Chapter 366: Leaving the City

Chapter 366: Leaving the City

As Xin You walked towards He Qingxiao and Yong'an Count, the court officials quietly shifted their attention to them and pricked up their ears.

Upon hearing her invitation for tea, they were utterly stunned.

Was she really being this bold?

He Qingxiao smiled and nodded, "I’m free."

Xin You then looked at Yong'an Count.

This was Yong'an Count’s first time speaking with Xin You. Unlike He Qingxiao's straightforward acceptance, he hesitated slightly before politely declining, "I’m about to head out and have a lot on my plate. I'll invite Lady Xin for tea once I return from the north."

He had volunteered at his brother-in-law’s urging, but in truth, he didn't want to be too closely tied to a young girl.

Though Lady Xin is in the spotlight now, who knows what tomorrow brings? The ties between siblings aren’t the same as those between a father and daughter. When a new emperor ascends the throne, Lady Xin's fate—whether she remains in glory or falls into obscurity—will depend on the new ruler's attitude.

"Then I wish you a smooth journey," Xin You replied, unbothered by Yong'an Count’s refusal. She nodded at He Qingxiao and strode forward.

When it was time to leave the office, Xin You hurried to the designated teahouse.

He Qingxiao had arrived first. A Jinlin Guard at the door opened it, ushering Xin You inside.

Xin You sat down across from He Qingxiao and casually accepted the teacup he handed her.

The tea was hot, perfect for sipping.

"Lord He will be celebrating the New Year in the south again."

Last year, He Qingxiao had gone south before New Year's Eve and didn't return to the capital until early spring.

"It doesn’t matter where I spend the New Year," He Qingxiao said quickly, but when he met her sharp, penetrating gaze, guilt washed over him.

It wasn't the same. At least, not after meeting Ayou.

Xin You lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea.

She knew she shouldn't dwell on romantic feelings, but hearing him say that still stirred a pang of sadness in her chest.

"I’ll keep you informed about the progress of the reforms."

"The south is a wealthy region, home to officials, gentry, and wealthy households. Rolling out new policies will undoubtedly meet strong resistance. Be careful, Lord He."

History shows that reformers often pay a price for their changes. While everyone fears the merciless reputation of the Jinlin Guard, she knew that the man before her could also bleed and feel pain—he wasn't made of iron.

"Don’t worry, Lady Xin, I'll take care of myself. The capital won’t be peaceful either, so stay vigilant."

Chief Minister Zhang and his nephew had made a grim example for the officials and nobles in the capital at the cost of their clan's extermination. It was unlikely anyone would dare target Xin You directly now. What they had to watch out for were political traps, which were the usual tactics in bureaucratic struggles.

Xin You nodded and smiled gently, "I’ve arranged for some people to go south with you, Lord He."

He Qingxiao immediately thought of the sign recruiting apprentices outside Qingsong Bookstore.

"Lord He must have guessed—it's the storytellers I recruited recently. When the time comes..."

After hearing about the storytellers' purpose, He Qingxiao sincerely praised, "With them, it’ll be harder for anyone to spread rumors and mislead the people."

Three days later, He Qingxiao and Yong'an Count bid farewell to Emperor Xingyuan and led their respective teams on opposite paths.

Xin You stood by the roadside, watching the young man on horseback ride away.

If she had spoken, it wouldn't have been difficult to persuade him to agree to her going south, but she chose not to.

Reform is often accompanied by bloodshed, and whether it can be carried out depends most importantly on the Emperor's determination. She had to stay by his side, not giving anyone the chance to sway his resolve.

"Qianfeng, go fetch the horses; we're heading to the suburban manor."

Nowadays, Xin You always took Qianfeng and Ping'an with her when she went out, not overestimating her own capabilities.

Soon, Qianfeng brought a fine horse, and the three of them rode out of the city.

The suburban manor Xin You was heading to wasn't Wuyun Manor, but a manor under Kou Qingqing's name, where Kou Qingqing rested in peace.

Kou Qingqing had been posthumously conferred as Princess Qingning, and the regulations for a princess's tomb were to be followed, but the location remained unchanged, still within her own manor.

The sound of hooves alerted the manor's residents, prompting Xiaolian and Nanny Fang to come running out.

"Miss!" Xiaolian and Nanny Fang greeted her together.

Constructing the tomb of a princess wasn't a task completed in just a few days. Xin You suggested that Xiaolian and Nanny Fang stay to oversee its construction, fulfilling their bond with Kou Qingqing.

"No need for formalities; let's visit Miss Kou first."

At Kou Qingqing's tomb, Xin You arranged the offerings she had brought, lit incense, and paid her respects.

Not far away, the sounds of tomb construction could be heard, with many workers laboring vigorously.

"It's getting colder; send the workers some hot soup every day, and it will speed up the progress," Xin You instructed Xiaolian.

"Yes."

Nanny Fang suddenly knelt down.

"What are you doing, Nanny Fang?" Xin You helped Nanny Fang up.

Nanny Fang, her eyes red and voice choked, said, "This old servant never imagined that our Miss Qingqing would become a princess..."

Xin You was silent for a moment.

She understood Nanny Fang's excitement.

For the world, having a family member become a scholar or a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations was a matter of great pride, solemnly recorded in the family genealogy, let alone being posthumously conferred as a princess.

Many people value their legacy after death as much as their reputation while alive, but Xin You, influenced by Empress Xin, had different thoughts, making her an anomaly in the eyes of ordinary people.

After comforting Nanny Fang and checking the tomb's progress, Xin You prepared to leave.

"Miss, it's not convenient for you to be alone; let Xiaolian accompany you back."

"I'm out all day; Xiaolian should stay at the manor. You can keep each other company."

"This old servant can oversee here alone. When you return home, you'll need someone to attend to your needs, and no one is as thoughtful as Xiaolian," Nanny Fang pulled Xiaolian.

Xin You nodded in agreement.

Since they were already outside the city, they decided to also visit Wuyun Manor.

Upon hearing that Xin You had arrived, the Sixth Boss rushed out: "The Miss has arrived!"

Looking around, the Sixth Boss felt a pang of worry: "Where's Xiaoba? Did he get into trouble?"

"I stopped by Kou Manor and thought I'd check in here."

"Isn't Xiaoba with you?"

"I came here on a whim; Xiaoba stayed back at the Xin residence."

"Ahh, I see." The Sixth Boss breathed a sigh of relief and was about to beat the gong and drum to announce the Miss's arrival.

"No need for that, Sixth Boss. Just show me around."

Excited by Xin You's request, the Sixth Boss promptly led her to the training ground.

Xin You observed several teams practicing their formations.

"With the cold weather and less fieldwork, the men spend most of their time training."

Some of the former bandits, now villagers, noticed Xin You's arrival. Despite their excitement, they maintained their discipline.

"You're quite skilled at training soldiers," Xin You complimented.

"I picked it up from those rebels," the Sixth Boss chuckled, not hiding anything in front of Xin You.

"It's commendable that you're willing and able to learn," Xin You remarked, watching the men train. A thought occurred to her, "Sixth Boss, can you swim?"

The Sixth Boss laughed: "We grew up by the river down south; of course, we can swim."

"Don't let that skill rust; it could be useful someday."