Chapter 2: Starting the Endeavor

When Han Ranzhi mentioned the important matter, her expression also became serious. She looked up at Lu Yuner, “Sister Yuner, do you hold any grudge against me?”

Lu Yuner naturally understood the meaning behind her words. From the Minister of Revenue, a second-rank position, to a scholar, an eighth-rank position, those who didn’t know might think she had committed an offense and been demoted.

“No grudge. I guess Sister Ranzhi’s recommendation also has the Empress’s intention.” Lu Yuner smiled, as if she had seen through it, and continued, “First, to appoint the virtuous and capable; second, to combat corruption and promote integrity.”

Because Lu Yuner knew that the current Empress was the ninth princess of the previous dynasty, Mu Yue. Just because she was born in the cold palace and was not favored, she suffered all kinds of humiliation every day. Above, there was the bullying from her brothers and sisters, and below, there was the disrespect from the dog servants.

She survived in humiliation, hiding for years. After the Chaoyang Gate Incident, she finally ascended to the supreme position by stepping on the flesh and blood of her closest kin.

In the struggle for the throne, the victor becomes the ruler, and the defeated becomes the rebel. Looking back at history, emperors who killed their closest kin and usurped the throne were not few.

For this Empress to be able to ascend the throne, naturally, there must be an important figure behind her – the current and only prince of a different surname, Yun Qinwang Su Bai.

Yun Qinwang Su Bai was a hostage princess from the Yunnan Kingdom. Although the Yunnan Kingdom was small in territory, it was a land of outstanding people and abundant resources.

Every year, they offered a considerable amount of gold, silver, and jewels to the previous Empress, with the sole purpose of seeking peace and stability for the country.

However, the previous Empress was addicted to extravagance and had an insatiable greed. She betrayed her promises and ordered the deployment of troops, plunging the people of the Yunnan Kingdom into deep water and scorching fire, disregarding their lives, and forcibly occupying the Yunnan Kingdom as her own.

One had a grudge for the destruction of her country, and the other endured humiliation and bore heavy responsibilities. This also led to Su Bai and Mu Yue appreciating each other and cooperating to overthrow this rotten and corrupt dynasty.

However, after this Empress ascended the throne, she carried out bold reforms in the court and beyond, concentrating manpower and financial resources to build water conservancy and livelihood projects, and issued various commercial and educational decrees.

For example, allowing free trade in the market, allowing men to attend school, etc. Every action was truly for the benefit of the people.

Indeed, she was a benevolent and virtuous ruler who valued the wise and diligent in governance and loved the people.

This was also the reason why Lu Yuner, since becoming the Minister of Revenue, was willing to work tirelessly and personally handle official matters.

However, after all, the corruption of the previous dynasty was severe, and there were many obstacles. It was impossible to uproot it completely, and even if it was uprooted, capable people needed to be in place.

The key issue at present was the cultivation of talent, followed by the problem of corruption in education.

The Imperial Academy was the highest institution of learning and educational management, so it was bound to be the primary target.

Han Ranzhi smiled slightly and praised sincerely, “Sister Yuner is indeed intelligent!”

Then, her tone became somewhat heavy, and she tightly grasped the teacup, speaking solemnly, “You also know that I was born in a humble family. The path to pursuing education and entering officialdom was extremely arduous, and I know the pain of having lofty aspirations but no place to settle. Now, what the Empress has done is also my heart’s desire, but… it will inevitably lead to some difficulties. I know Sister Yuner is knowledgeable and has exceptional talent. Are you willing to…?”

“Willing. Sister Yuner is greatly honored.” Of course, Lu Yuner was willing. Those with ambitions to serve the country for a thousand miles, lamenting the lack of a long sword to pierce the sky, and pitying those who studied hard for ten years but failed to have their names on the list, should be valued.

Upon hearing the answer, Han Ranzhi smiled warmly, the gentle and radiant light in her heart gathering between her bright eyebrows. She raised the teacup, “Come, let’s have a drink with tea instead of wine.”

At this time, Liu Lan chuckled lightly beside them, “Alright, alright! Indeed, in a gathering of three, I’m the odd one out. However, you two can rest assured. With this general protecting you at the Imperial Academy, no one will dare to touch you in the slightest.”

