Because Mo Zi was pregnant and the early stage was unstable, when passing through Yang City, Elder Hua made her stay to stabilize the pregnancy. Yuan Cheng insisted, leaving her with no choice but to abandon her wish to visit that extravagant city once again, despite not yet having developed a mother’s self-awareness.

Yang City was the first provincial capital occupied by the Yiyuan Army. Its agricultural, industrial, and commercial activities had recovered the fastest. From the governor down to subordinate officials, almost all were trusted aides who had followed Yuan Cheng from the very beginning, and the family members of each household also mostly lived in the city. As Prime Minister Yuan’s wife, Mo Zi received a warm welcome from citizens lining the streets upon entering the city, allowing her to truly experience the degree to which Yuan Cheng was beloved.

However, Mo Zi was not the type to live in pampered luxury relying on the title of someone’s wife. Not long after arriving in Yang City, she became involved in the shipyard, not only continuing to build warships with high offensive capabilities but also creating a new type of fishing vessel that was promoted through civilian shipyards. This fishing boat had fixed compass navigation and dual rudders, replacing manual net casting with a crank-operated bracket system for large nets. Not only could it catch large quantities of fish with its big nets, but it was also convenient to operate. She encouraged fishermen to form teams, offering new boats through free trials and low-cost rental arrangements, while helping them establish a fishermen’s association that could harness collective strength.

Before long, there wasn’t a soul on Yang City’s waters who didn’t know Mo Zi’s name. Everyone loved this approachable and skilled woman, respectfully calling her the Peony Master Craftsman.

When Mo Zi was four months pregnant, good news arrived that day.

“Mo Zi, good news!” Yang Qiao crossed through the noisy ship platform and saw Mo Zi climbing a ladder to inspect the rudder. Her heart leaped to her throat, and she couldn’t help but glare fiercely at Zan Jin nearby.

“Pregnant women can’t climb ladders. If she falls, are you taking responsibility?” Yang Qiao had moved to Yang City with her parents several months ago; her father was temporarily serving as Yang City’s governor. Influenced by Mo Zi, she actively participated in governmental affairs and even volunteered to establish a women’s academy, advocating that women were no less capable than men. She was now a prominent figure in Yang City.

Zan Jin glanced over indifferently, one hand holding the ladder. “It certainly won’t be you taking responsibility.”

Yang Qiao was left speechless with frustration.

Mo Zi safely reached the ground.

The shipwrights who had gone up with her also jumped down one after another, all talking at once and asking Mo Zi questions with expectant expressions.

“It looks like there aren’t any major problems, but who was responsible for manufacturing the valve?” Mo Zi asked.

“It was me.” A young shipwright nervously stepped forward. “Master Mo, did I do something wrong?”

“You altered my blueprint,” Mo Zi said, looking at him—he appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen, a good age.

“Well, I… I discovered that following the blueprint would cause leaking, so I made slight modifications. But it doesn’t affect your overall design, Master Mo.” The young man clenched his hands tightly.

Women really do become foolish when pregnant! Mo Zi sighed inwardly. To actually make such a mistake—how embarrassing. After sighing, she noticed everyone was looking at the young shipwright with reproachful eyes and realized they had misunderstood.

“Well done.” She praised him generously and admitted her own mistake. “I was indeed wrong.”

Everyone’s eyes widened. Even the Master Craftsman admits mistakes?

“No one is perfect. My mental capacity as one person is limited. I need everyone to be like him—daring to express their own ideas and designs, to question any craftsman or master craftsman, in order to perfect our ships.” Mo Zi had long anticipated this day would come. Ancient China’s shipbuilding led world standards thanks to top-tier craftsmen. Their names might not be recorded in the annals of history, but they pushed Chinese shipbuilding to world-renowned heights. She was merely fortunate enough to become one small droplet among them.

The young shipwright, having received Mo Zi’s praise, grinned foolishly with delight.

“However, the practice of arbitrarily making alterations during manufacturing is unacceptable. If you discover a problem or have questions, you should promptly discuss it with everyone and then decide on a modification plan. Otherwise, if everyone who thinks something is wrong just goes ahead and changes it themselves, it will create major hidden dangers. Shipbuilding embodies collective discipline and requires transparency, open consultation, and repeated testing.”

After Mo Zi finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement. The young shipwright learned from Mo Zi’s example and readily apologized.

Yang Qiao watched admiringly but also worried about her health, asking A’Hao in the back whether she had eaten.

“I’ve eaten.” The shipwrights dispersed, and Mo Zi had time to spare. “What good news, Official Yang?”

Yang Qiao was the Rites Official elected by everyone. During wartime, talent was scarce, and Yuan Cheng had approved that both men and women could be employed—excellent women could display their talents.

“Nande’s capital was conquered by our Song army half a month ago.” What better news could there be? “Mo Zi, can you please stop going up and down? It makes my heart panic watching you.”

“It’s only four months.” Mo Zi spun in a circle. “You can’t tell at all. Besides, now that I’ve entered the stable period, I should maintain exercise—it makes delivery easier.”

“Really?” She had only heard that pregnant women couldn’t touch this or do that. “Won’t that endanger the child?”

“Not strenuous exercise. Appropriate exercise can prevent the fetus from absorbing too much sugar from the mother’s food, avoiding growing too large and causing difficult labor.” Mo Zi wasn’t being careless. Regarding her first child in two lifetimes, she cared more than anyone.

“You know so much.” Yang Qiao showed an admiring expression again.

“I read widely.” Mo Zi vaguely brushed it off.

A’Yue on the side asked, “Which medical text has this information?” She felt very ashamed about not diagnosing Mo Zi’s pregnancy pulse and had put away all those poison-related medical books, now specifically collecting medical information about pregnant women and newborns. However, there were almost no obstetric medical texts at this time, only oral traditions passed down by midwives and on-site experience, causing her studies to be interrupted from time to time.

