Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court-Chapter 334: Hah! So what if the Empress is here! I’m not afraid!

At the Cui family’s estate.

Huang Xiangniang opened the box where she kept her savings, took out the monthly payment for the shared house expenses, and set it aside. Then she counted the remaining small silver ingots…

“There are still two hundred ingots!”

Huang Xiangniang cheerfully finished counting, then went through it again just to be sure.

She was now working as a weaver in a wealthy household, earning two hundred coins a day. Although she had to work seven hours daily and report to the weaving room early in the morning, no matter how hard or tiring it was, it was still better than being a novice courtesan in a brothel.

“Xiangniang!” her friend Lin Jinlan, who had been rescued from the brothel with her, sat by the bed looking anxious. “That Mister Xu you know… do you really think he’ll submit the improved roller press we designed?”

Huang Xiangniang looked back. Though the others didn’t say anything, their faces were filled with worry.

Even though they had been out of the brothel for a year and a half, regained their good status, and earned a living with their own hands, deep down, they still saw themselves as lowly prostitutes.

Would anyone really care about what a prostitute did?

Huang Xiangniang peeked outside through the window screen. Seeing no one around, she turned back, her cheeks flushed pink. “Of course he will! Haven’t I already told you? Mister Xu is a true hero! Have you ever heard of an official who would rather become the river god’s bride himself to save a courtesan? Mister Xu has a kind heart—how could he possibly steal credit for our contribution?”

Lin Jinlan had never interacted with Mister Xu herself—she only heard about him from her good sisters, who spoke of him as if no one on earth could compare. Lin Jinlan didn’t quite believe such a gentleman existed, but hearing it enough times, a sliver of hope began to grow in her heart—

Maybe? Maybe this gentleman really was a good and just official?

Outside the estate, a eunuch arrived. “Is Madam Huang, Madam Lin, Madam Tang, and Madam Chen here?”

All the women living on the estate rushed out. When they saw the rolls of cloth behind the eunuch, they were overwhelmed with disbelief.

Could this really be…?

The chief eunuch held up the imperial decree of commendation and chose his words carefully: “By order of His Majesty, in recognition of the Cui estate women’s contribution in improving the roller press, you are granted five hundred bolts of cloth, one set each of raven-blue gauze robes, golden phoenix bedding, and long felt mats! One house per person! And over 120 mu of land in Luoxian County!”

“The Emperor says: Now that the world is at peace, it is time for men to farm and women to weave. Your improvements to the roller press will allow people all across the land to process more cotton. This is a great deed. I was going to reward you with only money, but Xu Yanmiao insisted you should also be given land, homes, and property—so here you go. The county magistrate in Luoxian is a woman, so you won’t be bullied there. As for how to divide the cloth and land, you can decide among yourselves. I won’t trouble myself with it.”

The women stood in a daze, stunned. It wasn’t until the chief eunuch urged them that they scrambled to receive the decree written on fine yellow silk paper. All of them chattered excitedly, “We thank His Majesty for His grace!”

After the eunuchs departed, the women still felt as if they were dreaming.

They were really rewarded?!

And not just with fabric—but also with homes and farmland?

“Xiangniang! Xiangniang! This isn’t a dream, is it?” Lin Jinlan clutched her raven-blue gauze robe, gently caressing the elegant and delicate patterns as she burst into tears. “Raven blue! I never imagined I’d get to wear raven blue in this lifetime!”

—According to the laws of Great Xia, colors like bright red, raven blue, and yellow were forbidden to common women.

“And we got homes! Our very own homes! We don’t have to live under someone else’s roof ever again!”

“Land! We actually got land! Even if we can’t farm it ourselves, we can hire someone to do it!”

“Long live His Majesty!!!”

“Bless Mister Xu, the kind-hearted official!!!”

They cheered, laughed, cried, and hugged each other tightly. That night, as they huddled together to sleep, no one had nightmares anymore.

The old emperor: “Satisfied now?”

