Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

As the morning sunlight streamed into the room through the window, Lian Rongrong was already sitting at her dressing table, getting ready.

Today is the first day of classes at Mingyue Hall, and she needs to keep a close eye on things to feel at ease.

"Your Highness, the carriage is ready." A servant came to report from outside the room.

"Okay, I understand." Lian Rongrong stood up and walked gracefully towards the door.

Qiuju opened the door for Lian Rongrong, and as soon as the door opened, Lian Rongrong saw Lin Chuyue standing outside the door holding Ru'er's hand.

Besides the mother and daughter, there were more than a dozen maids in the household.

"Sister-in-law, what are you..."

"Since I'm just staying at home anyway, and I was thinking that your Mingyue Hall doesn't seem to have a martial arts master yet. Little sister, what do you think, sister-in-law, is that alright?"

Upon hearing this, Lian Rongrong looked delighted and said "Okay" three times.

"I would be more than happy to have your skills, sister-in-law. With a martial arts master like you, I'm afraid the threshold of my Mingyue Hall would be worn down by people."

"You have such a sweet tongue, you always know how to make people happy. My skills are nothing special in the eyes of ordinary people."

But compared to you, I'm nothing.

"My sister-in-law is making fun of me again!"

"I'm not making fun of you. You may not know how capable you are, but I certainly do."

Lin Chuyue smiled and pulled Ru'er over, then continued:

"Ru'er is of age to begin her education. I'm thinking that instead of having a tutor come to our home, it would be better to send her to Mingyue Hall."

"Send Ru'er to Mingyue Hall?" Lian Rongrong looked at Lin Chuyue with some surprise.

Although sending Ru'er to Mingyue Hall was the best thing for Lian Rongrong.

However, even after planning to establish Mingyuetang, Lian's mother still had some reservations.

Lian Rongrong was worried that her sister-in-law had angered her mother because of her. For Lian Rongrong, family harmony was the most important thing.

"What? You're not going to be unhappy with your niece?" Lin Chuyue teased.

"How could that be? I'm just worried about Mother..."

In fact, Lin Chuyue had already seen through Lian Rongrong's thoughts. She smiled slightly and said to Lian Rongrong:

"Don't worry! It was Mother who sent me to bring Ru'er."

"What's wrong, Mother?" Lian Rongrong asked, somewhat puzzled. Although her mother had never directly stopped her, it was clear that she did not approve of the girls' school.

"It was my father-in-law who persuaded me. As for how he persuaded me, I don't know."

However, this morning my mother came to me personally and asked me to send Ru'er to Mingyue Hall.

Not only that, Mother also had the maids in the house take turns on duty, and those on break could voluntarily choose to study at Mingyue Hall.

Lian Rongrong was quite surprised by this news; it seems her father is quite capable!

With no worries about the future, Lian Rongrong naturally found it easier and more efficient to do her work.

She and Lin Chuyue traveled together to Mingyue Hall, but little did they know that something even more delightful was yet to come.

Judging from the students who registered yesterday, Mingyue Hall should be extremely desolate today.

To Lian Rongrong's surprise, there were quite a few students coming and going. Lan was busy inside and out, her small figure seemingly possessing inexhaustible energy.

"Why are there so many people all of a sudden?" When Lian Rongrong walked up to Lan Xin, Lan Xin was busy and was startled by Lian Rongrong's voice.

"Did I scare you?" Lian Rongrong asked, a little embarrassed.

"It's alright, Your Highness. I'm just a bit overwhelmed with work."

Lian Rongrong nodded slightly and asked again, "I remember there weren't this many people yesterday?"

Upon hearing this, Lan Xin gave a slightly embarrassed smile. Just then, Yan Mingyue came out, gracefully curtsied, and answered on Lan Xin's behalf:

"This is all thanks to Lanxin knocking on doors one by one yesterday."

"Knocking on every single door?" Lian Rongrong looked at Lan Xin in shock: "With so many people, how many houses did you have to go to?"

There were at least twenty more students today than yesterday. With so many coming, how many families did Lanxin visit last night?

Lian Rongrong couldn't imagine how many scornful looks and insults Lan Xin had suffered, but she was certain that Lan Xin must have endured a lot of injustice.

"Lanxin, have you been wronged?" Lian Rongrong looked at the young girl in front of her with some heartache.

Lanxin smiled and shook her head: "I'm not wronged! I would only feel wronged if no one came to our Mingyue Hall!"

It was clear that Lanxin was genuinely happy. Ever since her mother was killed by Yan Hui, the little girl had carried a heavy burden of hatred.

It can be said that before Yan Hui died, Lan Xin had never lived a single day for herself, but now, she has finally found herself and found the value and meaning of living.

How could one not be happy on such a day?

"Ru'er, come here!" Lian Rongrong turned around and beckoned to her little niece.

With her two little braids, Ru'er obediently came to Lian Rongrong.

"Follow Mr. Tao inside and study hard, or your aunt will spank you."

Lian Rongrong gently pinched Ru'er's chubby little face, her eyes full of doting affection.

“Then I’ll take Miss inside first. But I wonder which gentleman we should take her to first?” Lan Xin asked Lian Rongrong with a slight smile.

Lian Rongrong turned to Lin Chuyue and asked for her opinion: "Why don't we hand her over to Mingyue first and let her properly train Ru'er?"

"That would be best, Miss Yan's talent is renowned throughout the capital."

Seeing that her sister-in-law showed no apprehension or displeasure, Lian Rongrong then allowed Lanxin to bring Ru'er inside.

While Mingyue Hall was bustling with activity, Cixi Palace was also keeping busy.

Hua Ling entered the palace early in the morning to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. Of course, this was just a pretense; her real purpose was to complain.

"Your Majesty, you didn't see it, did you? Princess Qi publicly made remarks that violated the virtues of women."

Nowadays, women in the capital take pride in surpassing their husbands, and the Mingyue Hall is overflowing with people. Many people in the capital are dissatisfied with this.

If it were an ordinary woman, it wouldn't matter. But Princess Qi represents the face of the royal family.

The husband is the head of the household, a principle that all women understand. But because of Princess Qi's outburst, this matter seemed to have become some kind of heinous mistake.

"Your Majesty, if we allow Princess Qi to continue this commotion, what will become of the dignity of our Great Sheng? What will become of Prince Qi's dignity? What will become of your dignity?"

"Such a thing has happened?" The Empress Dowager slammed her hand heavily on the table.

"That's right! And did you know? Mingyue Hall was opened on the day Yan Hui was executed."

What's even more ridiculous is that Yan Mingyue is actually the chief female teacher of Mingyue Hall!

Isn't Princess Qi's behavior tantamount to encouraging all women in the world to follow Yan Mingyue's example?

"Yan Mingyue? How come those two are hanging out together again? Weren't they like mortal enemies just a while ago?"

The Empress Dowager was truly puzzled, after all, the two had only been arguing for a month.

At the birthday banquet, Yan Mingyue still seemed determined to kill Lian Rongrong, but now she is willing to serve her.

"It's all because Princess Qi is so cunning. As long as someone can be used by her, she'll take anyone who comes her way."

The more Hua Ling spoke, the angrier the Empress Dowager became. Moreover, Lian Rongrong's Mingyue Hall was practically dancing on her sore spots.

"Go, summon Princess Qi to the palace!"