Chapter 70 The Jade Tablet, the Empress's Treasure

The school Wen Miao envisioned was not an ordinary school, but a girls' school specifically for young women, an idea inspired by the emperor.

Last early spring, in that small private school built of thatched roofs on the outskirts of Beijing, Wen Miao could clearly see that among a group of excited little boys, there were indeed two or three little girls with braids sitting there, looking serious.

Private schools had official support but were not subject to official control. Some teachers did not discriminate between male and female students, treating all good learners equally.

Such situations are rare; you could count them on your fingers. But a single spark can start a prairie fire. Now that this has happened, it means there will only be more in the future.

Once Wen Miao had an idea, she began to put it into practice. Her life as empress, which she had previously found somewhat boring and empty, was immediately filled with various tasks.

Therefore, a table was specially brought into the Wenyuan Hall for the Empress. The table was made of high-quality wood with delicate carvings of phoenixes spreading their wings. It was covered with a light green tablecloth and had an inkstone, a pen holder, and a pen rest. Emperor Qianyuan even personally carved a small seal for Wen Miao that was unique to her.

The jade material of that small seal comes from the same source as that used for the imperial seals of today. It is not as huge and heavy as the imperial seals, but is more exquisite and delicate. It is carved with dragons and phoenixes intertwined, and below are the four ancient and grand characters "Treasure of the Holy Empress". The characters are sharp and powerful, which shows the emperor's profound carving skills.

The small jade seal carried the power of another master under the Great Chu. When Emperor Qian Yuan presented this jade seal to his beloved Empress, Wen Miao's eyelashes trembled slightly, and for a moment she seemed to understand what the emperor was thinking.

"you……"

She opened her lips, but couldn't utter a sound.

Emperor Qianyuan's eyes still held a slight smile, as if he had felt more relaxed and joyful ever since his reunion with the goddess in the Great Chu.

He said slowly, "In my early years, when I was still a prince, I wanted to escape the cold palace, but my options were limited, and I encountered obstacles everywhere at first."

The first half of Emperor Qianyuan's life was a magnificent and epic journey, filled with the hardships of enduring hardship and the ambition of a hero. But only he himself knew that not everything went smoothly, and he even encountered many setbacks due to his youth.

But he was never one to give up easily, so he smashed through the solid wall and received guidance from the Grand Tutor of the court.

At that time, the Grand Tutor's temples were already slightly gray. When he entered the palace, he unexpectedly saw the Seventh Prince who had run away from the Cold Palace. He knew that the prince's birth mother was lowly and died early, and that there was no one to take care of him. He also saw that the child was dressed in tattered clothes and had a thin and bony figure. There was no fear or humility in his eyes, only cold determination. He looked at him like a wolf cub, both wary and vigilant.

The Grand Tutor had long been disappointed with the late Emperor. He found it difficult to see any regal bearing in the princes in the capital and thought that the Great Chu was in decline. However, after seeing the Seventh Prince, he had other ideas.

Perhaps it was just pity at first, so the Grand Tutor, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, stood in the snow and gave some brief instructions, saying that there were many wars in the northern region of the Great Chu, which was an opportunity to break free from the cage.

Having said this, he turned and left, leaving the Seventh Prince standing there, pondering the words he had spoken. Then, of all the ways to escape, he chose the most dangerous, but also the one that would bring the greatest benefits: a northern expedition.

Therefore, Emperor Qianyuan later left his hometown and went to war as a prince in the cold palace. He traveled all the way north. On that long journey, he sometimes felt so desolate that he would take a dagger and hold a piece of wood and start carving on it.

It was originally Wen Miao's name, then it became Wen Miao's appearance in the dream, and as time went on, it also allowed Emperor Qian Yuan to develop new skills.

Wen Miao leaned against the emperor's chest as he recounted the past. In her hand, she still held the small jade seal, large enough to be held in one hand. Her fingertips gently pressed the raised characters, silently stroking the words "Holy Empress," feeling a heavy weight in her heart.

