Chapter 8

She always appears to be full of energy, but after all, she is a young woman. Despite feeling exhausted several times, she still forces herself to maintain her spirits while moving among the workers. She is merely a deputy minister of the Ministry of Revenue, not a foreman.

The coachman opened the door, and indeed, it was Dongfang Fei, whom I had not seen for over a year.

If I die, you should accompany her. It will be difficult for her once she is married

Lu Dongqian, rest assured, I will not take action against you; in my eyes, you are insignificant. If you wish to be a fence-sitter, go ahead. If you can find any dirt on me, then come forth. Ha ha, dedicating oneself wholeheartedly, if you truly have that intention, even as a mere minor official, you can still accomplish something. How many years have you been in the cabinet? What have you actually done?

The East has never experienced such an infuriating situation, yet he feels no anger within; rather, it is now, after hearing the rumors, that he feels the most relaxed.

Whenever he thought about what the two of them were doing in the pitch-black night, an inexplicable rage surged within him. Even if that scoundrel didn't understand romance, it was still unacceptable to let an outsider act recklessly!

Do not say that Ruan Dong is a woman; even if she were a man, it would still be inappropriate to recklessly accept gifts. Should she accept whatever is given to her?

Dong Qian really does not dare to ... ...

Feng Yilang glanced at her oddly and followed closely behind with Huaining.

I was mentally prepared to follow her into danger. The old man once said that my life would be buried in her hands. The reason he took me up the mountain to learn the craft was for this purpose, and I do not care. Without Ruan Donggu, I am merely a nameless beggar; with Ruan Donggu, Huaining at least had a brief moment of brilliance

Upon hearing this, Ruan Dong immediately lost his composure and eagerly raised his head to look at the woman who had just emerged from the carriage

"East Qian, do you even deserve to be called by that name?" Dong Fang was quite displeased, his thin lips curling into a cold smile: "Do you really think I am unaware? The State Duke has brought Cao Tai Xue into the palace and has gained the Emperor's favor, all to eliminate me. At that time, they will first undermine my authority, then remove me from the position of Minister of Rites. And you? What benefits have they promised you? The position of Chief Minister?"

Deputy Minister Ruan, you have truly devoted yourself to this project

She shrugged. "Of course... Do you really want to copy it exactly?"

However, playful sarcasm emanated from within the carriage

Big, adult

I, your humble servant Ruan Dongqian, truly deserve to be punished. I did not know that the esteemed Prime Minister traveled a thousand miles to arrive here, and I failed to offer a proper welcome. I implore you to impose your judgment upon me

If there were capable individuals in the court, why would she need to hold multiple positions

She smiled radiantly, and although she possessed the spirited charm of a boy, there was also a touch of captivating femininity. As she smiled and asked him for support to rise, unexpectedly, he suddenly pulled her forcefully, causing her to collide into his embrace

The sharp Danfeng eyes stared at her fiercely, leaving her momentarily speechless from the pain

Silence equates to a negative response. Huaining is a person of remarkable talent, but unfortunately, he is as reticent as a closed gourd

At that time, he was laughing uncontrollably. What was Ruan Dong thinking? Did she intend to give a gift to the Prime Minister, or was it meant for Brother Dongfang?

I am not sleepy... She touched her nose and recalled how Yi Lang often reminded her to understand the importance of maintaining distance; being too close to the workers would only allow them to take advantage of her. "Alright, I will just squint my eyes."

"Although I am incompetent, the Minister of Revenue, Ruan, is not much better..." Lu Dongqian muttered in discontent, feeling that the Chief Minister was comparing the two of them. Especially since there had been rumors of a close relationship between the Chief Minister and Ruan Dongqian earlier this year, he felt even more that the Chief Minister regarded him as a useless person, all because of that Ruan Dongqian.

Huaining remained silent

Is it a painting? Layer upon layer of squares, seven layers? Adult, do you want to solve the puzzle?" Casually flipping to the next page, I see several little people swaggering down the street, with a sun above them. On the far left, there is an ugly creature, missing a finger just like her, hiding in what looks like a square house.

The woman was approximately thirty-eight or thirty-nine years old, with a strikingly beautiful yet somewhat handsome appearance, dressed in the attire of a merchant's daughter. Upon seeing Ruan Donggu, she found it difficult to avert her gaze.

