Chapter 131 Extra Chapter 1: A Life with Choices (Blue...)

In Jiangzhou Prefecture, snow is rare in winter, but rain is plentiful. When the drizzle begins, it feels as if the cold rain has soaked into your bones, making you ache so much that it's hard to breathe.

The rain that had been falling for days finally stopped, and the sun peeked into the sky, bright and warm, just like springtime.

Qingtan sat in a rocking chair basking in the sun, while the tea in the small red clay teapot beside her simmered. She poured a cup and placed it on the low table to cool.

Chanjuan carried the bedding out of the bedroom to air it out, deftly placing it on the bamboo rack with both hands. She pulled it along while simultaneously beating it with a duster.

As the dust settled, Qingtan quickly picked up her teacup and raised her arm to shield herself from the dust.

Chanjuan realized her mistake and quickly stepped forward, saying, "Let me get you a fresh cup of tea, sir."

Qingtan looked Chanjuan up and down, and seeing that she was absent-minded, said kindly, "It's alright, sit down, have some tea and rest."

The bedding and thick clothes had all been hung out to dry, so Chanjuan straightened her clothes and sat down to the side. She poured herself a cup of tea. The tea was scalding hot, so Chanjuan blew on it and took a small sip.

Qingtan asked with a smile, "Did your family make things difficult for you?"

Chanjuan nodded, and said sadly, "My mother told me to settle down quickly. We are just a poor family. The reason we were able to marry into an official family is largely because I learned to read and write with my teacher. My teacher came from the palace and served the Empress Dowager. They didn't want me, but rather my teacher's connection to them."

After leaving the palace, Qingtan returned to her hometown and did not marry. She first worked as a tutor, teaching young ladies etiquette. After saving some money, she began taking on apprentices to teach young women literacy, needlework, and cooking, in order to support herself in her old age. While wealthy families hired their own tutors, ordinary families couldn't afford to send their daughters to learn. Qingtan, however, was unpretentious; a bowl of rice and a bundle of firewood were all she needed.

There were still not many students, just enough for Qingtan to make a living. Her good reputation spread as a result, and everyone in Jiangzhou Prefecture knew her; even the government officials treated her with great respect.

Chanjuan's home was only two alleys away from Qingtan's courtyard. Her family ran a small general store and supported six people, living a modest life. She was clever and pretty from a young age and had been studying with Qingtan for six or seven years.

With the man of marriageable age approaching, a matchmaker came to the door to arrange a marriage for the nephew of the Prefectural Magistrate of Jiangzhou. The nephew was studying at the academy, handsome, and of good character. His academic performance wasn't outstanding, but with a few more attempts at the imperial examinations, he should be able to pass and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations). With the Prefectural Magistrate's connection, even if he couldn't become an official, he could still work as a staff member or clerk, and his future would be secure.

Chanjuan had met the man once; she couldn't say she liked him, nor could she say she disliked him. Knowing she was going to get married, she felt lost as the time for it finally came.

Qingtan laughed and said, "You're not willing to let me use your face, are you?"

Chanjuan panicked and hurriedly explained, "I would be more than happy to have the honor of being associated with you, sir. But...I..."

After stammering for a long time, Chanjuan still couldn't come up with a solution. She hung her head and said, "Sir, I don't know what to do. I don't want to get married. I want to live like you for the rest of my life, but I don't have your abilities. But if I get married, I won't be content."

Looking at Chanjuan, Qingtan said with deep emotion, "Chanjuan, you were truly born in a good time."

Chanjuan looked puzzled, and Qingtan sighed deeply, "In the past, marriages were arranged by parents and matchmakers, and your parents would never ask for your opinion. Now the customs of the Great Yin Dynasty are different, and they will ask for the opinions of their children. You have a choice, and the choice will cause you trouble. This trouble is actually a great blessing."

Chanjuan was still puzzled and asked hesitantly, "Sir, how can trouble be a blessing?"

