"Youngling!" a slightly aged and heavy voice echoed from the Taiji Hall.
The next moment, Zhang Ying slowly emerged from the hall, supporting the Sage who had been unconscious for nearly a month.
Eighteen years, as if yesterday.
He had grown old, yet she had changed little from back then.
Only those eyes, no longer filled with joyful love, no longer his beloved Jiao Jiao.
Wang Youling saw the Sage and was momentarily stunned, then she smiled.
Back then, when she left the palace, a soft sedan chair carried her away unnoticed. Now, returning to the palace, even the unconscious him was brought out. It was truly her honor.
Wang Youling curtsied, "Your humble concubine greets Your Majesty."
The Sage's gaze lingered on the woman before him, his emotions complex. Finally, he reached out to help her up, "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Though Wang Youling had been away from the palace for many years, her etiquette was impeccable.
She hailed from a noble clan; they were the ones who set these palace rules and rituals. These were ingrained in their very bones.
With the Sage awake, the ministers rejoiced, shouting long live the emperor. Some even proclaimed that the Empress, having survived a great calamity, had awakened the Sage upon her return, a most auspicious sign, divinely blessed for their dynasty.
...
The Empress's return to the palace did not involve a banquet, which indeed relieved the Sage's pressing concerns.
The Sage had long wished to establish official schools in various prefectures, but local support was lacking, his reach was too short, and he stood alone.
Previously, the Yao family had sought to borrow books from the Cui clan but had been met with countless closed doors, causing Yao Zhinian great embarrassment.
Empress Wang stated lightly, "Establishing official schools is a beneficial endeavor for the nation and its people. The noble clans should naturally support it."
The Empress's words quickly spread. Various families soon received the news. Qinghe also received a reply from the Cui clan.
In her letter, Cui Shi informed her father that Empress Wang had refused her audience, and since she could not meet the Empress, her words could not be conveyed.
Soon, the various families submitted memorials, voluntarily donating books, personnel, and resources, giving their full support to the court's endeavor to establish official schools.
Xie Jiayan was to depart for Jiangzhou to establish a school soon. Empress Wang smiled upon hearing this. He wished for her to leave the palace and experience the vastness of the world; she also wished for him to be far from the capital and live a peaceful life.
Yu Mingyue had not expected the bloody conflicts described in the books to be so easily resolved by Empress Wang.
Indeed, the plight of the Wang family was witnessed by all the clans. Although some still harbored thoughts of resistance, who among them was not fearful? As long as it did not come to an outright confrontation, it was best to maintain the status quo.
They were not supporting the Sage; they were giving Empress Wang face.
Though the Wang family was gone, the noble clans remained.
Yu Mingyue was also preparing to depart for Qinghe. Before leaving, she visited Luo Lingyi.
Most of the poison in Luo Lingyi's body had been neutralized. The remaining toxins required daily medicinal baths for another year.
Her complexion had improved significantly, but after such a severe illness, she still appeared somewhat frail.
"Sister, do not worry and go. Lord Xie has left the prescription. I only need to take daily medicinal baths. Your words that day deeply touched me. Women have always had a difficult path, and if I can do something for women everywhere, I am willing. If you ever need me in the future, your sister will go through fire and water for you," Luo Lingyi said earnestly.
After experiencing such a near-death ordeal, there was nothing she wouldn't trust her with.
"Sister, have you made up your mind?" Yu Mingyue had previously advised her, suggesting she might use this opportunity to decline the marriage. The palace was truly not a good place.
Luo Lingyi nodded. "The more she acts this way, the more I want to secure this position. Sister, I do not want this position to avenge the Luo family. I simply do not want to lose, to see someone like her achieve her ambitions through despicable means and disregard human lives."
She thought of her Luo family, founding officials, her mother a princess of the Great Wei. She did not want to live a life of cowardly subservience.
She had already died once; there was nothing to fear.