Adoption Over Purchase: The Final Game
“Ninth Princess?” The man frowned, muttering under his breath, only then realizing he had just cursed Zhou Yao herself.
“Oh! This humble commoner was blind and offended Her Highness—please spare me!” He dropped to his knees with a thud. The girl beside him, still confused, looked from Zhou Yao to her kneeling father.
The scrawny girl tried to help her father up, but he forced her to kneel beside him.
“Please spare me, Your Highness! I still have elderly parents at home to care for...” The man had lost all his earlier bravado, tears streaming down his face as he spoke.
The commotion drew a crowd, and upon hearing the princess's title, the commoners knelt in fear.
“Everyone, please rise.” Ling'er moved to reassure the crowd as Zhou Yao signaled for the guards to lower their swords.
Zhou Yao had the guards help the man to his feet, then took the girl's hand and brushed the dust from her clothes.
“Don't be alarmed. I only want children to receive an education—to read and understand reason.” She noticed the red marks on the girl's wrist and had someone bring ointment to apply.
“You said earlier that a girl who studies won't marry. I disagree.”
“When a man studies, he can pursue official rank. Even an assistant magistrate earns eight hu of grain a month—at one hundred twenty-five coins per hu, that's a string of cash. But my Ninth Princess Mansion hands out gold as a casual tip. If a girl studies and later takes a post, her monthly pay will be at least a string of cash. Compared to the bride price she might get once when she marries, which is the better deal?”
“Stop kneeling. I never meant to kill you; get up.” Zhou Yao said calmly. “To all here today: if you have a daughter at home, you may send her to the academy, and the Golden Curtain Pavilion will cover all expenses.”
Zhou Yao looked at the girl, who had been treated and brought out, then signaled Ling'er to speak to the crowd. “If anyone has an abandoned daughter or one they cannot afford to raise, bring her to the academy. Her Highness will buy her for one thousand five hundred coins, or alternatively, twelve hu of grain.”
At this, the crowd of onlookers scattered without a word. No need to guess—those people surely had daughters of their own.
The man stood stunned for a moment, then bowed low. “Thank you, Ninth Princess. From now on, my daughter... I entrust her to Your Highness...”
The girl beside him seemed to understand. Her eyes, already misty, filled with tears, and she ran crying to her father. “Father, don't abandon Xiao Yao, wuwuwu...”
“Ling'er, register this. If there are any more sign-ups, record them all and bring the ledger to me later.” Zhou Yao said to the man, “Your daughter will stay in your care; the academy provides her education only. Where do you live? I’ll have someone escort her home at the hour of you each day, and she’ll have her meals at the school.”
“If your daughter studies diligently, she can earn handsome rewards, which will supplement your family's income if you are in need.”
Zhou Yao knew full well that these people looked down on women, and that her offer would make this girl the family's “blood bag.” But without it, these girls would never even learn to read. If one or two out of a hundred educated women were willing to work hard and show ambition, she would gladly pull them out of the mire.
And then their efforts would not be in vain.
Word of the Ninth Princess publicly recruiting female students spread like wildfire among the commoners. What had started as a commotion turned into a blessing in disguise, making enrollment at the Women's Academy go surprisingly smoothly.
During this time, Ling'er reported that many had come to sell their daughters.
Zhou Yao waved her hand. “Since they want to sell, settle it all at once—tell those girls to sever ties with them. Money in hand, indenture contract out.”
“As for the contracts, give them to the girls themselves once they're older and can make decisions for their own futures.”
“Your Highness, please forgive my impertinence. Meddling in other people's fates, I can't help but worry... it might backfire on us...” Ling'er frowned in concern.
“No matter.” Zhou Yao's gaze fell on a candle flame flickering in the wind beside the hall. It looked as if it could be blown out at any moment, yet it stubbornly kept burning. “Let me see what their limits are.”
“But the Crown Prince has already...” Ling'er started, but Zhou Yao cut her off.
“Say no more; I've made my decision. Besides, we'll need more of our own in the future. Why not take this opportunity... to teach according to their bent.” Those last four words struck Ling'er, who nodded and withdrew.
She had dealt the Crown Prince such a heavy blow earlier that he would surely retaliate in secret. In the past, he might have sent assassins, but now that she had gained favor in the King's eyes, he wouldn't risk that lightly.
The only thing to worry about was her business. Her shops had been running a little too smoothly lately, and Zhou Yao felt uneasy.
The disturbance in the market today was no small matter; those with sharp ears would know about it by now.
