Chapter 328 Yinzhu has found her home.

After leaving the imperial city, Shui Xian went to Dengdi Inn first.

The Dengdi Inn, now run by Zhou Yan and Yin Zhu, is located at the most bustling intersection in the capital.

This place is no longer the simple and unadorned place it was when it first opened. Now it's a three-story wooden building with upturned eaves, and there's a constant stream of carriages and horses coming and going in front of it, indicating that business is booming.

However, anyone in the capital knows that, in any case, the Dengdi Inn, located beside the main road of this bustling capital, has never changed its lodging fee since the day it opened.

Especially during the imperial examinations, if a student from a poor family with exceptional talent was encountered, the Dengdi Inn would not even charge them if they were truly in dire straits.

Narcissus lifted the curtain and looked closely.

Although the people coming and going came from all walks of life, most of them were neatly dressed and behaved with propriety.

Although the lobby was lively, it lacked the hustle and bustle of a typical tavern, instead possessing the refined order of an academy.

She instructed the carriage not to stop at the main gate, but to go around to the back alley and stop in front of an inconspicuous little door.

The door opened from the inside, and Zhou Yan and Yin Zhu were already waiting there.

Yinzhu was three months pregnant. She was wearing a loose and comfortable cotton dress, with a slightly worn light purple outer robe over it.

The cautiousness she had shown in the palace had faded from her face; her skin was rosy from the sun, and a peaceful happiness radiated from her brows.

Upon seeing Narcissus alight from the carriage, her eyes instantly reddened. She quickly stepped forward, but then stopped a step away. Her lips moved, and the word "Master," which she was used to calling out in the palace, rolled around on her tongue a few times before finally turning into a choked yet perfectly natural sound.

"elder sister."

She reached out and held Narcissus's hand tightly. Yinzhu's palm was warm, with slight calluses from years of hard work.

"How was the journey? Are you tired? Come in quickly, the yard is all tidied up."

Shui Xian grasped her hand in return, her gaze falling on her protruding belly, a genuine smile appearing in her eyes: "I'm fine, but you, despite being pregnant, look to be in excellent health."

Zhou Yan bowed respectfully to the side, his attitude remaining deferential.

After much deliberation, he decided to stick to the way he addressed Narcissus when she was in the palace.

"Your Majesty must be tired from your journey. Please come in and rest."

Behind the small, black lacquered door lies a hidden world.

After passing through a narrow but clean passageway, a secluded courtyard suddenly opens up before you.

Several green bamboos are planted in the courtyard, and although the wisteria trellis is not yet in bloom, its branches are gnarled and lush.

The main house has three rooms, with side rooms on each side. Although not luxurious, it exudes a sense of comfort and tranquility that has been carefully maintained.

"This is the innermost courtyard of the inn, originally kept for our own use, and it's the quietest place here."

Yinzhu led Shuixian into the main room. "The bedding and window screens have all been replaced with new ones, and they've been scented with your usual incense. The small kitchen is in the east wing; I'll take care of it myself to make sure it's clean."

The furnishings inside were indeed simple and elegant, with a table, a chair, a bed, and a couch. On the desk was a rough ceramic vase with a few seasonal flowers.

Shuixian put down the box and looked around. The emptiness that had been hanging over her since leaving the palace finally eased a little.

"very good."

She sat down on a chair by the window. Although it wasn't as luxurious as the palace, Narcissus felt completely relaxed.

Narcissus looked at Silver Pearl gratefully, "This place is very nice."

Yinzhu breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly went to prepare tea and snacks.

Zhou Yan did not leave immediately. He stood by the door, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Your Majesty, there is something... that I need to report to you."

He had never spent so much time with this lady in the palace.

It was clearly Shui Xian who entrusted him with the Dengdi Inn, but Zhou Yan still couldn't understand why the Empress would trust him so much when the two had never met.

Narcissus looked up at him.

Unlike Zhou Yan, who was a stranger to him, Shui Xian, who had memories of her past life, was clearly very familiar with him.

Judging from his expression, Zhou Yan must have something important to say.

Zhou Yan took out a sealed letter from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "This is what His Majesty... ordered to be secretly sent before you left the palace."

"I instruct that after you have settled in, I will give it to you for your personal review."

Narcissus took the letter and unwrapped the sealing wax.

The letter was written on the gold-flecked Xuan paper that Emperor Zhaoheng was accustomed to using, and it bore his vigorous and powerful handwriting, but the content made her gaze slightly narrow.

The letter contained no pleading or sweet words, only a few clear imperial orders.

First, although Shui Xian had already handed over the Dengdi Inn to Yin Zhu and Zhou Yan, the emperor decided to allocate a portion of his private treasury each year to inject a fixed amount of funds into the inn, ensuring its independent operation without being hindered by any force.

Secondly, several elite guards who were originally part of the emperor's secret guards and responsible for the outer perimeter security have been stripped of their royal status and become inn workers. Now they only obey Shui Xian and ensure her personal safety.

The letter ended with only two words: "Take care."

Narcissus held the letter in her hand and remained silent for a long time.

He was still...worried.

In his own way, he paved the way for her future.

"His Majesty has given further instructions."

Zhou Yan added in a low voice, "There's no need to publicize this matter. The inn will continue to operate as usual. On the surface, you are just a guest of the inn, a... distant cousin of Yinzhu."

Narcissus carefully folded the letter and tucked it into her bosom.

"I see."

She said calmly, "Thank you for your trouble, Manager Zhou."

