Chapter 71 Staying or Leaving

"What does Consort Wan desire?"

On the same day that the late emperor's concubines were promoted, Hongli received Zhen Huan, who had come to pay her respects the previous night, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Zhen Huan looked at Hongli, who was dressed in a dragon robe and sitting at the head of the table, and was momentarily dazed. She never imagined that the young man who once needed her help in his time of need had now become the ruler of the world.

But she quickly came to her senses and bowed respectfully to Hongli.

"Your Majesty, I have disturbed your rest late at night. If I may ask, how does Your Majesty intend to deal with me, the late Emperor's favored concubine, and those who knew about it and participated in the affair?"

After Zhen Huan finished speaking, she boldly looked directly into Hongli's eyes.

Hongli smiled slightly, "You are indeed bold."

"When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked. Naturally, I am afraid."

"Afraid? I didn't see any fear in you, otherwise you wouldn't have dared to use such a classical allusion, worrying that I would be ungrateful and abandon you after using you?"

Zhen Huan lowered her eyes and bowed again, her words filled with flattery and caution: "Your Majesty is a wise and virtuous ruler, but I am but a humble woman, and naturally I am worried."

"I suppose it's more than just worry. If Consort Wan has any thoughts, she can speak frankly, and I will forgive her."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Huan looked up again, observed Hongli's expression, and said bluntly, "I suspect that Consort Hua has already left this deep palace..."

Hongli raised an eyebrow slightly and praised, "As expected of a female Zhuge Liang, you are right."

Zhen Huan was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Hongli to admit it so readily.

"So, you want to leave too? Even if it means living in anonymity from now on?"

Faced with Hongli's question, Zhen Huan pursed her lips and nodded seriously, "Yes, even if I have to live in anonymity, I don't want to waste the rest of my life in the deep palace, living a boring and meaningless life."

Hongli was not angry at Zhen Huan's answer. He smiled and asked softly, "Would you like to hear my arrangements?"

Zhen Huan looked up and saw Hongli smile gently, his eyes carrying a unique allure. "Consort Wan is known in her inner chambers as a 'female Zhuge Liang.' But many people just take it as an empty title and laugh it off, don't they? I also know that Consort Wan often discusses politics with the late Emperor. But even if the late Emperor adopted your opinions, he still treated you with disdain, didn't he? You clearly look down on those who use their looks to serve others, yet in the end, you were still valued by the late Emperor because of your face..."

"What exactly does His Majesty want to say?"

Touched on a sore spot, Zhen Huan found it difficult to remain calm, her emotions fluctuating slightly as she looked at Hongli with confusion.

Hongli leaned back and casually dropped a bombshell: "I intend to establish a system of female officials. Is Consort Wan interested?"

Zhen Huan repeated incredulously, "A system of female officials?"

“That’s right. All the people in this world are my subjects. There’s no reason why I can only order men around and not women around.”

Hongli spoke with such conviction that it sounded like a joke to Zhen Huan.

"Your Majesty, do you know what you're saying? Female officials... it's not something that's easy to implement."

Whether it's easy to implement or not is up to me, but whether or not Consort Wan dares to participate is up to her.

Hongli leaned forward slightly, a smile in his eyes, looking at Zhen Huan with a seductive gaze: "So what is Consort Wan's choice? To live a life of obscurity and insignificance outside the palace? Or to rise to the challenge, realize her ambitions, become an official, and serve me?"

Zhen Huan was speechless. She met Hongli's eyes and realized that he was serious.

She didn't know how to answer for a moment.

At first, she approached the search for answers with a do-or-die mentality. From discovering Huanbi's abnormality to participating in the entire process of plotting to murder the late emperor, she had no regrets. Because she was tired of living in constant fear as a shield, and unwilling to continue living such a life of constant anxiety and confusion, she became a participant without hesitation.

But she was also worried that she might "accidentally" die one day after Hongli ascended the throne, so she came to ask for a way to survive.

However, Hongli painted a picture of a bumpy and arduous road ahead. Compared to a mundane life, this road, full of unknowns and risks, was particularly appealing to her.

Why can she only be a female Zhuge Liang? Why can she only be compared to other women? Can't she one day truly be as charismatic and insightful as Zhuge Liang?

"Consort Wan can go back and think about it."

“No need,” Zhen Huan raised her eyes, her delicate features replaced by a resolute determination, a courageous and unyielding spirit that seemed to overcome all obstacles, making her radiate a unique glow. “Zhen Huan is choosing a female official, and Zhen Huan is not only good-looking. Since Your Majesty is determined, what do I have to fear?”

"Excellent!" Hongli clapped his hands and laughed. "I hope that one day I will hear you refer to yourself as 'your subject' instead of 'your concubine'."

"Your Majesty, I also hope that day will come soon."

"Don't worry," Hongli briefly revealed some of his plans, "After observing three years of mourning for the late Emperor, I will first open a girls' school, starting from the palace, and begin by educating the princesses of the imperial family. Consort Wan can go back and ask the other consorts for their opinions, whether they have any ideas about becoming female teachers?"

Zhen Huan bowed respectfully, "Your Majesty, I understand. I will convey His Majesty's message to my sisters."

Raising her eyes again, Zhen Huan looked deeply at Hongli and boldly exclaimed, "Your Majesty is very different from the late Emperor. I am willing to believe that Your Majesty will bring a different kind of glory to the Qing Dynasty."

"Then let us take advantage of Consort Wan's auspicious words."

After seeing Zhen Huan off, Hongli leaned back comfortably, while Shuanghua and Shuangju darted from the corner onto the imperial table.

[Meow - Host, are you really going to implement a female official system?]

"Of course, I'm not lying."

[Woof woof - It must be difficult to manage female officials, right? In feudal dynasties, in terms of power ownership and ideology, only men's voices could be heard. They wouldn't be happy for women to step out of the inner palace and challenge them for power, would they?]

“I’ve been an emperor of the Qing Dynasty before. Repeating the same things is so boring.” Hongli curled his lips into a charming yet dangerous smile. “A heartthrob is someone who can easily do things that others can’t.”

Moreover, although this isn't the world of "Empresses in the Palace," Zhen Huan, as the protagonist of the prequel, still has a certain protagonist aura. Adding her to the plan would likely be more beneficial for the advancement of the female official system.

How can this not be considered a form of environmental awareness that emphasizes recycling?

[Meow - I get it, this is what they mean by "those who are virtuous will find many helpers!"]

[Woof woof - What path? The path of being a heartthrob?]

“Of course it is! Everyone says that what a heartthrob wants, others will readily offer it to him,” Hongli stroked his chin. “I should be considered a qualified heartthrob, right? I think everyone will overcome all obstacles to help me achieve what I desire—”

[Meow - This feels so familiar, host, are you trying to get someone to work for you for free again?]