Chapter 95 Change

Gu Yunmei looked at the unquestionable expression on Mei Junrong's face and frowned unhappily.

Isn't she just a woman of humble origin? Why is she so arrogant in front of her? She is not some Madam Gu, but the upright Princess of Yue!

Moreover, it was obvious that Princess Fuguang had bad intentions when she invited them to dinner at this time. It must be a Hongmen Banquet, so she would not go.

"I'm really sorry, I'm not feeling well and can't eat. I won't bother the princess anymore." Gu Yunmei said coldly.

However, Mei Junrong would not tolerate her not going. He said calmly, "Madam Gu, have you forgotten that we have detained your only son? He is such a beautiful child. Madam, please think carefully before answering."

She actually used her precious son to threaten her. Hong'er was her life!

Gu Yunmei immediately gritted her teeth in anger, "He's only sixteen, he doesn't understand anything, just come to me if you have anything to say, don't hurt him!"

Mei Junrong smiled slightly, "Now, Madam, can you attend the banquet? If I keep the princess waiting for too long, I don't know what she will do."

Gu Yunmei was filled with anger and fear, her body trembling and she almost collapsed. However, for the sake of her child, she stood firm, her tone filled with humiliation, "Okay, I'll go."

Mei Junrong made a gesture of invitation.

Gu Yunmei took the hand of the maid beside her and straightened her back. Even though she had fallen to this point, she still tried her best to maintain her identity as a princess and walked out of the courtyard calmly and gracefully.

The other women did not dare to go past her and followed her slowly.

Only Mei Junrong, accompanied by his guards, walked ahead of them with big strides.

Gu Yunmei gritted her teeth, thinking what an uneducated village woman she was, but seeing the distance between them widening, she had no choice but to quicken her pace to catch up.

When they arrived at the main hall of the banquet, Gu Yunmei was already out of breath. She had never walked so fast before, which was really rude.

When she sat down, Gu Yunmei glared at Mei Junrong fiercely. This woman was definitely teasing her on purpose!

Then she looked around and found that the faces at the table were all very familiar. In addition to the women from their governor's office, the wives of other officials from Yuzhou Prefecture were also present, as well as her mother, the wife of the Chief Secretary.

It can be said that all the famous women in Yuzhou Prefecture are here.

There were actually twenty or thirty people sitting in the hall, which was neither too big nor too small. As soon as they arrived, all the seats were filled, leaving only the main seat empty.

Because the guards were standing on both sides of the hall with guns, no one in the room dared to speak, and Gu Yunmei did not dare to speak to her mother.

It didn't take long before Zhao Mingyue came out.

Judging from the way she is dressed, she doesn't look like a princess at all, but looking at her aura, she is calm and sharp.

Everyone immediately stood up and saluted. Even Gu Yunmei did not dare to disrespect her by relying on her aunt's status.

Of course she could treat Mei Junrong with contempt, but she wouldn't dare do that to Zhao Mingyue. She could still clearly distinguish between who was superior and who was inferior.

Zhao Mingyue sat down at the main seat and said with a smile, "Everyone, please sit down. There's no need to be so reserved. I'm young, and you can all be considered my elders. It's my turn to offer a toast to you all."

As he spoke, he poured a glass of wine and raised it to them.

Everyone was flattered.

Before coming here, they thought that the princess was some kind of evil demon who killed people without blinking an eye, and they were always worried about her. However, they didn't expect that she was so kind.

Everyone hurriedly poured wine and toasted Zhao Mingyue, then sat down carefully.

Zhao Mingyue took the lead and picked up the chopsticks. "Let's eat and talk while we eat."

Due to the street cleaning order and worries about the future, they haven't eaten much in the past few days. Seeing the delicious food on the table, they can't help but feel greedy.

After hearing what Zhao Mingyue said, everyone picked up their chopsticks, intending to fill their stomachs first.

Only Gu Yunmei crossed her arms across her chest, looking very resistant.

Of course Zhao Mingyue noticed her, but ignored her. Halfway through the meal, she slowly told them the purpose of inviting them to the banquet.

"I have already reported the King of Yue's rebellion to the imperial court. According to the law, anyone who colluded with the King of Yue will be executed along with his entire clan."

Everyone at the table turned pale and couldn't eat.

