Chapter 41 Even Anhe agreed with Li Ying's wild suggestion regarding the title conferment...
"What did you say?" Anhe asked, somewhat incredulous.
He had deliberately avoided thinking about why Zhao Liangxu had angered him. Only afterward did he learn that Lu Xuan had taught Zhao Liangxu martial arts because he had a relationship with the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, not because of what he had thought.
Zhao Liangxu was not a spy planted by Zhou Feng next to her.
But he was especially angry that day, and he spoke recklessly, wrongly accusing her and revealing the reason for his rift with Zhou Feng.
At least, Zhao Liangxu now knew the reason behind the two houses.
Now she says she wants to buy the house to the north.
She's really taking advantage of his kindness. Isn't she afraid of making him angry?
“I said, I want to buy that empty house to the north, I want to move out.” Zhao Liangxu observed An He’s expression and repeated her words.
"you!"
Why did she move out?
Oh, right, she probably doesn't sleep well day or night living in the An residence.
"You actually dare to bring that up? Do you look down on the An family?" He couldn't help but make a few sarcastic remarks.
Even the underfloor heating in the study couldn't warm Zhao Liangxu's heart. She was truly a cold-hearted and willful person. Perhaps she sensed the change in his attitude and became afraid? Disgusted?
Even if there's a possibility of another big argument, does she really have to bring this up now?
Anhe felt it was getting hotter and hotter, which annoyed and angered her.
With another person in the study, his blood and energy surged.
He ground his back teeth, remained silent for a moment without answering Zhao Liangxu, and simply said, "Go back."
Zhao Liangxu didn't expect Anhe to agree, but she was surprised that Anhe didn't slam the table in anger. She casually grabbed the pine resin, and her sleeves fell down to cover her slender hands.
Well, she did accept the pine resin after all, and Anhe could only console herself with that thought.
*
After resting for two more days, Zhao Liangxu finally decided to go to the palace to visit the Dowager Consort and Li Ying.
She asked a servant from the An family for a carriage. The servant, as if instructed beforehand, picked out a clean carriage and promptly handed it to Zhao Liangxu.
She didn't tell Anhe about this trip to the palace. Anyway, she would see him once she entered the palace. She figured Anhe would be by Li Ying's side again, acting as that treacherous eunuch who bewitched the emperor.
As usual, Zhao Liangxu first went to the Dowager Consort to say hello. After being chatted with the Dowager Consort for a while, she went to the Qianqing Palace on her own.
Walking down the street, she couldn't help but laugh. She was now living a life of going back and forth between two places: the palace of the Dowager Consort and the Qianqing Palace where Li Ying lived. Many people in the palace recognized her. She was quite a unique sight in the inner palace.
As Zhao Liangxu walked along the road, the sky was a smoky gray curtain. At this time of year, all the leaves had long since fallen, and with this sky, it truly lived up to the desolate appearance of winter.
Zhao Liangxu suddenly felt a slight coolness on the tip of her nose, and she looked up.
It started to snow gently.
The tiny white snowflakes reflected in Zhao Liangxu's eyes, and she couldn't help but reach out her hand to catch them.
The thin, hexagonal snowflakes melted into water droplets in Zhao Liangxu's hand, cool and refreshing, which made Zhao Liangxu inexplicably happy.
That's really great; she got through autumn into winter.
Knowing that she was seriously ill, she dared not let her body feel the winter brought by the snowflakes on such a cold day.
Winter even made her more melancholic, constantly worrying about whether she could survive the cold and merciless winter.
Now she can happily enjoy winter.
Zhao Liangxu's steps became lighter.
Salt stains the winter, yet we only know that spring will come.
Zhao Liangxu did not hurry like the other palace maids, so when she arrived at Qianqing Palace, there were already scattered snowflakes on her shoulders and hair.
After the eunuch from the Qianqing Palace went in to announce the news, Zhao Liangxu heard Li Ying's joyful voice from outside the hall.