Qingtan asked, "If your parents didn't ask for your opinion and agreed to the marriage, you wouldn't have to worry. Would you be willing to do that?"

Without hesitation, Chanjuan shook her head and said firmly, "I don't want to!"

Qingtan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Then if I let you choose, you still wouldn't want to?"

Chanjuan was stunned, and said with great distress, "Sir, I'm just afraid of making the wrong choice. My mother often tells me that after marriage, it's not the same as staying at my parents' home. I have to serve my parents-in-law and husband, and manage the household affairs. Just thinking about it gives me a headache. Marriage is not as comfortable as staying at my parents' home, so I might as well not get married at all."

Qingtan advised, "You are not like your mother, who can read and write, and is skilled in needlework, tea ceremony, etiquette, and manners. You are no less capable than a lady from a prominent family. The man who came to propose marriage must have inquired about you and found you satisfactory before sending a matchmaker. Chanjuan, you are not trying to climb the social ladder, so don't look down on yourself."

Chanjuan cheered and instantly became full of fighting spirit, "I'm amazing!" Her momentum didn't last long before she lost her nerve and asked doubtfully, "Sir, can you really live a good life like this?"

Qingtan pondered for a moment and said, "You can't choose your parents or children. Getting married is your own choice, and whether you live a good or bad life depends entirely on your own abilities."

Chanjuan said softly, "It's because I'm incompetent. If I can't make a living, I don't even have anyone to complain to."

"Of course you can complain, you can cry, but don't wallow in it. You must pull yourself together. Couples can divorce, and children can live with their mother. The dowry goes to the woman, and she can share in the family property."

As Qingtan spoke, her expression became excited: "Chanjuan, these laws and regulations may seem insignificant to you, but those above must have exhausted their energy and effort."

Chanjuan gazed at the silver strands at Qingtan's temples, her expression filled with melancholy, and her nose inexplicably stung with tears.

Qingtan remained silent for a long time, her thoughts drifting back to a long time ago, to when she left the palace.

"Your Majesty, it's late." Qingtan, on her last day of duty, came to the study to remind Jiang Ling to rest.

Jiang Ling looked up, put down her pen, stretched her arms, and asked, "Have you packed your bags?"

Qingtan was touched that Jiang Ling remembered her leaving the palace and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I have packed everything up."

"Sit down." Jiang Ling pointed to the chair opposite. Qing Tan hesitated for a moment, then sat on the outer edge of the chair.

"I've been on duty all day, and sitting like this is tiring."

Jiang Ling smiled jokingly at Qing Tan, "Once you leave, it will be difficult to come back. You have served in the palace for so many years, you should enjoy yourself before you leave."

Knowing Jiang Ling's generosity, Qing Tan was no longer reserved. After expressing her gratitude, she moved over and sat down comfortably.

"There are eleven people returning to Jiangzhou Prefecture. I have already instructed Consort Lin that since you are serving by my side, you should take extra care of them. They will look after you on the way back."

Jiang Ling took out a letter and a purse from her desk drawer. "If I were still here and you encountered any problems that you couldn't solve, take this letter to the authorities. There are twenty taels of silver in the purse. Don't think it's too little. You're a young lady. Having too much silver on you is actually dangerous."

Qingtan's heart warmed, and she choked up. She quickly said, "Your Highness, please accept the letter, but I don't need the money. I've saved up all my monthly salary over the years, so I don't need any money."

"No one would complain about having too much money."

Jiang Ling glared at Qing Tan, then smiled and said gently, "Take it. Serving by my side involves a lot of work and little reward. You've worked hard all these years, this is what you deserve."

Qingtan sniffed, put away her purse, and stood up to kneel down to express her gratitude.

Jiang Ling raised her hand to gesture to her, "No, no, no, I don't like this kind of thing."

