I'm not wrong
The last snow of late winter finally melted away, and the tender buds on the branches timidly poked their heads out. The wind inside the palace walls was no longer bitingly cold, but had a soft earthy scent.
In the courtyard of Xuehan Palace, water marks from the melted snow meandered, reflecting the thin sunlight of early spring on the bluestone slabs.
Ning Lingyi sat on the beauty's seat in the corridor, wrapped in a thick brocade fur coat, her eyes fixed somewhat blankly on the old plum tree in the courtyard. The flowers had all fallen, leaving only the twisted branches.
She was surrounded by two delicate little figures - the fifth prince Ning Yanhe and the sixth princess Ning Lingyao, who were the daughters of a low-ranking concubine Jing in the palace.
Concubine Jing has a gentle temperament and has always been taken care of by Concubine Yu. Even though Mingzhu is now imprisoned, Concubine Yu's influence is still there, so Concubine Jing is relieved to let the two ignorant children come to Xuehan Palace to play often.
The two children were innocent and didn't quite understand why the beautiful imperial sister was always locked up in the palace. They just thought it was quiet here and there were delicious snacks.
"Imperial Sister Mingzhu," Ning Lingyao tugged at Ning Lingyi's sleeve, chattering, "The New Year's Eve banquet was so lively, with so many lanterns and even lion dances! Father didn't come, so it was hosted by my Crown Prince."
Ning Lingyi's heart trembled slightly, but she remained expressionless. She only gently straightened Ning Lingyao's messy braids and said, "Really? Did you have fun, Yao'er?"
"Happy!" Ning Yanhe rushed to answer, her face flushed with excitement. "That's right, it seems like Crown Prince and Prince Yong are unhappy."
He tilted his head and tried to recall, "Brother Yong Wang said something, and Brother Crown Prince's face turned pale. Then Brother Yong Wang slammed the table! The sound was so loud! It scared Yao'er."
He imitated the action of clapping the table, and frowned like an adult.
Ning Lingyao also nodded vigorously: "Yeah! So fierce! Later, the Queen said something, and everyone started eating again."
Prince Yong and the Crown Prince were arguing publicly at the New Year's Eve banquet? Even to the point of slamming the table? Ning Lingyi's heart was filled with turmoil.
It seems that the ripples caused by her throwing a stone into stagnant water are far more violent than imagined, and even the superficial brotherly friendship is difficult to maintain.
Prince Yong's ambition was undisguised, and the Crown Prince's predicament brought a complex feeling to her heart, which eventually turned into an almost inaudible sigh: "Is that so..."
At this moment, a palace maid's respectful announcement came from outside the palace: "Princess Zhaoyang has arrived."
Ning Lingyi was slightly stunned.
Zhaoyang? The eldest princess born to the Empress, her elder sister, known for her obedience and virtue?
How could she be here? Ever since she was imprisoned, all the royal relatives, whether close or distant, had avoided her, and Zhaoyang had never set foot in Xuehan Palace.
When the fifth prince and the sixth princess saw that an important person had arrived, they immediately behaved themselves. After paying their respects to Zhaoyang, they were taken by the palace maids to a side hall to have some snacks.
Princess Zhaoyang was dressed in a lake blue palace dress, with graceful manners, and walked slowly into the courtyard.
She had a beautiful face and a calm temperament, completely different from Ning Lingyi's bright and flamboyant style. She dismissed the palace maids who were accompanying her, leaving only the two sisters in the courtyard.
"Mingzhu." Zhaoyang's voice was very soft, with a hint of barely perceptible nervousness.
She walked to Ning Lingyi's side but did not sit down. Her eyes swept across this world enclosed by high walls, and finally fell on Ning Lingyi's back, which was slightly thinner but still straight.
"Imperial sister." Ning Lingyi stood up and saluted, her heart full of doubts.
Zhaoyang was silent for a moment, as if he was choosing his words.
She took a step closer and lowered her voice to a level of solemnity that was almost a whisper: "Mingzhu, I've heard about what happened in Mingzhou."
Ning Lingyi's heart skipped a beat and she looked up at Zhaoyang.
Zhaoyang met her gaze, his eyes, which were always gentle and peaceful, now particularly bright: "You did the right thing."
She spoke clearly, enunciating each word, "Killing Liu Mian, dividing the land, and opening the granaries to release grain, everything you did was right!"
Ning Lingyi was completely stunned.
She never expected that the first person to so bluntly affirm her actions would be the most law-abiding Princess Zhaoyang.
"Imperial sister, you..." Ning Lingyi said.
"They..." There was a hint of nervousness in Zhaoyang's voice, but he still said it.
"They're scared. Those hypocritical bad guys are afraid of you, so they want to lock you up, gag you, and force you to admit your mistakes."
She took a deep breath, watching Ning Lingyi's eyes flicker with emotion, and softened her tone a little, "Don't be discouraged, Mingzhu, don't let this high wall hold you back. There are people who remember what you've done, who are grateful, and who are watching."
Zhaoyang's words unexpectedly broke through Ning Lingyi's defenses. She felt a lump in her throat, and a thousand words were stuck in her chest. In the end, she could only say a trembling "Imperial sister, thank you."
Zhaoyang shook his head slightly, a faint smile of reminiscence on his face: "Do you remember? When you were very young, probably about Yao'er's age, you got a pony from somewhere and insisted on riding it through the imperial garden to come and play with me."
