Zheng Yuheng was a little hesitant when he heard this, but then he couldn't help holding her hand and said, "I want Tan Niang to like me, but I don't want you to be too sad for me."
　　In Zheng Yuheng's heart, it seemed that he was so pious, respectful, and thoughtful to Dong Lingjiu that no matter what he did, if it was because of her, it would be worth it and it would be what he should do.
　　He didn't feel that he was "giving" at all, but "as it should be".
　　Sometimes Dong Lingjiu thought secretly, thinking that if Zheng Yuheng had not failed because of Emperor Mingde, if he had entered the officialdom normally, and had no such intersection with her - he might have become famous and become the future prime minister, or he might have died young due to the grinding and setbacks in the officialdom, and died of depression. But no matter which of these two paths, she would never see such a Zheng Yuheng.
　　So clear, pure, and with a strong sense of self-sacrifice.
　　Dong Lingjiu's love for him sometimes goes beyond the love between men and women, and then evolves into an appreciation of delicate and fragile things. She looks at him, but it seems that she is not looking at him, but looking at her former self, looking at the lofty ideals that are invisible but exist in people's hearts, and a moral practice.
　　But the relationship between the two of them is the most unethical thing for this society and this country. She is sure that sooner or later she will be scolded and criticized by historians and clerks. Even if it is not in the current dynasty, in the future, not in the official history, and in the unofficial history, the infamy and crimes they bear are nailed to the chastity arch.
　　But such a crime is just the proof that she has indulged and been moved, the free heart under her upright and respectful skin throughout her life, her silent love for him, and a line of love words from bad words.
　　Dong Lingjiu thought it was a little ridiculous.
　　She actually felt the desire to live and die for her under the infamy that would be criticized by the world. But the "holy emperor" buried in the imperial mausoleum did not have such courage.
　　Dong Lingjiu stared at him for a moment, and slowly said: "People are not plants, who can be heartless. Is there a lover in the world who laughs for you and does not cry for you?" He was
　　stunned, and his face and ears were burned by the word "lover".
　　At this time, the word was still very simple and pure, without being stigmatized. Zheng Yuheng usually relied on being favored, but she did not imagine that such dazzling and trance-like words could be born from her lips.
　　She classified their relationship as the same as lovers in the world.
　　Zheng Yuheng raised his hand to cover his face, unable to stop the smile on his lips. However, he really felt that this reaction was too much like a villain's success, so he endured it with great effort. On the surface, he nodded gently and steadily, and emphasized: "But how can you be too sad for me? I can cry, but I only need one drop of Tan Niang's tears in her lifetime."
　　Dong Lingjiu said, "You really calculated it."
　　Zheng Yuheng said, "I am saving tears for Tan Niang. I think you haven't cried for the late sage. I haven't seen you cry in this year. Your tears must be very precious. One less tear is one less. If you shed too many, it may shorten my life."
　　He saw that Dong Lingjiu didn't seem to be angry anymore. He had just been spoiled to no end, and his words became a little bit rambling, with some romantic nostalgia.
　　"If Tan Niang cries in front of me, if it's because of me, I did something wrong and deserve to die without a burial place. If it's for the country, I'm by your side, I can still hug you, comfort you, and kiss away your tears. This is the gift of God to Zheng Yuheng's life, allowing me to meet you."
　　Dong Lingjiu looked at him, smiled lightly, and said, "Nonsense."
　　"What's wrong with a little nonsense." His fingers groped over, clasped her ten fingers, slowly clasped them together, and formed a gesture that could not be easily separated. "I often hear colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue complain about family affairs. I don't know if it's because they are old, but they still use poetry, books, etiquette and laws to preach to their families, and use their experience in officialdom to criticize them. That's their wife. If she is sad and can't hug her, it's a dereliction of duty as a husband."
　　Dong Lingjiu listened to him quietly. Even if it was of no practical value, she was very patient and willing to listen.
　　Zheng Yuheng said this and stepped forward to touch her forehead. The distance between them suddenly became very close. He was handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his eyes always looked sincere. At this time, he said: "If I go to the snowy land of the north, from Jiuqu River to Hongtian Pass, or perhaps to even more distant territories that I have never set foot on, when Tan Niang is sad and I cannot hug you, please don't blame me. When I come back, I will double compensate you."
　　After he said that, he lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
　　Dong Lingjiu closed her eyes, then said in a low voice: "Do you know who you are talking to? You are rich and powerful. Who do you want to compensate?"
　　Zheng Yuheng seemed to have expected her to say this. He suddenly realized the weight brought by Dong Lingjiu's excessive dignity and seriousness. Therefore, he could not bend down quickly or admit her love frankly. Zheng Yuheng quickly took over the conversation: "But there is only one me in the world. Can you find a second person who is exactly like me in the world of Tan Niang?"
　　Dong Lingjiu was silent for a while, hugged him back, and said with a sigh: "Why are you so smart at this time."
　　Zheng Yuheng said: "Because I put my heart in you for a lifetime."
　　This person is like this. Sometimes he understands what "unique in the world" means, but sometimes he will travel thousands of miles to make it easier for her to supervise the war. He only knows to do his best, but he is moved and happy because of the special treatment shown by the other party.
　　When Dong Lingjiu was looking at him, she was also thinking in her heart that the young doctor Zheng was no longer just her "favorite". He was so contradictory and yet so pure, innocent and harmless, but he could grasp her emotions better than a man covered in thorns. He was the most docile prey and the most astute hunter.
　　When the topic was basically over, Zheng Yuheng straightened his sleeves and replaced her with a cup of warm tea, still the familiar snow-green tea.
