Chapter 38 If Qi Xiuyuan can become the Grand Secretary, then her family…
Shen Lingyue sat on the steps, with Yan Yi's calm and slow breathing beside her.
The wind rustled through the tall, straight sycamore trees in the courtyard, creating a sound like white noise. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled, golden light that swayed and danced.
She stared blankly at the sky, watching birds fly by and clouds roll and change into different shapes.
She knew that there were still stars hidden in the sky.
During the five years Yao Yusha was trapped, did she also sit by the window every night, counting every star that lit up in the sky?
Shen Lingyue let her mind go blank, letting her thoughts wander aimlessly.
Until the weight on my shoulders suddenly lightened.
"You woke up so quickly?" It feels like only a short while has passed.
Shen Lingyue helped Yan Yi up, and as her hazy eyes gradually cleared, she suddenly grabbed her wrist, her face showing an unusually strong emotional fluctuation.
"I, I just..."
Shen Lingyue immediately understood and quickly covered her mouth, asking in a breathy voice, "You were finally dreaming, weren't you?"
Yan Yi blinked twice quickly and nodded.
Shen Lingyue glanced around furtively, "This isn't the place to talk. Let's go home."
The two held hands and went to bid farewell to Princess Tong'an.
"You two have been busy for several days, you must be tired, it's time to go home and rest."
Princess Tong'an also said that once Yao Yusha's condition stabilizes in a few days, Lord Yao will take her home to care for her slowly.
Shen Lingyue nodded, "Then we can visit Sister Yusha at the Yao residence from now on."
After the two boarded the carriage and confirmed that the soundproofing inside was good, they urged Yan Yi to quickly tell them what she had dreamed about.
Shen Lingyue muttered, "The Goddess Xuan Nu really does appear in dreams at will. I was hoping for her to come every day, but she never did. Now, she's delivered herself to my door while I'm taking a nap."
Yan Yi found it both funny and helpless; it seemed like Xiao Yue Liang was determined to solidify her status as "Goddess Xuan Nu".
She organized her thoughts and asked Shen Lingyue, "You know the Chinese almanac, right?"
"I know, it's the kind of thing you check before going out to see what's auspicious and inauspicious for the day."
Shen Lingyue looked like she knew everything, "I also check the almanac before I draw a new card, and choose an auspicious time. I also know which direction to face when drawing the card, and what kind of jewelry to wear to bring good luck..."
"Stop, stop, stop."
Yan Yi interrupted her card-drawing experience sharing with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
I knew her knowledge wasn't exactly legitimate...
"The almanac was not just used to predict good or bad fortune. It should have been called the 'Imperial Almanac' and was a symbol of imperial power. The almanac had to be promulgated by the imperial court and issued in the name of the emperor. It was not allowed to be printed privately by the people. Especially when a dynasty changed and a new dynasty was established, the promulgation of the almanac by the founding emperor meant that he was the 'Son of Heaven' who was recognized by Heaven and was appointed by Heaven to govern all the people."
"More importantly, after the almanac was promulgated, it could guide people in agricultural production and guide the farming season, such as the twenty-four solar terms, when to cultivate, when to sow, when to irrigate... Without the almanac, if the farming season was missed, the world would be in chaos."
As Yan Yi explained, she dipped her finger in tea and wrote the characters for "yellow" and "emperor" on the table.
Shen Lingyue sat obediently and listened attentively.
"It's a calendar. Without a calendar, we wouldn't know how to get through each day."
In that case, it seems she had never thought about it before: who decided which day is January 1st, the start of the new year?
She asked Yan Yi, "Shouldn't this also be part of the Imperial Observatory's work?"
Yan Yi nodded.
"But what does this have to do with your dream?" Shen Lingyue was confused. "Does the Goddess Xuan Nu want us to compile an almanac?"
But neither of them studied this.
Yan Yi coughed twice and emphasized, "I want you to know first that the Chinese almanac is very important. If the officials of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau who compile the almanac make a mistake, it will cause serious problems."
"That's right. It's one thing if we can't predict good or bad fortune, but if it delays the farmers' planting and reduces grain production, then we're doomed."
Shen Lingyue raised her hand and made a beheading gesture. "Palace dramas didn't lie, the Imperial Observatory is indeed a high-risk profession."
Yan Yi curled her lips into a mysterious yet gratified smile.
