"I already knew about this matter," Xue Zi Ning said calmly.
Wen Yu Xi was taken aback. "You knew?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Yes."
Wen Yu Xi put down his chopsticks. "Your Majesty, don't you want to find him?"
"Why do you ask?"
Wen Yu Xi's eyes dimmed considerably. "I thought Your Majesty would go find him."
"After experiencing so much, sometimes that feeling doesn't seem as important as one thinks."
Wen Yu Xi looked up at the Empress. The Empress at this moment had an exceptionally dim gaze, giving people an indescribable feeling.
He reached out and took the Empress's hand. "Your Majesty, your subject will always be by your side, never leaving you."
Xue Zi Ning merely smiled. "He said the same thing before, but! Times change, and everything has changed."
"Your Majesty, your subject will not leave you, I won't."
"Let's eat!" Xue Zi Ning said.
After eating, Xue Zi Ning went to review memorials, while Wen Yu Xi stayed to take care of Xue Xing Yue and Xue Xing Chen.
"Uncle Wen, don't be discouraged. Mother is actually very easy to win over. She..." Xue Xing Yue whispered to Wen Yu Xi.
Wen Yu Xi nodded. "Little one, go to sleep. Uncle Wen knows."
It was late. Wen Yu Xi watched as the two little ones fell asleep, then got up and walked out of the inner chambers. By the table in the outer hall, Xue Zi Ning was already slumped there. He walked over, took the cloak from the side, and draped it over her.
Xue Zi Ning woke up and looked at him. "You haven't left yet?"
"The two young princes have just fallen asleep," Wen Yu Xi said.
"Sit down!" Xue Zi Ning said.
Wen Yu Xi nodded and sat down. He saw a memorial in front of Xue Zi Ning and couldn't help but ask, "Is there another difficult matter to resolve?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "The court wishes for me to take many consorts."
Wen Yu Xi was not surprised. Emperor Yun's whereabouts were unknown, which gave the ministers who already had objections to the Empress's vow of a lifetime with one person more excuses.
Now that Emperor Yun was gone, did the Empress still insist on a lifetime with one person?
"Your Majesty, you don't wish to take consorts?" Wen Yu Xi asked.
Xue Zi Ning shook her head. "I don't."
"Your Majesty..."
"Wen Yu Xi, if I agree, then year after year, day after day, they will pressure me to take consorts just as they are today. I don't want that."
Wen Yu Xi nodded. "Your subject will resolve this tomorrow."
At the morning court, the Minister of Personnel, along with several other ministers, submitted a memorial, requesting the Empress to take many consorts.
Xue Zi Ning rubbed her forehead, sighing slightly. The Minister of Personnel was someone she had personally invited back. He was old, but still vigorous. Although he had protected her and helped resolve many issues, he was indeed pushing her a bit too hard.
"Minister of Personnel, Your Majesty already has two princes. Once the eldest prince is older, he can be established as the Crown Prince. What is the Minister of Personnel worried about?"
"Your subject implores Your Majesty to take many consorts." The Minister of Personnel did not confront Wen Yu Xi.
The other court officials knelt down in agreement.
Xue Zi Ning sighed. "I do not have that intention at the moment. How about we hold the imperial examinations first? All eligible men can participate. If any family has a daughter who wishes to take the imperial examination, they are not to be prevented. Anyone found doing so will be severely punished."
With that, Xue Zi Ning turned and left.
Returning to her palace, Xue Zi Ning breathed a sigh of relief. Indeed, pushing forward the imperial examinations first could suppress the restless hearts of these loyal ministers.
"Your Majesty, you should at least inform your subject. Your subject was almost surrounded and attacked by those old ministers."
Xue Zi Ning smiled. "If I tell you, who will fend off those stubborn old men for me?"
Wen Yu Xi felt like crying but had no tears. He looked up and saw the Empress's bright and beautiful eyes, and his heart stirred slightly.
"Your Majesty, it would be good if you were like this more often."
"Wen Yu Xi, I plan to completely forget him. So, give me some time, okay?"
Wen Yu Xi stepped forward and said, "No matter how long it takes, I am willing, without regrets."
"Thank you, Wen Yu Xi."
Jiangnan
After the Yu family's downfall, Lin Feng, Lin Shi Shu's father, continued to serve as the Prefect.
Lin Shi Shu was once again the pure lotus flower in the hearts of many scholars.
One day, Lin Shi Shu saw a notice posted on the city walls. She stepped closer and saw that the imperial examinations had begun. Just as she was about to turn away, the small print at the bottom caught her attention: Women could also take the examination?
"Absurd! How can women take examinations?" some people said.
"Why not? Isn't the current Emperor a woman?" Lin Shi Shu retorted.
No one dared to say anything further. At this moment, Lin Shi Shu had an idea.
She wanted to participate in the imperial examinations, become one of the top three scholars, and then enter the court as an official.
She told Lin Feng about this idea. Prefect Lin seriously asked her if she was serious.
"Father, I am serious. I want to participate in the imperial examinations."
"Since you are serious, then go!" Before, Lin Feng would have dismissed this as a joke.
But seeing the Empress's decisive and diligent actions, he knew that the Empress must have had a reason for issuing this decree.
So let Shi Shu be the first to do it!
Upon hearing that Lin Shi Shu was going to participate in the imperial examinations, the scholars also rushed to sign up.
At this time, in Jiangnan, almost everyone was participating in the imperial examinations, and the fervor for the examinations reached an unprecedented peak.
"Miss, are you really going to the capital to take the examination yourself?" the maid looked at Lin Shi Shu, puzzled.
Lin Shi Shu smiled. "Who says I'm going alone? Many people are willing to accompany me."
"Then does Miss also intend to bid farewell to Young Master Yan?"
Lin Shi Shu fell silent. Since the Empress had left, she understood the difference between herself and the Empress and had never seen Yan Jin Zhao again.
Now that she was about to leave, she should go and say goodbye!
Yan Jin Zhao heard that it was Lin Shi Shu and told his servants to let her in.
This was the first time Lin Shi Shu had been allowed to enter the Yan residence, but her heart was already calm.
What does not belong to her will never belong to her. Why force it?
"Young Master Yan." Lin Shi Shu saw the tall figure standing by the window. Even though she no longer cared, her heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
Yan Jin Zhao turned around, his face clear and handsome, his eyes shining like a galaxy. "So, it's Miss Lin."
"I have come today to bid farewell to Young Master Yan," Lin Shi Shu said.
"I heard Miss Lin is going to participate in the imperial examinations?"
Lin Shi Shu nodded. "Young Master Yan's news is indeed well-informed. I do have such plans."
"Then, I wish Miss Lin success in her endeavors, a bright future, and the fulfillment of her aspirations."
"Young Master Yan, the capital is not far. Why do you confine yourself here? One step forward, and perhaps you will find prosperity."
"Thank you, Miss Lin. I haven't quite made up my mind yet."
Lin Shi Shu curtsied. "If you want to do something, don't regret it. Don't hesitate."