　　Dong Lingjiu took the teacup, and in the gap between him turning around to hand it over, he suddenly asked at the end: "Even if there is no minister, it will not affect your strategic decision-making and Bingjun's governance, right?"
　　She thought for a moment, looked at the other's half body dyed by the sunlight and full of warm yellow light, and nodded gently.
　　Dong Lingjiu originally thought that he would be unwilling and act like a spoiled child, but Zheng Yuheng was relieved and said, "You must do what you want to do and don't change because of others. No matter who that person is, I hope that Tan Niang will live for herself and her ideals all her life."
　　Dong Lingjiu originally wanted to say that most of the beautiful things in the world are to be broken for people to see, and her ideas and initial thoughts had long been shattered. But when she saw his face, she suddenly couldn't bear to say that, so she could only agree.
　　"Okay."
　　...
　　When the list of grain transport officials was agreed upon, the court and the public were preparing for it, and the upper and lower levels were busy running, another matter was finally settled - the matter of "applying the princess
　　on behalf of the emperor". Dong Lingjiu expressed her desire to retire, but she was granted the title of princess to make imperial edicts, making her assume the power of almost a "female prime minister". This matter caused a sensation, and the court and the public were in an uproar. In addition, even the emperor approved it without any objection, and many people in the capital could not sit still.
　　As she expected, when the imperial edict was first issued, several important ministers cried out to the sky, complaining about the injustice of heaven and earth and begging the Empress Dowager to revoke her order. Some radical ones even wrote to the emperor, arguing that the "Holy Empress should rule the country from behind the curtain", completely disregarding the dignity of an adult emperor.
　　At this time, the wind direction was like a big turn in the canyon. The imperial censors who usually scolded "trying to stop the imperial government" and "hens crowing at dawn" completely became turtles, and they dared not even fart, for fear that the public would blame them for the empress dowager's retirement in the excitement.
　　Within three days, six important officials who led the assistant ministers and the privy envoys entered the palace with fish bags and official seals to meet the emperor. They either cursed the heavens and the earth and cried bitterly in Guiyuan Palace, or spoke earnestly in Cining Palace.
　　Were they really deceived by Dong Lingjiu? - That may not be the case. These people have been "working together" with the Empress Dowager Dong for twenty years. How could they not know her intentions and skills? Seeing that the new emperor was not powerful and incompetent, it was unlikely that she would not ask about government affairs.
　　However, since the Queen Mother has set up a stage, accompanied by the sound of gongs, drums and firecrackers, the performance must be performed, otherwise the people below will be panicked, and it will be difficult to get off the stage, so no matter they are upright, shrewd, or full of scheming, they all came to persuade.
　　In the "bargaining" between Dong Lingjiu and the court, the order was finally withdrawn, and the princess was allowed to participate in the rest and regulation of the "Da Yin Law Commentary" as a female disciple of Wang Mingyan, the Minister of the Dali Temple, and she could make suggestions and learn the law.
　　In this process, Meng Cheng was really eye-opening.
　　On the one hand, the Queen Mother's acting skills are really amazing. She said that she had a headache, tinnitus, and a weak body. These symptoms did exist, but her age was there, and she made the old ministers who were much older than her feel guilty and shed tears on the spot. This precise performance skill was something Meng Cheng felt he could not match.
　　Secondly, the battle between the imperial power and the prime minister was clearly shown. It was just a compromise between you taking a step back and me taking a step forward. It was not much different from buying vegetables in the market. But such a non-violent struggle for power and profit could lead to such a surprising result as the princess amending the law.
　　Finally, when did his little sister have the heart to do such a thing? !
　　Meng Cheng was confused and his mind was full of confusion. Finally, he questioned the governor of the princess's mansion and found out that Yingying had been studying in the Dali Temple recently. He leaned on the imperial desk and thought for a while. He felt something was wrong and asked again: "Does the princess usually interact with other people besides Mr. Wang?" The
　　governor of the princess's mansion was Li Ruixue's partner. His surname was Ji. He had a name in his mind, but he didn't dare to tell the emperor. He could only say: "Your Highness only interacts with Lord Wang and Mr. Wang, and a group of scholars who practice law."
　　Meng Cheng recalled: "Mr. Wang's eldest son... Wang Zhaohe, whose courtesy name is Yuezhi? He hasn't married yet."
　　Governor Ji lowered his head and said, "I don't know."
　　"He is indeed unmarried." Meng Cheng remembered and said confidently, "We are a beautiful girl with a beautiful appearance. It is natural for these young people to admire her." Ji Duzhi
　　was sweating in his hands. It was not good to say yes or no, so he had to bite the bullet and said, "Your Highness is smart and studious, and he has a kind heart."
　　Meng Cheng said, "Of course, the previous so-called son-in-law was simply ungrateful."
　　He just talked about whatever he thought of, and had no intention of making a match for the time being. After sending Ji Duzhi back, he asked about the date.
　　After the New Year, about a month later, it would be the time for spring to break the ice, and most of the grain and grass logistics were moved before the military, so the grain transport officials, especially the officials who went to the local area to supervise the grain, had to get up and rush before the army set out.
　　He looked at the escort list. Meng Cheng couldn't figure out his mother's thoughts, and was a little surprised by Zheng Junzhi's name. He calculated the time and was afraid that he would not be able to see him if he waited any longer, so he ordered the emperor's attendant beside him: "Please invite Zheng Junzhi, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the Supervisor of Grain and Grass at the River Pass, to the palace. His house in the suburbs of Beijing... Forget it, there are not many people living there, just take the imperial edict to the Ministry of Revenue to invite him."