Chapter 233 Noble Person
After finishing the last sip of tea, the woman in purple gently placed the teacup on the table and whispered to the person beside her, "Let's go."
This person was Xue Nanzhi.
After the matter in Weizhou was settled, the eldest princess allowed her to return to Lingnan.
Upon her return, she entrusted her family's vast caravan and businesses to her shrewd and capable younger sister, while she herself took most of the family fortune and went to the capital alone to take up her new post.
Before leaving, she also donated more than ten orphanages in various prefectures and cities in Lingnan in the name of the eldest princess, specifically to take in orphaned girls and abandoned babies who had no one to rely on, and to give them a way to survive.
Having experienced the turmoil in Weizhou, Xue Nanzhi had long since realized that gold, silver, and money were ultimately just external things.
This world is inherently harsh on women, who are born into hardship and should therefore support and help each other achieve success.
Only by sticking together and supporting each other can women truly earn a foothold in this world that has long been dominated by men.
Therefore, she admired the eldest princess even more: she admired her courage to break with ancestral rules and her foresight in fighting for opportunities for women all over the world.
Upon arriving in Beijing, Xue Nanzhi vowed to make a significant contribution.
Her greatest skill was business planning; making money for the princess was making money for the country.
Just like in Weizhou, he made money from wealthy clans and barbarian countries, and this money would eventually fall back on the poor.
She knew better than anyone that only when the eldest princess ascended the throne would the lives of women and people in the world truly improve.
That's why she couldn't help but speak up when she heard the argument in the teahouse.
In her view, those arguments that get caught up in the "men and women" issue are ultimately no match for the practical reality of ordinary people being able to eat their fill and stay warm.
...
Just as she stood up, the female student who had just been arguing with the male students stepped forward and blocked her way.
"Please wait, madam!" Her voice was clear and bright, tinged with excitement. "What you just said was like a wake-up call, clearing up many of my doubts. I truly admire you. May I ask your honorable name? If I have the opportunity in the future, I hope to learn more from you."
Xue Nanzhi was slightly taken aback, then replied with a smile, "My surname is Xue. You flatter me, young lady. I was very impressed by your eloquence and composure when you quoted from classical texts. May I ask how you are addressed?"
The girl in green showed delight on her face and quickly bowed, saying, "My surname is Tu, and my given name is Qing. Madam Xue, you can call me Tu Qing. It is truly an honor to meet you today."
“Miss Tu Qing.” Xue Nanzhi nodded in response, his gaze sweeping over the slightly worn book box containing scrolls beside her, and asked softly, “You seem to have a scholarly air about you, and with this attire, are you planning to go to the capital to participate in this year’s Women’s Imperial Examination?”
Tu Qing nodded vigorously. “Exactly. The imperial examination is imminent. This is the first time the court has opened the door to women for the examination. The opportunity is too rare. Although I am not very knowledgeable and dare not claim to be talented, I am not willing to miss this hard-won opportunity. I just want to try my best to fight for a chance for myself and for women all over the world.”
Xue Nanzhi looked at the light in her eyes, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
“You have ambition. The path to the imperial examination is not easy. Just focus on taking the exam. If you encounter any difficulties, you may come to the Xue residence in the west alley of Changning Street to find me. Perhaps I can help you in some small way.”
Tu Qing was both surprised and delighted upon hearing this, and quickly bowed to express his gratitude.
"Thank you for your kindness, Madam Xue! I will remember it. If I am able to achieve my goal in the future, I will never forget your guidance today."
"I have important matters to attend to today and it is inconvenient to discuss them in detail," Xue Nanzhi said gently. "If you have time, you are welcome to visit the Xue residence."
Tu Qing quickly replied, "Yes, Madam Xue, please take care!"
Xue Nanzhi smiled slightly, said no more, glanced at the maid Xiaochun, and turned to walk out.
Tu Qing stared in the direction she had left, her gaze lingering for a long time.
This Lady Xue possessed an extraordinary bearing, and her speech was calm and insightful, clearly indicating that she was no ordinary person.
Her father owned a bookstore, and she herself was intelligent from a young age, learning to read and write alongside the boys.
Of all those men, none could match her in learning.
In this world, even if a woman is highly literate and erudite, it is ultimately "useless merit".
Her father often lamented that she was "born into the wrong family as a girl," believing that if she were a boy, she would surely have achieved academic success and brought glory to the family.
No one expected that the eldest princess would actually dare to break with a thousand-year-old tradition and establish a special examination for women, giving women like her a real way out.
She was full of ambition as she went to the capital to take the imperial examination. She was determined to win first place in this once-in-a-millennium women's special examination and shut up those who had mocked that "women's education is useless".
But she wasn't the kind of bookworm who only knew how to study and was ignorant of human relationships.
Having been immersed in her father's library for many years, she had long understood the rules of the world: talent alone is not enough; one also needs a guide and a mentor.
So when I saw that Madam Xue spoke eloquently and had a calm demeanor, I couldn't wait to go up and make her my friend.
With the imperial examinations approaching, getting to know a respected and influential person like Lady Xue in advance will only bring benefits, whether for future exam preparations or entering officialdom.
Xue Nanzhi got up and walked to the entrance of the teahouse. Just as she lifted the curtain, she bumped into two men coming from the opposite direction.
The man in the lead was slightly older, dressed in a gray, long-sleeved robe, and walked with a composed gait.
His entire being exuded a detached and indifferent air, possessing a rather otherworldly and ethereal demeanor.
The person beside him, though dressed in ordinary black cotton clothes, could not hide his extraordinary demeanor.
With sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and well-defined lips, he was a rare and unparalleled handsome man.
Xue Nanzhi stared blankly at them, and even after the two men had passed by her and entered the teahouse, her gaze still followed the black figure.
Seeing her young mistress in such a state, Xiaochun quickly asked in a low voice, "Miss, what are you looking at?"
Xue Nanzhi then looked away. "I wasn't looking at anything. Let's go."
After saying that, she walked towards the door, but the fleeting glimpse she had just seen still lingered in her mind.
Why does someone I've never met before seem so familiar?
...
These two people were Liu Jinzhang and Chen Yanqing.
Since losing his mask in the snow, Chen Yanqing has simply started showing his true face.
He had long since grown accustomed to the gazes of women on his journey.
He was deep in thought about important matters and hadn't noticed Xue Nanzhi at all.
The two passed each other by.
At this point, the topic of conversation in the teahouse had changed.
The crowd stopped arguing about the right and wrong of men and women holding power, and instead started talking about the news that had just come from the palace.
"Have you heard? His Highness the Crown Prince is choosing a husband!"
"Really? His Highness the Crown Prince is getting married right after he ascends the throne?"
"Of course! I heard that the Ministry of Rites has already begun screening from aristocratic families and sons of ministers. They must have impeccable family backgrounds, be of good character and appearance, and be worthy of His Highness the Crown Prince's status..."
Chen Yanqing, who had just sat down, happened to hear the phrase "choosing a husband to serve him," and the teacup in his hand trembled slightly.
He subconsciously looked up at Liu Jinzhang opposite him, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
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