She recalled that before the Great Chu, there was a precedent of two emperors who ruled the country hand in hand, with neither of them able to distinguish themselves from the other, creating a legendary tale in history.

Although some in later generations criticized it for being a "hen crowing at dawn," this could not overshadow the peaceful and prosperous era under the rule of the two sages. Whether it is praise or criticism, people will have their own judgment.

Wen Miao had read quite a few of those memorials on state affairs, and three or four out of ten of them were actually written by her and approved by the emperor.

Especially under Emperor Qian Yuan's deliberate influence, since she entered the palace as Empress, the reputation of the Empress of Great Chu has spread among the people and in the court. A continuous stream of good reputations, like flowers and applause, surrounds Wen Miao's name, elevating her to a high position and accumulating a lot of popular support.

Furthermore, Emperor Qian Yuan has always acted arbitrarily since ascending the throne. He is currently the emperor with the most concentrated monarchical power in the Great Chu. No noble families or officials can do anything to him, so he has absolute power that no one can dictate his words. Therefore, it is not difficult for him to raise Wen Miao's reputation to the court.

All that is needed now is a little time—two or three years should be enough to fulfill Emperor Qian Yuan's wish and leave Wen Miao's mark on the Great Chu land as a betrothal gift.

The emperor has always been ambitious about this matter, and he tried to use it to bind himself tightly to the name of Wen Miao.

At this moment, Emperor Qianyuan slowly recounted the past, his broad hand enveloping Wen Miao's smaller hand, stroking it inch by inch from the fingertips to the base of the fingers, before asking a question that seemed to know the answer already:

"The Empress should know what I want to do, shouldn't she?"

Wen Miao remained silent and nodded gently.

She wasn't stupid; in fact, she had a vague idea in her mind as early as the first time Emperor Qian Yuan held her while she read the memorials. However, Wen Miao found it hard to imagine that a royal emperor born in a feudal era could go to such lengths for her...

A low, hoarse laugh came from behind him, his vocal cords vibrating, causing his chest to rise and fall slightly.

The sound made Wen Miao's ears go numb, and the tickling sensation at the base of her fingers caused half of her delicate, white neck to turn red.

Emperor Qianyuan reached out and took the vermilion-red cinnabar paste from the small table beside him.

He held Wen Miao's hand and gently pressed the small jade seal onto the bright red clay. Then, he applied a little pressure, watching as the clay underwent an extremely subtle, negligible indentation, before slowly lifting his hand.

Inside the Taiji Palace, the floor was heated, making it warm and cozy. Wen Miao was not wearing silk stockings, but had her legs bent and her feet resting on the soft couch. Her feet were covered by half of a rouge-colored long skirt. Her figure was plump, and she leaned lazily against the emperor's chest.

Recently, Wen Miao was menstruating and feeling listless. Seeing Emperor Qian Yuan dipping the jade seal until it was almost dripping red, she slowly asked, "What does Your Majesty want to do?"

"I would like to ask the Empress to leave a mark for me."

Wen Miao paused for a moment, looked up at the emperor, then at the jade seal held in his hand, and hesitated before asking, "...Use this?"

"yes."

Emperor Qianyuan said, "This inkpad is specially made in the palace, with added herbs that retain color for a long time. When printed on paper, it can last for thousands of years. If printed on the skin..."

At this point, Emperor Qianyuan paused, his tone slightly drawn out, "Staying for four or five days should also be acceptable."

Imprinted, imprinted on the texture?

Wen Miao pursed her lips. Sometimes she found it hard to believe that Emperor Qian Yuan was actually a native of ancient times! Weren't the ancients supposed to be the most reserved? How come the Emperor of Great Chu was all about recklessness, not reserve?

She held her fingers tightly, unwilling to accept the jade seal, nor did she want to think about where the emperor wanted to brand that red mark on her skin.

However, Emperor Qian Yuan was always shameless. He pressed his high nose against Wen Miao's neck and rubbed it against hers, while pecking at her with his hot lips, saying seductive words until Wen Miao's ears turned red and she had nowhere to hide before he stopped.

