Chapter 89

Meimei?

At this moment, Lijin had begun working as an advisor, solving regional issues—almost as if she were finally running the business she had always wanted.

She was now a business partner of the imperial court, trading in economic intelligence. Naturally, she had to clarify the scope of her assistance, as well as the compensation she expected in return.

Although she had a genuine desire to help Shuilong, setting clear boundaries and defining the framework would ensure smoother discussions in the future.

At least, that was how Lijin saw it. And she had to voice this sentiment, even if it made her feel somewhat ashamed.

No one wanted to work without short-term goals, investing effort without receiving anything in return. She had not yet attained enlightenment to such an extent.

“I do not understand. If this is a national-level issue, why haven’t Your Highness and His Majesty consulted the kingdom’s scholars and officials?... Shuilong is a land of scholars, rich in accumulated knowledge. Is there truly no solution?”

“Since Jin Guang ascended the throne, he has tirelessly sought solutions to this problem. We have already attempted various measures… You may study these records yourself. I had Ma Gonggong bring them…” The eunuch presented six volumes to Lijin as Qin Wang continued explaining.

“These summarize past failures…The full details are contained in dozens more volumes on the carriage I brought.”

“Then why me?... I am nothing more than an unknown scholar—a commoner from a remote land.”

“You revealed your abilities only recently, yet solutions came swiftly. Whether it was the salt crisis or the drought in the south, your unconventional approach distinguished you. Did you not write in your first book that one must be open to new ideas, willing to learn from different perspectives, and accept necessary change…?”

“I was merely using my knowledge to make a living. The only reason I am well-off today is that those books were well-received. Sigh… I…” She let out a deep breath, preparing herself to discuss compensation. But...

“There is no need to worry. Your life, your family will be safe, happy, and wealthier than ever. Whatever you ask for, Shuilong will grant it, as long as it is reasonable. Please, use your knowledge to help this kingdom...”

“Your Highness, I…” Lijin’s eyes widened. She was at a loss as the other party had just handed her an open-ended reward—like a blank check with no specified amount.

Lijin was stunned, unable to react at first. But after a few moments, she steadied herself.

"Until it is completed... I will not accept any reward, Your Highness. But once it does, I ask only for a share of the business it creates. The exact amount will be at the discretion of Your Highness and His Majesty.”

“Agreed! It shall be the same proportion as Fenghe. As long as you provide the strategy—as long as this land sees positive change, that is all that matters.”

Two shares of the profits from salt and sugar trade in the region— just how wealthy would that make her? Lijin could no longer even imagine it. The more trust and rewards she received, the more her doubts grew.

Wasn’t she just a stranger to the imperial court? Just another commoner of Shuilong?

Lijin didn’t understand… And she knew that genuine relationships should be built on honesty.

“Your Highness, may I ask something frankly…?”

“Mm! Ask away. I am willing to listen. If I can answer, I will tell you everything."

“Why are you offering me this opportunity? His Majesty could issue an imperial decree forcing my involvement without spending a single coin or granting any benefits… I apologize, but I cannot help but feel uneasy about this generosity.”.

The mature man hesitated slightly upon hearing her words. Not long after, his demeanor became visibly flustered—an unexpected reaction that left Lijin puzzled. Her gaze shifted to Ma Gonggong, who was now rubbing his temples.

Lijin suddenly pondered to herself while turning to Ning-ning for her opinion. The maid, who had been promoted to a secondary family member, merely shrugged slightly, also appearing confused.

Not only could she not read Qin Wang’s thoughts, but his behavior was also stranger than she had anticipated. Lijin understood that the prince wanted them to interact casually, yet she still couldn’t bring herself to be as familiar as he wished.

He was like a child trapped in an adult’s body—wanting something yet too hesitant to ask for it directly.

In the end, Qin Wang closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and, with some difficulty and clear embarrassment, blurted out—

“You… I… Jin Guang and I, we just… just want you to be our meimei… That’s all. Really.”

Ma Gonggong had already begun mourning the situation.

Lijin’s eyes widened. Her mind went blank the moment she heard the word meimei…

Ning-ning coughed violently, nearly choking on her own breath, and had to step back to maintain propriety…

What had this man just said? Those words echoed in Lijin’s mind, leaving her completely dazed.

“Well… well, you wanted an honest answer. I… I had to say it… right?” By now, the prince’s handsome face was completely red. He had never expected to blurt out such an important statement on their first day meeting each other. Everything had gone off script.

