Chapter 25

Shen Yanxin insisted that Si Yunqin stay and talk. Unable to refuse, Si Yunqin could only vent her frustration by eating an extra bowl of rice and finishing off almost the entire table of dishes.

After eating, she nearly let out an unladylike burp, but managed to hold it in. She was afraid that Shen Yanxin would think she was bringing shame to the royal family and send her away on the spot.

Shen Yanxin watched Si Yunqin slowly and meticulously wipe her hands, then stood up with a smile and said to her, “Now that the Empress has finished eating, do you have the mood to discuss something with me?”

Si Yunqin wanted to say she didn’t, that a full meal made her drowsy. But seeing Shen Yanxin’s smiling face, she felt sure that the old fox wouldn’t let her off easily.

She obediently nodded. “Naturally.”

She followed Shen Yanxin to the study. There, she saw one side of the desk piled with memorials to the throne, and the other side stacked with two miscellaneous books: Records of Strange Tales and all the books written by Xi Fengyu.

Si Yunqin: …

How could the Empress Dowager secretly read erotic books behind people’s backs? So improper.

The filter she had over Shen Yanxin cracked quite a bit. Some people appeared serious on the surface, but behind the scenes, they also enjoyed worldly pleasures.

“Empress, what do you think the word ‘equality’ that runs through this entire book means?” Shen Yanxin asked slowly.

Si Yunqin knew it was another trap, but she thought for a moment and decided to speak directly. “The equality that the female protagonist seeks is impossible to achieve in today’s world.”

“Elaborate.”

Si Yunqin opened the book and flipped through it casually. “I, your subject, can’t explain it in detail. I just think that what the female protagonist asks for—equality for everyone—is too hard. How can nobles and commoners be equal?”

“The Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as the common people,” Shen Yanxin replied.

Si Yunqin let out a mocking laugh. “Do you really believe that, Your Majesty? Take murder, for example. If I kill someone and a commoner kills someone, are our crimes the same?”

Shen Yanxin curled her lips into a smile. “Of course not.”

“Then that’s it. So what’s there to discuss? I’d rather talk with you about the female protagonist’s adventures in the martial world, wielding a sword, and those subtle romantic escapades.”

Si Yunqin expected Shen Yanxin to refuse, but instead, Shen Yanxin just smirked slightly. “That works too. The long night is boring anyway.”

Hearing this, Si Yunqin was even more surprised. Was this really the Shen Yanxin she knew? Could she have been switched with someone else?

But since Shen Yanxin had said so, Si Yunqin certainly wouldn’t hold back. She picked up the book and started discussing it passionately with Shen Yanxin, even openly admitting her own preference for women without reservation.

After all, Shen Yanxin already knew.

Shen Yanxin actually joined the discussion as well. She even shipped the female protagonist’s couple, but her ship was different from Si Yunqin’s.

They ended up debating which character was more suitable for the female protagonist.

Finally, Si Yunqin concluded with a summary: “Adults can have both.”

Shen Yanxin didn’t get annoyed; she just laughed. “That’s not impossible. But our dynasty practices monogamy, so one of them would have to be a concubine.”

Si Yunqin propped her chin on her hand, snacking on some treats. During their discussion, Shen Yanxin had ordered snacks to be brought in. Now Shen Yanxin herself was sitting across from Si Yunqin, eating dried fruits.

“They’re both women, so there’s no ‘husband’ to speak of. No need to make such distinctions,” Si Yunqin said casually. After all, tonight she had said everything she should and shouldn’t have said. If she were to lose her head, it would have been gone the moment Shen Yanxin saw her erotic book.

She was certain that Shen Yanxin didn’t care about her liking women. What Shen Yanxin wanted was what was in Si Yunqin’s head. Rather than locking her up in the cage of the imperial harem, Shen Yanxin probably preferred to have Si Yunqin work for her.

Si Yunqin could see this clearly now.

But this also showed that Shen Yanxin’s ambition was much stronger than she let on.

“This book was written by Consort Yu, wasn’t it?” Shen Yanxin peeled a lychee and handed it to Si Yunqin.

Si Yunqin looked at her proper posture and calm tone, and she also restrained her playful demeanor a bit.

“Of course. The original story was told by the Empress to others. Am I wrong?” Shen Yanxin raised her eyes to meet Si Yunqin’s gaze.

Si Yunqin met her eyes, then lowered her head and grabbed another lychee. She still wasn’t quite brave enough to hold Shen Yanxin’s gaze. This woman’s eyes were too sharp, and it seemed like she could always see straight into Si Yunqin’s heart.

“Everything the Empress Dowager said is true,” Si Yunqin said, unable to gauge her true intent.

Shen Yanxin just smiled. “No wonder. It figures. As fellow sect sisters, you think alike.”

“That’s true.” Si Yunqin had already resigned herself to fate.

“In that case, regarding the reform of official selection that the Empress mentioned…”

When she got to this point, Si Yunqin understood completely. Shen Yanxin had discovered another hidden gem in the harem and didn’t want it to remain tarnished. The best outcome was for both of them to work for her.

“Then what if Your Subject asks the Empress Dowager to establish a women’s school?” Si Yunqin boldly suggested.

Shen Yanxin let out a soft sigh. “I am willing. As you said, talent has nothing to do with gender. But this world does not permit it.”

Upon hearing those last words, Si Yunqin felt a pang of disappointment. She thought, Fine, Shen Yanxin still isn’t bold enough. How boring.

“Everything needs to be done step by step. You can’t become fat by eating just one mouthful.” As she said this, she playfully pinched Si Yunqin’s cheek.

“Right now, neither you nor I have enough power to fight against the world,” Shen Yanxin said, seeing the change in her expression. She probably guessed what Si Yunqin was thinking.

