Chapter 675: Each of Them Now Has Been Stirred by a Mortal Heart!

The officials, without time to settle, rushed into the palace to pay homage to the new emperor.

The new emperor had already prepared to meet them.

"Thank you for your hard work, my esteemed ministers."

Having received the new emperor's reassurance, the officials, weary from travel, felt no real grievance left in their hearts.

One by one, they were moved to tears and snot.

"Your Majesty, we finally see you…"

"We truly missed you…"

Led by Zhang Tinggui, they knelt, clutched the new emperor's trouser leg, and wept loudly.

The DaLiang officials standing nearby all wore expressions of disdain.

Great Chu people really can let go.

With such thick skins, no wonder the emperor dotes on them.

How shameless, bah!

Li Qingluo, hearing this in the harem while sipping tea, almost spat it out.

"Really?"

Zhang Tinggui is now the Prime Minister. They really can afford to lose face, no wonder they're being promoted and getting rich.

Zheng Mama: "Exactly. But among the officials who were kept and moved to Jinling, besides those truly honest for the people, how many aren't cunning schemers?"

"Competing for the emperor's favor, who knows what fresh trouble these Great Chu officials will cause in the future."

Li Qingluo smiled and shook her head.

"It seems the emperor has no time to leave the palace with me today."

Li Qingluo rose and went to change into her regular attire.

Just as she stepped out, she saw Que'er leading Fangfang inside.

"Your Highness, the little princess has arrived."

Fangfang waved her tiny hand and rushed at Li Qingluo: "Mother Empress!"

Li Qingluo quickly caught the plump, warmly dressed little Fangfang, her eyes full of affection.

"Have you seen your brother?"

Fangfang kept nodding her small head: "Mother Empress, brother is cute."

Que'er gave birth to a chubby little boy four months ago.

Li Qingluo had intended to let her rest at home for several months, but Que'er couldn't stay put.

Although Que'er has a father and mother, Que'er has been running with Li Qingluo all these years, so Que'er has little feeling for Que'er's own family.

Que'er doesn't need to serve in-laws, yet feels a bit lonely.

The "Kill" characters have now been incorporated into the palace as the Empress's personal guards.

Although on rotation, Li Qingluo hasn't been idle these past six months, so there are many tasks for those "Kill" guards.

Now Duan Rongshi has given the entire Xiaoyao faction to Li Qingluo.

So that Li Qingluo has manpower to covertly carry out what she wishes.

Li Qingluo, indeed busy, had Que'er move the child to her Zhaoyang Hall.

Each time the "Kill Three" must return home, then she brings the mother and child home to reunite.

Thus, Fangfang now goes daily to Que'er's room to see her brother.

Cui Er had packed everything to take out of the palace and delivered it: "Your Highness, inside are hot milk for the thirsty princess and pastries for when she's hungry."

"Also the chestnut cake you love; early this morning I personally oversaw the Small Kitchen to make it for you."

"And these, in case you feel cold…"

Cui Er babbled on at length, and Bao Xia quickly took over: "Sister Cui Er, you are truly meticulous and thoughtful."

"No wonder the Empress always said you are the most considerate and attentive by her side."

"Before you, the few of us wouldn't have believed it."

"Now that we're all together, we finally realize you truly are the one the lady loves and misses most!"

Cui Er wiped her moist eyes and whispered softly: "These past years I haven't been able to serve the lady."

"Instead, it's you who have been toiling."

"How could I dare let the lady think of me…"

After Li Qingluo returned to Jinling, the first thing she did was have Cui Er brought to her side.

Back then, she was the first maid to come to Li Qingluo.

She accompanied her out of the mountains and also went with her to Qingsong Temple.

From Hongfenguan to Xiuli Jiangjun Fu, she kept everything in her courtyard in perfect order.

She also took great care of her.

And remained fiercely loyal to her.

After Li Qingluo's soul was lost and she went to Great Chu, the maid stayed in Xiuli Jiangjun Fu waiting for her.

These years, though she didn't have to serve anyone, she still wasted her prime years.

Li Qingluo felt deeply guilty about this.

She heard that the steward granny in the mansion had advised her, suggesting she could find a suitable match and first resolve her lifelong affairs.

She could write to the Old Lady, request her servitude contract, grant her freedom; the lady would surely agree.

But the foolish maid stubbornly refused.

"If the lady doesn't return for a day, I will not leave for a day!"

"I, Cui Er, in this lifetime am born a maiden's person, and in death a maiden's ghost!"

"Li Qingluo never expected that, after leaving on this trip and returning, she would have made Cui Er into an old maid."

"But fortunately, it's not too late."

"She asked Cui Er whether she was willing to marry, what kind of person she wanted, and said she would find it for her."

"Cui Er did not give a shy refusal; instead, blushing, she said: 'If the maidservants around the young lady are willing... then I, I can.'"

"\"I wish to serve you, my lady, for the rest of my life. \""

"In other words, she wants to marry someone from Li Qingluo's own circle, like Que'er, so that after marriage she can still serve as the head maid beside Li Qingluo."

"Li Qingluo felt deeply moved upon hearing this."

"\"Silly girl. \""

"\"You can have your own life. \""

"\"You really don't want to leave the palace? \""

"Upon hearing her young lady say that, Cui Er's eyes instantly filled with tears of grievance."

"\"My lady, do you no longer want me? \""

"\"I would rather not marry than leave the palace. \""

"\"I just want to stay with you. \""

"\"You have left me for several years; please don't leave me again, okay... \""

"\"I have only you. \""

"\"What difference does having a good household registration make? Even if I married an ordinary person, would I avoid those worldly troubles? \""

"\"Serving parents-in-law, raising children, firewood, rice, oil, salt... I don't want such a life. \""

"\"I just want to be as before, with you, my lady, enjoying free laughter, free conversation, unrestrained and carefree days without worrying about others' eyes. \""

"\"My lady, please grant my wish! \""

"\"Either I will never marry! \""

"\"Or I will only marry someone from your Sha! \""

"This is Cui Er's choice."

