Extra 1: "Diary of the Imperial Court: The First Year of Fengqi"
In the first year of Fengqi, spring was deep.
Inside the Daqing Hall, all officials stood in awe. The smoke of sandalwood curled gracefully beneath the dome, yet it couldn't dispel the unique atmosphere of the new dynasty, a mixture of awe and temptation.
Above the imperial steps, a rosewood chair carved with ninety-nine coiled dragons hung empty. In front of it, slightly lower, a new phoenix throne was erected. The back of the throne wasn't decorated with a gentle pattern of a singing phoenix and a crane, but rather nine golden phoenixes of varying shapes, wings flapping as they prepared to take flight, surrounding a crimson rising sun, a majestic spectacle.
The bell rang three times, and you could hear a pin drop in the hall.
Lu Qinglan emerged from behind the screen, not wearing elaborate court attire, but simply a formal dress with a dark black base and a golden phoenix pattern. Her dark hair was tied up in a high bun, adorned with a simple phoenix hairpin holding a pearl. She walked steadily, her gaze sweeping calmly over His Highness and his ministers, not lingering on any one person for too long, yet each one felt the sharpness of her gaze sweeping over them.
She sat on the Phoenix Throne with a dignified posture, without a trace of the gentleness that belonged to the women in the harem, but only the calmness and dominance of a superior.
"Gentlemen, please stand." Her voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone, with an unquestionable penetrating power.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" All the officials stood up and bowed their heads.
The meeting began. First, the Minister of Revenue stepped forward to report that grain prices had stabilized across the country this spring. With the dredging of the Grand Canal, rice from the south of the Yangtze River was flowing smoothly northward. His words often praised the merits of the new policies. Lu Qinglan listened quietly, his fingertips lightly tapping the golden phoenix relief on the armrest, but he didn't express his opinion.
Next came the Ministry of Works, which reported on the progress of several river works. Then came the Ministry of Rites.
The Minister of Rites, holding a jade tablet, stepped out and bowed, his voice hesitant. "Your Majesty," he said, "73 prefectures and cities have submitted petitions to establish girls' schools, and preparations have been completed. They request funding and the selection of teachers. However... however, many scholars in various regions have expressed dissent, saying, 'hens crow at dawn, yin is strong and yang is weak.' The admission of girls into schools is detrimental to morals and could undermine the foundation of the nation. I implore Your Majesty... to make a ruling."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense. Many veteran officials looked at their noses, their noses focused on their hearts, but the corners of their mouths tightened imperceptibly. This was the first time in the new dynasty that someone had expressed such direct opposition in the court.
Lu Qinglan's expression remained unchanged as he simply said, "What are your objections? My dear, please speak frankly."
The Minister of Rites, sweating on his forehead, said with a stiff upper lip, "Some say that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, and that she should strictly observe the rules of the boudoir, supporting her husband and raising her children. This is the correct course. Others say that opening schools for girls wastes the national treasury, competes with the people for profit, and makes women restless and uneasy, potentially leading to chaos."
"Oh?" Lu Qinglan asked softly, but the temperature in the hall seemed to drop a few degrees. She turned her gaze to the silent Prime Minister Gu Zhao, "Prime Minister Gu, what do you think?"
Gu Zhao stepped out, holding a sceptre. He looked older, but his eyes remained clear. He pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly, "I believe, as the Book of Rites states, 'Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.' If women can understand reason and righteousness, and appreciate the principles of life, they will greatly benefit from cultivating themselves and regulating the family. If the family is in order, the world will be governed. However, a sudden implementation of this policy requires careful consideration of public sentiment and public opinion. A gradual and gradual approach is prudent." He was neither outrightly opposed nor blindly supportive, his words tactful and leaving ample room for maneuver.
At this time, Han Mingyuan took a step forward, his voice loud and clear, with his usual uprightness: "Your Majesty! I have a memorial to report!" He still habitually called him "Your Majesty", no one corrected him, and no one felt it was inappropriate.
"The saying 'a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent' is truly a pedantic view! Ban Zhao of the Han Dynasty, who wrote 'Instructions for Women,' also required talent and learning to complete the book. Xie Daoyun of the previous dynasty, whose talent for writing poems about catkins, has been immortalized in history! Our founding empress dowager also assisted Taizu on horseback. How could she be without talent or virtue?" Han Mingyuan said sharply. "As for the claim that it will undermine the foundation of the nation, that's even more absurd! When the people are enlightened, the nation prospers. Women are also citizens of Daliang. Enlightening their wisdom and teaching them to understand etiquette and laws is the foundation of a strong and prosperous nation. How can we say they will be undermined? If we throw the baby out with the bathwater because of a mere public opinion, wouldn't that be a small loss for the greater good?"
