Yan Wan is reborn as a legitimate wife: Curing Ruyi's Douyi syndrome

After women were allowed to take the imperial examinations, the number of female officials in the imperial court increased significantly.

After Gu Jing completed his three-year probationary period as a junior official, he was promoted to the sixth-rank official position of Jinglishi. In the third year of Lingyun, he was promoted to the position of Assistant Minister of Revenue, while Xue Qiong was promoted to the position of Assistant Minister of Personnel.

After completing her probationary period, Hesheli Wenxi went to Mongolia with her husband and served as the Right Vice Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs for Mongolia, in charge of the Dzungar Khanate, working with Saren and Xiangyun.

After completing his probationary period as a junior compiler, Jia Tan was promoted to Assistant Minister of Works, where he worked alongside his father, Jia Zheng. Jia Ying and Jia Qi were promoted to their original posts without being reassigned.

Lin Jiang was promoted by his father and in-laws. After completing his probationary period, he was appointed by Jingqin as the Salt Commissioner. Later, Gao Bin taught him all about water management and he was promoted to Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai and Governor-General of the Jiangnan Waterways.

The rise in women's status also brought about sweeping changes in social customs. Gradually, the custom of the eldest daughter taking charge of the household and the second daughter getting married emerged in society.

Over the course of ten years, Jingqin was tough on foreign powers and expanded the territory: he repeatedly ordered the repulsion of invading Russian and Japanese pirates; he was lenient on domestic issues: first, he ordered the reduction of taxes, and later he implemented the land tax reform.

Jingqin personally established the Feather Guard, which was known as the "Upright Guard" among the people. It repeatedly captured corrupt officials, which won praise from the public.

Yangxindian

Jingqin, along with Qingyou, Mianyin, and Mianzhao, reviewed the memorials. Jinzhong quietly entered, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty."

Jingqin looked up and asked, "What is it?"

Jinzhong glanced at Mianyin and the others, then blinked awkwardly.

Jingqin stood up and instructed, "Qingyou, Mianyin, Mianzhao, you keep watch for now, your mother will be right back."

Qingyou, Mianyin, and Mianzhao: "Okay."

Hendon

Jinzhong whispered, "Imperial Physician Xia said that the newly appointed imperial physician who took the imperial examination has left the Emperor Emeritus covered in so many wounds that there is not a single unhealed spot on his body. He wants to ask the Emperor if we should change to another imperial physician to treat the Emperor Emeritus?"

Jingqin pondered for a moment, then said with difficulty, "The imperial edict seeking medical help has been posted for so long, and this is one of the few places willing to come and treat the Emperor Emeritus. Even if we were to find another capable person now, we wouldn't be able to find one. How was that imperial physician's treatment?"

Jinzhong understood: "The Emperor Emeritus's illness is not an ordinary one, so we cannot use ordinary methods. Although that imperial physician was a bit too heavy-handed, the Emperor Emeritus did react."

Jingqin sighed and said, "Never mind, I will go to the Yuanmingyuan to see Father Emperor in a few days."

Jinzhong: "Yes, Your Majesty is benevolent and filial."

Wei Yanwan strode in, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble subject greets you."

Jingqin: "Get up, what's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"

Wei Yanwan: "Qingying, a slave in the Censorate, can't hold on any longer... She wants to see the Emperor."

Jingqin asked in surprise, "To see me?"

Jingqin didn't have the habit of attending to people's final moments. Her more than ten years in power had kept her so busy that she had forgotten about Ruyi's existence. There was nothing she wanted to see now; watching it would only remind her of some bad memories.

Jingqin said indifferently, "She has figured out how that bowl of soup turned into poison? Since she wants to die knowing the truth, Yanwan, you go in my place. I don't have time."

Wei Yanwan: "Yes."

……

Ministry of Punishment

Wei Yanwan hurried over.

Ruyi's hair had turned completely white from the torment, and seeing that Ruyi's time was near, Yuhu did not order her to be given poison.

Hearing footsteps, Ruyi raised her head, but she was still disappointed; only Wei Yanwan came.

