Chapter 73 Saburo.
Lingyi never imagined she would give such a long speech, let alone that her words would reach the palace.
The Empress Dowager greatly appreciated this and said gently to Qin Lie, "I knew long ago that you were not a person who simply cared about women. Putting aside the establishment of the girls' school this time, just consider that the Princess Consort of Duan had previously planned the porridge distribution. While others sought fame and fortune, she quietly focused on her work. Her insight and demeanor are so remarkable, no wonder you like her."
Qin Lie thanked the Empress Dowager: "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty!"
The Empress Dowager turned to the nanny and joked, "If others heard this, they would definitely say some humble words, but he did it right away, thanking the Princess on her behalf. In this respect, he is exactly the same as his grandfather!"
The old woman chuckled, "The prince must think that this praise is something the princess deserves, and he might even think that the Empress Dowager didn't praise her enough!"
The Empress Dowager feigned sudden realization: "So, it was my fault after all?"
Qin Lie pleaded dramatically, "Please, Your Majesty, be wise! Your grandson had no such intention!"
After laughing for a while, the palace maid served tea, and then she and the nanny withdrew and closed the door.
Despite the solemnity of the occasion, Qin Lie remained calm and waited for the Empress Dowager to speak first.
Seeing his composure, the Empress Dowager was even more pleased. "I heard from your father that you are now in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War. As soon as you took office, you uncovered many long-standing problems, executed several corrupt officials, and recovered more than three million taels of silver for the national treasury. This will save nearly two million taels of silver every year in the future. The Ministry of War also followed your proposal to allow some soldiers to retire and return to their fields, taking turns on duty. This not only opened up many fields that were idle due to manpower shortages, but also reduced military expenditures and increased land taxes, saving more than two million taels in total. You have done a great job, and your father is very satisfied. He also said that although the Crown Prince is also diligent in his duties, he is not decisive enough. He knows that some people are corrupt, but he is unwilling to make enemies with them. He also lacks the courage to allow those generals to cultivate land."
Qin Lie showed no arrogance on his face. “The Crown Prince is busy with countless affairs and has to oversee everything. How can he do everything personally? I am only in charge of these two ministries. It was only after the suggestion of the previous Minister and Vice Minister that I wrote the memorial, which was approved by the Crown Prince before it was submitted to the Cabinet. Even if there are some achievements, the Crown Prince deserves credit. I dare not take all the credit.”
The Empress Dowager scrutinized him for a long time, but his expression remained unchanged. Finally, she sighed deeply and said, "Lie'er, even to your grandmother now, you won't tell the truth?"
Qin Lie looked surprised: "Grandson doesn't understand what Grandmother means."
The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Your second brother is diligent, meticulous, and quite capable. Unfortunately, perhaps due to a setback during his youthful and successful years, he has lost some of his sharpness. He could be an excellent ruler who maintains the status quo, but unfortunately, your father was not a brilliant and ambitious founding emperor, and he didn't leave behind a good legacy. Your second brother will only make things worse if he takes over. If he had a virtuous crown princess by his side, she could influence him subtly and gradually, and perhaps he could change his ways once he ascends the throne. It's just a pity that your second sister-in-law is not that kind of person."
The Empress Dowager sighed, "I originally thought she was a rare good daughter of the Zhen family. At least when she was in Jizhou, she could advise your mother on many things. But some people are destined to live in a pond and not in the ocean. She lacks magnanimity. As the Crown Princess, her eyes were always on the concubines in the Eastern Palace, or she was eager for quick success and instant benefits and competed with the Empress for prestige. After falling out of favor with the Empress, she became increasingly desperate and grasped at straws. Fearing that your mother would depose her and give her position to her half-sister, she even competed with her own half-sister, causing chaos in the Eastern Palace. This not only benefited another concubine but also made her a laughing stock. If it weren't for this, your father wouldn't have disliked the Crown Prince even more."
"As for the methods, needless to say, she actually spent a lot of money to assassinate you. Since she dared to do it, if she had gone all out and fought to the death, I could have accepted her ruthlessness and decisiveness. But she gave up halfway through her plan and only hoped that you didn't find out. It's really extremely foolish!"
There is such a foolish empress now, and the Empress Dowager is still alive and can still keep her in check.
She absolutely refused to allow another child to be born after her death, especially one from the Zhen family.
With two empresses like this, the Zhen family will likely have no choice but to seize power; they will have to rebel even if they don't want to!
