Chapter 262 Recruiting Female Officials
Inside the main hall of Lihe Palace, the fragrance of styrax was elegant, but it could not dispel the suddenly tense atmosphere.
The gazes of the concubines, whether open or hidden, were all focused on Consort Wan and Narcissus.
Consort Wan's remarks caused a slight ripple.
Although some concubines lowered their eyes and remained silent, their subtle changes in posture or the unconscious tightening of their handkerchiefs revealed their inner thoughts.
Yes, Her Majesty the Empress's first imperial decree was rather biased.
If everyone follows this rule in the future, wouldn't this palace rule become a joke?
Facing the silent doubts of the concubines below the jade steps, Shui Xian sat upright on her crimson phoenix throne, the faint smile on her lips unchanged, but rather deepened slightly.
She did not immediately reprimand Consort Wan, nor did she rush to defend herself. Instead, her gaze calmly swept over the crowd before finally settling on Consort Wan's face, which was trying hard to maintain an expression of concern for the country and its people.
"Consort Wan...you're so kind."
When Narcissus spoke, her voice was clear and calm, without a trace of anger.
"I am very pleased that you can think this far and never forget the palace rules and ancestral regulations."
Her words were so calm that they made Consort Wan's heart tighten and she felt a vague unease.
Shui Xian stopped looking at her and instead nodded slightly to Ting Lu, who was standing to the side.
Hearing Lu understand, he bowed and stepped back, solemnly taking a scroll tied with a bright yellow ribbon from a young palace maid behind him.
The scroll's color and format were recognized by all the concubines present...
That's an imperial edict!
In an instant, everyone's heart skipped a beat!
Even Consort De, who had been keeping her eyes down and silent, suddenly raised her eyes.
Did the Empress request the imperial edict at the morning assembly?
What does this mean?
Amidst the surprised and uncertain gazes of the crowd, Shui Xian did not rise, but only gestured to Ting Lu.
Tinglu stepped forward, faced the assembled concubines, slowly unfurled the imperial edict, and read it aloud:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The governance of the palace is a model for the entire realm. The old system of limiting palace women to a certain age before leaving the palace, while established, is insufficient to fully utilize talent and demonstrate the court's wisdom. Now, after careful consideration, I hereby issue a special decree to reform the official system of the inner palace:..."
Tinglu, carrying a long, bright yellow scroll, read in a low voice: "First, abolish the old rule that palace maids must leave the palace when they reach the age of 18. Those who voluntarily stay in the palace and possess both talent and virtue can be retained to serve in palace positions after examination."
"Secondly, a system of female officials was established, with ranks, salaries, and clear responsibilities, and a path for promotion was opened. The selection of female officials was not limited to palace women, but also included women from respectable families in the common people. Regardless of whether they were commoners or of low social status, as long as they were literate, skilled in arts and crafts, and of good character, they could be selected and appointed according to their abilities."
"Thirdly, the specific procedures for selection and promotion shall be drafted and finalized by the Empress in conjunction with the Imperial Household Department, and then promulgated to the six palaces. So be it—"
The imperial edict shocked everyone present!
Abolish the old rule that palace maids must leave the palace! Establish a system of female officials! Open to the general public, even... even women of low social status can take the exam?!
This is no longer just about deciding whether to keep or discard a silver bead; it's about completely overhauling the centuries-old imperial harem system!
The hall was deathly silent.
Those concubines who had been dissatisfied with Consort Wan's words were now dumbfounded.
The color drained from Consort Wan's face little by little as she listened to Lu's clear recitation.
Her carefully prepared attack appeared so laughable and so vulnerable in the face of this imperial edict representing supreme imperial power!
Looking at Consort Wan's pale face, Shui Xian recalled last night, a meaningful glint flashing in her eyes.
She was prepared.
Yesterday evening, inside the Reiwa Palace.
"...Your Majesty! Is this true? Your Majesty, I...on behalf of Yinzhu, thank you for your great kindness!"
