Chapter 83 South of Yunzhong County, an empty...
In the south of Yunzhong County, inside an empty building, craftsmen were busy going back and forth.
"Why did you suddenly decide to build a library?" Feng Ciyan and Feng Mian stood under the eaves, watching the bookshelves gradually taking shape inside the library.
"It wasn't exactly a sudden realization. In fact, I noticed it within the first few days of my arrival: far more children from the North were joining the army than studying for the imperial examinations."
"The North is harsh and cold, and its literary culture has never been as flourishing as that of the South. Since ancient times, there has been mutual disdain between scholars from the North and the South. Moreover, the North is frequently in turmoil, and having weapons in hand is perhaps the key to their sense of security. Do you really expect that a few academies will encourage more children from the North to take the imperial examinations?"
"Studying is for understanding principles, not just for passing the imperial examinations. Even great generals need to learn military strategy. Where are there so many geniuses who can command armies like gods? I will set up more schools so that children in the north can have books to read and teachers to learn from. Whether they pursue literature or military careers in the future, their foundation will always be solid."
Feng Mian looked at Feng Ciyan with his hands behind his back, a sly smile playing on his lips: "When you're on campaign with your father, you need to be literate to read military reports."
Feng Ciyan chuckled and nodded, saying, "I've learned my lesson, Your Highness. I was narrow-minded."
As they were talking, Huaihua hurriedly walked in from outside, carrying several account books, her forehead beaded with sweat. She handed the account books to Wuliu, then reported on the workshop's recent progress to Fengmian. As she prepared to take her leave, her envious gaze finally slipped undisguisedly onto the burgeoning library.
"Is this house going to be used to store books all the time?"
"yes."
"How wonderful, so many books!" She lowered her head with a hint of disappointment and regret. "The book I'm using to learn to read is the one Miss Liu gave me."
Feng Mian raised his hand and lightly patted her hair with his fingertips. "Want to read more books?"
"Yes! Of course I want to!" Huaihua blurted out, her eyes sparkling.
“The Women’s Academy is also under construction, but it’s not here.” Feng Mian’s eyes curved slightly. “I’ve heard that there are several highly learned female tutors in the capital who specialize in teaching young women. I’ve already asked someone to help me inquire whether they would be willing to come to Yunzhong County to teach. At that time, the academy will not only be a place for reading, but also a place where many courses can be offered.”
Huaihua was stunned, hardly believing her ears: "Women...women can sit in the school and study openly?" Her voice trembled slightly, "I used to sneak out of the school window to learn a few words, but the teacher found out and scolded me severely, saying that women should learn embroidery, cooking, and being good wives and mothers instead of studying..."
Feng Mian shook her head: "Then the teacher you encountered must be a pedantic person whose brain has been ruined by reading. I was personally taught by my uncle since I was a child, and he never said anything about women not being able to study. Do you think these people can suppress His Majesty?"
Looking into Feng Mian's clear eyes, Huaihua felt a surge of warmth in her chest and nodded heavily, "The princess is right!"
The firefly behind couldn't help but peek out and say, "When the princess goes to study, we also accompany her. So why can't we study? When you go back, you must tell everyone that when the academy opens in the future, they must all come and support us."
"Yes!" Huaihua responded solemnly, then took her leave excitedly, her steps much lighter.
Feng Ciyan thought that although he disliked Emperor Jiayu, he had to admit that the emperor seemed to be quite good at taking care of children.
Feng Mian, no longer wanting to stay in the building and disrupt the workers' work, turned around and led everyone away.
As soon as she stepped out of the building, she saw many people peeking at her.
She stopped and looked over confidently. "Do you all have something to say to me?"
Several commoners exchanged glances and approached together. An old man rubbed his hands and asked hesitantly, "Princess... how have you and His Highness the Crown Prince been lately? Have... have you had some unpleasantness?"
Feng Mian was taken aback by what they wanted to say and was momentarily stunned, unable to speak. The people in front of him immediately thought they had guessed correctly and their faces showed worry.
"Don't you know what kind of temperament your Crown Prince is?" Feng Ciyan, who was always eager to stir up trouble, crossed his arms and spoke coolly.
Oh dear, it really is His Highness's fault!