Qin Lie listened quietly while sipping his tea, then said to the Empress Dowager, "You should say this to my second brother. I am both his younger brother and his subject, so it would be useless for me to hear it. If others find out, I might be charged with disrespecting the Crown Prince."
Amidst the deep wrinkles of the Empress Dowager's eyes, she looked at him with sharp eyes: "Don't play dumb with me. As long as you promise me that the princess will be demoted to a concubine and you will marry a new queen, I can make the decision today and have your father issue an edict to depose your second brother and make you the crown prince!"
Qin Lie was not surprised, but simply looked at the Empress Dowager and said, "Grandmother, there is no need to test me. I have no intention of competing with my second brother."
The Empress Dowager said, “How could I test you with such a thing? Lie’er, the so-called 'motherly virtue' is not just an empty phrase. It means loving the people as one’s own children, always having compassion, and not putting one’s own interests first. The princess is such a person, but unfortunately, she is a princess of the previous dynasty and is unfit to be empress. However, she can be a virtuous consort to assist you. As long as she is not empress, no matter how much you favor her, no one will object. Lie’er, if it weren’t for the fact that she can no longer bear children, and if I hadn’t seen your attitude towards Shuo’er, I would have said these words to you today. Otherwise, since I have chosen you to be the crown prince, I will not allow her to live in this world!”
Qin Lie finished his tea and looked at the Empress Dowager knowingly: "Since you've spoken so frankly, I'll also tell you some things from the heart. Grandmother has always favored me since I was little, but I know that as Empress Dowager, what matters most to you is the vast empire of the Great Xian Dynasty. You must have said this to my second brother as well, and now you're telling me again. Is it because he refused to agree to your request? Yes, if you were to tell my second brother, you certainly wouldn't demote his wife to a concubine. With Mother Empress here, how could you allow the position of Crown Princess to fall outside the Zhen family? The Crown Princess could turn the tables at any time, so what you want is the Crown Princess's life. In this light, you've been very merciful to the princess and to me."
The Empress Dowager sighed, "You have been perceptive and prudent since childhood, and I was right to know you. I am not being merciful to the princess, but she is all alone and has no support behind her. As long as you marry someone else, she will no longer be a threat."
Qin Lie laughed mockingly, "Why do you think that if you spare her life, I will agree? Do you think that she will eventually grow old and I will eventually let her go, so as long as she doesn't become empress, she will eventually be forgotten by me in the deep palace? Or do you think that I love power and status more than my second brother, that my second brother is reluctant to kill the crown princess, but I can feel at ease aggrieving the princess?"
"Neither," the Empress Dowager said, emphasizing each word. "I did this because of one person."
Qin Lie sensed the hidden meaning in her words. He had known since childhood that his grandmother was more cunning and resourceful than his father, and he became wary and wanted to leave.
But as soon as he stood up, he immediately felt weak all over and collapsed back into his seat, his vision starting to go black.
The Empress Dowager said calmly, "There was a sleeping potion in the tea you drank, and some things were added to enhance the pleasure. Lie'er, don't look at me like that. With my old bones, I disregard my reputation and do such a despicable thing, all for the sake of ensuring the stability of the Great Xian's empire. After today, when the dust settles, you will understand my good intentions when you inherit the throne, and perhaps you will even be grateful for what I did today."
She sighed and summoned a eunuch to help Qin Lie, who was struggling to shake his head and open his eyes but was gradually becoming powerless, to a side hall.
Qin Lie felt as if he were trapped in a long, torturous dream.
His body was burning with unbearable heat. He vaguely felt that he had forgotten something, but in the face of desire that was almost bursting him, he couldn't remember anything at all.
He now has only one thought: he wants the princess, he wants her terribly.
Why didn't she come? Hadn't she already forgiven him?
Why didn't you come to save him and let him suffer like this?
Oh, he remembered, the princess has been menstruating these past few days, which is indeed inconvenient for her.
She was so delicate that he had to be coaxed in every way possible before she would help him in other ways. But right now he was in so much pain that he couldn't wait a moment longer, so he could only relieve himself with his hands. This was something the princess owed him, and he would repay her properly later.
As he was thinking this, he reached out and was immediately touched by a warm, soft body.
She couldn't bear to part with him after all. He smiled and asked with his eyes closed, "Are you clean now?"
The princess didn't say anything, but just kept snuggling into his arms.
He knew she was shy and wouldn't say anything, and besides, she had already taken off her clothes, so why say anything more?
Feeling intensely hot, he reached out and grabbed her waist, but in the next instant, he pushed her away violently.
