Wen Wan said calmly, "Whether it’s the Liaodong Iron Mine or the Northern Border epidemic, I entrusted He Jianzheng to deliver the message to Your Majesty."

Zhao Xi asked, "Did Song Wei tell you to do this?"

Wen Wan’s eyes flickered slightly. The first time, with the Liaodong Iron Mine, she did not consult Song Wei but just asked He Jianzheng to send some words to make Emperor Xuanjing suspicious of Liaodong.

But the second time, with the Northern Border epidemic and the government burning villages, she immediately sent a message via carrier pigeon to Song Wei upon learning about it, asking if he had a solution.

The current method in her hand came from Song Wei, fulfilling the words of Emperor Xuanjing: it was Song Wei who told her to do this.

Thinking of this, Wen Wan nodded, "Indeed."

Zhao Xi was a thoroughly insightful person and couldn’t be regarded as an ordinary seventeen-year-old boy. If she lied now and Zhao Xi noticed discrepancies later, he might not spare her even as a relative.

Back then, the late Emperor had forced Zhao Xi to sever emotional ties using his and the successor’s death.

Now, Zhao Xi, not to mention a cousin, could even condemn his own sister with unflinching eyes when it came to serving the greater good.

In front of him, Wen Wan dared not harbor the slightest fluke mentality.

Zhao Xi understood plainly, his expression without the slightest fluctuation, "So, your separation is just a facade, and the Imperial Tutor’s reluctance to let go of court affairs is the real reason you stay in the Capital with justifiable rights?"

Wen Wan continued to nod, "Yes."

Zhao Xi’s slender lips pressed together, "Then how did he know that someone was covering up the Liaodong Iron Mine and that the Northern Border government was preparing to burn villages?"

Wen Wan hesitated for a moment, "What if I say that both of these events were due to my foresight, Your Majesty, do you believe it?"

Of course, Zhao Xi did not believe it.

The predictions of Master Xu Yun from Fahua Temple were incredibly accurate, Zhao Xi knew, but after all, Master Xu Yun was an enlightened monk, and he only made a few predictions each year.

Whereas Wen Wan casually predicted two state affairs, as if they were at her fingertips. How could there be such an impressive foresight in the world?

Zhao Xi preferred to believe that Song Wei had planted informants in Liaodong and the Northern Border without his knowledge.

The informants got the first-hand news, whereas the Capital was still in the dark, which led Wen Wan to be mythologized as having foresight.

Wen Wan could tell from Zhao Xi’s expression that he did not trust her.

"Since Your Majesty does not believe me, there’s no point in continuing," meeting Zhao Xi’s scrutinizing gaze, Wen Wan showed no fear, "However, I want to make a bet with Your Majesty. If I win, Your Majesty will issue an order to appoint me in front of all officials. If I lose, Your Majesty may handle me as you see fit. How about it?"

Zhao Xi focused on the first part of the sentence, "You want to enter the court?"

Wen Wan neither confirmed nor denied it.

"Is it your idea or Song Wei’s idea?"

"Both, I suppose," Wen Wan said with a candid expression, "The Third Son was a minister personally sought by the late Emperor among the common people for Your Majesty. This time he’s gone back home for mourning. In three years, when he returns to the Capital, the court and various departments will have inevitably changed a lot. By that time, even though he carries the title of Imperial Tutor, he might not be of much help to Your Majesty. We, as a couple, must ensure one stays in the Capital. The Third Son is capable, and I can foresee things. I will tell him what I foresee, and he will come up with solutions. Only by assisting Your Majesty in this way can we guarantee no mistakes."

Wen Wan didn’t mention Song Wei’s fate, nor did she speak of staying behind to help Song Wei change his destiny.

Zhao Xi didn’t believe in those things, and telling him would only seem absurd, so it was better to bring something practical.

Zhao Xi pondered for a moment, then looked at her, "What you mentioned about foresight, is it true or false?"

Wen Wan curved her lips, "I know Your Majesty doesn’t believe it, so I boldly proposed a wager with Your Majesty."

"What’s the bet?" Zhao Xi asked.

"I bet that the Northern Border government will set fire to the villages because someone instigated it, and the person inciting the government is a Bei Yan mole. The master behind those moles is the Beiyang Imperial Concubine."

At this point, Wen Wan smiled, "These matters have yet to occur. If Your Majesty doesn’t believe, you could immediately send someone to the Northern Border to investigate."

Though the Northern Border is distant from the Capital, Zhao Xi, with the most powerful intelligence network in the world, could easily obtain information about the Northern Border government in a short time. He was simply puzzled that Wen Wan could speak so confidently—could she truly have the ability of foresight?