Someone bravely stepped forward, kneeling down and begging, "Princess, please save us! The rebellion was all planned by the men, and we women in the harem were completely unaware of it!"

What this means is that you should cut off ties with the man who committed the crime.

Gu Yunmei glanced at the woman and snorted in her heart. Not only did she not try to rescue her husband when he was in trouble, but she actually surrendered to the enemy. How heartless and ungrateful!

No wonder the book says "A man with a virtuous wife will not suffer from unexpected misfortune."

You know, Zhao Mingyue not only killed Gu Yunmei's husband, but also put her father in prison. It is not an exaggeration to say that she is an enemy.

Therefore, Gu Yunmei had already made up her mind that even if she died, she would not kneel down and beg for mercy.

But why did Zhao Mingyue call them here, say these words to them, and force a quarrel between the couple? It was simply ill-intentioned.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Mingyue said gently: "Of course I know you are all innocent, and I also want to save you. But my ability is limited, and I can't save everyone."

Limited ability? That was a really cunning thing to say! Gu Yunmei despised them inwardly. Whether they lived or died depended on a single word from Zhao Mingyue!

Unfortunately, not everyone is as fearless as she is. Zhao Mingyue's words are like a life-saving straw, and everyone is eager to hold on to it tightly.

The woman kneeling on the ground said immediately: "Princess Fuguang, as long as you are willing to forgive me, I am willing to do anything for you!"

Zhao Mingyue smiled softly, "But, I need a woman who can read."

"I, I can read!"

The other women also responded: "Princess, I can read too!"

Zhao Mingyue continued, "I need a woman who can write documents and understand laws and regulations."

There was a moment of silence at the table. After a while, a small voice rang out, "My father is a judicial historian. I often help him transcribe documents and lawsuits, so I know a bit about it."

Zhao Mingyue glanced at the man and then made a request, "I also need a woman who can be an official."

These words frightened them so much that for a moment, no one dared to speak.

Liu Ruqian couldn't hold back any longer. She had understood what Zhao Mingyue meant. She was short of people, especially talented people.

The reason why they were asked to come here was because they were literate, understood poetry and books, and their family had been officials for generations. They had been influenced by their family and knew some things about officialdom.

In fact, she understood it after reading the manifesto.

Zhao Mingyue wanted to be the ruler of Yuzhou, or even the ruler of the world, but as a woman, she had no status. The system of father-father, son-son, monarch-monarch, and subject-subject was useless. So she wanted to appoint women as officials, ministers, and citizens. She wanted to build an entire country of women!

Now is the time when someone needs to take over and pledge allegiance. A smart person like Liu Ruqian knows how to seize the opportunity.

"What's so difficult about being an official? I can write those scholarly essays, and I can do things for the country and the people! As long as the princess respects me, I am willing to serve her!"

Zhao Mingyue glanced at her and asked, "What's your name?"

"My name is Liu Ruqian."

"Great," Zhao Mingyue asked with a smile, "I have an errand that needs someone to do. Would you like to do it?"

Liu Ruqian said excitedly, "Princess, just give your orders!"

"I plan to reform the household registration system. All households in Yuzhou must have their heads changed to women!"

Liu Ruqian was stunned for a moment, then she understood and was about to respond when she was interrupted by an excited voice.

"Princess Fuguang, you have no right to do this! From ancient times to the present, men have been responsible for the outside world, and women for the inside. It is absolutely unacceptable for women to show their faces in public. You are doing the opposite. It is simply reckless. You are violating the will of heaven and harming the people. Sooner or later, you will be punished by heaven!"

Gu Yunmei looked at Zhao Mingyue angrily. She had endured for so long, but finally couldn't bear it anymore.

When everyone in the room heard her words, they couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for her.

Their lives are in the hands of Princess Fuguang. Even if they disagree with her actions, they should not speak out and seek death!

Zhao Mingyue looked at her angry face and found it ridiculous.

She smiled, but a murderous aura emanated from her body. Her dark eyes stared at Gu Yunmei, "Aunt, I don't know whether I will be punished by heaven or not. I only know that you probably won't live to see the day when I am punished by heaven."

Gu Yunmei was so angry at her words that her face turned blue, but she was really afraid that she would do what she said, so she trembled and finally did not dare to speak again.

Zhao Mingyue didn't bother looking at her anymore, and turned her gaze to the women who hadn't expressed their opinions. "You are here because the men in your family have committed treason. If you want to live, then do as I say, follow the new system, and establish a new family."

