"Having been caught in the rain myself, I wanted to try holding an umbrella for others, though I know it was a bit presumptuous of me."
Ye Zhen raised her eyes and smiled gently, "Although I was abandoned, I met my master, my aunt, the nuns in the nunnery, and all sorts of people who helped me."
To be honest, Your Majesty, if the charity hall is profitable, I would like to raise funds to build a school, one that poor families can afford to pay tuition for, regardless of gender.
The nuns of the temple were of great help in raising these children; they had entered the Buddhist order for various reasons.
Many of them possess remarkable skills, yet they are overlooked because society values a woman's virtue in her lack of talent.
"But Your Majesty, all people in this world, regardless of gender, are His Majesty's subjects. Women are protected by His Majesty just like men, and should repay His Majesty in the same way as men."
Ye Zhen also had his own selfish motives.
She not only had to support the children, but she also had to bring the nuns to the forefront.
Especially the abbot of the temple.
The abbess, who had exhausted herself trying to send her child out of the nunnery in her previous life, eventually passed away while chanting sutras in a fire. She should have been a woman skilled in both literature and martial arts, but due to infighting in the inner quarters, she suffered a miscarriage and became infertile for life, and was abandoned by her husband's family.
She was disliked by her maternal family and brought shame upon the family. In the end, she had no choice but to become a nun and wasted her life in the nunnery. In her previous life, she had died a tragic death.
These women are clearly stronger than many men, and they should also find their own value while contributing to the country.
The Empress paused for a moment, then smiled, "You said the same thing to me many years ago."
However, Ye Jinghong was more direct; she advocated for gender equality, believing that women could also hold up half the sky.
In a male-dominated world, they viewed women as their possessions and wished they could confine them to their homes.
They find it harder to accept women who depend on them, who are their equals, or even more powerful than them.
Therefore, back then, she faced great difficulties in promoting women's medical practice.
Ye Zhen said, "I was also influenced by my aunt."
The Empress nodded. "Alright, I grant your request. You can have Su Mama handle the specific details."
Su Mama was a female official in Fengyi Palace and one of the Empress's confidantes.
The Empress thought that although it was difficult to promote women to practice medicine, it had been successful in the end, so she would give it another try.
"I didn't get to see those children properly last time at the Imperial Estate. If you have time, take them to the palace to play."
Children from ordinary families cannot enter the palace so easily. Ye Zhen knew that the Empress intended to promote Sui Sui and the others, so she quickly expressed her gratitude.
The Empress was not a talkative person. Then Su Mama and Ye Zhen discussed the details, and she listened quietly from the side, occasionally offering a word or two of advice.
Upon learning of the movements at Fengyi Palace, Xie Tingzhou instructed his attendants to take Helian Qing to practice martial arts.
The child was tired during the day, so he went home and slept as soon as he saw a pillow, which wouldn't interfere with his time with Ye Zhen.
Helian Qing was unaware of his thoughts, only feeling that it was too hard. He protested, "Even my grandfather never made me practice martial arts like this."
His grandfather's only request of him was that he grow up well and live a good life.
He came to the capital on important business. If it was just to learn martial arts, he could have just stayed in the border town and learned from his grandfather.
"That's why you were kidnapped by human traffickers last time."
Xie Tingzhou casually pinched his sore spot, "If you inherit the title in the future, and the two armies clash, the Xiliang army will laugh at you for disgracing the Helian ancestors, and your grandfather will be very embarrassed."
"I'm not that bad, I was just careless last time."
His martial arts skills are already considered good among his peers.
Xie Tingzhou glanced at him indifferently, "The princess is exceptionally skilled in martial arts, and she prefers men who are stronger than her."
Having said that, he left Helian Qing behind and went to the Imperial Study.
Helian Qing asked his attendant, "Is he trying to fool me? I have a feeling he is."
But being so young, he couldn't see that something was wrong.
Xie Tingzhou's current follower is Yu Nie, who was also one of the teenagers who saved their master with Xing Ze back then.
Over the years, he had been secretly cultivating power for Xie Tingzhou. When Xie Tingzhou decided to return to the Eastern Palace, he summoned him.
Yu Nie shook his head seriously, "Young Prince, His Highness is kind-hearted and would never deceive a child."
His Highness cares deeply for Prince Dingyuan and is also concerned about the future of the Prince Dingyuan's mansion, which is why he has painstakingly cultivated you.
His Highness said that after finishing martial arts training, one should go to his study to study military strategy. He will endure hardship, and by then he will surely impress the Princess and bring joy to Prince Dingyuan.
Helian Qing cared most about his grandfather, and secondly about Ye Zhen, and he was also at an age where he was very concerned about his reputation.
Success was once again fooled by Yu Nie.
Inside the Imperial Study, only the Emperor and Chen Banjun were present.
After bowing, Xie Tingzhou made a request he had never made to the emperor before: "Father, may I speak with you alone?"
The emperor looked up from the memorial and glanced at the crown prince. Was this his crown prince?
The face looked familiar; it was indeed his son.
His mind went blank for a moment, and he looked at Chen Banjun in disbelief. Chen Banjun nodded slightly at him.
Oh, it's confirmed, Old Chen. It's not a dream.
It was really his son who wanted to talk to him.
say what?
Want to have a heart-to-heart talk?
Having heart-to-heart talks is great; many close relationships begin with them.
As intelligent as the Crown Prince is, he must know that the prince is not a bad stepfather and wants to improve his relationship with him.
Suppressing his joy and barely managing to bring a smile to his face, the Emperor waved to Chen Banjun, "All of you, leave. I have state affairs to discuss with the Crown Prince, and no one is allowed to disturb me."
"yes."
Chen Banjun and his men respectfully withdrew.
The emperor gestured for the crown prince to sit down opposite him at the table, picked up his tea to conceal his true feelings, and asked casually, "What do you want to say to me?"
Unexpectedly, Xie Tingzhou asked, "Isn't the Emperor my real father?"
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