NOVEL WEB Chapter 499
Emperor and Jiang Xinyue turned their heads together. A strikingly beautiful maiden blinked her watery eyes, looking pitifully at the Emperor.
Jiang Xinyue glanced at the maiden, her eyes showing a hint of surprise, but she remained silent.
The Emperor lifted his elbow, pushing the maiden away from his arm and cast a warning glare at her.
It seemed he was warning her not to entertain any notions about himself.
Jiang Shu'er bit her lip and stubbornly halted the Emperor: "Esteemed savior, you rescued me. I have nothing to repay your kindness. How about you and your sister join me for tea at Yipinjiu?"
Jiang Xinyue murmured softly, "Tea? I thought she'd contemplate offering her body as repayment!"
"Thwack!"
She garnered another flick on her forehead. The Emperor whispered close to her ear, "Speak recklessly one more time, and I'll make you regret it tonight."
Jiang Xinyue shrugged. "Miss, my apologies, but I am his wife, not a sister. Moreover, you've attended the palace banquets often enough, claiming you don't recognize the Empress and the Emperor is a bit too lame. Isn't that right, Sister Shu'er?"
Miss Jiang Shu'er from House Three was among those who bullied her the most, alongside Jiang Yutong, during their childhood.
Jiang Shu'er appeared astonished. "Are you... Empress Jiang Xinyue? This... Every time I visited the palace, it was just a fleeting glance. I genuinely failed to recognize you. I beseech your forgiveness, Your Majesty."
Panicked, as if Jiang Xinyue had already cast judgment, she trembled in fear.
A genuine image of a fragile lady in distress.
"You..."
As Jiang Xinyue raised her hand, Jiang Shu'er immediately displayed a horrified expression, diving into her maid's embrace, biting her lip tightly while tears welled up in her eyes.
Her maid hugged her, reddening her eyes, acting like a self-sacrificing warrior.
The duo showcased their performance with utmost sincerity.
Jiang Xinyue clicked her tongue in wonder. Could the Jiang family's flair for theatrics be genetically passed down?
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, finding it highly amusing. He had already investigated Jiang Xinyue's background thoroughly, or else he might have been taken in by Jiang Shu'er's act.
"You..."
"Your Majesty!"
Jiang Shu'er abruptly stood upright, leaving her maid's embrace. "Please don't blame Sister Xinyue; it's always been me who angers her. That's why she strikes me. But that's from childhood; I've long forgiven Sister Xinyue."
What nonsense?
The Emperor's brow furrowed. "I was about to say, you're quite a poor actor. The onion scent has infiltrated my nostrils."
With that, he pointedly glanced at the handkerchief she held in her hand.
Wiping her eyes with that cloth, used over an onion-peeled hand, would only make the tears flow more fervently.
Jiang Shu'er was left embarrassed, but she wasn't daunted; her resilience remained intact.
"Seeing as Your Majesty and Empress are family, please don't treat me as a complete outsider. I have secured the finest pavilion at Yipinjiu. Would you honor me with your presence for tea?"
"Aren't you here to celebrate my sister's wedding?" Jiang Xinyue tilted her head, eyeing her. "Aren't you going?"
"No," Jiang Shu'er shook her head. "It's a privilege to encounter Your Majesty and the Empress. I shall personally invite you for a private gathering."
Jiang Xinyue nodded, then smiled. "Alright! Then, please arrange the finest Da Hong Pao tea at Yipinjiu. My husband and I will join you after we've presented our wedding gifts."
To Jiang Shu'er's surprise, it was Jiang Xinyue who consented first. It seems even she isn't as favored as rumors suggest—needing to ally with attractive family members to fortify her position.
With this thought, Shi Ruo suppressed her elation and immediately curtsied. "I shall proceed now."
The Emperor, disguised, stepped into the General's mansion, delivering their gift silently, then whispered to Jiang Xinyue, "She's clearly up to no good. I’m sure she's aiming at something with me. Are you serious about going?"
"Pfft!"
Jiang Xinyue grinned mischievously. "I was lying to her."
Yipinjiu was the premier teahouse in the capital, restricted to the wealthy. Ordinary teas were three times the price of average teahouses. Not to mention the finest teas, like Da Hong Pao.
Likely, Jiang Xinyue's uncle, the Ministry of Justice chief, would need to carve out several years’ worth of wages to bail her out.
Embittered, Jiang Shu’ er believed merely placing herself as a palace concubine would suffice—her family would be willing to bear any cost.
After all, just a jug of tea—how ruinous could it be?
Jiang Xinyue, accompanied by the Emperor in disguise, weaved among the wedding attendees and witnessed a passionately festive, abundantly celebrated nuptial.
Her heart warmed, recollecting her own children, she felt a sense of fulfillment.
The Cavalry General and his wife recognized the Emperor instantly, but previous palace missives revealed Empress Jiang Xinyue wished to personally convey her blessings without overshadowing the newlyweds.
Thus, though identified, the General refrained from approaching.
Sunset marked the wedding reception's climax, capturing even the playful bridal chamber shenanigans—a whole day immersed in festivity.
Returning to the palace, she excitedly recounted tales of her sister's childhood with the Emperor joining her in the memory: "Time has flown; she's wed now. In my heart, both Yanne and Tzé are still kids: clutching my dress, begging..."
"Hmm?"
The Emperor tugged her hand, pulling her into his embrace and silenced her chattering with a kiss on her lips.
She was endearing, increasingly so.
Drawing him to always linger over her.
In the 20th year of Great Yan rule, the court, through rigorous civil exams and palace evaluation, selected numerous women officials, dispatched across the realm.
Especially in areas governed, like the Jin Kingdom, a considerable volume of women officials are being distributed.
Among them are ambitious talents, all generously supported by Jiang Xinyue.
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Shi Ruojun, displaying remarkable military prowess, successively eliminated the rulers of Fusang and the Jin Kingdom, joining forces with Third Yan to eradicate the Jin Kingdom, aiding the Emperor's unification. He became venerated as the Eastern Conquest General.
Currently, only Great Yan remains, devoid of rival superpowers.
Shi Ruojun was assigned to a vassal state, preserving peace for Great Yan.
Women achieving such heights, alongside the government officially engaging women officials, has progressively manifested; even as hundreds have undertaken arduous campaigns to combat social indifference. This has led to the adaptation of a public culture that accelerates the adoption of women's voices and addresses the complications they face. A chronic necessity for democracy is illuminated, while some structures remain unified and interconnected. As we continue to discuss the experiences of women in governance, we consider the challenges and obstacles that arise, echoing the need for representation and support in various domains.
Over many years during the 20th year of Great Yan's rule, women officials nationwide reached over three hundred, within the capital's administrative sphere, with at least four to five able to attend court meetings.
The women capable of joining court were extraordinary; they even outstripped men initially. This action has significantly empowered women. Though to stay in service now, male officials aren't slouches; they redoubled efforts concerning administration.
Concurrently, with heavy workloads, Emperor and Jiang Xinyue efficiently addressed citizen concerns.
Wasn't this the idea of "Great Harmony" as Jiang Xinyue articulated?