My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1457 Core
However, drawing upon her management experience gained in the Marquis's residence and her own wisdom, she quickly adapted to the new environment. She diligently fulfilled her duties, managing the Shanggong Bureau with remarkable efficiency. From the training and assessment of palace maids to the allocation and supply of materials, she handled everything meticulously. At the same time, she actively promoted reforms, improving work efficiency and service quality, earning the recognition and praise of many in the palace.

However, great success breeds envy and resentment. Her outstanding performance aroused jealousy and resentment among some. Rumors spread behind her back that she had an ambiguous relationship with Chancellor Zhou Xing and was attempting to use her position for personal gain. When these rumors reached the emperor's ears, he became suspicious and ordered a thorough investigation.

Faced with the sudden crisis, Ling Xue remained calm and composed. She knew that panic would only lead to mistakes. She proactively approached the emperor and sincerely declared her innocence and loyalty. She explained in detail that her relationship with Zhou Xing was purely platonic, based on a shared love and exploration of scholarship and politics, and that there had been absolutely no transgression of etiquette. Furthermore, she presented her work records and reports since taking office, proving that she had consistently served the court diligently.

After the emperor sent people to investigate, it was found that, as Ling Xue had said, the rumors were nothing but nonsense. After this incident, the emperor trusted and valued Ling Xue even more, not only promoting her official rank but also giving her more power to participate in the discussion and decision-making of important state affairs.

As her status rose, Ling Xue's responsibilities also grew heavier. She deeply understood that she represented not only personal honor, but also the hope and role model for all women. She strived to balance the interests of all parties and actively promoted the implementation of policies that benefited national development and improved people's livelihoods. In her view, whether it was building water conservancy facilities to improve farmland irrigation conditions, promoting education to cultivate talent, or reforming the tax system to reduce the burden on the people, every matter was related to the rise and fall of the nation.

Thanks to her efforts, a fresh and pragmatic political atmosphere gradually took shape within the court. More and more insightful people began to support her reforms and join the ranks of those promoting national progress. Zhou Xing, as Prime Minister, consistently provided silent support. They cooperated seamlessly in court, working together to contribute to the prosperity and stability of the nation.

Years later, one spring day, Ling Xue stood atop the high walls of the palace, overlooking the bustling capital. Beside her stood Zhou Xing, his temples now streaked with gray. A gentle breeze stirred, causing her robes to flutter, mirroring the elegant figure she had seen upon first meeting him in the bookstore. Reflecting on the past, she was filled with emotion: "If I hadn't had the courage to take that first step, how could I have achieved what I have today?" Zhou Xing smiled at her and said, "It is your own talent and hard work that have brought you to where you are today."

By this time, Ling Xue was no longer the lonely and helpless widow of a marquis's family, but a highly respected court official. She proved through her own experience that women could also shine brightly in an era of male dominance. And the sincere affection between her and Zhou Xing, which transcended worldly views, became a beautiful story passed down through generations.

By chance, she found an unsent letter under A Yuan's pillow. The letter mentioned that a shepherdess on the grasslands beyond the Great Wall would kowtow towards the capital every full moon, a custom unique to the exiled branch of the royal family. Ling Xue's heart stirred; she seemed to have grasped some clues.

On the night the rebels besieged the city, the entire capital was plunged into chaos. Firelight illuminated the sky, and the shouts of battle were deafening. A-Yuan, still recovering from her illness, climbed the corner tower, holding the late emperor's edict to guard the city gate. The soldiers below, seeing the dragon and phoenix pendant around her neck, were greatly encouraged and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" It turned out that this jade pendant was the true token to mobilize the Dark Dragon Guard.

Inside the Taiji Hall, the atmosphere was extremely tense. The Empress Dowager, accompanied by a group of followers, had the young Crown Prince kidnapped and was attempting to seize the throne. At this critical moment, A-Yuan tore open the hem of her skirt, revealing a phoenix tattoo on her waist. This tattoo was a mark only members of the legitimate royal family possessed. Upon seeing this, the officials prostrated themselves, calling out, "Your Highness!" Seeing that all was lost, the Empress Dowager collapsed to the ground.

Zhou Xing stood atop the steps, gripping his blood-dripping sword, watching A Yuan approach step by step. Adorned in a phoenix coronet and wedding robes, she resembled a phoenix reborn from the ashes. Zhou Xing chuckled softly, "What I lack has never been an empress, but rather comrades-in-arms to share the throne." With that, he solemnly placed the imperial seal into A Yuan's palm.

