Chapter 457 Saving Xichun
Daiyu said solemnly, "Don't worry, sir. I will only guarantee his safety. If there is any evidence of his guilt, I will not protect him."
After careful consideration, the Minister had no choice but to release the man.
When Jia She returned to his residence, he was filled with shame and hid in the courtyard of the main house, refusing to come out again.
After this ordeal, everyone in the Rongguo Mansion held Daiyu in even higher esteem.
Grandmother Jia often sighed to everyone, "None of the men in our family are as knowledgeable as a young lady!"
This incident further strengthened Daiyu's resolve to run the girls' academy well.
Only by enabling women to read and understand principles and acquire a skill can their destiny be truly changed.
As the sun set, Daiyu stood at the highest point of the Rongguo Mansion, gazing at the gradually calming Ningrong Street.
In the distance, the gates of the Ningguo Mansion were tightly closed and sealed; closer by, the Rongguo Mansion was brightly lit and unharmed.
"What is Yu'er looking at?" Yuan Hongqu's voice came from behind.
Daiyu said softly, "I'm observing the rise and fall of dynasties, and the impermanence of life."
Yuan Hongqu stood beside her: "So we must work harder to empower more women to face these uncertainties."
Daiyu nodded, her eyes shining with determination: "What Granny says is right."
Daiyu had long anticipated that the Ningguo Mansion would be raided.
She had read the original novel long ago and knew that the Ningguo Mansion would suffer this fate. The Rongguo Mansion was saved from ruin by Jia Lian and his wife. They had tried to persuade Jia Zhen, but Jia Zhen was not one to listen to advice.
Over the years, the Ning family, relying on their hereditary titles, has committed numerous acts of corruption and bribery, such as forcibly seizing farmland and even secretly smuggling contraband with merchants from Southeast Asia.
Even more seriously, evidence of their dealings with Siamese spies was also discovered, which angered the emperor.
The verdict was handed down quickly: Jia Zhen and his son Jia Rong were exiled three thousand miles away to serve in the army on the frontier; their female relatives were confiscated as government slaves and sent to various places to work as maids.
Only Xichun was detained pending trial because she was still young and there was no evidence of her direct involvement in the crime.
When the news arrived, the Rongguo Mansion was filled with sorrow.
Although she deserved her punishment, they were still blood relatives, and Grandmother Jia cried so hard she almost fainted.
Daiyu felt a pang of pity, especially considering Xichun's aloof nature; if she were to become a government slave, she feared she wouldn't live long. She immediately wrote several letters, sending them to old acquaintances in the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, and also made a special request to see the Empress.
“I know Xichun,” the Empress sighed. “She is aloof and cold, and never concern herself with worldly affairs. However, the laws of the land are as solid as mountains, and I cannot directly intervene.”
Daiyu was prepared and presented a scroll of documents: "I have checked and found that Xichun studied at the Girls' Academy in her early years and can be considered a student of our academy. According to the new regulations of the court, students of the Girls' Academy are exempt from being confiscated as government slaves."
The students of the girls' academy will either become officials or masters, never slaves!
The Empress carefully reviewed the documents and indeed found Xichun's name on the register, indicating that she had enrolled in school three years before the incident.
"This..." the Empress pondered, "It is feasible. But what should be done with them after they are freed from being government slaves?"
Daiyu hurriedly said, "I am willing to vouch for her and send her to the most remote girls' official school. Firstly, it will preserve our sisterly bond, and secondly, she is indeed a promising talent."
The Empress finally nodded: "In that case, I grant your permission."
Daiyu was overjoyed and immediately kowtowed to express her gratitude for the emperor's favor.
Upon leaving the palace, Daiyu immediately began to complete the formalities.
She specially asked Yuan Hongqu to retrieve some rare medicinal herbs from her spatial storage to smooth things over with various parties; she also had Wang Xifeng withdraw a large sum of money from the pharmaceutical factory to bribe officials at all levels.
The most difficult part was dealing with the Ministry of Justice, where the Vice Minister in charge of the case was incorruptible and insisted on acting in accordance with the law.
Daiyu visited the door three times, but was turned away each time. On the fourth visit, she brought along outstanding students from the Women's Academy to request an audience.
“My lord,” Daiyu said, pointing to the women, “most of these children come from humble backgrounds. If it weren’t for the girls’ academy giving them this opportunity, they would probably have already fallen into prostitution. Although Xichun has a reputation for being from a family of criminals, she is indeed a promising scholar. Why don’t you give her a chance to reform herself?”
Looking at these vibrant young women, and then at Daiyu's sincere eyes, the vice minister finally relented: "I can be lenient, but someone must vouch for me. If Xichun makes any further mistakes in the future, the person who vouched for her will be punished as well!"
Daiyu replied without hesitation, "This humble woman is willing to vouch for you!"
On the day the formalities were completed, Daiyu went to pick up Xichun herself.
The former noblewoman was now dressed in coarse prison clothes, so thin that she was just skin and bones, but her eyes remained as cold and clear as frost.
"Fourth Sister," Daiyu said softly, "I've come to pick you up."
Xichun raised her eyes and said calmly, "Why bother, Sister Lin? With my sinful fate, I would only be a burden wherever I go."
Daiyu grasped her cold hand: "Don't talk nonsense. I've already made arrangements to send you to the women's official school in Sichuan. The scenery there is beautiful, perfect for studying and cultivating one's character."
A flicker of emotion crossed Xichun's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure: "Since it's Sister's arrangement, I'll go."
Before leaving, Xichun suddenly said, "Sister, do you know that I foresaw this day? Although I didn't participate in those sordid things in the Ning Mansion, I saw them all. Now, this ending is clean enough."
Daiyu felt a pang of sorrow and said softly, "Let's start over once we get to Sichuan."
After seeing Xichun off, Daiyu stood on the dock for a long time without saying a word.
Yuan Hongqu appeared beside her at some point: "Do you regret it? Was it worth it to use so much effort to save her?"
"worth!"
Daiyu nodded vigorously: "Sister Xichun...is different from the others in the Ning Mansion. She was just born in the wrong place."
Yuan Hongqu sighed, "I hope she understands your good intentions."
Xichun, far away in Sichuan, was initially indifferent to everything.
The women's official school was located in a remote mountain town, where conditions were harsh, and most of the students were women from farming families.
Seeing that Xichun came from the capital and had such a cold and aloof appearance, they dared not approach her.
Until that day, a flash flood occurred, and the official school was submerged.
Despite the danger, Xichun rescued a little girl who had fallen into the water and even used her only money to treat the girl's illness.
From then on, the students realized that this young lady from the capital was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and gradually became closer to her.
Xichun also discovered that although these farm women were illiterate, they were all clever and quick-witted, but lacked opportunities.
She began teaching them to read and write, and also translated the medical books that Daiyu sent into easy-to-understand dialects.
Gradually, Xichun became the most respected teacher in the official school.
Three years later, Daiyu received a letter from Sichuan.
The letter was written in Xichun's neat handwriting:
"To my esteemed sister Lin: After three years in Sichuan, I've come to realize the vastness of the world. Before, confined to my noble household, I saw only a small corner of the earth; now, teaching and nurturing, I feel life has meaning. These farm girls are all intelligent and eager to learn; given the opportunity, they are no less capable than the talented women of the capital..."
Attached to the letter was a painting by Xichun depicting a panoramic view of the women's official school: surrounded by green mountains, a group of women were reading and practicing calligraphy, each with a focused expression.
Daiyu looked at the painting, tears welling up in her eyes. Yuan Hongqu took the letter, read it, and smiled, "Sister Xichun, you've finally found your own path."
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