"Yang, don't you think he's incredibly audacious?" The Emperor suddenly called on Yang Cui's name. "What do you think if I were to bestow Qiu Mingxuan upon him as his wife?"
Yang Cui knelt before the Emperor: "I cannot disobey the Emperor's decree, so I have no choice but to divorce my husband."
Cen Xiao's heart tightened, and he immediately said, "Godfather, my wife is timid, please don't frighten her."
"Look at you, so spineless!"
Knowing that the Emperor was not truly angry, the Empress stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, General Cen has always been indifferent to women. Now that he has finally found someone who cares for him, let's leave them alone."
"I would like to intervene, but do you think you can? I haven't said or done anything yet, and you've already protected me and labeled me a tyrant. Humph."
Hearing this, Yang Cui breathed a sigh of relief. She was really worried that the emperor would meddle in other people's business. But the emperor's orders could not be disobeyed, and both thunder and rain were expressions of imperial favor. If it was a marriage decree, she really couldn't refuse.
Fortunately, thankfully.
"What's the deal with Hope Academy?" The Emperor asked gently, his previous serious expression replaced by a warm one.
"Your Majesty, I have made some money in cooperation with the Star Gazing Tower. I wanted to do something for my hometown, so I set up the Hope Academy..." Yang Cui then truthfully told him about the current situation of the Hope Academy and a future plan.
After hearing this, the Emperor and Empress greatly admired Yang Cui.
"The idea is not bad. Now that the academy has been established, I hope you will pay more attention to it," the Emperor said. "I think this boy is quite smart. He will start studying in the Southern Study from the day after tomorrow. Boy, I am waiting for you to be ranked as a first-rank official."
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."
The Southern Study was where the princes and grandsons of the emperor studied. Yang Cui was somewhat worried when the emperor suddenly asked Yuan Qiu to study with the princes and grandsons.
The Emperor and Empress were probably very satisfied with Yang Cui and the children's performance, and they rewarded them with many things before they left.
On the way back, Yang Cui mentioned that Yuan Qiu was going to the Southern Study. Cen Xiao had military power and should have kept his distance from the princes and grandsons of the emperor to avoid suspicion.
As his nephew, Yuan Qiu was one with him. Once he went to the Southern Study, he would inevitably have to deal with the princes and grandsons of the emperor.
"Don't worry about this matter. The Emperor attaches great importance to the education of the princes and grandsons. The teachers in the Southern Study are first-rate scholars."
It is necessary to avoid suspicion, but we cannot completely cut off contact. Qiuqiu also needs to grow up. Adult princes have already gone out to establish their own residences, and their residences have their own officials such as the Prefectural Magistrate, and they are not in the Southern Study.
Therefore, the princes and grandsons of the emperor in the Southern Study are all quite young, so don't worry. Besides, someone who aspires to rise to the highest rank through their own efforts wouldn't even dare to study in the Southern Study; they might as well go back to farming.
Hearing this, Yuan Qiu retorted, "Who says I wouldn't dare? Godmother, don't worry, I can do it!"
"Worrying won't help. The emperor's orders cannot be disobeyed. Be careful." After discussing Yuan Qiu's matter, Yang Cui asked Cen Xiao, "What should we prepare for our trip to our enemy's place tomorrow?"
Yang Cui and Cen Xiao did not intend to associate with Qiu Mingxuan, but Qiu Tianyun was Cen Xiao's godfather and had not wronged them so far. Therefore, it was only right that they should visit him now that they had returned.
"I've already had it prepared, so don't worry."
When they returned to the general's residence, it was already past noon.
Yang Cui and the children were starving.
The food in Kyoto doesn't quite suit their tastes, so today's meals were prepared by Granny Zhuang and Baolan.
The kitchen staff originally wanted to show off their skills to Yang Cui, the newlywed lady, but they didn't expect to have no chance at all.
Qiao Mai couldn't help but say to them, "Madam doesn't trust us. We haven't sold ourselves into slavery. I wonder if she'll kick us out?"
"I don't think so..."
“Sister Qinghua, nothing is impossible. I’ve heard that this lady is not easy to get along with. She’s from the countryside and is very unreasonable. Last year, Miss Qiu from the Duke’s Mansion went to see the General, but she was reportedly sent back by the lady. Our General’s Mansion is full of the old, weak, sick and disabled. Do you think she’ll let us eat here for free?”
"We're not idle at all," Qinghua said without batting an eye. She was the wife of Xu Da, a lame old soldier in the general's mansion, and had been there for a year and a half.
Qiao Mai scoffed, "Sister-in-law Qinghua, how much work do you do every day? Others may not know, but we certainly do."
Upon hearing this, everyone began to worry.
There were hardly any able-bodied people in the general's mansion, and since the mansion had been without a master for most of the year, they were basically idle. The only thing they were busy with was growing vegetables in the back garden instead of flowers, and raising chickens and ducks. If they were kicked out, how would they survive?
"Qiao Mai, stop talking nonsense here. I believe the general's judgment is correct." The speaker was Xiao Wu, Cen Xiao's former cook. During the war, he was hit on the leg by a rock thrown by the enemy and had to retire from the army.
“That’s not necessarily true,” Qinghua said. “Since ancient times, even heroes have found it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman. I’ve heard that the general is extremely fond of his wife. If she were to whisper sweet nothings in his ear, the outcome would be quite different.”
"Then... what do we do?" The others started to panic.
“If Madam is going to do that, she’ll have to risk her reputation.” Qinghua said with a sneer. “If she really kicks us out, we’ll make a scene. Then let’s see where she puts her face. Humph.”
This was exactly the effect Qiao Mai wanted. Seeing that she had achieved her goal, she swayed her hips and left with a smile on her lips, leaving the others worried.
At this time, Yang Cui was unaware of these things. After lunch, Bao Lan, Granny Zhuang, and Xi Hongmei told them one by one what they had seen in the mansion that day.
“Madam, I’ve heard that there’s a woman named Qiao Mai in the manor who seems to have feelings for the General. Her brother, Qiao Shu, is currently the steward of the manor. Before you came, he was the one in charge of everyone in the manor,” Xi Hongmei said. “Madam, you should be careful.”
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