Chapter 136 End of Main Text: A vast land, a bright future...
When Shang Yuji came out of the Imperial Academy, she met Jiang Xi, who was there to take her back to the mansion. She then learned that he had volunteered to become the Crown Princess's tutor. Two days later, His Majesty approved the request, and when Jiang Xi returned to his post, he was able to teach the Crown Princess and the future general of Da'an, A Wu.
No one dared to enter the imperial city during his shift, which was incredibly boring. It was good to have a new job, especially since the new job offered a separate salary, with double pay for the same number of hours worked.
Jiang Xi was delighted to have another salary to hand over to Aji. In addition, he also became the Crown Princess's tutor, just like Aji.
Zhou Zhaoyue had long realized that Lord Jiang's focus was not on becoming her mentor, but on being like Prime Minister Shang.
At such a young age, the Crown Princess saw through the true nature of Lord Jiang, the most powerful military figure in the court, who was nothing more than a brainless follower of Prime Minister Shang.
Yi Sha was delighted that her disciple had taken on another disciple, which meant she now had a grand-disciple, and her whip technique would be passed down. Moreover, her grand-disciple was the Crown Princess of Da'an!
However, worried about Xiao Jiang's teaching ability, she decided to have Old Man Xiang observe first during the first lesson to see how well Xiao Jiang taught. Before they could even finish watching, they were scared out of their wits.
Xiao Jiang improved his martial arts skills through his extraordinary talent, and when he taught others, he would give them comprehension-based guidance such as "do this first, then do that," without any theoretical foundation, relying purely on his talent.
To save face in the education field and to prevent two promising students from going astray, Yi Sha and Xiang Fengyun had no choice but to return to their old jobs.
Tai Nu learned to use a whip, and A Wu learned to use a knife. Under the guidance of the three, the two girls, though stumbling along the way, successfully embarked on the path of martial arts.
Upon learning the reason for the incident, Zhou Chaoyun and Shang Yuji laughed heartily. Fortunately, with Elder Yi and Elder Xiang present, they were certain that nothing would go wrong.
While Fang and Jiang Xi were discussing the teaching matter, Shang Yuji received a gift from Tang Xiliu.
Upon opening the package, Shang Yuji saw the familiar book cover inside. Unconvinced, she flipped it open, saw the contents, and finally had to accept reality. She closed the book, handed it to Jiang Xi, and covered her face, saying:
"Hide it in the pile of books that Mr. Yi gave me."
Shang Yuji realized that Senior Tangxi was actually Yi Lao's book supplier. Besides the poignant love and hate stories, even the wedding gifts that Yi Sha gave them were his creations.
Indeed, the author must have a martial arts background to be able to easily incorporate physical exercises into lovemaking.
They were, after all, the result of someone else's painstaking efforts. Although they couldn't use them, they could only treasure them.
Old Master Yi received the news from somewhere and casually passed by the study. Of course, she wasn't there for the books that Tang Xiliu had given to the couple.
Since Shang Yuji became the Imperial Advisor and has been busy all day, Yi Sha has not been able to urge Shang Yuji to start a new story. However, he is really itching to do so and occasionally he will secretly watch Shang Yuji's work.
If it was a document that was being corrected, Yi Sha would leave dejectedly with his hands behind his back.
But when she saw that it was a new article, she only read the beginning, then darted away happily.
Aside from not wanting to be spoiled beforehand and wanting to watch it all at once, another reason was that she was eager to share the information with her fellow fans.
Senior Yi was discreet in his actions, but there were always times when he made a mistake. When Shang Yuji discovered this, he smiled helplessly and took some time to write a short story or two.
In the autumn of Beijing, the leaves are a tapestry of vibrant green and golden hues, creating a dazzling spectacle.
Zhou Zhaoyue stepped on the fallen leaves scattered on the ground, feeling their crispness and making a crunching sound. She carried the new pastries from the imperial kitchen that her mother had asked her to give to the Prime Minister, and walked to the Prime Minister's residence.
