Chapter 505: Pamper On then, It’s Quite Nice
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Marquis Bo An hollered in fury. This anger was also directed at Zhou Nichang. He didn’t expect that his daughter, who was so delicate and charming in front of him, could be so belligerent!
“Master, you have to seek justice for Second Young Miss. Second Young Miss just wanted to enter the palace to take a look. What did she do wrong to end up having people scheme against her? And the person who schemed against her is her most trusted elder sister!” When Madam An saw Marquis Bo An getting angry, she dabbed at her tears with her handkerchief as tears poured down freely.
Marquis Bo An felt a headache coming on.
“Alright, don’t cry. Why can’t we talk things out properly? Why must she hit her elder sister?” Marquis Bo An was actually more inclined to believe Zhou Xiangrong’s version of the incident. After all, Zhou Xiangrong had already agreed to bring Zhou Nichang into the palace. What good would it do her to harm Zhou Nichang? This would only turn Marquis Bo An’s Residence into a laughing stock in public.
“Nichang is not young anymore. She still hasn’t learned the rules that she should have. Look at her just now. Where is the reservation that a lady from a noble family should have? Later on, copy the “Lessons for Women” ten times. If she doesn’t learn it well, she shouldn’t step outside the residence to embarrass herself!”
Zhou Nichang couldn’t believe she suffered such a huge grievance. Not only did Marquis Bo An not stand up for her, but he even wanted to punish her. She was so angry that she started crying.
Madam An could tell that Marquis Bo An was really angry and did not dare to make a fuss. However, she hated Zhou Xiangrong even more. This bitch had hidden herself so well in front of her previously. Her methods were really quite skillful!
Although Marquis Bo An was angry that Zhou Nichang did not behave like a proper lady, he was also angry at Zhou Xiangrong’s disrespectful attitude towards him. “Follow me to the study.” He wanted to know what the Empress had said to Zhou Xiangrong.
Zhou Xiangrong followed Marquis Bo An to the study. When he turned around, he was in time to catch Zhou Xiangrong sitting down on a chair.
Marquis Bo An was stunned for a moment. As he looked at Zhou Xiangrong’s tender face, he felt an inexplicable sense of oppression.
Zhou Xiangrong raised her eyes to look at Marquis Bo An. When she saw that he was still in a daze, she didn’t want to waste any more time and slowly said, “Father, what do you want to say to me?”
Marquis Bo An had originally prepared a harsh dressing down for her but now, he wasn’t quite able to open his mouth.
“What did Her Imperial Highness the Empress say to you?”
Zhou Xiangrong took a sip of tea before saying, “The Empress said that she wanted me to carry out a major task.”
Marquis Bo An was surprised. “What major task?”
Zhou Xiangrong told him about establishing the women’s academy. When Marquis Bo An heard this, he was even more astounded. The Empress was actually willing to let Zhou Xiangrong handle such a big matter. What did this mean? It meant that the Empress held her in high regard!
If his daughter was able to obtain the Empress’s favor, wouldn’t those who looked down on Marquis Bo An’s Residence kneel before him and beg him henceforth?
Marquis Bo An could already imagine the joy of being praised to the heavens by other people.
“Good, this is good. Do as the Empress says then. If there’s anything you don’t know how to do, feel free to ask Father. Father will give you advice.”
Zhou Xiangrong wasn’t counting on him to give her any advice. The reason she told him was simply that she thought her identity as the daughter of Marquis Bo An’s Residence was still useful.
“Father, you have also seen for yourself. There is some misunderstanding between Mistress, Second Younger Sister, and me. I hope that when I am outside carrying out work, I will not be troubled by the matters of the women’s quarters in the back courtyard. Otherwise, if it affects the Empress’s matters, I will not be able to bear the responsibility.”
Marquis Bo An weighed the pros and cons in his heart. If Zhou Xiangrong was put in an important position, then wouldn’t the Empress regard him, her father, more highly? For all he knew, he might even be promoted at that juncture!
