Half a month later, under Wang Xuan’s fury, the Yunchuan Wang family was thoroughly investigated.

When the news reached A’an, even Wang Wan, the Sima, was demoted two levels and forced to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors.

On the second-floor stands of the theater, a piece of letter covered half of the woman’s face.

“I’m more concerned about how Fanglian’s case turned out.” Ah-yi handed the letter to Heng-chi to read. “She has chosen a place and has already started to run an academy. Although the scale is definitely not as large as that of ordinary academies, the number of female students that can be recruited is also limited.”

It is simply a fantasy to want to change the mindset of most people and get them to spend money to send their daughters to school.

The recruitment notice posted at the door has already attracted several educated ladies from aristocratic families. They are enough candidates to be teachers, and as for students, they will gradually become available.

Hengzhi only read the first few lines concerning Wang’s situation, then folded it and put it in the box.

“Both members of the Mo family were sentenced to death and will be executed in the autumn. Fanglian’s revenge was avenged very happily.”

Ah-yi leaned back in her chair, listening to the singing voices below, feeling relieved, and couldn’t help but smile, “Yes, it seems that all my wishes have been fulfilled.”

Shuzhong is indeed a good place.

Hengzhi took out a fan from somewhere, sat beside her, and pretended to be romantic.

The fan head was propped on the table, her hand was holding the top of the handle, and she put her hand on the back of her chair.

As he raised his eyes, he was looking upwards, not watching a play, nor was he thinking. But from Ah-yi’s perspective, everything seemed as gentle as water.

After a moment, he spoke, “Have all your wishes been fulfilled?”

Then he turned his head away, a little unwillingly.

The emphasis is on “all”, which clearly shows that he is jealous.

Ah-yi curled the corners of her mouth and moved closer to him, “No, no, it’s too early to say that. I still have the most important wish left to fulfill!”

The curtain had just fallen. The talented man and the beautiful woman, a match made in heaven, were wearing their wedding attires and thanked the audience.

“Words are useless. I can only tell you after it’s realized.” There was nothing in her eyes, only his eyebrows and eyes, the scene was bright and the spring was peaceful, but everything was in it.

This wish cannot be expressed in a few words. It must be personally acted upon, until one is old, and after experiencing everything in life, to be considered complete.

If people have something to ask for, they will believe that one day they will get it fulfilled.

“The owner of the jade shop sent me a letter yesterday, asking me to go inspect it tomorrow.” Ah’an smiled proudly, “You should wear something prettier tomorrow to match this set of jade.”

Why does this sound so familiar?

Seeing her round cheeks, Heng Qi couldn’t help but pinch them with his hands, “Then please, my lady, buy me another nice set of clothes.”
–
In early May, Shen Yu, still holding the little prince Shen Ji, held the coronation ceremony in front of the Chongwen Pagoda.

After that, they paid homage to the Jingling Mausoleum of Emperor Wu’an and offered sacrifices in the ancestral temple. The whole journey was smooth and the weather was good. After the ceremony, it also indicated that the previous dynasty’s chaotic politics had officially ended and the reign was changed to Taihe. The court was in a brand new state.

After Shen Yu appointed several important ministers to govern the country, he returned the position of Regent, retired to the title of Prince Ding, and lived in seclusion in the capital.

Therefore, the standard of Shen Yuren’s enthronement as king was naturally one level lower, saving a lot of money.

Jin Niuniu was so happy holding Ji’er in her arms. She had been taking care of the affairs these days, and not only the national treasury but also her own treasury had spent a lot of money.

The new dynasty had just been established, and the deposed emperor had been busy with construction projects, such as alchemy and temple construction, so they had to live frugally. In addition, the new emperor ascended the throne, and the empress dowager, the regent, and the eldest princess were all big expenses. The new emperor ascended the throne and the eldest princess were also matters that could not be thrifty. Jin Niuniu wanted to give in and not attend the ceremony.

Just as Shen Yu was speaking, it really solved a lot of her troubles.

After finishing all her affairs in Shu, Ah-yi went straight back to Kezhou with the Marquis of Zhao. She had no intention of returning to the capital, nor did she write a letter to mention it, hoping to avoid this trouble.

In addition, he rushed back just for the wedding of Ruzui and Zhengda, so they celebrated it with great enthusiasm for a few days and reopened the Shuichangdong restaurant which was bustling with activity.

The Empress Dowager had anticipated this day, and had specially dispatched people to bring several carts of enthronement gifts, along with auspicious clothing and jewelry specially made by the imperial court, and a red seal, to Kezhou in a grand procession.