This kind of man is beyond her understanding. Clearly burdened with the infamous reputation of disrupting the dynasty, he is nonetheless different from the corrupt officials she has encountered. Is it merely because of his capriciousness that he creates turmoil in the court and acts as he pleases? She scratches her head, truly unable to comprehend his style

Since they are outsiders, there is no need to interfere further

Haha, can a fan truly represent your temperament? I have heard that you are originally from Chang County. Ten years ago, Chang County suffered a disaster, and those who left did so, while those who remained only have a vague impression of you at the age of fifteen or sixteen. You once lived in the home of Ruan Woqiu for three months, and then you went to the capital to take the imperial examination, is that correct

I want to go to a brothel, and it certainly won't be just for drinking... Seeing her at a loss for words, he raised an eyebrow: "Ruan Donggu, are you jealous?"

Dongfang Fei looked at her intently for a moment, then chuckled softly and reached out his hand towards her

Food is served! Food is served!

Ruan Dong casually waved her hand at them, then winked and smiled at Feng Chun. Just as she was about to get into the carriage, she turned around and snatched Huai Ning's bowl, saying: "You all go ahead and get busy. Remember to pay attention to the weather; it's about to rain. Evacuate the workers first, don't push yourselves too hard." After saying this, she jumped into the carriage

Brother Dongfang, this is the carriage... Alright." She shrugged her shoulders, feeling that being embraced by him like this was somewhat intimate yet uncomfortable. "You are the first person to hold me like this, but fortunately, Brother Dongfang, you are holding me from the front; if it were from behind..."

While drafting the memorial, the group of assistants stood by, exchanging glances in silence, none daring to speak up

I am not hungry. Dongfang looked at her as she contentedly ate her lunch, with only a few dishes left, while the rice was abundant, reminding him of her particularly impressive appetite from last year

Feng Yilang remained silent for a long time before softly saying, "I understand"

She was momentarily taken aback, then burst into laughter. "My lord, my greeting of 'good morning' at the Ministry of Finance has surprisingly reached the Ministry of Rites." After laughing joyfully a couple more times, she said, "It is already past noon, so naturally, I cannot say 'good morning.' Good afternoon, my lord!" Her voice remained strong, though with the passage of time, it carried a slightly soft and husky quality.

"Only a palace could manage such tricks on such a difficult road, wouldn't you agree, Brother Yilang?" she laughed heartily, walking towards the carriage against the wind

"Huaining, you are overthinking it," Feng Yilang said calmly

"Deputy Minister Ruan, it has been a long time since I have heard you say good morning."

After the shock, Dongfang Fei's complexion gradually turned pale, and he gritted his teeth and asked

Ruan Dong was initially perplexed, but then suddenly realized, overjoyed. "It's them! Yes! Brother Dongfang, it's definitely them! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, I heard someone call him Seventh Brother, Seven Layers, he must be Cheng Qi!" When she was young, she was lazy and didn't learn characters with Huaining, and whenever she encountered unfamiliar characters, she would simply doodle! Those who cannot see the sun have not learned characters, fortunately, she can understand them! Otherwise, wouldn't she have missed out! Those who cannot see the sun have not learned characters, fortunately, she can understand them! Otherwise, wouldn't she have missed out!

She scratched her head and laughed, saying: "Brother Dongfang, I was really scared at first. That night, when I entered the room, I thought he was Yilang... Of course, he wasn't. Yilang doesn't like to touch people, so when he suddenly hugged me from behind..." She suddenly stopped speaking, gazing at the arms that were holding her.

I remember... the first phase of the flood control project was completed last month, wasn't it? In the midst of his anger, he remained calm and summoned his aides. "Cheng Ruyu, I have matters to attend to and will be taking a long leave from the capital, so I leave the cabinet in your hands."

Well, it seems that Huaining may not be able to join us, as I have noticed several young ladies who are fond of him...

She did not expect him to start with this question, and smiled as she said

No one would have thought that another Dong Qian would actually be one of Dong Fang Fei's weaknesses

The sharp Danfeng eyes glared. "I am asking you a question, do you dare not answer truthfully?"

Respecting teachers does not imply they are extraordinary beings; even if they possess knowledge of divination and other esoteric arts, it does not necessarily mean they are...

Well, Eastern brother, let me give you an example. It's like when you go to a brothel, and you clearly ordered a girl to accompany you for drinks, but it ends up being spread that you were engaging in intimate relations with the girl in that kind of place. Yes, it's just like that.

