Chapter 167 - 166: How Could Pei Xuan Deserve This? The Prophet Is Here!
Chapter 167: Chapter 166: How Could Pei Xuan Deserve This? The Prophet Is Here!
After this message appeared in the chat box, the entire group fell silent.
Immediately after, another group chat sprang to life.
[Qingyuan]: What right does Pei Xuan have to make Sister Ying sweep his tomb? He hasn’t even noticed Sister Ying yet!
[Ning Liuyu]: And here I thought Your Majesty was inviting us out for shopping and a meal.
[Xie Qingshi]: I truly envy Miss Ning for also being a private citizen; she can openly accompany Your Majesty.
[Qingyuan]: I chose to enter the entertainment industry back then to raise my public profile. It’s too late to quit now.
The three colleagues each had their own thoughts, but all of them somewhat regretted agreeing so readily before asking for specifics. At this moment, a new message arrived.
[Only I am the first]: After I graduate, I will sweep your tombs one by one too.
Shi Changying was very satisfied with her plan. She did not worry about scarcity, but about inequality. As a sovereign, she had to maintain absolute fairness.
"By the way, Miss Shi, the ruins of the Jianghuai Pei Family are right next to the Zhongwu Tomb," Yan Sinian said. "I wonder if Senior Brother wants to drop by and take a look. Are you interested?"
Shi Changying remained silent for a moment before replying, "No."
She had seen the Pei Family during their peak—prospering and flourishing along a street that stretched for a hundred miles. She had also seen photos of the Pei Family ruins online. Among the broken walls and scattered debris, it was impossible to tell whether the original color of the roof beams had been vermilion or emerald green.
Yunzhou was extremely important; it could be considered Ningzhou’s last line of defense. As long as Yunzhou stood and Jianghuai was not breached, Mingjing would not fall. That was why she had entrusted Pei Xuan with an army of three hundred thousand troops.
It had been over two months since she arrived in this future era. She had never dared to look closely at the history of the late Xuan Dynasty, including the subsequent century-long devastation across Jiuzhou.
Yan Sinian simply assumed she wasn’t interested in ancient architecture and smiled. "There are quite a few tourists visiting the Zhongwu Tomb every day. The tombs of the Four Great Young Masters are always bustling with activity. After all, they were famously handsome men in history."
Although his major wasn’t history, he was an educated man and knew a bit about such things.
Shi Changying raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"Do you read historical fanfiction? The Four Great Young Masters of the Xuan End are all popular subjects. There are so many stories written about them!" Yan Sinian said enthusiastically. "Take Pei Xuan’s character profile—he could write poetry, had incredible martial arts skills, and was handsome. Plus, his final ending was so tragic and heroic! He’s the textbook definition of the beautiful, strong, and tragic trope! Young girls love him."
Shi Changying thought for a moment before saying, "Yeah, but unfortunately, he had a mouth on him."
If Pei Xuan had been mute, she would have tentatively considered him somewhat pleasing to the eye. The young girls of this future era surely didn’t know that the offensiveness of Pei Xuan’s mouth was even more formidable than his swordsmanship. After all, the sword in his hand didn’t just stab anyone it met, but his mouth certainly did.
Yan Sinian was bewildered. "Huh?"
Shi Changying didn’t say anything more and went back to doing her homework.
Approaching ten o’clock, Ming Chengli returned. He waved the food bag in his hand. "Sweetheart, look what Dad brought back for you! A Linsu specialty, bamboo dew cake!"
Shi Changying didn’t take it immediately. Instead, she walked a circle around him and commented, "Mm, you look perfectly fine. Not bad. Very obedient."
Ming Chengli spoke righteously, "Of course I have to keep the promises I make to you."
Only then did Shi Changying take the bamboo dew cake. She glanced at him again. "You seem very happy about this trip to Linsu?"
"Of course I’m happy. It proves that my pursuits are meaningful!" Ming Chengli said. "But even I didn’t expect those words to be ’Return to the Beginning.’ From this, I can deduce that there are far more tampered texts in history than I thought."
