Chapter 291 You, Impeccable
At the morning court on the second day, Jun Li Luo announced publicly that he would hold a conference to select talents. As expected, some ministers spoke out to dissuade him.
"Your Majesty, there has never been a precedent for women to enter the government in our dynasty. Please think twice."
"Your Majesty, women are beautiful when they are gentle, virtuous and kind. They should take care of household affairs and help their husbands..."
Song Yunchu was too lazy to listen and directly interrupted the official in the rear.
"I think your majesty's decision is very wise. As far as I know, Xiling, which is as powerful as our dynasty, has women serving in the government. If a woman is talented, she can be a female tutor to cultivate more talents. If a woman is good at fighting, she can also become a general. How capable a person is has nothing to do with gender."
"Prince Ning is right."
General Zhao echoed, "Your Majesty, the female generals of Xiling Country are very brave and famous. If there are such talents in our dynasty, it would be a pity to bury them. Your Majesty is going to hold a meeting to select talents this time, and perhaps you can find a few pearls in the ocean."
As soon as General Zhao finished speaking, General Ye beside him raised an objection, "Your Majesty, I think it is inappropriate. Your Majesty is right to select talented people, but our dynasty is not short of outstanding young men. There are talented people every year. Why do you have to let women participate in the election?"
Song Yunchu glanced at him and said, "General Ye, what you said is wrong. Since we are selecting talents, we must show our true abilities to be judged. If we don't allow women to participate, how do you know that women can't win the competition?"
"Or, as a fellow military commander, General Ye is dissatisfied with the Xiling Kingdom's female general? Why don't we make a request to the Xiling Kingdom princess before she leaves, and ask her to let their female general come and compete with you to see who wins?"
General Ye frowned, "Prince Ning, please be careful with your words!"
"This king has always been careful with his words and has never spoken nonsense."
Song Yunchu remained calm, "Aren't the battles between military commanders always simple and rough? If you don't obey, just fight, right?"
"I have never said anything disrespectful to Xiling Nation!"
"Your Majesty wants to follow the example of Xiling Country and provide women with opportunities to enter the government. You are trying to stop them. Don't you look down on and be prejudiced against women? Or maybe you don't have any confidence in the women in your own family or those of your relatives and friends."
General Ye frowned even more tightly, "Prince Ning, you..."
Song Yunchu interrupted him again, his eyes cold, "If General Ye is really prejudiced, he might as well remain silent and watch the selection meeting go on. If no woman wins the championship, it won't be too late to make sarcastic remarks later."
General Ye's eyes met hers, and his gaze was equally sharp. He wanted to refute, but couldn't find the right words for a moment.
In the end, he was the first to retract his gaze and looked up at Jun Li Luo sitting on the dragon throne.
Jun Li Luo's face remained calm, he just looked at him quietly.
General Ye did not dare to look him in the eye and could only lower his eyes and maintain a respectful attitude.
Song Yunchu retorted to him fiercely, but His Majesty did not stop him at all. This situation undoubtedly reminded everyone that the conference to select talents was imperative and could not be dissuaded.
Seeing that General Ye and others had fallen silent, the other ministers no longer raised any objections.
"Since all the ministers agree with my decision, the Talent Selection Conference will be held on the first day of next month. The preliminary and re-selection will be handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War, and the talents who enter the final selection will be voted by the five examiners."
"Since we are going to emulate Xiling, we naturally have to let the Xiling envoys watch. I have invited the princess of Xiling to be one of the examiners. Mr. Song, Mr. Ye, and Mr. Chen, I also order the three of you to be examiners for the selection meeting. You must choose carefully."
General Ye was a little surprised when Jun Liluo said this.
He thought that he had already displeased His Majesty by raising his objection just now, but unexpectedly His Majesty was willing to let his son participate.
Song Yunchu noticed his surprised look and raised the corners of his lips slightly.
He had just offended the emperor, and now his eldest son was appointed as the examiner, which further demonstrated the emperor's generosity and benevolence towards the Ye family. The Ye family must handle this task well to live up to the emperor's order.
