Chapter 341: Flower is just right
The coronation ceremony of the new emperor was scheduled for the golden autumn, when fruits and vegetables were harvested.
If being a prince or princess is relatively free, it will be much more troublesome to leave the palace once you become emperor or empress.
While it was still convenient, Qi Shuo and Lin Hao left the palace together to see the newly built girls' school.
The two went to Prince Jing's mansion first without letting the servants inform them. As soon as they entered, they saw Prince Jing running after Qi Huan with a feather duster.
When Qi Huan saw Qi Shuo, he felt like he had seen a savior: "Brother, why did you come just now?"
Seeing his youngest son hide behind Qi Shuo, Prince Jing had to put down the feather duster he had raised high, and a smile instantly appeared on his face: "Shuo'er, Ah Hao, you are back."
Look, a talented man and a beautiful woman, what a great son and daughter-in-law, they are from the fourth brother’s family!
"I came to see you two elders. What trouble has my second brother gotten into again?" Qi Shuo asked with a smile.
Prince Jing's anger flared up again when he heard this: "Ask him about the good things he did! He heard somewhere that Miss Yang went hiking in the mountains, squatted on a tree to peek at people, and ended up falling down in front of Miss Yang. He was mistaken for a pervert and nearly got sent to the authorities."
Not long ago, Prince Jing and his wife arranged a marriage for Qi Huan with the daughter of Yang Guoan, a high-ranking official who had just returned to the capital, thus settling the fate of their youngest son.
When Prince Jing thought about the scene of the Yang family sending their youngest son back, he felt ashamed.
Qi Huan felt wronged when he heard this: "Father, you and Mother were in love with each other, and so were my elder brother and his wife. How could you just get married right away when it's my turn? It's not fair!"
"What do you mean it's already been decided? Didn't I let you guys see it?"
"I've only met her twice, how can I tell Miss Yang's true character—" Qi Huan paused, then came to his senses. "That's not right. It's not like Miss Yang hasn't seen me before, so why did she hit me all over the face? Did she do it on purpose?"
Prince Jing and Qi Shuo looked at each other.
Well... maybe.
Prince Jing suddenly felt much better.
Ahem, finally someone has taken over to look after this kid.
Princess Jing came over and took Lin Hao's hand: "Let them make a fuss, let's go in and have some tea."
Lin Haoxiao glanced at Qi Shuo and followed Princess Jing into the house.
"Is the palace busy? Are the preparations almost complete?"
"Everything is arranged by someone, so it's not a big deal. Are you feeling well? My sister is married now, so if you feel bored, just send me a message."
Qi Qiong got married a few months ago, and the huge palace became much quieter.
Princess Jing felt a little uncomfortable when she heard Lin Hao mention Qi Qiong.
Originally, when the daughter got married, there were two sons and a daughter-in-law. When there were grandchildren, it would be lively. But now, there is only one unreliable boy left, and he was almost returned by the girl.
"Ah Hao, is there any movement?" Princess Jing patted Lin Hao's hand and her eyes fell on her lower abdomen.
An ordinary woman would probably feel embarrassed after hearing this, but Lin Hao smiled generously and said, "Not yet. I'll let you know as soon as I have good news."
Princess Jing became even more depressed.
She likes Ah Hao's straightforward and generous personality.
"Don't worry. When I was in the north, I heard a famous doctor say that if a woman gives birth later in life, it will be better for both mother and child..." Princess Jing talked about some things that should be paid attention to when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth.
Lin Hao listened carefully and didn't feel impatient at all.
She and Princess Jing both knew that once she became queen, she would not be able to return to Prince Jing's Mansion very often.
Of course Princess Jing can enter the palace, but it is not as free to speak as at home.
Without staying for dinner, Qi Shuo and Lin Hao left under the reluctant gazes of Prince Jing and his wife, as well as Qi Huan, and went to the general's mansion.
After the two of them had lunch with the old lady, they went to the girls' school.
The girls' school is not far from the Wuxianghualu shop. It is a quiet place in the bustling city and is a fairly large house.
