Chapter 90
Six months later, she escaped the palace for the second time and succeeded.
When she entered the territory of Xuanwu Kingdom with Xinyun, looking at the buildings that were quite different in style from those of Zhuque Kingdom and watching the crowds coming and going on the street, she felt a sense of unreality.
Did they really escape like that?
Having left the Vermilion Bird Kingdom and distanced herself from Mu Qinhan, has she escaped the fate of her past life?
Fate didn't give her the answer, but kept pushing her forward.
She finally met the legendary school that only accepted female students, and also met the legendary erudite and omniscient Xu Zaiye.
Xinyun and Mohe had told Xu Zaiye what they were going to do when they returned, so she wasn't surprised at all when she saw Mu Yulu.
She told Mu Yulu that she was willing to take her in because she had seen Qi Zhiqi's letter and learned about most of her experiences in the Vermilion Bird Kingdom. She admired her courage and appreciated her magnanimity in letting go of Xin Yunmohe before marrying into the royal family.
However, she still had one condition: Mu Yulu had to read through the history books of Xuanwu Kingdom within a month. She would personally test her after a month, and if Mu Yulu failed the test, she would still have to pack her bags and leave.
Mu Yulu immediately agreed.
She was able to escape death from places like the Mu Mansion and the Prince's Mansion, so what's so difficult about reading a few history books?
Moreover, the history of Xuanwu Kingdom is quite interesting. It was only after reading these historical books that she learned that although Jiang Wangshu was the first female ruler of Xuanwu Kingdom, there had been several empress dowagers or empresses who had served as regents before her.
If so many women had not appeared in the court of Xuanwu Kingdom, it is uncertain whether Jiang Wangshu would have had the ambition to fight his way to the throne among the princes, and whether the old ministers would have kept quiet as quickly as they have now.
For the next month, Mu Yulu either attended classes at Xu Zaiye's school or read history books with her hands full. Time flew by in such a fulfilling life, and soon the day of the assessment arrived.
That day, Xu Zaiye and Mu Yulu sat facing each other in the academy. She only asked Mu Yulu one question:
Throughout history, what was she seeking when she created a school for only girls?
Mu Yulu looked into her eyes and only answered her with one sentence: "To prevent women from unintentionally hurting other women."
Xu Zaiye paused, his gaze shifting slightly as he looked at Mu Yulu.
Bright sunlight streamed into the study through the open window, illuminating the two women. In this dreamlike interplay of light and shadow, they gazed at each other for a long time.
After a long while, Xu Zaiye said softly, "Tell me in detail."
So Mu Yulu told her about the women who had appeared in her life. She mentioned her younger sister Mu Wanyi, her mother Mu Zhaoshi, and naturally, Mu Zhaoshi's younger sister Pu Zhaoshi.
The women in the family seemed to have entered an unconscious cycle. She recounted, word by word, the harm they had caused her: the sleepless nights she spent kneeling on the cold tiles of the mansion, the slaps that fell on her face again and again, and the slander and defamation from her sister and mother.
They called her a promiscuous slut, even though they clearly shared the same blood.
If she had told others about these experiences six months ago, she probably would have sounded like she was complaining, but now her tone is filled with only heavy sadness and a hint of relief.
Especially after reading the history books of the Xuanwu Kingdom, she realized for the first time what kind of fate she had escaped.
She didn't just escape Mu Qinhan; more importantly, she escaped the tragic cycle that seemed to be cursed for the women of her family.
At countless moments in the Mu Prince's mansion, she could have become like her mother out of jealousy or hatred.
Even now, recalling it still sends shivers down my spine.
Finally, she said, "The world is vast, and its boundaries extend far beyond the boudoir; the depth of knowledge is not limited to the precepts for women. Women's talents can also be used to understand principles, discuss the Way, manage the world, and even write books, establish schools of thought, and create their own schools of thought. However, all of this requires women to unite first."
"The history books of Xuanwu Kingdom that I read, the women in the court, they seem to live in a different world from me. If women cannot support each other, but instead attack each other in the cycle of fate like my mother and cousin, then even if some women can escape the prison that this world is tailor-made for them, they will be slandered by their own kind in all kinds of ways and suppressed by all kinds of means. How can more women see the vastness of the world and understand the depth of knowledge? It is even more impossible for them to have the status and achievements of the Queen of Xuanwu Kingdom today."
"Only by reading and understanding principles, and by opening our eyes to the truth, can we break free from that cycle. Only when women stop hurting other women will more women not have to live such a miserable life."
After Mu Yulu finished speaking, she closed her mouth and stared at Xu Zaiye, who also stared back at her in silence.
The two remained silent, but a laugh filled with appreciation came from behind the huge screen.
Mu Yulu was startled and turned to look, seeing a bright yellow figure emerge from behind the screen.
