Fang Qing blinked, realizing what Princess Wu'an wanted to say to her.
"Without that, there are cowardly men and upright women in this world. It should be a cooperation between men and women. There is no need to portray men and women as opposites."
Wu An couldn't help but glance at Fang Qing again.
"Is that what you think?"
Fang Qing nodded.
"You have such talent, surpassing half the men in the world, are you content to share it with them?"
Princess Wu'an glanced at the booklet that Fang Qing had just brought over and continued, "You don't want to, do you?"
Fang Qing looked at Princess Wu'an with very sincere eyes.
"Men and women are not enemies."
Princess Wu'an pursed her lips and looked in another direction.
“That’s not what I meant. As a woman, you should know how harsh this era is on women. You all say I’m already excellent enough, but you never say that I have more imperial talent than the princes.”
"What's wrong with me being born a girl? The things that men can enjoy so easily are things I have to fight for."
“My mother devoted all her energy to my third brother. I was raised by palace nannies from birth. I tried my best to do everything so that my mother would pay more attention to me, but all I got in return was her complaining words like ‘It’s a pity he’s not a prince.’”
“My sisters envied me for being able to study with the princes, but they didn’t know that I had knelt at my father’s door for a day and a night to beg for it. I knew that only by studying could I change my fate as a princess who was forced to marry for the emperor’s distribution of power.”
“I can write well and my knowledge and literary talent far surpass those of the princes, but that’s not enough. So when my father wanted to arrange a marriage for me half a year ago, I went to stay in a temple to dispel his idea. What I tried my best to get was still not worthy of my father and mother’s attention.”
"What do you think I should do?"
Finally, Princess Wu'an's gaze fell on Fang Qing's face.
Fang Qing met her gaze.
"Your Highness's original intention was either to prove your worth or to desire supreme power."
Princess Wu'an paused for a moment, then chuckled and asked, "Is there a difference?"
"Your Highness has already achieved the former; your prestige among the people is no less than that of the Crown Prince. As for the latter, does supreme power truly exist in this world? Everything has two sides. I dare to say this: not to mention the many constraints on His Majesty in court, even ordinary people don't have the right to act arbitrarily. He's stuck in that position, with every word and action watched by the people of the world. Does he really live a comfortable life?"
Princess Wu'an looked at Fang Qing, and a smile gradually appeared on her lips.
"This is your own idea, Fang Qing. You haven't stood at the top of power, so you can't appreciate the joy that power can bring you. You are not a fish, so how can you know the joy of a fish?"
Fang Qing nodded and said, "Your Highness is right, so you already have a plan in mind, why bother asking me?"
The smile in Princess Wu'an's eyes faded again.
"Yes, I want to fight for that position, and I also want to bring blessings to all people."
There's no need to find such an excuse for one's ambition.
Just as Zhao Shi'an said, does assisting the crown prince mean one cannot benefit the common people? There is no contradiction here.
Fang Qing didn't say anything more.
Princess Wu'an sighed heavily.
"I told you all this hoping you would help me, but after all you've said, you haven't given me a straight answer. Fang Qing, will you help me?"
“Your Highness says you want to bring blessings to all people, so I stand on the side of the people.”
Princess Wu'an pursed her lips.
"I understand what you mean. You may leave now."
"yes."
Fang Qing left Princess Wu'an's room and let out a small sigh of relief.
Now that her position has been made clear, hopefully Princess Wu'an will not make things difficult for her in this matter.
For the next two days, Princess Wu'an did not continue to discuss these matters with Fang Qing, but she remained as polite and respectful to Fang Qing as before, and Fang Qing gradually let go of her worries.
Fang Qing was busy with matters at the Royal Farm, while Zhao Shi'an had some free time.
Two months after arriving at the Hanlin Academy, his two colleagues who had entered with him at the same time had been assigned to other places and were very promising.
Zhao Shi'an was the only one who seemed to be ignored by the Hanlin Academy, and the Emperor did not give him any definite arrangements, so he remained in the Hanlin Academy.
Everywhere there are people who fawn over the powerful and praise the weak, and the Hanlin Academy is no exception.
The newly appointed top scholar of the Hanlin Academy was left to work as a minor writer, and people's enthusiasm for him gradually faded. As a result, Zhao Shi'an had nothing to do at the Hanlin Academy and was gradually becoming invisible.
Zhao Shi'an was happy to be free and easy. He would come to the Hanlin Academy every day to report for duty and leave when the time was up. When he had nothing to do, he would spend his days browsing the books in the library.
Finally, on this day, someone from the palace came and said that Zhao Shi'an was to be summoned to the palace.
The visitor was a junior eunuch from the Grand Eunuch's side; everyone could tell at a glance that it was the Emperor who wanted to see Zhao Shi'an.
Qu Hanlin personally went to the library and found Zhao Shi'an.
Zhao Shi'an nodded calmly and then calmly followed the palace servants out of the Hanlin Academy.
Zhao Shi'an was taken to the emperor's bedroom.
When he entered, the emperor was looking through a booklet. Zhao Shi'an had sharp eyes and immediately recognized it as a record of the palace gates.
Zhao Shi'an respectfully bowed and greeted the Emperor.
The emperor remained silent, and for a moment the only sound in the palace was the emperor flipping through the books.
After a long while, the Emperor closed the book in his hand and his gaze fell on Zhao Shi'an.
"The newly appointed top scorer."
"Yes, it is indeed your humble servant."
The emperor leaned against the bed, his voice weak.
"Get up and answer."
"yes."
Zhao Shi'an stood up, glancing at the Emperor out of the corner of his eye.
Since the last time I saw the Emperor, he had lost a lot of weight.
The palace was filled with the smell of medicinal herbs, which mingled with the scent of incense, making it very uncomfortable.
Where do you currently work?
"Your Majesty, I am a compiler in the Hanlin Academy."
"The closing time has passed, and I see that your performance is quite good. Why are you still in the Hanlin Academy?"
"Your Majesty, I do not know."
The emperor looked very tired.
"You don't know? I see you understand very well. This is a register from the palace gates. You and the Crown Prince have a close relationship. The Hanlin Academy hasn't transferred you, probably because they're waiting for the Crown Prince's arrangement. What, hasn't the Crown Prince arranged anything for you?"
"Your Majesty, I am humbled. I am but a minor compiler in the Hanlin Academy. How could Your Majesty possibly arrange matters for me personally? The reason I was able to enter the palace a few days ago was because Your Majesty kept asking me about the Sunny Seeds."
The emperor's aged eyes narrowed slightly.
"Didn't I already entrust that matter to Wu'an? Does he want to interfere?"
The emperor's tone clearly carried a hint of displeasure.
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