Chapter 171: Ethical Principles

On the day Princess Leyang, Shen Zhiyi, left the capital for her marriage caravan, it was said that many people lined the streets to send her off, as her procession headed towards the northwest.

With her departure, the once-boisterous discussions about the marriage alliance gradually subsided.

In the capital, from the noble lords to the common people, everyone’s attention quickly turned to the upcoming imperial exams in the spring and the wedding of Prince Linzi, Shen Jie, to be held in April.

The previously unremarkable Ministry of Astronomy, the Fang family residence, was now bustling with activity.

Next was the residence of Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Revenue.

People often said that in terms of character, talent, and background, the young lady of the Fang family from the Ministry of Astronomy, Fang Miao, was hard to compare with Jiang Xuehui, the eldest daughter of Minister Jiang. 

Unfortunately, Fang Miao’s reputation had been tainted by her unruly younger sister, and she had not been chosen as the main wife. 

However, during the selection of the main wife, a secondary consort had also been chosen, which showed how much Prince Linzi favored her, even though Fang Miao, as the main consort, had been chosen with great reluctance.

The wedding was set for the 18th of April, with both the primary and secondary consorts entering the door at the same time.

The Jiang residence had visitors coming and going—people delivering name cards, sending congratulatory gifts, trying to make connections, seeking favors, and everyone was vying for a chance to get close. 

Even the servants were all smiles, walking with a spring in their step, looking good as they greeted and saw people off.

However, this did not include the maids and servants in Jiang Xuening’s courtyard.

Instead of being happy, they grew more worried and frowning, walking on edge and being overly cautious.

A new letter from Shuzhong’s You Fangyin arrived. Tang’er, unwilling to entrust it to anyone else, went to fetch it herself. On her way back, she happened to run into Jiang Boyou, who was about to leave.

Jiang Boyou glanced at her and frowned. “Is Ning still like that?”

Tang’er trembled in fear. “Miss woke up at the third watch this morning, drank a bowl of rice porridge prepared by the kitchen, then went back to sleep. When the sun was high, she woke up again and stared out the window for a long time. When the kitchen sent over the dishes, she only ate a few pieces of roasted pigeon, cherry meat, and half a bowl of rice. Even if something new was brought by someone sent by the young master, she would only glance at it and then throw it aside. She refused to go see the lanterns as well…”

Jiang Boyou sighed deeply. “What is going on?”

Tang’er dared not even breathe.

Ever since Princess Leyang left for the marriage alliance, the young lady seemed to have lost her spirit, not even bothering to leave her room. She ate her meals and slept as usual, but the maids attending to her couldn’t help but feel unnerved, watching her every day without being able to do anything.

Recently, however, the master had been asking about the young lady from time to time.

It seemed like he cared even more than before.

Tang’er wasn’t sure if this was just her feeling, perhaps because the young lady’s current condition was deeply concerning.

Jiang Boyou thought for a moment, then shook his head. He instructed, “Take good care of her. In a couple of days, her sister’s wedding is coming. If she doesn’t want to go, then let her be. Don’t let anyone disturb her. Let her rest for a few more days.”

Tang’er bowed respectfully. “Understood.”

With that, Jiang Boyou left with a worried look on his face.

Back in the courtyard, Tang’er saw Lian’er sitting outside, embroidering a pattern. She walked over to peek inside and lowered her voice to ask, “Is the young lady still asleep?”

Lian’er sighed. “She just fell asleep not long ago.”

Tang’er had no choice but to look at the letter in her hand. She placed it on the warm table by the window in the inner room and went on to handle other matters.

It was the early summer after spring had passed, and the weather was not yet very hot.

The two windows were open, letting in the bright sunlight that shone on the green trees and courtyard flowers outside. The sound of warblers chirping could be faintly heard, and a gentle breeze came through, rustling the thin pink curtains hanging by the bed.

Jiang Xuening lay on her side on the couch.

A thin spring quilt covered half her body, draped over her chest. Perhaps the days of muddling through in a daze, coupled with too much sleep, had caused her to have unsettling dreams during her brief afternoon naps.

One moment, it was Zhou Yinzhi’s severed head; the next, Shen Zhiyi’s coffin.

The dreams were strange and unpredictable.

She wandered through a palace floor drenched in blood, surrounded by mist, while something seemed to relentlessly pursue her from behind. Panicked, her footsteps became more frantic, until she finally broke into a desperate run.

Before her loomed the familiar Kunning Palace.