A kind-looking woman quickly spoke up for Baili Xunzhou: "His Highness may have a cold exterior, but he has a very kind heart! Princess, if you have any misunderstandings, you must sit down and talk it out. What young couple doesn't bicker?"
Feng Mian was both amused and exasperated. Just as she was about to explain, a little girl with her hair in two buns squeezed to the front, looked up at her timidly, and asked, "Your Highness, will you stay in our Northern Frontier forever? Even if... even if you're not with His Highness the Crown Prince anymore, will you still stay?"
The little girl's eyes widened nervously. Feng Mian found it amusing and leaned down to ask with a smile, "What if I don't stay?"
Upon hearing this, the little girl became flustered, her tongue almost slurring as she frantically tried to organize her thoughts: "Where are we going? Remember... could you... take us with you?"
Several teenagers peeked out from behind the little girl, gazing longingly at Feng Mian.
Feng Mian found it amusing yet heartwarming, and said softly, "Don't worry, I'll stay."
Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and then someone tried to smooth things over, saying, "Oh, why are you saying such discouraging things? The Princess and the Prince will surely live happily ever after. Of course, we all support the Princess!"
"That's right, Princess. Even if you quarrel with the Crown Prince, don't be afraid, we will protect you!"
"Alright, alright, then I thank you all in advance, thank you very much." Feng Mian replied to the people's kindness with a suppressed smile, and saw them off one by one.
Feng Ciyan watched from the side and said with a leisurely smile, "See? The will of the people is clear, and no one is on Baili's side."
"Go ahead and nitpick." Feng Mian glanced at him. "If it weren't for the Crown Prince and the Prince guarding the borders and keeping the Northern Frontier at peace, how would I have had the opportunity to do all these things?"
"Alright, alright, I won't talk about him anymore." Feng Ciyan shook his head helplessly. "By the way, you'll be coming with me later..."
Before he could finish speaking, a figure came running from the street corner, one hand pressing down on the fluttering official robe, looking anxious and disheveled. It was Lu Mingzhu.
"Lord Lu!" Feng Mian called out to him, "What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"
Lu Mingzhu stopped in his tracks upon hearing the sound. Seeing it was Feng Mian, he breathed a long sigh of relief, propping himself up on his knees and panting, "Your Highness! Thank goodness, you're still here..."
He took a breath and explained with a bitter face: "When I went out today, the carriage had only gone a few steps when the wheel suddenly came off. Fortunately, I hadn't gone far and immediately found someone to repair the carriage. But then the horses pulling the carriage ate something bad and started having diarrhea right there in the street... I was afraid of missing the time the princess invited me, so I had to come on foot."
Feng Mian was completely confused. Had she missed the time she was supposed to invite? She hadn't invited anyone today.
She subconsciously glanced at Feng Ciyan beside her, only to see a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "Oh, it was a post I made in your name."
Feng Mian sensed something was wrong, took two steps closer, and asked in a low voice, "What are you going to do?"
“The previous measures were just scratching the surface, not really helping. In my opinion, it’s time for a strong dose of medicine.”
An ominous premonition enveloped Fengmian.
Inside the manor on the other side, Cheng Lixu crossed his arms and looked at Gu Chunwen, who had come to pick him up for the banquet, hesitating to speak.
The man before him, Gu Chunwen, stood tall and elegant. He was not wearing official robes, but rather a light blue Hangzhou silk robe, with a black palace sash around his waist, from which hung a fine white jade pendant. His hair was tied up with a bamboo-shaped white jade hairpin that gleamed with a warm luster. Standing there, he was like a living ink painting, utterly refined and unparalleled.
Although it was low-key and understated, not ostentatious, it still gave Cheng Lixu a sense of "a peacock spreading its tail feathers".
Gu Chunwen: "How much longer are you going to stand here and stare at me?"
Li Chengxu stopped speaking and then said, "...You're dressed like this, you..."
He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Your intentions are as clear as day!"
Gu Chunwen glanced at him, not surprised that he had seen through her, and said nonchalantly, "So what? I'm not afraid, what are you worried about?"
Cheng Lixu looked around nervously, fearing that someone might be overheard, and quickly pulled the person into the carriage, whispering, "Don't be silly, do you really want to become the princess's gigolo?"
