Chapter 342 What is Freedom
Xu Yinxi and others naturally had the help of Lian to settle them. As soon as she entered the palace, she couldn't wait to see Feng'er. Coincidentally, Fang Ningmo also came along.
Xu Yinxi heard Feng'er's laughter from a distance, and as soon as she entered the house, almost all the girls on the exile road gathered together.
Fang Ningmo took her hand and walked into the house. "I was just talking about this, but you're missing. This is a rare reunion for us. Almost all of those who were exiled with us on the road are here."
Xu Yinxi glanced around and said with a smile, "I'm the only one missing. All the sisters of the Xu family, including Zhaodi and Ruyu, haven't come yet."
Feng Er had just heard Fang Ningmo talk about Fang Ruyu. She slapped her thigh and said, "Oh! I just found out that the once frail Miss Fang actually dared to enter the enemy camp alone and even killed Zhou Heng!"
Fang Ningmo was a little embarrassed, "Sister Feng'er, you should have read the newspaper a long time ago, right?"
"The newspaper was vague, and I don't know all the details. It was only after Ning Mo described it that I realized how dangerous it was, and I truly admire her. They say one should be treated with new eyes after three days of absence. I never imagined Miss Fang would have such courage and skill. It's a shame she's still working on universal education in the East Territory, otherwise I'd really like to see her. I heard she even won a 'House of Honor' plaque for the Fang family. I'm afraid she'll be the apple of Old Lady Fang's eye."
"You, you, are still the same as before. I'm almost embarrassed by what you said." Fang Ningmo poked her forehead with the tips of his ten fingers. "How dare you say that about us? Aren't you the same? All these years, you've been running around for His Highness, and you haven't had a few days of peace and stability in Jinzhou Prefecture. Do you know how anxious we were when we heard that you disappeared from the palace? You even said my sister was brave, but I think you're even braver than her! You actually dared to cause a coup within the palace and almost got blasted into a hedgehog by thousands of arrows! If you like the 'House of Honor' plaque, we will definitely write a petition to His Highness to give you one."
Xu Yinxi smiled and said, "Don't worry, His Highness will not treat all of us meritorious people unfairly. Honestly, to be honest, every girl in our family has made outstanding contributions. How can we not be worthy of the 'House of Honor' plaque? I would like to ask His Highness to give one to each of us!"
Everyone in the room laughed.
In an instant, she burst into laughter.
Feng Er sighed and said, "It's such a pity for Zhao Di. She could have had a bright future just like us, but she had to marry and become a concubine so early."
Everyone in the room was silent.
After a long while, Fang Ningmo said, "We saw her when we passed by Fengxiang Prefecture. She... is pregnant again, and the Zheng family's master didn't want her to travel such a long distance, so she didn't come with us to Bianjing."
"Pregnant again?" Feng'er was a little surprised. "I remember she gave birth not long ago, right?"
Xu Yinxi's face was indescribably gloomy. "Yes, it's only been less than half a year since she gave birth, and she's pregnant again. Not only that, the Zheng family's master also divorced Madam Zheng and sent her back to her parents' home. Now Zhaodi is the Zheng family's legal wife."
Feng'er was stunned. "Then Madam Zheng didn't make a fuss?"
Then she changed her mind and thought, how could Mrs. Zheng dare to make trouble?
Now that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was about to ascend the throne and become the emperor of the new dynasty, and Li Zhaodi was His Royal Highness's close friend, Madam Zheng would not dare to speak out even if she had the courage to do so.
Fang Ningmo said, "From this, it can be seen that the master of the Zheng family is also very calculating."
Xu Yinxi said, "It's true that I don't love Zhaodi. She got pregnant again right after giving birth. My mother said that's the worst thing for her health. Zhaodi is so thin she looks like she'll fall over in the wind, and her face is pale. I really want to use my power to bully others and force them to divorce!"
