Chapter 54 Take Your Time

He had been talking about his own vexations, so why had he suddenly brought up Qi Yuanfang? Could it be that his worries were still tied to Lady Huaiyi?

Jing Hu suppressed the irritation rising in her chest. "I have met him. Yesterday, while following my third brother and third sister-in-law to the bonfire feast down the mountain, I even exchanged a few words with Senior Brother Qi."

It was more than just a few words; they had talked quite a bit. She had asked Qi Yuanfang numerous questions about him.

Ke Mingxu continued, "Then has the little county princess ever considered, given Yuanfang's current standing and qualifications, how he managed to come to Jianye to attend the Longevity Autumn Hunt?"

She was just about to say that he was also a civil official, when she remembered that he had not traveled alongside the reigning Emperor, but had arrived in Jianye only yesterday.

Lady Huaiyi was merely a county lady, and even her own journey here had been a struggle. Where would she ever find the capability to bring her husband along?

Jing Hu shook her head.

Ke Mingxu gently offered clarification. "It was His Majesty who summoned him to Jianye. Over the past month, he made a trip to Zhengzhou."

"The River Administration Office is located in Zhengzhou, and Yuanfang serves as an official in the Ministry of Works. This time, he accompanied the Fourth Prince to inspect the condition of the Yellow River dikes."

Jing Hu might not have applied herself to serious studies, but she was no fool. It did not take long for her to put the pieces together.

"The worries that have plagued Master Ke for days past concern matters of the Yellow River? Is His Majesty planning to make a move against those in charge of the river administration?"

She knew that almost every year, refugees fleeing from floods made their way to Yanjing; she had seen them within the city walls herself. Back then, she had asked her eldest brother why such things had to happen.

He had told her that if dikes could not be maintained properly, it was inevitably due to either incompetence or greed.

The one in charge of building and repairing the Yellow River dikes was the Director-General of River Administration, a position currently held by Marquis Wuning, Zhang Zhiqin. He was also the Empress's younger brother and the nominal maternal uncle of the Third Prince.

The moment the Third Prince was mentioned, a glimmer of understanding dawned upon her. He harbored ambitions to contest the Crown Prince for the throne.

The Third Prince's birth mother was the recently vindicated Consort Yuanrong of the Qi clan, while the true culprit behind the murder of Empress Yuanli was the Empress of the Zhang clan.

Using members of the Qi family to attack members of the Zhang family—first targeting the Empress, and then her maternal kin.

Yet Qi Yuanfang was merely a minor official in the Ministry of Works; if he truly wielded such influence, it was only because he was riding the east wind provided by His Majesty.

This was a good thing. Even though countless errors had already been committed, being able to turn back from a misguided path could ultimately spare future generations of commoners from the bitter suffering of displacement and broken families.

Ke Mingxu had expected that he would need to explain the situation to her at length. He had not anticipated that someone who usually appeared carefree and only interested in food and leisure could also grasp matters of statecraft.

Then again, she bore the surname Jing, after all.

"When the Yellow River breaches its dikes, it leads not only to the displacement of the common people; every year, corvée laborers are recruited for river works, and these laborers are prime young men—meaning countless fertile fields are left uncultivated. Annual repairs are no easy task, and every year, many laborers lose their lives in the process."

"From the tenth year of Zhaoyong down to the present day, Marquis Wuning has occupied the post of Director-General of River Administration for a full eight years. Tens of thousands of silver taels have flowed out of the national treasury, failing to forge dikes capable of withstanding the Yellow River's fury, yet constructing countless lavish gardens of intoxication and dreams for corrupt parasites."

"In the past, I had no opportunity to come into contact with so many of these things; I merely did my best to use my own meager strength to help those in need. But now, by the Crown Prince's side, and by His Majesty's side, I confront far more of these harsh realities, leaving me all the more helpless and disillusioned."

Jing Hu did not speak. She simply listened quietly as he poured out his heart to her, perhaps unburdening himself to her, or perhaps simply to the empty air.

Ke Mingxu continued, "Since April, I have remained within the Hanlin Academy, debating scholarship with elder scholars and assisting them in compiling books. While compiling books undoubtedly benefits a thousand generations, it is not a practical undertaking that brings immediate relief to the common people of the present day."

"Yet Yuanfang, young though he is, has already been able to accomplish such fine deeds for the people."

"Perhaps I, too, should seriously consider seeking a posting outside the capital, leaving Yanjing to accomplish some tangible good."

Many of the things he had said earlier, laden with profound sorrow and helplessness, had struck a chord within Jing Hu. Yet those matters were ultimately somewhat distant from her, and she had never considered that she might actually be able to do something herself.

Yet upon hearing his final words, she could not help feeling a rising wave of anxiety.

"Will Master Ke leave for the provinces to serve as an official?"

He answered instinctively, "Do not be anxious. It will still be a year or two yet. The book in my hands is not yet fully compiled; I cannot abandon it halfway." The moment the words left his lips, however, a trace of regret followed.

He knew she would be anxious, but that did not mean he wished to let her know he was entirely aware of what she was thinking. He had already reached his twentieth year, whereas she was still nothing more than a child.

If she were to realize that he was quite clear on her sentiments toward him, and yet had never kept her at a respectful distance, given her temperament, her pursuit of him would likely redouble.

The world was harsh toward women, and this would not bode well for her.

She seemed completely oblivious to having said anything amiss; instead, she simply breathed a sigh of relief, and asked him with a somewhat pitiful tone, "Then where will Master Ke go to take up his post?"

"That is not something I can determine on my own either; it depends entirely on what vacancies the Ministry of Personnel has. For me, truly, anywhere is fine, so long as the common people there have need of me."

Perhaps the common people anywhere would need him, but right there within the city of Yanjing was someone who needed him most of all.

After telling her "do not be anxious," he had a fleeting moment of awkwardness, and she had watched him closely enough to catch it. She had always been adept at discerning the emotions of others; when she sometimes seemed indifferent, it was only because she did not care for the person in question.

Yet Ke Mingxu was the person she cared for most in this world, aside from her parents and brothers. It did not take long for her to guess what he was thinking.

Jing Hu could still excuse herself by claiming she was young and ignorant—an advantage she had always relied upon—but he could not. He had never once rejected her. To be honest, she did not know why that was, but she refused to believe it was because he had lost his heart to her.

For a man who had reached manhood at twenty to lose his heart to a young maiden who had not even celebrated her coming-of-age banquet would be altogether too absurd.

And so, over these past few years, she had simply wanted him to know at all times that there was a little county princess in Yanjing named Jing Hu who had always liked him very much.

Judging by his performance today, she had done a commendable job, for Ke Mingxu was indeed aware of it. Jing Hu did not mind if he knew her feelings, provided he did not start hiding from her because of it.

As for whatever came after, they could take their time and plan it step by step.

Jing Hu had no desire to dwell on the topic any longer. He had said a year or two, but it could just as easily be three, four, or five years. Even if he were to leave and take up a post in the provinces, she was determined to secure their betrothal first, come what may.

Right on cue, Huifeng pushed the door open. "Teacher, County Princess, the kitchen has sent over the midday meal. Shall I have them set the table now?"

Jing Hu looked toward Ke Mingxu. She had no wish to return to her own quarters, where only the clumsy Doulü awaited her.

He smiled at Huifeng. "Set the table now. The little county princess presumably does not enjoy eating cold food."

So she was allowed to stay and share the meal with him? Jing Hu looked at him and broke into a radiant smile.