If he had dodged the question or given a vague response, the distance between them would have only grown.

In Shuilong royal tradition, sibling relationships were deeply bonded and built on mutual trust. Even if Lijin refused to acknowledge that status, both Jinli and Jin Guang had already made up their minds…it would be difficult to dissuade them.

However, in the beginning… their desire had not been entirely pure. They had initially wanted to keep her close for the benefit of the kingdom, for the welfare of the people.

Even Qin Wang could not deny that it had been a selfish thought…

Lijin was no different.

Everything she had done was, first and foremost, for herself. Her initial goal had been power and enough strength to break free from the Wei family’s cage. Her next objective had been to build her own influence—a protective shield for herself and her family.

Her desire for Shuilong’s prosperity and peace was ultimately driven by a personal wish—to secure a comfortable future for herself and her children. She sought profit and wealth, power and reputation.

Her intentions were far from pure.

Yet… upon seeing his expression, she couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

In two lifetimes, she had only ever been asked to be a friend once. But today, one of the most powerful figures in the land had asked her to be his sister…

“I… I don’t…” She tried to force the words out of her dry throat but was cut off.

“Don’t answer now. I know this isn’t the right time… uh… it’s not the right moment yet. We’ve only just met. I rushed into things too quickly and made you uncomfortable…”

“Your Highness…” She wanted to confess that her intentions were never truly for the greater good. That she didn’t deserve such an honor.

Besides, she was just a commoner—how could she suddenly become part of the royal family?...

Even if she did, even if she gained power, wealth, and an army at her disposal—endless troubles would follow.

She was already overwhelmed with her daily cultivation. Walking the immortal path left her little time for rest. If she became a princess, she wouldn’t even have time to sleep. She would wither away inside the palace until she died of exhaustion.

But what he said was true—she had only just met him. How could she reject him outright? For now, all she could do was observe.

Having only one friend was already challenging—now she had to deal with gaining an elder brother as well? She felt a headache coming on.

“I… may not be the person you imagine me to be. And you may not be the person I imagined either. I will wait until we both discover the true answer to that question, then...” Lijin wanted to scratch her head after saying that.

Qin Wang, however, was pleased with her response. At the very least, the awkwardness had lessened significantly. Even Ma Gonggong bowed slightly to her in gratitude.

Time would decide everything—if everyone could come to understand their own true thoughts.

At the very least, Lijin now had plenty of work to keep her occupied during the winter. Paper and ink would be transformed into one book after another, written by her own brush and hands. And her employer was not far away—any issues could be discussed freely at any time.

The beginning of next year seemed promising… That was what she thought.

…..

The Liangli Festival had officially commenced. Stalls large and small filled the city center, bustling with merchants. Inns that were once empty were now nearly nine-tenths full with visitors coming to spectate and compete.

Each professional category had designated judges overseeing the selection process. The first three days of the festival were for filtering out the majority of contestants, leaving only a select few for the final round on the fifth day. Contestants were given a rest day on the fourth day to prevent confusion and disorder caused by having too many competitions running simultaneously. For its inaugural year, the festival was divided into five categories: scholars, mathematics, pottery, wood and metal craftsmanship, and agricultural knowledge

Each category had a separate venue tailored to its audience’s interest. Scholars and mathematicians drew more attention than other fields, but the gap wasn’t too wide.

Young people and teenagers, eager to explore new things, wandered between all areas of the festival. The routes prepared by the city lord were convenient, connecting directly to the central square. There were covered walkways in case of snowfall and warming stations placed throughout. Hot food stalls were available all day, offering affordable meals. Overall, it was an extremely lively festival.

All of the Gu Manor’s servants were entered into the Scholar and Mathematics categories. The townspeople eagerly watched, curious to see their abilities firsthand. No one wanted to miss this opportunity.

Everyone wanted to witness it with their own eyes. Some firmly believed in the Gu household’s excellence, while others doubted how skilled they truly were.

Strangely, the scholars from various academies greeted their competitors warmly, as if they had met before.

However, what truly shocked and excited the townspeople was the thunderous announcement from the royal guards, echoing through the air just moments before a distinguished procession arrived to preside over the festival’s opening ceremony.

Qin Wang has arrived!!!

Everyone was stunned. They immediately dropped to their knees in waves.

A member of the Shuilong royal family had personally come to attend this festival?

If that were the case… Simply participating in the competition—paying the small entry fee—was already an honor of a lifetime.