"So I dreamt of Yao Yusha. Under the care of Lord Yao and his wife, and Chen Ang, she gradually recovered day by day. Although she didn't fully recover to normal by the end of the dream, her talent and ability in mathematics and astrology had been fully displayed—"
Shen Lingyue was so happy she almost jumped up and bumped her head.
"Very good!"
Yan Yi nodded with a smile, "Moreover, she seems to have forgotten the five years she was trapped. Her memory and mind are stuck at the age of eighteen before she got married, still the carefree Miss Yao."
This might be the best outcome for Yao Yusha. She doesn't remember Yao Baiyu, nor does she remember leaving the Yao family; it's as if nothing has changed.
"It must be the Goddess Xuan Nu manifesting her power!" Shen Lingyue was so moved that she wanted to cry again. She kept bowing to the void and urged Yan Yi to continue the story.
"Yes, I also saw Guan Pu in my dream. She had grown up and become Yao Yusha's apprentice. The two of them studied mathematics and astrology so diligently that they forgot to eat and sleep. They found many omissions in ancient star charts, boldly corrected the errors in the research of their predecessors, and drew a completely new star chart."
Even now, when Yan Yi recalls the scenes from her dream, she feels proud of these two outstanding women.
She saw the young Guan Pu, full of vigor and spirit, walk into the Hall of Supreme Harmony dressed in the same official robes as men, and speak eloquently in front of all the civil and military officials, using his knowledge of astrology to predict the time of the next solar eclipse with perfect accuracy.
She saw Guan Pu standing in the Imperial Observatory's office, organizing and leading a group of male officials to compile the almanac for the following year.
She also noticed that Guan Pu's official robes changed color again and again, from cyan to scarlet. Wherever she went, countless men would bow down to her and call her "Guan Jianzheng".
Bang!
Shen Lingyue had really hit her head this time. Ignoring the pain in her head, she asked again in disbelief.
"You saw Guan Pu enter the imperial court as an official? He even became the Director of the Imperial Observatory?!"
Yan Yi pulled her over, rubbed her head, and nodded calmly: "That's right, but judging from my observation, Guan Pu will probably be over forty years old when he becomes the Director of the Imperial Observatory."
"Guan Pu is fourteen this year, which means that in about twenty years, the Great Ye Dynasty will have female officials?"
Shen Lingyue's eyes lit up. "Great! It's a female official!"
She excitedly nudged Yan Yi, "Then can you become an official too?"
Ahhh, her Yan Yan will definitely not lose to these ancient people!
Yan Yi pursed her lips and said modestly, "It also depends on whether there's a relevant major..."
"Oh well, whatever, you can definitely do it!"
Shen Lingyue was still excited for a long time, wishing she could jump out of the car and run a few laps right now.
For Guan Pu, but not just for Guan Pu.
"Wait a minute." She suddenly thought, "Twenty years later, which emperor was so brave that he actually accomplished something that even our fellow villager couldn't do?"
She hadn't forgotten that during the reign of Emperor Taizu, even the conferment of titles upon a few female marquises and generals would cause a long and contentious argument in the court.
Yan Yi frowned and shook her head when she heard this. "In my dream, I also wanted to see who was sitting on the dragon throne back then, but my consciousness could not get close to the palace at all. In the court meeting, there was only the scene of Guan Pu debating with the Confucian scholars. Above the dragon throne was a blurry phantom."
Shen Lingyue stroked her chin thoughtfully: "Could it be that it's destiny, and spoilers are forbidden? Or is it that the future is uncertain, and it's hard to say who will become emperor?"
She counted on her fingers, "First, we can rule out Prince Heng. That guy is about to rebel, so the old emperor definitely didn't intend to choose him as his successor."
There are several older princes under Prince Heng, but Shen Lingyue is not familiar with them and has no gossip to share with them for the time being.
"...Could it be that after all the twists and turns, it will eventually be Consort Gao ascending the throne with the young prince, following the same storyline of the Empress Dowager, the young emperor, and the powerful ministers?"
Shen Lingyue's imagination ran wild: "It seems that even if Qi Xiuyuan doesn't marry the Princess of Rongcheng, he's destined to be a prime minister."
No, I have to put getting on his good side now.
After saying that, she shook her head again, "No, no, this group doesn't seem to have that kind of charisma... Yan Yan, do you think it could be Prince An?"
“Prince An?” Yan Yi thought for a moment, “The old emperor’s younger brother, that philanthropist An?”