Even if General Ye had something else to say, he couldn't say any more.
She and Jun Liluo had discussed the selection of examiners yesterday. Apart from her, no one from the Song Party could be involved. Scholar Chen was a veteran. Although he was a bit old-fashioned, his style was decent and he had little friendship with her. Although Scholar Ye and General Ye were father and son, his temper was much better than his father's and he would not go against her.
As for the last examiner... I'm afraid it would surprise people if I told you about him.
"We will definitely live up to your Majesty's trust."
Ye Fengmian bowed to the person on the dragon throne, "Your Majesty said there are five examiners in total, so who is the other one?"
"Prime Minister Liu has been claiming to be ill for a long time." Jun Liluo said calmly, "He has been recuperating at home for such a long time, I don't know if his body has recovered. If his body allows, he will be included."
When everyone heard this, they all looked surprised.
Prime Minister Liu... Prime Minister Song and Prime Minister Liu were incompatible at the beginning, and Prime Minister Liu angered Your Majesty. Your Majesty, considering that he was a veteran, did not change his official title, and set up left and right prime ministers to save his face, but almost sidelined him. After that, he became bedridden, and Your Majesty ordered him to rest well at home. Now he actually remembered him.
Liu Xiang had not attended court for a long time, but he still held the title of Left Prime Minister and was still a highly respected figure in the eyes of all officials.
As an examiner, he naturally has the support of the people.
It’s just that Prince Ning and Prime Minister Liu haven’t seen each other for a long time. I wonder how they will feel when they see each other again.
Song Yunchu noticed the strange looks on the faces of the ministers, but his heart remained calm.
She had never really had any dealings with Prime Minister Liu. If she hadn't seen the list that Bai Zhu handed over yesterday, she would have almost forgotten about this person.
Liu Xiang’s granddaughter is the most outstanding one on the list and also the potential stock she has chosen.
As for whether Liu Xiang would vent his resentment to his granddaughter, it really didn't matter to her.
She hoped that the person she chose could successfully participate in the competition and help her achieve her wish of establishing a female official, that was all.
If he really doesn't know what's good for him, it won't be too late to deal with him later.
…
"Your Majesty's painting of the autumn sunset is truly gorgeous and beautiful."
In front of the imperial desk, Song Yunchu looked up at the painting hanging on the wall, "It's a pity that your Majesty, as the emperor, has no chance to participate in the selection meeting, otherwise you would have won the first place in the painting test."
Jun Li Luo listened to her praise, smiled silently, and then gestured to Manager Li and others.
The palace servants retreated quietly.
Jun Li Luo took out the drawing paper and dipped it in ink.
He did not put down his pen, but said to the person in front of him: "Yun Chu, come here."
Song Yunchu walked up to him and saw him handing over the pen. He took it subconsciously and said, "What do you want me to draw? My drawing is not as good as yours."
When it comes to painting, apart from Shangguan Qi, the future famous artist, she really can't find anyone who can compete with him.
Jun Liluo pulled her in front of him and held her hand that was holding the pen.
Song Yunchu understood what he meant, so he relaxed his wrist and let him guide him to start drawing on the paper.
This scene is so familiar... It's just like the love scenes played by the male and female protagonists in those costume dramas I've watched before.
Her hands moved as he did, and soon, a simple and elegant painting appeared on the paper.
Song Yunchu looked at the work in front of him and raised his eyebrows, "Clivia?"
"Like you." He gently placed his chin on her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "A gentleman with a noble demeanor."
"What kind of gentleman am I?" Song Yunchu laughed. "Am I not sharp-tongued, vindictive, and smiling with a dagger hidden in my heart?"
"That's for outsiders." Jun Li Luo put down the paintbrush and slowly inserted his slender fingers between her fingers.
"In my opinion, you are impeccable."
Feeling the warm breath on his neck, Song Yunchu's heart moved slightly and he dodged slightly.
"Okay, stop making trouble. This is the imperial study."
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