"Quick! Quickly, let her in!"
Zhao Liangxu entered the hall and shook the snow off her head. An He was standing crookedly next to Li Ying. Today, he was wearing his usual black and gold python robe, and his face was covered with a bewitching powder.
Li Ying made a move to get up, but An He pressed her down: "Your Majesty, please mind your image."
He had no choice but to maintain a dignified imperial demeanor and instructed the palace servants: "If Zhao Liangxu comes, there's no need to announce her arrival. She can come in directly! You servants should also be more discerning. Zhao Liangxu is covered in snow; are you going to leave her waiting outside?"
The palace servants readily agreed.
Anhe glanced at the palace servants and ordered, "Did you hear what His Majesty said? Hurry up and bring over some cleaning supplies. Do you want His Majesty's prized minister to catch a cold?"
When Zhao Liangxu entered the palace, the snowflakes on her head melted into water, and when she touched them, they were all wet.
The maid handed her a towel to wipe her head, and Zhao Liangxu just wiped it haphazardly and called it a day.
"It's really rough."
Anhe cursed under his breath.
Zhao Liangxu had already sat down next to Li Ying to see what he was writing. Li Ying looked at Zhao Liangxu with a worried expression.
"Eunuch An said that I have learned a lot and cannot just talk about it on paper. I need to practice properly. Therefore, Eunuch An handed me the memorial about the caravan. Eunuch An, is Zhao Liangxu not an outsider?"
He also asked Anhe about it, fearing that Anhe might worry that this was a matter of state and could not be shown to Zhao Liangxu.
"It's nothing serious, Your Majesty can decide for yourself," Anhe reassured him in a calm voice.
He had already read and dealt with these memorials, so even if Li Ying had any different opinions, they were just opinions.
It is not yet Li Ying's turn to be a wise and diligent ruler.
Zhao Liangxu found it harmless to see.
She rested her injured arm on the low table to ease the pressure and curiously peered inside.
In such a large palace as the Qianqing Palace, three people of special status were staying. Zhao Liangxu and Li Ying were analyzing memorials. If the ministers saw this, they would probably scold them severely.
The one who truly made the decision was the eunuch An He. Zhao Liangxu, a person from an enemy state, actually had a say in state affairs, which made even civil officials exclaim, "This is child's play! The Southern Zhou Dynasty is doomed!"
"Zhao Liangxu, how is the injury on your arm? I heard from Eunuch An that it was quite dangerous, and it made me very worried for you."
Li Ying looked at her with concern. Zhao Liangxu was the only person he had ever confided in, and he was genuinely worried.
"It's just a minor injury. I am very grateful for Your Majesty's concern."
Li Ying tilted the memorial and continued, "That hateful traitor has actually entered the capital! I know you are a great contributor to this matter. Whatever reward you desire, I will certainly reward you handsomely."
He then adopted the demeanor of a tyrant, eager to try: "You just read the memorial, which said that if your status is not legitimate, the ministers will have to fabricate stories. Why don't I bestow upon you the title of princess of a different surname? With such great achievements, I'm sure they will have to restrain themselves from opposing me! Moreover, this way you will also have a dignified title in Southern Zhou. Let's see who in the streets will dare to speak recklessly then."
He brought up the matter of the princess from a different surname again.
Zhao Liangxu was startled. She discovered that An He, for the first time ever, did not object and seemed to be seriously considering the matter.
These two are insane.
“This might not be so bad,” Anhe said.
Li Ying was startled, and the brush he was using to review the memorials fell to the ground with a "clatter". Although he did have this idea, he also felt that this princess from a different surname was too outrageous. He had intended to maintain his image as a tyrant in front of An He, but he did not expect An He to actually consider it so seriously!
Zhao Liangxu sighed, unaware of An He's strange attitude these past few days.
She knows it very well.
She had been thinking about it for the past few days, and Zhao Liangxu finally attributed An He's gentle attitude to the fact that he still had some humanity and felt guilty towards her, which was why his attitude had improved.