Feng'er didn't hold back when talking to her friends in the room. After all these years, she was still the outspoken girl she once was. She said bitterly, "Master Zheng is treating Zhaodi like a money tree! He thinks that by having another child, he can trap Zhaodi and control us at the same time. What a shrewd plan! They used to say that women are good at calculating, but I think men are no worse. When it comes to their own interests, men's calculations are clattering!"
"What can we do? I think Zhaodi, besides feeling sorry for Madam Zheng, is actually very grateful to Mr. Zheng. They are now living in harmony, so do we really want to be the bad guys? We pity Zhaodi for her lack of fighting spirit and hate her misfortune, but what if she doesn't feel that way?"
Fang Ningmo suddenly felt a sense of suffocation. He said, "She's never seen the vast world outside, never seen the snow in Xining, never seen the mountains of Jinzhou Prefecture, never learned the principles in books. She's lived her entire life in that square backyard. She doesn't even understand why we feel unfair for her. Is this a blessing or a curse for her?"
Everyone was silent.
Yes, if the person concerned does not feel that she is unfortunate, then why do they insist that she understand those big principles and make her feel that the marriage she is proud of is a joke in their eyes?
After a long pause, Fang Ningmo finally said, "It turns out that ignorance can cloud one's mind. Even when one's rights are being trampled upon, one remains completely unaware."
The girls were all silent.
Li Zhaodi chose a path that was completely different from theirs.
How could this not make them sad?
"Perhaps only Your Highness knows the answer." Feng'er said.
So later in the evening, when Xu Yinxi went to see Xu Zhenying, she also mentioned Li Zhaodi's matter and expressed the confusion of the other sisters about this matter.
Unexpectedly, Xu Zhenying also fell silent.
Xu Yinxi thought Xu Zhenying didn't know whether Li Zhaodi's choice was a blessing or a curse, but Xu Zhenying finally said, "I personally think that judging whether a person's choice is a blessing or a curse depends on whether the person understands the underlying principles and can bear the consequences of their choices. If Li Zhaodi doesn't feel that she's being used and schemed in this marriage, and can't even see what kind of person Mr. Zheng is, then that's just sheer ignorance."
"But if Li Zhaodi is fully aware of her situation and has no choice but to continue living according to her current lifestyle, and is even mentally prepared for the Zheng family to trouble us in the future, then that shows she understands the nature of this marriage. There's no need for us to worry about her."
"The state of mind is like a maze a thousand miles deep, with no boatman to ferry anyone across. Life is like a long river, with a thousand boats ferrying you across. The only true way to cross is to ferry yourself across. I have always said that girls should read more, understand more about principles, have the ability to stand in the world, dare to make different choices, and dare to bear the consequences. Whether you want to be a virtuous wife at home or venture out to become a female official or general, as the people in power in this world, the only thing we can do is to create a soil where they can voluntarily make various choices, give them the courage to break through themselves, and provide them with a way out of the system."
Xu Zhenying smiled, "Perhaps one day I will choose not to be an emperor, but to be an idle wanderer, or just a woman in the deep palace, playing with cats and dogs every day, waiting for my husband to come home——"
"Stop." When Xu Yinxi heard Xu Zhenying say that she wanted to be a woman in the deep palace, she couldn't help but feel a chill down her spine. "I understand what your Highness means. You mean that our girls should be brave enough to make choices, have the ability to bear the consequences of their choices, and have the ability to stand up again."
Xu Zhenying smiled, "That's about right. A good society should accommodate different voices and even more so, different choices. If you want to be a female official, then do it, but you can't force all girls to be as driven as you. What if some girls are naturally gentle and kind, and like to take care of their families? Are you going to push them to the forefront, forcing them to take the official exam and become independent and strong people?"
Xu Yinxi was silent for a moment, but nodded frequently.
She actually wanted to go left.
Previously, there was a female clerk who resigned to go back to take care of her husband and children. Although she did not show it on her face, she could not help but get angry with her secretary. She couldn't help but feel that these girls who gave up halfway had betrayed them.
