The winter sunlight was not very warm.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But as long as there was sunlight, one''s mood would improve.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Mianmian was helping her father organize books in his study.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Books were an important resource, and a whole carriage was filled with them on their journey to the capital.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The courier industry wasn''t very developed at that time, otherwise it would have been more convenient to ship books by courier.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Due to underdeveloped courier services and inconvenient transportation, they only brought carefully selected books.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Or more often, people memorized information in their minds.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Father''s study was quiterge.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Perhaps because Uncle He had seen the Inspector''s suite in Jingzhou, he decorated Father''s study with a simr vor, including a wall-to-wall bookshelf.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Father was organizing the books onto the shelves.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When it came to tidying up, Father wasn''t very gifted and worked rather slowly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Often, he would take out a book, flip through it, then sit down and keep reading.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This greatly reduced his progress.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
However, browsing through books randomly was also a kind of enjoyment.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Mianmian was called by her father to stay and help with this task.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Although Mianmian didn''t like memorizing books, she could understand what she read. She ssified and arranged the books for her father one by one.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Modern people have too many channels to acquire knowledge, so they don''t like memorizing books. Ancient people had few channels to acquire knowledge, so they wanted to memorize every book.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Mianmian discovered a pile of books on Yin-Yang and the Eight Trigrams. She hadn''t expected her father to believe in such things, or to enjoy reading these types of books.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
There were also many books on Chinese medicine, including one titled "Interpretation of Herbal Medicine" authored by Changtian Recluse.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was obvious that this was her father''s pen name.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Calling himself a recluse was quite amusing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Mianmian thought about whether she should write a book herself.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
At that time, if you wanted to publish a book, it seemed you didn''t need to buy an ISBN.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The main limitations were printing and paper.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Changtian would often pick up a book he hadn''t read in a long time, suddenly flip through it, have some memory of it, and then feel a sense of realization.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He closed the book and looked at his busy little daughter arranging the books.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Mianmian, what do you want to do when we get to the capital?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Keep a low profile?" Jiang Mianmian tentatively replied.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
Jiang Changtian: Uh-oh.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Something must have gone wrong in her education.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But thinking carefully, it seemed his little daughter was speaking the truth.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As a Fifth-rank Commander, an official pardoned from being a rebel, they would indeed be at the bottom of the heap in the capital.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Above them were officials of the fourth, third, second, and first ranks.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There were also various royal rtives and nobles.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Their only rtives in the capital now were their inws, the Mengs.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The court valued civil officials over military ones, so their inws probably weren''t doing very well either.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When he visited the Meng family, he found no signs of factionalism or nepotism, which indicated two possibilities: either his inws were too upright, or they had been excluded from the inner circles.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Changtian, who always assumed the worst about people, felt it was probably thetter.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Meng family had been excluded from the center of power.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But to advance in officialdom, one must collude, form factions, and take sides.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Pure officials, straight officials, only be the emperor''s tools because others won''t y with them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Bing a tool means losing one''s personality.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Take for example the confiscation of Inspector He''s property...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He too was a big tool.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As Jiang Changtian thought about it, he realized something was wrong - all the officials he was on good terms with in the court were tools.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Two tools already.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But he still had connections. His Third Son had finally entered the pce.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If he hadn''t guessed wrong, the current favorite of the Emperor, Eunuch Yan Wenxin, was his Third Son.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Only there had been no correspondence, so Jiang Changtian wasn''t sure.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It would be better to wait until they met to confirm.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As neers to the capital, they should indeed keep a low profile.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But hearing these words from his daughter''s mouth somehow felt off.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Changtian began to understand Luoxia''s urge to spank the child.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His hand was itching a bit too.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But looking at his daughter''s smiling face, he couldn''t bring himself to do it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With Mianmian''s help, Jiang Changtian''s efficiency in organizing the study greatly improved, and the books were ssified and arranged.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Then Mother had someone call them for dinner.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Without looking at the connected courtyard next door, just their own small courtyard felt quite cozy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was convenient to call for meals.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lunch was simple, with the cook from Jingzhou who hade with them preparing familiar vors.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Noodles.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It seemed people in the capital didn''t eat noodles much.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Mianmian''s tastes now followed her family''s, and she also liked eating noodles.