Xu Yanmiao showed a rare, genuine smile. “Your Majesty is a wise ruler, far above even Yao or Shun.”

The old emperor snorted, comfortably accepting the compliment.

Then he asked, “You’re about to be promoted to Director of Personnel Selection in the Ministry of Appointments. You can’t keep slacking off. The Personnel Selection Bureau holds great responsibility.”

[I know, I know. Selecting and evaluating officials will all be my job now…]

Just thinking about it made Xu Yanmiao feel tired.

[Thank goodness I have the gossip system!]

The old emperor didn’t care whether he was tired or not—what’s a young man got to be tired about?

“Now that court is over, don’t go to the public kitchen. Eat with me instead. Let’s get you some practice first. Take a look at these transfer documents and see if you can approve them.”

Xu Yanmiao looked down: “Former Director of Personnel Selection in the Ministry of Appointments, Huang Yong?”

[Oh, oh! That’s the one whose position I took.]

“Transferred to the Ministry of Rites as a Junior Minister?”

The old emperor said, “Yes. If you think it’s suitable, then approve it. If not, reject it and have the subordinates review it again.”

Xu Yanmiao was very nervous.

Huang Yong, who was currently eating in the public kitchen, was also extremely nervous. He didn’t even have time to set down his bowl of porridge, anxiously waiting to hear Xu Yanmiao’s thoughts.

He had looked into it—getting transferred to the Ministry of Rites as a Junior Minister would be a Grade 4 position! The position he had before, Director of Personnel Selection, was only Grade 5!

And then—the verdict came!

[Now that I think about it, what exactly does the Ministry of Rites do?]

“Pfft—!”

An official nearby spat out his tea in shock.

Huang Yong’s hand shook, spilling porridge all over himself.

It’s been three years! Don’t tell us the only job you’ve bothered to understand is your own!

[I’m doomed. I only ever paid close attention to the affairs of the Ministry of Appointments. I barely skimmed anything else just to check if there was gossip…]

The officials of Great Xia: “…”

Is he serious?

Xu Yanmiao stared at the transfer document, racking his brain: [I vaguely remember it has something to do with rituals? Or maybe handling trials? No, wait—trials are under the Court of Judicial Review.]

The old emperor paused, then reminded him, “An official position responsible for state rituals—what’s so hard to decide about that?”

[So it really is about rituals! Looks like my brain still works! I didn’t misremember!]

[There haven’t been any major ritual events lately, so Director Huang will have plenty of time to learn on the job.]

—When an official is transferred to another department, they always need to learn as they go.

[Approved!]

Xu Yanmiao swiftly stamped the transfer order, then turned to the emperor. “Your Majesty, I’ve made my decision.”

The old emperor: “Why are you telling me? You’re supposed to decide these things on your own.”

[Oh no!]

The old emperor: “?”

What’s wrong now?

Xu Yanmiao suddenly panicked, his heart pounding: [Ah! How could I forget? When a leader says “handle it as you see fit” or “you decide,” they don’t actually mean it—they’re testing you!]

[I’m doomed. I failed the test. Did the old emperor just silently mark this down in his mental notebook?]

[And that last comment he made… it sounded so sarcastic!]

Xu Yanmiao started frantically analyzing everything, heart racing, feeling more and more uneasy: [No, I need to investigate. Maybe there’s something I don’t know—some hidden grudge the emperor has against Director Huang!]

Over at the palace kitchen, Huang Yong refused the eunuch’s help: “I’ll wipe up the porridge on the floor myself. I need something to occupy me.”

Then he squatted down, worried sick, and wiped the spilled porridge over and over again with a handkerchief.

A palace servant beside him hesitated to speak: But… Lord Huang, at this point you’re practically polishing the floor with porridge…

On the other side, the old emperor was momentarily at a loss for words.

—Mainly because Xu Yanmiao said all that in his thoughts, so the emperor had no way to argue back even if he wanted to!

And besides, was he really that petty?