"That's right. Although he's just a younger brother, if a palace coup is inevitable and a large number of the old emperor's sons die, if the officials don't want to see a young emperor ascend the throne, then they can only choose an older one."
As the saying goes, a country relies on a long-lived ruler.
“Prince An is also the son of the late emperor, so the bloodline is not too distant. Moreover, he is a kind-hearted man who is enthusiastic about charity and actively helps women and children. If he becomes emperor, he is very likely to agree to women serving as officials in the court.”
Shen Lingyue's reasons were very valid.
Yan Yi suppressed a laugh and asked her, "Are you still going to try and curry favor with Prince An beforehand? What about Qi Xiuyuan? Has he given up?"
"We must do both things well."
Shen Lingyue clenched her fists and said emphatically, "The more thighs, the better."
Hehe, it just so happens that Sister Zheng and Prince An are old friends. Next time she visits the Duke of Ling's mansion, I can try to ask her to introduce us.
Moreover, since Prince An is enthusiastic about charity and public welfare, she and Yan Yi actively participated and donated money and goods. Isn't that showing their face in front of the big shot?
Plans are in place!
Shen Lingyue hugged Yan Yi tightly, vowing confidently, "With your golden touch and my brilliant analysis, we'll definitely thrive here and reach the pinnacle of life!"
If Qi Xiuyuan can become the Grand Secretary, why can't her Yan Yan?
Then she'll buy ten or twenty super-muscular young men and have them perform Magic Mike for her at home every day ^_^
...
Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, the two parted ways temporarily, each going back to their respective courtyards.
"The young mistress is back."
Two head maids from Jiusi Courtyard, Sixiang and Diancha, came forward to help her change clothes and comb her hair.
Lin Qiyu had prepared maids for her before her marriage, but the two maids were not of one mind with her. Not long after they arrived at the Marquis's mansion, Yan Yi found an excuse to send them away, one to look after the storeroom and the other to the sewing room.
Pei Jingyi then suggested that Si Xiang and Dian Cha come into the room to serve him. They had been in Jiu Si Yuan for many years and knew the rules and how to behave. They were originally prepared to serve his future wife, so he didn't need them.
After working things out with them for a while and getting along fairly well, Yan Yi temporarily abandoned the idea of buying people from outside.
Although the master-servant system in ancient times was inhumane, a loyal maid could accompany her mistress for a lifetime, and sometimes she was even more reliable than her husband.
Unlike Shen Lingyue's side, Qingchan and Shuangxu were both born into the Shen family and had grown up with her since childhood. With relatives in the Shen family and Zhao Lan watching over them, they would never betray their master.
Yan Yi changed into some casual clothes, loosened her hair and tied it loosely behind her head, and returned to her familiar room, where she relaxed completely.
It's strange, she didn't stay at Jiusi Courtyard for as long as she did at the Zhou family's small courtyard, but this place felt more like her "home".
Yan Yi sat on the edge of the bed in a daze. Today's dream, let alone Little Moon, even made her a little excited.
If given the chance to go out into the world, who would want to be trapped in a secluded mansion, spending their days scheming against concubines or fighting for a pittance of household management power?
If they could achieve great things and leave their names in history books, instead of being labeled as "a certain family or clan," who would still cling to that vague and unrealistic idea of "bestowing titles and privileges upon their wives and children"?
—It is precisely because she has seen such a beautiful world that she cannot bear the monotony of her daily life.
Yan Yi admitted that deep down she had an ambition to prove herself.
All she needed to do was wait quietly for that opportunity to come.
Si Xiang and Dian Cha were tidying up in the outer room when they picked up a wooden box and asked her, "Young Madam, where should we put this?"
Yan Yi looked back and saw the spices that Yao Niang had given to the two of them when they left her house that day.
"Just put it in the second drawer at the bottom of the wardrobe."
Little Moon had given her a lot of spices before, which she had put in her drawer.
Si Xiang responded and hesitated for a moment in front of the wardrobe.
Is it the second drawer from the left, or the second drawer from the right?
She was too embarrassed to ask again, lest she seem too slow-witted, so she simply opened both drawers and looked inside.
The left drawer was crammed full, but the right drawer was still empty.
Si Xiang confidently stuffed it in and closed the drawer.
"The dressing table and desk are all tidied up. Young Madam, please rest. We'll head down now."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work."