Zhao Liangxu finally spoke up and refused the matter: "Let's forget about it. The princesses of the previous dynasty who were not of the same surname all had responsibilities and were all granted titles to marry for peace. Does His Majesty intend to use me for a marriage in the future? Besides, a princess is also called His Majesty's child. Wouldn't that be a difference in generation?"
Li Ying scratched her head: "That makes sense."
"Then what reward do you want? Although the two key people escaped, your trip wasn't in vain. You deserve a reward."
Zhao Liangxu's eyes darted around, and just then, the memorial that Li Ying had left on the table caught her eye. She said, "Then why don't you arrange some kind of position for me in the Ministry of Rites? I'd like to join in the fun of the merchant caravans next year." She was genuinely interested in the merchant caravans.
It happens to be once every five years, and she just happened to be there. How could she not be curious?
If one held a position within the Ministry of Rites, they could directly interact with caravans, which would be far more interesting than simply observing them from the street.
Anhe glanced sideways.
He wasn't surprised at all; he knew Zhao Liangxu was a wild spirit.
Li Ying felt he had a chance to prove himself, and said, "I happen to remember that there is a vacancy for the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Why don't we appoint you as the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices? It just so happens that the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is in charge of the Foreign Affairs Office, which is related to the Ministry of Rites' foreign affairs!"
An He closed his eyes and said, "Your Majesty has forgotten that the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices will be taking office soon. How could a fourth-rank official position be left vacant for no reason? Moreover, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is in charge of sacrifices, and the affairs of the Four Barbarian Tribes Office are just a side job, a trivial matter, and at most, it is only a minor one. If Your Majesty treats the position of Vice Minister so lightly and gives it to Zhao Liangxu, I'm afraid that soon there will be ministers shouting to purge the court of corrupt officials and come to force the emperor to abdicate."
He twirled his whisk and said, “I think it would be difficult to make Zhao Liangxu a clerk in the Ministry of Personnel, where she would be responsible for copying, transcribing, and checking documents. There are no barriers to entry. Besides, there’s no need for her to actually do these things. She can just use the title to get a closer look at the caravans. That’s already quite an achievement. Just this alone will probably cause those stupid officials to argue in court for days.”
Is there even a question? There are few examples of women serving as officials outside the capital in this era, let alone Zhao Liangxu's status. It's fortunate that the position of secretary is without rank, but even just being a secretary out of nowhere would cause a stir.
"Furthermore, the position of clerk can be either important or insignificant, depending entirely on His Majesty's opinion. If His Majesty values it, Zhao Liangxu will naturally be able to act with impunity in front of many people in the Ministry of Rites."
But since he gave the order, those foolish ministers had no choice but to accept it, no matter how much they opposed it.
Zhao Liangxu was completely confused. She really didn't understand the official structure and had too many questions. After picking and choosing, she asked, "What is the Siyiguan? What is the Zhukeqinglisi?"
Li Ying laughed heartily and clapped her hands: "I've met someone who doesn't understand. It seems I've learned quite well. The Siyiguan is a translation agency. When foreign merchants come to court, they speak a lot of gibberish. The Siyiguan is connected to the Hanlin Academy and is a place for training translators! The Zhuke Qingli Si is a department under the Ministry of Rites that is in charge of foreign affairs! It's really strange. Since you know that the Ministry of Rites is related to foreign affairs, why don't you know about the Zhuke Qingli Si?"
What else could Zhao Liangxu say? She couldn't very well say that all her knowledge about ancient times came from high school, and that it was already quite remarkable that she remembered the Six Ministries' connection to diplomacy, let alone what was under the Ministry of Rites.
"Oh, I see. You didn't pay attention in class when you were in school. No wonder." Li Ying felt she had found the reason.
Zhao Liangxu found Li Ying's words truly hateful.
hateful!
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Author's Note: A new chapter is about to begin.
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