In the latter half of her words, her tone became somewhat unrestrained. On the surface, she appeared to be uninhibited, but the sharpness inadvertently revealed in her eyes was not to be underestimated.

Lu Yuner was stunned. “Sister Lan, you’re going too?” How come she hadn’t heard about it?

Han Ranzhi explained, “Just now, when you were late, she made a spur-of-the-moment decision. I don’t know if the Chancellor will…”

Liu Lan suddenly laughed, brief and without warning, her tone carrying a sense of arrogance and unruliness, “With the prestige of I, General Liu, the Chancellor will have to give me face!”

Then, she curled the corner of her mouth into a mischievous grin, “Besides, doesn’t the Imperial Academy have a male courtyard? I have to go and take a look. Otherwise, when spring arrives and the flowers bloom, there will be no one to appreciate them. Won’t these flowers be heartbroken!”

Lu Yuner and Han Ranzhi exchanged glances and smiled without saying a word.

This was probably her true purpose.

At this time, the Yun Qinwang Mansion was brightly lit, and everyone in the mansion was on edge, bustling about.

In the Qinghua Courtyard.

Su Qingwan had already regained consciousness and was lying obediently on the soft couch, but those phoenix eyes were dull and unfocused, with a calm that filled the dark depths of his eyes.

Xiao Yuan, seeing the young master so quiet that it seemed unusual, couldn’t help but feel a few more pangs of guilt and self-blame in his heart.

Recalling the moment when they found the young master, he was completely drenched, sitting pitifully on the cold ground, covered with a lady’s outer garment. The young master was staring intently at a folding fan without a signature that he held tightly in his hand, lost in thought.

He had remained silent until now.

Outside the rosewood screen carved with peony patterns stood a woman in her forties, in the prime of her life, wearing a black robe with golden patterns. Without speaking, she exuded an oppressive aura that commanded respect.

At present, the thick ink color in her eyes that couldn’t be dissolved was about to burst out, and the resentment that filled her body was difficult to dispel, making people feel fearful.

A female physician knelt on the ground cautiously, swallowing, “Reporting to Yun Qinwang, the young master’s body has no major issues. He was just a bit frightened and caught a cold. With a few doses of calming medicine and cold medicine, he will recover after resting for a few days.”

Yun Qinwang’s tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and the corner of her mouth moved slightly, “You may leave.”

Subsequently, a guard came to report, “Reporting to Yun Qinwang, the people who harmed the young master have all been captured and are now imprisoned in the dungeons. The person who saved the young master has not been found yet.”

However, the conversation outside the screen fell entirely into Su Qingwan’s ears. A hint of moisture seemed to ripple in his dazed gaze.

With a deep expression, Yun Qinwang waved her hand, and the guard retreated. She walked behind the screen, and her cold gaze swept over Xiao Yuan like a sharp blade. Xiao Yuan immediately left in fear and trepidation.

Because he knew that if the young master hadn’t shielded him, his head hanging on his neck would have already been chopped off by Yun Qinwang.

Yun Qinwang looked at her pale-faced son. Her originally stern face softened a bit under the bright yellow candlelight, and her slightly moist eyes were filled with both distress and a hint of pain.

After a long while, she slowly spoke, her tone also softening a bit, “Why didn’t you listen to your mother’s words? Why did you sneak out repeatedly? If this time…”

“Just as well, I miss Father too.” Su Qingwan said expressionlessly, like a lifeless pond, filled with deathly stillness.

A sentence spoken in a light tone instantly pierced a certain part of Yun Qinwang’s heart. Her face instantly turned a few shades paler, and her fists clenched as if she was enduring something. After a moment, she let go and said in a tone that brooked no argument, “After you recover, go to the male courtyard of the Imperial Academy to study.”

Then she turned and left.

Su Qingwan’s nose soured, and his eyes became even redder. Gradually, a layer of mist welled up in his jet-black eyes.

He immediately turned over and curled up into a ball, like an abandoned little puppy, looking extremely pitiful, making people unable to resist wanting to hold him in their arms and cherish him with all their heart.

