Hua Chao Fei was not an absolutely good person. He was flamboyant in his actions and clear in his likes and dislikes. He had saved people, but killed more.
He took over Feng Ming Lou at the age of twelve. If he had been soft-hearted, he would have been devoured long ago. In the martial arts world, those who loved him wished him alive, and those who hated him wished him dead.
Xie Jia Yan saved his life when he was twelve, and Hua Chao Fei had been grateful ever since. If it were about repaying a debt, he had already done so.
He was helping him now only out of friendship.
"In that case, Da Wei and Tubo are bound to go to war," Xie Jia Yan said with some concern.
"I would love to kill Ba Ze Bu for you, but that brat is very vigilant and has many experts around him. If I don't have absolute certainty, I won't make a move," Hua Chao Fei said, without any hint of regret.
There were too many things one couldn't achieve in life. If one regretted every single one, how could they possibly live?
"Ba Ze Bu's rise to power indicates that many families in Tubo share his views. Although Ba Ze Yi was favored by the King of Tubo back then, he was not supported by the major families. I fear they have been colluding for some time," Xie Jia Yan said.
Hua Chao Fei nodded. Ba Ze Bu had married Mi Sang Bo's daughter, and Mi Sang Bo was the main general who had attacked Da Wei back then.
Xie Jia Yan fell silent. Unless Tubo fell into large-scale internal strife, war with Da Wei was inevitable. Tubo had suffered a great defeat back then, ceded land, paid reparations, and retreated one hundred li beyond Yumenguan. This was a humiliation for them, and after years of dormancy, they would surely come with full force this time.
Since it was unavoidable, it was better to prepare early.
Seeing how worried he was, Hua Chao Fei couldn't help but advise, "What does the state of the world have to do with you? You're not going to take that position anyway. Let it be chaotic. If you were willing to fight for it, I would give my life to kill Ba Ze Bu for you."
Xie Jia Yan said sternly, "When the world is in chaos, it is the common people who suffer. You have also experienced hardship and displacement, so you know how cruel your words are."
"Jia Yan, I don't have your compassionate heart. I've been through the rain. It's already a great act of kindness not to tear up others' umbrellas. You're doing so much, and that person will probably be even more suspicious of you," Hua Chao Fei felt it was not worth it for him.
Sending Ye Fei Sheng to his side was ostensibly for protection, but in reality, it was to monitor him, for fear that he would gain too much status among the scholars of Jiangnan and become the next Cui family.
He was kind-hearted, and though he could barely protect himself, he sent Ye Fei Sheng back to the capital, clearly fearing that Ye Fei Sheng would be implicated by him.
Xie Jia Yan gave a bitter smile. "Don't worry, in half a year at most, I can leave Jiangzhou. By then, the court will appoint another scholar to take over the academy's affairs."
Hua Chao Fei scoffed, "Working for others' benefit."
Xie Jia Yan fell silent. He still had to write a letter to Ming Jing, asking him to make arrangements early, otherwise, the tragedy of that year would repeat itself.
...
After the Apricot Blossom Banquet, the most lively event in the capital was the selection of female officials by the Six Ministries. The candidates were all from noble families, as commoners mostly couldn't even recognize their own names, let alone access those books.
First the Spring Examination, then the selection of female officials. The temples had been receiving a lot of incense offerings lately, and it was said that the price of incense had tripled.
Yu Ming Yue leaned back in her rocking chair, leisurely munching on an apple. Yu Miao Yan, seeing her like this, was a little anxious. "Sixth Sister, you should really look at your books. The exam is in a few days."
The various ministries had already posted the exam content and scope. Although it was not as strict as the Spring Examination, which lasted nine days, it was by no means simple. Many people gave up after seeing the notice.
"You're so worried about me. You're getting married in three days. Have you prepared everything?" Yu Ming Yue casually handed an apple to Yu Miao Yan.
Yu Miao Yan put it back. She was trying to lose weight these past two days. Her mother said she had gained quite a bit of weight recently and her waist was not slender enough.
Although plumpness was considered beauty in Da Wei, it was the waist that should be plump, not the entire body. She needed to slim down.
"The wet nurses and the others are in charge. Didn't you say it's just moving to a different place to live, with a few more strangers? When you think of it that way, there's not much to pack," Yu Miao Yan had indeed been nervous before. After being comforted by Yu Ming Yue, she had spent her days eating, drinking, and having fun with her, which was why she had gained weight.
Yu Ming Yue raised an eyebrow. "Are you not afraid of your future mother-in-law setting rules for you anymore?"
"Didn't you say you would stand up for me? What, are you going back on your word?" Yu Miao Yan teased.
"Don't worry. Once I enter the Dali Temple, if your mother-in-law bullies you, I'll have them all arrested and brought to the Dali Temple for a day trip, how about that?"
"I think that's a great idea!"
The two of them finished speaking and burst into laughter together. The laughter drifted away with the spring breeze on the afternoon. Yu Miao Yan's carefree and leisurely days of occasional bickering and playful arguments with her sisters in the boudoir were also coming to an end.
On the ninth day of the third month in the nineteenth year of Yong An, all matters were auspicious and all taboos were lifted. Yu Miao Yan was married on this day.
The Duke's mansion was bustling. Master Yu the Second was a master of social skills and handled such occasions with ease. For the first time since his birth, Master Yu the Second felt a sense of being the master of the house.
He chatted and laughed while greeting guests. Yu Ming Chuan also looked at his father with new respect for the first time.
Yu Ming Yue was very pleased. That's right, a family should excel in their respective strengths and work together for the prosperity of the clan.
It was wonderful.
Yu Miao Yan didn't cry when the wet nurse spoke auspicious words while doing her hair. She didn't cry when she bid farewell to her parents. However, her eyes reddened when she said goodbye to her sisters.
When they were together, they bickered and competed for favor, but when it was time to part, they were the most reluctant to do so. After getting married, they wouldn't be able to see each other whenever they wanted or bicker whenever they pleased.
"Don't cry, or your makeup will be ruined and scare the groom," Yu Ming Yue whispered playfully.
The tears that had been on the verge of falling from Yu Miao Yan's eyes were instantly dispelled. She couldn't help but laugh out loud. "You mischievous girl."
Amidst the sound of firecrackers, Yu Miao Yan got into the bridal sedan chair. Madam Yu the Second only dared to wipe away her tears after the sedan chair had left. Her future path would be her own to tread.
Cui Shi couldn't help but sigh, "You're about to come of age. Your marriage should indeed be settled."
"It really should be settled. If I become a female official, even fewer people will be worthy of me. Mother, you must hurry." Yu Ming Yue said with great seriousness.
Cui Shi poked Yu Ming Yue's forehead with her finger. "You, you are indeed a mischievous girl."
Marriage was no trivial matter. It wasn't as simple as saying you wanted to find someone. There were still the steps of proposing, asking for the name, obtaining the auspicious date, presenting the betrothal gifts, and setting the wedding date. All of this would take more than a year. This girl was clearly just trying to placate her.
Don't think that her mother didn't know. Her heart was all in Jiangzhou.
Scholar Xie was indeed excellent, but she didn't know what his thoughts were. It was not appropriate for the woman's side to speak first in such matters.
"Mother, I still have several older sisters ahead of me. Why don't you practice your skills on them first and get Third Sister and Fifth Sister engaged? When you have experience, you'll definitely be able to choose the best for me," Yu Ming Yue said obsequiously, rubbing and massaging Cui Shi's back, afraid that Cui Shi would really arrange her marriage.
The man she loved was the best man in the world, and no one could compare to him. As for herself, she naturally had to be the best woman in the world to be worthy of him.