Chapter 856 A Dream of Youth 388
In the end, several elders couldn't stand it anymore and pulled away their most unruly nephews and nieces, which gradually calmed things down. What was there to argue about? No matter how loudly they argued, it wasn't their place to make the decision.
One of the imperial censors, who had drunk several bowls of iced drinks to cool down, rubbed his full stomach and silently thought about how to impeach Xie Ning at the next grand court assembly.
That's outrageous! Can some things really be said so openly?
Xie Ning ignored them and submitted a memorial the next day, proposing to broaden the career paths for women in official positions. Women who passed the imperial examinations would no longer be limited to serving as female officials in government offices, but could actually enter the imperial court like her and Yuan Can. However, this proposal was met with strong opposition.
Xia Xiang gave her his opinion on Xie Ning's new laws. Seeing Xie Ning's calm expression, he knew that her outburst in court just now was just an act.
"Is Changning going to the Censorate?"
Xie Ning turned his gaze away from the folded document. "Thank you for your kindness, Prime Minister Xia. I must remain in this position, otherwise the new laws will be easily overturned."
Just like back then, they severed and distorted the new method of the Stone Image, so Xie Ning had to guard this loophole.
Xia Xiang remained silent.
Xie Ning put the document away. She had to go to her shift later and didn't have time to focus on reading Xia Xiang's opinion letter. She could only skim through it and knew that Xia Xiang really had this idea. So Xie Ning pointed to someone.
Zhao Huilan is Xia Xiang's granddaughter.
She has been in Yangzhou for three or four years and has made many achievements, but she has no way to get promoted.
Xia Xiang was naturally an honest and upright man. Even though Zhao Chengran was his son-in-law, he did not give him much preferential treatment. On the contrary, he was even stricter with him.
Not to mention that he only had his eye on Xie Ning, since the two were officials in the same court. He knew Xie Ning's talent, knowledge, and character, but he didn't know anything about his granddaughter Zhao Huilan, only that she was talented.
Although Xia Xiang put the matter aside after Xie Ning refused, he still couldn't help but call someone to summon Zhao Chengran after returning home and ask him about Zhao Huilan.
Zhao Chengran was unaware that Zhao Huilan had rarely contacted her family since she went to Yangzhou, only sending festival gifts back through intermediaries during holidays. Zhao Chengran had no choice but to have his servants send her extra money.
Even Xia Xiang couldn't help but glare at Zhao Chengran, feeling that Zhao Chengran hadn't been a good father. He didn't believe that children were solely the wife's responsibility; as a father, he should also bear the responsibility of educating and caring for his children.
Zhao Chengran knew he had failed in his duty and dared not speak.
Then Xia Xiang asked about the other children in the Zhao family. Zhao Chengran was vague about the situation, since it was all Zhao's mother who took care of them, and he only occasionally cared about his sons' studies.
Zhao Chengran left the Prime Minister's residence after being scolded by his father-in-law. He felt more concerned about the children in his family, but unexpectedly learned that a concubine's daughter had entered the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Zhao Chengran, who was about to reprimand him, suddenly remembered that he knew about the matter, but he was too busy at that time and forgot about it.
Looking at the somewhat deserted courtyard, Zhao Chengran said somewhat awkwardly, "In that case, there will definitely be more for daily use. I will ask my wife to allocate more silver to you."
"Thank you, sir."
Just as Zhao Chengran left the Xia residence, someone knocked on the door.
The Minister of Rites, dressed in ordinary clothes, secretly came to see Prime Minister Xia. He was quite frustrated. It was too difficult for him. As the Minister of Rites, he was also in charge of the emperor's selection of concubines and advised the emperor to produce offspring for the royal family.
However, he found it difficult to speak to the Empress. Fortunately, it was during a period of national mourning, and the Emperor had instructed him to observe the mourning period, so he did not mention the matter of filling the harem.
But this matter cannot be avoided no matter how hard one tries. Even if the emperor himself does not mention it or is unwilling to, the ministers cannot help but bring it up.
Not to mention that some people are already secretly working to send their own husbands into the harem.
Speaking of this, the Minister of Rites was quite impressed. He hadn't expected anyone to be so open-minded. But then he thought, those so-called open-minded people might have some ulterior motives.
It's a bit shocking to my values.
The reason for coming to see Prime Minister Xia this time was to ask him to offer advice together; he had already gone to see Prime Minister Yu before.
"What did Lord Yu say?"
The Minister of Rites was somewhat embarrassed; he was still a little confused and said dryly, "Prime Minister Yu said that following the old precedent would suffice."
Emperors had three thousand concubines, and empresses... were no exception.
Clang—
The teacup in Xia Xiang's hand fell straight down, shattering into pieces, just as his traditional values and beliefs were shattered into dust.
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