His calm, contemplative expression was inscrutable, leaving Shen Zhishu feeling uncertain again.

Now that this matter had been brought up, he had to seek clarity regardless.

Shen Zhishu carefully weighed his words before skillfully changing the subject: “My father sent a letter to Suiyang in the Western Capital a few days ago, reporting Leyan and Di Nian’s matter to the Emperor Emeritus and Prince Ping.”

Ying Gua seemed to return from his thoughts, slowly raising his eyes with a sharp gaze, and responded to this point: “As the eldest son of the Grand Tutor, your twin sister is getting married before you. I wonder what the Grand Tutor thinks about that?”

Though the question was ostensibly about him, Shen Zhishu understood that the Emperor had tacitly approved of Shen Zhili and Di Nian’s relationship. Relieved, he bowed slightly and said: “I am grateful for Your Majesty’s concern regarding your subject’s personal affairs.”

A brief, ambiguous response that neither truly answered nor evaded.

A mixture of emotions immediately appeared in Ying Gua’s eyes. After studying him deeply for a moment, he finally said: “During your tenure in Qingzhou, did you meet any woman who caught your interest?”

Shen Zhishu maintained his dignified composure, his expression slightly restrained, and did not immediately respond.

How could he not know that the various activities of provincial officials would be reported to the Emperor through the proper channels?

And who was he, Shen Zhishu? How could the Emperor not know about his affairs in Qingzhou over these two years?

But he simply could not bring himself to speak of it.

He, Shen Zhishu—the eldest son of the Shen family in the capital, the only son of Shen Wuchen, the Director of the Bureau of Personnel, His Majesty’s most trusted official, and soon to be the youngest Transport Commissioner of a border province—since entering the Imperial Academy, had never before been so thoroughly confounded by a woman.

He had met her, fallen in love with her, and offered his heart to her, yet she refused to marry him.

To speak of this would be too humiliating.

Fortunately, Qingzhou was a thousand miles from the capital, so this burning passion, when conveyed to the imperial ear in a few words, would only be seen as another of Shen Zhishu’s fleeting romances.

And the countless small moments between them over these two years—how could he possibly speak of them now, facing the gold-inlaid imperial desk, the nine-dragon throne, and the Emperor with his deep eyes and cold words?

Those days of sharing one’s heart over a cup of clear wine were long gone.

He would become an important official in the border region, and naturally understood the Emperor’s purpose in asking this question, which was certainly not merely out of concern for an old friend.

It was difficult to be a ruler, but even more difficult to be a subject.

Perhaps she, too, understood this deeper principle and thus was unwilling to marry him.

She had such a bold and decisive character, managing vast family businesses with efficiency. As the eldest daughter of the Yan family in Chao’an, who had not heard of her reputation?

Once entangled in this affair, if she were to marry him—soon to be a Transport Commissioner and a close imperial subject—she would inevitably be unable to continue managing the Yan family business. How could she be willing to constrain herself for his sake? She was neither a court official nor a young lady from the capital. If she were to follow him back to the capital in the future, how could she live comfortably?

She saw things more clearly than he did, and thus was unwilling to marry him.

And he, Shen Zhishu, carried tremendous expectations. Everyone was waiting to see him surpass his father’s generation. Moreover, his sister Shen Zhili’s marriage to Di Nian was being celebrated and praised—beauty and hero, beauty and hero. These four words pressed heavily on his heart, and when he looked at himself, he felt a slight irony.

Everyone in the Shen family was exceptionally talented. The Emperor’s reference to him as “the Grand Tutor’s eldest son” made his chest tighten. How could he admit to having such deep feelings for a merchant’s daughter?

Besides, whether he spoke of it or not hardly mattered—she wouldn’t marry him anyway.

With these thoughts, his brows knitted tighter, and he remained silent for a long time.

Sitting above, Ying Gua observed every subtle change in his expression. Seeing that he was unwilling to speak directly, the Emperor did not press him but simply turned over a memorial on the imperial desk.

That memorial had arrived in the capital not long ago and addressed the matter between Yan Fuzhi, the daughter of the Yan family in Chao’an, and Shen Zhishu.

Having known each other for so many years, he naturally understood Shen Zhishu’s character.

Precisely because he knew, he was even more uncertain whether the affair described in the memorial was merely one of Shen Zhishu’s casual dalliances or a case of genuine deep affection.

