good season

Xia Dachuan was genuinely worried. It would be a good thing to become a female official. With Xiuxiu's family background, she did not meet the requirements for selection. However, if the Grand Princess specifically requested her and the Princess of Nanyang recommended her, the situation would be different. Xiuxiu would not only become a female official but would also be respected. No one would make things difficult for her, whether in the palace or the princess's residence.

However, female officials were not allowed to get married.

Even if they were to get married, they would have to wait until after they left the palace.

He could wait until Xiuxiu left the palace, but he still couldn't reach her level.

More importantly, he is still not entirely sure what Xiuxiu is thinking.

He felt that Xiuxiu treated him differently from others, but he never asked her; he didn't dare to ask.

He was just a guard with a predictable future. He wasn't particularly handsome or capable, and he was several years older than Xiuxiu. Xiuxiu always called him "Brother Xia." If he really only saw him as an older brother, then he was just being presumptuous.

Zhao Shiqing didn't even glance at him before getting into the carriage and going to the teahouse to listen to storytelling.

Xia Dachuan was listless for several days in a row, and Zhao Shiqing acted as if he didn't exist.

Upon seeing Xiuxiu, he pulled her aside and asked, "Do you want to become a female official? Or do you want to stay here and help my mother with her craft, the only difference being that you'll receive a salary?"

Xiuxiu lived in Tianshui Hutong and received a monthly allowance of ten taels of silver. If she needed to buy needles, thread, or materials for disguise, she could use the public account. However, this was different from having her own salary.

"Female officials?" Xiuxiu was taken aback. She often visited the princess's residence and had seen the female officials there. They were dignified, graceful, and highly learned. Every time she saw these female officials, she would be so envious that she couldn't take her eyes off them.

She never imagined that she would have the opportunity to become a lady-in-waiting.

Zhao Shiqing said with a smile, "You have a skill, and my mother also likes to do crafts with you. You can also take on apprentices and pass on your maternal family's unique skills."

In addition, my mother heard me talk about the women in Wu, and she went to the charity hall and saw many abandoned girls. My mother then wanted to set up a girls' school to teach homeless girls to read and write and to learn a trade, so that they could have a skill to rely on. In this way, they would not have to rely on their fathers, brothers, or husbands, and could live a life of plenty with their own hands.

However, we cannot accomplish this on our own; we also need the support of the imperial court. We will invite female officials of high rank from the palace to participate in the management.

Xiuxiu, you can think about it.

A flicker of joy flashed in Xiuxiu's eyes, but she quickly hesitated: "But Brother Xia is already twenty-three."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly covered her mouth, only to see Zhao Shiqing looking at her with a half-smile.

"Brother Xia? Which Brother Xia? Are there any people with the surname Xia around here? Oh, I remember now, Xia Dachuan's surname is Xia?"
Whether you become a female official or not has nothing to do with Xia Dachuan.

Could you perhaps be long-lost siblings?

Xiuxiu blushed furiously, her ears turning red: "No, no, it was me, it was me!"

Zhao Shiqing patted her shoulder: "So Xia Dachuan is already twenty-three. Don't worry, he's my bodyguard, and I'll take care of his marriage. He's from Liang, so I'll write a letter to my sister and ask her to select a few girls from Liang who are of good character and intelligent, and bring them to the capital. Xia Dachuan will definitely want to marry a beautiful woman from Liang."

Xiuxiu was stunned. Did Brother Xia like the girl from Liangdi? Brother Xia had never said that.
Zhao Shiqing felt pleased to see her looking so lost and confused.

"You and Xia Dachuan have been through thick and thin together, so don't worry. He won't forget his old friend after he gets married. He'll definitely invite you to his wedding banquet, as well as his full-moon celebration and first birthday party. I'll arrange everything. Just thinking about it makes me happy, hahaha!"

Zhao Shiqing walked away laughing. She was genuinely happy; seeing those two idiots so sad made her incredibly happy.

Xiuxiu tossed and turned all night, and early the next morning, she went to the open space behind the house with dark circles under her eyes.

Every day before dawn, the guards practice their skills here, training hard in the coldest winter and hottest summer, never slacking off.

Normally, Xiuxiu wouldn't come here. Not only her, but Zhao Shiqing and Lingbo also wouldn't come, because it's alright in winter, but at other times, the guards like to go shirtless.

But today, Xiuxiu mustered up her courage and came anyway, though she brought Da Pang with her.

There was a small door leading to the open space. Xiuxiu hid inside the door and let Da Pang out.