What to use? What tricks can bribery have? If others accept bribes, he wouldn't care at all, but when it comes to the matter concerning Ruan Donggu, he always shows interest

Dongfang could not help but let go of her hand, revealing a mysterious and deceptive smile, and said

I indeed stayed at Ruan Woqiu's house for three months

She merely smiled as she spoke, yet did not sigh. Does this young lady not understand the meaning of a sigh? Her excitement at meeting the Ruan family pales in comparison to the ecstasy of learning that a commoner has a future. What, after all, is she thinking in her heart?

Ruan Dong regained his composure and turned to Feng Chun, cupping his hands and smiling lightly as he said, "Chief Feng, long time no see, I hope you have been well?" The usual brightness was absent, leaving only a childlike shyness.

"Along the way, I heard the Prime Minister mention that your left hand..." Gently brushing over the missing corner where the fifth finger should have been, Fengchun trembled as she asked, "How could this happen?"

She cast an interesting glance at him, preventing Feng Yilang from approaching Huaining, and smilingly extended her arm for him to support her. He seemed oblivious to this and instead took hold of her right hand as he dismounted the carriage

Eastern Fei Hengsheng: "Do you think I allow him to grow powerful under my very eyes for no reason? If you have the ability to bring me down, then come at me; I would welcome it. " His demeanor is arrogant, completely disregarding the increasingly powerful national uncle, and the decision to leave the capital has already been made, leaving no room for others to dissuade him

Ruan Dong immediately understood the implication of his words upon hearing them ... It turned out that he personally brought Feng Chun here so that Feng Chun could see her in person, in order to facilitate the future deception ... ? ... At that time, did I really not hide anything from him?

Ruan Donggu, recount that night in a thorough and detailed manner! There must be no omissions whatsoever

The East enjoys with its eyes closed, saying with a hint of sarcasm

She was completely baffled as she received it; the crooked and messy handwriting on it was even uglier than hers. No, it wasn't just ugly, it was...

Ruan Donggu, do you know what consequences you will face for treating me this way

How to collect

What?

If given the opportunity, he would still kill that male lover

"Ichiro, are you still angry?" she asked, closing her eyes

"Is he not guilty?" His fingers lightly brushed across her cheek, gliding over the corner of her mouth, his expression somewhat displeased: "The only crime he committed was that he should not have allowed you to inadvertently fall into his trap." She entered the court at a young age, and when it came to matters of love between men and women, she could be considered a complete fool; if someone were to deliberately provoke her, this silly girl would hardly be able to evade it.

"It is bribery!" Lu Dongqian thought disdainfully, but respectfully said, "Last month, I heard that some officials were secretly bribing him, and they actually had the audacity to use... use..."

Ruan Dong made a funny face and mischievously said

She obediently followed Feng Yilang to a tree further away. Stealing a glance at him, she noticed that although his expression was calm, she also knew that since a certain night two months ago, Yilang had hardly left her side.

If the adults require an inspection, please allow this official to accompany them

Ruan Dong immediately opened his eyes and, upon seeing the horse-drawn carriage, exclaimed: "It is Dongfang Fei!"

The roaring river waves mixed with the rising and falling shouts, and Ruan Dong responded with a sound, just as she was about to go get the food, she was suddenly grabbed from behind. She turned around to see Huaining and Feng Yilang, and smiled.

Huaining shrugged. "The old man also said that in the winter of her nineteenth year, she would lose a part of her body. Although it happened a day late, it ultimately came to pass on the first day of the following year." He raised his head and looked directly at Feng Yilang. "Feng Yilang, if I truly leave in the future and no one is left to protect her, you will find it even more difficult to manage. If it really comes to that, at least drag her away from that place of turmoil."

Ruan Dong, upon hearing that he had come specifically to bring up old matters, could not help but feel a sense of vigilance and nodded in response

Have the adults finished their meal

"I was busy with official duties and forgot to share the good news with Brother Ruan..." Suddenly, she saw Fengchun shedding tears, and she secretly thought it was not good, assuming that the long-awaited reunion had caused Fengchun to lose her composure. She hurriedly tried to engage in conversation again, but Fengchun suddenly grasped her clasped hands.