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"The water here doesn''t seem right, the noodles aren''t as chewy, not as tasty," Qin Luoxiained.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"The nobles here specially go to Clear Spring Mountain outside the city to fetch water, and that water costs money. I heard many people spend money to buy water for drinking. Those aristocrats think there are too many people in the city, making the water turbid and unptable, especially for making tea. They use mountain spring water," said Jiang Feng.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Although Qin Luoxia had been Madam Jiang for a long time, following her husband, she was still surprised at the idea of spending money to buy water. If their family had such a mountain, wouldn''t it be an inexhaustible source of ie? As long as there was water, there would be money,sting for generations.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Who owns Clear Spring Mountain?" Qin Luoxia asked curiously.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Clear Spring Mountain belongs to the royal family. The money is probably collected by people from the Imperial Household Department," answered Jiang ''All-Knowing'' Changtian.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Mianmian thought to herself, it''s not surprising. In the future, even ordinary people have to buy water to drink. But this using mountain spring water for tea... she felt like an arrow shot many years ago had somehow hit her on the forehead today.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
What a sucker.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Then let''s buy a bucket tomorrow to try," said Qin Luoxia, who was very adaptable to local customs. She thought her husband might need that water for making tea.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Thinking about it this way, expenses in the capital seemed quite high.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The house had already cost a lot of their savings.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The two neighboring courtyards hadn''t been fixed up yet.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They couldn''t let Brother He keep spending money either; some debts should be repaid.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her husband should get a new official position in the capital. ording to Brother He, seeking an official position also required giving favors.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The capital was much more corrupt than the provinces.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As the family talked, lunch was finished.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There was no afternoon nap.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There was still an important matter to attend to today.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Paying respects to Zi Lu.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Mianmian actually didn''t know quite what to do.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Because she had received a separate letter from Zi Xiaochong, asking her to help take care of the turtle he raised.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
And he seemed very depressed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This kind of emotion, others couldn''tfort him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Every word seemed pale and powerless.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She didn''t even know how to reply to the letter.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The weather was fine.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There was an endless stream of people leaving the city for an outing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
At the foot of Yanshan Mountain, there was a greenwn, not the t kind, but arge slope where one could roll down from the top.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There was a river.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even in winter it didn''t freeze, with water flowing gently, making a pleasant sound.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was already evening by the time they arrived outside the city.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When the sunset glow filled the sky.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was at such a time that Mianmian saw her childhood friend again.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He stood in front of the grave, dressed in white robes, with his ck hair tied up only in the front, the ends of his hair and clothes fluttering gently in the wind.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"A peerless gentleman in the world, like jade among themon folk."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This poem had two more lines.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Unable to be born in the same era, I only wish to be buried in the same earth."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Seeing a uniquely handsome and jade-like young man, although they couldn''t be born at the same time, the ancient people hoped to be buried in the same ce after death.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The practicality and romance of the ancients.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Seeing a handsome man, they even thought about the burial ce.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In her memory, the five or six-year-old boy didn''t like to talk, was very serious, a bit precocious, probablycked love, liked her mother, his eyes always wandering to her mother.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Now he had be a dashing young man, a teenager of about fifteen or sixteen, very tall, like his father.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Not fat, but lean andnky.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Very beautiful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Zi Lu had a bearded, romantic, and gant air, like a martial arts alliance leader, with the free and easy manner of Xiao Feng.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
Zi Congheng grew up clean and beautiful, with a pair of cold and clear eyes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
For Jiang Mianmian, who was used to seeing her father every day, seeing Zi Congheng again and finding him so beautiful was quite rare.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Fortunately.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her childhood friend hadn''t grown up ugly, but had be even more handsome.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Zi Congheng turned to look at Mianmian.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They had exchanged letters.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Not many.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Just a few words, but he always felt her life was vivid and exciting.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He remembered her as a very pretty chubby child.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Now, she had grown up, a graceful youngdy, walking slowly towards him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her pace was as he imagined, a bit quick.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She liked to jog while walking.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She almost ran over to him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Standing in front of him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They faced each other wordlessly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Mianmian reached out her hand.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Zi Congheng was stunned for a moment, then also reached out his hand.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her hand grasped his.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Long time no see."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
"Long time no see."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0