The texture is wrong! The smell is wrong! The feeling is wrong!
Nothing is right!
He struggled to open his eyes and saw that the person he had pushed to the ground could not see his face. Although his skin was white, it was not the dazzling color of snow. He was indeed not a princess.
Who is this person? Why is he in his room? Where is the princess? If she sees him, she will surely be angry.
Although Qin Lie was in a daze, he had already decided to kill.
When the person looked up, Qin Lie's fierce gaze turned to astonishment: "Hui Niang?!"
“Sanlang…” “Huiniang” trembled as she got up from the ground, calling him by the name she used to use, “How could you be so heartless?”
.
When Qin Lie went to pick up Ling Yi, he was unusually half an hour late, and he did not send anyone to inform her in advance.
It was snowing lightly today, and the carriages from the Prince Duan's residence couldn't enter the school. She walked gracefully over, and Qin Lie hurriedly went to greet her.
I wanted to put a cloak on her, but when I touched myself, I realized that I had changed my clothes and rushed over without bringing a cloak.
As soon as they got in the car, he pulled Lingyi onto his lap and placed his hand on her lower abdomen. "Does it still hurt?"
Lingyi said, "It doesn't hurt anymore. If it did, I wouldn't have come today. Didn't I tell you that this morning?"
Qin Lie relaxed a little, but Ling Yi noticed the scabs on his lips and asked, "How did you get hurt on your lips?"
He unconsciously dodged backward, her hand froze in mid-air, and she stood there stunned.
Qin Lie smiled casually and said, "I've been feeling a bit feverish these past few days, and my lips are chapped. I'll be fine after drinking some pear soup when I get back."
Lingyi didn't suspect anything, but only told him, "Next time you come to pick me up, don't be so late. There were several carriages parked outside just now, and a bunch of old men were waiting to 'bump into' you. I didn't dare to show my face, as if I owed them something."
Qin Lie said, "If you're not happy about it, why don't you forbid them from coming to pick up people in the future?"
Lingyi said, "That won't do. I want you to show your face more often and give them some hope so that they will send their daughters over more often and give me more money!"
Poor people don't have much tuition, and she used to subsidize it herself. But with these noble ladies coming, the roads were repaired, the houses were renovated, and the tables and chairs were replaced. The courtyard not only had rare flowers and exotic plants, but also uniform student uniforms. And people were giving her money for tuition. Why wouldn't she be happy to accept it?
Qin Lie didn't understand: "If you're short of money, just take it from the public funds. Why bother with their petty favors?"
Lingyi said, "That won't do. Our family's money was earned by you with your own blood and sweat. How can spending your own money be as enjoyable as spending someone else's? Besides, they don't learn from the old women. The female tutors you found for them, including a female general and a female strategist, cost a lot of money!"
Qin Lie recruited the generals and strategists of the Women's Army on the border. In the past, the border was frequently raided, and they had spontaneously organized a women's army to fight against the Xiongnu for many years. When the Xiongnu were defeated, they were nearly forty years old and then retired.
Now both women are nearly fifty years old. They were not recognized by the previous dynasty in the past. Now the female general is injured and living in poverty. Qin Lie invited her to come and not only took care of her food, clothing and lodging, but also found good doctors to treat her illness.
That female strategist was a high-ranking official's daughter exiled to the border from the previous dynasty. Unable to lift a finger or carry heavy loads, she was ridiculed and scorned in her place of exile. However, due to her extensive knowledge, sharp mind, and resourcefulness, she shone brightly in the women's army, becoming their strategist, and was known as the female Zhuge Liang. This time, accompanying the female general back, she was initially reluctant to teach, but after observing several lessons and finding them quite interesting, she decided to become a teacher herself.
Their teaching style was very casual; they only taught for two out of every ten days, and it was more like storytelling than teaching.
After all, no noble lady would want to practice horse stance and spear fighting. Naturally, stories of the long river and sunset at the border, and the battles on the battlefield, which they had never seen or heard before, were more attractive.
At first, only five or six noble ladies came, but now, in just over three months, fourteen noble ladies have come.
A noble lady is a noble lady; her tuition is generous enough to cover the school's expenses for half a year, though there are more rules to follow.
The schools were all shared, only the class times were different. As soon as they arrived, the maids and servants would wipe the school inside and out, saving the eunuchs the trouble of cleaning.
Another noble lady came today. Her mother insisted on giving her one hundred taels of silver, which Lingyi could not refuse and had to accept.
This is enough to cover the school's expenses for more than a month, and it can also be used to buy embroidery thread and fabric for the poor students to facilitate their studies.
