Zhao Hanzhang pointed to the memorials on the table and said to the person in front of her, "Ming Aiqing, your health checkup this year is still below average. The people from the Imperial Hospital suggest that you should not overwork yourself anymore, otherwise it will be detrimental to your lifespan."
Ming Yu was indifferent, "Your Majesty, the court is stable nowadays, and the people are becoming more prosperous. I am joyful in my heart, and my body is healthier than before. Those people from the Imperial Hospital are overly alarmist."
Zhao Hanzhang knew he was not someone who could be persuaded, but seeing Ming Yu's increasingly obvious dark circles, she couldn't help but say, "Aiqing, you are well-read in the words of the sages and should know the principle of balancing work and relaxation. Only by taking care of your health can we as monarch and ministers continue accompanying each other for a long time."
"What Your Majesty says is very true." Ming Yu bowed and saluted, but his response was somewhat perfunctory. Seeing that Zhao Hanzhang wanted to say something else, he immediately continued, "The memorial I present today concerns military affairs. I hope Your Majesty can approve it as soon as possible, preferably by tomorrow." Zhao Hanzhang...
She waved her hand, indicating he could leave.
Fu Tinghan, who had been drawing for most of the day and was resting, looked at Zhao Hanzhang with amusement after she met a small snag, "With Mr. Ming, you can't be too forceful."
Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "Back then, when he left Gou Xi, he still endured some criticism, and I'm afraid there's a knot in his heart."
"Such an act of leaving the dark for the bright, why would there be criticism?"
"A strategist is not supposed to be changeable. Some pedantic people in the world are accustomed to writing this type of narrative."
Fu Tinghan thought for a while, "Mr. Ming has now achieved fame and recognition long ago. If this knot remains, I'm afraid it won't be easy to untangle."
Zhao Hanzhang was also troubled, "I feel his goal isn't about himself anymore but rather focuses on me, to assist me in becoming a long-standing emperor in history before he considers his task complete."
Fu Tinghan laughed, "Then you certainly have much to keep you busy."
Zhao Hanzhang looked at the pile of memorials Ming Yu had submitted and sighed deeply. She was already very diligent, but having a subordinate more diligent than her as a workaholic urging her daily was unbearable.
"Ming Aiqing should still get married." Getting married would add more people and matters to life, shifting the focus so they wouldn't be thinking about work all the time. Relaxing appropriately is good for both him and her.
Fu Tinghan laughed even more, "Are you sure Mr. Ming can accept this solution?"
Zhao Hanzhang: … No, she's not sure.
Speaking of marriage, Zhao Hanzhang was rather helpless.
The two most famous bachelors in the court, Ji Yuan and Ming Yu, had already been bombarded repeatedly by Zhao Ming and other ministers. In the end, even the Empress Dowager personally stepped in as a matchmaker, yet neither was moved, not caring at all about the increasing yearly bachelor tax.
Although Ji Yuan was still single, Zhao Hanzhang wasn't worried about him. Mr. Ji is different from Ming Yu; he enjoys life and likes socializing with people. In his free time, he drinks and discusses philosophy with friends, living quite comfortably. Perhaps once he understands, he could decide to marry at any given moment.
Ming Yu, on the other hand, is somewhat reclusive. If no one pushes him a little, he might really be paying the bachelor tax indefinitely.
Zhao Hanzhang ran through a mental list of those introduced by Mother, pondering, "I think maybe it's the wrong introductions. The women are too young."
Someone like Ming Yu, wanting to live with him requires a common language, which isn't possible without sufficient life experience.
The woman's temperament must also be stable and tolerant. Ming Yu handles many matters daily, making his temper easily irritable. Even without getting angry, just pulling a face could scare a young lady to tears.
Sadly, this means that there are only a few candidates left to consider, which poses another challenge for her to solve.
Zhao Hanzhang clicked her tongue twice, rubbing her temples. Her gaze inadvertently fell to the distance, where a few staff members were working near the outside of the hall. Suddenly inspired, Zhao Hanzhang softly asked Fu Tinghan, "What do you think of Pei Yuanjun?"
Fu Tinghan instinctively glanced at the tall and slender woman in the distance, then thought for a moment and said, "The two have comparable knowledge, but in terms of personality..." Both tend to keep things to themselves, not liking to speak out. Together they might be too dull."
Zhao Hanzhang was very confident, "I think they're quite suitable and can give it a try."
Pei Yuanjun is a noble woman, known for her scholarly talent and literary reputation. Her writing embodies unique style, and is highly praised by the public. Since Zhao Hanzhang appointed her as Book Supervisor, her talents gradually became recognized by society, and she became a model for many women to strive towards.
