Glory

At this point, he smiled self-deprecatingly: "I've long known the Emperor had this intention. After all, my father holds military power. Keeping me in the capital as a hostage is the only way the Emperor can feel at ease."

"But if I remained in the capital, even if I took first place in the military examinations, I could only start as a sixth or seventh-rank official, slowly climbing the seniority ladder in the capital. It would take at least eight to ten years to reach the fourth rank; and to advance to the third rank, one needs exceptionally outstanding contributions and talent."

Most military Presented Scholars remain in the capital's Ministry of War or serve in military camps in positions equivalent to modern-day staff officers.

To assume military command, one must start from lower-ranking positions, since warfare involves life and death. Generals don't trust military scholars who only possess theoretical knowledge to lead troops. They need gradual training and step-by-step promotion, though they advance faster than regular soldiers—similar to modern military academy graduates.

"So I seized the timing advantage. While the Duke Wei's residence was in power and the Emperor was off guard against my father and me, I used persecution by my stepmother as an excuse to travel south for business, then joined the army. By leveraging Lu Guanyu's final trump card to achieve great merits, I could rise quickly in a short time. Otherwise, as long as my father holds military power, I would have been suppressed for life."

Lu Guanyi, despite his considerable talent, was held back by Lu Zhongyong and forced to take this alternative path. Had he not strategized for himself, he might have remained a ne'er-do-well forever, or even been killed by Shi Shi long ago.

Ye Yaming sympathetically stroked his calloused hand: "Actually, whether you hold an official position or how high it is doesn't matter to me. I don't care."

"But I care." Lu Guanyi lowered his head and kissed her cheek. "I don't want you to be looked down upon by others or have to endure humiliation because of someone else's status."

His Ming'er should be someone who stands straight with confidence before even the Emperor and princesses, maintaining composure and ease. He can't bear to see any noble lady or madam in the capital looking down on her with contempt.

They aren't even qualified to tie her shoes—what gives them the right to despise her? It's merely because their men hold higher positions.

"Moreover, your tea business is expanding rapidly. It's a lucrative target, and I don't want anyone coveting or scheming against you and Ye Jia."

Ye Yaming's nose tingled with emotion.

This is an era of imperial authority and rule by individuals—those with power and status can do as they please. Merchants, in this age, are as lowly as mud, vulnerable to being trampled by anyone.

She dared to expand her business so extensively, purchase vast tea mountains in Huizhou and Minzhou, introduce Dragon Well, Tieguanyin, and Dark Tea, and open high-end tea houses in the capital—all because she had Lu Guanyi standing behind her.

Otherwise, she would have been confined to Lin'an City, merely a small merchant no different from Jin Baoshan or Wang Kuan. To possess such treasures yet achieve nothing would have tormented her with frustration.

She sniffed, holding back tears, and whispered softly: "But didn't you dislike this kind of court struggle? You wanted to observe the game, not be a pawn. Won't this exhaust you?"

Sensing her emotional fluctuation, Lu Guanyi gently embraced her. Ye Yaming, afraid of touching his wounds, froze in place, not daring to move.

Lu Guanyi patted her back, signaling her to relax: "It's fine, they've already scabbed over."Feeling Ye Yaming relax, he continued, "If I remain in the military, I would merely be a pawn—just like my father. Even as a first-rank general holding military power, he has always been a chess piece manipulated by others. But by returning to the court, I can calmly observe others' struggles or become the one moving the pieces. The initiative lies in my hands."

Ye Yaming thought for a moment and nodded gently. "That's true."

The Great Jin Dynasty did not have a dedicated cabinet system; instead, officials of the third rank and above voluntarily entered the cabinet. Once in the cabinet, one gained influence and could become the chess player rather than a passive pawn.

The Ministry of War had no authority to deploy troops, and since Lu Guanyi operated directly under the emperor's watchful eye, the emperor likely trusted him. Lu Guanyi had risen through military achievements and was well-versed in strategy. He could devise plans for distant battles and lead troops in person—such talents were rare in all of Great Jin, let alone in the Ministry of War, where competence was paramount. Even if the emperor hesitated to promote him, he could hardly afford not to. Thus, Lu Guanyi's influence in the Ministry of War was assured, and his appointment as Minister of War seemed imminent.

The higher one climbed, the more control one had over their own destiny. Even with Lu Guanyi currently marked as the Crown Prince's faction, once he reached a high position and became a chess player—coupled with Lu Zhongyong's military power—any prince who ascended the throne would have to win him over rather than eliminate him.

"Moreover, the Thirty-Six Stratagems you provided are exceptional. I also wish to join the Ministry of War to cultivate more military talents for Great Jin and strengthen the nation. So, during my last return to the capital for marriage, I discussed with the Crown Prince my intention to transfer to the Ministry of War after achieving further military merits."

Ye Yaming looked up at him, her eyes blazing. "So you arranged everything, using Shi Shi's death to provoke Lu Guanyu into playing his final card to secure military glory?"

Lu Guanyi shook his head and patted her back. "I originally planned to wait another six months to a year. After all, I was recently promoted to the fourth rank. Even with outstanding military achievements, advancing to the third rank would be difficult."

"I didn't expect Princess Consort Zhennan's son to die so quickly," he said with a bitter smile. "She even tried to use us as pawns against the three Chu siblings. How could I tolerate that? Since she intended to target Shi Shi, I had no choice but to assist her and hasten Shi Shi's demise. Fortunately, I had already discussed this with the Crown Prince, and he overcame all obstacles to push me to the third rank."

As early as age twelve, he had begun planting trusted subordinates around Shi Shi, sending seven or eight over the years. His strategy was casting a wide net to catch the key fish—hoping that at least one would gain Shi Shi's trust, become her confidant, and remain loyal to him.

Perhaps due to careful selection with his grandfather, or sheer luck, more than one of those sent had become Shi Shi's close attendants. In fact, he could have easily ended Shi Shi's life two or three years earlier. But the timing wasn't right—he didn't want to provoke the Duke Wei's household and aimed to maximize the benefits.Princess Consort Zhennan's intervention came at the perfect moment—one that would be nearly impossible to come by again. Moreover, having found someone he was willing to protect with his life, he also wished to end Shi Shi's life swiftly to prevent her from extending her vicious claws toward his wife and children. Thus, he seized the opportunity to turn her scheme against her, ultimately eliminating Shi Shi.