His words, citing classics and with such force and authority, made the Minister of Rites turn pale.
Lu Qinglan listened quietly to the argument between the two sides. When Han Mingyuan finished speaking, the hall became quiet again, and all eyes were focused on the Phoenix Throne.
She did not make a decision immediately, but looked at Wei Zheng. Wei Zheng, who had been summoned back to the capital to report on his duties due to temporary peace at the border, was now standing in front of the military officers' train.
"Duke Weiguo, the soldiers of the Northern Frontier, do you wish for your daughter to be able to read and understand reason?"
Wei Zheng clasped his fists and said in a voice as loud as iron: "Your Majesty, the border is cold and bitter, and the soldiers also hope that the women in their families can be well-educated and good at managing the household. If the girls can succeed in their studies, it will be a blessing for the border troops and will reassure the soldiers." He did not speak in a high-sounding manner, but responded from the most simple perspective of military morale, but his response was extremely weighty.
Lu Qinglan nodded slightly, his gaze finally returning to the Minister of Rites. His tone was calm, yet it carried the power to determine the fate of the world:
"The Book of Songs says, 'Punish your widow, and even your brothers, to protect your family and state.' The way to education begins in the inner chambers of the home. When women are sensible, the family tradition is upright, and children are virtuous. This does not shake the foundations of a nation, but rather strengthens them."
She paused, her voice rising slightly, clearly carrying throughout the hall: "Issue an order. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue are to coordinate and approve the establishment of girls' schools in all regions. Funding will be allocated from the Imperial Treasury and the National Treasury according to established regulations. Teachers and scholars will be selected with an emphasis on both virtue and talent, regardless of background. The rules of girls' schools emphasize moral education, while also teaching literature, history, arithmetic, and basic knowledge of law. Anyone who obstructs the establishment of schools or spreads rumors will be strictly investigated and reprimanded by local officials. Those found guilty of serious offenses will be punished according to the law."
She did not fiercely refute her opponents, but instead argued from the higher levels of "enlightenment," "family tradition," and "national foundation," citing classic texts and incorporating the establishment of girls' schools into the traditional framework of "cultivating oneself, regulating the family, and governing the state," making it legitimate and beyond reproach. The final sentence, "Punish according to the law," further revealed her iron fist.
"We obey your order!" Han Mingyuan, Wei Zheng, and the others were the first to bow. Gu Zhao also nodded slightly, as if approving of the decision. The rest of the ministers, regardless of their thoughts, all responded in unison.
A storm disappeared without a trace, but it clearly marked the beginning of a new era.
After the court session, Lu Qinglan returned to Chuigong Hall (where she conducted her daily government affairs). The hall's furnishings were simple and elegant, with memorials piled high on the desk. She dismissed her attendants, leaving only Fu Yu to grind ink.
She picked up her red brush and began to review the memorials. Sometimes she was absorbed in thought, sometimes she was writing rapidly. Sunlight streamed through the long, carved windows, casting dappled shadows on her dark robes. The golden phoenix shone darkly in the light.
Fu Yu quietly changed the teacup to a new one.
Lu Qinglan put down his pen, rubbed his brow, and his gaze stumbled upon a blooming white magnolia outside the window. He paused for a moment. The flower, flawless white and graceful, seemed out of place in this palace, the epicenter of power.
She was once a woman trapped in a small courtyard, with her gaze limited to the four corners of the sky. Now, she holds the fate of this vast country in her hands.
"Fu Yu," she suddenly spoke, a barely perceptible ethereal air in her voice. "What if all the women in the world could be like the magnolia, blossoming alone in the wind without relying on tall trees?"
Fu Yu paused slightly as she ground the inkstone, lowering her eyes as she spoke, "I don't know what's going on in the world. I only know that you, Madam, have done it."
Lu Qinglan heard this, and the corners of her lips curved slightly. The smile was very faint, but it seemed like the beginning of a thaw in the glacier. She withdrew her gaze and looked back at the memorial on the table, her eyes regaining their usual clarity and determination.
"The road ahead is still long."
She said softly, not knowing whether she was talking to Fu Yu or herself.
The red pen fell once again, marking the document that affected the nation's economy and people's livelihood, writing one word after another that would determine the future. The spring of the first year of Fengqi flowed slowly amidst the busy and quiet interweaving of government affairs.
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