Chapter 119 Confidante
"Your Majesty, please speak." Ye Hanting's expression was calm and peaceful.
Emperor Qingyuan was beaming with joy and said, "I have found a confidante in Jiangnan. Her name is Xia Nishang."
Emperor Qingyuan was very excited when he talked about this, and he lost some of his domineering and steady manner. "This woman is proficient in poetry and songs. Although she is not as good as Yun Wanying, the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan, Miss Yun stays indoors and I cannot force her to do anything. So I found this talented woman. Xia Nishang also admires me, and I can't bear to abandon her. It's not easy for me to come forward. Can you make her a female official to accompany me in the palace?"
Ye Hanting raised his eyes and looked at Emperor Qingyuan, "Your Majesty, there is no precedent for female officials in the Great Chu, unless women are allowed to take the imperial examination in the annual imperial examination."
Emperor Qingyuan narrowed his eyes. He really liked the feeling of cheating, and he was tired of the women in the palace flipping through the cards every day.
If you use the excuse of being a female official, let those women accompany you.
It is also a pleasing thing to the eye.
He looked at Ye Hanting and said, "My dear, this matter needs you to propose it. Please submit a memorial tomorrow!"
Although he is the emperor, there are so many eyes on him in the court. Things that are difficult to deal with should be left to Ye Hanting!
"Yes, Your Majesty." Ye Hanting nodded.
After Ye Hanting left the imperial study, his eyes changed.
What Emperor Qingyuan asked him to do were all things he disdained to do, but in order to find out the truth, he had to deal with Emperor Qingyuan.
However, there have been cases in history where women have served as officials, and it is not impossible.
The most important thing is that this incident may help Chu Li regain her female body in the future.
If women can become officials, then naturally they can also inherit the throne.
Ye Hanting expressed his proposal in the Golden Palace early the next morning.
All the civil and military officials were instantly excited.
Although they dared not speak out against Ye Hanting, the matter was too absurd, so some ministers stood up.
"Your Majesty, it is immoral for women to serve as officials. Women should stay at home and take care of their husbands and children!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. If a man and a woman serve in the same court, wouldn't they be laughed at and sneered at by other countries?"
"Your Majesty, as the saying goes, women have the most vicious hearts. They are not as tolerant as men and are petty and calculating!"
When Emperor Qingyuan heard that his ministers were against this matter, his face turned unhappy.
Originally, he thought that by letting Ye Hanting raise this matter, the ministers would be afraid of him and no one would dare to raise any objections, thus achieving his goal.
But I didn’t expect the opposition to be so strong.
Ye Hanting stood quietly, not affected at all.
Anyway, he has already said what happened and put the pressure on the emperor. The rest depends on the decision of Emperor Qingyuan.
Emperor Qingyuan was in a headache and wanted to slow down the matter.
Chu Li listened to the ministers' discussions, her eyes darkened and the air around her suddenly became cold.
This was the first time she was so angry since she came here.
She suddenly stood up, looked at the ministers who had just insulted the woman, and said coldly:
"That gentleman just said that women are not as broad-minded as men, they are petty and calculating!"
All the ministers looked over.
Chu Li sneered, "Why? Have you ever served in the same court with a woman, or are you just talking nonsense?"
Chu Li spoke in a cold voice, looking around, "Some people deliberately misinterpreted what our ancestors said, which made the world look down on women more and more. If you have read the classics, you will know that the ancestor's saying that men are superior to women does not mean that men have a noble status. Men are superior to others, which means they are fair and selfless, and women are inferior to others, which means they are humble, compassionate, and virtuous."
"It is not that a woman without talent is virtuous, but that a woman without talent and ability to distinguish right from wrong is virtuous. The original meaning is that a woman without talent and ability to distinguish right from wrong is also a rare virtue, not that a woman without talent is a virtue."
"It's not the women who are the most vicious, but the people who betray their hearts! Since ancient times, the people who betray their hearts are the most vicious."
"A wife who is willing to share the husks with you is not a wife as lowly as the husks, but a wife who is willing to share the husks with you."
"No ruthlessness, no real man" does not mean that a man must be cruel and scheming. The original saying is "No measure, no real man", which means that a man without measure is not a real man."