"You must see clearly, Ruan Dongqian is already twenty-five, isn't he? The Ruan Dongqian before you looks to be just over twenty. If you misidentify him, you would be committing a crime against the sovereign. Do you understand the seriousness of this?" Dongfang Fei said in a deep voice

Pain? If you have the courage to seek pleasure, can you not endure this little pain

Dongfang was initially taken aback by her irrelevant response, but later realized that she had completely misunderstood his hint

Brother Dongfang, do you wish to recreate the appearance of that time

"Deputy Minister Ruan, I have always enjoyed giving gifts to others. Tell me, what gift do you think I will give you this year?"

Imperial City, Cabinet

Brother Dongfang, it happened just like that. I accidentally threw him over my shoulder, and when he fell to the floor, he hit his head. Additionally, my strength was too much, causing several of his ribs to break. He was unconscious the entire night, and I had no choice but to carry him to bed and wait for dawn. " She said innocently, "I have already lightened my strength to prevent the same tragic incident from happening again.

May I ask you to accompany me and provide a detailed explanation of the progress of the project? You are merely a Deputy Minister of Revenue, not a foreman. I have already read everything clearly in the official document you delivered to the capital.

With just a gentle press, a faint cracking sound emanated from his hand bones. Even though he felt the same pain, his handsome face showed no signs of change

Feng Yilang lowered his gaze and saw that Dong Gu had moved her left hand, which had lost its little finger. He was slightly surprised and was about to check if she had woken up when the sound of hooves suddenly approached from a distance.

"Since I entered the court, everyone has spoken with caution and fear, deeply afraid of making a mistake, yet you, Minister Ruan... still remain the same." With a stern expression, he said, "Extend your left hand."

Just like this? That sound seems to carry a hint of playfulness, along with an indescribable emotion

Haha! She chuckled lightly, "By the time the project is finished, I will be around twenty-five, right? If I really have changed by then, Ichiro, you must take me away from the officialdom, so as not to harm the common people. If by that time you and Huaining have not yet married and had children, let us find a secluded place and live together in a simple dwelling, the three of us."

"Haha, very good! This is the first time I have tasted the bitterness of unrequited love." He moved to sit beside her, and she did not seem to mind. This Ruan Donggu truly did not distinguish between men and women. He leaned closer to her face, calmly picked a grain of rice from the corner of her mouth, and, in front of her, with an indifferent expression, brought it to his own mouth and gently held it before speaking: "Donggu, I can turn a blind eye to what happened that night, but let me make a bet with you: if you dare to be alone with that male companion again, he will meet a fate worse than death." His tone was as natural as his expression, but what he said always came true, and he rarely took back his words.

Feng Yilang imagined the beautiful scenery she had sketched and smiled, saying, "Alright."

"Ruan Donggu, is it still the engineering that you cannot forget?"

"Brother Dongfang, if the one in the carriage were the Prime Minister, I would certainly not dare to offend in such a manner." She smiled brightly, having not felt this happy in a long time. "Now, sharing in my joy, is my elder brother for a day; what is there that I would not dare to do? Moreover, if Brother Dongfang truly wanted to deal with me, I would not fear your ambush from behind. If you wish to have me torn apart by five horses, it would also be in front of a large crowd."

"No," she said truthfully. "I have no interest in seeking pleasure. If you, Brother Dongfang, enjoy this aspect, you need not worry; I will not compete with you for the ladies."

The tall man's palm completely enveloped her four fingers, and he calmly inquired about the matter at hand

Before I left the capital, I specifically asked the attendant to check your rented accommodation to see if there was anything that needed to be brought along. He found this item on the table; you understand what it is, don't you

What is there to prevent it

"This ... ... he has stayed." As soon as the words were spoken, he suddenly felt that he was using all his strength to grip her left hand.

Bribery? I am not quite sure about that. Over the past year, I have received several official documents, and although they were presented by the Deputy Minister of Revenue, it is evident from the handwriting that they were penned by her brother-in-law. This year, during the festival, he also received a "generous gift" from Ruan Donggu. After looking at it for a long time, he felt that this foolish girl had a truly chaotic style; the grand gift presented to the esteemed Chief Minister was far inferior to what the Imperial Physician received. It was only later, when mentioned by the attendant, that he realized this grand gift was a local specialty.

She slightly turned her eyes and obediently extended her left hand

So, the people of the Ruan family have seen Ruan Dongqian before he entered the capital for the last time? Look who I have brought for you! Ruan family's steward, come out and take a look, is this Ruan Dongqian the same young man you saw last time?

