Chapter 101: Chapter 97: Ambition

Pan Jiaojiao ultimately did not get to see Song Yan before being sent away by Shen Jingxian.

As they parted, the two agreed on a place to meet in two days, and Shen Jingxian also reminded Pan Jiaojiao not to tell Song Yun that she would be going too.

Upon returning to Yi Fen Palace, Shen Jingxian looked at Song Yan attentively reading at the table, but thoughts of the rumors Pan Jiaojiao had told her earlier preoccupied her mind, causing a bit of anxiety.

Due to her status as a princess, the people dared not make casual comments about her, yet they had no such reservations regarding Song Yan.

But those words defaming Song Yan were not just against her alone, they were attacks on all women in Yunyi.

In those discourses, a woman who loses her chastity is deemed a lesser being, one who must keep her head down before others, otherwise a white silk scarf ends her life, earning one note of praise at most.

Even more ridiculous is that this so-called loss of chastity doesn’t care about truth or falsehood; as long as most believe it to be true, then it is so.

In the earlier conversation, even someone like Pan Jiaojiao, a remarkable young woman, would retract herself due to her female identity. How much more for those living ordinary lives or those still being oppressed?

Shen Jingxian once heard a saying, if even well-educated scholars won’t speak up against injustices faced by women, who then would speak, and who would listen?

In the past, Shen Jingxian just wished to navigate through this era, avoiding the battle of the genders. But now she harbors bigger ambitions.

Song Yan, I wish to believe in you.

Perhaps Shen Jingxian’s gaze was too earnest, causing Song Yan to break away from her focus on studying.

The princess ahead seems to be deep in thought, yet the emotions hidden in those eyes inexplicably stir her heart.

“Your Highness?”

Shen Jingxian nodded, indicating that she could hear, finally reassuring Song Yan that the princess was not distracted.

“Sister Song Yan, once the imperial examination is over, I intend to request a fief from Father at the western region.”

Shen Jingxian continued no further, yet Song Yan understood her intention.

The west is Yunyi Country’s region where women’s status is the lowest, after all, the opening of imperial exams to women has only been for a few decades, it’s impossible for all areas to quickly change their mindset.

The Capital is the most tolerant place for women, yet the further from the Capital, the less such tolerance exists.

The Capital’s tolerance towards women results from the Grand Secretary’s measures back then, while regions beyond reach still hold many prejudices against women.

The west is one such example.

If a place that consistently belittles women suddenly sees a woman become their leader, it’s hard to say how many people might secretly target the princess.

But Song Yan can comprehend the princess’s decision.

She also heard what Pan Jiaojiao spoke earlier.

Learning martial arts not only strengthens her body but also sharpens her senses, with such proximity, Song Yan just needs to focus to hear clearly.

She heard the princess defending her and also the princess’s perspective on women’s status, even if 6 years were stolen from her, the princess still lives more insightfully than Song Yan could imagine.

Certainly, she is not as fragile as the princess might think, but the feeling of being protected is overwhelmingly satisfying, making Song Yan willingly, albeit temporarily, into a vulnerable role.

Thus, the princess saying those words is evidently not bidding her farewell but awaiting a response from her.

Song Yan pondered deeply, moving from thoughts of rebirth to the present.

Initially, upon realizing she had a chance to live again, the idea of avenging those who wronged her in her previous life was all-consuming.

She thought about making Shen Ming fall for her only to harshly discard him and also charming her parents to gain affection before driving Song Yun out of the mansion, but eventually realized it was impractical.

Although granted another chance, she knew too little being confined to a small courtyard in her past life.

A naive woman with no notion of masking her emotions would be futile even if given another life.

Thus, she yearns for change, desiring to learn, leading to encountering the princess.

The princess alleviated most of her inner resentment, prompting her to start facing herself honestly.

It was then she learned that the Empress was once the nation-renowned first female prime minister in history.

With such a mother, it’s no surprise she would raise the princess so well.

Yet concurrently Song Yan harbored doubts, even someone as remarkable as the Grand Secretary would give up her official post due to a man, willingly staying in the palace, was a woman destined to be merely a man’s accessory, even the Grand Secretary not being exempt?

The Empress, however, said she married the Emperor not because of his status, nor merely because he was a man, but because she loved him.

Song Yan thus recalled the past life’s Shen Ming, inducing revulsion upon contemplating such a man, casting away official duties for him would be utter madness.

It was from that moment that Song Yan started entertaining thoughts of succeeding through the imperial exams.

If Yunyi can produce one female Grand Secretary, why not a second one?

Moreover, Yunyi has rules that prohibit a husband to take concubines if his wife holds an official position.

Ah, she can’t wait to see Song Yun’s desperate attempts to become a concubine thwarted.

Because of this point, she did not refuse Shen Ming’s proposal as suggested by his family elders.

She was just an ordinary woman without grand aspirations for the exams or any desire to promise herself to the nation with words like ’serve the country’ or ’sacrifice for the nation’; she never thought about it.

She only wished to attain a high rank, possess power, to satisfy her personal desires.

Nevertheless, as the princess stared with such eyes, her thoughts seemed to have shifted somewhat.

The west is no ideal place, departing from the Capital is easy but returning is hard.

If she wishes to hold a high position, staying in the Capital is the best choice.

Reason tells Song Yan she should pretend not to comprehend, yet the words were uncontrollable upon reaching her lips.

Her mind suddenly recalled the girl who taught her kite flying.

“I, as a daughter, am willing to accompany Your Highness.”

The study room was filled with the fragrance of ink, enveloping the two, with something beyond the scent hovering in the air.

A door, a leaf in the window, a curtain, Song Yan never felt this close to the princess, close enough to seemingly reach out and obtain.

Song Yan indeed reached out, the princess also extended her hand to firmly grasp hers, followed by a surprised cry.

“Best friends!!”

Song Yan’s face flushed from the princess’s exclamation.

…

Pan Jiaojiao had just returned to the mansion when she was informed of Song Yun’s arrival.

Due to her usual friendliness with Song Yun, and Song Yun possessing the Commandery Princess savior title, everyone at Prince Jing Mansion treated Song Yun with great warmth.

“Commandery Princess, Second Miss Song is having tea with Princess Jing.”

Song Yun visits often, sometimes when Pan Jiaojiao is present, sometimes when she is not.

In Pan Jiaojiao’s absence, her mother would chat with Song Yun, Pan Jiaojiao even heard from her mother that she enjoyed chatting with Song Yun.

This was the most ordinary of matters, yet at that moment in Pan Jiaojiao’s ears it sounded strangely off.

The steward noticed the Commandery Princess’s lack of enthusiasm on the matter, thus fell silent.

Until Pan Jiaojiao spoke again, “Take me to my mother.”

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