In Chang'an, the nobles were overjoyed; at least they had paid to avoid trouble.
Meanwhile, the powerful clans were somewhat worried. They were now harboring restless thoughts, preparing to contribute as much money and supplies as possible.
While they couldn't say for sure what outrageous things Lu Ming might do, judging from his behavior today...
If he obediently paid, that would be fine; if not, he would have to bear the consequences himself.
Who doesn't suffer from typhoid fever or chronic illnesses?
Birth, aging, sickness, and death are inevitable; to live, one must be free from illness and pain.
Moreover, they couldn't compete with Lu Ming—the Emperor's son-in-law, the Imperial Son-in-Law, the Governor of Liangzhou, the Commandant of the Western Garden, and commanding an army that fought on all sides. The combined cost of his food and supplies was beyond their ability to contend with!
On the other side of the military camp, Princess Wannian and Cai Wenji were guests in a special tent.
Zhang Yulan was managing the affairs of the inner palace. They wouldn't stay in Chang'an but would directly depart for Tao County to settle down.
Afterwards, Lu Ming would lead his men to Anding County to quell the plague there.
They only needed to live peacefully at home.
This tent was rather unusual, surrounded by numerous guards.
These were people entrusted by Zhao Hou to Lu Ming for escort, their destination being Chang'an.
However, Lu Ming didn't want to do this because he knew the mother and daughter being escorted were the daughter and granddaughter of the Jia family.
They had been married off to Lin Ruhai, then the Salt and Iron Commissioner of Donghai, but Lin Ruhai had died of illness. The widow and her child were unable to survive, so before his death, Lin Ruhai entrusted Zhao Hou to escort his wife and daughter back to her parents' home in Chang'an, where at least they could live a better life.
The salt and iron industry was always extremely profitable, and many companies were involved.
Marquis Zhao was no exception. Although the Imperial Household Department had declined considerably, it still owned salt fields in the East China Sea. He was acquainted with Lin Ruhai, the then-Governor-General of Salt and Iron Sales, and they were even classmates.
He was willing to help with this small matter.
Lu Ming sent Marquis Zhao's son into the city to drink and carouse, and to spread some rumors.
He himself was enjoying women at the military camp outside the city. Some things needed to be done by others; he needed someone else to speak for him.
Originally, Lu Ming planned to send Jia Min and Lin Daiyu to the Jia family mansion. He had been entrusted with a task and didn't want to mess it up.
However, the Jia family seemed uncooperative. Even with the imperial edict, they weren't following it.
Then he wouldn't be polite; he wouldn't send them there. They could stay for now.
"Madam Lin, are you staying well?" Princess Wannian approached with a smile. As one of the principal wives, her appearance was perfectly reasonable.
Although Jia Min was a woman, she was considered exceptionally well-read among women.
Women's education was very important; only by reading and writing could they manage household affairs.
Reading helped them understand principles, but she read mainly poetry and literature, focusing on romance, poetry, chess, painting, and so on.
She didn't read Legalist or other classic works, as that would lead them to have inappropriate thoughts.
She bowed slightly to Princess Wannian to show her closeness, her face pale, indicating that the journey had made her weak. Her health was already poor. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fine."
"My husband has returned from the city. He said it's not advisable to enter for the time being, as there is a suspected epidemic in the city. Going there rashly could lead to infection. Madam seems a little weak; perhaps my husband could examine her? Women are inherently weak, especially after childbirth. Without proper care, they can develop chronic illnesses." Princess Wannian was there as an intermediary; Lu Ming only briefly mentioned the affairs of the four great families.
If he were angered, the Jia family's daughter wouldn't be returned.
Princess Wannian didn't care whether Lu Ming would take the mother and daughter in; it was completely unimportant to her.
Her status as a wife was secure. As long as she had children, regardless of gender, things would be stable.
Furthermore, after being conquered by Lu Ming, she had even less reason to object to him. Basically, she would do whatever Lu Ming said.
Jia Min sensed something strange; she was unaware of what was happening in Chang'an.
She hesitated for a moment, then said, "We've arrived in Chang'an. I can return to the Jia family to recuperate; there's no need to trouble the Governor here."
Beside her stood a young woman, not yet a teenager, with delicately arched eyebrows and eyes that seemed to hold both joy and sorrow.
Her cheeks were etched with sorrow, and her delicate frame seemed frail.
Tears glistened in her eyes, and her breath was soft and shallow.
In stillness, she was like a beautiful flower reflected in water; in motion, like a willow swaying in the breeze.
Her heart possessed more wisdom than Bi Gan's, and her illness surpassed even Xi Shi's beauty.
There was a poignant, sickly beauty about her, evoking pity—this was Lin Daiyu!
"Entrusted with a task, I must be loyal. Lord Zhao has entrusted my husband to bring you safely to the Jia family mansion. Now, with a plague in Chang'an, we cannot act rashly. Madam, please rest assured. My husband has come to address the spread of the plague. We can go to Longxi to reside and return once the plague is eradicated," Princess Wannian retorted with a smile. In a sense, she had only come to inform, not to negotiate.
Jia Min, though somewhat thin and frail, coughed a few times. "Then I'll trouble you, Governor, and Your Highness the Princess as well."
"It's no trouble at all. Madam Lin is very knowledgeable; we'd like to learn from her," Princess Wannian said with a smile, covering her mouth with her hand. She was neither interested in nor concerned with the power struggles.
She only knew that she had to do what her husband asked of her; everything else was irrelevant.
"I see Daiyu doesn't look well. Perhaps we should take her to her husband's place to see him. Illnesses should be treated promptly; don't delay, and certainly don't avoid seeking medical help," Cai Wenji added. She simply felt sorry for Lin Daiyu and had no ill intentions.
If it weren't for the many bamboo slips and books among Jia Min's supplies, she wouldn't have come to join the fun.
She loved reading and was also considering how to become a teacher and educate people.
If Princess Wannian's ambition was simply to serve her husband, Lu Ming, with no other aspirations, then Cai Wenji's ambition was to teach and nurture, collect classical texts, and explore methods of child education.
Every woman's thoughts are different; as long as she is happy, nothing else matters.