"The nanny accompanying the Empress saw us and gave us a good scolding, saying you were unbecoming and a loss of royal dignity. I was hiding behind the pillars at the time, watching your tiny figure standing there being scolded. I actually wanted to apologize to you the whole time, but I didn't have your courage."
Her eyes revealed a sincere yearning. "Mingzhu, your courage to act and take responsibility is something I will never be able to learn. This palace desperately needs such courage. We should let them know that women can also accomplish things, rather than just being disciplined."
She carefully took out several unsigned letters from her wide sleeve pocket and handed them to Ning Lingyi. "This is for you. These days, letters to and from the palace are strictly checked, especially those for you. I'm currently assisting my mother with some palace affairs. I happened to see these letters from Mingzhou, so I kept them for myself."
Ning Lingyi's fingers trembled slightly as she took the letters that still carried Zhaoyang's body temperature. The envelopes were rough, made of jute paper, a common type in Mingzhou.
"Take your time to read it. I'm going back first. Be careful."
Zhaoyang looked at Ning Lingyi deeply, with encouragement in his eyes. She said no more, turned around and left, her back still dignified.
"Imperial sister!" Ning Lingyi wanted to say something to her.
But Zhaoyang didn't look back. He just paused and continued walking forward until his figure disappeared.
The courtyard became quiet again.
Ning Lingyi was a little at a loss, and it was difficult for her to express what she was doing. Looking at Zhaoyang's background, she always felt that Zhaoyang was very far away from her, but today she realized that there had never been any barrier between her and Zhaoyang.
Ning Lingyi clutched the letters tightly. She returned to the corridor and opened them impatiently.
The first letter was written in neat, clear handwriting, in the handwriting of Shen Qingyan: "Your Highness, the spring snow has melted, and the frozen ground is gradually breaking. The people of Mingzhou have received spring plowing seeds and farm tools according to the regulations set by Your Highness, and have rushed to their newly allocated land. New green shoots are already sprouting in the fields. The villages and towns are reporting that the number of refugees is increasing, most of whom are fleeing famine in neighboring states. I have ordered all localities to properly resettle them, using work as relief, so that no one will starve. The treasury is full, and the people are gradually at ease. The trees planted by Your Highness have now taken root and sprouted. The people of Mingzhou are grateful for Your Highness's kindness and pray day and night. I only hope that Your Highness will take care of himself and not worry about Mingzhou. I, Qingyan, bow my head again."
Had the fields already been planted? What would they look like when the newly sprouted green grass appeared? Ning Lingyi had never paid attention, but today she couldn't help but wonder: when would the harvest come? How many people would be fed by one acre of land?
Ning Lingyi didn't know, no one had ever told her, but she really wanted to know today.
Opening the second letter, the handwriting was a little sloppy but powerful, with a lively feel of moisture. It was from Su Qingfan.
"Your Highness: Qingfan bows. The Shunfeng has been completely renovated, and over thirty vessels of all sizes are ready to launch. Since the beginning of spring, trade routes have gradually opened up. Following Lord Shen's orders, we have been transporting relief grain and fodder to various counties, and also accepting civilian goods, traveling between Huguang, Jianghuai, and Hubei. In Mingzhou, the prices of rice, grain, and cloth have dropped by more than 30% compared to last winter! The streets are gradually becoming prosperous again, and new houses are standing in a row. Whenever a ship leaves the harbor, people on the shore always stop to see it off, saying that this is Your Highness's ship. Your Highness, Mingzhou is getting better, it is really getting better! We are all waiting for your return! Qingfan bows again."
It turns out that once trade routes are open, towns will flourish and prices will fall. Then people should be able to buy more things with their money, right? This is a good thing, really good. Ning Lingyi felt some indescribable emotions, and her eyes were filled with them.
The third letter had no words on it, only a piece of rough straw paper with a crooked circle clumsily drawn on it with burnt charcoal. Next to the circle were several vertical lines, like a little man.
Below the painting was Su Qingfan's note: "Your Highness, Yinyin can't write, so she asked me to bring this to you. She said this circle is her bowl, and now it's filled every day, so she can eat her fill. She said she missed Your Highness very much and wanted to see you riding a horse again..."
Ning Lingyi's vision blurred as she laid eyes on the simple circle and the little figure. She had entrusted the little girl, Yinyin, who had been given to her by her grandmother, to Su Qingfan. Finally, Yinyin's bowl was full!
The tears that had been suppressed for too long burst out.
She tightly grasped the piece of straw paper with circles and little people drawn on it, as if she could touch Yin Yin's warm little hands through the rough paper, see the farmers sweating in the fields, hear the loud calls of the boatmen on the dock, and feel the surging vitality of the land of Minnesota.
All the grievances and resentment disappeared at this moment. Her blood was not shed in vain, her sword was not swung in vain, and her efforts were not in vain.
Mingzhou is really different now.
After a long time, the tears gradually stopped. Ning Lingyi raised her head and looked at the sky outside Xuehan Palace, which was cut into squares by the palace wall. She raised her hand and gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks with her fingertips. Her movements were slow and powerful.
The corridor was silent, with only the early spring breeze carrying the warmth of the earth blowing past. She straightened her back, and her posture seemed more resilient than the gnarled old plum branches.
After a long moment, she exhaled a very faint breath from her lips, and whispered inaudibly on the wind: "I am not wrong."
This high wall cannot restrain the people's hearts.
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