[I must find proof. The old emperor is totally petty.]

The old emperor: “…”

[Just look at that time with the old censor—he gently advised His Majesty not to bring in such young girls to the palace, and vaguely referenced Lady Qin as an example, saying this time it was a “fake granddaughter,” but what if next time it was a hidden gem? And His Majesty responded by deliberately asking the old censor whether it was more comfortable to sleep with his beard tucked inside or outside the quilt, which tormented the poor man all night, left him exhausted the next day, and then he even got impeached by someone else for ‘improper conduct at court.’]

Back at the palace kitchen, hearing this “private story,” Huang Yong was already drenched in cold sweat and even voluntarily began recalling if he had unknowingly offended the emperor at some point.

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Meanwhile, the old emperor twisted the thumb ring on his finger, and snorted internally.

That rascal dares show such disrespect to his sovereign—what’s wrong with a little lesson?

[…Eh? Why is the Empress here?]

The old emperor’s eyes showed a trace of disdain.

So what if the Empress came! Even if she’s standing right here, he still dares say I was deliberately messing with a worthy official!

“My dear~”

The old emperor turned and eagerly welcomed Empress Dou in: “Look at you, coming over so suddenly. Why didn’t you let me know ahead of time? I could’ve asked the attendants to prepare tea and snacks.”

—What rules about the inner palace not entering the outer court? In his eyes, Empress Dou didn’t have to follow that sort of formality.

Empress Dou produced a document: “This is a state matter Your Majesty left behind at the Jiaofang Hall. I thought it must be important and brought it here personally to avoid any mishaps.”

“Many thanks, my dear.” The old emperor accepted it and said, “Come, have a seat!”

“No need. As a woman of the inner palace, I shouldn’t meddle in state affairs. I’ll return to Jiaofang Hall.”

“There’s no need to be so—”

But Empress Dou simply gave a graceful curtsy, said her farewell, and turned to leave. Just before going, she gave the old emperor a long, meaningful look.

The old emperor: “…”

After she left, he waved a hand to summon the chief eunuch, then lowered his voice:

“Go to my private treasury at once and pick out a golden bottle. Send it discreetly to the Right Censorate as a reward for a loyal and virtuous official. Don’t make a fuss—do it quietly. Don’t alert anyone.”

The chief eunuch fell silent for a moment.

The old emperor: “What is it? Is there a problem?”

The eunuch quietly replied, “Your Majesty… your private treasury…” He tried to be tactful: “There’s no golden bottle to be found.”

“…” Oh. He forgot. Most of it had been emptied out and not yet restocked.

The old emperor thought for a moment. “There’s one in my sleeping quarters. Take that one.”

The eunuch bowed and left.

The old emperor calmly turned around—and came face to face with a pair of bright, curious black eyes.

He was startled. “Xu Yanmiao, what are you staring at?”

Xu Yanmiao handed over a new memorial: “Assistant Director Cui is being transferred to Xing’an to serve as Prefect. Is this Your Majesty’s decision?”

The old emperor glanced at it and said, “Yes. He’s been stuck at the Assistant Director level for three years because of his disrespect during My Longevity Festival. Now that he’s rendered meritorious service by arranging the placement of those courtesans, it’s time he gets a move.”

Sometimes, transferring an official to a new post is also a way to help them accumulate experience, paving the way for future promotions.

Xu Yanmiao nodded and stamped the transfer document.

When Cui Yi received news of his transfer, tears welled up in his eyes.

Three years! He had almost thought this was how his life would end!

He quickly bowed deeply toward the imperial palace, giving thanks for the emperor’s grace. Then he turned and gave another deep bow in the direction of Xu Yanmiao’s residence.

If it hadn’t been to curry favor with Lord Xu, he never would’ve thought of settling those courtesans—and thus wouldn’t have caught the wave of this institutional reform.

“Wife—!”

He turned and called out loudly: “Prepare a gift for me! Before I leave the capital, I must visit a benefactor!”