If he could, Xie Lang would really want to rush to the Prince's mansion right now and fight for what he wanted.
However, he was extremely astute and sensed the probing hidden within, thus realizing all the more clearly that he could not do it, nor did he have the right to do so.
With precedents set, it was clear that the princess could not trust him like Wen Hemian did. If he really did it, there would be no chance to make amends.
The difference between him and Wen Heming is far more than six years.
Xie Lang was unusually dejected, hating his own powerlessness and wishing he could sweep away all the troublesome matters in the court as soon as possible.
Fortunately, a few days later, Xie Lang found an opportunity to ask Wen Hemian a question.
It seemed that Qin Yi was planning to stay for a long time this time. Wen Hemian had a terrible headache, so she simply took the opportunity to go into the palace to hide. However, as they talked, the topic somehow veered off course again.
"I've heard that the princess is choosing a husband for you. Do you... have a way to get married?"
Xie Lang's question was difficult to answer.
He both longed for an answer and feared that the answer might not be what he wanted.
If it's truly just the princess's wishful thinking, then that's fine. But what if Wen Hemian is also interested? He can't guarantee what he might do.
He stared intently at Wen Hemian, but his gaze was unbelievably calm.
Wen Hemian initially wanted to shake her head directly, but before she could do so, she stopped, considering the future, and remained silent for a long time.
It was this long pause that made Xie Lang's eyes flash with a hint of malice, but in front of Wen Hemian, he could only suppress his anger and plead in a low voice: "Can't we... not get married? Please."
Listen closely, and you'll hear a slight sob in his voice.
Wen Hemian regretted entering the palace today.
Not only did they fail to avoid trouble, they even got involved in an even bigger problem.
She couldn't resist the little brat's coquettishness and vulnerability, but now she had to turn her head away to avoid the gaze that was too intense for her.
She closed her eyes, silently weary, and didn't ask him why. After a moment, she sighed, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I can't give you the answer you want right now."
Xie Lang's voice trembled: "And what about the future?"
"You little brat."
When Xie Lang heard her low curses, Wen Hemian opened her eyes and looked at him directly: "Let's talk about it when I can see that day."
They said nothing, but it spoke volumes.
Xie Lang was satisfied with this answer, and the gloom in his heart was swept away: "Okay."
...
From that day on, the court officials noticed that His Majesty had changed again.
Previously, they patiently played along with those who disagreed, but now they've become more direct, convicting those who are guilty and dealing with those who need to be dealt with one by one, their style of doing things has suddenly become much more efficient.
Some people felt it was a bit rushed, thinking that His Majesty seemed to be deliberately trying to prove something, but they couldn't figure it out for a while and gradually let it go.
In any case, purging the court as soon as possible is not a bad thing for most people.
Qin Yi finally got her answer and was willing to stop.
It was originally just a test, but who would have thought that their daughter would look so worried all the time?
It came suddenly, and it left suddenly.
Wen Hemian was both amused and exasperated. Only then did she realize that she had unknowingly fallen into a trap set by her own mother.
She approached Qin Yi and asked, "Why are you doing this?"
"It's all for you."
Qin Yi gave her a look of disappointment.
Wen Heming accepted all of them with a smile.
This made Qin Yi irritable: "You promised not to get yourself involved, but in the end, you still broke your promise. If I had known, I shouldn't have helped that brat in the first place."
Only now did Qin Yi realize that she had been completely wrong. Perhaps everything had already been settled the moment they chose to lend a helping hand at the palace banquet that day.
Years later, I finally glimpsed the mystery within.
"Yes, I broke my promise."
Wen Hemian raised her eyes, clear and bright, and said in a very soft voice, "But Mother, I don't regret it."
...
Another year has passed.
After using various means to suppress the power in the hands of the Ning Party, Xie Lang finally gained control of the government. Before everyone could react, he quickly finalized the matter of women entering school and serving in the court.
Although many people opposed it, many others supported it. Among the supporters, most were connected to the Prince of Huailing's mansion, and they knew more clearly who His Majesty was doing this for.
Both morally and logically, they should not, and would not, refute this.
So that's how it was decided.
Although the new measures were introduced, few people were willing to put them into practice. This was partly due to deeply ingrained beliefs, but more people were observing and waiting, fearing that it was just a whim of His Majesty the Emperor and that their efforts would be in vain.
Wen Hemian was shocked that Xie Lang could actually do it so quickly.
Despite her shock, she did not waste her time but instead prepared diligently for the exam. As a woman, she excelled in the spring imperial examination, winning the top score in the provincial examination. She then participated in the palace examination and, after unanimous discussion among the officials and the emperor, was named the top scholar.
If it were anyone else, the ministers might still have some objections, but this was Wen Hemian.
His Majesty has made no attempt to conceal this since assuming power, stating frankly that Wen Hemian was the one who taught him, and that many ministers in the court can attest to this, so the truth cannot be denied.
To be honest, this isn't exactly a secret.
However, everyone only knows that His Majesty has a mysterious strategist by his side, but no one has ever thought that this strategist is actually the daughter of those two people. Thinking about it this way, it seems reasonable.
In conclusion, after discussions, all parties had reached a consensus.
Thus, Wen Hemian naturally became the first woman to officially enter the court as an official. After that, countless women followed in her footsteps, entering the court to shine...
These are all things to be discussed later.
When Wen Hemian entered the palace, he happened to run into His Majesty the Emperor, who was annoyed by the memorials submitted to him. He wrote a large rejection in red ink.
"What did I do to upset you this time..."
Wen Hemian casually picked up a memorial that had fallen to the ground and started reading it. She had never been so formal in front of Xie Lang.
After reading the contents, she was speechless.
It was actually a memorial advising Xie Lang to take in more concubines and have children as soon as possible—it was clearly submitted by the Ministry of Rites or the Censorate.
Why aren't you saying anything?
Touching a warm breath by her ear, Wen Hemian suddenly came to her senses and realized that the boy had silently circled around behind her at some point, his tall stature enough to encircle her completely in his arms.
In fact, he did just that.
As before, the young emperor gently rested his head on the crook of her neck, his voice tinged with amusement: "Hanshuang, what do you think? Should I agree to their advice?"
As he spoke, he raised his hand and tightly embraced her waist.
With a firm, warm chest pressed against his back, Wen Hemian's eyelashes trembled as he chuckled softly, "Doesn't Your Majesty already know my answer?"
Despite being unwilling to admit it, Wen Hemian truly did not want to give up the feelings he had shared for so many years.
Xie Lang relied on her, and she, in turn, regarded him as an important person.
That was a different kind of affection from that between me and my parents.
So she couldn't bear to part with it, so she listened to Xie Lang's words.
Let's wait for him.
Perhaps, as we stand today, something really should change.
"Xie Lang," she called him earnestly, "I broke the promise I made to Mother, and I hope you won't disappoint me."
"Absolutely not."
Xie Lang's voice trembled as he said, "I've grown up, and I can repay you now."
Wen Heming chuckled softly, her eyes curving slightly. After a long while, tears welled up in her eyes, shimmering and misty, seemingly inviting one to pluck them silently.
This time, however, Xie Lang was no longer just able to watch greedily; he was able to kiss her openly and legitimately.
"So, be my queen."
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