At this point, he smiled self-mockingly: “I knew early on that the Emperor had this plan. After all, with my father in command of the military, the Emperor could only feel at ease by keeping me in the Capital City as a hostage.”

“But if I had stayed in the Capital, even if I had achieved the top rank in the military examinations, I would have had to start from the sixth or seventh rank and slowly climb up through seniority. Without ten or eight years, I couldn’t have reached the fourth rank; and to reach the third rank would require exceptionally outstanding contributions and abilities.”

Most military examination graduates remained in the Capital City doing desk work in the Ministry of War, or if sent to military camps, served in positions similar to modern-day staff officers.

To pursue a military career, one had to start from a minor leadership position, after all, warfare costs lives. Generals wouldn’t entrust troops to military graduates who only knew theoretical battle tactics. They needed to gain experience gradually, step by step. Their promotions were just slightly faster than ordinary soldiers, similar to modern military academy graduates.

“So I took advantage of the timing—while Duke Wei’s household was in power and the Emperor wasn’t guarding against my father and me—using the excuse of fleeing from my stepmother’s persecution to go south and start a business, then join the military. Only by using Lu Guanyu’s last card to achieve great merit could I rise so quickly. Otherwise, as long as my father held military power, I would have been suppressed forever, unable to make a name for myself.”

Despite Lu Guanyi’s exceptional talent, he couldn’t advance because of Lu Zhongyong, forcing him to resort to this strategy. If he hadn’t plotted this course for himself, he might have remained a wastrel his entire life, or even been killed by Madam Shi long ago.

Ye Yaming tenderly stroked his callused hand: “Actually, whether you hold office or how high your rank is doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care about that.”

“But I do,” Lu Guanyi lowered his head and kissed her face. “I don’t want you to have to lower your head before others, to endure humiliation because of others’ status and position.”

His Yaming should be able to stand straight-backed before emperors and princesses, neither servile nor arrogant, conversing with ease. He couldn’t bear to see any noble lady from the Capital City looking at her with contempt.

They weren’t even worthy of tying Yaming’s shoes—what right did they have to look down on her? It was only because the men in their families stood higher.

“Moreover, your tea business is expanding more and more. It’s a juicy piece of meat, and I don’t want anyone coveting it or scheming against you and the Ye family.”

Ye Yaming’s nose stung with emotion.

This was an era of imperial power and rule by men. With power, status, and position, one could do whatever one pleased. And merchants in this era were as lowly as mud, trampled upon by anyone.

She dared to expand her business so broadly, dared to buy such vast tea mountains in Huizhou and Minzhou, dared to introduce Longjing, Tieguanyin, and black tea, dared to open high-end teahouses in the Capital—all because she had Lu Guanyi standing behind her.

Otherwise, she would have had to confine herself to Lin’an, becoming a small merchant no different from Jin Baoshan or Wang Kuan. Possessing such treasures but unable to utilize them, she probably would have died from frustration and pain.

She sniffled, holding back her tears, and said softly: “But didn’t you dislike the life of court struggles? Didn’t you want to observe the chess game rather than be a chess piece? Won’t this path exhaust you?”

Sensing her emotional fluctuation, Lu Guanyi gently embraced her. Ye Yaming, fearing she might touch his wounds, stiffened and didn’t dare move.

Lu Guanyi patted her back, signaling her to relax: “It’s fine, the wounds have scabbed over.”

Feeling Ye Yaming relax, he continued: “If I remained in the military, I could only be a chess piece, just like my father. Even as a first-rank general commanding troops, he would still be a piece held in someone else’s hand for his entire life. But if I return to court, I can coldly observe others’ conflicts, or become a chess player. The initiative is in my hands.”

Ye Yaming thought for a moment and nodded slightly: “That’s indeed true.”

The Great Jin didn’t have a specially established cabinet. Instead, officials of the third rank or higher could actively enter the cabinet.

Once in the cabinet, one gained a voice and could become a chess player rather than passively remaining a chess piece.

The Ministry of War didn’t have the authority to deploy troops, and with Lu Guanyi under the Emperor’s watchful eye, the Emperor should feel more at ease about him.

Lu Guanyi had risen through military achievements and was well-versed in military texts. He could devise strategies for wars thousands of miles away and personally lead troops in battle. Such talent was rare throughout the Great Jin, let alone in the Ministry of War, where advancement depended on ability. Even if the Emperor didn’t want to employ him heavily, he couldn’t afford not to.

Therefore, Lu Guanyi’s authority in the Ministry of War, even his promotion to Minister of War, was just a matter of time.

The higher one stood, the more control one had over one’s fate. Even though Lu Guanyi now bore the distinct mark of the Crown Prince’s faction, as long as he stood in a high position and became a chess player, with Lu Zhongyong’s military power in hand, whichever prince became Emperor would have to win him over rather than take his life.

“Moreover, the ‘Thirty-Six Stratagems’ you gave me are truly excellent. I also want to join the Ministry of War to cultivate more military talents for the Great Jin and strengthen the nation. Therefore, during my last return to the Capital for our wedding, I discussed with the Crown Prince my plan to transfer to the Ministry of War after achieving more military merit.”

Ye Yaming looked up at him, her eyes blazing: “So you arranged everything, using Madam Shi’s death to provoke Lu Guanyu into revealing his last card to achieve military merit?”

Lu Guanyi shook his head and stroked Ye Yaming’s back: “I had originally planned to wait another half year or year. After all, I had only recently been promoted to the fourth rank. Even with another brilliant military achievement, it would have been difficult to rise to the third rank.”

“I didn’t expect Prince Zhennan’s son would die so quickly,” he smiled bitterly. “She still wanted to use us as pawns against the three Chu siblings. How could I tolerate that? Since she wanted to move against Madam Shi, I could only lend her a hand and hasten Madam Shi’s demise. Fortunately, I had already discussed this with the Crown Prince, and he overcame many difficulties to elevate me to the third rank.”

As early as when he was twelve years old, he had begun placing his trusted subordinates around Madam Shi, sending seven or eight over the years. He had cast a wide net, focusing on catching the big fish, hoping that somehow, one of them would gain Madam Shi’s trust, stand by her side as her confidant, while remaining loyal to him.

Perhaps because the people he and his grandfather had selected were exceptional, or perhaps due to good luck, more than one of those he had sent eventually became Madam Shi’s close attendants.

He could have easily taken Madam Shi’s life two or three years earlier. But the timing wasn’t right—he didn’t want to offend Duke Wei’s household and wanted to maximize his benefits.

The Prince Zhennan’s wife’s move presented the perfect opportunity. If missed, such a chance would be hard to come by again. Moreover, now that he had someone he wanted to protect with his life, he also wanted to end Madam Shi’s life earlier to prevent her from extending her evil claws toward his wife and children. So this time, he seized the opportunity and ended Madam Shi’s life.