The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Autumn arrived, and time seemed to fly by quickly. Several days passed in a flash, and as we entered the Longevity Festival Month, Shangjing gradually saw more people wearing foreign attire. Some were envoys coming to pay tribute, while others were traders accompanying the delegations.

Since August, Emperor Chu had caught an epidemic, his health was compromised, although fortunately it turned out to be a false alarm. Nevertheless, it took quite a bit of time for him to recuperate to eighty or ninety percent of his former self. Even so, the political situation in the court was turbulent, with everyone speculating feverishly about the imperial succession.

After all, the matter of appointing the Crown Prince had been talked about for several years, but it had been delayed again and again. With the recent scare involving the Emperor, it seemed that the Crown Prince should be appointed soon, right?

Rumors spread from all sides suggesting that during the Longevity Festival, Emperor Chu would announce the heir. Even during the daily morning assemblies, this matter was brought up repeatedly. But as to whom he would choose, be it the eldest, the most virtuous, or the legitimate heir, opinions varied greatly, leading to endless disputes. This was the visible aspect, while under-the-table maneuvers were as numerous and tangled as a ball of yarn.

The attitude of Emperor Chu was also quite ambiguous. First, the responsibility of receiving the envoys was given to Prince Xiao this year, which undoubtedly sent a signal to many ministers, resulting in the bustling activity at Prince Xiao’s Mansion with carriages and horses filling the entrance.

Song Ci, during one of her trips to inspect the newly constructed Charitable School, passed by the streets near Prince Xiao’s Mansion and couldn’t help but be dazzled by the lively scene.

”Don’t say my mouth only speaks bad things but not good, these people hopping around like frogs, the tears they’ll shed in the future will be very salty. This wind direction is surely misleading,” Song Ci whispered to Nanny and Nan Shan, who were sitting inside the carriage with her.

Nan Shan crossed his arms and said, ”Your insight is always correct, no matter what you say.”

Nanny then replied helplessly, ”If Prince Xiao hears you, I fear he will blame you.”

Song Ci blinked and said, ”Why blame me? I’m muddleheaded, anything I’ve said I’ve forgotten.”

Nanny and Nan Shan: ”...”

Understood, just being shameless.

As they chatted, they arrived at the location of the Charitable School near Yongding Gate in the outer city, where Steward Ping approached Song Ci’s carriage respectfully.

As Song Ci had mentioned, once she was determined and had the silver and the people, just a tap of the lips, someone would take care of the matter.

Due to the summer disaster, quite a few refugees remained in the capital. Steward Ping, along with several lesser stewards, diligently recruited and screened them. They provided meals three times a day and even paid them twenty coins daily for their work. Many skilled workers were recruited for tasks ranging from site selection to purchasing materials for construction to supervision. Additionally, Song Ci had specially drawn the blueprint and invited a minor official from the Ministry of Industry to assist. Miraculously, within a month, the Charitable School was built, ready for teachers and students to move in.

During the construction period, the first batch of fifty enrolled students had temporarily been taken in by the Charitable Hall. All came from proper backgrounds and were truly impoverished orphans.

Song Ci stood in front of the plaque covered by red silk, and behind it, the two-story ’school district’ made of stone and insect-proof solid wood. Her chest swelled with emotion.

This is Song Ci’s Charity School, bearing her name. Whether it was her or the original elderly lady, they were both Song Ci. It was her idea, created with the original elderly lady’s personal money.

If times were peaceful, it would nurture self-sufficient individuals who wouldn’t resort to begging, prostitution, or servitude, but would change their destinies through their skills.

In this way, there’s bound to be someone who’ll remember Song Ci in the future, isn’t there?

”Madam, this way please,” Steward Ping bowed and gestured for her to proceed.