Si Yunqin met her eyes, and for a moment, she felt that Shen Yanxin could understand her and Xi Fengyu.

Compared to Xi Fengyu’s understanding, Si Yunqin thought Shen Yanxin’s understanding was even more precious. After all, the era Shen Yanxin lived in taught people that women were inferior to men, that women should only stay at home and care for their husbands and children.

“So, can I wait for this reform strategy?” Shen Yanxin released her cheek, a hint of teasing in her upward-curving lips.

A flash of annoyance crossed Si Yunqin’s eyes. She had fallen into Shen Yanxin’s trap again.

Couldn’t people be sincere and straightforward?

“I really don’t know about that, Your Subject. But if we want more poor scholars to enter the government, they first need to have books to read. Broadening the student pool is the first step,” Si Yunqin tried to brush it off.

Shen Yanxin nodded, then casually peeled another lychee and placed it in front of Si Yunqin. “What the Empress said makes perfect sense. In that case, I’ll leave it to the Empress to figure out how to make books available to the poor.”

Then she pointed to the memorials on the desk. “I’m simply too busy to handle everything myself, and I haven’t been in power long enough to have trustworthy people. Empress, please don’t disappoint the trust I’ve placed in you.”

Si Yunqin suddenly felt that even the lychee had lost its flavor. How could she pull workplace manipulation on me?

“How can Your Subject come up with a good plan alone?” Si Yunqin said through gritted teeth.

Shen Yanxin raised an eyebrow slightly. “Don’t you have your senior sister to help you brainstorm?”

What kind of person is this!

Despite her reluctance, Si Yunqin gave in. She had no choice. Shen Yanxin had set her up in so many ways—first to increase Si Yunqin’s trust in her, and second to let Si Yunqin know that Shen Yanxin held leverage over her.

She knew it all, but she was powerless to do anything.

She unwillingly agreed. “Yes.”

“Half a month, is that acceptable?” Shen Yanxin asked.

“No. One month.” Si Yunqin ground her teeth.

“Fine.” Shen Yanxin thought for a moment and nodded.

Si Yunqin’s eyes turned, and she said to Shen Yanxin, “Your Subject and my senior sister still need to go outside the palace to conduct surveys. So could the Empress Dowager allow us to freely enter and leave the palace?”

She had to get some benefits for herself. It wasn’t her style to work without taking something in return.

Shen Yanxin hesitated for a moment. Si Yunqin thought she would have to argue more to convince her, but then Shen Yanxin nodded. “Fine. But you cannot stay overnight outside the palace. You must return before the palace gates close every day. And you cannot leave the palace in your identity as Empress.”

Si Yunqin bowed in thanks. “Your Subject understands.”

Shen Yanxin looked at her joyful expression and found it impossible to keep a cold face toward her. The palace had become much more lively since this woman’s arrival.

“Alright, go back and rest early. You don’t have to go to the Grand Tutor tomorrow.” Shen Yanxin finally let her off.

Si Yunqin obediently withdrew. Once she was out of Respectful Peace Palace, she was like a bird freed from its cage. She didn’t take the sedan chair but walked toward Bright Palace on her own.

She didn’t bring anyone else except Lin Feng.

Si Yunqin arrived at Bright Palace. It was late at night when she knocked and entered, only to find that Xi Fengyu was still awake. On the desk lay a sketch, indicating she had been painting.

Si Yunqin walked into the study. Lin Feng waited outside and didn’t follow.

Glancing at the painting on the table, Si Yunqin sat down with a careless air. “Good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”

Xi Fengyu seemed to be still pondering the composition. She paused at Si Yunqin’s words. “The bad news.”

“Shen Yanxin knows about those books you wrote. She’s read them, and she knows you wrote them.”

Xi Fengyu’s hand trembled upon hearing this. “When did she suddenly get so free?”

“Probably because she saw me reading them and went looking for them?” Si Yunqin guessed.

Xi Fengyu was so angry she almost threw her out.

“Calm down, calm down. Let me finish. She didn’t say anything bad either. She even discussed the plot with me and had an in-depth exchange about who is more suitable for the female protagonist.”

“How in-depth?” Xi Fengyu asked with a teasing tone.

Si Yunqin shot her a glare. “Get your mind out of the gutter. You’re full of dirty thoughts.”

Xi Fengyu raised an eyebrow. “Says the pot calling the kettle black.”

Si Yunqin briefly explained, then told her about how Shen Yanxin had roped them into working for her.

“The good part is we can leave the palace. That’s not too bad, right?” Si Yunqin said cautiously.

Xi Fengyu kicked her from under the table. “So because you got wet in the rain, you want to tear up my umbrella too?”

“We’re sisters. Can you bear to see me suffer alone?” Si Yunqin asked pitifully.

“Yes.”

“Such a cruel heart. You don’t love me anymore. Wuwuwu.”

Xi Fengyu watched her dramatic act and said in exasperation, “Alright, stop acting. Why is your face so red?”

Only then did Si Yunqin realize. She rubbed her cheeks. “Shen Yanxin pinched me. That wicked woman—she wasn’t satisfied with pinching me once; she had to do it twice.”

“Oh, suddenly you two are on good terms?” Xi Fengyu teased.

“Can we not be? She wants me to work for her, so she has to get close first, right?” Si Yunqin said with a look of having seen through it all.

Si Yunqin rested her chin on her hand. “Want to go out and have fun tomorrow? We can put off work for now. Going out to have fun is the real priority.”

“Yes.”

Since entering the palace, Xi Fengyu hadn’t gone out either. She was nearly going crazy from being cooped up.

The two agreed immediately and planned to go out the next day.