She let out a sigh of relief and dashed inside, but the moment she stopped, she saw a slender figure standing there.

“Fangyin—”

Instinctively, Jiang Xuening called out.

The figure turned around and looked at her with a faint trace of puzzlement.

It was a delicate face, but the originally soft, light eyebrows were now sharpened with a cold, stern edge—a calmness forged by years of experience in the treacherous tides of business. Yet there was also a hint of helplessness and bitterness in the gaze.

It was You Fangyin.

But not the You Fangyin of this life.

She hesitated briefly after seeing Jiang Xuening, then sighed with some melancholy, “Owning half the city’s wealth is useless. Betting on both sides inevitably offends everyone. Who could have imagined that the upheaval of the grand scheme would stem from an old grudge more than twenty years ago? At this point, protecting one’s life naturally takes precedence over wealth.”

An old grudge? What old grudge?

Jiang Xuening wanted to ask for clarity, but the phrase “owning half the city’s wealth” reverberated in her mind like a resounding bell, echoing repeatedly. The noise unsettled her so much that she woke abruptly from this fragmented, nonsensical dream.

Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up abruptly.

The thin quilt slipped from her chest.

A cool breeze wafted in from outside, and Jiang Xuening felt a chill on her sweat-soaked forehead and body. Only then did she realize she was drenched in cold sweat, her inner clothes sticking uncomfortably to her back and neck.

She had forgotten.

She must have forgotten something critical.

In the past month or so, ever since she failed to stop Shen Zhiyi from leaving for the diplomatic marriage, she had been utterly listless, living like a walking corpse or a headless fly. Nothing seemed to pique her interest or concern.

But was there truly nothing else?

Half the city’s wealth.

The You Fangyin of the previous life…

Betting on both sides?

She racked her brain, pondering repeatedly, until a flash of inspiration cut through her thoughts like lightning. Jiang Xuening abruptly threw off the thin quilt and got out of bed, calling loudly, “Tang’er! Lian’er! Where is the letter from Shu?”

Lian’er was startled outside.

Tang’er, hearing this, quickly went to the warm pavilion to retrieve the letter, handing it over. But Jiang Xuening snatched it directly from her hands, tore open the envelope, and began reading. Only then did the two maids notice that their usually dejected young mistress had shed her despondency. In its place was a grim determination, as if she had suddenly recalled some long-overlooked matter of great importance.

Tang’er couldn’t help but worry that her mistress’s intense emotions might lead to something rash, and cautiously asked, “Miss, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Xuening quickly finished reading the letter but felt a heavy weight settle in her heart.

It wasn’t that the situation at the Ren family’s salt fields was bad.

It was because, after weeks of listlessness, she finally remembered: Shen Zhiyi had gone for the diplomatic marriage, and Yan Lin would indeed one day conquer the Tatars. But to welcome the princess back to the court was not something that could simply be achieved by knowing the trajectory of the past life…

There was one missing You Fangyin!

One You Fangyin from the previous life!

In the past life, four years after Shen Zhiyi’s diplomatic marriage, the Tatars revealed their true ambitions and invaded the Central Plains.

Yan Lin was tasked with turning the tide during this crisis.

However, after repelling the enemy and retrieving the princess’s coffin, it was discovered that as early as two years prior, Shen Zhiyi had been subjected to cruel torment, even forced to abort a child. This was because the Tatars refused to let her give birth to a child of mixed blood. Before launching their military campaign, they murdered the princess as a sacrifice to their banners. Despite her noble blood and pride, in that isolated and powerless environment, she became nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter!

At the time, the Xiao family wielded immense power. The court needed Yan Lin to resist the Tatars but also sought to prevent him from consolidating power for himself. Consequently, logistical and supply issues created many difficulties.

Yet the frontline never suffered.

This led to suspicion among certain officials. But it wasn’t until Xie Wei conspired with Yan Lin in rebellion that the truth was revealed. Behind their efforts, apart from Lu Xian’s brilliance in commerce, there was also the support of the immensely wealthy “You Fangyin!”

Wars require soldiers, and soldiers require funds.

In the past life, they had the financial backing of the immensely wealthy You Fangyin. But in this life?

Jiang Xuening slowly sat back down.

She had saved this life’s You Fangyin, and as a result, the You Fangyin of the previous life no longer existed in this world. If she wanted to fulfill her promise to Shen Zhiyi, or even rescue her earlier than in the previous life, it would require an equivalent amount of wealth—if not more—to fill the gap her actions had created!

Could she do it?

