Wealth and glory seek stability

"You have the leisure to build a yard here, but it's just a temporary residence. You still have to take up a post in the future." A frivolous voice came, and Xuanyuan Qiyuan, wearing a fully embroidered dragon robe, walked in from outside.

Gao Yunhuai frowned, turned around, and looked at the high-profile Xuanyuan Qiyuan with a helpless look, "Why didn't you inform me that your highness was coming? My humble abode is simple, and I'm afraid I can't entertain you well."

Xuanyuan Qiyuan opened the folding fan in his hand and said nonchalantly, "What's the big deal? Let's not talk about this between us."

Gao Yunhuai's personal servant Shuangshou, seeing that his master had something to discuss, quickly retreated with the surrounding craftsmen.

Xuanyuan Qiyuan looked at the flowers all over the yard and felt a little uncomfortable. His friend never liked these colorful things. Before, there were only some evergreen trees in the yard. Now, pomegranate flowers in full bloom were planted on both sides of the yard, as well as roses, peonies, pansies...

Vulgar! So vulgar.

Xuanyuan Qiyuan shook his head. "The old man asked you to get married before going to Jiangnan to take up your post. This is to guard against you. Don't you plan to do something?"

Gao Yunhuai propped up a rose that had fallen over a little, thinking that he should ask the gardener to take care of it every day. These flowers were moved here recently. He heard from the people who had delivered things to the Shen family before that Jian Xi's yard was full of flowers and plants. He thought that Jian Xi should like flowers, so he quickly asked Shuangshou to buy some rare flower species that were about to bloom.

Because it is a happy occasion, most of the flowers are red.

Mrs. Gao couldn't help but sigh when she saw it. The yard finally had some life, and the red color made people happy.

"There is nothing to be prepared for. The emperor is very kind and gracious, and as a minister, we should just accept it with peace of mind. What are your plans for the future, Your Highness?"

Xuanyuan Qi looked at Gao Yunhuai from afar and felt somewhat dissatisfied when he saw his relaxed attitude.

He put away his folding fan, put his hands behind his back, and looked into the distance with a thought in his mind, "Shu Ping, I am unwilling to accept this."

How could he be willing?

From the very beginning, his goal was that position. Before Xuanyuan Chaocheng appeared, he always thought that he was the first choice for the throne.

Although he has the title of prince now, he has no real power. Shufei's mother's family has no real power, but the emperor favors that mother and son.

Xuanyuan Qiyuan was right under the nose of Emperor Xuanyuan in the capital, but some time ago Emperor Xuanyuan asked him to marry the daughter of Duke Lan.

The Lan Duke’s family has been producing generals for generations, and their prestige in the army is even greater than Xu Mao’s. One cannot help but speculate on the deeper meaning behind this.

Xuanyuan Qiyuan's eyes gradually became firm, and the desire in his heart seemed to be cut open and poured out, "I want to fight for it."

Gao Yunhuai's face was calm, with a smile in the corner of his eyes, "Now is the time."

Xuanyuan Qiyuan is waiting for an opportunity, so is he?

The power gained by relying on the reward from Emperor Xuanyuan was ultimately too superficial. After accompanying the emperor for many years, he vaguely guessed that Emperor Xuanyuan still had high hopes for Xuanyuan Qiyuan, but the previous Xuanyuan Qiyuan was not ruthless enough.

Since Xuanyuan Qiyuan was a child, no matter what he wanted, someone would give it to him. He never thought that he had to fight for what he wanted.

Xuanyuan Qiyuan smiled back. Now was indeed the time. Gao Yunhuai would be able to control the six states in the south of the Yangtze River soon. He was in the capital and had the support of the Yue family. It would be a shame not to fight for such a unique condition.

Gao Yunhuai led Xuanyuan Qiyuan to the study. The matter was of great importance, so the two did not say a word on the way.

study.

Gao Yunhuai personally poured a cup of tea, and with his bony hands he held the teacup and handed it to Xuanyuan Qiyuan.

