Chapter 67 Dispute

Xue Qi looked at Zhao Mingyue gently, then continued, "Your Highness is right, but you overlooked one point—"

"In the patrilineal system of power succession, surname takes precedence over bloodline. To deprive women of their inheritance rights, there's an ironclad rule: marriage between people with the same surname is prohibited. In other words, a princess can marry a child from her mother's family, but not from her father's family."

"It is precisely because your surname is Zhao, Princess, that they must see you marry down, giving birth to a child with a different surname and thus losing your inheritance rights, before they can feel at ease."

Zhao Mingyue frowned, "So, that's why they're so eager to get me married?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Wenxiu suggested, "If that's the case, why not marry a prince consort and let the child take the princess's surname?"

Xue Qi looked at Wu Wenxiu, his face still smiling gently, but his voice was cold. "Throughout history, has any princess's husband not been a son-in-law? And which princess has ever given birth to a child who inherited her own surname?"

Wu Wenxiu was stunned for a moment, then a strong sense of absurdity arose in her heart. She couldn't help but sneer, "Commoner women can marry into a family, but a princess is the most respected in the world, but she can't even decide her children's surnames. Her biological children all have foreign surnames. Isn't that ridiculous?"

She was already nineteen years old, and there was no other male official in the court who was her age and had the same achievements as her. If there was one, he would definitely be hailed as a rare genius by the world.

But in the eyes of the matchmaker, she was not a rare genius, nor a high-ranking official, but just an old maid who could not get married.

In the two years since she moved to the capital, neighbors have been trying to find out about her and her mother's background, trying to find a husband for her. Her mother was so annoyed that she joked about finding a son-in-law for her.

I thought that saying this would dampen their enthusiasm, but instead I attracted a group of cunning people who saw that they were orphans and widows and wanted to embezzle their family property.

Fortunately, her mother knew her ambition and did not urge her on this matter, nor did she ask her to get married and have children.

However, there were a few times when she got off work and returned home, and saw her mother sitting alone at the door waiting for her, and she felt a little guilty.

It would be nice if she could have a child to accompany her mother and be in her arms.

Not long after she had this thought, when she returned home from work, she really saw a timid girl beside Wu Yixian.

She almost thought it was a sign from God that a child had been sent to her.

Wu Yixian told her that the child's father was a gambler who was heavily in debt. He had previously sold his wife and was now selling his daughter. She felt sorry for the child and bought her on her own initiative.

The child got along very well with her mother and was also very smart, so her mother kept her in the Wu family and later named her Zening.

Wu Wenxiu was afraid that her gambling addict father would cause trouble in the future, so she specially invited the sisters from the Yiluansi to dinner and asked them to find a reason to arrest the man and exile him far away.

However, her problem is easy to solve, but the princess's problem is not.

Xue Qi said coldly, "Those who make the rules won't give up an inch when it comes to power and interests. Even if Your Highness really does marry into the family, how can we guarantee that the Prince Consort and his family won't harbor ulterior motives? Ultimately, a surname, like power and property, is passed down only to males, not females."

"I understand," Zhao Mingyue continued, "Master wants me to change this rule so that women can also pass on the family name."

Xue Qi suddenly raised her voice, "No, only women can inherit the surname!"

Zhao Mingyue and Wu Wenxiu both looked at her. The candlelight in the room was dim, but her eyes were very bright, as if there was an almost paranoid fire burning in them.

Zhao Mingyue had known Xue Qi's ideas for a long time. She agreed with some of them, but not with others.

But she didn't have the energy to argue with her right now; she just felt tired. She wanted to hear a more practical solution to her current predicament, not this extreme and useless idea.

Her voice was thin and weak, "Master, you know this is impossible. Talk about killing all the husbands and fathers in the world. That is simply impossible."

Xue Qi's eyes dimmed instantly as he looked at her. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end no sound came out. He just lowered his eyes and fell silent.

It was so quiet inside that even the rustling of leaves in the yard could be heard clearly.

Wu Wenxiu glanced at Zhao Mingyue quietly, then at Xue Qi, and for a moment didn't know what to say to break the silence.

She could understand her cousin's opinion, but she could also understand the princess's choice even more. Between the two, out of selfishness, she would lean towards her cousin, but out of interest, she would support the princess.

Telling the princess the news from the court officials in private was a risk in itself. It was a gesture of goodwill towards the princess and also her political bet.

However, she must remember that she is a close minister to His Majesty, and the interests of the Queen Mother and the Princess are not always the same.

And tonight, she has said and heard enough. It seems that nothing more can be discussed for a while, and it is not good to stay any longer.

If people knew that she had close contact with the princess, it would easily lead to unnecessary suspicion and criticism.

Wu Wenxiu stood up and said, "Your Highness, I should go back. You don't have to worry about this matter. His Majesty is always on your side. When you are at the end of your rope, there is always a way out. Perhaps if we wait a little longer, there will be a new turning point."

After saying that, she put her hood back on, said goodbye and left.

