The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 16

If that’s the case, Song Luoning is too pitiful.

No!

How could a delicate and frail young lady like Song Luoning endure the male protagonist’s torment? This absolutely cannot happen.

Xiao Yu’s expression gradually became serious. Now that she’d guessed the ending, should she still let the female protagonist end up with the Prince Qi?

Maybe the female protagonist could just be by herself? That’s not a bad idea.

She continued:

Seeing that the tide had turned, the Prince Ning set fire to his own palace. Before long, the entire Prince Ning’s palace was engulfed in a blaze, bringing an end to the chaotic struggle between the two princes.

After the fire was extinguished, Prince Qi’s men only found a few scorched remains in the palace.

Prince Qi successfully ascended the throne.

Lu Bairuo stood on the ten-meter-high city wall. Everything was finally over, but there was no joy on her face. Instead, a faint sadness filled her eyes.

Where was she to go now?

Was she to be trapped in the cage behind her for the rest of her life?

She was unwilling.

At the same time, she knew very well that Prince Qi—no, the Emperor now—would never let her leave.

In the evening, the Emperor came to Lu Bairuo’s residence for dinner and probed, “I will make Bairuo my Empress, and we will share this land together. Didn’t Bairuo want more people to learn to read and write? I’ve already decreed the establishment of the Royal Academy. By then, more ambitious scholars will serve me, and the Great Qi will experience an unprecedented era of prosperity.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Bairuo’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained calm. She had once said that she wanted women to be able to read and write like men, no longer dependent on them.

Now, it seemed the Emperor didn’t agree with her vision. He was subtly reminding her of her place.

Alas, so be it.

I don’t want to stay in the palace anyway.

So, she feigned flattery, “Your Majesty is right. The empire has just stabilized, and it’s natural to need talented people to serve you. Your Majesty’s move is brilliant.”

The Emperor said, “Then I will officially make Bairuo the Empress tomorrow.”

Lu Bairuo immediately knelt down, “Your Majesty, I only wish to stay by your side in this life and do not desire to be the Empress. Moreover, my family has no power to assist Your Majesty. The court is still unstable, and there are still some forces eyeing you covetously. At this time, for the sake of the country, it would be wise for Your Majesty to choose someone who can truly help you to be the Empress.”

The Emperor pretended to ponder for a moment, then said with feigned pain, “This is truly a disservice to Bairuo.”

Over the next few days, Lu Bairuo found a few trustworthy people around her and gave them instructions. She then took a substance that would simulate death. This substance wouldn’t kill her immediately but would make her appear to be suffering from a grave illness, with doctors unable to find a cause, until she finally expired.

After Lu Bairuo died, she woke up again in a strange room, a place she hadn’t arranged for herself.

Lu Bairuo was startled. Before she could figure out what was going on, she saw a woman dressed as a scholar enter with a basin of hot water. Subconsciously, she hugged the blanket tightly, her eyes cautiously fixed on the woman.

“You don’t need to be afraid. I mean no harm,” the woman said as she placed the wooden basin beside the bed, wrung out a cloth, and handed it to her. “Wipe yourself off first.”

Lu Bairuo looked at the cloth offered to her and hesitated for a moment, then frowned and asked, “Where is this? How did I get here?”

What happened to the people I arranged for?

Seeing that she didn’t take it, the woman didn’t insist. She draped the cloth over the edge of the basin and stood up. “I found you outside Taoyuan Village. You were unconscious and there was no one with you.”

Taoyuan Village?

I’ve never heard of it.

Lu Bairuo wasn’t giving up and continued to ask, “Which county is Taoyuan Village in? And who are you?”

The woman replied, “Taoyuan Village is a small village in Qingzhou County. As for me, I’m just a teacher. If you have no other questions, please get up and have some dinner.”

Lu Bairuo suppressed the doubts in her heart, got up, and followed the woman to the side hall for a meal.

After a few days of living together, she learned that the woman’s name was Ming Huan. She had started a school for women, and any woman could come and study there. She didn’t charge any fees for those from poor families.

In addition to teaching, Ming Huan also helped people with their illnesses and was highly respected in the area.

Gradually, a subtle change occurred in the relationship between Lu Bairuo and Ming Huan. After a while, the court’s taxes became heavier and heavier. The people suffered greatly, and many ambitious individuals rose in rebellion.

Many of Ming Huan’s female students also joined the rebel army. A few were courageous and resourceful, quickly distinguishing themselves and becoming excellent generals.

When the Great Qi fell, the female students seized the opportunity to establish a new dynasty, becoming the first female emperors in history. She remembered her teacher’s teachings and established the first women’s academy. Ming Huan and Lu Bairuo then taught together at the academy.

Gradually, one women’s academy after another appeared across the country. Women could also serve as officials in the court and have their own legal households.

