his superior from doing anything. Moreover, Ruan Dongqian never used his official position to pressure others. He would just smile at him, and that left him with no options. Therefore... even though he often saw an official who looked like a worker running around, he did not dare to speak frankly to Brother Yilang. He was just a subordinate and had no way to stop his superior from doing anything. Moreover, Ruan Dongqian never used his official position to pressure others. He would just smile at him, and that left him with no options. Therefore... even though he often saw an official who looked like a worker running around, he did not dare to speak frankly to Brother Yilang.

So today, if it is only for a stranger among the common people, would you still be willing to lose your finger

I don't want to think about it anymore. It is not important what kind of person she is; what matters is that she must do what needs to be done

Oh no, someone is launching a surprise attack

She replied without a moment's hesitation: "If it can save a life, what is a small sacrifice?"

On that day, was he holding a man or a woman in his arms

"Clearly injured, yet moving so clumsily. Ruan Dong, where on earth did you spring from?"

I fear that the only men who occupy a place in her heart, apart from Ruan Woqiu, are her elder brother and Huaining. Upon reflecting on this, a trace of anger, unnoticed even by himself, flashed across Dongfang Fei's handsome face.

Dongfang Feiwen glared at her, feeling both angry and resentful. He wanted to thoroughly shatter her misguided sense of justice, leaving her disheartened and despondent, yet he also did not wish to see her weak and helpless. Hmph, she only shows her helplessness in front of her adoptive brother, doesn't she

"Sir, there won't be only you in the small house tonight, will there?" The grandson, unsure, did not know whether he should speak.

The East does not take it lightly. "Without me, given the slow pace of the local government, it is likely that the original culprit would not be caught even in three years. Winter, you people of the Ruan family always emphasize fairness and justice. If Ruan Woqiu had not resigned from his official position, he would probably be saying the same thing now. After he went to Yingkang to engage in business, I must say I am very regretful; a good official has turned into a slick-tongued merchant." Seeing her struggle to hide her astonishment, he raised his handsome brows. "Do you think I do not know that he moved from Yongchang to Yingkang City? You underestimate me too much; in this world, as long as I want something, there is nothing I cannot obtain." He leaned closer to her small face and smiled, "You and Ruan Woqiu are only distant relatives, yet your worried expression about him makes me doubt what kind of relationship you really have with him."