People even started betting on how many days it would take for Xia Daohua to be beheaded, and some even bet that all nine members of the Xia family would be implicated by Xia Daohua.
The Xia family was all gloomy and felt that the child was too bold.
Jiang cried the most bitterly—they hadn't even had a few days of good times, and how could this child cause such trouble? The Empress Dowager was the Emperor's mother. Could she just dismiss the opinions of such a noble woman?
Besides, what's wrong with entering the palace as a queen and enjoying wealth and glory?
But Jiang's complaints and sobs were basically rebuffed by Xia Daohua with just one sentence:
"Looking like our family is about to be exterminated, are you going to keep showing me this crying face for the rest of your life? If you keep crying like this, I won't walk down the road to hell with you!"
On the other hand, Mrs. Zhou was very calm and composed:
"Daohua is indeed a bit too bold, but look at her expression, doesn't she look like she's about to lose her head?"
After hearing this reminder, the whole family realized what was happening - Daohua earned the title of Princess on her own, and her family didn't know how she did it. Although she has now rejected the Empress Dowager's decree, judging from her appearance, it seems that there is no need to worry about the extermination of her family?
Even though they thought so rationally, the family still couldn't avoid being sad and unhappy.
Fortunately, the next day, the young emperor issued an imperial decree, ordering Xia Daohua to return to the palace to answer questions. Xia Daohua happily followed the stern-faced steward Wu. The Xia family members dared not go anywhere else, but waited anxiously at home.
Old Madam Zhou placed the locust tree tablet she had obtained from the Locust Tree Goddess Temple on the altar, lit a stick of incense, and silently prayed:
"Please bless the locust tree goddess and let this child return safely. We don't want all the wealth, as long as the whole family is safe and sound."
When the women in the family saw the old lady like this, they all knelt down and kowtowed to the tablet of the Locust Tree Goddess.
Even Sun, who was usually not very sensible, knelt down and kowtowed behind him.
Even if she didn't consider Xia Daohua, she didn't want herself and the children from the second house to be implicated by Xia Daohua. She had no choice but to be honest and ask for the blessing of the Sophora japonica tree goddess.
…
When the young emperor saw Xia Daohua, he asked angrily with a stern face, "Does being my concubine mean you've been wronged?"
Xia Daohua smiled and said, "Hurry up! I'm doing this for your own good."
"Oh? How do you mean?"
Xia Daohua said with a smile, "I'm a jealous woman. If you marry me, you'll only have me for the rest of your life. Taking a concubine or something like that? Don't even dream of it!"
The little emperor was stunned. "Are you asking me to go against the ancestral rules?"
Xia Daohua smiled and said, "No, what I mean is that we're not suitable. I'm a jealous woman. If I ever get married and my husband dares to treat me badly, I'll definitely be able to make him and his sweetheart disappear together. I guarantee the government won't be able to find out."
"Aren't you afraid of getting your family into trouble?"
"If the emperor is a wise ruler, this matter will naturally not implicate my family. If the emperor is a foolish ruler, then I don't mind eliminating this evil for the people.
This world is nothing more than a place to experience tribulations. If I want to stay, I can stay longer; if I don't want to stay, I can leave at any time. I can wave my sleeves and not take away a single cloud.
…
Xia Daohuaxin said that unless the little emperor was also a time traveler, these two sentences would not reveal the truth.
The little emperor pondered for a moment and asked, "Is there a way to immortality in the human world?"
Xia Daohua smiled and said, "Of course I do, but the way to immortality requires taking the essence of the sun and moon and practicing breathing techniques. It won't work just by taking pills."
"Would you be willing to be the Imperial Master?"
"No need. Let's leave matters like the Imperial Master to the professionals!"
…
After Xia Daohua left, a person walked out from behind the screen. It was the empress dowager who had issued the imperial decree earlier.
The little emperor said:
"Mother, how can a human emperor marry only one wife? Moreover, the Empress has done nothing wrong. I cannot bear it...
Furthermore, this Fuze County Lady had an extraordinary background. Since she was unwilling to enter the palace, she was probably used to her freedom and could not bear the constraints of palace rules. If she forced herself into the palace and caused trouble, it would be bad.
For such a strange person, we can only respect and coax him, but not offend him."
The Empress is the Empress Dowager's niece, and is always respectful and close to the Empress Dowager. Although the little emperor and the little Empress are still young and have not yet consummated their marriage, their status has been determined, and the Empress Dowager certainly does not want to create any more trouble.
So even though his face wasn't very good, he nodded:
"Forget it, forget it. Since she doesn't want to, I can't force her to drink water."
After sending the empress dowager away, Gu Mingzhen quietly suggested to the young emperor that this incident might have offended Xia Daohua, and he should give her a sweet reward.
Afterwards, the young emperor issued an imperial decree, saying that Princess Fukuzawa Xia Daohua had made contributions to the country and could enter the court as regent, but could not enter the palace as a concubine. She was named Prince Fukuzawa and served as an assistant minister with Gu Mingzhen, jointly governing the country.
He also specially awarded Xia Daohua's father, mother, grandparents, which really shocked many people.
This time, the government and the public were in an uproar. All those who had bet on how many days Xia Daohua would be beheaded or his clan would be exterminated lost everything.
Because of this, Xia Daohua got the nickname "Xia Tietou".
Xia Daohua had no intention of becoming an official, but she had just written a letter to reject the empress dowager, and now rejecting the emperor seemed a bit too much of an insult, and the one being stepped on was the emperor... This was definitely a bit ignorant of the limitations of her own abilities.
Besides, there was no way she would be willing to enter the palace and become a concubine.
Even if the young emperor was really willing to disband the harem for her, she was unwilling to be trapped within the high red walls of the palace every day. Every move and every word had to follow the rules, and no mistakes were allowed. She had to wear a mask all the time and had no freedom.
Being a regent is another matter.
Even the extent of her authority as the regent, whether she is a genuine prince with real power or just a beautiful tablet, is still unclear.
Although attending court is inevitably a bit hard.
But if she feels it is boring and doesn't want to do it, she should be able to quit at any time.
If she became the emperor's concubine, even if she outlived the little emperor, she would never be able to leave the palace openly.
Three days later, Xia Daohua appeared in the court for the first time wearing her newly made court dress.
Many court officials felt very uncomfortable seeing a short, childish-looking woman standing among their colleagues and in front of many people.
But since this matter has been decided and has been approved by Regent Gu Mingzhen, there is no room for them to object.
I think that Lady Fukuzawa, known as "Xia Tietou" in the streets, would not be so confused as to dare to interfere in the government affairs.
However, after silently attending court proceedings for three days, Xia Daohua once again surprised everyone by submitting a memorial in earnest.
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