116 Minister
◎Can't I be your mentor?◎
Xue Ji held the knife and glanced at him condescendingly. He didn't say anything, but his eyes were full of indignation, as if telling him that if he said another word, he would kill him immediately.
But the students were weak and powerless after all, and it would be shameful if the news got out that he, a eunuch, drew his sword against them and pointed the sharp blade at these scholars.
He lowered the knife slightly, and the students finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Xue Ji raised his knife and suddenly pointed it at Ji Wuzheng. "You're the driving force behind this unrest, but don't you know how unpredictable people are? The Queen risked her life for her country and her people, and you didn't even plead for mercy. Now that something's happened, it's the Queen's fault, and you're blaming a woman for the mistake. And now you're taking all the credit for this situation?"
This was true. Rong Qianyu had done so much for the Great Zhou, having faced life and death several times and escaped death repeatedly. This single incident seemed to give these people an opportunity to exploit and criticize her.
As the saying goes, a prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold. Even if a good person does thousands of good things, no one will care much. But once he does one wrong thing, he will be drowned by the spit of people like a tide, and he will never be able to turn over.
This time, Fu Hua seemed like a bystander. He was the one who nodded in the end, but now he seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth and had nothing to do with him anymore.
All the resentment was directed at Rong Qianyu, but the emperor, who was high above everyone else, could not be wrong, and it was understandable that he was misled by others.
Seeing that the two sides were on the verge of a fight, although Ji Wuzheng was radical, he was not unreasonable. Xue Ji was right. Moreover, looking at his posture, he would be killed immediately if he said another word.
"We don't want to blame the Queen, we just want Cui Zhicong to be removed, nothing else!" he said.
But Xue Ji didn't react to his words, instead he scoffed. "You all are so far-sighted, but why didn't you advise Cui Zhicong when he returned to the capital, and when he joined the Ministry of Rites? Now that someone's dead, you think he's a foolish villain?"
As soon as these words were spoken, silence fell again, forcing the students to be speechless.
The commotion outside the palace was in full swing, and Qianyu in the palace was always uneasy. The news inside and outside the palace was not well communicated, and people inside the palace often knew about what happened outside the palace later.
The Imperial Household Department and the Embroidered Uniform Guards had surrounded the Imperial College, with three layers inside and three layers outside, making it impossible to get in or out. Rong Qianyu knew that Xue Ji was going to make a move, but she didn't know when.
Lord Fang of the Northern Pacification Office was more moderate than Xue Ji, but he was also afraid that someone might lose their life if something went wrong.
Yuan Qing went into the inner hall and reported the news from outside the palace to Rong Qianyu, "Your Majesty, there's a commotion at the Imperial Academy."
Rong Qianyu was drinking tea and reading a book. When she heard the news, she almost dropped the cup in her hand. A little tea fell on the back of her hand and burned her. "So soon... I think the Imperial College will be here soon."
This was indeed happening faster than she had imagined. "Commander Fang and Lord Xue are handling it at the Imperial College. As for the Imperial College...what are your Majesty's ideas?"
Yuan Qing shook his head, "Your Majesty always appeases such matters."
She knew that Fu Hua could not be relied upon anywhere, but at this time the emperor did not care, and she, the queen, was indifferent, which was really unacceptable.
"I'm going to the Imperial College." She packed her luggage in a hurry and asked Rong Pan to find her a simple set of luggage.
Yuan Qing reached out to stop her, "That's not right, it probably hasn't reached that point yet, there's no need..."
Rong Qianyu said sternly, "The Imperial College has already started a commotion, and the Imperial College and the Hanlin Academy are close behind. With the Palace Examination just around the corner, if someone dies, it's no joke."
What she cared about had always been the people of the two countries, and that had never changed. Moreover, as the queen, she could not stand idly by.
"But it's too dangerous for you to go." Yuan Qing said.
Rong Qianyu shook off Yuan Qing's blocking hand and said, "I haven't flinched in front of the rebels, so why would I be afraid of students? Tell someone to assign me some capable people from the Jinyiwei to blend in with the crowd and protect my safety at all times."
Yuanqing had no choice but to nod and do as he was told.
"But one thing is for sure, you must never lay hands on students!"
Yuanqing: "I understand."
"Yuanqing, go inform His Majesty and stay in the palace to meet him. Pan'er will go with me."
Rong Qianyu took a sedan chair from the back door to the Imperial College. Along the way, she could see Jinyiwei wearing Feiyu uniforms and holding embroidered spring swords, walking in the opposite direction - that was the Imperial College.