Almost the instant she saw the person, Mu Yulu knew her identity.
She must be Jiang Wangshu, the female ruler of Xuanwu Kingdom.
Because she had never seen a woman with the same demeanor as the woman in front of her. She walked over slowly, clearly with a smile, but there was an indescribable pressure on her, as if she didn't have to do anything, just stand there without saying a word, and no one would dare to offend her.
This is a temperament nurtured by power, not something that can be cultivated in the inner chambers of a woman's home or within the deep confines of the palace.
Jiang Wangshu walked up to Mu Yulu, raised her hand to touch her shoulder, and then turned to Xu Zaiye and said, "Teacher, is this why you insisted that I come to the academy today?"
She then looked up and laughed heartily: "So you wanted me to come and see your new disciple in person? Not bad, not bad at all, truly a remarkable person."
Mu Yulu was stunned for a moment.
What did she call Xu Zaiye? Teacher?
What did she call herself? A new disciple?
At this moment, Xu Zaiye spoke to her, saying, "Would you be willing to become my disciple? I will do my best to teach you what I have learned."
Mu Yulu was stunned for a moment, but at Jiang Wangshu's prompting, she quickly bowed to her and said, "This disciple is willing!"
Xu Zaiye smiled, nodded at her, and then pointed at Jiang Wangshu, "This is the Queen of Xuanwu Kingdom that you mentioned earlier, who is also your senior sister."
Mu Yulu quickly turned around and was about to bow again, but Jiang Wangshu stopped her: "In private, you only need to treat me with the respect due to a senior sister, not the respect due to a king."
Mu Yulu glanced at her, then at Xu Zaiye, and stammered, "What is the etiquette for senior sister?"
Xu Zaiye tilted her head, gesturing for her to ask Jiang Wangshu. Jiang Wangshu then tapped the tip of her nose with her index finger. "The proper etiquette for a senior sister is to prepare several delicious dishes for me every time we meet. I've long heard that my junior sister is an excellent cook, even surpassing Chef Yang of our Xuanwu Kingdom. Now that you're here, you should at least let me taste your cooking, right?"
Mu Yulu nodded quickly. She really hadn't expected that the legendary Queen of Xuanwu Kingdom would be such a kind and approachable person in private.
For a period of time afterward, Xu Zaiye kept Mu Yulu by his side, but he was not in a hurry to teach her anything. Instead, he first let her learn about the various schools of thought.
For the past ten years or so, Mu Yulu had spent her time in the backyard of a secluded mansion, with very little exposure to the world. She didn't really know what she liked or was good at. Her only skill was cooking, which she learned for Mu Qinhan.
Now, Xu Zaiye has her by his side, letting her learn about one subject each day. If she's interested, she can study it for a few more days; if she's not interested, he won't force her. He's doing this so that Mu Yulu can experience and choose what she truly wants to do.
It was at this time that Mu Yulu realized that Qiye Academy was much larger than she had imagined, and that it offered a wide variety of academic disciplines, mainly including six categories: law, mathematics, calligraphy, painting, martial arts, and medicine.
Xin Yun and Mo He specialize in mathematics and martial arts, respectively.
Mohe is fine, but it was obvious when they were still in the Mu family that she was naturally strong and didn't talk much. She was the type who would rather use her hands than her words.
But Xinyun has a photographic memory. As long as she has seen the account book, she can match the accounts perfectly without using an abacus. She had never had the opportunity to come into contact with these things before, but she never expected that this was her talent.
As for Tanxiang, she stayed at the Wild Academy with Mu Yulu for a while. She didn't have any particular favorite subjects, but she developed a strong interest in cooking. Whenever Mu Yulu cooked, she would always be there to watch over her, helping to prepare the ingredients and learning diligently. In this way, Mu Yulu's excellent cooking skills can be considered to have a successor.
Time flowed by unhurriedly, and they lived peacefully in the academy for more than half a month. During this time, Mu Yulu did not show anything on her face, but she always kept the two who had not yet returned in her heart.
During this time, she dared not go out, fearing that Mu Qinhan's people would come to Xuanwu Kingdom, and also fearing that she would miss the news of Mohe and Sanzhou Jinse. She could only stay in the academy and wait silently.
That afternoon, after she finished reviewing her books and was about to take a nap, Xinyun suddenly pushed open the door, poked her head in, called her name softly, and then blinked and asked, "Someone is looking for you, do you want to see them?"
Mu Yulu's heart stirred. She vaguely guessed who the person was, but when she saw Mohe walk out from behind Xinyun, she couldn't help but tear up.
"It's been over a month already, why are you only coming back now?" She rushed over and hugged Mohe tightly, then looked her up and down: "Were you held up by pursuers? Are you injured?"
Mohe smiled and shook his head. Just then, the door was pulled open a little wider, and Xinyun stepped aside, revealing another figure hidden behind her.
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