Having been forced to live alone for over a decade due to coercion from the Wang Family, her character gained a calm and determined aspect. Such a woman should stand by Ming Yu, and someone like Ming Yu should complement her.
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang's enthusiasm, Fu Tinghan smiled and agreed, "Well, if it works out, you would be helping two people simultaneously. But you might have to worry a bit more."
Relying on them to date themselves, just imagining the scene feels awkward.
Zhao Hanzhang affirmed that she understood. It was just a matter of getting them to interact, wasn't it? Find a project for them to work on together, and that's no trouble at all for their superior.
The next day, Zhao Hanzhang summoned Ming Yu and Pei Yuanjun and cheerfully informed them there was an important task for both to complete—prepare a report summarizing the wars of recent years.
Ming Yu, as a military strategist alongside her during those wars, naturally was well-acquainted with them, so the summary was to be led by him. Pei Yuanjun would be responsible for the interviews and writing.
"Interview" was a term Zhao Hanzhang had popularized, and now they both understood it. Pei Yuanjun naturally had no objections, took the task, and withdrew.
Ming Yu, however, was unwilling. The work could be done by himself alone, so why mention it first and have another person write it up? Isn't this a bit country-style?
Yet Zhao Hanzhang insisted on arranging it thusly and meaningfully told him it was necessary.
She arranged for them to share a room in the side hall right under her watchful eye so he couldn't exercise much autonomy.
Days passed by, and the summary gradually took shape amid the question and answer exchanges between Ming Yu and Pei Yuanjun.
Initially, Ming Yu wasn't very mindful of it. But after reading Pei Yuanjun's writings, he reluctantly admitted they were more detailed than what he would've written himself.
Ming Yu considered himself a smart person; smart people dislike cumbersome procedures. Usually, upon starting a work, he's already mentally rehearsed it and directly offered the results.
This method posed no issue for similarly intelligent individuals like Zhao Hanzhang and Ji Yuan.
But since this summary was meant for the military leaders and students of the Imperial College, his skeletal and bloodless writing probably wouldn't be understood by many.
However, the accounts conveyed by him, enriched and organized by Pei Yuanjun, were much more appealing.
Yes, the focus was well-captured, quite matching his thoughts. This woman was really rather smart. Her handwriting was beautiful too, deserving her role as Book Supervisor under His Majesty. Ming Yu's gaze softened somewhat, carrying an appreciation even he hadn't noticed. When Pei Yuanjun conducted interviews again, his attitude improved significantly, and he spoke more in-depth.
Where once answering a question, he would only say one sentence and never a second. Now not only was he saying a second, occasionally he even supplemented with three or four more.
Having passed the initial phase of acclimatization, they began to develop some tacit understanding. Pei Yuanjun also relaxed a bit, working no longer strictly by the book and interviews occasionally seemed more like friendly chats.
One day, the two of them discussed defending the nation battle, conversing at length about its pros and cons, until a Palace Attendant came to light the lamps and only then did they finish.
Ming Yu was startled to realize he had talked with a woman from lunchtime until dusk, a full three hours, and he still hadn't had enough and wanted to continue chatting with her; what should he do?
For the first time, Ming Yu felt an unfamiliar emotion creeping into his heart, a feeling of losing control.
This did not make him happy, so he decided not to speak to Pei Yuanjun the next day, even moving the table away a little, dealing with official paperwork with a solemn face. The Palace Attendants passing by noticed Ming Yu's stern look, and immediately became cautious with their walking and working, yet Pei Yuanjun seemed unaffected, remaining focused as she wrote, occasionally smiling to herself when she found joy in her work.
For some reason, Ming Yu felt some tightness in his chest.
It must be because the room is too stuffy, so he got up to open the window.
The spring breeze was a bit mischievous, entering through the half-open window and rustling the manuscripts on the opposite desk.
Ming Yu looked up only to see Pei Yuanjun with her brows slightly furrowed, seemingly pondering on how to phrase something. Shortly afterward, she relaxed, quickly jotting down notes on the paper. Sunlight fell on one side of her restless face, making her appear to glow slightly; during the rising mist from the freshly brewed tea on the table, she appeared somewhat blurred.
Occasionally quiet voices of palace maids were heard outside the side hall, accentuating the calmness indoors. But this did not make one feel restricted; instead, it felt like time was peacefully passing.
After a day of diligent work, Zhao Hanzhang felt like something was missing. It wasn't until right before bed that she suddenly realized Ming Yu hadn't come to see her today and hadn't delivered any memorials.
She asked someone about the situation in the side hall and turned to Fu Tinghan with a smile, "Ming Aiqing's heart is in turmoil."
Fu Tinghan nodded, "Looks like we'll finally be able to send our congratulatory gift."