"I believe that with you serving as a model, the new system will surely be implemented successfully. Now, is there anyone who is still unwilling? If you are unwilling, please stand beside the princess."

There was a commotion among the crowd, but in the end no one dared to move.

Gu Yunmei looked at her mother, but she looked away. This shocked her heart. Even her mother was going to abandon her father?

Are all women in the world so heartless and ungrateful, only willing to share wealth but not adversity?

Gu Yunmei was very disappointed, but she didn't want to blame her mother. She simply took her anger out on the people around her, gazing angrily at the people in her house and shouting, "Do you have any shame? Why don't you stand up? Especially you, Liu Ruqian. I knew you, a singing girl, were the most shameless. I shouldn't have let the prince carry you in the first place!"

Liu Ruqian sneered, "That's truly disappointing, Princess. I'm the type who only cares about pleasure and fears death. Besides, the prince didn't even think of informing me when he rebelled. Why should I die for him?"

"Also, Princess, don't you think you're being too selfish? You clearly had a way to survive, but you insisted on dragging the sisters in the mansion to die with you. Don't you feel guilty about sacrificing so many lives?"

She talked non-stop for the whole time, and Gu Yunmei didn't even find a chance to interrupt. She was so angry that she almost had a heart attack and could hardly breathe.

He covered his chest with his hands and gasped for breath, and finally managed to say, "You, you are slandering me."

"Very good, it seems that only Auntie is unwilling." Zhao Mingyue interrupted their argument and clapped her hands, "Come, send Auntie to Laoya Mountain."

"Lao Yashan..." Gu Yunmei was a little scared, but she still held on. "What do you want to do to me?"

Zhao Mingyue arched her brows and smiled gently, "Don't worry, Auntie. I'm not a petty person and I don't want to kill you to vent my anger. I just remembered that there's an iron mine built by my uncle in Laoya Mountain, and they're short of manpower. Since Auntie isn't interested in being an official, why don't you go mining?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards on both sides stepped forward and grabbed Gu Yunmei.

"No! I'm not interested in mining either. You can't do this to me!" Gu Yunmei no longer cared about her dignity as a princess. She struggled desperately, but to no avail. She was dragged out by the guards.

"Zhao Mingyue, you killed your uncle and committed treason. You will not be forgiven!" An angry roar sounded outside the door, gradually becoming farther away, and stopped abruptly with the last sentence, as if it had suddenly disappeared.

Although it was summer, the woman in the room couldn't help but feel a chill down her spine, and there was a hint of fear in her eyes as she looked at Zhao Mingyue.

Things are really going to change in Yuzhou.

They had a premonition that many people might die in this transformation.

————

"It's simply treasonous!"

After reading Princess Fuguang's manifesto, the censors could not help but criticize her in the court.

She actually insulted the late Emperor Dayong. Is Princess Fuguang planning a rebellion?

"The rules of our ancestors are not always right. Since you censors can speak frankly, why can't the princess do the same?" Wu Wenxiu immediately stood up and refuted loudly.

The censor was suddenly speechless.

Back then, Wu Wenxiu scolded the prime minister and became famous in one battle. Now, few people dare to confront her.

Moreover, because of the Empress Dowager's favor, the status of the Sujisi and Yiluansi rose rapidly, and even the six ministries did not dare to ignore them.

Chi Lu sat on the throne and asked in a deep voice, "So, what are your opinions on what the princess has said?"

The ministers were filled with resentment. They dared not express any opinions. The last person who had spoken against Empress Dowager Chi had already died cold.

Chi Li curled her lips slightly, "Since you all have no objection, then let's do as the princess says."

The Minister of Rites hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, if the princess stays in Yuzhou, how will we explain this to Xiqi?"

"Instructions?" Chi Qi thought for a moment. "I heard that the King of Yue has a son who is as beautiful as a flower. Let him go in the marriage on behalf of the princess. I believe the King of Xiqi won't mind."

The ministers were stunned. How could this be possible?

Chi Li narrowed her eyes. "But speaking of Zhao Zhuo, I heard that the governors and princes of the various states are also very dissatisfied with me. It seems that I really need to maintain good relations with these uncles and brothers."

"Next month, I will hold a sacrificial ceremony. Please invite them to the capital."