There's no way to avoid it.

The Empress was too sensitive to offend anyone, and in these matters, she was no match for the Emperor.

Wen Miao's eyelashes trembled, casting a soft shadow. Helplessly, she accepted the jade seal with the emperor's help, her gaze falling on the four characters "Treasure of the Holy Empress" stained red. But it was as if she had been burned, her eyes filled with spring-like feelings.

Emperor Qianyuan remained calm and composed, maintaining the demeanor of a cold-faced monarch, but the words that came out of his mouth were truly embarrassing: "Empress, please wait a moment while I undress."

The emperor and empress were deeply in love, so most of the time, there were no palace servants to attend to them in the palace.

On that soft couch, Emperor Qianyuan slowly untied the belt around his waist, then stretched out his large hands, with slightly bulging veins, prominent bones, and delicate chains jingling on his wrists, and placed them on his collar, pulling it open inch by inch to reveal his tanned chest, which was brimming with heat.

It was so hot that Wen Miao didn't know where to look.

But the emperor said, "If the empress doesn't keep an eye on it, what if she prints it crookedly for me?"

Wen Miao glared at Emperor Qian Yuan with a hint of reproach, her face flushed and slightly embarrassed, saying, "Don't speak, or I'll slap your face!"

The emperor pondered for a moment, then nodded with delight, “I think it’s a good idea. In that time, the court officials and the world will all know that I belong to the empress.”

That's shameless!

Wen Miao wanted to finish as soon as possible, otherwise she would probably be pestered to death by the emperor today. So she raised her hand and swept aside the dark-colored clothes. With her eyelashes lowered, she saw the outline of the firm chest muscles with old scars.

The jade seal held between the fingertips seemed to be warmed by the heat.

Wen Miao's fingertips trembled as she slowly lowered the jade seal.

The cool jade material was pressed against the emperor's chest, and the four raised characters, stained with bright red ink, blended into the skin, as if they could seep into his bones and blood.

Soon, the jade seal slowly rose with the force of Wen Miao's wrist, emitting a barely audible sound as it came into contact with and separated from the skin and flesh.

When the jade seal was completely removed, the bright red ink had solidified into a powerful and elegant inscription, a testament to the imperial handwriting. Its vivid and intense color powerfully proclaimed the ownership of the body by its wielder.

"The Empress's Treasure"

The so-called "Empress's Treasure" is both the Empress's official seal and her personal treasure; it represents both the Empress's power and Wen Miao's possession.

Emperor Qianyuan let out a satisfied sigh, one arm around Wen Miao, the other gently pressing against his own skin. He turned sideways and reflected in the bronze mirror beside him, asking in a hoarse voice:

"Does Miaomiao think it looks good?"

He always took advantage of Wen Miao.

Wen Miao turned her head away, her ears turning red, and fled from Emperor Qian Yuan's embrace, unwilling to look again at the bright red ink mark branded on the emperor's chest.

In the future, whenever she uses the jade seal, she will probably think of this day.

The emperor did it on purpose!

...

The first batch of silver ingots sent to the palace by Qiu Shisan Niang came in handy at the beginning of the twelfth year of the Qianyuan era.

The establishment of girls' schools in the capital was officially approved, as it was the Empress's idea and the Emperor's consent. As a result, the imperial seal, which had always belonged to the Emperor, was replaced with another jade seal, the four characters "Treasure of the Holy Empress," which was enough for some astute officials to detect something amiss.

But this matter is neither a big deal nor a small one.

The Empress's seal does not appear in court affairs, but in matters outside the court; the Empress's mother remains the head of the harem and does not rule with the Emperor. It can only be said that there is a glimpse of what is to come, but it has not yet fully occurred.

Therefore, some officials restrained their desires and, fearing the power of Emperor Qianyuan, did not intend to get involved in this quietly ongoing change. They simply served as officials and received their salaries, without concerning themselves with other matters.

