"Then how about I teach you to read?"
From her perch on the windowsill, young Emily Ding lit up with delight, as if discovering a brand-new toy, her eager gaze fixed on Clara.
Even Bea, who had been assisting inside the room, glanced over in surprise.
Seeing that Clara was actually stepping inside, Nanny Qiao frowned deeply. "Miss, that's not appropriate."
Emily was naive but far from foolish—she knew she was the young mistress, and Nanny Qiao had no real say in her decisions. Puffing her cheeks in a show of childish petulance, she huffed, "Reading alone is so boring! Every time I ask you or Bea to read, you both beg for mercy. Today I just want to play teacher! It's rare to have someone willing to be my student—don't stop me or I'll be upset!"
Nanny Qiao quickly bowed her head. "This servant wouldn't dare."
"Then step back," Emily said with a little snort, playing up her spoiled charm.
After warning Bea to attend carefully to the young miss, Nanny Qiao withdrew.
Emily, all enthusiasm, pointed to the stool opposite her desk. "Sit here, Miss Clara. Do you want to read along while I do?"
"Gladly," Clara replied with a smile, reaching for the offered book.
Behind Emily was an entire shelf of books—from picture books for beginners to the Four Classics, essays, and travel journals. Clara hadn't realized until now how extensive the girl's library was.
Books were the fastest way to understand a new world, and Clara knew what a rare opportunity this was. If it meant playing student, so be it.
In this age of rigid knowledge hierarchies, had she not become a bodyguard in the Ding household, Clara might never have had access to books at all.
Even in Willowridge County Town, book shops were exclusive—only students enrolled in academies or those with scholarly titles were allowed inside. Just copying books could earn a poor scholar a living, but even copied books were unaffordable for the average person.
Clara recalled her last two visits to the county—she'd merely loitered outside the bookstore. A single primer like "The Three Character Classic" cost eight silver coins. Who could afford that?
Perhaps all children enjoy role-playing. And teaching Clara—such an eager and clever student—gave Emily a tremendous sense of pride. Clara already had the original host's literacy as a foundation, and with her own extensive knowledge, the Book of Songs posed no difficulty.
In just two days, they'd finished all three hundred poems.
Emily was ecstatic—she felt she'd singlehandedly trained a prodigy.
That day, the two of them were enjoying lunch—Emily with quiet grace at her desk, Clara squatting by the door, eating heartily from a big porcelain bowl.
Hearing the sounds from outside, Emily felt a sudden urge to join her. With her father and brother away, a small breach of decorum didn't matter. Ignoring Nanny Qiao's disapproving frown, she carried her own blue-and-white bowl outside.
Bea set a small embroidered stool beside Clara, and Emily sat down.
The tall woman and tiny girl exchanged a glance, shared a smile, and looked up at the brilliant blue sky as they ate.
After lunch, Emily eagerly asked, "Miss Clara, what book do you want to read today?"
Clara pointed toward the bookshelf inside, and Emily graciously led her in to choose.
Clara scanned the collection. Besides the well-known classics, she was most intrigued by the miscellanies and travel writings. But there was no rush—she still had time. Finally, she selected a novel tucked in the corner with a somewhat sensational title: "Secrets of the Harem."
The book looked nearly new, the cover uncreased.
The moment Clara pulled it out, Emily gasped, eyes darting toward the sitting room to see if Nanny Qiao was near.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw no one. Bea, being illiterate, wasn't a concern.
"Why'd you pick that one?"
Emily beckoned Clara to the window seat, glancing constantly toward the entrance like a nervous thief, and even threw Clara a mock-scolding glare of embarrassment.
Clara glanced at the title. "Is it banned?"
Emily gave a huff that clearly meant, "So you do know," but didn't ask Clara to put it back—because she wanted to read it too.
"I had my brother sneak it back for me. I love history and unofficial records, but if Father found out, he'd be furious!"
He'd probably rant about how girls shouldn't read such indecent material, that it would disgrace the family name.
Clara made a hushing sound. "This is just between you and me. Heaven and earth may know, but no third person will."
"No—fourth person," Emily whispered. "Brother knows too."
They exchanged a glance, Emily's eyes sparkling with mischievous excitement. When Clara didn't immediately flip open the pages, she couldn't help but prod, "Hurry and read! Tell me what it's about!"
Clara raised a brow. "Miss, I've barely started."
"Fine, fine. I'll keep watch outside—just tell me once you finish."
Clara nodded. So much fear over one book? What could possibly be—oh?
There really was something here.
But it wasn't scandalous tales of concubines and emperors—it was serious, even literary.
Though the characters used aliases, it was clear to any savvy reader that the story depicted the real-life power couple now ruling the empire.
Unlike typical tales of obedient noble wives, this empress was brilliant and bold. All the pivotal moments on their rise to power centered around her.
When chaos swept the land and local warlords rose up, she—then a noble heiress—rescued the young emperor-to-be, who was just a struggling son from a declining household. She gave him money, supplies, and horses, helping him seize the family mantle.
Then their two families joined in marriage—an alliance of equals—and quickly rose to regional dominance.
The emperor was content with that. Once in power, he settled into luxury, embracing a life of indulgence.
But the empress wasn't satisfied. She laid out a strategic map of the entire empire, argued her case for three nights straight, and lit the fire for greater ambitions.
After that, she personally led 50,000 troops, storming from the northern frontier to the central provinces, sweeping through the old capital. She claimed half the nation and paved the way for the establishment of their dynasty.
Reading to this point, Clara nearly felt the empress would declare herself sovereign.
But then came the twist.
Though she had captured the old capital, she didn't press forward. Deep-rooted misogyny and fear of a power grab caused the emperor's advisors to pressure him into crowning himself king first.
The author expressed some regret over this—but fortunately, the royal couple was deeply in love. Even after claiming the throne, the emperor didn't strip his wife of military command, maintaining a delicate balance of power.
Together, they reclaimed lost lands and established a prosperous empire.
The novel ended with a new question: as power was divided between the two, the princess wanted to become the crown princess and compete with her brothers for the throne. Who would ultimately inherit the empire?
(End of chapter)
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