Lingyi was happy about the money, while Qin Lie was delighted by her words "our family" and held her hand tightly.
Today, her menstrual blood had not yet dried up, and she went to the girls' school early in the morning. Although she had her own room there and could rest at any time, it was still not as good as being at home. Exhausted, Lingyi went to bed early and only learned the next day that Qin Lie had stayed in the study after finishing his work the day before.
This was very strange, since Qin Lie usually came to her room to rest no matter how late he was busy, and he would leave before she woke up in the morning, never staying out all night. Therefore, the maid spoke hesitantly and tremblingly.
Lingyi knew what she was afraid of, and smiled to comfort her, "I'm not feeling well to begin with, and besides, Your Highness didn't go anywhere else. You don't need to report such trivial matters to me in the future."
Just as she was about to leave, Qin Yinrong came over and asked to go to the girls' school with her.
Qin Yinrong was attending a class for noble ladies, which she had already attended yesterday, so she had no classes today.
When the girls' school was first established, she went there many times. With her temperament, she unexpectedly made several friends from poor backgrounds there. So Lingyi let her ride in a carriage to the school together.
Sitting in the car, Qin Yinrong couldn't help but keep looking at Lingyi.
She disliked her stepmother from the beginning, and she still doesn't like her now.
But I can't lie and say I hate her, since she's treated me pretty well.
At first, she didn't think so.
Back in her maternal grandparents' home, she was constantly told that the women outside who wanted to marry into the royal family were only after the wealth and glory of the royal household. Once they married in and gave birth to a legitimate son, they would steal her brother's position as heir apparent. Only her own family members married in to take care of her and her siblings, to treat them sincerely, and would never covet the position of heir apparent.
She believed it, especially after hearing so many stories of stepmothers abusing the children of the first wife. Those stepmothers were either hypocritical and sowing discord, or arrogant and domineering because they were favored. She not only believed it, but was also afraid.
When Lingyi sent her cosmetics, clothes, and jewelry, she felt that they concealed malicious intentions.
Especially when Qin Huan returned to the manor, she was on high alert, feeling that he was after her brother's position as heir.
She gave her brother a long, sharp scolding, which left him pale and swaying precariously.
But when her father called her brother over and spoke to him, her brother advised her that rather than having another legitimate mother give birth to a legitimate son, it would be better to make this stepmother, whose status was questionable, the Princess Consort of Duan. At least then, his position as heir apparent would be unshakeable.
Despite her brother's earnest advice, Qin Yinrong remained unmoved.
Her brother only cares about his position as heir apparent, but she still wants her father's favor!
She had just returned to the manor when she was reprimanded and confined by her father because of her stepmother. How could she not hate her?
She hated that she had stolen her father's favor; originally, her father should have loved her the most!
Her brother was useless; only she remained clear-headed, waiting to see how things would unfold.
But she waited for a long time with high spirits, only to receive no moves.
Her stepmother treated them well, but only out of politeness. Otherwise, unless they made a mistake, she wouldn't care about them. Besides, she had so many things to do herself; in winter, she had to distribute porridge. Everyone else used white porridge, but she cooked brown rice, which led to her being ridiculed at gatherings. Qin Yinrong was furious, but dared not show it because of her father, almost making herself sick from holding it in. But a little over a month later, when she went out of town to enjoy the scenery, while other porridge stalls were deserted, hers had a long queue of six people. Qin Yinrong couldn't help but proudly raise her chin at those who had previously mocked her, her face full of pride.
Later, her stepmother started a girls' school in the smelly and dirty northern part of the city. It was said that the school only accepted widows and wives, and some people were being sarcastic and unpleasant.
Qin Yinrong couldn't help but get angry again, but remembering the matter of distributing porridge, she held back and said hesitantly during a greeting that she wanted to visit the girls' school.
Lingyi agreed, on only one condition: Qin Yinrong must not reveal her identity and must remain an ordinary student.
Qin Yinrong thought that she was afraid that she would steal her thunder and that she was afraid that she would not be able to go, so she reluctantly agreed.
At that time, the girls' school only had one courtyard, and no noble ladies came. She changed into the worst cotton clothes and went there, but she still stood out too much. Even if the others tried their best to wear good clothes to school, at most they would only have no patches. They all wore coarse cloth clothes, and some were even made of a few scraps of cloth sewn together, which were gaudy and eye-catching.
They might only have one fine cotton handkerchief at most, which they would use merely as decoration and would not easily part with.
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