Seeing his exhausted yet radiant expression, Shi Changying was also infected by his joy.
"As expected, Empress Taichu held deep significance for Xie Qingshi," Ming Chengli said slowly. "Why am I so firmly convinced that Empress Taichu could never be the person depicted in the history books? Because if she truly was, how could the four great aristocratic families not rebel? The common people aren’t fools either!"
Shi Changying fell silent, suddenly unable to taste the bamboo dew cake in her mouth.
"After rushing about for so long, I finally have some results," Ming Chengli continued. "I just wonder if I can find more evidence to prove my viewpoint in my lifetime."
"But what if you can’t find more evidence?" Shi Changying’s tone carried a rare hint of anger. "Are you just going to waste your entire life on this illusory pursuit?"
"If I can’t find it, there will be someone else after me." Ming Chengli smiled, his voice gentle. "To carry on the endangered teachings of past sages—isn’t that the very meaning of our existence? How could it be an illusory pursuit?"
Shi Changying’s heart trembled. She suddenly recalled the day she invited Ye Yu to take charge of the cabinet and acknowledged him as her teacher.
Ye Yu had said, "Your Majesty may choose to learn nothing else, but there are four lines you absolutely must learn."
She had asked, "Which four lines?"
"To ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth, to secure life and fortune for the people, to carry on the endangered teachings of past sages, and to establish peace for all future generations. These are the Four Lines of Hengqu." Fearing she wouldn’t understand, he had explained it again in the simplest terms. "To establish a benevolent heart for the world, to let everyone live a good life, to pass down the wisdom and culture of our ancestors, and to protect the eternal peace of Jiuzhou."
The exact same words echoed in her ears once more, deafeningly loud. Only at this moment did she finally realize the true meaning behind Ye Yu’s words. Education had spanned four hundred years, finally completing its loop in this very moment.
Shi Changying wanted to say that she personally didn’t care whether her reputation was vindicated, but seeing Ming Chengli’s persistence, she reached out and patted his head. "Don’t worry, Dad. You will. I’m here."
"Ah, look at me, lecturing you with grand philosophies so late at night. I really talk too much!" Ming Chengli said. "You’ve been studying all day, so hurry up and rest. I can’t let my precious daughter exhaust herself. You are your dad’s hope, after all!"
Shi Changying closed her book, unusually obedient, and returned to her bedroom to rest. Ming Chengli was incredibly gratified. His daughter was indeed getting better and better. Once she got into a university, the final heavy stone in his heart would be lifted.
The next day, at Jianghuai High School.
When school let out in the evening, students passing by the bulletin board stopped in their tracks. Staring at the blank space beneath the words "Guest Speaker," they were all looking forward to the next session. Although the previous history lecture had ended in a hurry, it had left a profound impact on them.
"Sister, last time I even heard Shi Changying boasting that she could invite Xie Lin to be the guest speaker. She sure talks big without fear of choking on her words!" Meng Shuyan scoffed. "Even Mom barely managed to snatch tickets for the Jianghuai concert this time."
Xu Shuyu didn’t respond. Her expression was cold, remaining entirely indifferent to the matter.
Just then, holding a promotional poster, the Director of Moral Education strolled up to the bulletin board with his hands clasped behind his back, humming a cheerful tune. He seemed to be in an excellent mood.
Meng Shuyan suddenly laughed and asked, "Director, who is the guest speaker this time? It wouldn’t happen to be Xie Lin, would it? Not long ago, I heard Shi Changying telling the principal that she could invite Xie Lin over!"
"Shi Changying inviting Xie Lin? Really?"
"It must be a lie. That’s Xie Lin we’re talking about! How could a high school student possibly invite him?"
"Pfft, anyone can brag. I could say I’m Emperor Chengtian, and if you give me fifty bucks, I’ll resurrect from the dead!"
Listening to the whispers around him, Meng Shuyan felt a rush of vindication, sweeping away all the frustration he had endured over the past few days.
The Director of Moral Education stopped humming. Startled, he blurted out, "How do you know about that, kid?"
Even he had only found out when he first got his hands on the poster!