Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 556: It’s Her Majesty the Empress Who Renamed Her
Chapter 556: Chapter 556: It’s Her Majesty the Empress Who Renamed Her
Jun Yuyan and Murong Jiu accompanied Empress Dowager Qi for a vegetarian meal.
Even though no words were exchanged, Empress Dowager Qi was very content.
After converting to Buddhism, she often reflected on herself. Scenes once forgotten, like dreams, resurfaced in her mind.
For a man, for the elusive favor of an emperor, she had turned into that person and felt sad for herself.
Having been a living target for most of her life, she felt she had failed miserably.
Thankfully, she had come to her senses in time. At least now, her son Jun Yuyan’s attitude towards her had softened.
Although she still felt a barrier between them, slowly, slowly—the day would come when he would forgive her.
She prayed for him, prayed for the twins that were never born.
She had to wash away her sins little by little.
After the meal, Murong Jiu went to see Wang Dahua.
Wang Dahua lay on her couch, eyes wide open, very guarded and anxious.
"Your Majesty, she seems very scared of us. Should we send her home?"
"No! I don’t want to go home! Please, don’t send me home! I’ll do anything for you—I’ll be your ox or your horse!"
Wang Dahua suddenly spoke with intense emotion. Sitting up, she grasped Fu Rong’s sleeves and looked at Murong Jiu with pleading eyes.
"Please, I beg you!"
Murong Jiu sighed and nodded towards her:
"Fine, we won’t send you home. Don’t be scared. Do you remember what happened before?"
Relieved by Murong Jiu’s assurance of not sending her back, she then whispered softly, "I... this common woman..."
"Don’t be nervous. Just speak as you normally do. This is a temple; you don’t need to follow any rules," Murong Jiu reassured her.
"I remember what happened before. I just don’t know why I appeared here. I was washing clothes by the stream when someone suffocated me, and then I knew nothing."
She lowered her head, her voice getting softer and softer, like that of a mosquito.
She felt ashamed and dared not continue.
Though she had never left Xiaoxi Village and had never been educated, she understood that those things were wrong, things only beasts would do.
It was her several brothers.
Murong Jiu thought, it’s good, indeed, that she doesn’t remember these past three years. That shadow was so vast; it’s better for her to have forgotten.
But for her, Murong Jiu felt pity—not just for her, but also for the women of Xiaoxi Village. They were really pitiful.
The men there only cared for their desires. Taking advantage of the remote and backward situation, with no law enforcement around, they didn’t treat women as human beings.
She gently told Wang Dahua, "Don’t be afraid. Nobody will dare to bully you anymore. Xiaoxi Village has been investigated by the authorities. Many men had their heads chopped off, and your father and your brothers have been sent to Ningguta for labor."
After Jun Yuyan directly dispatched her family of four and those from Xiaoxi Village who were not beheaded, all were sent to Ningguta.
It just so happened that a group of officials and their families had committed crimes; those from Xiaoxi Village were just extras.
Zhou Li said that Wang Yingluo’s brothers, always dreaming of becoming officials or nobles, never imagined they would end up in a cold and bitter place like Ningguta. They caused trouble in the team before departing and instantly became docile after having their tongues cut out.
They truly deserved their fate.
"Ningguta, where is that?"
Wang Dahua asked softly.
Hong Yi smiled and said, "It’s a very far place. It’s extremely cold in the winter, many times colder than an ice cellar. Just walking there takes about a month. If they are in poor health, they will die on the way."
Wang Dahua exclaimed, "Is there really such a place?"
She was merely surprised by the remoteness and poverty of the place, showing no concern for her relatives’ feelings.
Murong Jiu felt somewhat relieved; some people might hold love and hate towards their family members, but Wang Dahua, despite her lack of exposure to the outer world, had a clear head.
This was good.
Fu Rong also smiled and said, "Of course, the world is very large. Beyond Great Yan, there are many, many other countries. You didn’t know because you were in the mountains. If you don’t want to go back, just stay in Capital City, and you can broaden your horizons."
"I want to stay; I do not want, and never want to go back there again. But, I don’t know how to do anything..."
"You can learn. There’s a saying that goes well, ’No task is difficult if one is determined.’"
"But what can a woman do besides embroidery? I can’t even embroider well, but I can wash clothes and cook; I can be a maid for you all!"
Murong Jiu chuckled, "Hong Yi is right, ’No task is difficult if one is determined.’ Now, women can also support themselves. I don’t want you to be a servant. If you really want to make a place for yourself in Capital City, go see what you can do, then establish your own foothold here."
Wang Dahua’s mouth fell open.
She was belatedly aware that this place was Capital City, the capital of Great Yan, the most prosperous place under heaven.
She was even more astonished that a woman could also establish her own foothold?
"Can I really do it?"
"If you are willing to endure hardships, then you definitely can."
Murong Jiu could have easily given Wang Dahua gold and silver, but those wouldn’t make Wang Dahua an independent person.
"Try it and see."
If it really doesn’t work out, she could give Wang Dahua some rewards, ensuring she was without worries for food and clothing.
She did this because Wang Dahua’s body harbored the soul of Wang Yingluo, and thus by a fortuitous mistake, brought about significant positive changes to Great Yan.
Wang Dahua was a victim as well.
If she could find her life’s value and be filled with confidence, that would naturally be the best.
Otherwise, even if she were given money, she would remain timid; if she met a good man, it would still be okay, but if she married a bad man, her money could be swindled away.
Moreover, she was not a maiden, had low self-esteem, was not strong enough, and more susceptible to being oppressed and humiliated by men, ultimately leading to tragedy.
She said, "I will give you a new name, call you Wang Min. ’Min’ signifies diligence and effort. I hope it inspires you to live a different life."
Wang Min...
Wang Dahua, no, now she was Wang Min. She muttered the name several times in her mind, growing fonder of it with each repetition.
She could abandon the casually given name Wang Dahua; changing her name was like saying goodbye to her past.
She would definitely engrave the Empress’s thoughtful intentions in her heart.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! I really like this name!"
Wang Min’s voice rose, just a name seemed to have boosted her confidence significantly.
Yet, the trauma from those years also needed time to heal gradually.
She also mustered the courage to ask, "Your Majesty, which palace are you the Empress of?"
Hong Yi smiled and responded, "Our Majesty is Her Majesty the Empress, a name you will often hear in Capital City."
Her Majesty the Empress!
The one who renamed her was Her Majesty the Empress!
Wang Min’s mouth fell open, too shocked to speak.
