Chapter 315: Seven-Year Agreement (Two Chapters Combined into One)
Xia Dachuan was really worried. Being able to be a female official was a good thing, but with Xiuxiu's family background, she did not meet the selection requirements for female officials. But if the Grand Princess specifically asked for her and she was recommended by Princess Nanyang, then the situation would be different. Not only would Xiuxiu be able to become a female official, but she would also be respected. No one would make things difficult for her, either in the palace or in the princess's mansion.
But female officials cannot get married.
Even if you get married, you have to wait until you leave the palace.
He could wait until Xiuxiu left the palace, but he couldn't afford her.
More importantly, he couldn't be completely sure of Xiuxiu's thoughts yet.
He felt that Xiuxiu treated him differently from others, but he never asked, he didn't dare to ask.
He was just a guard with a foreseeable future. He was not very handsome or capable, and was several years older than Xiuxiu. Xiuxiu always called him "Brother Xia". If she really just treated him as her elder brother, then he was just being self-indulgent.
Zhao Shiqing didn't even glance at him, got on the carriage, and went to the teahouse to listen to stories.
Xia Dachuan was listless for several days, and Zhao Shiqing pretended he didn't exist.
When she saw Xiuxiu, she pulled her aside and asked, "Do you want to be a female official? Or do you want to accompany my mother to do crafts like you do now? The only difference is that you can get a salary."
Xiuxiu lived in Tianshui Hutong and received a monthly allowance of ten taels of silver. If she wanted to buy needles and thread or materials for disguise, she could put them on the public account, but this was still different from having her own salary.
"Female officials?" Xiuxiu was stunned. She often went in and out of the princess's mansion and had seen the female officials there. They were dignified, well-mannered, and well-educated. Every time she saw these female officials, she would be so envious that she couldn't take her eyes off them.
She never thought that she would have the opportunity to become a female official.
Zhao Shiqing smiled and said, “You have skills, and my mother also likes to practice with you. You can also accept apprentices and pass on your family’s unique skills.
In addition, my mother heard me talk about the women in Wu, and she went to the charity hall and saw many abandoned girls. My mother wanted to set up a girls' school to teach those homeless girls to read and learn skills, so that they would have a skill to rely on. In this way, they would not have to rely on their fathers, brothers or husbands, and could have enough food and clothing with their own hands.
However, it is far from enough to rely on ourselves for this matter. We also need the support of the court. At that time, we will invite female officials of high rank in the palace to participate in the management.
Xiuxiu, you can think about it."
Xiuxiu's eyes flashed with joy, but soon, she hesitated again: "But Brother Xia... he is already 23..."
As soon as she said that, she realized that she had said the wrong thing and quickly covered her mouth, only to see Zhao Shiqing looking at her with a half-smile.
"Brother Xia? Which Brother Xia? Is there anyone here with the surname Xia? Oh, I remember, Xia Dachuan's surname is Xia?
What does it have to do with Xia Dachuan whether you become a female official or not?
Could it be that you are long-lost siblings?"
Xiuxiu blushed, her ears turned red: "No, no, I am, I am..."
Zhao Shiqing patted her shoulder and said, "So Xia Dachuan is already 23. Don't worry, he is my guard, and I will take care of his marriage. He is from Liangdi. I will write a letter to my sister and ask her to select a few beautiful and intelligent girls from Liangdi and bring them to the capital. Xia Dachuan will definitely want to marry a beautiful girl from Liangdi."
Xiuxiu was stunned. Did Brother Xia like the girl from Liangdi? Brother Xia had never said...
Zhao Shiqing felt happy when he saw her looking at a loss.
"You and Xia Dachuan have been through thick and thin together. Don't worry, he won't forget his old friend even after he gets married. When he gets married, he'll definitely invite you to the wedding banquet. He'll also have a full moon banquet and a first birthday banquet. Everything is planned. Just thinking about it makes me happy, hahaha!"
Zhao Shiqing walked away laughing. She was really happy. Seeing the two idiots sad, she was extremely happy.
Xiuxiu tossed and turned all night. Early the next morning, with dark circles under her eyes, she went to the open space behind the house.
Every day before dawn, the guards practice martial arts here, training in the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer, and they never slack off.
Normally, Xiuxiu would not come here. Not only her, but also Zhao Shiqing and Lingbo would not come here, because it was okay in winter, but at other times, the guards liked to go shirtless.
But today, Xiuxiu mustered up the courage to come, but she brought Dapang with her.
