mtl008 Chapter 278 Buying a House
Chapter 278 Buying a House
The Cangling Kingdom is in the twilight of its golden age. On the surface, the world is at peace, and the city is bustling with activity.
However, the imperial court was already rife with undercurrents, with various factions deeply entrenched and constantly vying for power.
In late summer, a woman with lofty ambitions, relying on her exceptional talent and courage, painstakingly carved out a place for herself in the male-dominated officialdom.
She served in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue. Although she was only a minor official of the fourth rank, she gradually attracted attention from all sides because of her extraordinary insights into politics.
At today's court assembly, she was subjected to severe harassment by the Minister of Personnel and his cronies for opposing a proposal on etiquette reform led by the Minister of Personnel.
Those sharp and sarcastic words were like blades, piercing her, this "outlier" in the officialdom.
Back home, Shi Wanxia went straight into the study, sat down at the desk, and stared blankly out the window.
The sarcastic remarks of those courtiers kept echoing in her mind, and she had nowhere to express her grievances and helplessness.
Choi Ji-ho was once a talented young man with a promising future in his career.
However, due to unavoidable circumstances, he had to give up his official position in order to protect his family, and now lives a secluded life as a commoner.
He and Wanxia had known each other for a long time. They shared similar interests. When Wanxia first entered officialdom, Cui Zhihao often offered her advice and strategies. He was a rare confidant for her in this complicated world.
When Cui Zhihao saw Shi Wanxia's tired and dejected face, he felt a pang of pain in his heart.
Shi Wanxia shook her head with a wry smile: "Brother Cui, do you think I'm wrong? I just feel that the proposal violates the ancestral rites and is detrimental to the country and the people, but why can't they tolerate my different opinion?"
After listening, Cui Zhihao frowned. He knew that in this complicated court, Shi Wanxia's upright and unyielding nature would inevitably encounter obstacles everywhere.
But now, as a commoner, he has no power or influence, and he really has no way to help Miss Shi when she is being harassed in court. He can only wait for her to go home and give her some advice. Otherwise, he would feel very useless.
“Miss Shi, in fact, power struggles and intrigues are quite common in the imperial court,” Cui Zhihao said slowly.
"As long as you remain loyal to His Majesty and the court, and don't prematurely take sides, you can appropriately retaliate against their verbal attacks."
"The infighting and factional struggles within the court are not yet at their most intense stage, so you still have time and opportunities to persuade His Majesty."
Shi Wanxia nodded slightly. She understood this principle all too well. However, being in officialdom meant that once you were in the game, you were a player in it.
“Brother Cui, I understand what you mean, but it’s easier said than done. Every time I face their difficulties, I wish I could argue with them directly, but I’m afraid that it would ruin everything.”
Cui Zhihao pondered for a moment and said, "Miss Shi, you can't just keep enduring things, but you also can't act impulsively."
"You must seize the right opportunity and strike decisively. For example, you can use an appropriate approach to explain your views to His Majesty on important occasions, allowing His Majesty to see your loyalty and talent. Once you gain His Majesty's approval, those people will not dare to make things difficult for you again."
Shi Wanxia seemed to be deep in thought. She raised her head, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in her eyes: "Brother Cui, thank you. Every time I talk to you, I feel enlightened."
However, none of them expected that this was just the beginning.
As time went on, factional struggles in the imperial court intensified, and conflicts between the Minister of Rites' faction and other forces continued to escalate.
Because of her previous "offending" behavior, Shi Wanxia was regarded as a thorn in the side by the Minister of Rites, who constantly made things difficult for her in various matters.
The capital of Cangling Kingdom is bustling and prosperous. Red walls and golden tiles gleam in the sunlight, shops line the streets, and people come and go in a constant stream of traffic.
However, beneath this seemingly peaceful and prosperous surface, undercurrents are surging, and the struggle for power is like an invisible net, enveloping everyone involved.
In the late summer, this woman of humble origins but with lofty ambitions entered officialdom with her talent and intelligence, never expecting that such a complex and treacherous situation awaited her.
Because of her insistence on her own opinions in the court, she was repeatedly ostracized and made things difficult, and every step she took was like walking on thin ice.
Choi Ji-ho stood in the courtyard, gazing at the distant palace walls, his brow furrowed, his face full of worry.
He was fully aware of Shi Wanxia's difficult situation, but he was powerless to help her.
Although his uncle was a high-ranking prime minister, he had long since distanced himself from the family and the complex power circles, and could only watch helplessly.
Fortunately, Ye Wenshu's father, Grand Tutor Ye, was an upright and kind man. Considering Wanxia's talent and character, he often lent a helping hand to her in her plight, giving her some warmth and support in this cold court struggle.
Choi Ji-ho endured several agonizing days filled with fear and anxiety.
He had been looking forward to Shi Wanxia's day off for a long time, so he decided to take her out for a walk to relax and ease the tension that had been building up recently.
The two arrived at the west side of the city, not far from the main street, a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle, with a unique charm.
Cui Zhihao led Shi Wanxia to a house. The gate was closed, and the old-fashioned door knocker exuded the aura of time.
"Miss Shi, we've arrived," Cui Zhihao said softly, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
He pushed open the gate and led Shi Wanxia into the courtyard. Cui Jiu followed behind, introducing the house's layout and facilities while showing them around.
This is a three-courtyard complex, covering an area of about 5 acres. The main house is tall and spacious, the east and west wing rooms are arranged in a staggered manner, and there are also many side rooms, totaling 79 rooms.
In the courtyard, flowers and plants flourish, and trees provide ample shade. Sunlight filters through the gaps in the branches and leaves, creating patches of golden light.
Shi Wanxia looked around, her eyes filled with surprise and admiration. "This house is so big and so beautiful!" she exclaimed sincerely.
Looking at Shi Wanxia's happy expression, Cui Zhihao couldn't help but smile, revealing a doting expression.
He carefully took out the property deed from his pocket and handed it to Shi Wanxia.
Upon seeing this, Shi Wanxia quickly waved her hand in refusal, her eyes filled with surprise, "Brother Cui, you bought this house, you should keep the deed!"
Choi Ji-ho looked at her gently and patiently explained, "The deed is in your name. I know you've never wanted to trouble Miss Ye too much, nor do you want to always live under someone else's roof. You can stay in this house for now."
"You can give me the money after Shuyun and the others return to Beijing. Just accept it and don't refuse anymore."
Shi Wanxia felt a surge of emotion, her eyes reddening slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she finally accepted the house deed.
"Brother Cui, thank you. You are always so thoughtful and considerate of me."
Her voice was slightly choked with emotion; this sudden warmth brought her a long-lost sense of peace amidst the cold infighting of officialdom.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, and the petals in the yard danced in the wind, landing on the two of them.
As Cui Zhihao looked at Shi Wanxia before him, the sunlight shone on her face, outlining her soft features. A unique emotion welled up in his heart, a deep longing that transcended friendship.
However, good times are always short-lived. As the situation at court became increasingly tense, the struggle between various factions intensified.
Because of some of her previous words and actions, Shi Wanxia has once again been drawn into an even bigger political vortex.