Upon hearing that Emperor Zhaoheng had granted Yinzhu permission to enter the palace as a female official, Shuixian happily nestled in Emperor Zhaoheng's arms and offered him a kiss.
Emperor Zhaoheng held her tightly, enjoying her initiative and naivety. He felt that it would be worth breaking the rule ten more times for her moment of joy.
Narcissus tilted her head back in his arms, the joy in her eyes fading.
"Your Majesty's grace has relieved me of the pain of separation from Yinzhu. However... I have thought of something because of this, and I wonder if it is feasible. I would like to tell Your Majesty."
"Oh? Xian'er, please speak freely."
Emperor Zhaoheng was in a very good mood at the moment, playing with a strand of her hair as he twirled it between his fingers.
"I think there must be quite a few palace maids like Yinzhu who are loyal and capable, but have to leave the palace because they have reached the age of retirement."
Narcissus pondered, "After they left the palace, they either got married or returned home, and their talents were buried. It's such a pity."
Her voice was soft, yet clear and articulate.
"Although many affairs in the palace are handled by eunuchs and nannies, some delicate matters require specialists in documents, accounting, managing the storeroom, medicine, embroidery, etc. Women are more meticulous and may be more suitable to handle them."
Emperor Zhaoheng paused slightly in his hand, which was playing with her hair, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes: "What does Xian'er mean?"
"In my humble opinion, why not take this opportunity to make some changes?"
Narcissus carefully considered her words, "For example, could we establish a system of female officials within the palace, modeled after the system of female officials in previous dynasties? We could define ranks, salaries, responsibilities, and promotion paths. Palace maids who are willing to stay and possess talent could be retained through examinations and granted the position of female official. Even..."
She paused, observed Emperor Zhaoheng's expression, and seeing that he was not displeased, continued: "We can even open up some quotas to allow women from respectable families who are literate or have a special skill to enter the palace as female officials after passing the examination."
"In this way, firstly, the talent pool in the palace will not be depleted due to the passage of time, thus optimizing the management of the inner palace; secondly, the emperor's broad opening of avenues for talent also serves as a demonstration to the world of the court's enlightenment and the emperor's virtue. Well-ordered management of the inner palace is also the foundation for the stability of the previous dynasty."
She did not mention the praise from the common people that Manager Zhou had conveyed about her becoming empress despite being of lowly birth.
If she were to tell Emperor Zhaoheng that she was gathering information from the common people, it would be suspected of interfering in politics.
She positioned this action entirely as a way to share the emperor's burdens.
After listening, Emperor Zhaoheng did not immediately express his opinion. He loosened Shui Xian's hair, stood up and paced around the hall, looking thoughtful.
Changing ancestral rules is no small matter.
In the imperial court, those old scholars will probably start quoting classics and arguing endlessly.
Narcissus didn't urge him, but just watched him quietly, waiting for his decision.
She understood this man; he was not a complacent ruler, but ambitious and aspiring.
As expected, Emperor Zhaoheng stopped and turned to look at Narcissus.
"What you said reminds me of your previous free medical clinics, which were widely praised by the people."
"If female officials are appointed this time to recruit talented people, it will not only be a matter of the inner palace, but also to show the world that I appoint people based on their talents. Even women can serve the country as long as they have real talents and knowledge. Although it is only an official position in the inner palace, its meaning is far-reaching."
The more he spoke, the clearer and more expansive his thoughts became.
"Moreover, in this way, those powerful families will have another way to send their daughters into the palace to make a career, instead of having to fight tooth and nail to get them into the ranks of concubines. This will reduce the strife in the harem and give me some peace and quiet."
His last words were tinged with a hint of teasing, as he gazed intently at the narcissus, his eyes filled with admiration and wonder.
His fairy always brought him surprises; her vision far surpassed the petty jealousies and rivalries of ordinary women in the harem.
Narcissus met his gaze and smiled sweetly: "Your Majesty is wise and thoughtful, far beyond my ability. I only have some shallow opinions, but Your Majesty can draw inferences from one instance to another and understand the profound advantages and disadvantages involved."