No…

This wasn’t a matter of “can” or “can’t.” No matter what, she had to make it happen!

The thin sheet of letter paper was slowly placed back on the table by Jiang Xuening. Finally, she was fully alert. Blinking, she said, “Prepare the brush and ink. I need to reply to this letter.”

---

These days, most civil officials in the court were preoccupied with the recently concluded metropolitan examination and the upcoming palace examination. Jiang Boyou was no exception. As such, today, instead of heading to the Ministry of Revenue, he went directly to the Hanlin Academy.

The emperor had appointed Xie Wei as the chief examiner for this year’s metropolitan examination. 

At this moment, Xie Wei stood by a desk, reviewing several exam scripts submitted by subordinates. The results of the metropolitan examination had already been finalized; now they were selecting the best essays to be distributed by various publishing houses.

When Jiang Boyou looked up and saw this scene, his brows furrowed deeply.

The incident at the mansion gate that day had truly shocked him. 

If he hadn’t witnessed it himself, he would never have believed that the usually upright and virtuous Xie Wei, who appeared to embody the ancient sages’ ideals, could commit such a shameless and beastly act!

In the past, Xie Wei’s care for Jiang Xueníng never raised any suspicion in Jiang Boyou’s mind.

Firstly, Xie Wei and Jiang Boyou were of the same generation and treated each other as equals. Xie Wei always referred to Ning’er as if she were a younger relative. Secondly, Jiang Xueníng was in the palace as a study companion, and Jiang Boyou had even asked Xie Wei to watch over her. 

Lastly, Xie Wei was known for being distant from romantic entanglements and had never been associated with any improper rumors.

But such a person…

Recently, Jiang Boyou started to wonder. His daughter wasn’t someone who followed strict conventions. Could there be some misunderstanding? Or perhaps mutual feelings between the two?

He spoke to Jiang Xueníng twice about it.

Concerned about his daughter’s sense of dignity and unwilling to let her know the matter, he didn’t directly question her relationship with Xie Wei but instead approached the topic indirectly. 

From her words, there wasn’t the slightest hint of any inappropriate emotions toward Xie Wei beyond a student-teacher relationship.

So clearly, the issue lay with Xie Wei!

Jiang Boyou felt uneasy about it. For some time, he had barely spoken to Xie Wei, and now, he silently attended to his official duties. Once the crowd thinned out, and those looking for Xie Wei had left, Jiang Boyou finally approached him.

He started, “Master Xie.”

Jiang Boyou usually addressed Xie Wei by his courtesy name, Ju’an. Hearing these formal words, Xie Wei instantly realized that Jiang Boyou had something serious to say. 

He turned around with a faint smile. “Minister Jiang, what guidance do you have?”

Jiang Boyou scrutinized him and said, “Master Xie, you are young and accomplished, already twenty-seven this year, nearing thirty but still unmarried. My daughter, though unruly, is just nineteen, an age when she barely understands the ways of the world. As her teacher, you have taught her etiquette and propriety, for which I, as her father, am deeply grateful. However, she may still be immature, and I must rely on you, Master Xie, to restrain her behavior. Therefore, I also ask you to watch your words and actions, lest she, being young, misconstrue something. You know, Master Xie, I have not raised her particularly well and fear she might cause trouble.”

There was a faint tone of warning in his words.

Xie Wei, holding a few exam papers in his hand, felt a subtle irritation but maintained his polite smile. 

Instead of addressing the underlying concern, he replied, “If Minister Jiang finds raising her difficult, why not let me take over?”

Jiang Boyou could never have expected such a response!

His face darkened immediately.

In a cold tone, he retorted, “Master Xie, though your abilities surpass mine, I must caution you! My Ning Ning may have a flawed reputation, but her heart is pure. If you wish to ruin yourself, so be it, but do not drag others down with you. If the feelings are mutual, I may turn a blind eye. But as her teacher, such flippancy is a violation of ancestral traditions and disregard for ethics!”

As he spoke, his voice rose slightly with anger.

From afar, the other officials at the Hanlin Academy, busy with their tasks, couldn’t help but glance over. 

They had clearly caught the words “ethics and morals,” their faces showing undisguised curiosity.

It was obvious they were wondering: why were these two suddenly talking about ethics and morals?

Xie Wei lowered his gaze.

Indeed, he was Jiang Ning’s teacher. Ethically, a teacher could not have a personal or romantic relationship with a student.

However…

He casually placed the exam papers back on the desk, then turned to Jiang Boyou and said warmly, “And what of it?”

Previous

Next