As December arrived, the weather gradually turned cold.
The good news from Jianghuai greatly boosted the morale of the court, especially after His Majesty punished a group of people two days ago. Officials who sided with Wen Hemian were all very proud.
However, this also indirectly led to a greater conflict between the new and old factions.
Although the girls' school has not yet been widely implemented, the conservatives understand that given the teacher-student relationship between His Majesty and Wen Hemian, its implementation is only a matter of time.
Putting aside how much of their profits would be encroached upon, if women were really allowed to attend school, wouldn't that be outrageous? Women should stay at home and take care of their husbands and children; why should they meddle in men's affairs?
"Lord Feng, why didn't you say much at the morning court session? Are you afraid that His Majesty will punish us?"
The person who spoke was an official from the Ministry of Rites, known for his conservatism, and one of the main forces refuting Wen Hemian.
The person referred to as Lord Feng was the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, a position he held for many years without being promoted. Later, Ye Zhaoxuan surpassed him, which made him have a less than favorable impression of Wen Hemian.
Thinking of his unanswered memorial from yesterday, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief felt as if he had stumbled upon some secret. He quickly beckoned the Ministry of Rites official over and lowered his voice, "To be honest, someone sent a letter to my residence saying that Wen Heming is not a man at all. No wonder she's advocating for women's rights. Tsk tsk..."
"What?!" The official from the Ministry of Rites was immediately dumbfounded, then his voice trembled, "You mean, she... she's a woman disguised as a man!"
The Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, looking knowing, counted on his fingers as he spoke.
"She doesn't look like a man at all. Saying she has feminine features is just a cover-up. It's only because the Wen family is so powerful that they managed to fool her during the imperial examinations... It's such a simple thing. Just have her use it as a way to verify her identity, and then we'll know whether it's true or false."
The more they talked, the brighter their eyes became. They looked at each other and smiled, instantly reaching a consensus: "We have to tell the others quickly!"
-
The epidemic is not a major problem for the time being.
After a few doses of medicine, some of those with milder symptoms recovered and went home, while those with more severe symptoms had to stay and be observed. Fortunately, almost no one was infected again afterward.
The Jianghuai region is prosperous and has abundant resources, so there is no need for support from the imperial court for the time being. The prefect specially sent someone to deliver a mutton hot pot, saying that it was to warm Wen Hemian up.
The mutton hot pot was delicious, and I felt warm all over after eating it. A guard delivered a letter, written by His Majesty the Emperor himself, saying that everything was well in the capital and that he hoped she would return to have New Year's Eve dinner together.
The words are filled with earnestness.
But Wen Hemian's smile gradually faded.
The system, having enjoyed a good meal with her, asked while licking its paws, "We're going back soon, aren't you happy?"
Wen Hemian sighed softly, "It's not that easy."
Xie Lang wanted to paint a rosy picture, but having also spent so many years in the capital, it was easy for her to gather information.
With the fall of the Ning faction, she became the leader of the court.
In fact, the conflict had been brewing for some time, but because everyone shared the common goal of overthrowing the Ning Party, they were only able to come together as one.
Now that the alliance has collapsed and there are conflicts of interest, many people hate her to the core. The proposal to establish a girls' school has only deepened the conflict between her and the old faction.
Her trip to Jianghuai was partly due to the fact that she had to come, and partly because she wanted to postpone the conflict. However, almost a month has passed, and His Majesty the Emperor should have gotten the hang of it by now.
"I want to leave."
Wen Hemian stared blankly outside, remained silent for a long time, and then repeated softly, "I want to leave."
Seemingly surprised by her response, the system paused for a moment: "Leaving now? Aren't you reluctant to leave? Aren't you going back to the capital?"
"If we go back, we probably won't be able to leave."
Wen Heming's smile held a hint of bitterness.
She originally thought she had a way to get the brat to release the person, but her experience the night before leaving the capital made her think twice.
Are their feelings deep? Undoubtedly.
Even so, Xie Lang would still secretly resort to some tricks when she refused, displaying a stubbornness that was impossible to dissuade.
If the initial signs can be controlled, what about later?
Xie Lang is destined to go further and further down this path. He is no longer the child who could be held in Wen Hemian's arms without any resistance, but a fierce beast that has revealed its sharp claws and fangs.
Moreover, the sudden change in their relationship left her feeling lost. Since she had no feelings for him, how could she feel at ease continuing to indulge his advances and attempts to please her?
The system nodded in deep agreement: "Indeed, that's what I think too. After all, the way the little emperor looks at you... oh my... it's terrifying."
"Moreover, there are endless disputes in the court because of me. If I don't leave, I will become the only one in power. The little brat is protective of his own and may argue with the court officials again."
Wen Hemian never doubted the feelings between her and Xie Lang.
This kind of bond is something that ordinary people cannot understand.
"I had already arranged everything before I came. The policies I wrote down will be promoted by others, and even if my identity is exposed, it won't implicate the Wen family. The late emperor committed so many sins, it's not too much to ask him to take the blame as well, is it?"
Wen Heming's eyes, which usually held a calm demeanor, were bright at this moment: "If they make a move, I'll go with the flow... System, can you keep your promise?"
The system was stunned for a moment: "...Of course."
Despite all her calculations, Wen Hemian never expected that the opportunity she desired would be delivered to her in this way.
She came to quell the epidemic, and no one would harm her on her way, because they also hoped that things would be calmed down in Jianghuai, otherwise who knows who would be next.
But going back is another matter.
With her involvement and the resulting instability in the capital, anyone who wants to harm her has only one chance.
She expected it, and so did Xie Lang.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have placed so many highly skilled guards around her; their attire was almost on par with that of the emperor.
“If something happens to me, he can take the opportunity to clean up the court again and won’t be controlled by anyone in the future. That’s what he wants, and he should be happy.”
Calming down, Wen Hemian thought everything through clearly: "Time is the best healer. Maybe in time, when he's older, he'll figure it out himself. Young people can't distinguish between liking someone and often mistake passion for affection. Maybe he'll find it funny when he thinks back on it."
Hesitation will inevitably lead to harm.
The road to becoming an emperor is long and arduous, but Xie Lang is not as dependent on her as one might imagine.
It's just a pity that she won't live to see Xie Lang's coming-of-age ceremony.
From now on, she will let go and watch him walk away alone.
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