Professional Ethics of a Concubine

Zuifeng Restaurant.

Xie Mingyu dragged Xie Niankang to drink here. He took out money and asked Xie Niankang to drink with him. In his words, this was the leisure time he had stolen with great difficulty.

"Hey, Brother Kang, you don't know, I get a headache when I return to the palace, especially when I see my brat and the princess, I want to escape..."

Xie Mingyu poured a glass of wine, drank it all in one gulp, and said with a sad face.

Xie Niankang took a sip of the wine and put it down, smiling and asking,

"I heard rumors that Prince Rui and Princess Rui are deeply in love, and they are an enviable pair of loving couples.

The union of the two of you is not only a union of love, but also has important political significance, and has played an important role in the integration of the Wanyan tribe into the Great Zhao..."

"Ahem... the beginning sounded like a local legend, but after listening to the latter part, I felt like I was reading an unofficial history."

Xie Mingyu almost spit out a mouthful of wine and asked unbearably.

"It seems that you have not lost your childhood intelligence. The last two sentences I said were indeed excerpted from a history book that is currently being written."

Xie Niankang said with a smile.

"Who wrote the history book? Can you please write something reliable instead of exaggerating and praising it, so that future generations can also read something real."

Xie Mingyu said,

"What kind of love union is this? It's just plunder, it's just forced sex, it's a man's blood and tears history."

Xie Niankang,

This time it was Xie Niankang who almost spit out the wine in his mouth.

Xie Niankang put down his wine glass and asked Xie Mingyu,

"Isn't Princess Rui pregnant? You two should have a very good relationship.

No matter how hard you try, you sound so bitter. You don't even want to go back home and you even abandoned your pregnant wife.

If your situation gets out, be careful of being scolded by some women behind your back."

"Alas, alas, alas..." Xie Mingyu sighed three times, picked up another glass of wine and drank it, saying bitterly,

"Others don't know the details at all! When the princess and I met, she forced me!

Oh, oh, oh… I like gentle and sensible women, not masculine ones. Anyway, after so many years, I still feel uneasy! "

Xie Niankang,

He was silent for a moment, not knowing how to persuade her. After all, their first child was already able to dance with a stick, and they were pregnant with their second child.

Things have come to this, the princess has done nothing wrong, and she is the daughter of the leader of the Wanyan tribe. What else can she do about it? They can just make do with each other.

"Come, come, drink." Xie Niankang filled his glass again and said softly,

"Don't just resist. Adjust your mindset and look at the princess's advantages. That bandit vibe also means that she has a cheerful and generous personality. She won't get angry with you over trivial matters, right?"

"Hmph." Xie Mingyu hummed twice, muttered softly, and changed the subject.

"Brother Niankang, you suddenly stopped going out to sea and have been staying in Beijing. Are you having trouble adapting?"

"Not bad." Xie Niankang took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "Such a bustle and such a lively atmosphere make me feel very comfortable.

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, I don’t like being alone anymore, I don’t like novelty and adventure anymore.”

"You are only thirty-one, but you sound fifty-one. Even the emperor doesn't talk as old as you do." Xie Mingyu glared at him speechlessly.

"Since you like the hustle and bustle, you should get married.

Once you have a wife and children, you will no longer know what loneliness feels like. Every day is so lively. Opportunities to drink like this are hard to come by, so you should cherish them."

"But looking at your appearance, you really aren't a good role model. I think it's better for you not to get married." Xie Niankang said with a deliberate smile.

"Actually, it's not that bad..." Xie Mingyu immediately changed his tone, which made Xie Niankang laugh and look at him teasingly.

Xie Mingyu's face flushed, and she took a sip of tea to cool down. She asked curiously, "Didn't your mother urge you to get married?"

"You also know my aunt's temper. She lets me choose whatever I want. If I say I don't want to get married, she won't urge me. But if I say I want to get married, she will immediately give me a lot of information and portraits of unmarried women the next day for me to choose from."

Xie Niankang said with a smile,

"How should I put it? I just feel at ease. Knowing that my aunt will always provide for me, I feel like I am still a child. I don't have to bear some responsibilities and can live more freely."

"The Concubine is indeed very open-minded. My mother has been influenced by her and has become much more open-minded. She doesn't care much about my affairs." Xie Mingyu nodded.

"It's fortunate that the illness last year was a false alarm. I can't even imagine the consequences of my mother's sudden departure."

When Xie Mingyu talked about this, he was still frightened. He didn't dare to think about the fear and sadness of those three days.

He also knew that Brother Nian Kang suddenly chose to come back for this reason. He wanted to be with his concubine and be able to see her at any time.

Xie Niankang nodded, "Yes, no one can bear it. Fortunately, the railway has been laid now. It is much more convenient to go anywhere than before. If you really have something to do in another place, you can come back easily."