Yan Yi lay down on the bed, not feeling sleepy for the time being, so she simply started searching her knowledge base in her mind to see what she could use in the future.
On the other side, Si Xiang and Dian Cha left the room and walked a few steps away before daring to speak.
"Young Madam is so kind. She keeps thanking us and saying thank you and asking for our help."
Si Xiang sighed, "When the imperial decree for the marriage was issued, it worried the Grand Madam terribly. She insisted that the eldest young mistress was some kind of wild girl from a military family, and that she would definitely be unruly and difficult to control. How could we entrust the Marquis's mansion to her in the future..."
Diancha chirped softly, "Otherwise what? We can't just go along with the aunt's wishes and marry our young master off to her, can we?"
"Come on, even the Grand Madam never took a fancy to Miss Cousin. Although she is her own granddaughter, Miss Cousin's father has long since passed away. She is an orphan living with her uncle's family, and her family background is not as good as our young mistress's."
At least the eldest young mistress's father is still alive and well, and is a fourth-rank general.
"No wonder I heard the little maid in the garden say that the aunt was hiding somewhere and talking badly about the old lady."
Diancha suddenly realized, "She thinks that the Grand Madam disliked the young lady because she lost her father, so why didn't she force the eldest son to agree to this marriage? By the time the imperial decree came down, it would be too late for her to try."
Si Xiang nodded, "That's right. If you ask me, Auntie is such an ingrate. If it weren't for the Grand Madam's intervention, would she and her two cousins have been able to stay in the Marquis's mansion for ten years? That's an immense favor, and she's still not satisfied..."
The two maids were gossiping on their way from the courtyard to the kitchen when they suddenly heard a deliberate cough coming from ahead.
Si Xiang was startled and quickly squatted down to greet her: "Greetings, Miss Si Xiang."
My heart was pounding: Did she hear what I just said?
Dong Lanyi coughed twice, clutching her handkerchief. "Sister Sixiang, please get up. I've told you countless times, there's no need to be so formal with me."
Si Xiang and Dian Cha slowly stood up, repeatedly saying they dared not.
“We represent the young master’s reputation when we are out and about. If he finds out that we have neglected Miss Biao, he will definitely punish us.”
Dong Lanyi's eyes flickered slightly. "I just heard from the second gatekeeper that my cousin's wife is back? She's been leaving early and returning late these past few days. I wonder what she's been busy with."
Si Xiang answered methodically, "The eldest young mistress went to the princess's residence to do some business for Princess Tong'an. We don't know the specifics."
Dong Lanyi's attempt to extract information failed, and a hint of displeasure appeared on her face. She said to herself, "Since my cousin-in-law is home today, I'll go ask her for a cup of tea."
After saying that, she gracefully walked past the two of them.
Si Xiang stamped her foot. "What should we do? She's going to find the young mistress."
What if the young master is still serving in the Ministry of War and can't get back in time?
"Don't worry, I don't think she'll get the better of the young mistress." Diancha was very confident.
Si Xiang asked, puzzled, "Why?"
Diancha covered her mouth and chuckled, "Don't you even think about who the young master truly cares about?"
...
"Cousin, have some tea."
Just as Yan Yi was drifting off to sleep, her maid announced that Dong Lanyi had arrived.
She had no choice but to pull herself together, change into a welcoming outfit, and invite Dong Lanyi in to sit down.
Dong Lanyi surveyed the bedroom's furnishings and layout, noting the women's belongings scattered throughout. Her words carried a hint of sourness: "My cousin is always very particular about cleanliness, and even his study is meticulously arranged. This makes the room seem rather messy."
"Is there?"
Yan Yi looked somewhat confused. Si Xiang and Dian Cha had just tidied up before leaving.
She thought for a moment and explained to Dong Lanyi, "It's probably because there's one more person. Two people always have more things than one person."
Dong Lanyi clenched her handkerchief tightly under the table.
Damn it, she must be bragging about being able to share a bed with her cousin...
The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and suddenly her eyes welled up with tears.
Yan Yi was startled. How could this person suddenly start crying?
She didn't say anything wrong, did she?
"Cousin, is something bothering you?" Yan Yi asked tactfully. "Why don't you tell us, and we'll help you think of a solution."
Anyway, Little Moon said that eating more melons is good for her health.
"My cousin and his wife are newlyweds, deeply in love, so they shouldn't be bothered by my little worries..."