However, some ministers voiced their opposition like a flood, speaking passionately in the court. But before they could get to the most heated part, they were terrified by the inkstone that Emperor Qian Yuan threw down, and they shut their mouths like quails, no longer offering any objections.

It's a joke. All that rebuttal is talk; who would dare actually cause the Emperor any trouble? Wouldn't that be like having too long a life ahead of them?

Thus, the turmoil was shattered before it could even begin, thanks to the majesty of Emperor Qianyuan. Subsequently, the first girls' school in the capital received financial support and was quickly and successfully established.

The location and decoration were handled by specialists. Initially, the classes mainly focused on music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but extracurricular classes such as Cuju (ancient Chinese football), horse riding and archery, and pitch-pot were also offered. The school also recruited many female teachers who had been privately hired by aristocratic families, including Li Qing.

Wen Miao didn't have much work to do; perhaps she played more of a leading and guiding role as an empress.

Many young girls in the capital secretly admire the Empress. Their admiration is simple, and even their reasons are quite endearing—

Some admired the Empress's healthy, delicate, and fair skin; some admired her elegant and beautiful features; some had heard from their elders that she was gentle and generous; and some, influenced by Xie Mengjun and Meng Jingqiu, harbored a special longing for her.

Who wouldn't love a beautiful and gentle woman?

The Empress is always different. She has a gentle and bright sense of freedom. She doesn't have any sharp aggression, but is like all-encompassing water, able to include everyone in it, without distinction of rank.

The young girls who grew up in seclusion couldn't understand it, and their mothers and aunts couldn't see it clearly either. But even if it was blurry and like looking at flowers through a fog, it didn't stop them from longing to go deeper into the fog and see what kind of flower it was.

Because of this idea, these young girls, who had only ever been taught by female teachers in the mansion, were full of expectations for the so-called girls' school and hoped that they could go in and experience it as soon as possible.

During the early preparations, Wen Miao and Li Qing exchanged letters many times, and soon the girls' school was named "Wenwei Academy", which was taken from "its literary talent", implying that it should be virtuous and talented.

Wenwei Academy is divided into four colleges—Heaven, Earth, Mystery, and Yellow—based on aptitude and coursework. It is further subdivided based on students' birth status to avoid class conflict. Various competitions are also offered to bridge the gap created by birth.

Ultimately, due to the limitations of the times, it was difficult to achieve complete fairness in many things, but at least within Wenwei Academy, these young girls who had not yet grown up were former classmates who had studied together.

The academy is still in the preparatory stage and is expected to be officially completed this spring. After Wen Miao finished the preliminary planning, her daily schedule gradually became more relaxed. Emperor Qian Yuan took advantage of this opportunity to hold the fragrant and soft Empress in his arms and not let her leave his lap. Only then did he pick up the memorial again with satisfaction, rubbing against the back of Wen Miao's neck while reading it.

Wen Miao was happy to have some peace and quiet, so she leaned against the emperor's chest, her gaze fixed on the memorials.

The emperor received anywhere from a few dozen to over two hundred memorials a day. After being collected from court officials, the emperor's trusted officials would first select the best ones, but Emperor Qianyuan still had the primary responsibility for approving them.

Wen Miao is intelligent, but his scheming and planning are not as profound as those of the ancients. However, his vision and knowledge are much broader. Under the deliberate guidance of Emperor Qian Yuan, his oral replies to memorials are gradually imbued with the demeanor of an emperor—although he is the opposite of Emperor Qian Yuan.

If Emperor Qian Yuan was ruthless and autocratic, and could be summed up by the single word "ruthless," then Wen Miao was benevolent and gentle, and was known as "virtuous."

The traces of the Empress, like an inescapable source of water, infiltrated in a gentle and peaceful manner, drawing Emperor Qian Yuan closer to the center of imperial power. While the court officials outside were still shrouded in smoke and mirrors, the emperor's confidants, whom he had personally cultivated, already knew of Emperor Qian Yuan's plans and followed the secret edict that "seeing the Empress is like seeing the Emperor himself."

This gentle tide is rising silently.

...

