Chapter 172 This isn't the way back to the Princess's residence...
The teachers looked rather displeased. They invoked ancestral laws and principles, and Xiao Qiluo did the same, asking them in return: if the ancestors forbade anything, then why didn't they come back to life and condemn her for doing something that they considered rebellious?
The so-called ancestral principles and laws are nothing more than words in their mouths.
As the gong sounded, the debate came to an end.
Those who supported Xiao Qiluo naturally wrote the words "Princess" on a piece of paper.
Those who support the Master naturally use the name "Master" itself.
However, the final result was not as Xiao Qiluo had hoped. Although she won the debate against the teachers, in the end, the majority of people still supported the teachers.
Those officials also knew that Xiao Qiluo was superior in the debate, and that their own actions were indeed not aboveboard.
Stared at by Xiao Qiluo, he could only bite the bullet and say, "The princess's idea is good, but it has been like this for thousands of years, so why break the old rules?"
Xiao Qiluo had considered this possibility before.
It's impossible to change these people's minds with just a few words. Even the strange world she saw had taken a lot of effort to develop into what she saw.
What she wanted was an opportunity, not to be completely rejected from the start.
They know perfectly well why they oppose it.
She said directly, "Gentlemen, I haven't finished speaking yet."
Everyone looked at Xiao Qiluo, who took a deep breath and gestured for Xingzhi to bring out the homemade loudspeaker. After all, shouting directly would be too tiring for so many people's voices.
"Although those sitting on the platform today are the judges, I feel that it should not be solely my father and these officials who make the decisions. Some of them are stubborn and inflexible, knowing full well the truth yet still clinging to their own opinions. My girls' school was established for the women of the world. Just think about it, wouldn't you feel proud if your daughters could one day serve as officials in the court?"
Some people thought she made sense; after all, she was their own daughter, and if she could really become an official, they would definitely benefit from it.
Some people believe that a woman is just a woman, and once she gets married, she belongs to someone else's family. Even if she becomes an official, it has nothing to do with them.
Some people protested, “Princess, how could you know how difficult it is to support a family to send a scholar to school, and how much money it costs? If we support a son, at least we can enjoy some happiness, but what’s the use of supporting a daughter? Once she gets married, she has nothing left.”
Xiao Qiluo also knew this, as she had seen different learning environments from Master Jiu.
There, men and women can even attend classes together in the school, and no one talks about the strict separation of men and women. The teachers are both male and female.
Moreover, the teachers there not only teach students but also need to pass exams for certificates, and the certificates awarded to teachers vary depending on the student.
Xiao Qiluo's feelings came from that place.
Women can live for themselves and there are many things they can do, instead of simply sacrificing themselves.
She didn't think there was anything wrong with her ideas. Since she was going to make changes, she believed that any problems that arose should be addressed.
Some students below objected, saying, "I disagree too. What kind of thing is this, a women's imperial examination?"
“You bunch of cowards! You’re just afraid of losing to the girls and being embarrassed, yet you still have the nerve to call yourselves men. The girls haven’t even started learning yet, and you’re already this scared!” Xingzhi shouted from below.
The women studying in the school also changed their thinking, and they were loudly refuting those ideas that suppressed them.
Among them were women who were beaten half to death by their drunken husbands, and women who were casually married off as concubines to wealthy families by their parents in order to collect dowries for their sons.
It was the princess who helped them, bringing them to the girls' school, teaching them to read and write, teaching them skills for survival, and showing them that they should have their own way out.
Now these people want them to go back to their original lives.
They didn't want to be beaten or verbally abused by drunken men, nor did they want to be married off carelessly by their parents like commodities. Why should their fate be decided by a man's casual words?
A group of students who objected blushed and said, "Nonsense, we are not afraid of women."
Xiao Qiluo laughed and said, "I didn't mean to provoke you. It's just that you objected too quickly. It really seems like you're afraid that women will surpass you in their studies. You men have studied for so many years, but you're afraid of women who have never participated in the imperial examinations. What exactly are you afraid of?"
Some students were unconvinced, saying, "Who's afraid of those women? If our teacher can debate with a princess, we can also compete with those women. They're not as good as us, that's all."
"That's right, we're not afraid of those women at all. At worst, we'll have a competition and make them admit defeat and go home to take care of their children."
Xiao Qiluo then looked at the others, "What about you? Are you afraid that women are more capable than you, or do you really just not want women to participate in the imperial examinations?"
"We're not afraid."
"Exactly, at worst we can have a competition and show those women what we're capable of."
"That's right, let's have a match."
Those who had initially been watching the spectacle suddenly joined in the commotion, shouting, "Let's have a match! Let's have a match!"
Xiao Qiluo turned to the officials and teachers and smiled, “Gentlemen, it seems that the will of the people cannot be defied. In that case, let those women participate in the imperial examination and compete with those scholars.”
Even the emperor nodded, "In that case, let's have a competition."
Given the public opinion, the officials naturally couldn't object too much. They agreed, but still said, "Your Majesty, I believe that if those women lose, the princess's girls' school can no longer continue."