She rarely came to the Prime Minister's residence, or rather, the people in the court added a lot of mystery to the Prime Minister's residence, and unless necessary, they would not come to the residence to disturb the two officials.
Upon entering the house, following the servants' directions, we met the two in the garden.
Hearing that the former owner of the Prime Minister's residence had planted many delicate and precious flowers in the garden, Zhou Zhaoyue glanced at them. Autumn had passed the flowering season, but instead, various autumn chrysanthemums were in full bloom, each one thriving in their hands, showing no signs of being delicate.
In one corner of the garden, pear trees and epiphyllum flowers are planted. The epiphyllum buds are bluish-white, shaped like crescent moons, with tiny cracks at the top, and you can almost smell a faint, delicate fragrance.
Seeing that she had noticed the epiphyllum flowers by the pavilion, Shang Yuji closed the official report in his hand and said with a light smile, "The epiphyllum flowers will probably bloom tonight. Would you be so kind as to invite Your Highness to stay at the residence and enjoy the flowers together?"
Zhou Zhaoyue snapped out of her daze, explained her purpose, and presented the food box. After a moment's thought, she explained, "I was just surprised that Master has an epiphyllum in his garden."
Shang Yuji glanced at Jiang Xiqu, who was sitting on a bamboo stool next to the rocking chair, with a white pear blossom handkerchief embroidered on it, and said meaningfully, "Families of noble families have many kinds of flowers, but I only love the epiphyllum."
As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Xi paused in her needlework, then resumed threading the needle with practiced ease.
"I suppose Master Jiang also likes the epiphyllum?"
“No…” Jiang Xi lowered her eyes, her fingertips touching the half-embroidered white pear blossom on the handkerchief. “My favorite flower is the pear blossom.”
"..." Zhou Zhaoyue didn't show it on her face, but thought to herself: It's probably a secret between the couple, otherwise Master Jiang would definitely have the same answer as Master Shang.
Shang Yuji sent Jiang Xi away. Jiang Xi was puzzled, but she obediently tidied up the needlework and cloth on the stone table, refilled her half-empty teacup, and then left.
After he left, Shang Yuji chatted with Zhou Zhaoyue, slowly steer the conversation toward the matter of His Majesty inviting them to be buried in the imperial mausoleum after their deaths: "Your Highness, I have a request."
"Please speak freely, Master."
"Since Jiang Xi and I are bound by a bond of life and death, let us be buried in the same coffin on the day we pass away."
"Master, please don't say such unlucky things!"
Shang Yuji raised her hand, interrupting her advice: "Death is something everyone has to go through; there's no need to avoid it."
"Little Zhaoyue, grant your master's request. Consider this the tuition fee that the Master is asking for from you?"
“Okay…” Zhou Zhaoyue had no choice but to agree.
Later, because she had something on her mind, Zhou Zhaoyue did not stay. Shang Yuji was going to see her off, but Jiang Xi suddenly appeared out of nowhere and said he would see her off.
As the two were about to reach the gate of the Prime Minister's residence, Jiang Xi stopped and asked, "Isn't it true that we can't bring too many things when we're buried in the imperial mausoleum?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhaoyue understood that he had definitely overheard her conversation with the prime minister, but she still replied, "The imperial mausoleum is not yet completed, so we cannot determine its final size, but we will try to place as many precious items as possible inside."
Upon hearing the reply, he saw Zhou Zhaoyue off and hurriedly returned to the garden to find Aji.
When he heard that he couldn't bear to discard the things he kept about her, Shang Yuji simply asked him to build a cenotaph to display his collection.
Jiangxi went to a place that had enlightened him, and decided to carefully look for a suitable location.
When Shang Yuji remained silent, she asked him a different question: "If you could only take one thing with you to your grave, what would it be?"
He seemed to have the answer in his heart, and smiled brightly: "Bring it with you when we get married, and put the brocade pouch containing our vows of marriage!"
Shang Yuji looked directly into those eyes that shone brightly in the sunlight, her lips curving upwards in a barely suppressed smile, and said with a sigh, "You really do admire me."