But now, seeing Shen Zhishu’s expression and his silent demeanor, what was there left to doubt?

He knew Shen Zhishu had been clever from childhood and surely had his considerations in this matter. Emotion was not the foremost concern in this world. The position of Transport Commissioner for the northern route of Chao’an was not easy to obtain, and entanglement with the Yan family would not be beneficial for Shen Zhishu.

Moreover, if they truly were deeply in love and vowed to spend their lives together, Shen Zhishu would not display such a melancholy expression now.

Having discerned the situation, he did not inquire further and changed the subject: “Once Leyan marries Di Nian, she cannot retain her position as Administrative Assistant in the Military Geography Division of the Ministry of War. She will be transferred to the position of Deputy Director in the Reception Bureau of the Ministry of Rites. Do you have any objections?”

Shen Zhishu nodded decisively, “It should be so.”

Although he knew his sister’s heart was in the Ministry of War, this time she had hastily married Di Nian because of Minister Gu. To avoid suspicion due to Di Nian holding a military command position, she likely could no longer consider positions in the Ministry of War, Court of the Imperial Stud, or the Privy Council.

And hadn’t his mother done the same? As Deputy Director of the Privy Council, she had resigned to marry his father. After his father was appointed as the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, she declined Emperor Emeritus’s repeated edicts for her return, citing the principle that a couple should not hold two high positions.

Moreover, if Di Nian married Shen Zhili and was tasked with reorganizing the garrison troops of the three northern border routes, he should no longer harbor hopes for the position of Pacification Commissioner of Chao’an.

What the imperial family feared most, he had been taught by his parents since childhood, and thus understood perfectly.

When Meng Tinghui had gone north to Chao’an to quell the garrison mutiny, she had subsequently submitted memorials to the capital impeaching Pacification Commissioner Dong Yicheng, but the Emperor had withheld them without approval. Though the outer court was unaware of this, he had heard about it.

Now that the Emperor had granted him the position of Transport Commissioner, it was likely calculated to use the old grudge between him and Dong Yicheng, making them check each other’s power in Chao’an and preventing any single office from monopolizing authority in the northern route of Chao’an.

This showed far-sighted consideration, and also a certain degree of scheming.

Although Meng Tinghui’s order to transfer thirteen officials was somewhat harsh, the Emperor’s handling of the senior officials in the Pacification Commissioner and Transport Commissioner offices of Chao’an was still appropriate, and his reputation for sagacity remained intact.

He could understand the Emperor’s thoughts and methods.

But the one thing he couldn’t comprehend was the perplexing relationship between the Emperor and Meng Tinghui.

An emperor was not an ordinary person, and this Emperor was not ordinary. If this was deep love, what earth-shaking waves would it create before reaching its conclusion?

Having grown up alongside the Emperor, he deeply understood his temperament. In front of others, he concealed thousands of thoughts without revealing a hint, spoke little but was never short on strategies, and appeared cold-faced but not cold-hearted. Once his mind was set on something, he would move mountains and drain seas to fulfill his wish.

With such parents, in matters of the heart, how could the Emperor be someone who would bend his will?

“Yan Zhi.”

Shen Zhishu had been lost in thought for a long time when he was suddenly addressed this way. His temple jumped in surprise as he returned to the present and looked up, “Your Majesty.”

That call of “Yan Zhi” lacked imperial authority and bore traces of the old days when they sat knee to knee reading books in the Eastern Palace as youths, moving him deeply, though he did not know the Emperor’s intention.

Ying Gua slowly raised his eyebrows and said, “For the officials of the Transport Commissioner’s office appointed by Meng Tinghui this time, please look after them appropriately when you assume your position. You may trust them in the future as well.”

Shen Zhishu’s eyes showed slight surprise, but his face remained calm as he responded, “In this matter, Your subject will certainly assist Lord Meng.”

He had always known the Emperor was not one to let personal feelings interfere with governance, so why was he now making such a request for Meng Tinghui’s sake, as if fearing she might face the slightest hardship due to this matter?

Ying Gua’s expression had remained unchanged throughout, his gaze sharp and fearless. He reached for several memorials on the imperial desk, pulled one out, and said, “You need not ponder in your heart. I love her deeply.” He tossed the memorial down, his gaze growing even more unrestrained, and continued, “Not only do I love her deeply, but for her sake, I will also change the system of establishing an empress in the inner court.”