"The Queen has arrived!"
Han Song, the chief academician of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, came to greet him.
Rong Qianyu acted very kindly, at least there was no sign of anxiety on her face. "Lord Han, please get up quickly. The Imperial Academy has been in turmoil. How are the students here now?"
"It's still shocking. Your Majesty, thank you for coming here. I have ordered the leading students to be placed under strict surveillance and will not be released until the results are announced."
Rong Qianyu raised her hand to signal him to sit down and talk. "I think that the students' actions are for the country and the people, which is a good thing. It's a pity that they are so impulsive and use the wrong approach. If we can persuade them, we should let them take the imperial examination. It's held every three years, and they are all pillars of society. We can't ruin their future."
Han Song, a little nervous, lowered his head in agreement. He'd known about the Imperial Academy's situation long ago, and to avoid repeating the same mistakes, he had to be cautious. "Your Majesty is right, but these kids are stubborn. We've dealt with Cui Zhicong several times before..."
Hearing this, Rong Qianyu didn't mean to make things difficult for her. "My dear, just speak frankly."
"This person truly has no talent or learning, and still has the mindset of a businessman, waiting to sell all sorts of interests. Putting him in the Ministry of Rites is indeed... indeed, somewhat inappropriate."
"Since you all think it's inappropriate, why don't you write a letter?" Rong Qianyu asked.
Han Song hesitated and couldn't explain the reason. It was simply because Cui Zhicong was Concubine Ke's brother, and she, the queen, recommended him, so how could he dare to say anything.
"It's human nature not to say it, but why do those students dare to do it?"
Han Song seemed to have been hit on the spot, and could only end the conversation with a remark about youthful vigor.
"Lord Han, you have been interacting with these students for years, so you must be young at heart. I believe you have a sincere heart. But if you, as a minister, only care about power and position without considering justice, who will worry about the future of the country, and who will care about the future of the students?"
Han Song nodded with sweat dripping down his face, "Your Majesty is right."
Rong Qianyu finally smiled, and the tense and oppressive atmosphere finally eased. "I'm not here to find fault with anyone, I just want to resolve this matter as soon as possible. Do you have a list of the students who caused the trouble?"
"have."
Han Song turned around, took out his key, and pulled out a small wooden box from a drawer. He unlocked it, took out the list, and handed it to Rong Qianyu. "These are the students I registered with the Imperial College. There are thirteen of them."
Rong Qianyu opened the list and looked at it carefully.
The footsteps outside the door were getting closer and closer. Several students knew that the queen had arrived and rushed to the front of the house, wanting to hear an explanation. However, they were blocked by the guards outside the door, "You can't go in, you can't!"
"We want to confront the Empress!"
"The Queen is discussing matters with Lord Han, you cannot enter!"
"Open the door!"
The guards had received orders not to clash with the students. The students were very arrogant, and the guards' momentum was much weakened.
Han Song was introducing these student movement leaders to Rong Qianyu. Each of them was a young man of great talent and had a promising future.
Soon, the students broke in and the conversation inside was forced to end.
Rong Qianyu sat firmly in the room, surrounded by a dozen people, but she showed no sign of retreating, and remained calm. "You are all the people who led the riot in the Imperial College, right?"
Han Song called the students forward and saluted Rong Qianyu, "Have you not met the Queen yet?" He then approached Rong Qianyu and pleaded with the students in a friendly manner, "Your Majesty, they are young and impetuous, and their manners are not appropriate. Please don't be angry!"
Rong Qianyu didn't respond to Han Song's words. She just took the list and went about her business. "I think everyone on this list is good. I want to find some teachers for the children."
Han Song had heard some rumors about her and Xue Ji. Although women in the harem could not interfere in national affairs such as the imperial examination, he was still a little afraid of Xue Jiming's methods. He was afraid that if he said something wrong, the whole family would be killed one day.
He walked forward and tried to take the list from Rong Qianyu's hand, "Your Majesty, these are the ones who started the trouble. I will definitely find the ones you mentioned for the princes and princesses."
"I think these guys are good too," Rong Qianyu pointed at someone on the list, "Who is Du Peishi?"
Before he finished speaking, a tall and straight young man stepped out from among the students. He was neither humble nor arrogant, his brows firm, and he said, "I, Du Xian, pay my respects to Your Majesty."