Gu Chunwen raised an eyebrow, deliberately feigning a thoughtful expression, which caused Cheng Lixu's pupils to widen in shock before he slowly said, "Who said you have to be a gigolo?"
“I knew Brother Gu wasn’t the kind of person who couldn’t see things clearly…”
"Being a guest in someone's boudoir wouldn't be bad either."
The carriage rolled over a protruding stone, and Cheng Lixu swayed and fell off the seat, grimacing as he bumped his head. "You don't even want a title... No, that's not the point. You're so young, with a bright future ahead of you. Why do you have to pick a peach blossom from someone else's garden?"
"Besides, they haven't even stretched the branch out in front of you and forced you to pick it!"
Gu Chunwen rested his chin on his hand and looked outside, ignoring Cheng Lixu's words. Cheng Lixu was indeed right, but he wasn't there to pick flowers today. He had seen all the little tricks Feng Ciyan had been playing these past few days, and he was naturally happy to add fuel to the fire if he could make things difficult for Baili Xunzhou.
He was eager to see Baili Xunzhou's expression tonight.
As dusk deepened, Chu Jingqi was extremely busy beside a lakeside pavilion in Yunzhong County.
"Over here! Move the flowerpots a little to the left!" He directed the servants to arrange the pots of newly blooming tuberoses, then turned back to check if the octagonal silk gauze flower and bird lanterns hanging under the eaves were lit, and continued to direct the servants to work, "And this gauze curtain is too thick, remove two layers, we need to create a hazy effect!"
Baili Xunzhou stood in the pavilion, looking at the increasingly extravagant setting before him, his brows furrowing slightly: "Young Marquis..."
Chu Jingqi looked at him with a hurt expression, and Baili Xunzhou changed his tune: "Ninth Brother, isn't this going a bit too far?"
He originally just wanted to find a quiet and elegant place to have a good talk with Feng Mian.
"Oh, Xiao Baili, you just don't understand!" Chu Jingqi leaned over, took his hand, and said with the air of someone who had been there all along, "The atmosphere is the most important thing! When the lights are swaying, the fragrance of flowers is floating, and the water is shimmering, and you look at her with deep affection... it will definitely make all the difference!"
After a moment's hesitation, Baili Xunzhou decided to trust Chu Jingqi's arrangement. As the Ninth Brother, he would certainly understand Feng Mian's preferences better.
Just then, four or five people, seemingly out of nowhere, walked by in a group, their whispers drifting faintly on the evening breeze.
"...Have you heard? The princess is hosting a banquet at her residence today, saying she's going to choose male concubines!"
"Really?"
"I saw Lord Gu dressed in his finest attire!"
"Not only that! I've heard there are quite a few other talented young men as well. They all came from the capital with the princess's entourage, and His Majesty carefully selected them for her..."
Bai Lixunzhou's ears instantly caught the words "select male concubines," and his heart sank.
Chu Jingqi overheard their conversation, and at first, he was taken aback. Then, he couldn't help but laugh, slapping his thigh and saying, "You know what, this really sounds like something my royal uncle would do! He's quite the character towards my little cousin..."
Before he could finish speaking, Baili Xun's boat had already sped away like a gust of wind.
Inside the flower hall of the princess's mansion, the soft sounds of string and bamboo instruments filled the air, along with the fragrant aroma of tea.
Feng Mian sat upright in the main seat, looking at the several young people below who could indeed be called "talented men", as well as Gu Chunwen, who looked calm and composed as if he really came to the banquet, and Lu Mingzhu, who looked a little uneasy. The guilt he felt for deceiving her grew stronger and stronger.
She sat for only a moment before she could no longer feel at ease and suddenly stood up.
Gu Chunwen, sitting below, cast a slightly surprised glance at him.
Feng Ciyan, standing to the side, lazily turned his head and raised an eyebrow: "The show has only just begun, where are you going?"
Feng Mian paused slightly and said softly, "He will definitely come. But it's not good for me to test him in this way."
She looked out at the deepening night, a hint of regret in her eyes: "If it were me, I would feel heartbroken and in his shoes. Putting myself in his shoes, I shouldn't have let him suffer like this."
As soon as she finished speaking, she lifted her skirt and quickly walked outside.
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