After the arranged marriage, she farms and survives under the tutelage of the villainous boss.

"..."

Hearing these absurd words, Jiang Zhiyun didn't rush to explain or do anything else.

The most important thing now is to talk things out with Lu Shao.

No wonder Lu Shao remained silent about this, even seeming to want to say something but holding back. In Jiang Zhiyun's opinion, this was indeed what he cared about.

He was afraid it would negatively impact her reputation.

Jiang Zhiyun wouldn't take these baseless rumors to heart, and neither would Xie Shuheng.

When Jiang Zhiyun ran back to Lu Shao's house, Lu Shao had already closed the door. Yunniang waited for a while.

It was Song Chunhe who came over. "Isn't Lu Shao home?"

"He was here just now, but after I left him and went out again, I didn't see him when I came back."

"I wonder what Lu Shao has been thinking lately."

Yunniang looked at Song Chunhe and said, "You must know that you were the one who knew Lu Shao's thoughts best back then, and you still are now."

Song Chunhe nodded and looked at Yunniang, saying, "What are you doing here? Are you going to invite him to become an official?"

"Yes, the chief examiner of the imperial examination needs such upright officials. The court is in dire need of talent, and both you and Lu Shao are founding heroes."

"Sigh!" Song Chunhe sighed, "That's precisely why I didn't want to cause you any trouble."

“I heard what people were saying in the streets. I never take such words to heart. If Xie Shuheng didn’t like it either, then he wouldn’t have agreed to come here.”

"Chunhe, you, Lu Shao, and I have always been completely innocent. We are good friends and people who can support and help each other through thick and thin."

"The relationship between men and women is not just about liking and being liked."

“Yunniang.” This time, Song Chunhe did not agree with Jiang Zhiyun, but instead stood on Lu Shao’s side.

“You may think that Lu Shao and you are nothing, but has Lu Shao really let go of it? Those words from the streets may not matter now, but they will become a sharp sword that attacks you and Xie Shuheng in the future. It may not matter now, but if Lu Shao and Xie Shuheng develop a grudge in the future, everything will become a big problem.”

"Or were we used by the enemy? This time we used the Turks, and even assassinated their prince. If a war is inevitable, it will definitely be unavoidable."

"And the public opinion war among the people is also fierce. If, because of Lu Shao's matter, it becomes a hidden danger, or even makes you a notorious empress, then many times incompetence is displayed by using women. They might even push all the blame onto you."

"Both Xie Shuheng and I think such consequences are unacceptable, because we only want you to be safe and healthy."

"It's precisely because we have a good relationship that I don't want to cause you any trouble."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhiyun became even angrier. Looking at Lu Shao's door, she took a deep breath and kicked it open!

With a loud bang, the door opened.

Then they saw Lu Shao eavesdropping by the door. Both Lu Shao and Song Chunhe were momentarily embarrassed.

Song Chunhe said helplessly, "You're at home? Why don't you come out and say something? Do you not have a mouth? Can't you speak?"

As he said this, Lu Shao scratched his head: "Yunniang, what's wrong?"

“I just gave the little rice ball to Yang Ge’er. They just left not long ago. If they see you being so violent, they’ll definitely have a bad impression.”

Seeing that Lu Shao was still speaking in such a slow and deliberate manner, Jiang Zhiyun became even more furious.

She walked over and grabbed his collar: "Are you going to be the chief examiner this year or not? If you're not going, I'll knock you out on the spot, put you in a sack, and take you there."

Lu Shao: "..."

Looking at Song Chunhe for help, she was even a little surprised: "I knew before that you were quite fierce, Yunniang, and that you could easily handle Xie Shuheng. Now it seems that you can handle anyone!"

"Why should I go?" Lu Shao didn't say no, because if he went, Jiang Zhiyun, in her current state, would definitely capture him; that was inevitable. Jiang Zhiyun snorted coldly: "I came to find you, naturally because I can't do without you."

"Rumors and gossip, whether it's you or Song Chunhe, you're both thinking of me, but do I need you to sacrifice yourselves for me like this?"

“I have done nothing wrong, and most importantly, you have all overlooked one fact. Song Chunhe, Lu Shao, I want to ask you, have I gotten to where I am today through my own efforts? Has Xie Shuheng done it all by himself?”

"Yes." The two nodded in unison.

"Yes, we earned this ourselves. Even the hearts and minds of the people were won through our own efforts. I personally opened a restaurant for new students and helped each family one by one. We distributed porridge and spoke out about our hardships. As for rumors and gossip, do you think they won't speak up for us?"

"Furthermore, even if I were the Empress, even if I were to sit on a high position, it wouldn't be because Xie Shuheng married me, or because I obtained this power by relying on him, but because of my husband and I, Xu Yao, Shen Huichuan, and the two of you."

"There were even soldiers from the Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast, as well as Zhang's maternal grandfather's family, my mother Zhang, Pan Chun who was always by my side, and the female relatives of the soldiers..."

Jiang Zhiyun now lists them one by one: "Don't you understand now? It's the result of all of our joint efforts, not just so-and-so's."

“You, Lu Shao, are capable, and so am I.”

"Will we fall apart because of this? Impossible."

"Will I become a demon queen? Impossible."

"Because from the very beginning, we came from among all the people, we represent millions of people, not to create our own tyranny."

"This dream is difficult, even unattainable, but Xie Shuheng and I have made up our minds. Now, on behalf of my husband, I, Jiang Zhiyun, ask you two if you would be willing to join us, in the name of the people, to start from the very bottom."

"In this way, we can create a prosperous world like the Peach Blossom Spring for everyone. Even if we can't do it now, we still have millions of our descendants and countless generations to come to support us."

"At the very least, we should do everything within our power and capabilities within our limited lifespan..."

Jiang Zhiyun said this solemnly.

Lu Shao and Song Chunhe were both infected.

Song Chunhe spoke first: "I never imagined I could get involved in something like this. I thought I'd just drift through life, either eating and waiting to die, or being despised by everyone. Now, I'm willing. I'm willing to give anything, as long as I can contribute something of my own!"

"I'm willing too." Lu Shao's eyes were filled with guilt, but his face was full of relief and admiration as he looked at Jiang Zhiyun.

“Yunniang, I was narrow-minded.”