Both of the people in the room sat there without moving, not even getting up to see her off.

Xue Qi watched Wu Wenxiu leave and suddenly chuckled softly, "Your Highness, you don't agree with me. Is it because you think this thing can't succeed, or because it's not good for you right now? Princess, you want immediate benefits more than long-term gains, right?"

She raised her head and looked at Zhao Mingyue, but Zhao Mingyue avoided her gaze, her eyes flickering. "I'm just saying, we can take it step by step. We can do something more practical. For example, we can train and promote more female officials, form our own team in the court, and always be able to shut up those men."

"And then what? Once the ladies-in-waiting have wealth and power, they'll always want to pass it on to the next generation. They won't just have daughters. Even Your Highness will choose to forgo long-term gains for the sake of immediate gains. So how can Your Highness guarantee that they won't betray us for the sake of their children's interests? And then, how will Your Highness cope?"

Zhao Mingyue was very embarrassed and annoyed by such questioning. She suddenly raised her hand and pounded the table. "Then what do you want me to do? What can I do?"

Chun Ying, who was waiting outside the door, was startled when she heard the bang. She pushed the door open and hurriedly called out, "Princess, are you okay?"

Zhao Mingyue took a deep breath and waved her hand, "I'm fine, leave now."

Chun Ying saw that she was safe and sound, so she left with peace of mind.

Xue Qi stood up, his voice calm, still lacking much emotion, "It's late, and I should take my leave. I won't disturb the princess's rest."

Zhao Mingyue turned her head away, not looking at her or speaking.

Xue Qi bowed and walked out.

Zhao Mingyue heard the footsteps disappear outside the door, then she looked over and a look of regret appeared on her face.

Xue Qi was her teacher, and she shouldn't have spoken to him like that just now.

But, she is also a princess. How dare Xue Qi question her like that, as if she is an idiot who can't use her brain.

Zhao Mingyue propped up half of her face with her hand and sighed in annoyance...

Why did they force her to choose that more dangerous path when there was clearly a safer way?

If this continues, the differences between her and Xue Qi will only grow bigger. Perhaps she should ask her mother to find her a new teacher.

After Zhao Mingyue made this decision, she immediately felt much more relaxed.

She didn't think any more about it, stood up, and was about to go back to her bedroom to rest. Suddenly, she heard a sound outside the window.

She turned her head and saw the window suddenly break open. A cold light flashed and rushed towards her face at an incredible speed.

Zhao Mingyue had no time to think, he dodged the knife by leaning sideways, then took out the "Blood-killing Throat" with his right hand and slashed with his backhand.

With a slight "swish" sound, the blade cut through the opponent's arm, tearing the clothes, revealing a barely visible red color.

"Huh?" Beneath the black veil, his lips opened and he let out a disdainful sneer.

The next moment, his eyes widened and he fell to the ground with a thud, turning into a stiff corpse.

Zhao Mingyue was extremely surprised. She looked down at the knife in her hand and saw that it was really a fatal blow.

She carefully sheathed the knife, squatted down and lifted the assassin's veil, her eyes widening instantly.

Xie Qinjian? Wasn't he already exiled to Nanzhou? Did he escape along the way and return to the capital specifically to kill her for revenge?

Zhao Mingyue was just wondering when Chunying pushed the door open again and said anxiously, "Princess, something bad has happened!"

She frowned in confusion, "What?"

Could there be anything worse than her assassination? It turns out there was.

"General Yuzhao reports that the imperial guards guarding the city gates are colluding with the rebels, allowing them in. The rebels have already reached the imperial city! Princess, let's run for our lives!"

Zhao Mingyue's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean the rebels have invaded the imperial city?"

Chunying's voice was filled with sorrow, "Prince Yu of Yanzhou has started a rebellion, and Darong's kingdom is about to change hands!"

Zhao Mingyue grabbed Chunying's hand and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Where's my mother? I want to find her! Prepare the horses, I want to go to the palace!"

Chunying stopped her from leaving and tearfully advised her to leave the capital immediately.

Zhao Mingyue pushed her away and ran out quickly, only to see chaos outside. The guards in the mansion were reinforcing the walls and gates to guard against the rebellious army.

When the captain of the guard saw her, he immediately came forward to persuade her to lead her troops out of the capital.

"No, I won't leave!" Zhao Mingyue refused firmly.

She ordered the captain of the guard to summon the palace soldiers and rush to the palace immediately to investigate the situation.

The captain of the guard had no choice but to obey orders.

Zhao Mingyue led a hundred cavalrymen and quickly rushed to the palace. Along the way, all he saw were fleeing civilians and civilians looting wantonly, with cries and screams everywhere.

But she didn't care. She just wanted to see her mother immediately and make sure she was safe.

Suddenly, she reined in her horse, her eyes passing through the noisy streets and the ferocious army, and fixed on the magnificent imperial palace in the distance.

The flickering flames were reflected in the clear eyes.

The once solemn and majestic palace was now completely engulfed in flames.