Although Xiuxiu and Da Pang cannot communicate verbally, they share hardships and have a tacit understanding.

Da Pang headed straight for Xia Da Chuan, and Xia Da Chuan's heart skipped a beat when he saw Da Pang.

When Da Pang comes to see him, it's either because Zhao Shiqing has something to do for him, or because Xiu Xiu has something to do.
This is my own home, and Zhao Shiqing is at home, so there's no need for Da Pang to call her. So it must be the latter, Xiuxiu has something to do!

Could it be that Xiuxiu ran into some bad guys when she went out early this morning?

Thinking of this, Xia Dachuan threw down the stone lock in his hand and followed Da Pang into the small door. When he saw Xiuxiu, he couldn't wait to ask, "Miss Xiuxiu, are you alright? Don't be afraid, I'm here!"

Xiuxiu pouted, then finally mustered her courage: "Brother Xia, I'm going to become a lady-in-waiting. When you get married, could you send me an invitation to the princess's residence? I... I've prepared the betrothal gifts."

Xia Dachuan was taken aback. Getting married? What kind of marriage?
"Um, I won't get married. No, what I mean is, when you leave the palace and want to get married, could you consider me? I know I'm not good enough for you, but I will try my best. Female officials usually leave the palace at twenty-five, so there are still seven years left. I won't slack off during these seven years, I definitely will."

“Okay, then let’s talk about it in seven years,” Xiuxiu suddenly said.

Xia Dachuan looked at Xiuxiu in disbelief: "Miss Xiuxiu, seven years from now, will you really consider me?"

Xiuxiu smiled: "Brother Xia, actually I don't know what I'm thinking. Before yesterday, I felt very safe and warm with Brother Xia by my side. But yesterday, the Second Miss said I could become a lady-in-waiting, and I'm really looking forward to it. I want to learn a craft, and I want many girls to learn crafts. Brother Xia, I can not only disguise myself, but I can also embroider, carve, make incense, and cook. I..."

Xia Dachuan nodded repeatedly: "I know, you have skillful hands."

Xiuxiu felt embarrassed and looked down at her hands. She did indeed have skillful hands, and her uncle also said that she was talented.

“Miss Xiuxiu, this is a good thing. If we can establish a girls’ school, it will definitely help many people.” Xiuxiu was a little excited. She had been homeless before, and it was the second young lady who saved her and took her in.

Lingbo said that she was also picked up by the second young lady. There are many children in Baihe Village, all of whom were taken back by the second young lady.

Now that the second young lady has become a princess, she can help more people. She also wants to follow in the footsteps of the second young lady and do her best to give those girls on the verge of despair a chance to live. She wants to make sure that they don't have to sell themselves into brothels or become concubines, but can create a bright future for themselves with their own hands and skills.

“Brother Xia, you don’t need to make any promises, and I won’t make any promises to you either. Seven years is a long time. We both have our own things to do. If you meet a girl you like, be sure to invite me to your wedding. If seven years from now, we are still as happy as we are today when we think of each other, then we can talk about marriage, okay?”

Xia Dachuan nodded subconsciously. He felt that Xiuxiu was right, but he was sure that he would never meet a girl better than Xiuxiu, and he would never like any other woman.

The development of these two people was completely beyond Zhao Shiqing's expectations. It was true that she and Wan Ruyi wanted to start a girls' school, and it was also true that they wanted Xiuxiu to join. However, she only mentioned the female official position to provoke Xia Dachuan. After all, the two had been exchanging glances for so long, but they had never made their relationship official. She was getting anxious, but she didn't expect that she would actually provoke him. However, she didn't control the timing well, and they even made a seven-year agreement.

"Xiuxiu, if you want to get married, even if you become a female official, you don't have to wait until you're twenty-five. My mother can put in a word and you can leave the palace. As long as the girls' school can get on the right track, you can stay at the girls' school even if you don't become a female official, and it won't affect the later things."

Xiuxiu shook her head: "Second Miss, this has nothing to do with whether or not I become a lady-in-waiting. I originally thought I liked Brother Xia, but after I learned that I could run a girls' school, all I could think about was this. I even felt that getting married was nothing compared to this. I have feelings for Brother Xia, but not like you and Young Master Xiao. Second Miss, am I fickle?"

Zhao Shiqing was amused by her: "What kind of fickle talk is this? Alright, I understand what you're thinking. It's just that you and your Brother Xia haven't reached the point of being deeply in love yet. This is between the two of you. You two should talk it out. I don't care anymore!"

Zhao Shiqing said she wouldn't care, and she was busy listening to audiobooks and writing reports.

