After Xiao Yan left the capital, time seemed to slow down, and Tang Ning felt that the mansion had become quieter.
Even though they hadn't met every day when Xiao Yan was in the capital, after he left, she felt uneasy in every way, as if everything was out of place. Only when Cang Lang came to talk about matters concerning the Privy Council did she manage to suppress the discomfort in her heart.
The affairs of the Privy Council were far more complicated than those of the academy. Although Xiao Yan had made arrangements before leaving and had let Cang Lang and others handle things temporarily, when Tang Ning actually got involved, she realized it was far more complicated than she had imagined.
At first, she thought it was simply a matter of carrying out orders for the Emperor. But later, she discovered that the Privy Council was responsible for receiving petitions from the court officials and envoys, issuing imperial edicts, handling secret government affairs in the capital, and drafting imperial documents. Most of the memorials from the court did not go directly to the Emperor but had to first pass through the Privy Council before reaching the Ministry of Personnel.
Moreover, Emperor An was suspicious by nature and had a volatile temper, often acting on whims. On top of that, there were various factions within the court, and the Privy Council also had the responsibility of "supervising" and "clearing up" matters. This meant that almost no one in the council had a moment of peace. Even though Cang Lang and the others had already handled most of the work, Tang Ning was still overwhelmed, feeling dizzy and exhausted.
Thankfully, when Xiao Yan was in the capital, he did not shield Tang Ning from these matters. Sometimes, she would assist him, and Xiao Yan had also taught her a few things. This made it so that she wasn't completely clueless about what to do.
"Miss, drink some water..." Hua Wu saw that Tang Ning had just closed a memorial and quickly brought over a cup of tea.
Tang Ning took a sip, quenching the dryness in her throat, then put the cup down and lightly massaged her brow. "What tea is this? It's so bitter."
"Miss, you've been a bit overheated these past few days, and your eyes have been slightly red. I added a bit of lotus seed heart to help clear the eyes and reduce heat," Hua Wu replied, placing the teacup aside. She glanced at the pile of work on the table. "The master has so many things to take care of. You've been busy all day."
Tang Ning looked at the pile of papers and sighed, "Yes, there really is a lot of work..."
These were the matters that Cang Lang and the others had mostly dealt with, leaving only those that her brother had to personally review. From what Cang Lang said, when her brother was in the capital, he had to handle even more.
Not only did he have to manage the numerous tasks within the Privy Council, but he also had to attend court every day, dealing with the political maneuverings of the officials, and even those of the royal family. He still found time to care for her, despite everything.
But back then, her brother had been able to handle everything with ease. Tang Ning could hardly imagine how she would manage if she were in his position.
Tang Ning straightened up and said to Yue Jian, "Take all of this and send it to Helitang. The memorials from the southern border should be given to Cang Lang, and he needs to get them to the Ministry of Justice as soon as possible. Once they are processed and await the Emperor's approval, they will be distributed to the six ministries."
Yue Jian nodded and began to tidy the table.
"Miss, Madam Ru and Madam Qian are here."
"Tang Ning!"
Before Xichun’s voice had finished, Qian Qi Yue’s cheerful and clear call came from outside.
Yue Jian moved faster, quickly cleaning up the table, moving the memorials to the inner room, and Hua Wu also arranged the pens and ink before Tang Ning stood up to greet them. As she stepped toward the curtain, she saw Qian Qi Yue, dressed in a bright red gown, walking in, followed by Xue Ru, who was in a pale yellow skirt. Upon seeing Tang Ning, Xue Ru smiled, showing her dimples, "Sister."
"Greetings, Madam Qian, Madam Ru." Hua Wu and the others quickly bowed.
Qian Qi Yue waved her hand, gesturing for them to rise. She then quickly stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Tang Ning in a warm hug. "Little Haitang, have you missed me?"
Tang Ning stumbled a bit, but a smile appeared on her face. "I was thinking about you. What brings you here?"
"Of course, I'm here to find you!" Qian Qi Yue’s beautiful phoenix eyes rose as she pulled Tang Ning along and said, "Today is the Qixi Festival. Don't tell me you're going to stay at home reading? The west side of the city is bustling today. A'Ru and I came to take you out for fun."
Tang Ning, held by the waist, tilted her head back and noticed that Qian Qi Yue had put on makeup, and even Xue Ru, usually simple, had some makeup and a flower decoration on her hair, with pretty ribbons and bells in her two-bun hairstyle.
Tang Ning couldn't help but laugh, "Didn't I tell you the other day that I wasn't going? You and A'Ru go and have fun..."
"Go where? It’s the best day of the year, it only happens once, and there’s even a competition. Besides, tonight in the west, there will be acrobats, singing, and fireworks. All the girls in the city will be out, and you're going to stay at home like a mushroom?" Qian Qi Yue said excitedly.
"I don't like crowds..."
"That's a lie, you used to love crowds the most."
Qian Qi Yue said it without thinking, and when she saw Tang Ning turn to look at her, she immediately realized she had misspoken.
Little Haitang didn’t remember those things, and Xiao Yan had specifically told her not to mention such things for the time being to avoid upsetting her.
Qian Qi Yue quickly changed the subject, pretending not to notice the doubt in Tang Ning’s eyes. "Anyway, I love the hustle and bustle. Just treat it as accompanying me."
"I’m telling you, this year, the prizes for the Qixi Festival competition are plentiful. Last year, I lost a game of chess and got nothing, and a few annoying people mocked me for a whole year. This year, you and A'Ru have to help me win it back..."
Tang Ning was about to speak when Qian Qi Yue already grabbed her arm. "Good Tang Ning, just go with me. Go play with me."
Tang Ning was being gently swayed by her.
"Tang Ning, go, go, just go with me~~"
"Okay, okay, okay, just let go first, my head is spinning."
"Really? Tang Ning is the best!" Qian Qi Yue let go of her and gave her a bear hug before pushing her toward the inner room. "Hurry up, change into your best clothes. Hua Wu, go bring the prettiest dress for your lady, and do her hair nicely."
"Is it really necessary to go all out like this?"
"Of course!" Qian Qi Yue glared at her. "The west side of the city is full of beauties tonight. We can't fall behind!"
Tang Ning was practically being pushed forward. When she turned and saw Hua Wu looking at her, she could only helplessly sigh.
"Go on, listen to Madam Qian."
If she didn’t listen to Qian Qi Yue, she feared her ears wouldn't have any peace.
Hua Wu suppressed a laugh. "Yes, I'll go right now."
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