By this time, many people in the capital knew that this girls' school was founded by the Crown Princess and some noble ladies. It was much more popular than the school that Lin Hao had set up at the beginning, which only recruited the children of waiters and helpers.
Especially wealthy families, they would rush to send their girls here, hoping that they would be favored by the noble man and have a good future.
Lin Hao didn't mind what these people were thinking. In her opinion, if girls who originally had no chance to read and write could get the opportunity to study, that was the meaning of girls' education.
It was lunch break time, and the classroom was filled with the chirping of cicadas. Most of the female students were taking a nap, while some lively and active ones were playing under the shade of the trees.
Lin Hao and Qi Shuo were accompanied by the headmaster as they walked around and listened to the headmaster talk about the latest affairs of the girls' school.
When he was about to reach a clump of green bamboo, Lin Hao stopped.
A girl of about twelve or thirteen was sitting on the ground with her back against a bamboo mat, reading a book intently.
The headmaster smiled and said, "That child's name is Chang Yu'er. Although her family background is ordinary, she has been very diligent since she started school."
Lin Hao nodded and turned around not wanting to disturb the students who were studying hard. Then he saw a man hurried over and said something to the girl.
The girl got up and followed the man.
Seeing Lin Hao's gaze following the two of them, the headmaster said, "That's the academy's messenger. Looks like someone's looking for her."
The direction the girl was heading was exactly the direction of the girls' school gate.
It was time to leave, and Lin Hao became curious about the little girl he met, so he walked out as well. When he stepped out of the gate of the girls' school, he saw a young couple at the wall pulling and tugging, trying to take the girl away.
The doorman stopped the couple and said, "It's still school time, what are you doing?"
The man smiled and said, "I'm her brother. I have a lot of work to do at home, so I'll take her home."
The young woman was much more aggressive and sneered, "What's the point of a girl studying? It's a waste of money."
The headmaster frowned.
Lin Hao suppressed his past thoughts and watched how the girl would react.
The girl said crisply, "My tuition fee for studying was paid by my father. I didn't spend my brother and sister-in-law's money."
The woman snorted, "Dad went on a long trip and took all the remaining money with him. We don't have much left for your studies. Come back with us and take care of your nephews. At least help out at home."
"Your sister-in-law is right. What's the point of studying for a girl like you? If you can't afford to eat or spend money, and you can't pass the imperial examination to become an official, isn't it just a waste of money? Go home quickly, do more work, and have a reputation for being diligent. Then you can marry into a good family in the future..."
The girl slapped a string of copper coins into the man's hand, interrupting his chatter. "Is this enough to hire a helper to take care of my nephew for a month?"
"Where did you get the money?" the woman asked sharply.
The girl straightened her back and said, "I got first place in the monthly exam, a college award. From now on, as long as I get first place every month, I will continue to receive rewards."
The woman immediately smiled and said, "Yu'er, how much is the prize for first place?"
The little girl has become successful. She spends a hundred dollars a day, which is more than what her husband earns in a month!
"Apart from these, it's just enough for my studies. If my brother and sister-in-law ask me to go home, I won't be able to earn a penny even if there are two of us. When Dad comes back from going out, he will be angry..."
The young couple was persuaded and quickly collected the money and left.
The servant was a woman in her forties, experienced and concerned about the young girl having such a brother and sister-in-law. She warned, "Don't blame me for being nosy. If you get the money today, they'll probably come every month. After a while, a hundred yuan might not be enough to get rid of them."
The girl smiled and said, "Just think of it as buying peace and quiet. If I'm still not satisfied, I'll ask the headmaster to make the decision. The headmaster is the best—"
"Cough cough." The headmaster coughed.
The girl's eyes lit up and she quickly came forward: "Headmaster, why are you out?"
When she saw Lin Hao and Qi Shuo, she was stunned.
"Haven't you always longed for the Crown Princess who would build a girls' school? You haven't met her yet."
The girl suddenly opened her eyes wide, her face flushed with excitement, and she no longer had the cleverness she had when facing her brother and sister-in-law: "Greetings, Crown Princess——"
The headmaster smiled and explained, "Yu'er started school late, so she didn't catch up with you when school started."