However, she didn't need to write this memorial herself. Now Wan Ruyi had female officials by her side who could do it for her. She only needed to call Wan Ruyi and Xiuxiu, and they would express their thoughts one sentence at a time, and the female officials would write it perfectly.

Not long after, the memorial was presented to the new emperor, who, after reading it, ordered a copy to be sent to Wuji Temple.

By the way, the retired emperor did not return to the Longevity Palace, nor did he live there. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he returned to the Wuji Temple.

When the Emperor Emeritus learned that the memorial was submitted by Wan Ruyi and Zhao Shiqing, he immediately ignored Zhao Shiqing and praised Wan Ruyi sincerely.

Although he felt that girls' schools were unnecessary, he felt guilty towards Wan Ruyi, whose daughter was indifferent to everything. He didn't know how to make amends to her. Now that his daughter wanted to start a girls' school, he naturally supported her.

They offered their support, but didn't mention anything about the money.

The old man is very shrewd. Why else would the new emperor send a memorial to him? Isn't it all for his personal funds?
He won't give it to me.

When you get old, how can you manage without a few hundred thousand taels of silver to keep you safe?
Besides, he's just idling around anyway, and he's preparing to refine pills again.

Alchemy is an expensive business; it costs hundreds of thousands of taels of silver a year, which is not enough for him. Fortunately, he has a grandson who is the emperor.

The retired emperor acted immediately, and within two days, the alchemy furnace at Wuji Temple began to smoke.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shiqing sneered repeatedly.

Well, they've forgotten the pain once the wound has healed. They haven't had a few days of comfort before they start burning money again.

So, on a sunny morning, Zhao Shiqing took a bunch of IOUs personally signed by the Emperor Emeritus to Wuji Temple.

Zhao Shiqing was not short of money. She had the salary and fief of a princess, as well as subsidies from her maternal grandfather. Originally, considering the good behavior of the retired emperor a while ago, she did not plan to press for repayment. However, now that she saw that the retired emperor was going astray again, as his goddaughter, she felt it was her responsibility to give him a hand so that the old man would see the error of his ways.

The Emperor Emeritus was personally checking the precious medicinal herbs and cinnabar that had been purchased at great expense. When he saw Zhao Shiqing arrive, he was very pleased: "Qing'er, wait a few more days. When this batch of pills is opened, I will reward you with a few more."

Zhao Shiqing scoffed, her face full of disdain.

The Emperor Emeritus was already used to her expression and wasn't angry: "You're just a child, you don't understand. When you reach my age, you'll know the wonders of elixirs."

Zhao Shiqing looked him up and down: "You look a little unwell."

The retired emperor was startled and hurriedly asked Wang Daban to bring the mirror. Whether it was psychological or the bronze mirror needed polishing, the retired emperor felt that his face in the mirror was dull and he was far from the old immortal he had imagined.

"Why is this happening? Has my life come to an end?"

Zhao Shiqing sighed: "Do you remember when you were on the mountain? You were full of energy and moved with the speed of the wind. You are completely different from now. You look like you have aged more than ten years. Sigh, sigh, sigh!"

The Emperor Emeritus thought about it and agreed. When I was on the mountain, although I ate simple meals, I was in good health. Not only did I not get sick, but I was also full of energy, able to work and even argue with that shrewish woman, Aunt Sun.

I now live a life of luxury, yet I have no appetite. What's worse, I now look like a haggard old woman.

Zhao Shiqing had a eunuch bring over a table, and she laid out the IOUs one by one on the table. The Emperor Emeritus recognized the IOUs at a glance; they were all written by Zhao Shiqing, that wicked girl, through a combination of coercion and persuasion.

Zhao Shiqing said to Wang Daban, "Daban, do me a favor and calculate how much silver the Emperor Emeritus owes me."

Wang Daban suppressed a laugh. He knew that the Emperor Emeritus actually liked this adopted granddaughter very much, and he was happy to watch the grandfather and granddaughter bicker and play.

He then began to calculate seriously: "Your Majesty, you owe the Princess a full 250,000 taels of silver."

The retired emperor was stunned: "Two hundred and fifty thousand taels? That's enough for me to refine elixirs for a whole year."

Wang Daban: "Not only these, but also houses and shops, and oh right, a box of gems. If these were exchanged for silver, they would be worth at least 100,000 taels. So, all together, that's 350,000 taels."

The Emperor Emeritus was shocked. "I actually owe 350,000 taels of silver?"

Writing an IOU is fun for a moment, but that fun is fleeting. Waaah, I don't want to pay it back! (End of Chapter)