Ch 342: Flowers In Full Bloom

The new Emperor’s ascension ceremony was set for the golden autumn, a time of abundant harvests.

If one could say that being Crown Prince and Crown Princess afforded some freedom, becoming Emperor and Empress made leaving the Palace considerably more troublesome.

While it was still relatively convenient, Qi Shuo and Lin Hao left the Palace together to visit the recently completed girls’ school.

They first went to Prince Jing’s Mansion. Without announcing themselves, they entered and saw Prince Jing chasing Qi Huan with a chicken feather duster.

Seeing Qi Shuo, Qi Huan looked like he’d seen a savior: “Elder Brother, why did you only come now!”

Seeing his youngest son quickly hide behind Qi Shuo, Prince Jing lowered his raised chicken feather duster, instantly breaking into a smile: “Shuo’er, Ahao, you’re back.”

Look, a talented man and beautiful woman, what a fine son and daughter-in-law! The fourth son’s family!

“We came to see you both. What trouble has Second Brother caused this time?” Qi Shuo asked with a smile.

As soon as Prince Jing heard this, his temper flared again: “Ask him what he did! He heard somewhere that Miss Yang was going to the mountains, so he climbed a tree to secretly watch her, fell down, and landed in front of Miss Yang, almost being sent to the officials as a lecher!”

Not long ago, Prince Jing and Princess Jing had arranged a marriage between Qi Huan and the daughter of Yang Guoan, a recently returned frontier official, solving their youngest son’s lifelong matter.

Prince Jing thought of the scene of the Yang family returning their youngest son, and felt his old face had been thoroughly disgraced.

Upon hearing this, Qi Huan felt wronged: “Father, you and Mother Concubine fell in love, and Elder Brother and Elder Sister-in-law also fell in love, why was my marriage arranged directly? It’s unfair!”

“What do you mean directly arranged? Didn’t I let you meet?”

“I only met her twice! How could I discern Miss Yang’s true character—” Qi Huan paused, then realized, “That’s not right, Miss Yang has seen me before, so why did she beat me up? Was she deliberately doing it!”

Prince Jing and Qi Shuo exchanged a glance.

Well… perhaps.

Prince Jing’s mood suddenly improved considerably.

Ahem, at least someone is taking over managing this boy.

Princess Jing came over and took Lin Hao’s hand: “Let them fuss, let’s go inside for tea.”

Lin Hao smiled at Qi Shuo and went inside with Princess Jing.

“Is the Palace busy? Are the preparations almost complete?”

“There are specialists for everything, it’s quite worry-free. Are you well? My sister is married, if you feel lonely, just send me a message.”

Qi Qiong had left the mansion a few months ago, leaving the large mansion rather quiet.

Hearing Lin Hao mention Qi Qiong, Princess Jing felt a little uncomfortable.

Originally, with her daughter married, and two sons and a daughter-in-law, she would have plenty of bustle when grandchildren arrived; but now, only one unreliable son remains, and he almost got his fiancée returned to sender.

“Ahao, any news?” Princess Jing patted Lin Hao’s hand, her gaze lingering on her abdomen.

Most ordinary women would be embarrassed by this, but Lin Hao smiled generously: “Not yet, I’ll tell you immediately if there’s good news.”

Princess Jing became even more depressed.

She just loved Ahao’s straightforward and generous nature.

“No need to rush. When I was in the Northern Lands, I heard a famous doctor say that women giving birth at an older age is beneficial for both mother and child…” Princess Jing talked about things to pay attention to regarding pregnancy and childbirth.

Lin Hao listened attentively, not showing any impatience.

Both she and Princess Jing knew that once she became Empress, she would rarely return to Prince Jing’s Mansion.

Princess Jing could, of course, enter the Palace, but it wasn’t as free as speaking at home.

Without staying for dinner, Qi Shuo and Lin Hao left under the reluctant gazes of Prince Jing, Princess Jing, and Qi Huan, and went to the General’s Mansion.

After having lunch with the Old Madam, they went to the girls’ school.