"Haha, it's just a small matter, Fengchun, please don't cry." She felt a bit embarrassed and simply embraced Fengchun. She was slightly shorter than Fengchun, making it look somewhat inappropriate, like a young man hugging a married woman.

He gazed at her intently, hardly missing any subtle changes in her demeanor

After Huaining finished saying the most he would ever say in this lifetime, he buried his head and continued to pick at the winter dishes he loved, consuming them all.

She was about to raise her head, but he leaned down a moment earlier to whisper in her ear

"It would be good to go to Huaining," Feng Yilang said gently. "My lord can take the opportunity to take a short nap under the tree."

"Your Excellency..." Lu Dongqian said with a trembling voice: "Dongqian... Dongqian has no intention of betraying Your Excellency. Regarding this memorial, Dongqian was completely unaware..."

Feng Chun looked at her handsome yet beautiful face with reluctance, choked with emotion

I am fine said Dongfang Fei through gritted teeth

"Using ... ... using men ... ..." Lu Dongqian expressed his disgust

His gaze slowly lowered, finally confronting Lu Dongqian before him. Did Ruan Dong accept a bribe? He truly wanted to see the expression on her face at that moment of accepting the bribe—was it one of unwillingness or was she weeping bitterly? He genuinely wished to witness her setbacks, yet at the same time, he did not want to see her suffer. This complex feeling gradually became clear, yet he chose to ignore it.

The car door was immediately closed by the figure in green from the outside

In the future, if you are still unmarried and we can both withdraw unscathed, let us find a secluded place to live together

Ruan Dong smiled and said, "It is an honor for me that the Chief Minister is able to review this."

A solitary man and a solitary woman should not share the same room, but what could possibly happen when men are together in a carriage? Isn't it better than sharing a bed? Ruan Dongqian's sworn brother, you did not protect your family head back then, is it not a bit late for you to want to protect her now? Come here, Ruan Dongqian, do not make me lose my patience

Huaining watched her fall asleep, sat down expressionlessly, and buried his head in his meal

What is this thing called Ruan Dong Gu? How dare you accept such a gift! Dong Fang scolded in anger, if he finds out who sent the gift, he will make that bastard pay dearly for it

It turns out that the East does have weaknesses, but their weaknesses are unexpected

She casually sat cross-legged on the flat muddy ground and then rested her head on his shoulder. Feng Yilang was slightly taken aback and was about to remind her to be mindful of the onlookers, but then he recalled that she had only fallen asleep at three in the morning last night, so he chose to remain silent

"I dare not!" Lu Dongqian said somewhat weakly, "If I, as a humble official, were to one day become the Chief Minister, I would certainly... certainly work for the welfare of the people, serve the Emperor, and dedicate myself to the state..."

Although the cart was not small, when he fell awkwardly to the ground, he still collided with the door of the cart, producing a loud noise. The attendant outside in blue called out: "My lord?"

Although Ruan Dongqian is responsible for the flood control project in a different location, he still accepts bribes

The implication is that she now understands that there is no place free from corruption, even projects involving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people are recklessly mishandled, with nothing but incompetent individuals sent to reap the benefits

No, I am not angry. I am just concerned about how outsiders perceive you

Hmph, how dare a mere boneless Lu Dongqian compare himself to Ruan Donggu?

In fact, it is not really a big deal

Adult, it is now the plum rain season. At this time last year, I did not anticipate the heavy rain pouring down, causing the river water to rise dramatically, nearly ruining the slowly progressing project. This year, with experience, I must be cautious.

"Which reckless fool dares to use a person as a gift?" After a pause, he thought, "It stands to reason that Minister Ruan is clever enough not to accept a useless gift."

Feng Yilang listened to his rejection and did not say much more. It was originally an impossible dream. Dong Gu's nature was passionate and proactive; even if she resigned from her official position, she was only suited to live in a big city, helping the weak and supporting the downtrodden. However... it was precisely because she had disguised herself as a man to enter the court that, in order to completely erase the danger of being recognized in the future, she could only endure a life of obscurity in a small town.

The double-headed carriage, with red-painted wheels and a gilded body, adorned with noble insignia, who in the capital is responsible for this project? Clearly, during the winter, the embezzled funds are being funneled upwards without alteration, and there are also Eastern powers backing it in the imperial city, so why do officials travel a thousand miles to come here

I am merely fulfilling my duty" she said with a slight smile, lowering her gaze

She was a bit confused, but her expression did not change. With a twist of her wrist, she turned the tables and pressed down on his palm instead.