Time flies by, gradually passing through the preparations for the construction of Wenwei Academy, and the New Year arrives after another snowfall.

The Great Chu Dynasty has always held large-scale sacrificial ceremonies during the New Year, presided over by the emperor. These ceremonies aim to honor Heaven and ancestors, pray for blessings and ward off disasters, and express gratitude to the sages of the past. They have fixed rituals and are mainly embodied in the culture of rites and music.

The sacrificial ceremony was held at the Temple of Heaven in Huiling Mountain. The emperor traveled out of the capital, accompanied by his officials, and the common people watched from afar. The scene was grand, prosperous, and lively.

However, Emperor Qianyuan did not believe in gods and Buddhas. After he ascended the throne, various sacrificial activities were simplified. The three kneelings and nine prostrations were replaced by holding incense and bowing. The officials and the people had long been used to it. However, this year they found that there was an extra figure in the rituals of welcoming the gods and offering jade and silk.

Through the crowd, many people could see two people on the Temple of Heaven, dressed in long robes of dark red and black, their clothes exquisite and magnificent, exuding an awe-inspiring imperial majesty.

"Is that the woman standing beside His Majesty the Empress?"

"It should be Her Majesty the Empress. On the day the imperial edict to establish the Empress was issued, I caught a glimpse of her outside the Xie residence. Our Empress is exceptionally beautiful, unlike any ordinary person."

"Her Majesty the Empress is simply born with an air of nobility!"

"The whole of Great Chu knows that His Majesty cherishes the Empress. His Majesty has even exempted the Empress from the kneeling ceremony. This favor is unique."

"But I think Her Majesty the Empress deserves all of this. Her Majesty is kind-hearted and cares about the people. My youngest daughter works in the Nobleman's Mansion, and I'm always afraid that she will be bullied! Now that there is the West Market Office, I feel much more at ease."

"Looking at it this way, His Majesty and the Empress are truly a perfect match!"

...

The people whispered amongst themselves.

They were very accepting of the Empress of the Great Chu Dynasty, probably because the emperor was very strict and famous for his sternness. So when a gentle empress appeared by the emperor's side, coupled with the "phoenix and luan" legend that had been circulating among the people, everything fell into place. They even felt that it was only right for the empress, who was blessed with virtuous qualities and great fortune, to appear at the altar of heaven.

They also wanted to absorb some of the good fortune brought by the phoenix and dragon from the Empress!

In the distance, on the Temple of Heaven used for sacrificial rites, Wen Miao followed Emperor Qian Yuan's movements through nine ritual procedures.

The simplified etiquette wasn't tiring, but the magnificent dark red attire was too cumbersome and heavy to wear. The waist was adorned with jade ornaments, which swayed slightly as she walked, making Wen Miao feel like a walking Christmas tree. To make matters worse, the emperor thought it wasn't magnificent enough and almost ordered Shi Cui and Wan Bi to put a pure gold phoenix crown on her.

After the ceremony concluded, the emperor and empress sat on high seats, and a set of chime bells was placed in front of the enormous altar. The melodious music began to play, solemn and sacred. The Eight-Row Dance, composed of sixty-four people, began to dance gracefully, moving to the music and displaying its magnificence.

After the sacrificial ceremony, the sky was still bright. The snow on Huiling Mountain in the suburbs of Beijing was melting, and the pine forest was covered with white snow. The verdant green was hidden under the thin mist, making everything seem hazy and dreamlike, like a fairyland.

The imperial entourage returned to the capital. Deep within the Great Chu palace, Lady Luo and her palace servants had already prepared an evening banquet, waiting for nightfall to celebrate the New Year together.

Before long, as dusk fell, noble families and court officials, along with their families, rode in carriages through the streets. Upon reaching the palace gate, they dismounted and walked into the majestic and towering palace.

The deep, majestic sound of the bell rang out, and the long, drawn-out tone of the Grand Eunuch Xu Sheng pierced through the hall. Everyone at the palace banquet rose and knelt down, completely prostrating themselves on the ground. The Emperor and Empress walked slowly down the deep red carpet that stretched all the way to the high platform.

