Chapter 518: Hell-bent On Not Letting Him Go
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Moon’s house was at the end after going down the path. Compared to other houses, their house seemed to be a little higher. However, when Xiao Jin entered, he still had to lower his head so that he wouldn’t hit the door frame.
As the group walked through the door, the light inside immediately became dim. Only when the door and windows were open could weak sunlight shine in.
When she heard Moon’s voice, the woman walked out from the back of the house. She was very surprised to see Su Ying and her group.
Immediately after that, she greeted them warmly with a smile. “Our place is simple and crude. I hope all of you don’t mind.”
Moon smiled brightly. She did not feel inferior at all because of her family’s circumstances.
“Mother, I was the one who invited Big Sister and her group to come over and eat the dates you made. Quickly go and make them. Don’t let Big Sister and the rest wait for too long.”
The woman smiled and nodded. “Ah, sure, sure. Mother will do it now.”
Moon brought out small stools for Su Ying and the rest to sit on. As the stool was too small, Xiao Jin looked particularly comical sitting on it.
Who would have thought that the ruler of a kingdom would squeeze into this hut, waiting to eat dates?
The two little fellows were very curious about the environment here but they were very well-behaved and did not let their eyes wander around.
“Big Sister, you said that I do not need to prepare anything when I go to the academy to study tomorrow? What if I didn’t bring anything because I didn’t know? Will I make the teacher displeased?”
“No, you just need to bring your personal belongings and take a bowl and chopsticks along.”
Moon’s face was filled with anticipation. She wished she could go to the academy right now.
“The Empress is truly a good person. If not for the Empress, I would never know what an academy looks like.” Her mother came out with a plate of dates. From afar, Su Ying could smell the sweet fragrance.
“Everyone please try it. If you like it, there’s still more inside. I’ll pack some for you to bring back.”
Don’t trouble yourself. We shouldn’t have dropped in unexpectedly.”
Xiao Jin exchanged pleasantries with the woman and took the opportunity to ask about the situation here.
Sigh! The people who live here are the poorest families in the capital. They’re even worse than the villagers outside the city. At least they have fields and land, while we have nothing.”
He learned from the woman that most of the people who lived here had left their homes to work in the capital. As they were too far away from home, they could not go back under normal circumstances. If they had more money, they might be able to go back to their hometown to check on their homes. However, it was difficult to earn money now. They could barely solve the problem of food and clothing, much less talk about saving money to go back to their hometown. The people here were just trying to survive.
Therefore, when they learned that the Empress had opened a women’s academy to enroll women from poor places like them, they were very happy. Moon is a girl, so we can’t expect her to become famous. We just hope that she can learn something and not suffer like us for the rest of her life.”
‘Mother, don’t worry. After I learn how to write in the academy, I will come back and teach my elder brothers. I will let my elder brothers learn as well. When my elder brothers can read, they will be able to do jobs in the restaurants. From then on, they won’t suffer so much hardship.”
To them, a job as a waiter was a decent job.
The sky gradually darkened, and the room had become almost completely dark. The woman lit the only oil lamp and asked Su Ying and the others to stay for dinner, but Su Ying turned her down.
To this family, the daily rations were barely enough. If Su Ying’s group were to eat with them, they would probably end up eating the family’s food supply for tomorrow.
“Big Sister, let me send you out.”
“Alright.”
Moon walked in front with an oil lamp. It had just turned dark, but the road was so dark that one could hardly see the ground under his feet.
“Big Sister, take care.”
“Alright, go back. Be careful.”
“Okay.”
When Su Ying and her group returned to the horse carriage, the Imperial Guards had already laid out the luminous pearls used for illumination. The interior of the carriage was illuminated by a gentle light.
The two children were tired after walking for a day. They fell asleep in their parents’ arms not long after they got into the carriage.
Today’s encounters made the atmosphere in the carriage a little gloomy. Su Ying broke the silence. “Although their lives are hard, they’re lucky that they don’t have to be troubled by war.”
Xiao Jin looked up in surprise and immediately smiled. “You and I are thinking of the same thing.” Compared to the cruelty and displacement from their homes during the war, it was considered a blessing to be able to have a corner of peace.
“However, as the ruler of a kingdom, I still hope that my people can eat well and wear warm clothes.”
You can do it, Xiao Jin. I believe in you.”
“Mm-hmm.”
After returning to the palace, Zhou Qing, who had stayed in the palace, brought over a name list.
“Your Imperial Highness, this is from Miss Zhou. She said that the academy had already recruited all the students. This is the name list and the background of the students. Please have a look, Your Imperial Highness.”
Su Ying flipped open the booklet and saw the names on it at a glance.
Practically all the names were crude, simple constructions like Da Ya or manifestations of their parents’s hope of getting a male descendant like Zhao Di, and Lai Di.
Take it to the Ministry of Revenue and let them verify it. Come back and report to me again after they have verified the names.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
After a day of walking, Su Ying took a hot bath at night before lying down on her bed.
When she woke up again, it was already bright outside.
As she gazed upon the rays of golden light that filtered through the window into the room, Su Ying’s first thought was whether that little girl, Moon, had arrived at the academy.
At this point, the morning court session in the main hall had already ended. Xiao Jin and a few ministers went to the Imperial study to discuss the most important matters at hand, and after the discussion ended, he dismissed the courtiers.
“Your Majesty, Prince Yu requests an audience.”
Xiao Jin’s hand which was flipping through the memorial paused. “Send him in.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Prince Yu strode into the hall and bowed.
“Prince Yu, no need for formalities. Please rise.”
Prince Yu straightened his body and said, “Your Majesty, I came here to inform you that my Emperor Father has already agreed to your conditions in the peace treaty. The things that Your Majesty requested for have already been dispatched from the Nan State and will arrive in the capital city in a few days.”
Xiao Jin only nodded and replied with a simple “Good.”
Prince Yu’s brows twitched as he continued, “Emperor Father sent me to the Chu State to negotiate peace. After those things arrive, I will naturally have to go to the border to receive them and bring them back to the capital city. After taking into account the time needed, I will have to set off from the capital now. When those things arrive at the border of the Nan State, I will be just in time to meet the delivery convoy.”
“Prince Yu, you mean you want to head to the border to welcome the convoy from the Nan State?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”
Xiao Jin slowly shook his head. “There’s no need to go through so much trouble.
I will send people to stand guard at the border and receive the Nan State’s convoy.”
Prince Yu clenched the fists inside his sleeves. “I’m worried that the people who come here won’t carry out their duties thoroughly enough and end up angering Your Majesty. It won’t be good if the diplomatic relations between the two kingdoms are damaged.”
Xiao Jin laughed heartily. “Prince Yu, you’re thinking too much. I’ve already seen the sincerity of the Nan State. Prince Yu, you can have fun in the capital city while you wait for the Nan State to send the things over.”
Prince Yu’s nails almost dug into his palm. No matter what Prince Yu said, Xiao Jin was hell-bent on not letting him leave.. Could it be that this monarch still wanted to hold him hostage in the Chu State?