"It has been a while, Lord Ruan. On that day, my young master was eagerly awaiting your good news, but to our surprise, you have since gone silent. We had thought you to be an ungrateful person."

Brother Dongfang detected her unusual tone and pressed for answers

Suddenly, he burst into laughter

"Adult." Feng Yilang called out softly from behind her

Brother Ichiro, I will help you take it along the way. It won't do to be slow; I am quite hungry.

He retracted his overly eager gaze and said

"Sir, this action is detrimental to the reputation of Chief Steward Feng, given the circumstances of being a lone man and a solitary woman," Feng Yilang gently reminded.

How is it? Does the foreman lack experience?

It turns out that the adult has come specifically to deliver a gift, and I am truly filled with trepidation... This year, the adult has sent a black fan?" She raised her eyebrows, seemingly unconcerned.

"Dong Gu, do you understand what it means to like someone?" Without waiting for her response, he realized she had fallen asleep from exhaustion. Huaining brought over the food, and he quickly gestured for silence. Usually, when Dong Gu fell asleep without even eating, it indicated that she was truly worn out.

Who has the audacity to send a male companion to you

It is quite amusing to see a high-ranking official in such a predicament; even though she is the original culprit, Ruan Dong could not help but burst into laughter.

Although Dongfang Fei is exceptionally intelligent, he cannot discern the intentions of Feng Yilang. The power of the Grand Minister in the capital has expanded due to the Taoist Cao Taixue, and the officials in the court, like reeds swaying in the wind, have flocked to the Grand Minister. Dongfang Fei should be consolidating his influence in the capital, should he not

"Impossible." Huaining did not even lift his head.

Hearing him mention Ruan Donggu, Dongfang became intrigued and asked, "Is Ruan Dongqian like you? How so?"

"Sir, what are the preferences of Minister Ruan? Therefore... they send young men to Minister Ruan." After saying this, Lu Dongqian waited for a moment, but there was no response. He cautiously raised his head and was astonished to find that Dongfang Fei was showing a rare expression of surprise. "Your Excellency, the Chief Minister, were you not aware of this?"

Ruan Dong stared at him, and Xiu Rong revealed her anger. "My lord, do you still doubt my identity?"

"Don't eat it all, or Dong Gu will go hungry." Feng Yilang gently reminded, observing Huaining silently eating, specifically choosing the dishes that Dong Gu liked. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself and softly asked, "Huaining, do you have a girl you like?"

A middle-aged man in the group expressed his astonishment and quickly said: "My lord, you absolutely must not! The power of the national uncle is no longer what it used to be. The Emperor has Cao Taixue, whom he arranged, by his side. If you leave the capital now... if Dongfang Fei is defeated, a number of officials will lose their power as a result, and the cabinet will be the first to bear the brunt of it"

Ruan Dong, suppressing a smile, made a funny face and said

"Adult?" Qingyi inquired.

With a loud "pa!", the fan broke into two pieces

Where is he? Has he been sent back?

"Chief Feng!" Feng Yilang suddenly stepped forward with a joyful voice: "It is indeed you! After several years, you have not changed at all. Do you still remember us? My master once stayed at the Ruan family for several months to study diligently—"

Dongfang seemed more composed compared to last year. His gaze casually swept over the unfinished project. This area was merely a small part of the construction; as far as the eye could see, there were either the surging river waters or groups of workers transporting heavy objects, with the ground strewn with unsightly scars. It was truly hard to imagine that a frail woman had spent two long years in such a place

Lu Dongqian, who witnessed all of this, went from initial astonishment to a final inner ecstasy, almost unable to conceal the meticulous calculations evident on his face

"Wait a moment—" Feng Yichiro wants to stop.

Clearly, she should be regarded as a plaything, to be toyed with at will; yet, the human heart is difficult to fathom, and his capricious moods are such that even he himself cannot predict them.

"Is there a place for you to speak here?" Dongfang Fei reprimanded, his sharp gaze turning towards the steward of the Ruan family, Fengchun. "Do you see clearly? Who is in front of you?"