A few days after Zheng Da’s wedding, just as Hengzhi had expected, A’ao received many visiting cards and attended several banquets. Now she got a headache when she saw the etiquette officer coming to her house.

Summer had just arrived in Kezhou, and the sun was high in the sky, blinding the eyes.

Ah’ao stood at the door of her house, listening to the ceremonial officer singing the gift list loudly, waving her fan lazily.

A few days ago, the guards of Louguan had a conflict with the hunting group of several households in Youbei. Although the casualties were not many, there were many dissents in the army. The report was sent to Kezhou, and Hengzhi had to come forward. On the surface, it was a discussion, but in fact it was just a verbal battle for the whole morning, which was very boring.

“Why hasn’t the singing finished yet… We have reserved the Sushan at Changqinglou. If we go too late we won’t be able to eat it.” Yunli felt anxious as he listened to the endless chatter.

Ying’en tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “Don’t be rude. Wait a moment.”

So when Hengzhi sped up and rode back from the camp outside the city, the words of the enthronement ceremony were well-balanced and were still being read in a rhythmic manner.

Surrounded by people who came to watch the fun, Ah’ao was tired of listening and asked someone to bring a chair for her. She sat in the sun, her forehead shining and her cheeks flushed with heat.

He dismounted and pushed through the crowd when he walked in, just as the ceremonial officer was reading the last sentence, “To commemorate the ceremony with a book.”

It would be much more troublesome to carry out the enthronement ceremony according to the court system. Unless the gift list and the imperial decree are known to everyone, nothing can be brought into the house first.

The rolled-up brocade book was handed to Ah-yi. The ceremonial officer, with his white hair and beard, smiled kindly, “Congratulations, Your Highness, for receiving this great honor. Your life will never be the same again from now on.”

A’ao raised her eyebrows. She didn’t expect to hear such words.

Then he understood Jin Niuniu’s intention. From today onwards, no one would talk about Xuancheng, who was unpopular in the past but had to marry into the royal family, but would talk about Princess Chen of Pingchuan, who deposed the tyrant and supported her younger brother.

No matter how complicated the title was, or how long the congratulatory speech was, it was all to build momentum for her and support her. Moreover, this ceremonial officer was already old, and it was he who announced the decree when Chen Zhaoying was canonized as the Crown Princess.

Ah’ao stared at the brocade shining brightly under the sun, and her heart felt warm.

Hengzhi held her shoulders from behind and took care of her unfinished business. “Thank you very much for your kindness, Your Majesty and the Queen Mother. The ceremonial officer has worked hard on the way. Please stay at your house for a few days to show your gratitude to Your Majesty and me.”

The ceremonial officer bowed and saluted, “Young Marquis, you are too polite. Oh, now you should call him the Prince Consort. Your Highness and the Prince Consort have a deep friendship, a perfect match, and a good story.”

The sounds of celebration rose louder all around.

Just like on the wedding day, when the snow lit up the sky, it was the same.

“Congratulations to His Highness on his 1,000th birthday. May His Highness and his wife grow old together!”

The officials and their families from Kezhou, as well as merchants and common people, came to congratulate them on the new joy.

“This humble official has one more thing to say for the Empress Dowager.” The ceremonial officer looked at the Princess, who was also very graceful in her plain clothes. “The Empress Dowager said that she should just treat Fengtai as her mother’s home. If the Prince Consort doesn’t treat you well, she can return to the palace at any time. Your Majesty also misses her sister very much.”

Ah-yi glanced at Heng-chi and couldn’t help laughing, “I know, thank her for me.”

After many twists and turns, outside Hengzhi, no matter what the reason was, she finally found someone who loved her so much.

People live for these seven emotions and six desires. Even if it is a Taoist temple or a Buddhist temple, no matter how pure and desireless it is, there will always be incense and candles to meet people’s wishes.

Ah’s heart was filled to the brim, she no longer felt like she had stored half a jar of water, she felt at peace.

Another month has arrived, it is midsummer, the pomegranate flowers are fiery and the banana leaves are lush green.

In the main room of the back house, the doors and windows were wide open, and the gauze was fluttering.

Gong Yangliang repeatedly forbade Ah’ao to eat or use ice, so on the hot and humid nights after the rain, she had to open the windows for ventilation and coolness.

Mosquito repellent sachets made from burnt wormwood and mugwort are hung under the square porches. The lingering fragrance wafts everywhere, making people feel relaxed and happy when they smell it.

Mrs. Zhou really did what she said. She filled a cart with account books and detailed information, had them delivered by a silver bank carriage, and had them neatly stacked under the desk.