The girls in Jinzhou Prefecture all rushed forward like a rope, competing with the men for positions and fighting for more rights for the girls, but some people retreated.
If this isn't treason, what is?
But Xu Zhenying's words made her feel a little more open-minded.
Yes, they have worked hard to create this fair and free world. Can't they allow different people to exist?
After thinking about it, Xu Yinxi remembered something else.
She glanced at Xu Zhenying's face. Under the light, the woman had a pretty face, dark eyes, and a firm gaze, as if nothing could ever shake her.
Xu Yinxi then asked, "Can I ask for the reason regarding Jiang Yongkang's matter?"
Xu Zhenying frowned slightly.
Xu Yinxi immediately said, "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. It's just that Jiang Yongkang has a special status. After all, he has been with you for so long and has made great contributions in many battles. You suddenly snubbing him like this makes everyone under you a little uneasy."
Xu Zhenying sighed.
It has been four months since I last parted ways with Jiang Yongkang.
Now that I think about it, my methods at that time were a bit ruthless and my handling of the matter was a bit radical.
Perhaps he was betrayed by his closest relatives, and he was filled with anger and lost his rationality.
She does not regret the result, but just feels that she should have done better at the time.
Jiang Yongkang has a special status and is very prestigious in the army. If I suddenly drive him away, what if Jiang Yongkang leads the soldiers to mutiny?
In the final analysis, she was still too trusting of him at the time, subconsciously thinking that Jiang Yongkang would not rebel. Otherwise, she would have taken a more gentle approach, silently removing Jiang Yongkang's arms, and making him no longer a powerful figure in the army.
But who knows?
Since ancient times, human hearts have been unpredictable.
Xu Zhenying rarely showed her soft side. She thought that Xu Yinxi was also Li Zhaodi's friend, so she could listen to Xu Yinxi's opinion on this matter.
So he gestured to Xu Yinxi to sit down.
Xu Yinxi knew that Xu Zhenying wanted to open his heart to her, and she was actually a little flattered.
Although she and Xu Zhenying are sisters, she has regarded Xu Zhenying as her monarch since a long time ago.
She is a servant and also a subject.
Although Xu Zhenying seems friendly, that is intentional.
After all, how can a person in power whose every move affects so many people be truly friendly?
Xu Zhenying has always been a qualified monarch. Although she never listens to one side of the story, she is always decisive in killing.
Everyone is allowed to express their opinions, but few can change her mind.
It had been a long time since Xu Zhenying had such a heart-to-heart talk with her sisters.
Sometimes Xu Yinxi felt that this sixth sister was very pitiful.
Although she seemed to be in a high position and had great power, she had more and more ministers but fewer and fewer friends. She seemed to be walking on a lonely and dark road, calm and composed.
The back figure looks a bit lonely.
This is probably the path that kings of all dynasties have taken.
Xu Yinxi sat down quietly, waiting for Xu Zhenying to continue.
"When we invaded Lan County, I asked Jiang Yongkang to go to the red-light districts of Lan County to look for Zhaodi... but he let her go without permission."
Xu Yinxi's mind went blank.
Seven years ago... Li Zhaodi was sold... They used black powder to attack the city for the first time... Zhaodi jumped into the moat... No trace of her body was left...
As the dusty past events were uncovered one after another, Xu Yinxi was stunned and unable to recover.
"Why would he do that?"
Xu Zhenying's face was filled with sarcasm. "He had the intention of rebellion even then. I don't know why he chose me. He was sure that given my feelings for Zhaodi, if he sacrificed her to the gods, it would definitely make me completely rebellious. Thanks to him, I also planned to rebel after learning of Zhaodi's death. I have to say, he knows me very well."
Xu Yinxi took a breath and her mind slowly sorted out.
But she also thought of one thing.
She had always wondered when Xu Zhenying decided to rebel. After all, at that time they only had Lan County, and the Xu family had not yet come to their senses, and everyone had different thoughts.