"I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely adore Aji~"
"Alright, after I've seen the epiphyllum bloom tonight, I'll take a bath with pear blossom scented soap."
"Then I want the Epiphyllum-scented soap!"
The bright moon shone, and everyone in the mansion came out in droves, preparing delicious food and entertainment by the epiphyllum. The surrounding area was brightly lit, illuminating a corner of the world.
Shang Yuji and Jiang Xi arrived with lanterns, wearing warm cloaks, to enjoy the unique flower-viewing banquet together.
The white epiphyllum slowly unfolds in its early stages, with the petals gradually turning outwards from the split tips, and the outer rings expanding. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the petals continue to curl backwards, gradually revealing the golden stamens. After a long time, it blooms to its fullest, the snow-white and translucent petals trembling in the night breeze, the fragrance of the epiphyllum intoxicating, like a beauty under the moon.
The air was filled with the rich fragrance of flowers, and also carried the joyful sounds of flower admirers.
Fang Mu examined the blooming white epiphyllum flower and nodded, saying, "This epiphyllum flower is very well cultivated and is also a good medicine."
Yan Qing pointed out: "Didn't Xiao Shang agree to let you pick them? Remember to save a few and send them back after you've prepared them."
"I am their elder, so why should I worry that I will mistreat them?"
"I'm just reminding you, in case you have a bad memory!" He would never admit that he was concerned about them!
Yi Sha shouted, "Xiao Jiang, you can't let Xiao Shang have her way anymore, she's already lucky enough—"
Xiang Fengyun slapped his thigh and laughed loudly: "Old woman Yi, I told you long ago that when you play with Xiao Shang, you have to play with real skills. Once it comes to luck, we can't beat her!"
Cheng Xiao held up a porcelain plate with osmanthus cakes: "Mo Xin, want some pastries? These are osmanthus cakes made by Grandma, they're delicious."
Mo Xin took a big bite, her eyes shining, nodding vigorously, and exclaimed with her mouth full of pastries, "Wow, I want to eat another one!"
Xiang Fei poured a bowl of warm water and handed it to him: "Drink some water so it'll be easier to swallow. Swallow it before you speak."
Granny Cheng chuckled and said, "No rush, no rush, there's plenty of pastries."
Jiang Xi was trying to feed the cards in her hand to A Ji, while also trying her best not to be discovered by her master.
Although he was eventually ousted from the stage due to unfairness, he was not discouraged. He moved to a new position with practiced ease, put his arm around Ah Ji's arm, and watched her continue to dominate the scene.
Before Shang Yuji could even arrange her cards, she quickly glanced at them and saw that she had all sorts of big cards and trump cards in her hand. She arrogantly declared, "You should all just admit defeat. I am invincible!"
"No, no, let's switch to a game that doesn't rely on luck."
Xiang Fengyun put down his cards: "It would be faster to change players."
"In my entire life, I've only ever sought defeat..."
"Hey!" Yi Sha was provoked by her pretentious attitude. "I refuse to believe I can't find a game that can make her lose!"
·
Another year has passed, and Shang Yuji and Jiang Xi have accumulated three years of vacation.
The prime ministers include Cui Shu and Gongsun Ming, while Zhao Qian, as a candidate for prime minister, is working hard to accumulate merits. Shang Yuji does not need to consider this before leaving.
As for the position of Imperial Advisor, Shang Yuji invited Master Xuanqing from the Chemistry Department to the court to temporarily serve as Imperial Advisor during her leave. With Master Xuanqing's ability to predict good and bad fortune and observe celestial phenomena, the job of Imperial Advisor was a piece of cake for him.
Unfortunately, Xuanqing and Xuanming preferred chemistry experiments to divining the future of a nation. Perhaps due to their status as Taoist alchemists, they produced quite a few real things, such as steel that has already been sent to shipbuilding.
Xuanqing was just about to study the new object when Shang Yuji dragged him to the court halfway there. Since he had promised Miss Shang before, he knew the importance of the matter, so he temporarily took over as the national advisor and waited for them to return from their leave before switching back.
