On the Difficulties of Escape in Ancient Times

Chapter 412 Entering the Palace
"The old woman who died was Gou, who was employed by the Second Mistress in the palace."

"The other women confessed that it was Gou who forced them to do it."

Li Yan knew there was something fishy going on, but he couldn't investigate further: "The Dali Temple hasn't even closed the case yet, and the Second Madam wants to drown herself."

"But he didn't die, and was rescued."

"It is said that Gou was the second wife's wet nurse. It is possible that she took the opportunity to frame the second wife because the second wife Sheng had bullied her master."

Xiao Xiao was not surprised to hear this answer: "They even found a scapegoat. It must have been premeditated."

Instead, she breathed a sigh of relief: "Maybe he really wants to kill two birds with one stone. This way I don't have to feel too guilty."

When Li Yan heard her words, he swallowed what he was about to say.

He still felt that this accident was caused by the Crown Princess targeting his own wife.

But now that she seemed a little more relaxed, I decided to be more cautious in private and not let her worry.

He preferred to see Xiao Xiao relaxed and at ease, with light in her eyes when she smiled.

He raised his hand and gently scratched her pretty nose: "Be careful when you go out next time, so as not to encounter a mad dog."

If possible, he really wanted Xiao Xiao to stay at home.

Unfortunately, he also understood that this was unrealistic.

Xiao Xiao nodded with lingering fear: "You don't have to tell me, I don't want to go out either. The world outside is too dangerous."

But people are in the world, and they can't help themselves.

On the 19th day of August, the eunuch from the palace came to convey the Queen's decree, saying that the Queen missed her sister, and asked Xiao Zhou and Xiao Xiaoming to enter the palace together in the morning.

"I think my elder sister must miss you more." Little Zhou carefully protected her belly, which was not yet visible, and muttered in a low voice: "I just feel that you are using me as a shield."

"I have to tell my eldest sister not to let us enter the palace until the baby is born."

She was afraid that Xiao Xiao would not agree, so she leaned close to her and whispered, "Just think about it, there are so many things going on in the palace."

"There are more than a dozen concubines and thousands of eunuchs, maids and nannies in the inner court of the imperial palace. The Empress has not yet completely controlled the harem. The Crown Princess and the ladies in the harem can't do anything to the Empress, so it would be too easy for them to deal with us."

She is really scared now, especially now that she is a twin and her body is not as strong as Xiao Xiao's.

If she was pushed into the water, there would be two deaths.

Xiao Xiao laughed when she heard this: "What a coincidence, my husband said something similar to you last night."

"Big brother is also a wise man." Little Zhou leaned close to Xiao Xiao and whispered, "Just like our mother, she loves to go out for social events, but when she heard that we were going to enter the palace, she didn't envy us at all and didn't even want to come."

They were pregnant, and when they got off the carriage, eunuchs were already waiting by the side carrying a sedan chair.

Xiao Xiao was originally worried that she might meet concubines on the road, as they would also have to come down to pay their respects.

Fortunately, we arrived at the Queen's Palace without any obstruction.

After the two of them entered, they greeted each other politely.

"Everyone, get up." As soon as Mrs. Zhou finished speaking, two maids came forward and helped Xiao Xiao and Mrs. Zhou up.

After they sat down at the bottom, the palace maids served them tea, snacks and fruits, and then they all filed out.

"Your sister doesn't look well," said the eldest Zhou, who must have been worried about her younger sister. "Is it because you are overweight? Do you want to ask the imperial physician to come and take a look?" When the youngest Zhou heard her elder sister say that she looked haggard, she was not angry but happy: "I am fine. Our mother and mother both said that if a pregnant woman looks good, she is most likely pregnant with a daughter."

She didn't need to say anything else, everyone present knew what was going on.

After hearing what her younger sister said, Da Zhou looked at Xiao Xiao, whose face was fair and rosy and whose figure was plump and beautiful. She felt lucky for her younger sister that her sister-in-law was not such a narrow-minded person.

Otherwise it would be like pointing at someone's nose and saying: I am pregnant with a son and you are pregnant with a daughter.

If my sister was in the palace and was still so unable to speak, she would probably be dead by now.

Mrs. Zhou could only look stern and said unhappily, "You are a woman, but you still keep calling me son. You are so shameless to say that."

Xiao Xiao was a little surprised after hearing this. She didn't expect that Da Zhou actually knew how to protect women's rights?
Even if it's just words, at least it sounds nice.

Xiao Zhou blushed and murmured shyly, "I like daughters too, but there must be a man to support the family, right?"

Xiao Xiao didn't think that what Xiao Zhou said was wrong.

Not to mention this era where most people are oppressed into slavery, even in her previous life, weren't there big bosses who kept mistresses outside in order to have a son to inherit the family business?

Furthermore, men are indeed more free in this era.

You can chase points and shadows at full speed, or you can hug girls left and right, or you can use swords to settle grudges and enjoy life.

As for girls, even though women are treated more leniently now, there are still more restrictions.

Xiao Xiao took the opportunity to say, "Your Highness, what you said is very good. I only regret that I got married too early. Otherwise, I would have wanted to enter the palace and become a female official."

She would definitely encourage Da Zhou to safeguard women's rights, so that women could live better in the future.

Seeing her looking at her expectantly, Da Zhou couldn't help but smile: "In fact, it's good for you to get married. It will be more convenient for you to go out. I plan to reopen the girls' school, and you can also go there to be a teacher."

The Empress Yuan once promoted the establishment of girls' schools, which could also be said to be technical schools for girls where they could learn a skill.

I heard that was the time when people were most tolerant towards women.

Women can set up their own homes and it is common for widows to remarry.

Da Zhou's face also flashed with ambition: "It's not easy for women nowadays. They are all confined to the inner house. They fight to the death just for the slightest thing."

"I want to open a girls' school and expand the charity hall to provide a place for those poor women to stay."

"If this goes well, it will be a great thing that will benefit the present and future generations."

Xiao Zhou was moved: "Empress, I have also read the Four Books and Five Classics. Do you think it's okay for me to be a teacher in the girls' school?"

"Of course you can," Da Zhou looked at her with satisfaction, "If I didn't want you to be my teacher, why would I invite you to the palace?"

After all, she is my biological sister. Even if she sometimes acts untactfully and speaks in a way that offends others, she will never betray me.

Of course, Da Zhou specially let them into the palace because she was more optimistic about Xiao Xiao: "I want you to manage the charity hall in the imperial city. Are you willing?"

Most of the children in the charity house are little girls. Some of them were abandoned at the door of the charity house by their parents, while others were abandoned by their families due to natural disasters or man-made calamities.

But the charity hall was not really a good place. Most of the young girls had a hard life. Many of them sold themselves and either ended up in brothels or became maids in various mansions.

There is also a small number of people who married ordinary people and lived an ordinary life.