Chapter 278: Chapter 275: Out of LineHe Ying noticed her gloomy expression and knew that the matter she mentioned was of great importance, not something that could be ignored without disturbing her sleep, so he nodded, "Speak, I am listening."

    His hands continued their task.

    He took delight in feeding her.

    She was not allowed to refuse.

    Seeing that He Ying was willing to listen, Sang Yan ate while opening the booklet, "You also know that I went to the Clothing Bureau today, fired the nanny who managed it. It mainly has to do with the extravagant food in the palace. The Clothing Bureau may be chaotic, but it is just one corner of the harem. I also checked the roster in my hand... the relationships are entwined and very complex."

    Listening, He Ying fed her while saying, "If it’s complex, take it slowly. You can’t get fat with one bite, no need to rush."

    He was loath to let her strain herself.

    Now, seeing her furrowing her brow, showing fatigue in her eyes, he somewhat regretted letting her take over the matter.

    He wanted her to be Empress to grant her status and honor, not troubles.

    "It’s not that I’m in a hurry. I cannot stand by while others endure suffering."

    Sang Yan’s expression was serious as she continued, "The nanny in the Clothing Bureau accepted bribes from eunuchs, engaging in despicable activities, harming many lives, truly unforgivable. But, do you know? This is not an isolated case. In the Imperial Kitchen and Ritual Supervision, such oppression exists too."

    Ignorance is bliss.

    Knowledge is terrifying.

    The darkness of the Imperial Palace weighed heavily on her heart.

    Beyond the heaviness was melancholy.

    "However, in these records—"

    She pulled out a piece of paper from below and handed it to He Ying, "Take a look at this first."

    He Ying put down the bowl, picked up the paper, and saw the handwriting on it.

    The handwriting was unattractive, hastily written and messy, filled with many errors, but the words seemed to weep blood.

    "I know I am guilty, I should not have conspired with the eunuch, but he treated me with genuine and selfless care. Once when I fell ill, nearly carried out of the palace to be buried, he knelt at the Imperial Hospital for two days before he could procure medicine for me. My life is owed to him, and I seduced him. If there is a crime, then please, Empress, punish only me."

    "I hope Empress will understand, he and I share mutual affection, my life in the palace is miserable, only by his side can I feel a moment’s warmth."

    ...

    A stack of papers.

    Handwriting different on each, messy and rushed, but the panic and resolve of the writers were visible.

    "So there is such affection."

    He Ying was still slightly shocked.

    He had been indifferent, but now he took the matter more seriously.

    Sang Yan nodded, "Yes. While investigating, I anticipated both coercion and voluntary relationships. Life in the palace is miserable and the days long; two miserable souls finding solace in each other is natural human emotion."

    He Ying, having listened, quietly understood, "So this is why you’re troubled? Not sure how to handle it?"

    "Yes. If it’s coercion, then punish the oppressor severely and compensate the victims. If it’s voluntary, it’s harder to handle. Being too lenient may lead others to follow suit. Being too harsh—"

    Ultimately, she was too kind-hearted to harshly blame these already miserable lovers.

    He Ying liked her kindness and wanted to protect it, "Ah Yan, do what you think is right. Just follow your heart. I believe you already have a plan."

    Sang Yan indeed had a plan, but it was difficult to articulate.

    She pursed her lips, hesitated for a long while, then tentatively added, "I have an idea, perhaps it may seem absurd to outsiders, if you really agree, it might even turn Da He into a laughingstock for other nations, but I still want to ask you."

    Seeing Sang Yan’s solemn tone, He Ying also grew serious, "Please, speak your mind."

    Sang Yan then said, "Palace maids and eunuchs are already the most pitiable beings in the palace. Those with better luck might leave the palace to retire, the less fortunate waste their lives away here. There are many as despicable and shameless as Zhang Tong, but like those described in these papers, there are also many who are gentle and considerate. They rely on each other in the palace, merely seeking a bit of warmth. In my view—"

    She looked at He Ying, and seeing his expression unchanged, she continued, "I want to establish a Moon-climbing Platform. If two people in the palace fall in love, they could register here, form a union like common folk, and lead a simple life together. However, to climb the moon, they must first endure hardship, which would eliminate the fickle-minded and serve as a warning to others. Once registered, both parties must respect and remain faithful to each other; if one regrets, the party at fault should bear the main responsibility. Moreover, in marital life, one should not disregard the woman’s will or harm her body. Anyone who maliciously abuses their spouse must be severel

    She had thought everything through thoroughly.

    She had never let him down.

    He Ying looked tenderly at the radiant woman before him.

    Sang Yan, unaccustomed to being stared at, asked, "What is it?"

    She touched her own face, asking, "Is there something on my face?"

    He Ying shook his head with a smile, pulling her into his embrace, "No, it’s just that my Empress is so beautiful."

    It was mainly the beauty of her soul.

    A beauty he wanted to keep all to himself.

    He kissed her forehead and joked, "I don’t think it should be called the Moon-climbing Platform, it should be called the Guanyin Platform. You put yourself in their shoes so considerately, aren’t you just like a living Bodhisattva?"

    And he was the man who had a living Bodhisattva.

    Sang Yan was a bit dazed: So after all this, he was complimenting her!

    Wait a minute—

    She exclaimed with surprise, "So, you agree?"

    It sounded easy to say, but it would be very difficult to implement.

    Establishing the Moon-climbing Platform meant bringing the affairs of the palace maids and eunuchs regarding food to light.

    In all the years since Da He was established—precisely speaking, no nation in the world had ever done this before. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If word got out to the previous dynasties, those ministers who were already against her becoming Empress would definitely have something to say.

    He Ying saw those little anxious emotions of Sang Yan.

    Their hearts were in tune, so he naturally knew what Sang Yan was thinking.

    "Don’t worry, if those ministers dare to criticize you, I’ll have their tongues cut out."

    He Ying had mellowed a lot, but when it came to Sang Yan, he easily harbored murderous thoughts.

    Sang Yan heard this, feeling uneasy yet somewhat sweet: Ah, she had almost forgotten, she had someone to back her up.

    "Still, we should talk things over properly, don’t just resort to violence at every turn."

    She patted his shoulder, smoothed out his chest, and kissed his cheek.

    "Xinyuan, thank you."

    She smiled at him, sincerely adding, "It’s wonderful. To encounter you in such times, and you, accommodating all my unconventional actions."

    At that moment, she truly understood his goodness and how incredibly lucky she was.

    "Xinyuan, thank you, really."

    At that moment, she also truly understood that modern saying that spread online—falling in love with a city because of a person, falling in love with a world where that person exists.

    It all turned out to be true.

    Her heart was filled with an incredible sense of happiness.

    Listening to her emotional words, He Ying cared about only one thing: "Ah Yan, can I ask for a different kind of thanks?"

    Sang Yan: "..."

    This flirt!

    He was really ruining the mood.

    But she liked it so much!

    "Oh, then what kind of thanks do you want?"

    She smiled, lifting his chin with her hand, like a coquettish beauty teasing a handsome man.