For a long time, Meng He and Wu Xianchen had an awkward relationship.
Not only because she had nearly become his younger brother's wife,
but also because she had misread the name on the marriage document and rashly agreed to the match.
It was all a misunderstanding.
But by the time she realized her mistake, most of the betrothal rites had already been completed.
After much deliberation, she had no choice but to break off the engagement.
The two families became enemies, and Wu Xianchen's younger brother, on his way back to the capital for the wedding, was caught in a torrential downpour and swept into the fast-flowing Grand Canal along with his horse.
At the Wu family mourning hall, white funeral banners fluttered. Wu's father smashed the betrothal jade pendant, while Wu's mother collapsed in Wu Xianchen's arms, weeping.
"It's her! She's the one who killed my son!"
Meng He felt weighed down by guilt and could no longer face the feelings she had once harbored.
She petitioned the throne to go to Datong in Shanxi to oversee construction projects, and stayed there for five years.
Five years later, she returned to the capital...
·
"This subordinate pays respects to the Grand Secretary."
"No need for formalities." His voice was exceedingly cool as he sat down behind the desk. "Five years in Datong. You've worked hard."
The officials held their breath.
Who didn't know of Meng He and the Wu family's history?
And who knew whether today's report was an evaluation or a trial?
Meng He stood in the hall and unfolded her report, her voice steady and composed.
"This subordinate oversaw the construction of four hundred li of border walls in Datong, built twelve new watchtowers, dredged the waterways in Hunyuan and Guangling, and saved seventy thousand taels of grain-transport silver each year..."
He slid a document across the desk. "Three years ago, in the seventh month, you submitted a request to assign more prisoners to labor duty?"
She slowly raised her eyes. Wu Xianchen's face was hidden in the lamplight; only one wrist rested on the desk.
"Yes." She looked him straight in the eye. "The Tatars invaded the border that year, and more than half the laborers fled. After prisoners were assigned to the work, not a single day was added to the construction schedule."
"How many died or were injured?"
"Twenty-six." Her throat tightened. "Their names were all recorded, and I used my salary to cover their compensation."
A deathly silence filled the hall.
Wu Xianchen closed the document. "Does Director Meng know that the Great Ming Code stipulates that an official in charge be caned sixty times if a prisoner dies while on labor duty?"
"This subordinate acknowledges her guilt." She dropped to her knees, her gaze steady. "But if the border wall had not been reinforced, more than twenty-six people would have died."
"Get up." His voice suddenly turned cold and hard. "The Ministry of Personnel is not the Ministry of Justice."
An imagined ancient setting, loosely modeled on the Ming Dynasty, where both men and women may serve as officials.
The main focus is officialdom. (Emphasis added!!)
Readers who prefer pure romance are welcome too. The interactions between the leads, who spend most of their time in official circles, make up seventy percent of the story. Sweetness with a side of heartbreak.
Theme: With the golden headband tight around me, I long to speak but hold back.