The girls’ school was not far from the Wuxiang Flower Dew Shop, a quiet place in the bustling city, and a sizable house.

By now, many people in Beijing knew that this girls’ school was set up by the Crown Princess in cooperation with several noble ladies, far more popular than the school Lin Hao initially established for the children of shop assistants.

Especially wealthy families, they eagerly sent their daughters there, hoping that if they caught the eye of a noble person, they might have a bright future.

Lin Hao didn’t mind their intentions; in her view, if girls who originally had no opportunity to read and write were given such an opportunity, it was the very meaning of the girls’ school.

It was the afternoon break; the sound of cicadas filled the school, most of the female students were resting, and some more lively ones were playing in the shade of trees.

Lin Hao and Qi Shuo walked around with the headmaster, listening to him talk about the recent affairs of the girls’ school.

As they neared a cluster of green bamboo, Lin Hao stopped.

A girl of twelve or thirteen, her back against the bamboo, was sitting on the ground, engrossed in reading.

The headmaster smiled: “That girl is called Chang Yu’er. Her family is ordinary, but since enrolling, she has been particularly diligent.”

Lin Hao nodded, changed direction unwilling to disturb the student who was diligently reading, when she saw someone rushing over and saying something to the girl.

The girl got up and left with the person.

Seeing Lin Hao’s gaze following the two, the headmaster said: “That’s the servant in charge of delivering messages in the school, it seems someone is looking for her.”

The direction the girl went was towards the school gate.

It was almost time to leave, Lin Hao felt curious about the little girl she had encountered, so she also walked out. As she stepped out of the school gate, she saw a young couple arguing near the wall, trying to take the girl away.

The gatekeeper stopped the couple: “It’s still school time, what are you doing?”

The man smiled: “I’m her brother, we have a lot of work at home, I’m taking her back.”

The young woman was much more outspoken, sneering: “A girl, what’s the use of studying? It’s a waste of money.”

The headmaster frowned.

Lin Hao suppressed her thoughts and watched how the girl would react.

The girl crisply said: “My tuition fees are paid by my father, I haven’t spent my brother and sister-in-law’s money.”

The woman snorted: “Your father went on a long journey and took all the remaining money, there’s no extra money for you to study. Come back and take care of your nephews, at least help out at home.”

“Your sister-in-law is right, what’s the use of a girl studying? It’s neither food nor clothing, nor can you take the imperial examination to become a high official, isn’t it a waste of money? Go home quickly, do more work, get a reputation for being diligent, and you’ll be able to marry a good family in the future…”

The girl slapped a string of copper coins into the man’s hand, interrupting his chatter: “This is enough to hire a helper to take care of the nephews for a month, right?”

“Where did you get the money?” the woman asked sharply.

The girl straightened her back: “I got first place in the monthly exam, it’s the school’s reward. As long as I get first place every month, I’ll keep getting rewards.”

The woman immediately changed her expression to a smile: “Yu’er, how much is the reward for first place?”

The dead girl has become successful, she gave out a whole string of cash, more than what her husband earns in a month!

“Besides this, it’s enough for my studies. If brother and sister-in-law ask me to go home, even if I earn two strings of cash, father will still be angry when he comes back…”

The young couple, persuaded, quickly put away the money and left.

The gatekeeper, a woman in her forties, had seen a lot and was worried about the girl having such a brother and sister-in-law, so she reminded her: “Don’t blame me for being nosy, today you got the money, they’ll probably come every month, and after a long time, one string of cash might not be enough to get rid of them.”

The girl smiled: “Consider it as paying for peace of mind, if they’re still not satisfied, I’ll ask the headmaster to be the judge, the headmaster is the best—”

“Ahem.” The headmaster coughed.

The girl’s eyes lit up, and she quickly greeted her: “Headmaster, why did you come out?”

Seeing Lin Hao and Qi Shuo, she was stunned.

“You’ve always admired the Crown Princess who built this girls’ school, haven’t you met her yet?”

The girl’s eyes widened, her face flushed with excitement, no longer as sharp as she was with her brother and sister-in-law: “I’ve met the… Crown Princess—”

The headmaster explained with a smile: “Yu’er enrolled late, she didn’t make it when you came to the opening ceremony.”