The next few days remained calm. The Crown Prince made no significant move. Zhou Yao kept her guard up, but the only news she heard was that the number of stray dogs in Chang'an had increased dramatically.
The Dog Teahouse had been popular since it opened—not only for its blue-and-white porcelain and fine ceramics, but also for Bige's adorable looks and prices comparable to other teahouses.
You could enjoy tea at a fair price, admire precious porcelain, and, when idle, rub a washed, fluffy Beagle that had that milky, doggy scent.
Many patrons had asked to buy Bige, but since Beagles were so scarce in Chang'an, that request was politely declined.
Yet with the surge of strays, the teahouse had taken in many. Some were skin and bone, some were missing limbs or eyes from abuse—some were quite frightening to look at.
Though some of the dogs were clever and endearing, others weren't much to look at, and the tea customers didn't warm to them in the main hall.
Gradually, within those small doggy minds, they learned that they were the unloved ones.
Zhou Yao often noticed them huddling in the corners, clearly wanting to approach but too timid to try.
To address this, she introduced the idea of “adoption over purchase” at the teahouse, urging kind-hearted dog lovers to take in the strays or adopt the animals there.
The Dog Teahouse would register every adopter, conduct regular home visits to check on the dogs' health and well-being. If the animal was doing well, the owner would receive discounts or coupons for new products as a reward.
Conversely, those who failed to care for their pets would be blacklisted, stripped of all privileges, and the adopted animal would be taken back.
The first to be adopted were the gentlest, most obedient dogs in the teahouse, and there were also those who compassionately took in the disabled strays, moved by their stories.
Watching these once-wandering dogs finally find a home after all their trials stirred a quiet emotion in her. She sincerely wished them joy and safety in the years ahead.
The girls working at the teahouse took it upon themselves to name the remaining dogs, record each one's time at the teahouse, and pin the stories on a bulletin board by the entrance, so that they might find someone who would truly care for them.
The Dog Teahouse was situated in the wealthy market, so there was no danger of people giving up pets for financial reasons. In her spare time, Zhou Yao could pick up first-hand news of the court.
They spoke cautiously, but she had an attentive ear—nothing could escape her.
She and Qi Yanhan divided the work and, within a year, had won over many scions of influential families. By autumn of the third year after Zhou Yao's return to Chang'an, Consort Xi passed away.
Only after the force in the palace that had been blocking her dwindled away did voices against the Crown Prince's succession finally rise in the court. At the forefront were the Chancellor, Qi Yanhan, and Zhao Wenhua, the Commandant of Guards, one of the Nine Ministers.
Zhao Wenhua had been recalled to Chang'an by the King at Zhou Yao's request in the second year after the Zhao family fell, starting from the bottom. With Qi Yanhan's backing, he rose to become Commandant of Guards.
Qi Yanhan had long been plotting in the court. The Crown Prince's two pillars of support had been removed by the King himself three years ago, leaving him unable to make a splash. Still, Grand Tutor Yun was behind the Crown Prince. If Zhou Yao hadn't accidentally stumbled upon Commandant Gu and Qi Yanhan discussing matters together, she would never have guessed that Gu Mingli and Qi Yanhan were colluding.
Gu Mingli was extremely low-key; he rarely revealed his allegiance in court, maintaining a façade of neutrality. His wife, Lady Yu, was the one who had patronized the Golden Curtain Pavilion at Qi Yanhan's behest earlier on.
What surprised Zhou Yao was that even General Sun—Sun Yuan—whom she had met in the early days of the Golden Curtain Pavilion, owed his position to Qi Yanhan's patronage.
The help she had received at the city gate back then had not been as pure as she had imagined, nor was it a chance encounter.
But the more she thought about it, the more she realized everything was going too smoothly.
How could Zhou Yu, who had clawed his way to the position of Crown Prince, easily hand it over?
Whether it was how smoothly they were moving against Zhou Yu, or how her father, the ever-suspicious King, seemed entirely unaware—each detail seemed out of place.
The salt mines, the money, the land deeds, the troops, the loyalty—they all came too easily, making her uneasy. A man like Zhou Yu, who connived in the shadows and nursed grudges, would surely retaliate.
The time just wasn't right yet.
But what was Zhou Yu waiting for? Zhou Yao couldn't guess.
Was it for the King to move against her first, or for a moment when he could uproot them all at once?
Or had Zhou Yu simply assumed that she, a woman, could never threaten his position?
Royal brother...
When it comes to the final game of chess this time, your sister will gladly counter your move.
Author's note: The next few chapters will lighten on the political intrigue—once the power struggle is wrapped up, the story will be done!