Gu Yaoniang spoke softly, "Yu Erniang of Jinyulou was abused by her husband every day. I rescued her and that's how she came to work at Jinyulou."
Xie Danqiu raised her chin, the meaning clear—See, what did I tell you?
Gu Yaoniang sighed, "But she's not happy. She came to Jin Yu Lou and escaped her man's clutches, but she's always reflecting on herself, wondering if she was wrong, if she wasn't good enough for him to treat her like that."
Only after Jin Chuan dealt with the man did she finally feel at ease. Yet, she still felt a pang of sympathy for him.
I just don't understand, after all he did to her, how can she still be so unable to let go?
"You've gotten used to it, haven't you?" Princess Ruining sighed.
Xie Danqiu also fell silent.
After a long silence, she finally said, "Whether we are doing well or not seems to depend on luck. If our husbands' families are good people, we can live well; if our husbands' families are bad people, our lives are over."
Everyone tells us to adhere to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, teaching us how to be meek, weak, and dependent on men.
Why should I? It's not like I'm incapable! It's not like every man is smarter than me!
Gu Yaoniang and Princess Ruining laughed as they listened, only then realizing that the familiar Xie Danqiu had returned.
With her unrestrained passion, red dress and black hair, the splendor of Kyoto's Pearl is not something that can be easily erased by others.
Princess Ruining said, "That's why I want to open a girls' school! Ah Qiu! I want the teachers of Yuzhu Academy to not only teach them how to take the imperial examinations and how to make a living, but also to teach them the six arts and talents. Most importantly, I want to teach them that women can also support their families! If men can do it, so can we girls!"
I don't want them all to fight tooth and nail with the men to win, but they must know that they can't underestimate themselves!
"It's really good!"
"It's really good!"
Xie Danqiu and Gu Yaoniang spoke in unison, paused for a moment, then smiled at each other.
It's really good... Girls' school, it's really good.
The Great Learning teaches that the way of learning lies in manifesting one's bright virtue, in loving the people, and in abiding in perfect goodness. A similar principle applies to women's education. Only when women know that they are no less capable than men and that they do not need to depend on others can they truly achieve independence.
Only girls would think about how to prepare for a girl.
"Yaoyao, why don't you become the empress?"
Xie Danqiu suddenly blurted out a sentence.
Princess Ruining's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly tried to cover Xie Danqiu's mouth with her hand, but Xie Danqiu nimbly dodged it.
Gu Yaoniang's expression also changed.
Firstly, Xie Danqiu's words came as a surprise. Secondly, the change of imperial power and the succession to the throne can only be thought about and speculated about in one's heart. To discuss it openly would be extremely disrespectful.
She hurriedly stood up, opened the door, and saw Bizhu standing guard outside with her eyes closed and mind at ease. She then instructed Bizhu to guard the door carefully and not let anyone get close before returning to her room.
Princess Ruining said with a serious expression, "A Qiu! You're too bold."
Xie Danqiu didn't seem to mind: "There are no outsiders here."
Gu Yaoniang remained silent, not daring to interrupt.
"I think that with Zhao Yang's arrogant attitude, even if he doesn't have bad intentions, he wouldn't do anything good."
Moreover, the reason why the emperor is putting forward new policies with such difficulty is precisely because there are currently no women in the court. Now it's all a bunch of stinky men. If women could go out and take charge of the household, how would they control the women in their homes? Of course they wouldn't be happy about it.
But Yao Yao, you're different. You're a woman, so you can put yourself in other women's shoes and show them that women can also have the talent to govern a country.
You, on the other hand, are striving to implement new policies in the court; and I, if I could enter the court, could always be your yes-man; and you…”
Xie Danqiu turned to Gu Yaoniang: "Although I think it's a waste for someone with your talent to go into business, since you've made your decision, I won't say anything more. You'll be in charge of accumulating wealth! You'll be in charge of making money! The national treasury will be replenished by you. The three of us sisters can rely on each other, isn't that great!"
She spoke casually, which sounded unconventional, but upon closer examination, it made a lot of sense.
Indeed, implementing new policies will inevitably benefit some while harming others; it has always been a difficult task. It requires both the persistence of those in power and the support of those in lower positions.
And at the top of the clouds, whoever occupies the highest position will have more initiative.
The new policy now requires not only people to persist in its implementation, but also women to genuinely benefit from it, so that other women can see that the new policy is truly for the good of women and can truly be achieved.
Only in this way can it be implemented in the long term.
Seeing that Princess Ruining and Gu Yaoniang were both silent and deep in thought, Xie Danqiu exclaimed, "Oh dear, I was just saying it casually. Yaoyao, just let it go!"
But whether it was just a casual remark or a genuine expression of his deepest thoughts, everyone present had their own thoughts.
Princess Ruining tried to ease the tension: "Have you forgotten Ah Han?"
Xie Danqiu was stunned for a moment before laughing, "Haha, it's my fault, is it true that pregnancy makes you stupid for three years? It was my fault, it was us four sisters!"
Gu Yaoniang smiled too.
Although she didn't speak, she inwardly agreed with Xie Danqiu's words.
Perhaps only when a woman can stand on her own two feet can she have a say in her own marriage.
Some even choose not to marry.
I've always heard that men are more passionate and women are more devoted.
Matters between men and women are inherently consensual, so there's not much to say about them. But if a woman has other options besides marriage, will she still devote all her attention to a man and become unhappy because of it?
She still remembered her aunt, whom her mother had vaguely mentioned, that she had died young because of her unhappy marriage and the resulting grief.
If my aunt had been able to enter the court, travel, and do business, her world would have had so many possibilities, and she might not have died young.
Princess Ruining did not respond to Xie Danqiu's remarks to the court, but instead asked, "So now that you want a divorce, what do you plan to do?"
Gu Yaoniang then asked, "Do you need my help?"
Xie Danqiu, who had been full of vigor just moments before, couldn't help but frown again as she spoke: "Xuan'er is still being cared for in the old woman's house. She has always looked down on Xuan'er for being a daughter, but I cherish her like a treasure."
If I were to get a divorce, I would definitely try to take everything with me. But the Qin family would certainly not agree. I need to think about it some more.
I also need to think about my parents' side.
Princess Ruining squeezed Xie Danqiu's hand tightly and said, "Don't be foolish! Use your power when necessary! Hit them when you need to, scold them when you need to..."
After considering it for a moment, he added, "Just be mindful of the limits."
Gu Yaoniang nodded firmly: "If you need my help, just come to me anytime."
Xie Danqiu nodded, and the three of them clasped hands together. No words were needed; they silently remembered each other's friendship.
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