Now that the branch store in the capital is doing well, Xu Tingzhou is also helping to promote the store among colleagues. Although there is no big business yet, small business is also coming in, so the store has established itself.

In addition, Aunt Zhao had been ill for the past two years, and there was no one to take care of the private residence and the mansion in the city. After that, when there was chaos, Hengzhi dismissed the people in the mansion to be on the safe side, and there was no one to take care of the accounts, so the housekeeper brought them all together and piled them up into a small mountain.

Originally the desk was used for official business in Hengzhi, but now it is used for other purposes and has become a place of worry for A’an.

The gauze curtain was dropped, revealing only a bright lamp lit inside. The light swayed in the wind, casting vague shadows on the gauze curtain.

“No matter where I go, I’m destined to be counted.”

Hengzhi sat on the couch with his legs bent, his posture upright. He held a fan in his hand, fanning himself gently away from the candlelight.

Ah-yi lay on the bed, looking at the account book sent by the Marquis’ Mansion, propping her chin with her hand, and couldn’t help complaining, “If the calculation continues like this, how can I live a good life with you?”

Youbei has been quiet for a while now. Li Chongxuan hosted a revision of the contract to allow both sides to recuperate and stop fighting for three years.

No conditions were proposed, and no loss was incurred. The King of Youbei died of an acute illness not long ago, and several tribes outside the king’s tent were eyeing him covetously, all wanting to tear the young prince Hugui apart so that they could monopolize power, and they asked Youbei to change a new king.

Therefore, Youbei was in constant internal turmoil, so how could it unite to attack Da Chong?

With this opportunity, Hengzhi no longer had to defend Kezhou, and A’ao began to think about traveling.

I heard that Yuzhou has pleasant scenery and good porcelain. Once these account books were delivered, my desire to travel around had to be put on hold.

Hengzhi raised his hand and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his mind at peace, “What are you afraid of? I’m always here. Whenever you want to go, I’ll accompany you.”

Ah-yi turned around, pointed at him with the tip of her pen, and asked curiously, “You speak especially sweetly today.”

In the summer night, when the breeze blows, the thin gauze curtain blows in the wind, swaying like someone’s heart.

“I dozed off beside you in the afternoon and dreamed about our mother.” Late at night, Hengzhi spoke softly, his voice falling into her ears, as cool as a lotus leaf.

Speaking of which, Hengzhi often followed his father to the capital in the past, so maybe he was more familiar with her mother than she was.

“Oh? What did she say to you?” Although he didn’t show any emotion, there was still some bitterness in his words.

She hadn’t appeared in my dreams for a long time.

Hengzhi lowered his head and pursed his lips.

The candle flame was too strong, so he took a pair of scissors to cut off the candle flame. Ah’ao looked at him with a smile, took the fan, and fanned it with air, which cooled off a lot of the summer heat.

At this moment, they were like young couples in the world, understanding each other and chatting.

“I told you before that I went to the capital and paid a visit to my mother. Before I left, I told her that I shouldn’t have rashly married you without my parents’ permission or a matchmaker’s agreement.”

He continued, “If she agrees to this marriage, then everything will go as you wish and you will be free from worries. In the dream, she asked me to treat you well, so how could I not obey?”

Although the words were spoken softly, they hit Ah’s heart heavily.

The Queen Mother must be willing, Ah-yi thought. She had been doing well these days, so this was the best response.

“You are very good, and she must be very satisfied.” Ah’an looked at Hengqi’s eyes, which were as bright as a spring lake, under the candlelight. “Mothers will definitely protect us and stay together forever.”

Both Madam Xu and Chen Zhaoying will protect them.

Hengzhi lowered his head and kissed her ear.

The pomegranate flowers are like fire, and can be seen in the boudoir under the lamp.

There are countless love stories in the world, but no matter how talented one is, from the emperor to the common people, no one has ever been let off easily.

You have to taste it yourself to understand its flavor.

……

“Tell me, if I hadn’t come to Kezhou at that time and hadn’t met you, what would have happened to the two of us?”

“You’ll see me.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“Because I will keep looking until I find you.”

Ever since Princess Xuancheng fled, some people have been secretly sending people to search for her everywhere.

The most beautiful scenery in this world, if not in Kezhou, will be somewhere else.

It would be every place where he had put so much effort but remained silent.

……

“But you might as well imagine it. You can imagine it however you want, and you can even write it down in a storybook.”

“And then, you’re going to distribute them door to door?”

“It’s not a bad idea.”

“…How come you still remember this?”

“Don’t you remember that too?”

Yeah, they all remember.

As time goes by, these are all things of the past.

(End of this chapter)