Rong Qianyu looked at him for a long time. "You always rank first in your grades. You were also in the top ten in this year's Spring Examination. It won't be a problem for you to get the top spot. Are you willing to teach those naughty children at home?"
Du Xian knelt on the ground without hesitation, "I want to rely on real talent and knowledge, not on connections... and even less on..."
He didn't say it, but Rong Qianyu could guess roughly, "You don't want to rely on women anymore?"
“…” Having his thoughts revealed, the other party was speechless and even felt a little ashamed.
"If His Majesty came today, would you say the same thing? Disobeying the Emperor's order is a capital offense. The Emperor and Empress are equally respected. Does that mean my words are meaningless?"
A high-pitched and indignant voice suddenly emerged from among the students, which caught Rong Qianyu off guard.
"Women shouldn't discuss politics. Who gave you the right to speak so freely? Women should be caring for their husbands and raising their children!"
"How bold!" Han Song wanted to cover the student's mouth, but when he saw Rong Qianyu cough lightly, he stopped in an instant just as he was about to take a step.
Since ancient times, countries where women interfere in politics seem to have no good ending. In ancient times, there was Daji who destroyed the Shang Dynasty, Xi Shi who succumbed to the Wu Dynasty, and today there is Rong Shi who acts like a hen crowing at dawn and interfering with the imperial examinations.
Those beauties of the past enjoyed their splendour for a few days, but were strangled to death at Mawei, with their entire clans implicated. Men never truly granted them any power, nor did they truly acknowledge their political achievements. Instead, they simply blindly threw all the dirty water on women, euphemistically calling them "beauties are the root of trouble."
These students were taught the most deeply ingrained ideology of monarchy and ministers, which saw women's participation in politics as a scourge and a sign of national doom. But precisely because of this, these students' ideas were the easiest to intervene in.
Rong Qianyu smiled and thought that if Xue Ji heard these words, he would not know how to deal with this student.
"Well said," Rong Qianyu stood up and applauded him, startling the students. "But you're just a scholar, powerless and powerless. Who would listen to you? Even if I were to intervene in government affairs, it's not your turn to make decisions. If you want to make suggestions, you'll have to rely on me, a woman, to give you the opportunity."
Du Xian was unconcerned and said, "I have talent and I have my own mentors. I don't need women!"
"If I were to issue an imperial decree today, none of you present here would be able to enter the officialdom again. However, I will not do so. I hope that you will all pass the exam and contribute your modest efforts to the country and the people. This is also the original intention of your studies. When you were young, you were full of ambition. If you really entered the officialdom, how many of you would be able to stick to your original aspirations?"
Rong Qianyu walked towards the crowd and asked Du Xian softly, "Why, can't I be your mentor?"
Her eyes were gentle, without any sense of aggression, yet she was intimidating without being angry. Her calm gaze was like the deep waters of a lake, profound, mysterious, and sacred.
Seeing Du Xian remained silent, the student who had just spoken frankly was startled by the question, "Do you think we are all like Cui Zhicong? How can we, the disciples of the emperor, compare with him, the son of a merchant?"
Rong Qianyu pressed on, "Wasn't Cui Zhicong the same as you are today? How dare you say you won't be like him?"
"Cui Zhicong is a scum who brings shame to us scholars!" said another student.
"You say you don't rely on women. Did you come out of nowhere? Your food, clothing, shelter, and transportation in the capital are all provided by your parents back home. Have you really never relied on women along the way?"
These words were like thunder in their ears, leaving these tall men without the strength to refute in an instant. Everyone is born of a mother, and no one can escape this.
Du Xian remained silent, as if twenty years of life experience had suddenly collapsed, forcing him to piece it all together again. He didn't even know what he was clinging to. "Your Majesty just said... give me a chance. Is that true?"
"What are you doing?" The students became flustered when they saw that he was about to give in.
Rong Qianyu nodded, "Of course, I will not hesitate to recommend any talented person."
Then he sat upright on a high stool and addressed the students present: "All of you must be dissatisfied with my recommendation of Cui Zhicong. I do not expect you to be loyal to the emperor, only to the country. I do not want you to be foolishly loyal. As long as you work for the welfare of the people of the world, remember where you came from, and don't forget why we are here today."
"Your Majesty," Du Xian took two steps back, brushed off the dust in front of his knees, and knelt again, this time more firmly than the last time. He raised his hands above his head and bowed deeply.
"I promise to serve the people wholeheartedly. This is my heart, and I will never break my promise. I beg for mercy, Your Majesty!"
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