"I also believe this. If it is proven that women are inferior to men, then women in the future will no longer be allowed to participate in the imperial examinations, and this topic should never be brought up again."
Xiao Qiluo asked, "What if the woman wins?"
The group looked at each other, all feeling that it was impossible to win.
"I won't say anything about women winning preventing men from taking the imperial examinations, lest you all come up with a bunch of fallacies and heresies. But if a woman can make it onto the list, not only will women in girls' schools be able to participate in the imperial examinations, but women all over the country will be able to participate as well. Do any of you dare to accept my challenge, Xiao Qiluo?"
The emperor looked at his ministers and asked, "Are you all willing to agree?"
They had no choice but to agree, but these people were still very arrogant, thinking that the woman would definitely not pass the exam.
Therefore, the conditions were not very strict. They proposed that as long as a woman ranked first, Xiao Qiluo would win.
"That's fine. But the girls in my girls' school are all just beginning their education, so the students who can compete with them can only be boys who have just begun their education. I hope you all won't object to children who are studying at the same time participating in the competition?"
"Of course, we would never do anything to bully others."
"But Your Highness, who are the teachers for your girls' school?"
Xiao Qiluo sighed. She originally wanted to choose those teachers, but now that the bet was set, she was afraid that those teachers would not teach the children properly and would deliberately make the girls' school lose. So Xiao Qiluo had to find another way.
Don't worry, everything is prepared for you. I've arranged seven female tutors for you, whose knowledge is just as good as your nine tutors.
The system couldn't help but say from the side, "Of course they're different. Their knowledge is what I synchronized with them."
The female protagonist halo she bought for Xiao Qiluo had almost cost her all her points. Xiang Bei shamelessly asked the main system for credit and exchanged it for seven learned female tutors.
Once the mission is completed, the halo can be recovered. After deducting the deducted points, the remaining points are enough to repay the debt of points owed.
"I will find someone to teach the girls their lessons. Let us draw up a contract as proof, so that you won't go back on your word later."
Everyone thought Xiao Qiluo was just boasting, so they agreed to the contract.
Many students who have studied diligently for over a decade have failed the imperial examinations, yet Your Highness dares to presume to teach a woman who will rank among the top scholars—it is utterly laughable.
Xiao Qiluo, however, was serious and did not offer any further explanation for the disdain shown by those people.
She was indeed confident, and even encouraged everyone to send the girls to school. If the girls could pass the imperial examinations and achieve success, it would be a thing that would be remembered for all time. Not only would the girl's name be recorded, but her parents' names would also be remembered.
This has certainly made many people interested.
This could make you famous in history; the temptation is too great.
Some people didn't take it seriously and always thought that women were useless.
“My wife is no good; she can’t even have a son.”
Xiao Qiluo looked at the comments floating in front of her, then smiled at the man and said, "Is it possible that not having a son is your own problem?"
The man stared wide-eyed at the princess, his face flushed red. "Even if you are a princess, you can't talk nonsense like this. What problem could I possibly have?"
The old woman beside him, presumably the man's mother, immediately became displeased. "Princess, you simply don't understand. If a woman can't have a son, it must be the problem with the hen that won't lay eggs. How can it be my son's problem?"
"Just now you said that your daughter-in-law gave birth to a daughter. Since she has a child, why do you still talk about her like that?"
The old woman retorted, "If she can't give birth to a son, she's a hen that won't lay eggs."
"But hens' eggs can hatch into male and female eggs, right? Why don't you dislike hens that can't lay male eggs, but you dislike women that can't lay sons?"
“How can they be the same?” the old woman retorted stubbornly.
“It is indeed different,” Xiao Qiluo nodded. “Because if a woman cannot give birth to a son, it is because the man is incompetent. But the man is unwilling to admit that the problem lies with him, so he pushes the blame onto the woman in order to demonstrate his own ability.”
Those who were about to leave immediately stopped and stared at the princess in astonishment. Perhaps they had become desensitized to the princess's recent outrageous pronouncements.
But now that the topic of offspring has come up, everyone has to take it seriously. Unexpectedly, the princess said that a woman's inability to bear a son is a man's fault, which has angered many men.
"Your Majesty, you should send the princess back immediately." The ministers were completely stunned.
Xiao Qiluo was already standing in the crowd.
Although the princess's remarks were shocking, what if public opinion boiled over and the princess was injured?
The emperor waved his hand, saying that his daughter seemed to have recently learned many strange and unusual things from a teacher.
For example, that bicycle.
A mirror that reflects people very clearly.
There is also soap for washing hands.
Ice made from saltpeter.
And gunpowder with great power.
However, in the emperor's view, the most important thing was the wheat and rice that Xiao Qiluo planted at the Ministry of Agriculture, which he said might double the yield.
A few days ago, he watched his daughter run to the Ministry of Agriculture to measure the land and check the quality of the seeds. She insisted on personally overseeing every step before she felt at ease.
Looking at his daughter like this, the emperor couldn't describe the feeling in his heart.
At times, he regretted having only one daughter. He never dared to voice these thoughts in front of her.
Because of a sliver of regret in his heart, when Qiluo was opposed by everyone, he did not stand up to protect her, but instead thought of testing her.
