The Slender Waist-Chapter 532 - 380: Careful Planning_2

Feng Yun saw Xiaoman’s excitement and, with a slight smile, opened several small boxes.

Fabrics, jewelry, and some skin-nourishing creams.

Dong Bai said, "Her Highness the Empress Dowager mentioned that since the Princess has been taking care of His Majesty, she has long wanted to present the Princess with some gifts to express her gratitude, yet it has been delayed until now. Please don’t be offended, Princess."

Feng Yun quickly bowed in the direction of Xijing.

"Many thanks for the favor of Her Highness. I am deeply grateful and pleasantly surprised by this imperial grace."

Although her words were charming, Dong Bai saw no genuine sign of pleasant surprise on her composed face and awkwardly chuckled twice.

"Then I shall take my leave now. If His Majesty awakens from his nap later and cannot find me, Female Historian Lin will blame me."

Upon mentioning Yuan Shangyi, Feng Yun’s expression softened a bit.

"How has His Majesty been these past days?"

Dong Bai replied, "Your Highness, His Majesty has been as usual. The weather has become hot, and his meals and sleep have been disturbed. He always thinks of coming to see the Princess. Today, he was scolded by Female Historian Lin, and only then was he willing to study obediently."

A heaviness settled in Feng Yun’s heart.

"I will make his favorite green bean cakes later and visit him then."

Dong Bai agreed and left, clearly delighted.

Feng Yun was silent for a moment before genuinely rolling up her sleeves and heading to the kitchen.

She knew that her heart, which was moved by the child Ayuan, was stirred because of Queque.

The motherly love and guilt that could never be regained or atoned for in this lifetime could only be dissolved into these cakes...

-

As the sun set, Feng Yun guessed that Yuan Shangyi had finished his studies and went to see him, hoping to please the child with the cakes.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Shangyi’s eyes reddened upon seeing her.

"Why did you come so late, Mother?"

Feng Yun could not bear to hear such a grievous tone from a child and quickly set down the food box, embracing him and gently patting his back.

"What’s wrong?"

The small body in her arms trembled slightly.

Feng Yun looked down. "Oh, why are you crying?"

Yuan Shangyi silently shed tears. "I don’t want to study."

Feng Yun furrowed her brows and pulled out a handkerchief to dry his tears.

"Books need to be read, but you don’t have to work so hard. Don’t push yourself too much, Ayuan, understand?"

Yuan Shangyi sobbed, sniffling.

"They say the children in the village school don’t find studying hard and that they are happy. Is that true?"

Feng Yun smiled lightly. "Is there any study that isn’t hard? Their teachers don’t have as much knowledge as yours, and they don’t have to learn as many things as you do, much less bear the happiness of so many people, so they might be a little happier..."

Yuan Shangyi suddenly grabbed her clothes, looking up at her.

"Can I go to the village school to study? To study with them, to play with them?"

Feng Yun fell silent.

After a while, she said, "I can take Ayuan to play. Whether or not you want to make friends with them and study with them, that I cannot say. Maybe we should wait until your father comes back and ask his opinion?"

Upon hearing that they had to ask Pei Jue, Yuan Shangyi’s face fell.

"The King will not agree. He is even more pedantic than the Master."

Feng Yun did not expect Yuan Shangyi to describe Pei Jue in such a way.

Feng Yun chuckled softly and squeezed Yuan Shangyi’s little shoulder.

"Tomorrow, there’s a monthly examination in Huaxi Village. Once it’s over, I’ll take you there, all right?"

Yuan Shangyi nodded silently, "Okay. It’s a deal."

"It’s a deal."

"Pinky promise!"

"Pinky promise."

Feng Yun laughed softly, her finger hooked with the tiny one.

-

The village school of Huaxi Village didn’t just have monthly exams, but also quarterly and annual ones.

In order to make students realize the importance of learning, Feng Yun had set up high rewards for outstanding students.

From monthly to quarterly and annual tests, the reward money increased incrementally.

The proctor was usually a teacher from the village school, but sometimes Feng Yun would send someone to supervise, to emphasize the seriousness of the examination.

Today, on the day of the monthly test, Ren Rude came over early in the morning.

Food and lodging were prepared in the village school for teachers and students from other areas, with teachers’ meals and accommodations provided for free.

Ren Rude had a house in the manor, but he still preferred to eat at the village school while teaching.

The first reason was so he could blend in with the students, and the second was that Changmen had a somewhat uncanny potential – everything they did was well-executed.

Crops in the fields grew better and yielded more than those of others.

The same dishes prepared there tasted slightly better.

Ren Rude, who had initially looked down on Feng Yun when he first came to the manor, now fully respected this woman. He would even record every action she took, study them carefully, and then send them back to Tai City for Xiao Cheng to review...

Such as the examination rules for this month, quarter, year.

Innovative, interesting, enhanced learning motivation, even those young dandies sent by noble and wealthy families to "steal techniques" were reformed under this set of rules, improving day by day dramatically.

As a teacher, he gradually experienced that indescribable sense of achievement and even voluntarily added a few more classes to his schedule...

Ren Rude entered the teachers’ room in the village school and saw Feng Yun sitting inside. Surprised, he quickly greeted her with a smile.

"Madam, are you personally proctoring the exam today?"

Feng Yun smiled faintly, "I came here specifically to wait for Teacher Ren."

Ren Rude felt a slight twinge of emotion inside, but his face betrayed no change as he cheerfully stroked his beard and laughed, "May I know what instructions the madam has?"

"Dare not," Feng Yun returned the greeting, paused for a moment and then composed herself, saying, "The monthly examination is shortly upon us, take a seat, Teacher. Let’s have a brief yet important conversation."

Ren Rude sat down.

Tea had already been prepared.

Feng Yun didn’t beat around the bush and spoke with a grave expression:

"After the opening of Changmen’s Coal Ball Workshop, Teacher Ren has seen that from time to time, merchants come to negotiate. There are those from the south, and also from the north, but my heart is not at ease."

Ren Rude made a sound of understanding, "May I ask what the madam’s intention is?"

Feng Yun said, "My original intention in making coal balls was to let the common people afford and use them for warming themselves and cooking without worrying about fuel. Therefore, I am determined not to cooperate with dishonest merchants to jack up prices and harm the people’s livelihood..."

Ren Rude nodded, genuinely impressed, "Madam’s virtue is commendable."

Feng Yun’s eyes lifted slightly, her tone serious:

"I have known Teacher for so long, I am aware of your character and also know that you have wide connections and many friends. Today, I would like to ask for your help in finding a convenient way for my coal balls to reach the hands of those I wish to sell them to..."