Lin Hao admired Chang Yu’er’s courage in solving problems at such a young age, and asked her gently: “Yu’er, do you think studying is useful?”

The girls’ school was founded by her; those wealthy families sent their daughters here for reputation, but ordinary families are most concerned about making a living.

Fortunately, the industries surrounding the Flower Dew Shop required more and more manpower, and ordinary girls who studied at the girls’ school would mostly be able to find employment in the future.

The girl tilted her head slightly, a bright light in her eyes, full of purity: “Of course, I think studying is useful; those who don’t think studying is useful wouldn’t be here.”

Lin Hao was slightly stunned, then smiled: “If you encounter difficulties, find the headmaster.”

“Yes!”

Lin Hao and Qi Shuo bid farewell to the headmaster and got into the carriage.

The outside was bustling with people, while inside the carriage, it was quiet for a moment.

Seeing Lin Hao leaning against the carriage in thought, Qi Shuo took her hand: “Take it slow, when we have more control over things, it will get better and better.”

Overseas is a huge treasure, filling the Da Zhou national treasury, naturally there will be enough resources to change many things.

Lin Hao nodded, lifted the curtain to look out, and told the coachman to stop.

“I’ll go see the Flower Dew Shop, are you coming, Ashuo?”

“I won’t go, I’ll just wander around.”

“Then let’s meet at the Prince’s Mansion later.”

They agreed on a time and parted ways. Lin Hao, accompanied by Baozhu and several guards hidden in the shadows, went to the Flower Dew Shop. Qi Shuo walked aimlessly and unconsciously found himself at Tianyuan Temple.

The once bustling temple was now cold and quiet, quite out of place with the surrounding liveliness.

“Your Highness—” Thinking of the former Crown Prince who had become a monk at Tianyuan Temple, Chang Ning called softly.

Qi Shuo came to his senses, thought for a moment, and walked towards the temple.

Lin Hao went to the Flower Dew Shop. Seeing that everything was in order, she didn’t stay long and returned to Ping’an Quarter by carriage. It was still early before her appointment with Qi Shuo, so she went back to the General’s Mansion.

Her mother had gone overseas, and her older sister was pregnant and couldn’t go out, so she should naturally spend more time with her grandmother after her trip out of the palace.

Seeing Lin Hao again, the Old Madam smiled brightly: “You’re worried about your grandmother being lonely, my dear? Don’t worry, Grandmother doesn’t feel lonely at all. Grandmother thinks about your mother having a good man who cherishes her, and you and your sister have also found good partners, my heart is full, and every day is meaningful.”

When she goes to see her old man later, she won’t have any regrets.

“Grandmother—” Lin Hao held her grandmother’s arm, “Shopkeeper Hu at the Flower Dew Shop taught me how to make Crab Stuffed with Orange, when the crabs get plump, I’ll make it for you.”

The Old Madam smiled and nodded: “Good.”

When leaving, Lin Hao still felt a little sentimental.

This time back to the Palace, she probably wouldn’t come out again before Ashuo’s ascension ceremony.

Thinking this, she changed direction and walked slowly in the garden of the General’s Mansion.

Every plant and tree in the garden was familiar: the familiar sweet osmanthus trees, the familiar magnolias, the familiar rose trellis, the familiar green walls.

She walked step by step to the wall, and slightly raised her head. At that moment, she didn’t really think about anything, she just did it.

Seeing Lin Hao climbing the wall, Baozhu remained calm, even taking out a chicken feather shuttlecock from her purse and kicking it up.

The colorful chicken feather shuttlecock flew into the air, dazzling in the sunlight.

And Lin Hao, peeking over the wall, froze.

A young man below smiled and opened his arms towards her.

After the daze, the corners of Lin Hao’s lips rose high, her smile even more brilliant than the colorful shuttlecock, without hesitation, happily, she rushed towards the man who had loved her since her youth.

In this life, her happiness with Ashuo was like this solid embrace, not in vain.

（The End）