Chapter 452 Extra Chapter: In Its Place

According to the customs of the Xia Kingdom, after the queen enters the household for three consecutive days, all the female members of the family must come to pay their respects.

"Your Highness, are you up? All the officials' wives have come to pay their respects."

Duoduo whispered Yehua's name.

Feng Xinshui stayed here last night, and her personal maid knew this, so she deliberately woke her up a little later.

Ye Hua wasn't embarrassed at all when she woke up, and started to do her hair and makeup.

Over the past few years, she has been following her younger sister and brother-in-law, watching their affectionate relationship without regard for others, and has gradually changed her mindset.

What others think doesn't matter; what matters is that you are happy and comfortable.

She and Feng Xinshui are now husband and wife, so it's only natural that they sleep together.

"Your Highness, would you like to add some Nanzhao headdresses?"

Ye Hua glanced at the new headdress she had worn that day and said, "No need. Just follow the style of the Great Xia Dynasty."

Before she left, her younger sister told her that she was a princess consort appointed by the Great Xia Dynasty, not the Southern Zhao Dynasty. She didn't need to accommodate others or suffer any injustices. If she was unhappy, she could vent her anger. As long as Ye Wan was the empress, she would be Ye Hua's support.

Duoduo started getting ready, while Ayi waited quietly by her side, moving to a spot where she could easily hear what was going on.

Those who came to pay their respects were the same officials' families from yesterday, led by the Shu, Bai, and Mao families.

These three families have all rendered meritorious service under Feng Xinshui's guidance, and their status has naturally risen accordingly. They are now the three most powerful families in Nanzhao.

"She's not that good-looking either. Her face isn't even as good-looking as mine. She just has a nice-sounding name." Shu Jia was the one who led the attack on Ye Hua yesterday.

With her status, she could easily have been a princess, but unexpectedly, Ye Hua appeared out of nowhere, and she was a married woman.

Women in the Nanzhao Kingdom did not have a low social status, but they were very particular about remarriage. Women who remarried could not become wives, but only concubines.

So Shu Jia was unconvinced, why should she?

"Let's not say anything more, lest we get detained again," the Mao girl said softly.

Yesterday, she and Shu Jia made things difficult for the new princess, and as a result, they were detained in the palace and forced to learn how to weave.

She was a noblewoman and had never suffered such injustice. Originally, Miss Mao wanted to stand up for herself, but her mother had warned her that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, so it was best not to.

Madam Shu spoke up, "You're such a coward. I think Shu Jia is right. What were you thinking, sending such a woman over here? Is this looking down on people?"

She simply felt contemptuous and believed that only her own daughter deserved to be a princess.

The Bai mother and daughter remained silent. The princess was someone Feng Xinshui had personally sought out; she wasn't forced into marriage from the Xia Kingdom. Without fully understanding the situation, it was best to speak as little as possible and avoid offending anyone.

Shu Jia snorted coldly, "Making us wait here for so long today is obviously a deliberate act of putting on airs. Women from the Central Plains, looking so frail, only have this much trick up their sleeves."

Ayi heard all of this and then told Ye Hua everything.

"Quiet."

Ye Hua came out and sat in the main seat to give a speech, "Ladies and misses, I don't understand the Nanzhao language. I hope that from now on you will take the lead in learning the Xia language."

“Except for major festivals, we can retain some of the customs of Nanzhao, but on ordinary days we should follow the customs of my Xia Kingdom.”

"If you're in a position, do your job properly"—these are things my younger sister has said before, and she should put them into practice as soon as she comes to Nanzhao.

Fearing that these people wouldn't understand, Ye Hua asked Ayi to translate.

As a result, Shu Jia led the charge in exploding, saying, "They're taking a trivial matter for granted and acting like they're someone important. I'm not going to learn it, so what can you do to me? Do you dare kill me?"

She grew up in Nanzhao, spoke the Nanzhao language, and celebrated Nanzhao festivals. Why should she change her ways just like that, especially since she is a woman from another ethnic group?

The King of Nanzhao hasn't said anything yet, so who does she think she is?

"Your Highness, she said you're making a big deal out of nothing by wielding a chicken feather as a royal decree." Ayi translated word by word, her face expressionless.

Ye Hua's voice was gentle, "I really am nothing special. Do you not want to submit to Great Xia? Or does your father have a problem with Great Xia?"

Fearing she wouldn't understand, Ayi repeated it in the Nanzhao language.

Shu Jia realized what was happening and her expression changed. "I didn't."

She can be as willful as she wants, but she absolutely cannot go against the Xia Kingdom.

The firearms and artillery of the Xia Kingdom are no joke. The Li family, once the most powerful family, has now vanished without a trace.

Ye Hua took a sip of tea and, noticing her younger sister's usual tone, said, "Ladies and young ladies, you should understand that as long as I sit here, I represent the Xia Kingdom. You should all think carefully before you speak or act."

"What I said before remains unchanged. In particular, Miss Shu Jia should learn Mandarin properly. If you are still speaking Nanzhao dialect when you stand here next time, then you don't need to say anything. If there's nothing else, everyone can leave."

Shu Jia looked grim, as did many other young ladies, who were being pulled away by their mothers.

There's plenty of time in the future, so why get caught up in this moment of anger?

“Ayi, whenever you have free time, please teach me the Nanzhao language.”

Ye Hua returned to her residence and took off several heavy pieces of jewelry from her head; she was not used to wearing them so much.

“Your Highness, let them learn the language of Xia, why do you have to learn the language of Nanzhao? They…” Duoduo wanted to say, they don’t deserve it.

It's just a barbarian land.

Having grown up in the Great Xia Imperial Palace, Duoduo naturally viewed foreigners as barbarians.

“We’ll be living here for many years to come. If I don’t know anything, I’ll inevitably be at the mercy of others one day. I can’t be completely oblivious to what others are saying.” Ye Hua walked over and took Ayi’s hand.

"Please teach me. As long as you are wholeheartedly helping me, please tell me if you have any wishes. I will do my best to fulfill them, and I will also try to fulfill them even if I cannot."

Ayi was stunned, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Ye Hua, then suddenly smiled and placed her right hand on her chest in a gesture of respect to Ye Hua.

"It is Ayi's honor to be able to stay by the Princess's side."

Ye Hua laughed.

My sister is right. If you want to win someone over, winning their heart is the best way.

In the days that followed, Ye Hua learned the Nanzhao language while helping Feng Xinshui govern Nanzhao.

She brought everything with her when she came: seeds, planting techniques, farm tools, textiles.

She learned from Ye Wan how to handle account books, how to open a clinic and build a school, and how to travel around the countryside.

As the days passed, the people of Nanzhao became familiar with this queen of Xia.

"Your Highness, you are so kind."

An elderly man, seriously ill, lost his son and daughter-in-law, leaving only himself and his grandson.

Their lives had fallen into despair.

The leaves and flowers brought hope.

He allowed his grandson to attend school for free so that one day he could pass the imperial examinations and serve the court. He also allowed the elderly to receive free medical care. He found a leisurely job and earned a meager income to make a living.

On this land, the seed of hope was sown.