There was a small door leading to the open space. Xiuxiu hid inside the small door and let Dapang out.
Although Xiuxiu and Dapang cannot communicate verbally, they share weal and woe and have a tacit understanding.
Dapang ran straight to Xia Dachuan. When Xia Dachuan saw Dapang, he felt something in his heart.
Dapang came to see him, either Zhao Shiqing had something to do for him, or Xiuxiu had something to do...
This is his home, Zhao Shiqing is at home, there is no need for Dapang to call him, so it must be the latter, Xiuxiu has something to do!
Could it be that Xiuxiu ran into some bad guys when she went out early in the morning?
Thinking of this, Xia Dachuan threw down the stone lock in his hand and ran into the small door behind Dapang. When he saw Xiuxiu, he couldn't wait to ask, "Miss Xiuxiu, are you okay? Don't be afraid, I'm here!"
Xiuxiu pouted, and finally mustered up the courage: "Brother Xia, I'm going to be a female official. When you get married, can you send me an invitation to the princess's mansion? I, I, I've prepared the gift money."
Xia Dachuan was stunned. Get married? What kind of marriage?
"Well, I won't get married. No, what I mean is, when you leave the palace and want to get married, can you consider me? I know I'm not worthy of you, but I will try my best. Female officials usually leave the palace at the age of 25, and there are still seven years left. During these seven years, I will not slack off. I will definitely..."
"Okay, let's wait seven years." Xiuxiu suddenly spoke.
Xia Dachuan looked at Xiuxiu in disbelief: "Miss Xiuxiu, after seven years, can you really consider me?"
Xiuxiu smiled: "Brother Xia, I don't know what I'm thinking either. Before yesterday, I felt safe and warm with Brother Xia by my side. But yesterday, the second lady said that I could be a female official, and I was looking forward to it. I want to learn crafts, and I also want many girls to learn crafts. Brother Xia, I can not only disguise myself, but also embroider, carve, make incense, and cook. I..."
Xia Dachuan nodded repeatedly: "I know you have a pair of skillful hands."
Xiuxiu felt embarrassed and looked down at her hands. She did have a pair of dexterous hands, and her uncle also said that she was talented.
"Miss Xiuxiu, this is a good thing. If we can set up a girls' school, it will definitely help a lot of people."
Xiuxiu was a little excited. She had been homeless before, and it was the second young lady who saved her and took her in.
Ling Bo said that she was also picked up by the second young lady. There were many children in Baihe Village, and all of them were taken back by the second young lady.
Now that the second young lady has become a princess, she can help more people, and she also wants to follow in the second young lady's footsteps and do her best to give those girls who are on the verge of despair a glimmer of hope. She wants them to not have to sell themselves in brothels or become concubines, but to create a bright future for themselves with their own hands and their own skills.
"Brother Xia, you don't have to promise anything, and I won't promise you anything either. Seven years is a long time, and we both have our own things to do. If you meet a girl you like, please invite me to your wedding. If, seven years from now, we're still like we are today, and still feel happy thinking of each other, then we can talk about marriage, okay?"
Xia Dachuan nodded subconsciously. He felt that Xiuxiu was right, but he felt that he would never meet a girl better than Xiuxiu, and he would not like any other woman.
......
The development of the relationship between these two people was completely beyond Zhao Shiqing's expectations. It was true that she and Wan Ruyi wanted to set up a girls' school, and it was also true that they wanted Xiuxiu to join in. But as for the female official, she actually said that just to stimulate Xia Dachuan. After all, the two had been flirting for so long, but they had never broken the window paper. She was anxious watching this, but she didn't expect that, although it was indeed stimulated, the timing was not well grasped, and even the seven-year agreement was reached.
"Xiu Xiu, actually, if you want to get married, even if you become a court lady, you don't have to wait until you are 25. My mother can say a word, and you can leave the palace. As long as the women's school can get on the right track, you can stay there even if you don't become a court lady. It won't affect your future."
Xiuxiu shook her head. "Second Miss, this has nothing to do with being a court lady. I originally thought I liked Brother Xia, but when I learned about the opportunity to open a girls' school, this was all I could think about. I even felt that getting married was unimportant compared to this... I have feelings for Brother Xia, but not like you and Young Master Xiao... Second Miss, am I a fickle person?"
Zhao Shiqing was amused by her: "What kind of fickleness are you? Okay, I understand your feelings. It's just that you and your brother Xia haven't reached the point of deep love. This is a matter between the two of you. Just talk it out. I don't care anymore!"