Emperor Zhaoheng was thoroughly pleased by her perfectly timed flattery and laughed heartily, "Very well! This matter will be handled as Xian'er suggests! Tomorrow I will issue an edict to reform the official system of the harem and establish a system of female officials! The specific regulations will be drafted by you, Xian'er, and handled in conjunction with the Imperial Household Department."
He walked to the desk and immediately ordered someone to lay out paper and grind ink, as if he wanted to draft an imperial edict at once.
Shui Xian watched quietly from the side, her heart also stirred with some emotions. Her actions were partly for Yin Zhu's sake, but also for the sake of making it easier to settle her trusted confidants like Ting Lu in the future.
But at a deeper level, isn't it also about opening up another path for the women in the deep palace?
My thoughts drifted away from yesterday and returned to the utterly quiet main hall of the Lihe Palace.
After Tinglu finished reading the imperial edict, he respectfully rolled it up and returned it to Shuixian with both hands.
Shui Xian did not go to take it, but looked calmly at Wan Fei below, whose face was not good, with a faint smile on her lips.
"Consort Wan, now that His Majesty's decree has been issued and the new regulations have been established, the selection, assessment, and promotion of female officials in the palace will all be conducted in accordance with these regulations, ensuring transparency and fairness. I presume... Consort Wan no longer has such concerns?"
Consort Wan felt her face burning. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her throat so dry that she couldn't make a sound.
Narcissus was telling her, and everyone else, in the most direct way...
She could act without favoritism, because the emperor would turn her private affairs into national policy!
Try to talk to her about ancestral rules? She then joined the emperor in establishing new regulations!
"Your Majesty... Your concubine..."
Consort Wan finally regained her voice. Although she hated Shui Xian to the core, she could only hastily kneel down before the imperial edict.
"Your Majesty, I am ignorant and did not know that Your Majesty and the Empress had already made a divine decision! I spoke presumptuously, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
She bent down, her forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles, not daring to look at the person sitting there again.
Looking at her disheveled appearance, Narcissus felt little pleasure, only a sense of calm that had settled down.
Her gaze slowly swept over the other silent concubines in the hall. Consort De had already lowered her eyes again, as if she were in meditation, and the others did not even dare to breathe loudly.
"Consort Wan was only concerned about the palace affairs, what crime has she committed?"
Narcissus said casually, “Get up... From now on, all the sisters in the palace should work together to abide by the new system and manage the affairs of the harem in an orderly manner, so as not to fail the Emperor’s trust and my expectations.”
"Yes... Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered."
Consort Wan responded in a trembling voice. With the help of a palace maid, she managed to stand up. When she returned to her seat, her legs were still weak, and she almost tripped.
Narcissus stopped looking at her and turned to face the crowd.
"Regarding the selection of female officials, I will work with the Imperial Household Department to draft detailed rules as soon as possible and inform the six palaces and even the common people. Those with talent and virtue are welcome to give it a try. That's all for today."
"Your Majesty, we shall take our leave."
The concubines responded in unison, their voices more respectful than usual, even tinged with a hint of fear.
They bowed in turn and quietly withdrew from the main hall of Lihe Palace.
After this incident, everyone finally understood that this new empress not only enjoyed unparalleled imperial favor, but her scheming and vision were also beyond their comprehension.
Attempting to challenge her authority with old rules and ancestral systems is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
From this day forward, the imperial harem has truly undergone a complete transformation.
The hall fell silent again.
Tinglu gently placed the bright yellow imperial edict on the sandalwood table beside Shuixian.
Narcissus reached out, her fingertips brushing against the cool silk surface, her gaze passing through the palace doors to the azure sky outside.
She knew this was just the beginning.
The implementation of the female official system will inevitably touch many existing interests and cause undercurrents both inside and outside the court.
But so what?
Having ascended to this supreme position, she will not turn back.
She is about to embark on a path that is her own...
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