Afterward, he called Xiao Yuan into the room and instructed him a few words. Xiao Yuan then extinguished the lights and quietly closed the door and left.

The room gradually became quiet, completely merging with the darkness.

Su Qingwan slept alone in the room, gradually becoming more and more restless. However, he could not wake up, as if he was imprisoned in endless darkness. No matter how far he walked, there was only boundless emptiness and darkness.

Just as he was in despair and helplessness, suddenly, a familiar voice of his father sounded in his ears.

“Wanwan, Wanwan.”

That voice was more familiar to him than anything else. It was the voice he longed for day and night. This was the milk name his father had given him. That’s right! It was his father calling him.

Su Qingwan’s breathing quickened, and the corners of his phoenix eyes slightly reddened due to excitement. His entire heart felt like it was burning with fierce flames, suppressing the scorching emotions in his heart.

He looked in the direction of the voice, and the darkness before his eyes was split open by a beam of light. His father, whom he yearned for night after night, stood in that beam of sacred light with a gentle smile on his face.

Su Qingwan finally broke down, and the tears in his eyes poured out in the next second. He ran towards that beam of light with hot tears, and the moment he stood in the light, the surroundings instantly transformed into the scenes of his past days with his father.

His father was sitting in the back garden, sewing clothes for him stitch by stitch, looking at him with a mix of exasperation and amusement. “My Wanwan is really a little mischief-maker. Where have you run off to play again? Come here, let your father measure and see if it’s too big or too small.”

Su Qingwan obediently walked over, but with each step he took, his feet felt incredibly heavy as if they were weighed down by lead.

“Oh? Why is my Wanwan crying? Who bullied you? Quickly tell your father, and I’ll back you up.”

Su Qingwan said in a pitiful tone, “It’s Mother. Mother bullied Wanwan.”

“Alright, your father will go settle the score with your mother right now!” His father gently patted his head and left with a smile.

Su Qingwan suddenly realized something and anxiously shouted, “Father! Father, don’t go!”

As soon as the words fell, everything around him turned dark.

Suddenly, the scene returned to the lively performance of the September Hundred Plays Troupe. Su Qingwan and Xiao Yuan were separated by the surging crowd. Alone, he was entangled by three ruffians from the market. Frightened, he ran around in a panic, not knowing where to go.

The surroundings became darker and quieter, while the three ruffians chased after him relentlessly. He fell into the Liushui River by accident.

The river water of the Liushui River was bone-chillingly cold, and the needle-like chill drilled into his bones through his limbs.

Unable to swim, he could only wait for death.

Gradually, the surroundings became very quiet. The feeling of suffocation came head-on, tightly gripping his throat. His five senses were slowly fading, and his entire body and mind were sinking.

Su Qingwan only remembered that just before he closed his eyes, a blurry figure with a sacred glow rushed towards him.

At that moment, he knew that there was someone other than his father who would rush towards him with no regard for their own safety, just like his father.

When he regained some consciousness, he could never see that face clearly. Seeing that person about to leave, Su Qingwan became anxious and stretched out his hand, wanting to hold onto that person tightly.

He exclaimed excitedly, “Who are you? Don’t go! Tell me who you are. Don’t leave!…”

Su Qingwan suddenly opened his eyes from the dream. His hand was frozen in the air, and realizing it was a dream, he lowered his hand after a long while.

His eyes were filled with desolation, and on his face that had lost its spirit, a hint of despair was revealed, as if his soul had an inconsolable pain.

Su Qingwan got out of bed barefoot and, under the gentle moonlight, came to the side of the wardrobe. He placed his hand on the neatly folded outer garment and slowly caressed the white magnolia embroidered on it, bit by bit.

A bright smile bloomed on his immensely satisfied face, slowly rippling and spreading, reaching the corners of his eyebrows.

Afterward, Su Qingwan hugged that garment and returned to bed, cherishing it as if it were precious and using it as a pillow. Accompanied by a pleasant, faint, cold fragrance, he slowly fell asleep.

In the latter half of the night, the moon was white, and the wind was clear, peaceful and quiet.

Su Qingwan slept very soundly, with a faint smile hanging on the corners of his lips.