However, this incident brought back He Qing's previous worries.
The low status of women is not something that happens overnight. Changing it will also require a long and arduous struggle. Do you want to be the first to do so?
Perhaps she couldn't do much, and couldn't truly split the darkness and usher in the dawn. But even if she could only point the way forward for those who came after her, it would still be meaningful. Even if she failed, at least she had tried, and didn't let herself live a life of frustration.
She didn't know if she could do anything else, but she could try...
Let’s start with Mr. Gu. One day, he will be looked at with new eyes and will put away his ridiculous superiority and arrogance.
Thinking of this, she spoke slowly, "Master Gu is truly an upright gentleman, always abiding by the rules and regulations. He is truly admirable. The phrase 'each content with his place' is truly well-speaking. I heard that Master Gu became famous at a young age, but because of Prime Minister Xue's suppression, he was never prominent in the court. Now it seems that Master Gu is content with his lot."
If everyone stayed in their place, Gu Zheng would continue to be buried in the Hanlin Academy and would not be able to make a breakthrough for at least twenty years.
It is such an overbearing rule that you only need to break the rules yourself and suppress others.
Even though Gu Zheng was a man of great cunning, his expression changed slightly, but he quickly said frankly, "Of course. Prime Minister Xue also wanted to hone me, and I am naturally grateful. Without Prime Minister Xue, I would not be where I am today."
He Qing found that compared to him, he still had a lot to learn.
The first rule is not to let other people’s words sway your own thoughts. Regardless of whether it is right or wrong, you must hold on at the moment, otherwise you will lose.
Secondly, he didn't understand the affairs of the court. Gu Zheng could even take on the entire court alone. There was no chance of winning an argument with him. If he wanted to suppress him, he had to find a topic that he was good at but he didn't understand.
A topic that Gu Zheng didn’t understand... He Qing’s mind instantly flashed with the five words he had used to express pity for Gu Zheng: the limitations of the times.
Just then, a gust of wind blew by, and a leaf fluttered between the two of them. Affected by the air currents created by the carriage, it swirled in the air. He Qing immediately pointed at the leaf and asked, "Master Gu, did you see that leaf?"
"Hmm?" The topic jumped too quickly and Gu Zheng could hardly keep up.
He Qing was very pleased with this reaction and asked with a smile, "Look at things suspended in the air. Whether they are as light as a leaf or a feather, or as heavy as a stone, they will eventually fall to the ground. Why is that?"
Gu Zheng: ???
How can a court that cannot gain the trust of the people govern the country?
In fact, Gu Zheng had also planned to save Tang Lichen, so he was actually quite happy to know that He Qing had the same idea as him.
He looked at He Qing, who thought he was going to say something, but in the end, Gu Zheng just looked away calmly and nodded, "Okay, I'll help you with this."
It always saves effort to talk to smart people.
However, He Qing would not admit it voluntarily, giving people a chance to criticize her. She smiled and said, "How can this be considered helping me? Lord Gu is a pillar of the court. Isn't it his duty to save the country from danger and maintain the court's dignity?"
Gu Zheng laughed, "Master, you're really too quick to destroy the bridge after crossing it."
"Lord Gu already had this intention, so I am doing something unnecessary." He Qing said lightly without changing his expression.
Gu Zheng naturally wouldn't admit it. He just smiled and turned the topic back to Tang Lichen's matter, "Master, do you have any good ideas?"
"How can there be a foolproof plan for something like this?" He Qing asked. "Ruizhou may seem like a major commotion right now, but it's still all about the imperial court's response. We absolutely cannot back down from something like this. We should send troops to suppress it. Do we even have to reason with them?"
The more assertive the imperial court appears, the less likely the rioters will dare to act. Then, they can send someone to support them. Tang Lichen is no fool; given the opportunity, he will surely escape from the government office. Without the hostages, it will be easier to deal with the rioters.
Gu Zheng shook his head and said, "Given the current situation in the court, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager will not agree."
If a war breaks out, it will inevitably involve all parties and become a considerable burden for the imperial court. The Empress Dowager's attitude now must be "less trouble is better than more", and she will never take the initiative to take on such trouble.
It would be easier for her to appease the rioters in Ruizhou at a small cost.
"Don't worry about that," He Qing took a deep breath. "If Lord Gu can convince Minister Xue to speak to the Grand Empress Dowager in court, I can take this opportunity to persuade her."
Gu Zheng glanced at her, lowered his head and thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."
He didn't ask He Qing if he was sure. He Qing's nervous expression gave him a clue as to the answer. But there aren't many things in this world that are 100% certain. Most of the time, it's just a matter of taking a gamble. You can't just do nothing because there's no guarantee it'll work, right?
However, by choosing this path, Master Huiru was indeed quite bold. No matter how tactful her words, she was essentially trying to pressure the Grand Empress Dowager with her power. This approach, if not handled with caution, could easily lead to the downfall of everyone involved.
But the greater the risk, the greater the reward.
Since I have decided to do it, Gu Zheng thought, I might as well go for a big one.
The meeting continued in the afternoon, but He Qing did not participate. She had been there by chance in the morning, but it was inappropriate for her to remain in Ziping Hall. There was no need to arouse suspicion in such matters.
She went to Kunhua Palace.
Empress Dowager Zhang was already seven months pregnant, with a noticeable bulge. Although she appeared unaffected, the atmosphere throughout Kunhua Palace was tense. Someone had to step forward to assist her during every move to prevent any accidents. Aunt Qiu personally oversaw her daily life, keeping a close eye on her.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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