Seeing that Ruyi was looking at her, Wei Yanwan explained, "Your Majesty is busy. If you have something to say, please say it first, and I will tell Your Majesty."

Ruyi suddenly laughed, but her laughter was hoarse from being punished for so long, sounding more like crying than laughing.

Ruyi was surprised that Jingqin wouldn't come. Wouldn't it be satisfying to deliver the final blow to an enemy before they die? Or was it that she wasn't even considered an enemy by Jingqin?

Wei Yanwan frowned and instructed, "Yu Gongyu, you can go out first. She may have something to say."

Yu Hu: "Yes, Wei Gongyu."

Ruyi said hoarsely, "Back then, it was you who switched the medicine, wasn't it?"

Rong Pei and Ling Yunche were shocked and rushed to the prison door, shouting, "Shut up!"

Wei Yanwan smiled innocently: "That medicinal soup was personally brewed by you, and delivered by your people. How could it have been switched?"

Even if Ruyi was stupid, she had figured it out over the years and said hoarsely, "Imperial Physician Jiang is one of your people."

Wei Yanwan smiled faintly and remained silent.

Ruyi knew that Wei Yanwan had admitted it. She lowered her head and smiled, but tears welled up in her eyes as she smiled. She laughed at her own stupidity for giving her enemy a free ride, and cried at her own foolishness for falling into the trap.

As Ruyi cried, she looked up and stared intently at Wei Yanwan, saying in a sinister tone, "It's my fault for being less skilled and falling into your trap. Unfortunately, I still won this round today."

Wei Yanwan said indifferently, "If you say you've won, then you've won. Anyway, they won't survive."

Ruyi asked incredulously, "What do you mean by this?"

Wei Yanwan: "That's exactly what I mean. If they hadn't been ordered to poison you, they would have been executed long ago. You don't actually think it was your scheme today that killed them, do you?"

Rong Pei and Ling Yunche finally realized why Ruyi had been insisting on seeing the Emperor – she wanted to drag them down with her!

Rong Pei and Ling Yunche broke down, cursing Ruyi in the prison cell. Knowing that Ruyi didn't care about her parents and relatives, Rong Pei and Ling Yunche cursed Ruyi with every word they uttered...

Ruyi could no longer hold on, and her supporting hand lost its strength. Wei Yanwan clapped her hands, and the people behind her came out and dealt with Rong Pei and Ling Yunche on the spot.

Ruyi watched as Rong Pei and Ling Yunche collapsed to the ground, dying instantly.

……

Decades later, Jingqin suddenly ordered the lifting of the sea ban, allowing all coastal cities to receive foreign visitors, causing an uproar in the court.

early morning

The courtiers were outraged, listing the unreasonable aspects of lifting the sea ban and pleading with Jingqin not to act impulsively.

Ling Yun, the Vice Minister of Revenue, came from a merchant family. He saw the potential in the maritime ban and debated with the scholars in the court.

Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Gu Jing also sided with her friend, arguing her case forcefully. This angered her elderly father, Censor Gu, to the point that he shouted on the spot that he would put righteousness above family ties.

Lin Jiang, the Minister of Works, also agreed to lift the maritime ban, and Xue Qiong and Jia Tan occasionally echoed his sentiments.

Seeing that less than half of the people opposed the move, Jingqin waved her hand and lifted the sea ban. Mianyin and Mianzhao personally went to various coastal cities to supervise the implementation, and Yuyiwei (feathered guards) were dispatched to escort them throughout the process.

After the lifting of the maritime ban, the entire Qing Dynasty made a fortune. Domestic goods were highly sought after by foreigners, and the demand for domestic products far exceeded the supply once the maritime ban was lifted.

The social atmosphere in the Qing Dynasty was very open-minded. Seeing that there was profit to be made, men, women, young and old all pitched in, some weaving cloth and others picking tea.

To ensure food security, Jingqin had no choice but to increase commercial taxes, encourage cultivation in inland cities, and reduce or exempt agricultural taxes.

