Zhao Ying said calmly, "A hen crowing at dawn? As long as we are for the Great Chu, eradicating traitors and spreading our might abroad, what difference does it make between men and women? Can women not distinguish between good and evil? Can women not love their country and their people? The ministers boast of their vast knowledge and talent, but are they so narrow-minded that they cannot tolerate a woman's patriotic and people-oriented heart?"
The ministers were left speechless by Zhao Ying's questioning. Jiang Yuqi, the newly crowned third place scholar, who was unwilling to give up, said, "The princess is wrong. Loving the people has nothing to do with gender. However, since ancient times, yin and yang have been opposites, with men farming and women weaving, each with their own division of labor. If yin is stronger than yang, wouldn't that go against the principles of heaven and earth?"
After saying this, he fiercely shook the sleeves of his official robe.
No way, no way, you don’t think you are handsome like this, do you?
Zhao Ying rolled her eyes silently in her heart. This year's third place winner was not good-looking.
"You only understand the harmony of yin and yang, but you don't know that the strong survive in the struggle for survival! If the yang is strong enough, why worry about the yin being superior? Instead of worrying about the yin being strong and the yang being weak, why not improve yourself?"
"Princess, you are making excuses!" Jiang Yuqi broke down.
Taifu Yang sneered, "Princess Chengqian is really sharp-tongued. I didn't notice it before!"
"Taifu Yang's heart and eyes are all devoted to his foolish filial piety towards his mother and his harsh treatment of his wife and children. How could he have eyes for anything else?"
"Princess, just say what you want to say. Why are you attacking me personally?"
Zhao Ying's blunt revelation of her secrets broke down Master Yang's defenses. He glared at Zhao Ying, so angry that his vision went dark, but he didn't dare point his finger at her. He could only timidly move his knees and kneel away from Zhao Ying.
Then he gasped for breath.
"I am only speaking the truth. Why is the Grand Tutor so angry? Since you want to discuss my own virtue, then I will discuss the virtue of Grand Tutor Yang."
"A man who can't provide for his family, respect and treat his wife well, and raise his children and educate their descendants, as the ancients said, 'If you can't clean your own house, how can you clean the world? If your own house is not peaceful, how can you keep the world at peace?' If I am not worthy of governing, then is Grand Tutor Yang worthy?"
"If the Great Chu were filled with officials and rulers like these, who were foolishly filial and harshly treated their wives and children, wouldn't the world, and even future generations, think that serving in the Great Chu was unnecessary, that character was a virtue, and that it was a dynasty without rules and morality?"
"Princess, you!" Taifu Yang was stunned. He wanted to refute but couldn't keep up with Zhao Ying's speed. He suddenly looked at Emperor Jianxi, wanting to ask for help, but Emperor Jianxi seemed sleepy, his eyelids drooping and his eyes blank.
"Princess, why are you so clingy..."
Zhao Ying didn't even give him a chance to speak. "My Lords, you serve in the same court as someone like Grand Tutor Yang. Aren't you afraid that he will bring down your reputation?"
The whole place was silent until Shangguan Shu burst into laughter. "Oh, of course I don't want to!"
The ministers behind Shangguan Shu also said, "I don't want to do that either!"
"I... don't want to do it either!" said a minister behind Prime Minister Yin in a stern voice.
After he finished speaking, Prime Minister Yin narrowed his eyes and glanced at him.
The minister pursed his lips. He was a lone minister loyal to Emperor Jianxi. He was not joining forces with them to attack Princess Chengqian. He would only side with whoever was right!
Before, he thought that Prime Minister Yin and Grand Tutor Yang were right, and now he thinks that what Princess Cheng Qian said also makes sense!
Soon after, many other officials responded. They had long been dissatisfied with Yang Taifu's behavior, but filial piety was more important than anything else. His filial piety to his mother overrode all his flaws.
Yang Taifu looked at the scene in astonishment, his heart beating like a drum. This, this, this...
More and more people responded, and finally, there was no one left behind Master Yang.
Upon seeing this, Master Yang covered his chest with his hands, his vision went dark, and he almost fainted.
The moment he fell, he supported himself on the ground with his arms and managed to kneel straight up.
Then he exchanged glances with Prime Minister Yin, whose face was ashen, and Prime Minister Yin turned his eyes away silently.
In this situation, he can only... protect himself.
He just had a foreigner in his family, and he could go back and kill him and everything would be fine. But Taifu Yang was in big trouble, and he might even be dismissed from office!
Oh my... This Princess Cheng Qian is not simple. He and Taifu Yang were originally working together to deal with her, but she ended up turning the tables on them.
No wonder after knowing this, Crown Prince Yuan stopped him, saying that if they went there rashly, they would only suffer a setback and there would be no chance of success. She was not a woman they could just gang up on and suppress!
Prime Minister Yin felt a little regretful. In fact, what did the hen crowing at dawn have to do with him? He was just... afraid that with the precedent of Princess Cheng Qian, all women would follow her as an example, and then it would be difficult to control them.
Prime Minister Yin secretly glanced at Emperor Jianxi, who was frowning and drinking a sip of tea, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.
Princess Chengqian is the emperor's most beloved daughter. The order to mobilize troops to investigate the case was issued by the emperor himself. Could it be that the emperor has other intentions?
Beside him, Taifu Yang cried, "Your Majesty, I feel wronged! Please, Your Majesty, help me!"
Zhao Ying pressed on. "Since Taifu Yang is so filial, he should have done everything himself. How can you be so great as to let Madam Yang take care of your mother? How can you be so manly as to spend your wife's dowry to support the whole family? I think it's Madam Yang who should be crying out for justice. In her previous life, she was a murderer and a plunderer, and now she's been married to a foolish, filial, and hypocritical man!"
"Princess Chengqian, please don't go too far!"
"Master Yang, Master Yang! Oh no! Master Yang has fainted!"
"Call the doctor!"
"Pinch the Ren Zhong!"
The Golden Palace was suddenly in chaos, with people falling to the ground and horses stumbling. Even so, none of the civil and military officials dared to stand up and had to move on their knees.
Zhao Ying was pushed into a corner and was embraced by Shangguan Shu. She said innocently in a daze, "Did you faint? I haven't finished scolding you yet..."
Shangguan Shu put his arms around Zhao Ying's shoulders and chuckled helplessly when he heard that.
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