Qingtan simply sat back down, quickly wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said, “Serving by Your Majesty’s side is the most worry-free thing. As long as I do my job honestly, I don’t need to worry about anything else. Your Majesty, I want to leave the palace. I’m heartless, Your Majesty still treats me so well, I’m just ungrateful. However, Aruo said I wanted to get married, but she’s not right. I’m not leaving the palace to get married. After I started serving by Your Majesty’s side, I wrote several letters home to inquire about my sisters’ whereabouts, but they all disappeared without a trace. Later, I asked Huang Daban to inquire at the Jiangzhou Prefecture Guild Hall. I heard that both of my sisters had been sold off, and my second sister was sold into a brothel. My second sister loved me the most, and I want to go back and find my sisters. I’ve learned a lot of skills by Your Majesty’s side, and I can support them so they won’t suffer anymore.”

"The ransom for brothels is expensive; your little bit of silver isn't enough."

Jiang Ling didn't try to dissuade Qing Tan from her choice. Without saying a word, she laid out some paper, wrote a few lines, and stamped it with her personal seal: "Take this to redeem your sister."

Qingtan choked on her tears, holding Jiang Ling's letter and sobbing uncontrollably, "Your Majesty's great kindness is something I can never repay, in the next life..."

Jiang Ling interrupted Qing Tan, "Don't be a beast of burden in your next life. Forget the suffering in this world, live a free, peaceful, and smooth life as a human being."

Qingtan held the letter to her chest, nodded vigorously, a smile on her face, but tears still streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Jiang Ling got up and walked outside, saying, "It's getting late, let's go back and have a proper farewell with A'Ruo Wenjuan and the others."

Qingtan followed Jiang Ling out of the study. The moon was already high in the sky, casting a soft glow on the red walls and yellow tiles.

Biting her lip, Qingtan said softly, "Your Majesty, I am actually very scared. I have no idea what the future holds."

"I know."

Jiang Ling patted Qing Tan's thin shoulder, a deep sense of helplessness rising in his expression, "Because you are not like men, you are subject to many constraints, it is difficult to find a job, and you don't have as many opportunities to make mistakes."

With teary eyes, Qingtan stared at Jiang Ling and asked blankly, "Is Your Highness afraid?"

Jiang Ling smiled slightly and said, "I'm afraid, I'm afraid all the time. But this is the path I've chosen, and I have to keep going even if I'm afraid. Being able to have a choice is already a blessing."

For many years, Qingtan has always remembered Jiang Ling's words clearly.

She entered the palace against her will, but leaving was her own choice. Jiang Ling gave them the opportunity to choose, so they would no longer drift like duckweed, their fates uncertain and subject to the whims of life. She chose her own future.

No matter how difficult the road ahead, she will persevere.

Having successfully returned to Jiangzhou Prefecture, Qingtan found her two older sisters, but they were not as fortunate as she was. Her eldest sister had been sold into marriage to a wealthy family, given a servant, and died in childbirth. Her second sister had fallen seriously ill in a brothel and could no longer earn money. Qingtan, without using Jiang Ling's letter, spent ten taels of silver to bring her out. Half a month later, her second sister passed away. Qingtan buried her and began looking for work, becoming a tutor.

Over the years, she has encountered countless dangers. As a single woman, she often encounters malicious thugs and hooligans who try to smear her reputation and force her to marry.

Fortunately, Qingtan pulled through. She relied on her own resilience and Jiang Ling's protection.

Qingtan reflected on her life, having walked countless roads, witnessed major political events, and experienced the hustle and bustle of the marketplace.

It wasn't all smooth sailing, but it was rich and colorful enough.

These were all choices she made; the path she chose herself.

Qingtan snapped out of her reverie, looked at Chanjuan's young, bewildered face, just like Jiang Ling had done back then, and patted her on the shoulder.

Chanjuan stared blankly at her. Qingtan looked at her calmly and said, "Chanjuan, the path you've chosen will be wider. It's okay to be flustered or afraid. Keep going, keep going!"