Extra: Zhao Ruyu 2
After reading the letter, Zhao Jingli looked up in surprise and said to his wife, "She wants to leave the Prince Jingping's Estate."
He Yuqi's eyes widened.
Although she ran a newspaper, embraced various new ideas, and joined the Women's Federation, helping many women who were tormented by their mothers-in-law and husbands to get divorced, she never imagined that Zhao Ruyu would leave the Prince Jingping's Estate.
Back then, Zhao Ruyu abandoned her dignity, family, and social status, and voluntarily went to the Prince Jingping's Estate to become a concubine.
Although she hasn't been officially recognized as the wife, the heir of the Prince Jingping's Estate, Xiao Sijie, is unmarried, so she still has a chance, doesn't she? How could she bear to leave there?
Having left the Prince's mansion, where could she go? Did she intend to stay at her parents' home for the rest of her life? Was she willing to accept that?
If she were to marry, who could she possibly marry given her circumstances? Marrying a widower from an ordinary family and becoming a stepmother— Zhao Ruyu, with her lofty aspirations, certainly wouldn't want that, would she?
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through He Yuqi's mind.
Seeing her husband hand her the letter, He Yuqi first handed the child to the wet nurse before taking the letter and reading it.
In the letter, Zhao Ruyu said that she originally wanted to leave the Prince Jingping's Estate. Later, she talked to Zhao Ruxi and was greatly moved. Zhao Ruxi also agreed that she should leave the Prince Jingping's Estate and start a new life.
After returning home, she thought about it for a long time and decided to leave the Prince Jingping's Estate. This was not an impulsive decision, but a well-considered one.
She also stated that she would not return to be a burden to the Zhao Family; she wanted to go to a remote place to teach at the Women's Academy and asked Zhao Jingli to inquire with Zhao Ruxi whether it was feasible.
If that doesn't work, she'll find another way. In short, she's made up her mind to leave the Prince Jingping's Estate.
After He Yuqi looked up, Zhao Jingli asked, "What do you think?"
He Yuqi said, "Write back to her and say that we'll send someone to pick her up the day after tomorrow so we can talk. While we're at it, let's also ask the Crown Princess for her opinion."
"I'm not worried about anything else. No matter what, she's still my father's adopted daughter, Jing'an treats her like his own sister. My only concern is that she might be using a feigned retreat to force them to make her the legitimate wife by leaving the Prince Jingping's Estate."
If Zhao Ruyu truly comes to her senses, He Yuqi will naturally wholeheartedly agree and provide the necessary support.
As an independent woman with new ideas, she still strongly agreed with Zhao Ruyu leaving the Prince Jingping's Estate and forging her own path.
Women, especially those with certain abilities like Zhao Ruyu, don't need to rely on men as long as they are clear-headed and willing to be independent.
The real fear is that Zhao Ruyu might be using them as pawns, rather than genuinely wanting a divorce.
"If she truly wants to leave the Prince Jingping's Estate, even if the Crown Princess can't make arrangements for her, I can still get her a job at a newspaper," He Yuqi added.
"However, this means she'll be more talked about and stared at in the capital, which will likely make her uncomfortable. She wants a fresh start, and it would be better to get away from here to some unfamiliar place."
Hearing these words, Zhao Jingli was once again deeply grateful to Zhao Ruxi.
If it weren't for her, I really wouldn't have been able to marry a wife as smart and generous as He Yuqi.
"Okay, I'll write her a letter now, just like you said," Zhao Jingli said.
After writing the letter, he had his maid deliver it to Fushu. He then wrote another letter and had it sent to the palace to be given to Zhao Ruxi.
Only Zhao Ruxi knows what she and Zhao Ruyu talked about in the morning; whether Zhao Ruyu is truly repentant or wants to use them to force the Prince Jingping's Estate's Mansion to abdicate, Zhao Jingli believes that with Zhao Ruxi's intelligence and shrewdness, she must know.
If Zhao Ruxi expresses her opposition to Zhao Ruyu's divorce or her unwillingness to get involved in the matter, then he can cancel the meeting the day after tomorrow.
The power of the second branch of the Zhao Family was far inferior to that of the Prince Jingping's Estate. Without Zhao Ruxi's support, the Prince Jingping's Estate would not have agreed to Zhao Ruyu's divorce.
Upon receiving the reply and learning that Zhao Jingli was willing to meet with her, Zhao Ruyu was extremely Gao Xing and did not feel that waiting two more days was a problem.
Zhao Ruxi received a letter from Zhao Jingli, informing her that Zhao Ruyu planned to leave the Prince Jingping's Estate, and she was very Gao Xing for Zhao Ruyu.
She told Xiao Lingyan about it so that he would be aware of the situation and prevent the Prince Jingping's Estate and others from bringing it up. However, Xiao Lingyan knew nothing about it.
"Okay, I understand." Xiao Lingyan said, then asked curiously, "What are your plans for her?"
Other women were one thing, but Zhao Ruyu was, after all, the original female lead of this book, so Xiao Lingyan paid her some attention.
As for the original male lead Fu Yunlang, he had already become Xiao Lingyan's errand boy when Xiao Lingyan was running the auction house.
Now, Fu Yunlang often takes pride in his discerning eye for talent and in having followed Xiao Lingyan from an early age.
After Xiao Lingyan became the crown prince, he did not mistreat Fu Yunlang. He gave him a sinecure and assigned him any private matters that were within Fu Yunlang Fu Yunlang's capabilities, showing that he valued him.
Fu Yunlang lived up to his expectations, loyally obeying Xiao Lingyan's orders and doing his best in his work.
"The Zhang Shun couple in Gusu are both very discerning. When my father was working there, Zhang Shun flattered him terribly. I think if my father writes a letter asking them to look after my niece and recommend Zhao Ruyu for a music instruction position at the Gusu Women's Academy, they will surely take good care of her."
Xiao Lingyan nodded. "That's a good idea."
He touched his chin. "It seems I can't touch Zhang Shun for the next few years."
Zhang Shun has been the prefect of Gusu for six or seven years. According to the court's usual practice in personnel selection, he should have been transferred to another place as prefect. After all, Gusu is a wealthy place, and many people are eyeing that lucrative position.
But because of Zhao Yuanxun, he remained stagnant. Now that Zhao Yuanxun had finally Gao Sheng to the Ministry of War, those who were eyeing that lucrative position were overjoyed, when suddenly Zhao Ruyu appeared out of nowhere.
Zhao Ruxi laughed and said, "Originally, we could have arranged for Zhao Ruyu to go to Nanyang. But I was afraid that the people in Nanyang would use this as a powerful tool, or try to take advantage of Zhao Ruyu. If Cai Yaozong or Li Li divorced their wives and married Zhao Ruyu just to become your cousin-in-law, I would become a laughing stock."
"So Zhang Shun and his wife are still the most reassuring. Gusu is a place with many outstanding people and talents. Zhao Ruyu she wants to get married. Let Zhang Shun stay there for another three years."
Zhao Ruxi wanted Zhao Ruyu be independent, not to be alone for the rest of her life. Marriage and independence are not contradictory. For example, she herself married Xiao Lingyan, but she is still an independent person.
"As for whether others say I treat Gusu as my own backyard, let them say what they want. I'm already the Crown Princess, with you as my backer, and Father Emperor values me highly. If I don't even fight for this little bit of power, and am always afraid of everything, what's the point of all this hard work?"
"All the officials in the court are bound to engage in favoritism once they take office, so what's a little bit of mine? Besides, Zhang Shun isn't a corrupt official, and his performance is decent; he's governed Gusu quite well. It wouldn't be unreasonable for him to stay there for a few more years."