"Li Qingluo had no choice but to respect and agree."

"She summoned the Sha members one by one to the Zhaoyang Hall, intending to let Cui Er pick one she liked."

"Who would have thought that Sha wu learned of the inside story and, eagerly, volunteered himself."

"\"My lady, how do you find your subordinate? \""

"Sha wu is naturally a lucky person."

"I heard that in private card games among them, Sha wu has never lost."

"Whenever they go out to find the way, bringing Sha wu ensures success."

"Sha wu seems blessed like a koi carp, and he is tall and strong; although somewhat dark, his sturdy build gives a sense of security."

Li Qingluo was very satisfied with him.

However, she needed to ask Cui Er about this.

Who would have thought that Cui Er nodded and agreed as soon as she heard the name Sha wu.

"Then let it be him."

Li Qingluo was doubtful: "Do you know who Sha wu is? It can't just be anyone."

Cui Er pursed her lips and smiled: "My lady, rest assured, I will not wrong myself."

"I remember Sha wu. Back at the Jiangjun Fu, when he was injured, I went to bring him medicine, and his eyes followed me."

"He also said my name sounds nice."

"So there was already some fate between them?"

Li Qingluo then settled their marriage with peace of mind.

Who would have known that once Cui Er and Sha wu's marriage was settled, Sha Er and Sha Si and a few others also hinted awkwardly, making Li Qingluo think of them whenever such good fortune came her way.

One cannot favor some and neglect others.

Li Qingluo laughed and cried at once.

"You all want to marry palace maids?"

Sha Er: "I have no preference. As long as you, my lord, find it pleasing, anything will do!"

Anyway, they just want to start a family.

Each of them has now developed ordinary worldly desires.

As their master, Li Qingluo naturally had to arrange things for them and worry.

But with twenty‑seven people, it is indeed a big undertaking, so she could only handle them one by one.

Li Qingluo also asked Bao Xia and Xi Qiu in turn.

Dong Er is still young, so she is not being considered for now.

Yet Bao Xia and Xi Qiu actually made the same choice as Cui Er and the others: they did not plan to leave the palace to marry ordinary people, and marrying a guard seemed quite fine to them.

However, with many monks and little porridge, Li Qingluo could only let them choose for themselves.

As a result, only Sha Yi remained unmoved.

He spent his days like a lone wanderer, hardly glancing at any woman.

Until, on the road out of the palace, he encountered an unjust incident.

A spoiled young master, in broad daylight, actually teased a respectable young woman.

Sha Yi rushed out without first seeking Li Qingluo's permission.

He directly twisted and broke that person's arm, ignoring the servant's report of their family background, intending to utterly ruin this spoiled young master.

And this young lady actually knew Sha Yi.

She grabbed Sha Yi's sleeve in fear, shouting repeatedly: "Don't, don't kill him!"

"He is the heir of the Marquisate from Great Chu; don't bring trouble, implicating yourself for my sake——"

The young lady's eyes were full of worry for Sha Yi.

Sha Yi gave her a reassuring look, then kicked the Marquisate heir several meters away with one foot.

Then he returned to the carriage where Li Qingluo was in disguise, softly apologizing: "Your Highness, I have erred; please punish me, Your Highness."

Li Qingluo replied from behind the carriage curtain: "What fault do you have?"

"I personally saw that the Marquisate heir relied on his status to bully others and harass respectable women."

"Seize him, take the Marquisate heir to the Jinling prefectural office!"

"Now the whole world is the Great Yue State!"

"Not South Peace, nor the former Great Chu!"

"The edict I personally issued states that whether women wear veils when going out is their own freedom; women may also attend women's academies, women's martial halls, and even each year the palace selects female officials—commoner families' daughters may eagerly enroll."

"The world belongs half to women; without women, what would the world be?"

"Anyone who disrespects women or commits domestic violence against wives shall, without exception, be imprisoned and sentenced to labor according to law."

"How can the edict I issued be merely a blank piece of paper, with no one observing it!?"

Li Qingluo's words frightened everyone on the street into kneeling on the ground.

"Is this, is this the Empress?"

"Turns out it was the Empress incognito leaving the palace!"

"The Empress actually stood up for these commoner women; each maiden's eyes reddened with excitement."

"They were delighted that the world had such a good Empress who stood up for all women."

"Paying respects to the Empress. Long live the Empress, long live, long long live——"

Although the men were unwilling in their hearts, now the Empress's authority is indeed great; even the Emperor personally acknowledged that her edicts have been incorporated into the Great Yue Code, and everything must follow her will.

Thus, the rights of Great Yue women will only grow greater from now on.

What good days can these men still have?

The gentlemen felt bitter inside, waiting for Li Qingluo's guards to seize that Marquisate heir from Great Chu and prepare to escort him away; the heir initially shouted for mercy a few times, but upon realizing he could not escape, he even arrogantly yelled: "What are you——"

"All women in the world should be humble! We men are the honored!"

"You lowly people are nothing but playthings for us men——"

"Do you think, as just an Empress, you can throw the world into great chaos?"

"Throwing out hierarchy, overturning the moral order, breaking the millennia-old iron law of this world. Empress Li, you are nothing but a bewitching demon that confuses hearts——"

Sha Yi drew his sword, but before he could thrust it into the heir's throat, a flying arrow already came shooting!

"Dare to slander the Empress—guilty of a myriad deaths!"