Clearing his thoughts, Zhao Xi asked, "Since you say these events have not yet occurred, when will they happen specifically?"

Wen Wan tried hard to recall what she had seen, then frowned slightly, "When the plague spreads to the army, soldiers on the front line will fall one after another, causing panic among the people of the Northern Border, making them flee in all directions. The outbreak will fully escalate. The Beijiang Government, fearing that the court will hold them accountable, will try hard to suppress the issue, and thus will be easily instigated to seal and burn down villages in large numbers. This will happen in about a month. I heard someone say that the colder the weather, the worse the infection of the plague will be. A month later, it will be winter, and the Northern Border is colder than the Capital."

It is impossible for an ordinary person to know about something that will happen a month later before today.

Zhao Xi very much wanted to doubt the authenticity of Wen Wan’s words, but she spoke confidently and logically without any flaw, making it sound quite true.

He had to re-evaluate Wen Wan.

As for Song Wei’s loyalty to the Chu Country and the court, Zhao Xi had absolutely no doubts. He did not know Wen Wan well, but in terms of relationship, Wen Wan was his aunt’s daughter. There was no reason to deliberately deceive him with these words.

However, if he believed Wen Wan now, he would have to decree in front of all officials to let her enter the court to become a female official. This was not a decision that could be made lightly. Zhao Xi could even imagine the varied expressions and uniform opposition from the officials at that time.

Yet, if he didn’t believe Wen Wan, he would have to use a month to verify her so-called foresight.

If a month later, they did not burn down many villages in the Northern Border, then all would be well. But if they did burn them, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The situation was too sudden, and Zhao Xi couldn’t make a decision immediately. He said, "I will consider it for a day and decide tomorrow."

Wen Wan nodded, "I take my leave."

Zhao Xi originally wanted Wen Wan to leave a method to deal with the plague, but after some thought, he decided to leave it for tomorrow’s meeting.

...

At lunchtime, Zhao Xi went to Yikun Palace.

Dong Han noticed he was a bit distracted and asked with concern, "Has Your Majesty encountered any troubling matters?"

Zhao Xi returned to his focus, took the white jade soup bowl that Dong Han handed to him, and slowly asked, "Do you think having female officials in court is absurd?"

Dong Han smiled and said, "It depends on what kind of female official it is. If they are extremely useful, I don’t think we should necessarily exclude women. After all, the late Emperor established the official school for girls, with the original intention of gradually improving the status of women by changing the code of rites. Although there hasn’t been a female official in the court yet, some viewpoints from female students in the end-of-year exams are still referenced and applied in state affairs.

From this, we can see that this innovation by the late Emperor has allowed some capable women to excel, and I think this is a good thing."

After listening, Zhao Xi seemed to be encouraged and his stern demeanor softened as he placed a piece of tender fish in the small bowl in front of Dong Han.

Dong Han held the silver chopsticks and did not move for a long time.

Zhao Xi asked, "Why aren’t you eating?"

Dong Han shook her head, "I haven’t had much of an appetite recently; the fish is a bit too fishy for me."

"Then try this," Zhao Xi picked up a serving of vegetables for her.

Dong Han smiled gently, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

After the meal, Zhao Xi was busy handling memorials in the Imperial Study Room. He stood up, saying, "I will come back to see you later in the evening."

For some reason, whenever he stayed overnight at Yikun Palace, he slept particularly well, and his hair didn’t get too messy the next day. But once he returned to Qianqing Palace, Aunt Jingzhe would spend a long time fixing his hair the next day.

...

As expected, Zhao Xi summoned Wen Wan again the next day.

After Wen Wan saluted, she was granted a seat.

Zhao Xi asked her, "Must I grant you an official position in front of all the officials, can you not act as a behind-the-scenes advisor?"

Wen Wan shook her head, "It’s not that I seek any position. Your Majesty is the true Son of Heaven, and your words carry immense weight. Only when you officially appoint me can I truly care for the world and have the chance to foresee the destinies of common people. Otherwise, I will be unable to foresee anything."

"It seems you have truly opened your heavenly eyes." Zhao Xi had asked the Empress yesterday and pondered over it overnight. Compared to the lives in the Northern Border, granting the position of a female official seemed insignificant.

"Song Wei is the Imperial Tutor, and since you can foresee, I will appoint you as the State Preceptor." Zhao Xi said, "Later, in the Golden Hall, you will have to demonstrate your abilities to the officials yourself. Otherwise, if they question or even impeach you, I won’t be able to protect you."

State Preceptor?

Wen Wan thought she would at most become an inconspicuous female official, but she didn’t expect the Emperor to be so generous. She walked to the middle of the hall, knelt before Zhao Xi, and said, "I thank Your Majesty for your great favor."