Upon hearing this, both young ladies’ eyes lit up. This was the Capital City’s century-old jewelry shop! Normally, families like theirs could only come here to buy a hairpin when their daughters came of age, and even then, only ordinary styles. Otherwise, only noble families would come here to commission jewelry and ornaments when preparing dowries for their daughters. Today they had only come to browse and hadn’t really intended to buy anything, but unexpectedly their sister-in-law told them to pick whatever they liked and would pay for them—what a generous gesture!
“Thank you, Sister-in-law! You truly are the best sister-in-law in the world!”
“Thank you, Cousin Sister-in-law!”
After the two young ladies smiled and thanked Hong Qiao, they linked arms and lifted their skirt hems as they ran into the jewelry shop.
Hong Qiao stood in place, gently fanning herself with her round fan, her gaze following the direction where the Bai family’s carriages and guards had disappeared, the smile gradually fading from her face.
Prince Liang had died at Bai Jinxiu’s hands—this vengeance… Hong Qiao would not forget. She remained alive to this day for the sole purpose of avenging the Second Prince and Prince Liang.
Even though all the old subordinates were now dead, she was still alive… She would exhaust all her strength, and even if she couldn’t take the lives of the Bai family members, she would ensure they had no peace.
She would be entangled with the Bai family for the rest of her life.
Hong Qiao shook her round fan and then, like a noble lady, lifted her skirt with one hand as she walked into the jewelry shop to accompany her sister-in-law and the visiting young cousin in selecting jewelry.
Heaven had spared her worthless life, and barring any accidents, she still had decades to live—she would see how things played out with the Bai family!
·
On the fourth day of the eighth month in the second year, Auxiliary Prince Consort Marquis Zhongyong Qin Lang, together with Chen Zhaolu and Lu Yuanqing, completed their implementation of new laws in the former territories of Great Liang and arrived at the Capital City.
At morning court, Qin Lang, Chen Zhaolu, and Lu Yuanqing all received rewards.
Bai Jinxiu and Qin Lang hadn’t seen each other for a long time. While Qin Lang was in Han City, every time he heard battle reports from Xiliang, his heart seized with worry for Bai Jinxiu. Now, seeing his wife had been enfeoffed as a prince and stood dignifiedly in military attire in the court hall, Qin Lang felt honored to share in her glory.
In his heart, he also spurred himself on—having obtained such a good wife who could manage the inner quarters in peacetime and lead troops into battle in wartime, he must cherish her well.
After morning court that day, Qin Lang was kept behind by Bai Qingyan, who questioned him in detail about the situation in Han City.
Qin Lang dared not be negligent and reported truthfully: “Schools have now been established. Although initially not many women enrolled, after the imperial examinations truly selected women as the second and third place scholars, and Your Majesty appointed them to official positions, gradually more families began sending their daughters to study. However, some people worry that having their daughters become officials, when they marry and bear children, they’ll have one foot in the gates of hell. Although the government-run schools charge no fees, raising a scholar requires too much from the family, and even if daughters take live-in husbands, there are too many variables—they hesitate and remain undecided! On this point… this humble minister believes that if laws could be established, it should properly resolve the issue.”
“What you speak of, how could I not know?” Bai Qingyan gestured for Qin Lang to drink tea while lifting her teacup. “However, we must proceed step by step. Otherwise, hastily establishing laws might cause dissatisfaction. We need to establish pilot programs first… then implement them throughout Great Zhou!”
Bai Qingyan had considered establishing laws requiring all citizens to study. Take farming families, for example…
The household’s labor and energy were all devoted to farming to ensure the family’s basic needs after paying taxes, with some surplus grain already being quite good.
For common people, agricultural work was more important than heaven—after all, not eating would lead to starvation, but not studying wouldn’t kill them. The people’s primary concern while living was having enough food and clothing; only after solving the problem of basic sustenance would they have the energy to consider their children’s education.
When Bai Qingyan spoke with Qin Lang to this point, she couldn’t help but think of Zeng Shanru. If Zeng Shanru could devise methods to increase grain production, after the people solved their food and clothing problems, they would naturally have surplus energy to care about their children’s education.
Previously, Elder Sister had Li Mingrui and Dong Changyuan research the corresponding reward and guarantee regulations for women officials. Now Li Mingrui has accompanied Minister of Public Works Shen Tianzhi to Yan Kingdom to oversee the implementation of new policies.” Bai Jinxiu smiled at Qin Lang, then said to her elder sister, “Qin Lang has just returned… how about having Elder Sister let Qin Lang work together with Dong Changyuan on this matter?”
Qin Lang also looked toward Bai Qingyan. Regarding the implementation of new laws, he too had many ideas…
“If Qin Lang is willing, that would naturally be good! I was thinking that since Qin Lang just returned, I should let your family have a good reunion for a while. I was prepared to let you two rest well, but here you are… not even thinking about Wang Ge’er.” Bai Qingyan looked at this married couple, both wholeheartedly devoted to the court, and couldn’t help but say.
“Now that the Great Zhou and Yan Kingdoms are gambling their nations, it’s precisely when we need people. Whether it’s Jinxiu or I, we should both contribute our efforts for Your Majesty—this is only proper!” Qin Lang quickly said.
“Yes, Elder Sister, now Great Zhou needs people, and it’s time for our family members to contribute even more! Elder Sister, please don’t be polite with us, husband and wife!” Bai Jinxiu’s eyes were full of bright, gentle smiles, showing none of the fierce decisiveness she displayed on the battlefield—she appeared very gentle and refined. “At least our family must work together with one heart!”
“Good…” Bai Qingyan nodded. “Then after the gambling of nations is finished, I’ll let you two have a good rest and spend more time with Wang Ge’er. For now, even I as his aunt feel I owe Wang Ge’er!”
After finishing discussion of the new law implementation, Qin Lang spoke with Bai Qingyan about matters after the Han City Prince returned to Great Liang…
“After the Han City Prince returned, indeed, quite a few people harbored improper thoughts and sought out the Han City Prince’s old Great Liang associates. They were all directly seized by the Han City Prince and sent to the military camp. This could be considered the Han City Prince’s external declaration of his stance—this time, the Han City Prince returned to the former Great Liang territories to gather naval forces to defend against the Dongyi Kingdom, not to restore his country!” Qin Lang’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked up at Bai Qingyan. “But even so… Your Majesty still needs to send people to watch the Han City Prince to prevent problems before they occur!”
In truth, Qin Lang also worried that the Han City Prince might rebel and destroy the situation they had worked so hard to stabilize.
“On this point, I don’t think you need to worry. Since Elder Sister dares to use the Han City Prince, she naturally can control him…” Bai Jinxiu’s smile deepened as she looked at her elder sister with complete trust.
“It’s not so much that I can control him, but rather that with all of you by my side now, I don’t feel like I’m walking on thin ice anymore. I feel that… even if I make mistakes, it doesn’t matter!” Bai Qingyan looked at her younger sister, her smile deepening.
After finishing her words, Bai Qingyan looked up at both Bai Jinxiu and Qin Lang: “Today, Qin Lang has just returned. Take Qin Lang back to the Bai Mansion early… I imagine Second Aunt and Wang Ge’er are still waiting for you to have a reunion dinner!”