Chapter 512 Shen Lanxi proposes the women's imperial examination!
“This is my grandfather’s funeral, so we are naturally here to mourn him.” Shen Yuanrui looked at Shen Yuantang with a wary expression.
"Really? I think I heard you talking about me?" Shen Yuantang raised his chin and looked at the two of them coldly.
Shen Yuanhe waved her hands repeatedly in fright: "No, we didn't say anything about you. If you don't believe me, ask the duck next to us."
Shen Yuantang scoffed dismissively: "They're your maids, so naturally they'll speak on your side."
After she finished speaking, she glared viciously at the maids beside the two women and threatened, "If you dare not tell the truth, I, the Princess Consort, will chop off your heads and kill your entire families."
He's gone mad! Shen Yuantang has gone mad!
Shen Yuanhe and Shen Yuanrui stared at Shen Yuantang in shock, as if struck by lightning.
I only heard that her son died, I never heard that she went crazy like this.
"We're all sisters, don't be so quick to threaten violence."
"Today is my grandfather's funeral, and all the guests have come. We're talking so loudly here, and many people are watching us."
"Sister, let's go find our eldest sister!"
Just as Shen Yuanrui was about to pull Shen Yuanhe away, Shen Yuantang called out to her.
"Who gave you the audacity to threaten me, the Princess Consort?"
Shen Yuantang raised his hand and slapped him.
Shen Yuanrui screamed in fright and covered her face as she squatted on the ground.
There was no slapping sound. Shen Congwen grabbed his daughter's wrist and angrily demanded, "What are you trying to do?"
Shen Yuantang's face darkened, and she said fiercely, "Father, what a question! These two vile women are speaking ill of their daughter, can't I even teach them a lesson?"
The commotion drew curious glances from the guests.
Shen Congwen felt so ashamed that he couldn't even lift his old face.
“This is your grandfather’s funeral. If you want to cause trouble, go back to your Zhennan Prince’s Mansion.”
Shen Yuantang glared fiercely at the Shen Yuanrui sisters, then glanced at Shen Congwen with the same look before letting out a cold snort and turning to go inside.
This little incident made the hearts of the Shen family members who witnessed it sink. Some prayed that nothing more would happen, some hoped that Shen Yuantang would make a big fuss, and some hoped that the funeral would end quickly.
...
"Is Mother still unwilling to see me?" Shen Yuantang stood at the door of the main house.
The old woman handed her a box.
"This is from the princess."
Shen Yuantang took the box, opened it, and saw that there were several porcelain bottles inside. After seeing the names on the porcelain bottles, she quickly closed the lids.
“Mother, I’ve adopted a godson. I’ll bring him to see you when you’re feeling better!” she said, then left with a smile on her face.
Apart from the little incident involving Shen Yuantang, nothing else happened.
Mr. Shen's funeral was successfully completed.
Shen Lanxi had several days' worth of official business to handle, and the Shen family's courtyards, large and small, were filled with people, making it quite lively.
"Father, your son-in-law has been stationed in a remote area for almost two years now; it's time for him to return to the capital."
"The daughter wants to fulfill her filial duty to her father!"
"After we sisters come back, we can also help our father out..."
Shen Congwen initially remained unmoved, but gradually became interested and began to seriously consider the matter.
Today I received good news from Ganzhou, but Shen Lanxi is not presiding over the court. Although it is a great joyous occasion, it doesn't feel as lively as I expected.
The court officials assumed that they were simply too busy dealing with mountains of official duties to keep up with their own work.
"It takes a long time to work behind the scenes to amend each law."
"Shen Lanxi changed so many laws at once. If the root of the problem is not eradicated, the consequences will be endless!"
"Shen Lanxi just said something, and she's caused us so much trouble for no reason. It's simply outrageous..."
"What marriage matchmaking? I think Shen Lanxizi just wants to find a man herself..."
...
The next day, when Shen Lanxi went to court, she had Wang Bao read out the report of victory.
"Our Great Zhou army has recaptured another city. To date, our Great Zhou army has recaptured two cities in Ganzhou, ten prefectures and six counties, and captured a thousand enemy soldiers..."
"To date, three cities, three counties, six prefectures, and two states have been recaptured in Shu..."
After the victory report was read out, Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "When my Great Zhou army returns, we will reward them according to their merits, granting them higher ranks and titles."
Che Mingyuan suggested, "Instead of waiting until then, why not send the rewards now, so that the people along the way and the soldiers stationed there will know that our army has won a great victory and that the imperial court is rewarding us handsomely..."
Shen Lanxi: "Okay, the Ministry of Revenue will arrange it as soon as possible, and the Ministry of War will send someone to deliver it as soon as possible!"
"yes!"
The Minister of War has his own book.
“In recent days, due to the relocation of people, the population of our capital has decreased rapidly. If this continues, the capital will lose its prosperity, and people’s hearts will wander outwards.”
The culprit behind all of this is Shen Lanxi.
With everyone moved out, no one is buying the goods brought by the merchants. If this continues, Shen Lanxi will surely lose the support of the people.
Shen Lanxi: "The capital is the center of our Great Zhou, a place that everyone in the Great Zhou yearns for. Wherever there is no prosperity, this place must be prosperous."
The Vice Minister of War said: "I oppose further migration of people to Dongchuan and the Northwest. The Regent also said that the capital is the center of our Great Zhou, and this is where the population is most numerous and the most prosperous."
Shen Lanxi nodded seriously: "What Lord Chen said makes sense, so I have decided to reopen the imperial examinations."
The Vice Minister of War was furious: "There are still six months until the imperial examinations."
Shen Lanxi: "Then let's make preparations as soon as possible. We've just recovered many places in Sichuan and Gansu, and we need a lot of officials to govern them!"
The Vice Minister of War, not wanting to pave the way for Shen Lanxi any longer, immediately objected, saying, "Ancestral rules cannot be disregarded. The dates for the imperial examinations were calculated by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau of each dynasty long ago. The dates cannot be changed, otherwise, if disaster strikes, will the Regent bear the full responsibility?"
Shen Lanxi responded confidently, "I do not intend to change the time, but rather to allow women to participate in the imperial examinations!"
These words caused an uproar in the room.
Shen Lanxi... is making a fuss again...
"No! There has never been a precedent for women taking the imperial examinations in our dynasty. This is utterly outrageous and violates all moral principles!"
"How can women take the imperial examinations? It's a joke!"
"Women have always been confined to their inner quarters, rarely venturing beyond their own homes, spending their days..." He couldn't bring himself to say the words "staying in the inner quarters."
Because he thought of the girls' academy, the female guards in the army, and Shen Lanxi, who now sat in a high position!
Shen Lanxi's actions are tantamount to rebellion!
Does Shen Lanxi really think this is the Shen family's world? This world belongs to the Zhou family, and it's not something she can do as she pleases.
"This is not right!"
"We disagree!"
"What kind of mess would it be to have women take the imperial examinations? It's utterly ridiculous... I disagree!"
This time, even the three regents did not stand by Shen Lanxi's side; they all opposed her.
Shen Lanxi knew that the women's imperial examination would be opposed, so she did not refute it.
"My ministers, go back and think it over carefully. We'll discuss this matter again in a few days!"
What's there to discuss? There's no point in discussing it further. As long as they're alive, it's impossible!
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