Of course she couldn’t say it was in the Compendium this time. Mo Zi “honestly” said, “I don’t remember.”

A’Yue took out her small notebook and wrote down this passage with a pencil. Whether it was true or not, she needed to research it.

“So is Yuan Cheng coming back?” Conquering the capital meant the end of Nande.

Yang Qiao shook her head. “My father didn’t mention it, but he asked you to find time to visit him.”

Mo Zi pondered for a long while, then looked up with her smile restored. “Alright, three ships need testing. I’ll go see your father after watching for a bit.”

After Yang Qiao left, Zan Jin noticed her prolonged silence and asked, “Does Brother Mo have something on his mind?”

The river waters rushed in the distance. Mo Zi gazed at them. “When a small water droplet enters the rivers and seas, it can no longer help itself.”

Zan Jin heard the melancholy. “Is Brother Mo worried about the Young Master? He won’t change.”

“He led the troops to conquer Nande’s capital. The Yiyuan Army conquered more than half of Nande’s territory. Do you know what this means?” A very realistic question that she was seeing more and more clearly. “If we’re going to support Jin Yin to take the throne in the future, many people won’t accept it.”

“But the Young Master has no interest in the imperial throne.” Zan Jin was secretly shocked.

“He has no interest, but his subordinates will pressure him. He can choose not to become emperor, but his subordinates can also refuse to accept Jin Yin and throw the new nation into chaos again. Sometimes, I really suspect your family’s Second Young Master deliberately didn’t cross the river. He clearly knows he needs to establish military merit to win people’s hearts, yet he only holds two provinces in a stalemate with Daqiu.” With victory’s arrival came new concerns. But this time, it wasn’t a problem she could solve.

“If the Young Master becomes emperor, then Brother Mo—” He had never thought of it before, but now that he had, he found it quite acceptable. “Will you become empress?”

“If I become empress, the King of Daqiu will be the first to die of anger.” She took a deep breath and smiled. “I’m overthinking it.” She suddenly realized that whatever trajectory history would take, the power of individual resistance would be insignificably small.

But this time, Mo Zi had guessed correctly.

After Yang Qiao’s father showed her the dispatch from the front, he said, “The day after Nande’s new emperor was captured, the civil and military officials following Prime Minister Yuan jointly submitted a petition requesting that the Prime Minister declare himself emperor and ascend the throne. The Prime Minister did not agree. However, I see it as a matter of time. Madam should be prepared.”

“Be prepared?” Mo Zi took a sip of water. “Summer has arrived, yet spring tea remains fresh. There is only one thing I need to do.”

Yang Qiao’s father asked what that was.

“Wait for my husband’s triumphant return.” Mo Zi said.

Yang Qiao’s father was somewhat puzzled but quickly understood. “Madam possesses wisdom and an orchid heart. Responding to change with constancy is indeed the best strategy.”

Before long, they received news that Yuan Cheng was on his way back to Yang City. But along with this came some truly joyful news, and some not-so-joyful joyful news. Among them was a beautiful tale that spread throughout Yang City like wildfire, reportedly witnessed firsthand by a merchant caravan—absolutely not ordinary gossip.

The beautiful tale went as follows: Nande had a Third Princess. Although her mother and younger brother weren’t much good, she was kind-hearted and beautifully graceful, with poets comparing her to the moon goddess. Because she treated people well, loyal warriors protected her during the war and helped her escape the palace. Who knew that halfway through her journey she would encounter mountain bandits and was about to suffer humiliation when Prime Minister Yuan appeared and heroically saved the beauty. The two were originally childhood sweethearts who grew up together, but were separated by the Empress Dowager’s selfishness. Although they met again as enemies, the sensible Third Princess understood deeply that the imperial family had brought this upon themselves. Not only did she not regard Prime Minister Yuan as an enemy, but she also poured out her heart, revealing that she had never forgotten him all this time. Prime Minister Yuan was moved and kept her by his side, caring for her attentively. The two toured mountains and waters together, inseparable. With the gentleman’s talent matching the lady’s beauty, they were a heavenly match that made others envious.

“Complete nonsense!” Yang Qiao slammed the table and stood up, her small face flushed red with anger. “Who spread such groundless rumors? I’ll go drag them out.”

Mo Zi propped up her cheek, smiling without much conscience. “Truly an official—such strong conviction in your words. But you’re in the Ministry of Rites, not the Ministry of Justice. How about applying for a transfer first?”

Yang Qiao sat down huffily. “I feel indignant on your behalf.”

“If you feel indignant on my behalf, that means you actually believed this nonsense.” A beautiful tale? Third Princess? So she and Yuan Cheng were childhood sweethearts after all.

“I… I didn’t believe it.” Yang Qiao stammered. “It’s just that everyone in the city knows your identity. If Prime Minister Yuan really has something with some Third Princess, that would be betrayal. What kind of beautiful tale is that?”

“You’ve been with me too long and forgotten that one husband with multiple wives is normal in this world.” Had her own persistence caused the women around her to learn from her? Was this a good thing or a bad thing?

“I don’t think so. Every woman in the world doesn’t want her husband to marry another—that’s what’s normal. Those who are magnanimous and help their husbands arrange it are all pretending.” Young women, young women—all have purity standards when it comes to emotions.

“You’ve grasped such a classic truth.” Mo Zi clapped her hands. “Impressive.”

Yang Qiao laughed at her teasing. “You must have great confidence in Yuan Cheng, right?”

Confidence? No, she simply believed that someone like the Third Princess couldn’t even be called trouble, compared to when life pursuits diverge completely.