Chapter 243 A Thousand Years of Achievements, The Will of the People
In the Taiji Hall, Li Yi never dreamed that the way to break free of those shackles was simpler than he could have imagined.
Looking at Li Jin's back, which already hinted at a dragon-phoenix-like figure, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction and pride.
Six years have passed, and the mistake that kept him up at night has finally seen a glimmer of hope for complete correction.
Seeing the officials speechless, Li Jincai spoke again in a deep voice: "My lords, what is the purpose of you wearing these court robes and standing here to discuss? Isn't it for the peace and stability of the people of the Great Wei Dynasty? Isn't it for the prosperity and enlightenment of the Great Wei empire?"
He turned to look at Xu Weiyou: "Lord Xu said that in the past thousand years, there has never been a woman who entered officialdom, so he deduced that there must be something against the will of Heaven, and therefore decided that this precedent should not be set."
"But Lord Xu, looking back over a thousand years of history, has there ever been a dynasty or a golden age that has reached such a magnificent and prosperous state as the Great Wei of today?"
"Looking back, the past thousand years have not been as glorious as the present. What we need to do is to learn from history, to do what our predecessors dared not do, and to forge ahead towards greater prosperity and openness."
Li Jin's gaze swept across the faces of the crowd, and his words were passionate and stirring.
No one could refute his words, and no one dared to refute them anymore.
In the eyes of the civil and military officials, this Prince Jing, who was eloquent in literature and capable of fighting on all sides, the third prince of the Great Wei, the head of the Six Doors, and the war god of the era, seemed to have an added layer of brilliance. He displayed his sincerity of caring for the world and being devoted to the country to the fullest extent at the grand court assembly.
"Throughout history, in times of prosperity and revival, how could there be a lack of talented and ambitious individuals? During the more than two hundred years of the Great Wei Dynasty, virtuous and capable people made outstanding contributions."
"Among them are men and women, young and old, but they all share a common name: citizens of the Great Wei."
"My lords," Li Jin said, "a citizen of the Great Wei, in order to uphold fairness and justice in his heart, used his own hands and keen eyes to seek justice for the deceased." He paused, then raised his voice a few decibels. "What wrong did she do?"
None of the officials in the court dared to speak out.
Knowing that all was lost, the crown prince took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and remained silent.
Xu Weiyou and Zhao Wencheng, standing behind him, also remained silent, their expressions solemn.
They realized that this precedent of women entering officialdom was likely set today.
Outside the main hall, Jin Shu, who had been kneeling for an hour, looked at the clear sky after the clouds had cleared. The fear and unease that had accumulated over the past few days turned into tears and flowed silently down her face.
Yan Zhao glanced at her profile, and after a long while, turned to leave.
"Master," Jin Shu called out in a deep voice.
He turned around and glanced at her tear-streaked face.
"Why...did you..." She held back for a long time before finally asking the question.
Why did she personally announce to the world in the imperial court that she was a woman?
Yan Zhao hesitated for a long time before saying softly, "You are too young and too kind." He added, "But you have a long road ahead of you, and your future is immeasurable."
After saying that, he smiled slightly and turned to walk towards the palace gate.
In the Taiji Hall, Li Jin knelt down with a righteous air and spoke in a clear and resonant voice: "Laws are dead, but people are alive. Your son begs Your Majesty to build a smooth path for women to enter officialdom for the sake of all women of wisdom in the world and for the greater prosperity of the Great Wei Dynasty!"
After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
Li Jin kowtowed to the ground, listening to the complete silence in the hall, a bead of sweat slowly sliding down his forehead.
He was afraid.
Fearing that all their efforts would be in vain, fearing that all they had done would be like throwing an egg against a rock, fearing that even after going to such lengths, they still couldn't protect Jin Shu.
The hall was eerily quiet.
Li Yi frowned as he looked at the motionless officials.
He never expected that even though Li Jin had done his best, it would still end so miserably.
However, just when Li Yi was about to give up, shouts rang out from outside the silent hall.
"Please, God, show mercy online!"
The quieter the hall, the clearer the sound.
"Your Majesty, please release Mr. Jin!"
All the officials were stunned, and secretly glanced back at the door.
"Mr. Jin must not be killed! Mr. Jin is a good man!"
A kilometer away, Yan Zhao stood there, holding a token, and opened several palace gates wide.
Outside the palace gates, the kneeling crowd surged into the Taiji Hall like a tidal wave.
Li Yi stood up slowly after a long pause, staring incredulously at the south.
Outside the Taiji Hall, Jin Shu, who was kneeling there awaiting her fate, was already weeping uncontrollably.
The justice she had upheld in the past, the injustices she had redressed, have now returned in another form, clearing her name and fighting for the justice that belongs to her.
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out in the hall where no one had responded.
Li Jin, kneeling on the ground, paused for a moment upon hearing that familiar voice.
Grand Tutor Su Yu walked straight to his side and, amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, kowtowed and knelt there.
"I second that proposal." Then came Yun Jianlin, the prefect of Shengzhou.
"Your subject seconds the motion," said Liu Cheng'an, the prefect of Dingzhou.
It was Du Jin, the prefect of Yiyang; Lin Yongde, the vice minister of the Ministry of Works; Zhu Dongli, the minister of the Ministry of Justice; Su Hang, the secretary of the Secretariat; and Chen Xi, the director of studies at the Imperial Academy…
Then, among those familiar voices, unfamiliar tones began to appear. As the cries of "Your subject seconds" rang out one after another, three-quarters of the officials in the hall knelt down.
Seeing this scene before him, the crown prince clenched his fist, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he took a deep breath.
"Your subject seconds this proposal."
After he finished speaking, the senior officials behind the crown prince bowed their heads.
In the Taiji Hall, Li Yi looked at the officials kneeling all over the ground and looked approvingly in Li Jin's direction.
His son did not disappoint him.
This single act has resulted in a monumental achievement that will be remembered throughout history. Even after thousands of years, when all those people have turned to dust, they will still be praised by the world.
He stood inside the hall, raised his hand, and ordered: "Draft an imperial edict!"
On the winter solstice of the 210th year of the Great Wei Dynasty, in the Taiji Hall of Chang'an City, Emperor Li Yi of the Great Wei Dynasty, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the wishes of the people, took the opportunity of Jin Shu, a coroner from the Six Doors disguised as a man, to officially start the precedent of women entering officialdom.
This magnificent undertaking, a feat that will last for millennia, will be sung and praised by people for thousands of years to come.
"Order Grand Tutor Su Yu and the Imperial Academy to jointly discuss the rules for selecting female officials and the assessments for promotion and demotion."
Li Yi sat imposingly on the throne, looking at the crowd before him, in high spirits.
Finally, his gaze fell on Li Jin's face. After a moment's thought, he chuckled softly, "I almost forgot about Jin Shu."
Li Jin paused, then looked up.
"Oh dear..." Li Yi deliberately rubbed his hands together, looking troubled. "The rules and regulations haven't even been released yet, this is difficult."
"How about this?" He looked at Li Jin and smiled, "Reinstate him to his original position, and let him take office immediately?"
Before Li Jin could respond, the Crown Prince's voice suddenly rang out.
"Your subject thinks this is inappropriate." He cupped his hands and stepped forward, a troubled look on his face. "After a month of contact with the Crown Prince, your subject has been impressed by her knowledge and vision, and has already fallen for her."
He knelt down and kowtowed to the ground: "In addition, my son and Jin Shu have already had a night of intimacy..."
Li Yi was shocked.
Li Jin was stunned.
Even Jin Shu, who was outside the main hall, was stunned.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com