The more he thought about it, the happier Marquis Bo An felt. It was as if he would be promoted soon.
“You can just do whatever you want. As for your mother, I will tell her to discipline your younger sister.”
Zhou Xiangrong smiled in satisfaction. “I know that Younger Sister was anxious. Father, don’t worry. We are sisters. When the matter of the women’s academy is accomplished, I will think of a way to bring Younger Sister over and let her fight for some credit. Even if she can’t enter the palace in the future, she can still get the Empress to bestow on her a marriage with a high-ranking noble family.”
Zhou Xiangrong’s words made Marquis Bo An really happy. “Good, good. You’re indeed my good daughter.”
After washing up at night, Su Ying lay in bed and told Xiao Jin about Zhou Xiangrong’s proposal.
“There are also women doing private studies in many noble families in various parts of the Chu State. It’s not difficult to establish an academy. If you want to do it, just go ahead. Just let me know if you need anything.”
Su Ying knew that Xiao Jin would support her, but knowing it was completely different from hearing it from his mouth. The feeling was truly different. “What are you laughing at?”
Xiao Jin caressed her eyes, which had turned into slits from smiling. Even his voice had become hoarse.
“Xiao Jin, I suddenly seem to understand something.”
“Hmm? What?”
“You’re pampering me.”
“I am.” He held her face and gave her a kiss. He really couldn’t get enough of her.
Su Ying felt that he was too lovey-dovey, but she was still so happy that she wanted to laugh. “Just pamper on then. It’s quite nice.”
“I think it’s quite nice too.”
The couple’s happy laughter could be heard outside the door, and Bai Shuang and Zhou Qing laughed along as if they were infected.
The relationship between the Emperor and the Empress was very good. It was so good that if anyone wanted to ruin it, they would kill that person!
Zhou Xiangrong was very efficient. Early the next morning, she delivered the proposal for the women’s academy for the commoners to Su Ying.
The proposal was as thick as a palm, and it took Su Ying an entire day to finish reading it.
The proposal was done in great detail, and many details had been thought of. What Su Ying didn’t think of, Zhou Xiangrong did. This girl had some ability.
Su Ying told Zhou Qing to summon Zhang Shuming. She instructed him to ask the Ministry of Works if there was a suitable place to set up an academy. It would be best if there was an empty building available so that it would be more convenient to use.
The capital city was such a big place, so there were bound to be empty residences. In addition, the Ministry of Works didn’t dare to be careless since it was a place Su Ying wanted. In three days, they picked out several prospective sites for Su Ying to choose from.
“Your Imperial Highness, please have a look at this site. This was the former site of an academy when the Founding Emperor was still in power. Later, when more and more people enrolled in the academy because of its reputation, the academy moved elsewhere. This old site was thus left vacant.”
Zhang Shuming handed a drawing to Su Ying. The drawing depicted the general appearance of the academy. She would need to inspect the place on the spot to know if it was suitable.
“Go prepare the carriage. I will go out and take a look.” Anyway, there was nothing much to do in the palace, so she would treat it as going on a trip outside for a breath of fresh air.
Zhang Shuming knew how much the Emperor doted on the Empress. If the Empress wanted to go, the Emperor would naturally not stop her. She only needed to inform him.
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness. Your servant will go and prepare it now.”
Su Ying was going out of the palace to inspect the site and didn’t want to turn it into a grand affair. Thus, she told the Imperial Guards to change their uniforms and follow her. If outsiders saw her, they would just think that she was the mistress of some aristocratic family.
The former site of the academy was relatively close to the residential area of the commoners. There were quite a lot of people coming and going here.
After the horse carriage came to a stop, and Su Ying alighted.
As it was an abandoned old site, the outer walls and gates of the academy were very old. The paint on the gates was almost gone.
The Imperial Guard took out the key and opened the gate. As soon as the gate was opened, an overwhelming plume of dust burst out..
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