"Yes, yes, yes. Now Uncle Ying and his team have developed telegraph technology. Once the telegraph lines are laid, communication will be much more convenient. If something happens, we can just send a telegram and take the railway back. As long as it's not far, we can be back in two days."

Xie Mingyu said,

"Now our Great Zhao is changing with each passing day. Sometimes I wonder if I am dreaming."

"We have left the West far behind this time..." Xie Niankang said with a smile, "If you can go out to sea again, you can go out again and see for yourself, and you will feel the gap."

Therefore, Xie Niankang didn't think there was anything good in going out to sea, especially when he saw the tribes that ate raw meat and drank blood. That feeling of powerlessness made him uncomfortable.

He didn't want to be a savior, nor did he want to be an invader or enslaver, so he just took a look and left some historical materials.

"Brother Niankang, your suggestion is very good!" Xie Mingyu responded immediately, "I also think I can go to sea. I will apply to my father when I return!"

Xie Niankang rolled his eyes slightly, not thinking that he could succeed.

At this moment, there was a noise in the restaurant, and Xie Niankang heard the waiter's voice coming from outside.

"Princess Rui, please be careful with the stairs... they are a little shaky, so make sure you hold on tight."

Xie Mingyu also heard the sound, and stood up immediately, opened the door and ran outside. Seeing the princess coming up the stairs with one hand holding up her skirt and the other hand, she immediately went forward to greet her, complaining,

"Why don't you let the maid hold you up? Be careful. If you slip, you'll be finished. I've finished drinking. Come on, let's go home..."

Xie Niankang walked out of the room a little late, and saw Xie Mingyu carefully helping the princess down the stairs.

Just look at the way he serves her so carefully, and you say he and the princess have a bad relationship. Anyone with eyes will say you are talking nonsense.

Xie Niankang watched this scene in silence, wondering if men in marriage could still tell the truth.

How come he complains but is more diligent than anyone else in actual actions?

He really has the flavor of a good man from the Xie family.

"Brother Kang, let's meet again another day. I'll send the princess back home first." Walking down the stairs, Xie Mingyu waved to Xie Niankang.

Xie Niankang also waved at him, and Wanyan Yingge turned around and said to him, "Come to the palace when you have time."

Xie Niankang responded with a smile and watched the couple walk out of the restaurant and disappear from his sight.

Returning to the private room, drinking alone was boring, so Xie Niankang asked the waiter to pay the bill.

"Duke, the money for Prince Rui's wine is all recorded in the account and will be settled together at the end of the month." The waiter said with a smile.

Just a month ago, the emperor issued an edict to promote Xie Niankang. His title has been upgraded from Marquis to Duke, and the emperor also granted him the Duke's Mansion.

This was the reward for Xie Niankang's ten years of achievements at sea, and no minister in the court doubted that he was unworthy of it.

"Okay then." Xie Niankang got up and left. When passing by a private room, he suddenly heard teasing voices coming from inside.

It was the diners who were making a fuss, asking the singer to sing a few more songs, and they were even making dirty jokes in their conversation.

Xie Niankang paused for a moment and left again, although the imperial court had now abolished brothels and considered the business of prostitution illegal.

However, singing girls and dancing girls still exist, and food, sex and nature still exist. They cannot disappear at all, and the gray area still exists.

However, the status of women has improved a lot compared to more than ten years ago. After all, the next successor is the Crown Princess, not the Crown Prince.

The royal family set an example and amended relevant laws, stipulating that women have the same rights to inherit property as men.

Xie Niankang walked on the street, looking at the women coming and going, relaxed and comfortable, and couldn't help but smile.

This should be the world that my father and aunt expect to see.

"I'm here to greet the Duke. The Crown Princess sees the Duke. Please come forward and have a chat." At this time, a guard came up to Xie Niankang and said to him.

Xie Niankang raised his eyebrows, turned his head to look at the royal carriage not far away, and walked over with the guards, "Greetings, Your Highness."

"Come in and talk." Mingyan's voice came from behind the car curtain.

Xie Niankang hesitated for a moment, but still went in obediently, and saw Mingyan reading a memorial.

The carriage had a large space and was equipped with a table with pens, ink, paper and inkstone. There was also a palace maid waiting on the side to serve the pens and ink.

On the table, there was a tall pile of memorials.

"Your Highness should also take a rest." Seeing her like this, Xie Niankang couldn't help but say, "Government affairs will never be finished."

Upon hearing this, Mingyan looked up at him, put down the memorial in her hand, stretched her body, and let the palace maid leave.

For a moment, Mingyan and Xie Niankang were the only ones left in the carriage.

Xie Niankang took the initiative to speak again, "I just drank a lot of wine with Mingyu at Zuifeng Restaurant, and I smell strongly of alcohol. I'd better go down first, so as not to suffocate Your Highness. If Your Highness has anything to say, I can listen to your orders at the side of the carriage."

Mingyan frowned. She really didn't like the smell of alcohol, but she smiled and said,

"I found that you have become more calm and thoughtful since you came back this time."