Fortunately, after going overseas, excellent foreign seeds and technologies were also brought into China, so Jingqin does not have to worry about food shortages for the time being.

In her communication with the outside world, Jingqin also realized the importance of encouraging inventions, and added a new research institute. As long as a feasible new technology can be presented, it can be directly joined by the institute and enjoy a salary and official position after being assessed by the court.

In terms of the legal system, Jingqin increased the penalties for crimes such as spreading rumors and human trafficking. During his reign, he exiled many纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy and powerful families who squandered their wealth), earning him the nickname "纨绔杀" (sons of wealthy and powerful families killers).

Xue Chongfan of the Xue family was sentenced to death by Jingqin for attempting to force a marriage with a woman he had failed to seduce. Xue Qiong, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was also implicated and reprimanded by Jingqin.

After Mianyin and Mianzhao returned to the capital, they were each granted the titles of "Ling" and "Zhuang". In terms of political achievements, Mianyin was superior to Mianzhao.

After Qingyou married his wife, Lady Borjigit, he returned to Mongolia once every six months, just like Jingqin had done back then.

Mianyin married Liu Yanzhi, the grandson of Liu Tongxun, and they had two daughters. Mianzhao married Abini, the son of Zhangjia Agui, and they had a son and a daughter.

The ministers were stunned by Jingqin's actions. Prince Qingyou had become a half-Mongol son-in-law, the second princess Mianyin had married a Han Chinese man, and the eldest princess Mianzhao had limited political ability... The ministers had no idea which heir to bet on.

Fortunately, Jingqin quickly provided an answer. Three years after the death of the Empress Dowager, when Jingqin was fifty years old, she abdicated and passed the throne to Mianyin, Liu Yanzhi, who became the first Han Chinese empress of the Qing Dynasty.

Jingqin transformed into the Emperor Emeritus, Empress Zhuer was promoted to Empress Emeritus, and Noble Lady Abo became the Emperor Emeritus Noble Lady. The three of them moved into the Yuanmingyuan together.

When Jingqin turned sixty, Mianyin and the other two suggested throwing a big party for her, inviting all sixty-year-olds in the world to celebrate together. Jingqin scolded them severely for being out of touch with reality.

When Jingqin was sixty-five years old, she seemed to have a premonition and went to Hongli's bedside to personally feed him the medicine.

Hongli's hands trembled as he tried to speak, but years of illness had rendered him speechless. He could only keep shaking his hands, hoping that his thoughtful daughter Jingqin would understand what he meant.

Jingqin held Hongli's hand tightly and promised, "Father, rest assured, Jingqin guarantees that she will find the best doctors in the world and use the best medicines in the world, just so that Father may live a long and healthy life."

Hongli opened his eyes wide, panting heavily.

Jingqin's words were recorded by the historians, and he was successfully selected as one of the most filial sons.

Despite her years of hard work, Jingqin did not live as long as Zhuer and the others. After serving Hongli the medicine, Jingqin collapsed.

Before the bed, Jingqin instructed Mianyin and the others, word by word, "Zhuer, Abo, they are both your fathers, you must treat them well..."

Mianyin and the others nodded with tears in their eyes.

Jingqin: "Yanwan and Huanian have been with me for many years and never married. After they pass away, they should be buried with me. I wrote two epitaphs for them and they should be taken with me."

Mianyin nodded and said, "Mother, don't worry."

Jingqin looked at Jinzhong, who was weeping behind everyone, and sighed, "Jinzhong has helped me a lot. He should be buried with me after his death. I cannot overlook him."

Everyone paused, looking at Jinzhong behind them, who was in tears. Mianyin nodded: "Mother, I understand."

Jingqin held Zhuer and Abo's hands and said solemnly, "You two must take good care of yourselves."

Then, amidst weeping, Jingqin passed away. Throughout his life, Jingqin governed the country with benevolence and put the people first. Mianyin overruled public opinion and honored Jingqin as "Emperor Chengzu".

In the generations that followed, with the unspoken understanding among the successors, the empresses who had safely given birth to daughters ascended the throne each time, and the empresses were no longer just a fleeting figure...