At the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, the rising sun cast golden rays across the land. A-Yuan stood beside Ling Xue, receiving the homage of the people. The official presented her not with a phoenix seal, but with a tiger tally, symbolizing her commitment to protecting the empire alongside the emperor. Instantly, bells and drums resounded, and hundreds of birds paid homage to the phoenix—a truly magnificent spectacle.

When war broke out again on the border, Empress A-Yuan, now in full armor, rode out to war. She was valiant and decisive, leading her army to the battlefield. The enemy commander, seeing the Emperor and Empress riding side-by-side with their golden dragon banners fluttering in the wind, was astonished to find that the flames of war reflected in their eyes shone brighter than the stars. Under their leadership, the soldiers' morale soared, and they fought bravely against the enemy.

On the day of their triumphant return, auspicious hailstones fell before the Vermilion Bird Gate. Each hailstone contained a twin lotus flower pattern, as if a blessing from heaven for their love and their achievements. The historian recorded: In the first year of Zhaoyuan, the emperor and empress jointly reviewed the military tallies of the realm. From then on, they ruled the country hand in hand, ushering in a prosperous era, and their story has been passed down through the ages among the people.

Knowing fear and knowing how to persevere are the only ways to live a life without regrets. On the day the coffin was laid to rest, the whole nation grieved, and countless women, with their children, knelt along the long street, touching their foreheads to the ground in gratitude for the kindness shown to them.

Zhou Xing slumped in his gaming chair, his eyes glued to the computer screen, his fingers flying across the keyboard. The intense battle in the game sent his adrenaline soaring, oblivious to the deep night outside. Suddenly, his phone vibrated; it was his mother calling. He answered impatiently, interrupting her rudely before she could finish, "I know, I know, don't bother me while I'm playing!" and hung up. A short while later, a lawyer walked in with a thick stack of documents. Zhou Xing glanced at them casually, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes when he heard he had inherited a billion-dollar fortune. But then, he reverted to his usual carefree attitude. From then on, he squandered the money even more recklessly, spending his days either in internet cafes or staying home all night playing games.

The day of the family gathering arrived, and Zhou Xing, dressed in slovenly clothes and still half-asleep, walked into the hall. The relatives frowned at his appearance, and whispers filled the air. His father, his face ashen with anger, shouted, "Look at the state you're in! All you do is play games all day. How can you face your deceased grandfather?" Zhou Xing shrugged nonchalantly and even retorted a few words. His father nearly fainted from anger, and the surrounding relatives shook their heads and sighed.

Cousin Lin Yue couldn't stand it anymore and decided to find a way to help her good-for-nothing cousin. After some thought, she contacted her classmate Ling Xue. Ling Xue was a top student at school, excelling in both academics and conduct, and she also worked as a tutor in her spare time to earn her living expenses. Lin Yue felt that she was the perfect candidate and earnestly asked her to tutor Zhou Xing.

One sunny afternoon, the doorbell rang. Zhou Xing opened the door and saw a girl with a backpack and a cool expression standing there. It was Ling Xue, with fair skin, bright eyes, and a high ponytail, exuding an intellectual beauty. After politely introducing herself, she handed Zhou Xing a test paper. Zhou Xing looked at the densely packed questions with disdain, casually wrote a few lines, and threw the paper back. Ling Xue silently picked up the paper, carefully corrected it, and pointed out all his mistakes. Zhou Xing scoffed, "What's the use of this stuff? It's not as important as my equipment in the game." Ling Xue wasn't angry; she simply said calmly, "Knowledge can change your destiny; games are just temporary pleasure." Hearing this, Zhou Xing felt a surge of anger, but she intimidated him with her gaze.

The next day, Ling Xue arrived at the Zhou family home early. Finding Zhou Xing still fast asleep, she barged into his room and pulled him out of bed. Zhou Xing groggily opened his eyes, saw Ling Xue, and was about to get angry, but her serious expression intimidated him. Ling Xue had created a strict study plan for him, requiring him to get up on time every day, review his lessons, and preview new material.