However, Xu Zhenying actually developed rebellious thoughts so early on, and then step by step let the Xu family follow her footsteps, and finally united as a team to rebel.
It turns out...she was actually being used by Jiang Yongkang.
Xu Yinxi was still a little confused.
In public, Jiang Yongkang played with the monarch.
Personally, Jiang Yongkang betrayed his friends.
If Jiang Yongkang had not let Li Zhaodi go at that time, perhaps Li Zhaodi would have had a bright future like them, instead of being displaced and ending up as a concubine.
It's not necessarily true that Jiang Yongkang was a bad person. After all, the safest way at the time was to kill Li Zhaodi and eliminate the root of the problem.
Jiang Yongkang is very skilled in martial arts, and it is easy for him to get rid of Li Zhaodi, who is powerless.
However, he chose to send Li Zhaodi away, leaving such a big loophole, which instead created a rift between his once close comrades.
Xu Yinxi imagined how sad and angry she would be if she were Xu Zhenying.
Yes, Jiang Yongkang is not only a comrade-in-arms, but also a subject.
A person who completely sees through the monarch, understands the monarch's preferences, and even uses the monarch as a puppet to achieve his own goals... such a person is extremely scary.
Xu Yinxi somewhat understood Xu Zhenying's decision at the time, and also understood why Jiang Yongkang was ignored by Xu Zhenying.
Xu Yinxi was silent for a long time before she said, "I... don't know how to evaluate it. I think he brought this upon himself, but I also feel a bit sorry for him."
Xu Zhenying smiled bitterly. "That's right. That's what I'm struggling with. After all, that happened seven years ago. Seven years ago, he and I were just friends in the same exile group. I can't expect him to be completely loyal to me then. But keeping such a reckless minister around is really risky. I'm afraid he'll pull his 'general on the sidelines, he's not subject to the emperor's orders' trick again."
Xu Yinxi's heart was beating like a drum. She sighed repeatedly, but there was a look of self-blame on her face. "If that's the case, I might have ruined your plan."
"How do you say it?"
"Before coming to Bianjing City, Jiang Yongkang came to ask for my permission, saying that he had avenged his great hatred and wanted to return to bury his parents' remains and visit his old house." Xu Yinxi felt more and more guilty as she spoke. "Although I knew he was somewhat reluctant to leave, I thought that His Highness hadn't taken away his power, but only ordered him to recuperate temporarily, so he couldn't be considered a criminal. So I took the initiative to allow him to return to the capital."
Xu Zhenying frowned slightly and looked at the bewildered Xu Yinxi and said, "This isn't a big deal. Where are the others?"
"I'm afraid it's in the original Jiang Mansion at this moment—"
"The Jiang Mansion has been taken back and given to a successful top-ranked scholar. Now there's someone living there, and Jiang Yongkang probably can't enter without one of our people accompanying him."
Xu Zhenying sighed slightly, feeling a mixture of emotions. "Forget it, Secretary Zhou—"
Xu Zhenying shouted outside the door, and soon Zhou Houfang came quickly.
"Secretary Zhou, go to Master Zhang at the Hanlin Academy and tell him that his current residence is Minister Jiang's former residence. Ask him to allow Minister Jiang a tour." Xu Zhenying added, "Don't mention it's my order. Do it for Secretary Zhou's sake."
Zhou Houfang took the order and left.
Xu Yinxi then asked, "Your Highness, are you going to leave Jiang Yongkang alone forever?"
After saying this, she hesitated again, "Minister Jiang is a rare talent. It would be a pity to discard him, but it would be risky to use him."
Xu Zhenying smiled, but there was a cold smile in his eyes, "My Jinzhou Prefecture has many talented leaders, and even more loyal ones. If there was no Jiang Yongkang, there would be Li Yongkang, Zhao Yongkang——"
When Xu Yinxi heard this, a thin layer of sweat appeared on the back of her thin clothes.
She knew that Jiang Yongkang's road to fame had ended here.
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