Zhao Shiqing said she didn't care and she was busy listening to books and writing memorials.
However, she did not have to write the memorial herself. Now Wan Ruyi had a female official who could do the job for her. She only needed to call Wan Ruyi and Xiuxiu, and they would talk about their ideas one by one, and the female official would be able to write it perfectly.
Not long after, this memorial was delivered to the new emperor. After reading it, the new emperor ordered someone to copy a copy and send it to Wuji Temple.
By the way, the retired emperor did not return to Changshou Palace, nor did he live in the palace. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he returned to Wuji Temple.
When the emperor learned that the memorial was submitted by Wan Ruyi and Zhao Shiqing, he immediately ignored Zhao Shiqing and praised Wan Ruyi sincerely.
Although he felt that there was no need for girls' schools, he felt guilty towards Wan Ruyi. Unfortunately, his daughter had no desires and he didn't know where to start to make amends. Now that his daughter wanted to set up a girls' school, he naturally supported her.
He supported it, but he didn't mention the money.
The old man was very shrewd. Why else could the new emperor send the memorial to him? Wasn't it for his personal money?
He won’t give it to me.
When you get old, what will you do if you don’t have a million or eight hundred thousand taels of silver?
Besides, he is free now and is preparing to make pills.
Alchemy is a money-burning business. Without hundreds of thousands of taels a year, it is simply not enough. His savings are not enough. Fortunately, he has a good grandson who is the emperor.
The emperor did what he said, and within two days, the alchemy furnace in Wuji Temple began to smoke.
After hearing this, Zhao Shiqing sneered.
Well, the scar has healed and the pain has been forgotten. After a few days of comfort, the money starts to burn again.
So on a sunny morning, Zhao Shiqing took a bunch of IOUs signed by the retired emperor and went to Wuji Temple.
Zhao Shiqing was not short of money. She had the salary and fiefdom of a princess, as well as subsidies from her grandfather. Originally, she had not planned to collect the debt because of the good performance of the retired emperor some time ago. But now, seeing that the retired emperor had not learned his lesson again, as his godson, she felt that it was her responsibility to give the old man a hand and turn back to the right path.
The Emperor was personally counting the precious medicinal herbs and cinnabar he had purchased at great expense. Seeing Zhao Shiqing coming, he was very happy: "Qing girl, wait a few more days. Once this furnace of elixirs is ready, I will reward you with a few more."
Zhao Shiqing snorted, looking disdainful.
The Emperor was already used to her expression and was not angry: "You are just a child and don't understand. When you reach my age, you will understand the wonders of elixirs."
Zhao Shiqing looked him up and down: "You look a little unwell."
The retired emperor was startled and quickly asked Wang Daban to bring him a target mirror. He didn't know whether it was a psychological effect or the bronze mirror needed to be polished, but the retired emperor only felt that his face in the mirror was gloomy, which was a far cry from the old immortal he had imagined.
"Why is this happening? Has my life span come to an end?"
Zhao Shiqing sighed, "Do you still remember when you were on the mountain? Back then, you were full of energy and your steps were full of energy. You were completely different from now. Now you look like you've aged ten years. Alas, alas, alas!"
The retired emperor thought so too. Although I ate simple meals when I was in the mountains, I was in good health. Not only did I not get sick, but I was like a chicken with its blood injected. I was able to work and even quarrel with that she-devil Aunt Sun.
Now I have fine clothes and delicious food, but I have no taste for it. What’s more terrible is that I look like a yellow-faced woman.
Zhao Shiqing asked the eunuch to bring a table, and she placed the IOUs on the table one by one. The emperor recognized them at a glance. These were all written by Zhao Shiqing, the bad girl, who used both soft and hard tactics to force him to write them.
Zhao Shiqing said to Wang Daban, "Daban, please help me calculate how much silver the emperor owes me."
Wang Daban tried to hold back his laughter. He knew that the retired emperor actually liked this cheap granddaughter very much, and he was also happy to see the two of them playing and fighting.
He really began to calculate seriously: "Your Majesty, you owe the princess a full two hundred and fifty thousand taels."
The Emperor was stunned. "Two hundred and fifty thousand taels? That's enough for me to refine elixirs for a whole year."
Wang Daban: "Not only that, there are also houses and shops. Oh, and a box of gems. If these are exchanged for silver, it would be at least 100,000 taels. So, all together, it would be 350,000 taels."
The retired emperor was shocked. I actually owe 350,000 taels?
Writing an IOU feels good for a while, but woooo, I don’t want to pay back the money.
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