Dongfang let out a grunt, tossed aside the memorial, and casually asked:

Ruan Shilang, Ruan Donggu, whether male or not, whether female or not, I originally thought I wanted Ruan Shilang, but unexpectedly... I can't even let go of Ruan Donggu. Tell me, what should I do with you? I regard you as my rival, as the only one I can conquer. To have you become a boring bed warmer under the Eastern surname, I can't bear it, I truly can't bear it

Setting aside her appetite, she is indeed a young lady

"Eastern brother, may I ask what crime he has committed?" She did not realize that his actions were ambiguous, and merely thought that he had always been this way

She confessed, "That night, as soon as I entered the room, he hugged me from behind. I thought to myself, a person of integrity would never do such a thing, so..." She smiled brightly at him, leaving Dongfang Fei momentarily stunned. Then, she pushed her elbow forward, hearing his muffled grunt. Taking advantage of the moment he loosened his grip in pain, she lowered her body and threw the big man over her shoulder.

No, I accepted it. It is said that it was delivered to the room in the middle of the night while Minister Ruan was alone, and the male favorite only came out the next morning... Lu Dongqian confessed

No, it is not right. It is winter, and the officials from the capital have arrived

Dongfang Fei stared at her for a long time in the carriage before lazily extending his hand towards her

This is not the case. After you dictated the article, I became "deeply convinced" of your identity. However, you must understand that the project you are responsible for is under my supervision, and naturally, some may think you are my person. If they seek to trouble you, it would be difficult for them to vent their resentment towards me without pushing you to the brink of annihilation. Therefore, I must thoroughly confirm your identity, so that the Ruan family understands the gravity of the situation, to prevent them from denying it without cause and implicating me.

Ah, you know about this matter too... Truly, a scandal travels a thousand miles

What is this? The Eastern official lazily opened the memorial and quickly read through it, scanning ten lines at a glance. So many officials jointly petitioned that Cao Taixue has made contributions to the state and should be granted a title... What title should be conferred? He raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at the stiff Lu Dongqian. "Lu Dongqian, have I placed too much importance on you? I thought this wallflower of yours still had some use, that staying in the cabinet could provide me with leverage... And what has been the result? What have you accomplished in the past two years? This memorial was originally meant for the Emperor, yet it has now ended up in my hands. Tell me, as an official who originally intended to let you be, what should I do now?"

He embraced me from behind" she said, looking up to meet his gaze, speaking candidly

That is to say, if they could truly withdraw from the officialdom.

She smiled slightly upon hearing this and said, "It is common to lack experience. Workers only act according to the officials' expressions, and no one dares to speak up. I can only exchange time for experience."

"Brother Dongfang, you have hurt me." She changed her form of address without even blinking.

She raised her head and saw his "greedy snake eyes," then glanced at the rice bucket in her arms. "My lord, you must be hungry; I can really share some with you."

I see, I see... Unbeknownst to him, he has also fallen for her trap...

You are twenty-one this year, and I am truly worried...

Haha! The Eastern figure laughed twice in a nonchalant manner. "What a dedication to duty, I see you have always approached your work with such a mindset? I am truly moved to hear this..." It is indeed a world apart; if Ruan Dong had said such words, he would have felt a pang of desire, but when Lu Dongqian said them, he could only find it amusing

Tell me, even if today you are the Chief Minister, what do you wish to accomplish in this capacity

"Adult! Dong Qian does not dare!"

Ruan Dong did not pay attention to his intimacy, and from the corner of her eye, she seemed to notice that there was another woman in the car

Feng Chun's lips trembled slightly as she gazed into Ruan Dong's excited and candid eyes for a long while, before her eyes turned red. She softly said: "This is my home... the Ruan Dongqian that my young master once praised highly."

This lane was barely cleared on that day for the convenience of transporting stones. Normally, no ordinary carts would pass through here

"Why are you so agitated?" Dongfang glanced at her indifferently before getting into the car. "Come in, I have something to say to you."

They are all about the same, and then? asked Dongfang Fei calmly

Ruan Donggu, are you being a bit too indifferent? Can I also be so? Or do you, to some extent, have some feelings for me?" He asked gently, his brows filled with slight irritation. Seeing her look of confusion, he felt both annoyed and resentful towards her

Indeed. A solitary man and a solitary woman embracing is not good for anyone. Lord Ruan, you treat both men and women the same way, hmph, what do you think this is?

The first time I saw her, she resembled a rough and straightforward big boy. Last year, she was caught between a youth and a young girl, and this year... Her phoenix-like eyes swept over her handsome yet beautiful face, with delicate and smooth features that should have been soft and endearing, yet were framed by a pair of spirited and lively eyes.