Chapter 37 - 36: Do I Still Have to Prove That I Am Empress Taichu?
Chapter 37: Chapter 36: Do I Still Have to Prove That I Am Empress Taichu?
If this matter were to be traced back, it would be the year 1603 of the Jiuzhou Calendar.
It was the second year of her ascension to the throne, which was also the Second Year of Taichu. She didn’t understand the patriarchal clan system of rites and music, but she needed capable people to take charge of the Taichang Temple. The name Xie Qingshi happened to be on the roster written by her Grand Secretary.
Thus, she personally went to Linsu, appointed him as the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and granted him a handsome salary of a thousand ounces of gold. This ancient zither was one of the favors she had bestowed upon him.
What was it called again?
Oh, Jiuyin.
She forgot what the name meant. After all, she was not highly educated.
"Changying, whether we’re studying history or conducting archaeology, we must adhere to one word," Ming Chengli said patiently, "evidence. Moreover, studying history requires even more rigor. What is needed is the triple evidence method."
"Which three?" Shi Changying asked.
"Official documents, archaeological artifacts, and ethnographic materials," Ming Chengli explained one by one. "Only by cross-referencing these three can we determine whether a historical event is true."
"Uncorroborated evidence cannot stand alone..." Shi Changying murmured.
"Exactly. To reach a conclusion, multiple pieces of evidence must corroborate each other." Ming Chengli paused, his voice dropping lower. "Of course, it’s not unheard of for historical data to be tampered with, which is why Dad’s work is somewhat arduous."
But he wouldn’t give up.
Shi Changying stayed quiet for a moment before suddenly asking, "If there is no evidence, even the person who personally experienced the event cannot prove whether it’s true. Is that right?"
Ming Chengli was caught off guard by her question and scratched his head in confusion. "Yes, there must be evidence. But history... there’s no such thing as a living witness for ancient history."
Shi Changying pressed her temples. After a long while, she let out a cold chuckle. "To think that I wake up from a slumber, only to have to prove that I am the Empress."
It was truly absurd. Yet, she had no choice but to accept it.
Indeed, anyone recorded in the history books was already buried in the ground. What evidence did she have to prove that she was Empress Taichu?
Ming Chengli didn’t quite catch her words. He said gently, "Changying, Dad knows you want me to rest, but whenever I hear about history, it’s like I’ve been injected with adrenaline. I’m wide awake. You’ve been studying for a few days and must be tired too. Remember to sleep in."
Shi Changying remained silent for the rest of the journey.
After dropping her off at the Xu family’s villa, Ming Chengli put on his coat and departed into the night once again.
Shi Changying lay on her bed for a few seconds before deciding to get up and do a set of middle school physics exam papers.
DING.
At that moment, her phone chimed.
Unlocking it with her fingerprint, opening WhatsApp, and locating the message tab—all in one smooth motion. Shi Changying was very satisfied with her speed at integrating into modern society.
[7 has requested to add you as a friend]
Looking at this friend request, Shi Changying recalled what Lu Mi had told her: *"Yingying, you absolutely have to watch out for pig-butchering scams and other frauds! They always start by adding you as a friend on WhatsApp, and then they scam you out of your feelings and your money!"*
She thought, "Scam me out of my money? Absolutely not. I am broke."
All avoidable disasters had to be nipped in the bud. She would not give these romance scammers any opportunities. Shi Changying clicked ’Reject’ and blocked the account. Then, she went back to solving physics problems.
She had just finished reading a question when her phone chimed again.
[Lu Mi]: Yingying, why did you block the young master? A spot on his friend list is virtually priceless!
[Shi Changying]: I thought it was a pig-butchering scam.
[Lu Mi]: ...
Lu Mi felt like crying.
Sometimes, having too strong of a learning ability wasn’t a good thing! She really wouldn’t dare speak so carelessly in the future.
[Lu Mi]: The young master asked me for your WhatsApp. He said it was to urge you to do your homework.
Consequently, Shi Changying took Shaoyuan off the blacklist and added him as a friend.
[7]: Contact name.
Shi Changying thought about it and gave him a contact name—
[Good Samaritan]
She thought about it again and felt this name wasn’t accurate enough, so she added a few more words behind it—
[Good Samaritan (Whom I, the Empress, Can Replace)]
After putting down her phone, Shi Changying continued doing her physics problems.
Early the next morning.
Old Madam Xu came downstairs. Not seeing Ming Chengli, she felt a bit puzzled. "Where is Chengli? Why haven’t I seen him? Isn’t today Sunday?"
Housekeeper Xu hastily replied, "Mr. Chengli left last night. He said he was going to Xuan’an. It seems there was some new archaeological discovery."
"Archaeology... Archaeology again!" Old Madam Xu pressed her temples, a chill running through her voice. "What on earth is so good about archaeology? If he could actually get into the National Institute of Archaeology, I wouldn’t say anything, but he..."
Housekeeper Xu didn’t dare to utter a sound. He directed the servants to prepare breakfast and attended to Old Madam Xu as she took her seat at the dining table.
At that moment, the front door opened, and Xu Zhao Yu walked in holding a bouquet of fresh flowers. Seeing Old Madam Xu’s displeased expression, she was momentarily taken aback before smiling. "What’s wrong, Mom? Who made you angry so early in the morning? Quickly tell me, I definitely won’t spare them."
The pent-up frustration in Old Madam Xu’s heart was swept away. "Zhao Yu, come sit."
Xu Zhao Yu handed the bouquet to Housekeeper Xu and sat down next to Old Madam Xu. "Mom, you really have to tell me. Who made you mad?"
"I’m not angry, I just don’t understand it," Old Madam Xu sighed. "Your fourth brother went to Xuan’an overnight for the sake of archaeology. Tell me, is this acceptable?"
"Mom, aren’t I here to keep you company for breakfast?" Xu Zhao Yu said softly. "Fourth Brother is busy with work; you should be more understanding."
Old Madam Xu patted her hand. "My daughter is still the most considerate one."
In contrast, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of resentment toward Ming Chengli.
Xu Zhao Yu ate her meal very quietly.
However, Old Madam Xu keenly sensed that something was amiss and asked, "Zhao Yu, is something on your mind?"
"Huh?" Xu Zhao Yu evaded the question. "No, Mom. What could possibly be bothering me?"
"I’m your mother. Don’t you think I know that your eyes dart to the bottom left whenever you’re lying?" Old Madam Xu set down her chopsticks. "What exactly happened?"
"When Shuyan and Shuyu came back from school yesterday, they said... they said the whole school knows that it was my biological father who switched me and Fourth Brother." Xu Zhao Yu managed a strained smile. "Of course, this is the truth, but I... I..."
Before she could finish her sentence, her words were drowned out by choked sobs.
Seeing her face covered in tears, Old Madam Xu panicked. "Don’t cry, don’t cry. It has nothing to do with you. It’s not your fault."
Xu Zhao Yu wiped at her tears continuously, but they just wouldn’t stop. She tried hard to force a smile. "If I had the ability back then, I definitely would have stopped him."
While comforting Xu Zhao Yu, Old Madam Xu’s thoughts slowly turned over.
She had already reached an understanding with the people around her, telling outsiders that the babies were simply mixed up by mistake. Xu Zhao Yu was still a Xu Family Member and would inherit a portion of the estate. This matter was supposed to be water under the bridge.
Who would drag it up again?
Old Madam Xu’s face abruptly darkened. "Housekeeper, get Shi Changying down here immediately!"
Aside from Shi Changying—who had given Xu Zhao Yu attitude the moment she was brought back to the Xu family—there could be no one else.