He didn’t immediately grasp her meaning and frowned, “What did you say?”

She kept her head down, her eyes fixed on the hand warmer she was holding, her gaze unsteady, her voice still soft: “This subject said, that document was never meant for Your Highness to see.”

When had he ever seen her display such a humble demeanor before him? He was stunned. Thinking back to what she had just said, he seemed to understand something. Fingering the paper fragments, he mused, “You specifically wrote this for Fang Huai to see?”

She remained silent, just sitting quietly before him.

A hint of surprise appeared on his face as his mind rapidly analyzed the situation. After a while, he frowned again and asked her in a low voice, “You know that the faction of proper discourse led by the elder officials of the Hanlin Academy is unwilling for the court to raise troops, so you deliberately wrote this strategy for Fang Huai to see, hoping to gain his favor and trust?”

She nodded, but then shook her head, “This subject and the other female jinshi of this examination were all personally tested and selected by Your Highness. Though we are the Emperor’s disciples, compared to the Emperor and the Prince of Ping, we are naturally closer to Your Highness. Once Your Highness ascends the throne and takes control of the government, this subject and others will inevitably become the supporting pillars among the young talents in court and will be relied upon by Your Highness. Your Highness is eager to make progress, but many elder officials in court hold political views that do not align with Your Highness’s wishes, and Your Highness’s plans may not meet with their approval. If this subject wishes to advance in the Hanlin Academy, naturally I must find a way to let the various scholars and secretaries see clearly that I stand on their side. Does Your Highness understand now?”

He remained expressionless and silent, but his heart seemed to surge like a torrent over rapids, shaken.

Earlier in the day when he saw her policy document, he was truly furious, but he had forgotten the way Fang Huai had looked at him at that time, and had not considered in detail why she would be so bold.

She raised her eyelashes to look at him and spoke again: “However, this subject’s purpose in writing this policy document was not limited to this.”

He met her gaze but still didn’t speak.

So she continued, “Regardless of what Your Highness’s actual plans are, which of your current actions doesn’t make the elder officials in court suspect that Your Highness intends to take military action against Northern Jian? Lord Shen has only recently gone to Qingzhou, unfamiliar with the people and place. It’s truly difficult for him to help Your Highness organize the northern border garrison military affairs in a short time. And how could the old officials of the Eastern Faction watch idly as Your Highness’s people make major changes in Chao’an? They will certainly create obstacles for Lord Shen behind the scenes. The elder officials of the Hanlin Academy don’t say it openly, but which one isn’t waiting to see how Your Highness will proceed with the next step? This subject’s policy essay is admittedly beyond my responsibility. If Your Highness doesn’t want the elder officials to discern your plans, why not take this opportunity to reprimand this subject, punishing with a reduction of salary and demotion as Your Highness sees fit? This way, the elder officials will know that Your Highness truly has no intention of raising troops against Northern Jian. As for how Lord Shen acts in Qingzhou, that would then not be related to Your Highness’s instructions. Even if someone raises suspicions again, they cannot openly speak of it in court.”

These words were not spoken quickly, her voice gentle, but they made his face grow cold, with a fierce aura emanating from his entire body.

He had thought that during her months in the Hanlin Academy, she had merely been reading history and compiling chronicles. He hadn’t expected her to be so perceptive and clear-minded, able to see the court situation so clearly, and so adept at anticipating intentions.

When he had initially granted her such exceptional honor, he had indeed considered that one day he would be able to make use of her. But he hadn’t anticipated that she, merely a female newly-ranked jinshi and a small sixth-rank Hanlin Academy Compiler who hadn’t yet secured her position at court, would have already paved the way and presented herself to be used by him.

He leaned back, fixing his gaze on her, and said neither coldly nor warmly, “In that case, in your heart, you wish for the court to raise troops?”

She continued to look at him in the same way, her brow moving slightly, then lowered her eyelashes and said, “Whether to raise troops or not is not what this subject wishes. This subject’s wishes are merely what Your Highness wishes.”

His back stiffened, his whole body somewhat rigid. Before he could fully react, he heard her voice dropping again, adding, “If Your Highness plans to raise troops, this subject hopes the court will raise troops; if Your Highness detests war, this subject hopes for peace throughout the land.”

After speaking, she pressed her lips together, quietly waiting for him to speak.

He understood what she had said, his temple suddenly throbbing. In his heart, he seemed to understand something but was unwilling to think deeply about it. He only felt as if something had blocked his chest, making his breathing slightly constricted. After a while, he finally spoke again, his voice detached, “You certainly are loyal. But have you considered that if I rebuke you and reduce your salary this time, how will you establish yourself in the Hanlin Academy in the future?”

She suddenly smiled, and when she looked up at him again, her eyes were bright, as if all the dazzling stars in the sky were reflected in her pupils, “I fear that the harsher Your Highness punishes this subject, the more favorable the elder officials of the Hanlin Academy will be toward me. By the end of spring next year, when my term is evaluated, they will certainly recommend me to the higher authorities. At that time, even if Your Highness is ten thousand times unwilling, you cannot but promote me.”

He couldn’t speak.

Such a Meng Tinghui… such a woman.

When he was reading those few sheets of thin paper, how could he have imagined that behind them, she would have so many intricate thoughts—even someone who had been an official at court for years might not calculate so meticulously.

Since Fang Huai had watched him read that policy document, if he had shown no reaction, it would have seemed too deliberate and unnatural. In that case, others would be more likely to think he was contemplating raising troops against Northern Jian…

Only by severely punishing her would it be the act of an ordinary person.

But to punish her, could he punish her for defying the imperial will and advising the court not to send troops? Ridiculous! Naturally, he would have to punish her for speaking wildly and declare that he and the court had no intention of raising troops against Northern Jian.

…This would still fulfill her wishes.

He sat there, his mind turning with countless thoughts, and finally sighed inwardly.

She could not be underestimated.

“Your Highness.”

Having not heard from him for a long time, she softly called to him again.

He came back to himself, meeting her gaze, warm and gentle like a clear, warm stream. It suddenly reminded him of those few sentences she had spoken earlier, and something else seemed to spread in his heart, making him extremely agitated. He only coldly replied, “Get out.”

She was perceptive and didn’t ask what he intended to do. She obediently placed the hand warmer back beside him, rubbed her fingertips, and lifted the curtain to exit the carriage.

After getting down and standing steady, she bent to pick up the bookcase from the carriage board. However, just as she turned to leave, his deep, detached voice came from behind, telling her to stop.

She turned around, and before she could see clearly, a warm black feather cloak descended upon her head, enveloping her entirely.

The yellow-robed attendant quickly walked over, got into the carriage, and the curtain suddenly fell.

The thin, long yellow brocade hanging from the carriage roof was rustling in the night wind, gradually disappearing into the dim light as the carriage drove away.

She stood there in a daze. Only after the carriage had turned the corner and was no longer visible did the hand not holding the bookcase instinctively grip the cloak around her body.

Her nose was filled with his pleasant scent.

After standing in place for who knows how long, snow began to fall from the sky again. Small snow particles swirled down, brushing past her cheeks, piercingly cold, finally bringing her back to her senses from her reverie.