Sycophant!
An and Zhong cursed inwardly without prior agreement.
The two used to think Liu An was very eloquent, but now, they realized they had been blind.
This shameless sycophant is even more shameless than that eunuch Qi Yong.
"Your Majesty, there are many ways to lure out the person hiding in the shadows. There is no need to agree to such an outrageous request."
"Oh? What suggestions do you have, Zhong Qing?"
Upon hearing this, Zhong Ping secretly regretted his actions.
If he had a solution, he would have presented it to claim credit long ago; he wouldn't have waited so long.
"This old minister is incompetent and has no good solution. I just feel that this move will not draw out the person hiding in the shadows."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan not only doubted Zhong Ping's magnanimity but also began to question the intelligence of others.
"Since Zhong Qing has no better solution, let's use this matter as an opportunity to make arrangements."
After saying that, he waved his hand, signaling the three of them to leave.
Grand Secretary An tried to stop him, but in the end, he gritted his teeth, turned around, and left.
He really didn't want this to happen, but he didn't want to offend Ji Xuan and Jiang Nuan directly either.
He couldn't afford to offend either of these two people.
“The Huang family is truly blessed,” Qi Yong thought bitterly. “The Emperor not only protects them but also treats them with such high regard.”
A woman can be granted a title, but he, a eunuch, can never be seen in public.
Although I was truly willing, I still felt uneasy.
It's true what they say, comparisons are the thief of joy!
"It was just a lucky coincidence that the opportunity came along; otherwise, even if the Three Elders had kept pestering us for a long time, it might not have been approved."
"That's because they're too stupid. They don't understand the master's good intentions and only know how to obstruct him for their own selfish reasons," Qi Yong said with a disdainful smirk. "His Majesty is the Son of Heaven. How could he be as shallow as them!"
“You understand me best,” Ji Xuan said with a smile. “Although this matter is shocking, it is entirely beneficial. It will greatly benefit both the Great Zhou and the people. Raising the status of women will be more conducive to population growth, and in the future, more people will be able to realize my ambitions.”
As for those hidden thoughts, Ji Xuan scoffed at them.
If someone can't even tolerate a woman, it shows how narrow-minded and short-sighted they are.
The Great Zhou Dynasty is severely lacking in manpower, especially capable people. He doesn't mind whether someone is a man or a woman, as long as they are capable.
People of insight deserve respect, regardless of gender.
"This servant also thinks it's a good thing. Putting aside the distant future, if a kind-hearted person like Madam Jiang becomes a female marquis, she will surely be able to help some women. Grand Secretary An and Grand Secretary Zhong are both well-read people, yet they can't even see this clearly. They are too stupid."
You don't need to do anything; just this title is the best protection.
On the surface, this was nothing more than an absurd affair, with the Lady Protector of the Nation having the wild idea of letting her mother inherit the title.
Essentially, it is not only an affirmation of women's status, but also an acknowledgment of their inheritance rights.
With this example in mind, Qi Yong felt that in a few years, families with only daughters would no longer have to worry about their assets being sold off cheaply to outsiders, and the practice of taking in sons-in-law would become increasingly prevalent.
Qi Yong was actually looking forward to it.
Although he was just a eunuch with no ties, he was still happy to see the Great Zhou Dynasty getting better and better.
“It’s not that they can’t see through it,” Ji Xuan shook her head, “it’s that they see through it all too well.”
It is precisely because they know how much they will lose that they fight back so desperately; in truth, it is nothing more than selfishness at play.
Everyone has selfish desires, which is normal and understandable, but Ji Xuan was not very comfortable with it.
These most trusted ministers of the Great Zhou Dynasty claimed to be devoted to the Great Zhou, but they always put their own interests first.
“They’re still not insightful enough,” Qi Yong couldn’t help but sigh. “They only see through fame and fortune, but they don’t see through true feelings.”
The reason he was so vehemently opposed to it is that he didn't care about the women in his family; he only treated them as tools.
“That’s true,” Ji Xuan said after a moment of stunned silence, “I am no different.”
“Your Majesty is different from them,” Qi Yong disagreed. “You have the world in your heart, not any one person. They are the opposite; they put the world after themselves.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan raised the corners of her mouth, "They really can't compare to you!"
His painstaking planning was not in vain.
If the three Grand Secretaries can yield to Madam Jiang today, they will yield to Qi Yong tomorrow.
Qi Yong's abilities are no less than anyone else's, and he has done just as much as any other minister, yet he has always been despised by civil officials, which is unfair.
One day, he will make Qi Yong a marquis and prime minister, admired by millions.
Fortunately, the three Grand Secretaries were unaware of Ji Xuan's thoughts, otherwise they would have been furious.
However, it's pretty much the same now.
The three returned to the government office, and the atmosphere was extremely lively, like fire.
A moment later, Zhong Ping pointed at Liu An and cursed, "You scoundrel, you're not fit to be a human being!"
I've never seen such a despicable person!
Knowing full well that it did him no good, he continued to fuel the flames and aid the wicked, flattering his superiors with sweet words and flattery, making him even more despicable than Qi Yong, a eunuch.
"If a person has no teeth, why should they live?"
"You insulted me?" Zhong Ping was a little incredulous.
Normally, Liu An is the most mild-mannered and would never retaliate like this.
"Didn't you insult me first?"
"You deserve to be scolded!"
Upon hearing this, Liu An snorted coldly, "You deserve to be scolded even more than I do!"
"Alright," Elder An said, having watched the show for a while. "We're all colleagues, there's no need to be so tense. Besides, verbal disputes are just women's business."
An Qingyun had grievances against both Liu An and Zhong Ping, and he would never let go of any opportunity to hurl insults at them.
In one sentence, both of them were insulted.
This successfully made the two men's faces darken, but no one dared to retaliate with insults.
Seeing this, Grand Secretary An nodded in satisfaction.
Since returning to Beijing, I have encountered countless unpleasant things, but fortunately, my authority has not disappeared.
"Liu An, shouldn't you explain what happened today?"
"What does Chief Assistant An want me to explain?"
This attitude instantly ignited Zhong Ping's anger. "Liu An, did you forget your head at home today? You agreed to such an absurd thing from the Marquis, are you afraid that the tigress at home isn't arrogant enough?"
"Why can't we agree?" Liu An snorted coldly. "Putting aside certain unspeakable thoughts, there's no harm in it."
"How can there be no downsides? How can one govern the world if one cannot even sweep one's own house? If everyone were as restless as that mother and daughter, who could be at ease in the inner quarters?"
"How dare you say such things to the Lady Protector of the Nation?" Liu An said disdainfully. "Enjoying all the benefits of the Immortal Manor while slandering the Lady Protector of the Nation, you are a disgrace to the title of a disciple of a sage, utterly shameless!"
Upon hearing this, Zhong Ping's face flushed red. "One thing at a time, they cannot be confused. I greatly admire the Lady Protector of the Nation, but in this matter, she really shouldn't have acted so willfully and recklessly."
Liu An repeated his words, "If you're so capable, say it in front of the Lady Protector of the Nation."
He was certain that Zhong Ping wouldn't dare.
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