In late May and early June, as the weather gradually warmed up, preparations for ice were underway in various prefectures of the capital. Song Yaozhu was enjoying a melon and iced cheese drink when Yongle arrived uninvited.

"It's so hot outside! Quickly, give me a bowl too!" Yongle rarely came directly to the door. Because of her family's connections, she was afraid that the Emperor would suspect that the Xuan Prince's Mansion and the Xiaoyao Prince's Mansion were working together, so she usually befriended Song Yaozhu in private.

"What's the matter? Why are you being so reckless?"

"What else could it be about? It's about my husband!"

"Shen Qingyu? What happened to her?" She knew about the Fang family's situation. Shen Qingyu had told her that she didn't plan to divorce and wanted to wait until Xu Wan'er's child was born so that she could raise her child and establish herself.

Song Yaozhu initially wanted to dissuade her from her plan, since Xu Wan'er and her mother-in-law had a close relationship, and it was unlikely that Xu Wan'er would obediently let her raise the child. However, she also thought that since Xu Wan'er had made this decision, she must have the means to achieve it.

But man proposes, God disposes. Xu Wan'er miscarried, and Madam Fang then tried to send Shen Qingyu to prison to conceive her son's child. Meanwhile, the Shen family was determined to divorce the Fang family.

The Fang family accused the Shen family of being heartless and ungrateful, saying that no one would want to marry Shen Qingyu in the future. Shen Qingyu's younger brother, Shen Qingque, led a group to cause a scene at the Fang family's gate, angrily denouncing the Fang family for favoring their concubine over their wife, allowing the concubine to harm their legitimate son, and acting lawlessly. He declared that the Fang family's extinction was retribution, and that retribution was inevitable!

"The two sides have gotten into a mess and have already gone to see the Prefect of the Capital, but this corrupt official doesn't want to offend either side and wants them to handle it privately! If they could handle it themselves, why would they need to go to the magistrate? I was thinking of using my father's influence to put pressure on that corrupt official, but my mother said no, that would be criticized. So I came to you. You're cunning and resourceful, you must have a way!"

Song Yaozhu's lips twitched. "Thank you for your praise, Princess. It's not a scheme, just a small, unhelpful suggestion."

Yongle immediately craned his neck to listen.

"Fang Wencai obtained the exam questions from the Vice Minister of Rites. Now, the Liu family members are either dead or forced into prostitution. It's one thing for the dead to be dead, but the living need an outlet for their resentment."

After Yongle became Shen Qingyu's student, he grew smarter and, upon hearing Song Yaozhu's words, exclaimed in surprise, "You're trying to use someone else to do your dirty work!"

Song Yaozhu: "......"

I hate talking to such a heartless brat! I was clearly just trying to give her some guidance, and she had to portray me so maliciously! I'm so angry!

"The most poisonous heart is that of a woman, Song Yaozhu. I am willful, and you are vicious, but we were good sisters in our past lives! I accept you as my good sister!"

Song Yaozhu: "......"

There's absolutely no need for that!

"Caiyin, see the guest out!" She was afraid that if she said a few more words to Yongle, she would be so angry that she would vomit blood!

Having found a solution, Yongle naturally left eagerly. It makes sense, really; if Fang Wencai were dead, even without a divorce, Shen Qingyu could remarry.

Furthermore, the Great Chen Dynasty does not allow the husband's family to force the daughter-in-law to uphold chastity. If the Fang family forces Shen Qingyu to stay, the Shen family can sue the Fang family to death!

That Fang Wencai was no good either. Selling exam questions was a death sentence, but he was lucky to have a powerful father who pulled strings. Now he's just getting the end he deserved, and at least he died a worthy death.

After Yongle left, Granny Qin came in and said, "Scholar Bai has returned with his men!"

Song Yaozhu was delighted, "How many people did you bring?"

Granny Qin smiled and said, "This old servant has taken a quick look and estimates there are about thirty people! They are all beautiful young ladies!"

Song Yaozhu quickly changed her clothes and went to greet the guests. As soon as she entered the flower hall, she heard the girls' cheerful laughter.

As soon as Song Yaozhu entered the flower hall, all the young ladies stopped talking and looked at her curiously.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" The eldest nanny leading the group bowed to Song Yaozhu, and the young girls below followed suit.

Song Yaozhu sized up the leading female elder. Her face was serious, and her whole demeanor was solemn and awe-inspiring. She didn't seem to come from an ordinary family; rather, she appeared to be the manager of a wealthy and powerful household.

Song Yaozhu smiled and said, "Please sit down, everyone. I have heard of your talents, but unfortunately I am restricted by the capital and cannot visit your hometown in person. That is why I sent someone to invite you all here. I wonder if I have been slighted on the way?"

The leading matron, surnamed Yu, was a woman who had seen many storms. She said, "The Princess's manners were impeccable, and we have not been negligent. But we wonder why the Princess has summoned us here?"

Cao Zhi, that simpleton, wrote a letter and had Bai Xiucai take it over. The letter only said that all the girls in the village who wanted to come out must come out, or they would regret it.

After much deliberation, the village chief and elders asked all the girls in the village if they were willing to go to the capital. To their surprise, most of them came! Those who didn't come either had elderly parents to care for or young children to raise.

Actually, Song Yaozhu hadn't decided what she wanted them to do, mainly because she hadn't expected so many people to come. She thought it would be good if one or two people came, or even more if three or four, but unexpectedly, nearly thirty people showed up.

After a moment's hesitation, Song Yaozhu spoke up: "My husband is going to open an academy in the capital, but we don't have any female teachers yet. I wonder if any of you are interested?"

Upon hearing this, one of the girls found it rather boring and said, "So you've invited us here to be teachers? That's too tedious. If we want to be teachers, we can be teachers anywhere!"

"Perhaps the teachers in the capital are different from those in other places?"

The girls were chatting away when Granny Yu suddenly spoke up: "Silence!"

Everyone shut their mouths and looked at Song Yaozhu.

"Since I invited you all here, I will certainly not ask you to do anything against your will. I will arrange accommodations for you, and you are also welcome to visit the academy. If you wish to stay, you may do so; if not, I will also prepare money for your return home."

Granny Yu stared intently at Song Yaozhu, then suddenly seemed to realize something, her pupils contracting slightly before she regained her composure and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but where is my nephew Cao Zhi?"

Cao Zhi naturally helped the Xie family elders prepare for the academy's opening. Perhaps it was because the teachers had spoken so well in prison that they gained a group of followers.

It would be impolite to send them away, but it would also be awkward to keep them around for free. Considering that they would be staying in the capital until the end of the imperial examinations next spring, I hired them to help out at the academy with small tasks, providing room and board, and the wages were reasonable.

Upon hearing this, Granny Yu knew that the princess had no ill intentions. It was just that their identities were special, and they had made many preparations before coming to the capital, never wanting to step into the power struggles of the capital.

Just then, Xie Liwei came over from the front yard and saw the lively atmosphere in the flower hall, so he wanted to see the guests that Song Yaozhu was receiving.

But I regretted it as soon as I entered; it was all women...

He was just about to say hello and leave when he heard someone say, "What a handsome young man! Are you married?"

Everyone in the Carefree Prince's Mansion: "..."