Dong Lanyi raised her handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of her eye. "Have you ever considered how I feel, making me see you two together every day?"
Yan Yi: Huh?
But Pei Jingyi said that this would make it easier for her to manage the household affairs of the Marquis's residence...
After thinking for a moment, she earnestly suggested to Dong Lanyi, "From now on, cousin, you can stay a little further away from the door every morning, so you won't see me seeing your cousin off to work."
"you!"
Dong Lanyi was so angry she almost lost her composure. This Zhou guy was too scheming. Wasn't he just showing off to her on purpose?
No, she had to hold back.
Her mother had said that she couldn't compete with Zhou Yanyi in terms of family background, and her maternal grandmother wouldn't support her taking her place. The only things she could rely on to stay in the Marquis's mansion and by her cousin's side were her cousin's pity for her and Zhou Yanyi's sympathy for her...
"Sister-in-law, now that things have come to this, I'll tell you what's on my mind."
Dong Lanyi suddenly grabbed Yan Yi's hand, her eyes brimming with tears, looking weak and pitiful.
Yan Yi was not used to interacting with unfamiliar people like this, and tried to break free, but couldn't.
...The young lady looked frail, but she had quite a strong grip.
She could only say, "Cousin, just say what you need to say. As long as I can help..."
"Yes, yes, as long as my cousin-in-law nods, I can stay in the Marquis's mansion!"
Dong Lanyi stared intently at her, wishing she could move into Jiusi Courtyard the very next day.
"Stay in the Marquis's residence?" Yan Yi didn't quite understand at first. "You're living comfortably in the Marquis's residence, who wants to kick you out?"
These past few days she's been going to the princess's residence a lot and hasn't been paying much attention to things at the marquis's residence. Yan Yi's brows furrowed, and she said sternly, "Who's been gossiping in your ear? Tell me, and I'll deal with them for you."
Dong Lanyi stammered, "No, no one wants to drive me away. It's my own choice not to get married... I've lived in the Marquis's mansion for ten years, and I've long considered this place my home. I don't want to leave. I'm afraid of the outside world, and I don't want to go to someone else's house and suffer humiliation..."
"Oh, so you don't want to get married."
Yan Yi suddenly realized that Dong Lanyi was of marriageable age, and her status was somewhat awkward, leaving her with little room to choose her husband.
The arranged marriage meant that how their lives would turn out was entirely up to fate, and Yan Yi could understand her anxious feelings.
If it were yesterday, she could only offer a few dry words of comfort to Dong Lanyi, without being able to provide any effective advice.
But today is different; she had a dream today.
Since women can become officials in twenty years, what difference does it make whether they get married or not?
"Cousin, just stay here in the manor and don't think about getting married."
Yan Yi looked at her sincerely, "Now the Marquis's mansion is run by the Madam, and in the future it will be run by me... and your second cousin-in-law. We will not kick you out. You can stay as long as you want. If anyone dares to gossip about you, I will... I will fine them their monthly wages."
Ignoring Dong Lanyi's increasingly unpleasant expression, she enthusiastically devised a plan for her: "You have no worries about food and drink in the mansion, so read more books when you have nothing to do. Don't just read those travelogues and novels, but read more classics, histories, philosophical works, and learn about strategies for governing the country... Studying for ten or twenty years will definitely benefit you."
Yan Yi didn't want to be too direct, but she hoped that Dong Lanyi could understand her hints.
Dong Lanyi suddenly stood up and pointed at her for a long time, trembling.
"You...you've gone too far!"
After saying that, she ran out crying, all the way back to her residence, where she threw herself into Pei Yuzhen's arms and cried bitterly.
"Zhou Yanyi is so wicked! She cursed me! She cursed me so that I would never get married for ten or twenty years!"
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The author's note: Leaning close to Pei Jinghuai's ear, the devil whispered: Your wife wants to buy twenty male models, did you hear that? Your wife wants to buy twenty male models!
Moon Child: A fierce analysis, but the answer is 25,000 words off-topic [doge emoji]
//Let me just offer you a rosy picture first [Let me see]
P.S.: Yu Sha and Guan Pu's achievements in astrology can be traced back to Ma Pengying of the Ming Dynasty and Jiang Hui of the Qing Dynasty, both outstanding female astronomers of ancient times! Yes, we have our own female scientists (proudly hands on hips). Interested readers can search for more information themselves. [heart emoji][heart emoji]
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