Only when the emperor solemnly said "Rise" did they dare to stand up and look up. They saw that delicate beaded chains and thin gauze were still hanging on the high platform of the hall, while the emperor and empress, who had already walked there, had changed into a gorgeous dress. Behind the hazy gauze curtain, they held hands and sat down on the side-by-side crimson-gold chairs.

There were two chairs that were exactly the same in shape and material, without any difference in height, front or back, or dragon and phoenix carvings. They were simply placed side by side, as if they were one, sharing a long wooden table, which subtly revealed the imperial connotation.

Many officials quietly withdrew their gazes, their hearts filled with confusion, yet their expressions remained unchanged as they watched the singing and dancing in the warm candlelight of the main hall, celebrating the New Year.

Halfway through the time, the Emperor and Empress left first, and the people at the palace banquet relaxed a little.

While they were indulging in wine, dance, and music, Emperor Qianyuan held Wenmiao's hand and walked along the palace path that had been swept clean of snow. They passed the plum garden, admired the hanging moon, and went to see the jade lion, snowball, and black bean before returning to the warm and cozy Taiji Palace.

After Wen Miao regained her memories, Fengyi Palace was completely abandoned. She lived with Emperor Qian Yuan in Taiji Palace day and night, thus fulfilling the emperor's initial plan.

They preferred enjoying their time alone with each other to the lively atmosphere of palace banquets.

After returning to the palace and removing their overly elaborate robes, Wen Miao and Emperor Qian Yuan set up a small table between them and poured some mild wine. The palace servants were all outside the hall, leaving only the two of them inside.

Emperor Qianyuan couldn't bear it any longer. He raised his arm and pulled Wen Miao into his embrace. He asked, "Miao Miao, when spring comes, come with me somewhere."

Wen Miao had just taken a sip of wine, the mellow aroma lingering on her lips and teeth. Her eyes were slightly red, and she asked softly, "Where to?"

"Let's keep it a secret for now."

The emperor kept everyone in suspense, then suddenly asked, "Has the Empress given red envelopes to anyone else?"

Before Wen Miao could react, she said, "I had already sent someone to deliver it to Meng Jun, Qing Niang, and Shisan Niang."

Xie Mengjun, Li Qing, Qiu Shisan Niang, Li Zhu, Shi Cui, Wan Bi, Xu Sheng, Zhang Ji... Her Majesty the Empress gave red envelopes to many people, like a blessing, which was delivered to them this morning.

A pang of sadness gripped Emperor Qianyuan's heart. He couldn't help but gently bite Wen Miao's earlobe and whispered, "So what about me?"

They have it, but I don't have it anymore.

If I had it, would it be the same as theirs?

Wen Miao chuckled softly, then realized something. She reached into her sleeve, pinched a rather heavy red envelope, and handed it over, saying, "Your Majesty has one too."

Emperor Qian Yuan asked, "Unique?"

Wen Miao: "Of course."

Emperor Qian Yuan carefully opened the red seal, as if he were unpacking some earth-shattering treasure, using an incredibly light touch. He then took out a thin chain with a small square tag attached to it.

The thin chain is made of gold, and the square plaque is made of jade.

The carvings on it are delicate, and when held up by candlelight, one can clearly see the character “渺” (miǎo).

The "渺" in "温渺".

Emperor Qianyuan stroked it and suddenly smiled.

He looked at Wen Miao, his gaze deep and undisguised, no longer concealing his morbid possessiveness and passionate obsession.

This is proof that he belongs to Wen Miao.

Just like the stray dog ​​that Wen Miao used to raise in the dream, the dog had a tag around its neck that marked its owner, and now Emperor Qian Yuan finally got his own "dog tag".

He asked—

"Would Miaomiao be willing to tie it for me?"

-----------------------

Author's Note: Your Majesty: (Wags tail frantically) (Immediately marks Miaomiao with her mark) (Proactively hands over the rope)

Wen Miao: You're a good puppy~