tallest building

"Eunuch Xiao Shunzi, there's a palace maid looking for you over there." Xiao Shunzi was watching people tidy up the tarpaulin on the carriage when someone came to deliver the message to him.

Although he wasn't very old, he was cunning, quick-witted, and adept at currying favor with powerful figures.

So he got the job of managing things here very early on, and considered himself the number one person.

Xiao Shunzi followed the man's hand and looked over. He saw Xiao Yue standing by the wall, looking at him somewhat awkwardly.

He couldn't help but feel smug, and he assigned his task to the person next to him: "I have something to do, you stay here and keep an eye on things! Don't mess it up, or I'll make you pay."

He came up to Xiaoyue and said before she could speak, "This is not the place to talk. Let's go over there."

He could tell from Xiaoyue's expression that the girl had figured it out.

That makes sense, who could disagree?

The two people stood beside a pomegranate tree, where the pomegranate blossoms were in full bloom, bright and dazzling.

"Grandpa Xiaoshunzi, do you still stand by what you said yesterday?" Xiaoyue asked, seemingly having mustered up her courage.

"What are you saying?" Xiao Shunzi teased her on purpose.

Xiaoyue was indeed getting anxious: "It's just like you said, if I'm willing to help, you can make my mother and my brother live a good life..."

"Of course I'll keep my word. It's no difficult thing," Xiao Shunzi said confidently. "Not only will I be able to provide them with a good life, but I'll also ensure you have enough to eat and wear. You're not even twenty yet, are you? Leave the palace early, find a good man to marry, and have children. Isn't that a hundred times better than suffering setbacks and hardships in the palace?"

Hearing his words, Xiaoyue's eyes flickered, as if she was tempted: "Then tell me what you want me to do?"

"The Dragon Boat Festival banquet is just around the corner. Whether things go smoothly depends on that night. Everyone will be serving you in the front, and there will be hardly anyone around in your back area, making things much easier." Xiao Shunzi's voice grew softer and softer. "That night, Madam Wen will definitely not go to the banquet. Just wait for the right opportunity, put this packet of medicine in her tea, and make her drink it."

After that, she will fall into a deep sleep, and you can help her to bed. Then, send a message to Prince Consort Dong, who will naturally go to find her, and the two of you will naturally end up together.

I don't need to tell you what happened next. They got together, and Madam Wen was certainly happy about it. From now on, we'll have to help cover for them if they have any dealings.

Xiaoyue was secretly alarmed, but tried her best to hide it: "Is this enough? Will Madam Wen blame me?"

“Silly girl, how could she blame you? She’s thanking you so much! If it weren’t for your help, how could she have someone who cares for her? Don’t you think that makes sense?” Xiao Shunzi used his silver tongue to twist the truth.

Seeing that Xiaoyue was hesitant, he simply took out a few gold melon seeds from his pocket and stuffed them into her hand: "Take these, and I will thank you handsomely if things go well."

He then whispered, "You don't need to worry. Even if she's a little unwilling, the deed is done, and she has no choice but to comply. Do you think she'd dare to change her mind?"

She'll just have a quiet cry, then she'll go back to what she was doing; she won't be stubborn to the end.

Xiaoyue clutched the few golden melon seeds tightly in her hand and said, "I'm indecisive, Father-in-law, whatever you say goes! As long as... as long as you don't make me feel like I'm caught in the middle."

"Good girl, that's right! Life is too short to think so much." Xiao Shunzi patted Xiao Yue's shoulder smugly. "Go back now! I'll hear good news from you later."

Xiaoyue returned and handed the packet of medicine to Wen Mingqian: "This is medicine Xiaoshunzi gave me. He said he'd trick you into taking it at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, and you'd fall into a deep sleep. I'll also send a message to Dong Gang to have him come over." "Such a despicable scheme is something they'd do," Wen Mingqian sneered. "Then let's play along."

"Wife, what are you going to do? That Xiao Shunzi even gave me these." Xiao Yue said, taking out a few golden melon seeds.

“If he gives it to you, just take it,” Wen Mingqian said. “Don’t worry, I will arrange for someone to take care of your mother and your brother. I’ll have them leave the capital for a while to avoid trouble.”

"That would be great," Xiaoyue thought, naturally concerned about her family. "I agreed readily, so I don't think they'll be too wary of me."

“You should do what you need to do these days,” Wen Mingqian instructed her. “I will tell you what to do later.”

After Wen Mingqian finished instructing her and completing his work, he came to Princess Duanmin's side.

I told her what happened.

Princess Duanmin sneered in disgust, "This is too despicable. Only the Dong family would do such a thing."

“Now that Consort Hui has returned to the palace, she must be suspicious and wary of me,” Wen Mingqian said. “We can bring her in and have some fun together.”

“That’s right,” Princess Duanmin said with a smile. “Anyway, she loves to join in the fun.”

After discussing things with Princess Duanmin, Wen Mingqian was summoned to the Empress's side.

"Mingqian, I've heard that your two elder brothers are both scholars, one a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and the other a Jinshi graduate." The Empress got straight to the point. "Now that there are quite a few vacancies in the Six Ministries, why not take this opportunity to transfer them to the capital to take up their posts?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Mingqian feigned great surprise: "This...is this acceptable? My two older brothers only reached the rank of county magistrate..."

"What's wrong with county magistrates? They know the hardships of the people, and besides, their performance evaluations have been quite good in recent years," the Empress said. "You are siblings from the same mother, and you can tell from your appearance that they must be capable people."

You have served me so well; you have rendered meritorious service, and I will not treat you unfairly.

"This servant kowtows to express her deepest gratitude to Your Majesty the Empress." Wen Mingqian feigned extreme gratitude. "If my two elder brothers can truly return to the capital, then Mingqian will be able to reunite with his family."

"Yes! I know you've lost your husband's family and your own family isn't around, so you're really quite lonely. But it won't be until autumn before they return to the capital, so you'll have to be patient." The Empress smiled.

“This servant can wait,” Wen Mingqian said. “This servant will do everything in my power to serve Your Highness.”

"Get up! There's no need for this. You're one of my people; if I don't look after you, who will I look after?" Everyone knew that the Empress was always nepotistic. Yet she still thought it was perfectly natural.

Wen Mingqian's two older brothers, Wen Yuzhi and Wen Tuizhi, were both learned men, upright in character, and talented.

Because he refused to curry favor with the powerful and refused to form cliques, he spent many years in the political arena and only managed to become a county magistrate.

These are all located in remote areas, not in prosperous regions. (End of Chapter)