After consulting with the three girls and communicating with their elders, and mainly discussing with Zhou Chaoyun, they finally agreed to let the two of them take the three girls away from the capital, on the grounds of letting the Crown Princess see the world.
The discussion focused more on whether or not to provide guards. Shang Yuji refused, but promised to bring them back safe and sound. Zhou Chaoyun didn't say anything more and readily approved.
On this trip, Shang Yuji plans to take the three of them all over Da'an to see the picturesque landscape and the everyday life of the people, and to truly focus their attention on the millions of ordinary people who built the Da'an Dynasty.
Leaving the capital, the three girls, without any servants, and the five of them, having prepared their travel supplies, set off for the world beyond the capital.
With Jiang Xi acting as guarantor and Shang Yuji providing financial backing, this journey through the martial world was neither particularly difficult nor easy, but it left a profound mark on the three pillars of Da'an in the future.
The people had endured a difficult past, but thanks to the efforts of all parties, their lives have been visibly improving in recent days. Talking with the people, I could feel their approval of the court, which made the girls proud.
Besides the positive aspects, they also saw deep-seated problems that were difficult to eradicate. Only by experiencing them firsthand could they feel the deep scars etched on Da'an's body. It wasn't that they didn't feel pain, but rather that the people had long been accustomed to enduring it. Until they were in despair, they always believed that if they continued to endure and persevere, hope would eventually come.
But in reality, tolerance only makes the culprits more ruthless. The lack of resistance only makes people feel that everything is justified, so they become more and more unscrupulous in suppressing the lower class. The chronic disease of Da'an becomes a chronic illness, a mountain that makes people breathless, an insurmountable chasm.
Their youthful spirit made them undaunted by dangers, filled with ideals, and determined to forge ahead, willing to cleanse the world of its filth with their wholehearted sincerity.
Three years later, the five returned home. Zhou Zhaoyue knew she had to shoulder her responsibilities. She would no longer have the opportunity to travel the world for extended periods, but this was for the sake of a better future.
After several ups and downs, Shang Yuji and Jiang Xi's positions remained stable. They continued to work for two years and rest for one year to travel to Da'an. Later, they experienced sailing on distant ships and witnessed the changing of the seasons together.
Snow-covered plains and forests, desolate deserts and lone smoke rising from the sky, vast oceans and boundless waves, thousands of peaks and hundreds of cliffs... my footprints have covered all of Da'an.
From black hair to silver frost, they accompanied each other for the rest of their lives, traveling abroad to meet and reminisce with old friends, and returning to the court to devote themselves to the great peace and security.
Da'an is like a train that never stops, always moving forward.
History may take detours, but as long as the nation's destiny prevails and the business climate clears up, it can point out the brightest path.
Even if there are growing pains and sacrifices along the way, the future is bright and promising.
【postscript】
Da'an is changing rapidly, with a booming commodity economy, improved livelihoods, and a flourishing culture, presenting a scene of prosperity.
During Zhou Chaoyun's reign, he abolished the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system, promoted filial piety and integrity, and replaced them with the imperial examination system to select talents. He valued both civil and military affairs, and science and technology flourished. He rectified officialdom and worked diligently to govern the country. People called his reign the Xingyuan Prosperous Era.
In the twentieth year of Xingyuan, Crown Princess Zhou Zhaoyue ascended the throne, continuing the prosperous era. She executed corrupt officials, weakened the power of the vassal kings and noble families, cleansed the world, made the country rich and powerful, expanded its territory, and was invincible, becoming the world's strongest nation, also known as the Kaitai Prosperous Era.
In the thirtieth year of the Kaitai era, the grandson Zhou Zhiyu ascended the throne. He was ruthless and, with the foundation laid by his mother and grandmother, conquered the five continents and four seas, established the Great An World Alliance, and ushered in a new era, historically known as the Four Seas Era.
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Author's Note: The main story is finished!!! [Starry eyes][Rose][Heart]
Sending a red envelope as a thank you to all the readers who have followed the story. Love you all! [heart][heart][heart]
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