If she showed even the slightest hint of timidity, the regret in his heart would endlessly tug at his mind.
A voice inside him told him that she was his only child, and it was only right to pass the throne to her.
Another voice told him that a woman ascending the throne would go against the ancestral decision, and that a member of the imperial family should be adopted and made crown prince.
Looking at Xiao Qiluo standing in the crowd, a different feeling arose in his heart again. She was his daughter.
The emperor swayed, and Eunuch Gao quickly stepped forward to support him.
"Your Majesty, shall we summon the imperial physician?"
The emperor waved his hand, his gaze falling on Xiao Qiluo before he looked away.
Before meeting Qiluo, his health had been poor, and even the imperial physicians couldn't find anything wrong. He could feel his body deteriorating for no apparent reason.
He kept this a secret very well; apart from Gao Yi and the imperial physicians who treated him, no one else knew about it.
The emperor was helped to sit down, and he also wanted to hear how Xiao Qiluo would resolve this matter.
“How does this have to do with me? It’s the woman’s fault if she can’t give birth to a son,” the man retorted.
If Xiao Qiluo weren't a princess, he would have punched her long ago; he felt no man could endure such an insult.
Xiao Qiluo looked over and said, "According to you, having children is a woman's decision, so she can have a boy whenever she wants?"
“Isn’t that how it is? It must be that when she was pregnant, she was thinking about a girl, so she gave birth to a useless girl, causing my family line to end. She has let down my ancestors.” The man’s mother also joined in the clamor.
Xiao Qiluo looked at the text that was floating towards her and asked, "Your wife gave birth to a daughter. Have your ancestors appeared in your dreams?"
The man frowned and remained silent, seemingly puzzled as to why the topic had shifted to his ancestors.
"Judging from your appearance, it seems you didn't enter the dream, and you didn't say anything, right? Since the ancestors didn't say anything, why do you think they were unhappy? You can go back and burn some incense for the ancestors and ask them. If they are really unhappy, they will enter your dream and beat you up. After all, it's because you're useless that the family line has ended."
“You’re talking nonsense, talking nonsense! How could my son be useless?” the man’s mother said hurriedly.
Xiao Qiluo shrugged. "I'm not making this up. It's exactly like this. To have a child, a man and a woman need to have intercourse. Without a man, a woman can't have a child on her own. That's why I said that if a woman can't have a son, it's the man's problem. If a woman can give birth, then her fertility is definitely not the problem. If the man has no problem, how could he not have a son?"
“What the princess said seems to make some sense,” someone nodded in agreement.
“My neighbor next door had four sons in a row, and the men in her family seem to be different.”
"Yes, yes, my neighbor over there has had six daughters in a row, and now she's pregnant again. I think this one will probably be another girl. Her husband just doesn't seem to like it."
The man heard the whispers of the crowd, which made him blush and he had no choice but to leave quickly.
The others didn't want to leave, and no one stopped them. They went straight to Xiao Qiluo's side and asked, "Princess, if a couple has been married for many years and still has no children, is it the man's problem or the woman's problem?"
The news of Xiao Qiluo divorcing her husband caused quite a stir in the capital. In everyone's eyes, there was nothing wrong with the princess divorcing her husband.
However, the other women still didn't dare to say that what was reasonable was reasonable; they still couldn't face the pointing fingers and whispers.
There's not much that a married woman can't talk about.
Xiao Qiluo wasn't quite sure, but her mother gave her a hint.
"It's possible that one of them has a health problem and can't have children, or it's possible that both of them have no health problems. In such cases, they just can't have children together. After they divorce, they can each marry and have children."
When Xiao Qiluo spoke, those people could always find corresponding examples.
"Yes, yes, yes, that's the case with my sister's husband's uncle's nephew. His wife couldn't have any children, so after being divorced and sent back to her parents' home, she married a widower's child and became his stepmother. As a result, she gave birth to a big, healthy son in the first year after she entered the family. My sister's husband's uncle's nephew also married someone, and she got pregnant not long after entering the family. It turns out that these two people can't have children together."
Those people thought the princess was amazing, that she knew so much.
Some things that seemed cursed to them all had a reasonable explanation in the princess's mouth.
They wanted to ask more questions, but Xiao Qiluo had to go back.
Before boarding the carriage, she said, “Gentlemen, if you want to know more, you can send your children to the girls’ school. We girls’ school will teach these things. They are not curses or divine punishments. The more you learn and see, the more you will understand what those things are all about.”
Only after watching Xiao Qiluo leave did the crowd disperse, still feeling a bit unsatisfied.
Sitting in the carriage, Xiao Qiluo listened to the sounds fading into the distance, and excitedly clutched her chest, "Mother, my heart was beating so fast just now."
She didn't know how to answer many of the questions, but fortunately, her mother helped her. She appeared calm, but she also felt a sense of wonder.
She used to think that some things were caused by divine intervention, but it turns out that's not the case.
She felt that she still had a lot to learn.
As Master Jiu said, I should make a plan for myself.
As Xiao Qiluo was thinking, another line of words floated before her eyes.
[Stop the carriage immediately! This isn't the way back to the princess's residence.]
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