Zhou Xing encountered significant difficulties while learning physics. The complex formulas and concepts gave him a headache, and he began to become irritable, deliberately disrupting the class. He threw experimental equipment everywhere and mocked Ling Xue for making the lessons too dry. Ling Xue wasn't deterred by his behavior. She calmly tidied up the equipment and then re-explained the concepts in a lively and engaging way. She even incorporated principles from games to help Zhou Xing understand the applications of physics in everyday life. Gradually, Zhou Xing became captivated by her explanations and listened attentively without realizing it.

By chance, Zhou Xing learned that Ling Xue worked every day to save money for her tuition. Curious, he secretly followed her to a bubble tea shop. Through the glass window, he saw Ling Xue's busy figure; her clothes were soaked with sweat, but she remained focused on her work. Zhou Xing was moved; for the first time, he realized that someone was working harder than him. Back in the classroom, his attitude subtly changed; he was no longer as resistant to studying as before.

However, his good fortune didn't last long. After learning he had a beautiful tutor, Zhou Xing's cronies began to harass him. One day, they stopped Ling Xue on her way home from school and made lewd remarks to her. Zhou Xing happened to be passing by and witnessed this. Without hesitation, he rushed to protect Ling Xue. In the chaos, his old injury flared up, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. But he gritted his teeth and refused to let the thugs get near Ling Xue. Finally, seeing the situation was turning against them, the thugs slunk away.

After that incident, the relationship between Zhou Xing and Ling Xue changed. They began to communicate more, and Zhou Xing gradually opened up. One late night, the two sat on the rooftop gazing at the stars. Zhou Xing, unusually, brought up his childhood memories, saying that he had once dreamed of becoming a scientist. However, since his parents' divorce, he had become self-destructive, addicted to video games. Ling Xue listened quietly, her eyes filled with understanding and encouragement. She told Zhou Xing, "The past isn't important; what matters is the present and the future. As long as you're willing to work hard, it's not too late."

In a school-organized science and technology competition, Ling Xue encouraged Zhou Xing to form a team. Zhou Xing hesitated at first, but with Ling Xue's support, he mustered the courage to sign up. Forming a team wasn't smooth; many classmates were unwilling to team up with him, thinking he was academically weak and unreliable. But Ling Xue firmly believed in his potential and proactively chose to team up with him. During competition preparation, they encountered numerous difficulties. Their design plans were repeatedly rejected, and their experiments failed repeatedly. However, Zhou Xing didn't give up. He used the strategic thinking he had cultivated in games to come up with some unique ideas. Ling Xue was responsible for turning these ideas into practical solutions. After countless trials and improvements, their project finally took shape.

To perfect the project, they stayed up late researching and conducting experiments. During this process, their teamwork grew increasingly seamless. Zhou Xing discovered that Ling Xue not only excelled academically but also possessed unwavering perseverance; Ling Xue, in turn, saw Zhou Xing's strengths—his creativity and courage. As time passed, a subtle affection quietly blossomed between them.

Just as they were giving their all in the science and technology competition, a crisis quietly descended. Zhou Xing's father's business failed, and the company faced bankruptcy. Creditors came knocking, demanding payment, and the atmosphere at home became extremely tense. His father was under immense pressure, and his health deteriorated. Seeing all this, Zhou Xing was filled with guilt and helplessness. He felt that as the eldest son in the family, he should share the responsibility. Therefore, he considered dropping out of school to work.

Upon learning this news, Ling Xue strongly objected. She found Zhou Xing and said seriously, "You can't give up your future because of temporary difficulties. Knowledge is the only way for you to change your destiny. Only through learning can you have the ability to help your family through this difficult time." Zhou Xing lowered his head and remained silent. He knew Ling Xue was right, but the inner struggle made it difficult for him to make a decision.

Meanwhile, anonymous posts suddenly appeared on the school forum, slandering Ling Xue for accepting tutoring for money. These rumors spread rapidly, and classmates pointed fingers at Ling Xue, plunging her into a maelstrom of gossip. Zhou Xing was heartbroken to see Ling Xue being wronged. He decided to find the culprit and clear her name. After some investigation, he discovered that it was his best friend who had spread the rumors out of jealousy. Zhou Xing was furious. He confronted his friend, and the two had a heated argument. In the end, his best friend realized his mistake, apologized to Ling Xue, and deleted the posts.

After months of hard work, the results of the science and technology competition were finally announced. Zhou Xing and Ling Xue's project won first prize! When they stood on the podium, enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Holding the trophy, Zhou Xing was moved to tears. At that moment, he felt the joy of success and the value of his efforts.