The new dynasty was no longer male-dominated, and the powerful could no longer arbitrarily buy and sell slaves. Instead, it emphasized equality for all.

“I’ve gone on and on, so the young lady should understand now, right?”

Sure enough, after the story was finished, Song Luoning was deep in thought. After a long pause, she said, “Your story is unprecedented and very novel. It’s something many people wouldn’t even dare to imagine, for women to become court officials. Where did you read these stories? Such a shocking storybook would at least get you thrown into prison to be tortured, even if you weren’t charged with treason.”

“…”

Oh, my god!

She’s telling her a story, and she’s just thinking about turning her in.

Naturally, she couldn’t admit that the last part was something she made up. She was worried that Song Luoning would actually report her.

This was no small matter.

She had to try to confuse her. In fact, it wasn’t a complete lie. The part before the ending was from a novel she had read, which was called a storybook back then.

“I read these storybooks a long time ago, and I don’t know where they are anymore.” If asked again, she would just say she knew nothing.

Who doesn’t know how to play dumb?

Anyway, she couldn’t let the handle fall into Song Luoning’s hands.

Song Luoning pursed her lips, staring at her through the bed curtains for a while.

It made her feel a little creepy.

Xiao Yu cleared her throat.

The sound of the cough was particularly prominent in the quiet room.

Song Luoning withdrew her gaze. There was nothing she could do if this pervert wanted to play dumb, but the story she told was much more interesting than the ones told by the storytellers in the teahouses.

She decided not to hold it against her for now.

Song Luoning thought for a moment and asked, “Husband, will you have another story for me tomorrow?”

Why is she getting addicted?

It was just telling stories. She knew plenty. As long as Song Luoning didn’t report her, occasionally doting on the young lady was fine.

“I do have some, but I’ll need to have time first.” Xiao Yu deliberately didn’t give her a definite promise, wanting Song Luoning to know that if she wanted to hear a story, it depended on her mood.

Easily gaining the upper hand over the young lady.

“Then I’ll wait until my husband has time to tell me another one,” she said, then turned over and lay down, pulling the blanket over herself, her eyes fixed on Xiao Yu.

Seeing that she had laid down, Xiao Yu didn’t say anything else and collapsed onto the bedding. At this point, she was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open.

Although the workload for the day was nothing compared to her usual training intensity, this body’s constitution was simply too poor. After a day, her back ached, her legs were sore, and she had no energy left.

Before she could think about it further, her consciousness began to fade.

Not long after, she began to snore lightly.

It was only then that Song Luoning felt relieved and closed her eyes.

If she hadn’t been worried that this pervert would take advantage of her, she would have fallen asleep the moment she lay down. Although she hadn’t done much all day, she was mentally exhausted.

Because she was so tired yesterday, when Song Luoning woke up, she was the only one in the room. On the table were a bowl of rice porridge and a plate of stir-fried eggplant that had a somewhat dark color.

She got up and searched the courtyard, but she couldn’t find Xiao Yu. She frowned, then turned back to the room. After washing up, she ate breakfast and then leaned against the bed to read the storybook.

Around noon, she heard a sound in the courtyard. She opened the door and saw Xiao Yu cleaning the dirt off a hoe, a piece of paper clutched in her hand.

Song Luoning pursed her lips and stepped forward. She said softly, “Husband, you’re back. What is that in your hand…?”

Xiao Yu didn’t hide it. “A residential plot. I just bought it from the village head. It’s the land right next to our place.”

She had gotten up early that morning, made breakfast for Song Luoning, and then gone to the field to till the soil. When she came back, she happened to run into Chen Ziyi and asked him about residential plots. He took her to his house, where his father was the village head. She explained the situation, paid the money, and he readily approved the plot for her. He even promised to help her find a few people to build a courtyard wall.

Song Luoning listened to her, frowned, and looked at the empty plot of land, not knowing what this pervert was planning.

It would be best to figure it out to prevent her from doing anything reckless.

“Is husband planning to build a house?”

Huh?

Build a house?

Xiao Yu didn’t understand why Song Luoning would think that and shook her head.

Song Luoning’s frown deepened. Why would she buy a residential plot if she’s not going to build a house? What other devious plans does this pervert have?

“I plan to build a courtyard wall. The current yard is too small. It’s not nearly enough. The horse-drawn carriage alone takes up most of the space, and the horse also needs a stable,” Xiao Yu explained.

She couldn’t mention the hulling machine and winnowing fan for now.

This explanation was reasonable, and it was what she had told the village head.

Song Luoning’s frown relaxed a little after hearing Xiao Yu’s explanation. It was true that keeping a horse in the yard would create a strong smell. Building another courtyard was a good idea.

Song Luoning curved her lips into a smile. “Husband is always so thoughtful.”

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