"There is also 'jiannei'. 'jian' is a self-deprecating word. 'nei' refers to one's wife. 'jiannei' means the wife of a lowly man like me! It is a humble self-proclaimed title for men!"
Chu Li sneered, "Our ancestors earnestly told you to be humble, but you put the word humble on women, despised them, and treated them badly. I even began to doubt whether you bought your position in the court. How dare you say such lowly words!"
Everyone was left speechless by Chu Li's eloquent words.
In a moment, the faces of the officials who had just slandered the woman turned livid, and they wished they could find a hole in the ground to crawl into to reduce their presence.
What the prince said was right about them; their official positions were indeed bought!
Ye Hanting listened to Chu Li's remarks and looked at her with admiration.
Chu Li is so awesome! It seems like he doesn’t need to be Chu Li’s husband anymore.
Her fighting ability is so strong.
Mu Feng curled the corners of his lips and felt proud of Chu Li.
Pei Ye's eyes fell on Chu Li.
He looked Chu Li up and down with his narrow eyes.
When did Chu Li change? He became more and more curious about when the Chu Li who was not good at speaking in his childhood became so eloquent, and those ministers did not dare to talk back at all.
Prime Minister Jiang narrowed his eyes. He had witnessed the prince's rapid progress in the past two months. It was as if he had become a different person.
The Crown Prince looked over with a wary look, and the Second Prince looked at Chu Li with a smile. The fifth brother has been different recently, which makes people inexplicably feel admiration for him.
The Sixth Prince was proud of it. When he looked at Chu Li, he smiled like a fool. He silently gave a thumbs up in his heart. Brother Li is really cheating! Today, Brother Li is really a little cow climbing Akina Mountain, drifting in eighteen bends!
Chu Yue didn't feel anything about the ministers' slander against women. After all, male superiority and female inferiority were the norm in the Chu Kingdom.
Unexpectedly, Chu Li actually stood up and spoke for the women. At this moment, she felt a little admiration in her heart.
If Chu Li wasn't putting on a show for his father, then he would be quite good.
However, the admiration soon passed, and Chu Yue thought: Maybe Chu Li said these words just to gain the approval of his father and the ministers.
Unexpectedly, Chu Li suddenly looked at her and said, "Everyone, why can't women serve in the court? It is said that women are as good as men. Right next to us, the General Pingxi of the Great Chu State is also a woman. May I ask, isn't Miss Chu Yue, who has made great military achievements, worthy of serving in the court with you?"
Chu Yue looked at Chu Li in shock. He actually spoke for her.
Chu Li actually acknowledged her great military achievements and admitted that she was as capable as any man!
Chu Yue looked away with an unnatural expression. She could feel that everyone was looking at her.
She was a woman, and being able to attend court meetings was already an anomaly. Unexpectedly, Chu Li spoke for her and took the initiative to acknowledge her achievements.
Although Chu Li used her identity to make suggestions in order to encourage women to take the imperial examinations.
But I have to say that Chu Li doesn't look so annoying today.
Suddenly, Emperor Qingyuan laughed heartily. He looked at Chu Li proudly. He had never felt that Chu Li was so to his liking!
"Crown Prince Chu Li of the Great Chu State, every word you say makes sense. I really appreciate it!"
He looked at his wife Chu Yue, "My Great Chu has such a brave and skilled female general, why can't we have a female official with outstanding literary talent!"
He looked at everyone and said, "I agree with your advice. The imperial examination will start in November and end in spring. I have made up my mind. Women can also take the imperial examination and serve as officials in the court!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chu Li convinced most of the ministers by reasoning and presenting facts. Emperor Qingyuan had already issued the decree, and they did not dare to raise any objections.
Chu Li lowered her eyes. Today she was not only speaking up for women, but also for herself.
Ye Hanting came up with a good idea. As long as a woman could become an official, it would be natural for her to become the empress.
Not long after she returned to her bedroom, the chief eunuch, Eunuch Li, arrived.
"Congratulations, Your Highness. His Majesty said that you have made great contributions in regulating the country recently, and a celebration banquet will be held."
Chu Li asked, "Eunuch Li, who will be attending?"