Immortal Travel of Longevity

Xie Huan had always been a man who dared to think and act, driven not only by his ambitions but by what he had always sought to protect.

The Sixteenth Year of Shunzhi, early spring.

A young woman was sent to the Shen Family in Jiangnan, taking the place of their daughter, Shen Qiuyue, and using that identity to live on.

A palace selection maiden was chosen every three years. With only two years remaining until the next draft, a flawless identity had to be forged for her; a commoner background simply would not suffice.

Xie Huan had considered securing a better lineage for his agent, but it proved too difficult. Your Majesty had too many eyes, and the more prestigious the household, the harder it was to deceive them. He had no choice but to tread carefully, sending her as far as Jiangnan to slowly lay the groundwork.

"I have already sent her to Jiangnan. During the selection two years from now, she will enter the Imperial Harem."

Xie Huan parted his lips to speak. "That is fine, too... When you return to the Capital City, I will wait for you at the gates."

He had brought the matter up while sitting down for tea with Tong Nianyi.

Besides, Tong Nianyi had the backing of the Tang Family.

Dong Chiyu froze, her heart inexplicably trembling. Forcing a reasonably cheerful smile, she agreed.

A few words of praise had inexplicably appeared in the governor's memorial, which was no common occurrence.

Dong Chiyu thought for a moment before saying, "During my early years trapped in the Dong Estate, I used to wonder how vast the world was. I thought it might be so large that a person could never walk across it in a lifetime. But after I met you, I realized the world was actually quite small—so small that it only holds the two of us."

Xie Huan paused. "I will see you off when the time comes."

This was an old cliché; the issue was brought up in the memorials every year.

Tong Nianyi said, "Let's discuss it later. I have to return to Chunhui Prefecture in a couple of days."

Ruyi paused. "A good end... It was the same with my mother. The neighbors all said that one must smile to have a good end, but how could I possibly smile?"

Yet, she also wished everyone by her side could remain a child.

The years flowed by like a rolling river.

"Alright. You had better not forget in your next life."

Yan Nantian considered the thought, but then inexplicably dismissed it.

Setting the issue aside for now, he continued reading.

The governor of Jiangnan had submitted a memorial reporting on the various prefectures over the past year.

Ruyi stroked her hair, grooming it as if caring for a little girl.

Resting her chin in her hand, Ruyi sat in the Commandery Princess Manor. She stared at the doorway, her mind drifting into a daze.

This drew a laugh from Yan Nantian. He did not know what the governor had endured, but for the man to write such words, he must have suffered quite a few grievances in Chunhui Prefecture.

Many of the officials in Jiangnan were meritorious ministers of the past, and some were even his former close courtiers. Without hard evidence, it was difficult to move against them.

Large teardrops fell, likely driven by a lingering reluctance in her heart. Unable to express it, she kept the feeling bottled up inside, where it refused to dissipate.

"Blockhead, why are you crying?"

Everything was only just beginning.

She did not speak, nor did she ask.

Setting the memorial down, Yan Nantian fell into thought.

Just as Tong Nianyi had guessed, Yan Nantian had already abandoned the system of female officials. Xie Huan worked with reckless abandon, like a mad dog; Yan Nantian found him highly useful and kept him close. However, he remained unsure about Tong Nianyi.

Thus, she said, "I cannot help you. But if she truly has a chance to become the mother of the world in the future, I will lend my support in the outer court."

Tong Nianyi nodded. "Alright."

Tong Nianyi understood Xie Huan's intentions. He still wanted to drag her down with him, but she had no interest in wading into those muddy waters.

Dong Chiyu patted her back lightly. "Don't be too sad," she murmured. "Steward Bai was advanced in years, and passing away peacefully in his bed is considered a good end. You shouldn't grieve like this."

She was old now, no longer a child.

"I'm not."

Xie Huan breathed a sigh of relief. He simply did not want to stand on the opposite side of Tong Nianyi in the future. She had always been his pillar of support, almost like a spiritual anchor, which was why he told her things he would never share with anyone else.

Perhaps it was because Tong Nianyi harbored unfulfilled ambitions yet adhered too strictly to the rules, placing Yan Nantian in a difficult position. She was different from Xie Huan. Yan Nantian had no leverage over her, and her connection to Ruyi forced him to weigh his options carefully, knowing it would influence his judgment.

Ruyi nodded. "I won't forget."

But this also left Yan Nantian feeling helpless.

Over the past year, problems had continually arisen across the regions.

She felt an inexplicable urge to cry, yet the tears simply refused to fall.

Tong Nianyi said, "It is best that you don't. We returned empty-handed this time and yet received no punishment, sparking endless speculation among the court officials. Drawing more attention to ourselves now will do neither of us any good."

It noted that the prefect of Chunhui Prefecture, Lord Tong, was upright, incorruptible, and compassionate toward the common people. He had rerouted waterways, built waterwheels, and enriched the prefecture's agriculture. He had also reformed local laws to bring stability and invited renowned scholars to open an academy, carving a path forward for the impoverished...

"Mhm..."

Yet, the most ink was spent criticizing Prefect Tong's temper. He was described as being as stubborn as a mule, entirely unreasonable, and wearing a cold, obstinate expression.

...

Dong Chiyu blinked. "Afraid?"

Dong Chiyu's heart skipped a beat. Understanding what Ruyi meant, she simply said, "I won't leave."

That same year.

When Dong Chiyu turned her head away to avoid looking at Ruyi, her eyes inexplicably welled with tears.

The salt and iron trades continued to devour lives. Officials across the regions harbored their own hidden agendas. The prosperous land of Jiangnan yielded a great deal of wealth, and most of its officials protected one another, making them incredibly difficult to handle.

She also frequently wondered why Ruyi was not a man.

"Stupid Blockhead, how do you know I'm talking about you and not someone else?"

She let out a long sigh and looked directly at Dong Chiyu. "I am just afraid..."

She murmured the words, her gaze growing unfocused as if recalling everything she had experienced over the years.

The governor did not skimp on praise, detailing every aspect thoroughly. Naturally, he also included a few negative points.

Ruyi was left in a daze by her words. Parting her lips, she eventually said, "If I am a man in my next life, I will definitely marry you."

Come to think of it, it had been a few years since Tong Nianyi left the Capital City. Back when she served as the Diarist of Daily Life, her records had always been perfectly organized and sometimes quite interesting to read. She was just a bit cold and adhered too rigidly to the rules; other than that, she was entirely without flaw.

...

In the Seventeenth Year of Shunzhi, the Wannian county magistrate in Shangjing died of illness at home. Your Majesty mourned his contributions and posthumously granted him a title. Later, on the recommendation of Cabinet Elder Chen of the Grand Cabinet, Shen Mingyuan—Master Shen of the Jiangnan Shen Family—was promoted to serve as the Wannian county magistrate.

To put it bluntly, it was because she was too difficult to control.

"Let's wait a little longer..."

With that in mind, Yan Nantian set the matter aside for the time being.

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