The teacup touched the table lightly. It was only seven-tenths full of tea, without any leaking out.

There was a cold look in Gao Yunhuai's eyes.

"Then we'll start with Prince Lu."

Xuanyuan Qiyuan picked up the teacup and said with a sneer, "Xuanyuan Zangzhen appears to support Xuanyuan Chaocheng on the surface, but he still has a lot of ulterior motives behind the scenes. Before Xuanyuan Chaocheng came back, the secret letter from Prince Lu's mansion about the prince's mediocrity and inaction in the northwest had already been sent back."

The two discussed a strategy.

Gao Yunhuai sat aside, holding a teacup. Xuanyuan Qiyuan wanted to plan for himself, so he naturally had to plan for himself as well.

In the past, I only thought that I was talented and loyal to the country, but in the end I was dismissed from office.

On the other hand, although Prime Minister Zhao was in the same situation, Emperor Xuanyuan did not dare to dismiss him easily because of the power of the Zhao family.

The reason he was able to return to officialdom this time was because there was no one behind him and Emperor Xuanyuan felt that he was easy to control.

It's ridiculous that he took the famous ministers and wise ministers in the books who were loyal to the country seriously.

If you want to stand firm in the officialdom, you have to be a powerful official so that others cannot and dare not abandon you easily.

Only with power in his hands can he protect the people he wants to protect.

Thinking of this, Gao Yunhuai's belief became stronger. He has always been willing to use any means to accomplish something.

He was the top scorer in high school at the age of sixteen, and he studied every day without slacking off for a moment.

The path of a powerful official is the one he wants to take, and Xuanyuan Qiyuan is the best person to assist him.

*

Wu'an Palace.

Lei Zi went to Caiyun's house in person to sign the redemption document.

Caiyun looked at the indenture and felt relieved. She was finally no longer a slave who could be sold by others.

As for Caixia, she redeemed herself with the money from selling embroidery. Since she had no one to rely on at home, she signed a five-year contract with the Wu'an Palace and continued to work in Xia's room. She also gave money to the housekeeper Zhang and set up her own female household. She went from being a slave who was manipulated by others to an embroiderer who made a living with her skills.

Originally, Lei Zi wanted to help Caiyun pay for her redemption, but Caiyun insisted on redeeming herself on her own.

She had been learning cooking and making incense in the mansion over the years. Fortunately, she had some talent and saved enough money to redeem herself by making incense.

Caiyun and Caixia said goodbye and agreed to send a message to Caixia once they settled down.

Caiyun was holding a small bundle, wearing a plain cloth dress, with only a silver hairpin decorating her hair. She looked calm, steady and generous.

Following Lei Zi, she step by step left the palace that had trapped her for six years.

Caiyun came out from the side door and saw two sedan chairs outside the door.

A maidservant beside a sedan chair in front called out softly, "Miss."

The sedan curtain is opened.

A woman in a goose yellow gauze dress stretched out her bare hands and got out of the sedan chair with the help of a maid.

The woman was not wearing any makeup, but she was already a beauty. Her movements were graceful and elegant. There were only two jade hairpins inserted diagonally in her hair. She had an air of nobility around her. Although she was smiling, she looked even more distant.

Caiyun didn't dare to confirm, so she asked tentatively, "Sister Jian Xi?"

Lei Zi straightened up, nodded, and took a few steps back.

Jian Xi smiled and took Caiyun's hand and patted it, "It's me. I knew you were leaving the house today, so I came to pick you up."

After thinking about it for a moment, Caiyun was deeply moved.

She originally thought she was drifting like a floating duckweed, but Jian Xi's arrival made her feel more at ease.

She nodded and made a common greeting. The rules had been ingrained into her bones over the years. "Thank you, sister, for still thinking of me."

Jian Xi glanced at Lei Zi, who was wearing a blue robe with a white jade ornament around his waist and his hair was meticulously combed. He was quite a handsome man. Then she looked at Caiyun.

Caiyun noticed Jian Xi's gaze, and two blushes appeared on her usually calm face.