Lin Hao admired Chang Yuer's courage in solving problems at such a young age, and asked her gently, "Yuer, do you think studying is useful?"
She is the one behind the girls' school. Rich families send their daughters here for fame, while the most practical thing for ordinary families is to be able to support their families.
Fortunately, the industry surrounding flower dew shops needs more and more people, and most ordinary girls who study in girls' schools will be able to find a job in the future.
The girl tilted her head slightly, her bright eyes gleaming with intelligence and innocence. "Of course students think studying is useful. Those who think studying is useless wouldn't be here."
Lin Hao was slightly stunned, then smiled: "If you encounter difficulties, find the headmaster."
"Um!"
Lin Hao and Qi Shuo said goodbye to the headmaster and got on the carriage.
There was a lot of noise outside the car, and it was quiet inside for a while.
Qi Shuo saw Lin Hao leaning against the carriage in deep thought and held her hand: "Take your time. Once we can take charge of more things, things will get better and better."
Overseas is a huge treasure. Once the treasury of the Great Zhou is filled, there will naturally be enough energy to change many things.
Lin Hao nodded, lifted the curtain to look outside, and told the coachman to stop.
"I'm going to the Hualu shop. Ah Shuo, are you coming?"
"I won't go, I'll just take a stroll."
"Then let's meet at the palace later."
The two agreed on a time to separate. Lin Hao took Baozhu and several guards hidden in the dark to Hualupu. Qi Shuo walked aimlessly and unknowingly arrived at Tianyuan Temple.
The temple, which was once bustling with pilgrims, has become deserted, seeming out of tune with the surrounding bustle.
"Your Highness..." Changning called out softly, thinking of the old prince who had become a monk in Tianyuan Temple.
Qi Shuo came back to his senses, thought for a while, and walked towards the temple.
Lin Hao went to Hualupu and saw that everything was in order, so he did not stay long. When he returned to Ping'anfang by car, it was still early for the time agreed with Qi Shuo, so he simply went back to the general's mansion.
Her mother went overseas and her sister was pregnant and could not go out, so she should naturally spend more time with her grandmother when she left the palace.
Seeing Lin Hao come back, the old lady smiled brightly: "Are you worried that Grandma is lonely? Don't worry, Grandma doesn't feel lonely at all. When Grandma thinks about your mother finding a man who cherishes her, and that you and your sister have also found good partners, her heart is full and every day is full of joy."
When she goes to see the old man in the future, she will no longer have any worries.
"Grandma..." Lin Hao took the old lady's arm, "Shopkeeper Hu from the Flower Dew Shop taught me how to make a crab stuffed with orange. When the crabs are plump and tender, I'll make it for you."
The old lady smiled and nodded: "Okay."
When leaving, Lin Hao still felt a little emotional.
This time when he returns to the palace, he probably won’t come out before A Shuo’s coronation ceremony.
Thinking of this, she changed direction and walked slowly in the garden of the general's mansion.
Every plant and tree in the garden is familiar, the familiar osmanthus tree, the familiar magnolia, the familiar rose trellis, and the familiar green wall.
She walked step by step to the wall, raised her head slightly, and didn't think about anything at that moment, she just did it.
Seeing Lin Hao climbing up the wall, Baozhu remained calm and even took out a shuttlecock from her purse and started kicking it.
The colorful shuttlecocks flew into the air, dazzling in the sunlight.
Lin Hao, who was looking at the other side of the wall, was stunned.
The young man under the wall smiled and opened his arms to her.
After being stunned for a moment, Lin Hao raised the corners of her lips, her smile more brilliant than the colorful shuttlecock. Without hesitation and full of joy, she rushed towards the man who had loved her since her youth.
In this life, her and A Shuo's happiness is like this strong embrace, and it will never be in vain.
(End of full text)
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
The story of Ah Hao and Ah Shuo ends here. Thank you to our old readers for your company, thank you to our new readers for meeting us, and thank you to the management for your hard work. May everyone be happy and successful.
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