Zhou Yan agreed and left.

Yinzhu brought in tea and snacks: a pot of fragrant flower tea and several kinds of snacks made by the inn.

She sat down opposite Narcissus, looking at her slender profile since giving birth, and couldn't help but tear up again: "Sister, you've lost weight."

Narcissus picked up her teacup, the rising steam blurring her features.

"It's nothing serious, he'll be fine after some rest."

She looked at Yinzhu's belly and changed the subject, "Is the baby behaving well? How is Zhou Yan treating you?"

Mentioning her child and husband, Yinzhu couldn't help but beam with happiness, touching her belly: "They're very well-behaved, rarely causing any trouble. Zhou Yan... he's doing very well."

She lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly, "Sometimes I'm just too nervous, and they won't let me do this or touch that. They're even stricter than the nannies were in the palace."

Narcissus smiled: "That's because he cares about you."

The two chatted about everyday matters. Yinzhu talked about the current operation of the inn, the poor students who were able to study and even pass the imperial examinations thanks to the inn's assistance, and how Zhou Yan managed the place so well and secretly gathered information from outside the palace for Shuixian.

His words were full of satisfaction with his current life.

Narcissus listened quietly, finding solace in her heart.

She remembered the gradually cooling hands of Yinzhu when she died in her arms in her previous life.

The figures from past and present lives overlapped, and looking at the gentle-faced Yinzhu now, Shuixian sighed inwardly.

At least, Yinzhu found her place.

On the second day after Shui Xian stayed at Dengdi Inn, Shui Xiu made a special trip back from out of town.

In the afternoon, light footsteps came from outside the courtyard, followed by Shui Xiu's deliberately lowered voice: "Sister?"

"Come in."

Narcissus said.

Shui Xiu pushed open the door and entered.

She is now a fourth-rank female official, in charge of the selection, assessment and daily supervision of female officials. She wears a well-fitting indigo blue female official uniform, and her face has lost the naivety of a girl, and has become more capable and calm.

The moment Shui Xiu saw Shui Xian, she was no longer the respected and feared Si Zheng in the palace, but Shui Xian's younger sister.

"elder sister!"

She stepped forward quickly, intending to bow, but was stopped by Shui Xian's raised hand.

"I have already left the palace, there is no need for such formalities."

Narcissus gestured for her to sit down. "What brings you here?"

Shui Xiu sat down on the embroidered stool beside the couch, took out a neatly bound booklet from the cloth bag she carried with her, and handed it to Shui Xian: "This is the latest revised detailed rules for the selection and promotion of female officials, which has been officially issued."

“Article 7 of Chapter 3 and Article 12 of Chapter 5 both adopted the ideas you proposed before you left the palace.”

Narcissus took the booklet and opened it.

The detailed rules are thorough and comprehensive, which not only further improves the fairness of the assessment, but also makes breakthroughs in several key areas.

Article 7 of Chapter 3 clearly states that any woman of good character and outstanding talent, regardless of marital status, may be considered for this position.

Article 12 of Chapter 5 states: Local girls' schools shall be piloted in the three prefectures south of the Yangtze River and the two prefectures in the northwest. Women of virtue and talent shall be selected from the local area to teach girls literacy, arithmetic, needlework and basic law.

As Narcissus read through the pages, her fingertips traced the familiar clauses she had painstakingly reviewed, word by word, and a warm current welled up in her heart.

"The first batch of female officials sent to Jiangnan departed three days ago."

Shui Xiu looked at Shui Xian with bright eyes, "The one leading the team is Lin Siji, do you remember her? She's the girl from a crafts family who got in on her own merit, she's the most meticulous and fair in her work."

Before she set off, she said that she would live up to her sister's kindness in admitting her to university despite the special circumstances, and that she would do good deeds for women all over the world.

Shui Xian closed the booklet, gently stroking the cover, and looked up at Shui Xiu, her eyes filled with satisfaction and admiration: "You've done a great job."

Shui Xiu shook her head vigorously: "It was you, sister, who set the direction and established the system. If it weren't for you, sister, how could we have such a good opportunity and such a good life?"

She paused, her voice lower but more resolute, "The women's cases are running smoothly now, and there are those women who have benefited from the new policies... they all remember you."

"The changes my sister wanted are happening now."

Narcissus's heart was soothed by these words.

What she left behind was that suffocating harem, and those endless suspicions.

However, the reforms she spearheaded did not falter with her departure; instead, they continued to move forward under the guidance of the people she had mentored.

This is perhaps more meaningful than the departure or stay of any individual.

"You did very well too."

Shui Xian looked at Shui Xiu and said, "After I leave the palace, take good care of yourself and consult with the Emperor on all matters."

Shui Xiu nodded emphatically: "Don't worry, sister."

She then recounted some recent developments in the palace, but Shui Xiu could not linger any longer.

Now that she holds a high position, her responsibilities are even heavier than Mount Tai.

Shui Xiu took advantage of a rare moment of free time to talk to her sister, but there wasn't much time left.

Shui Xian was very understanding and even urged Shui Xiu to get busy.

Shui Xiu had no choice but to take her leave. As she reached the door, she turned back and looked at Shui Xian with reluctance, her thousand words condensed into one sentence: "Sister, you must also... take care."

There seemed to be a hint of worry in her bright eyes. The tacit understanding between the two sisters made her sense some of Narcissus's plans.

In the end, Shui Xiu said nothing, chuckled lightly, and left.

No matter what her sister does, she believes in her sister.