Chapter 379: Liu Rushi Enters the Palace
"There are not many people who understand me like my husband. The world only sees our glory but not our difficulties. Besides, what's wrong with being a woman? In ancient times, there were Mulan, Mu Guiying and Liang Hongyu, and now there is Prince of Chu and Qin Liangyu. I really want to be the first female prime minister in history!" Liu Rushi said proudly.
"A female prime minister? That's possible. The imperial examination will be held next year. I can write a petition and ask for women to be allowed to take the exam this time!" said Zhao Xiaokun.
"Really? If this is submitted to the court, the court will be in chaos!" Liu Rushi was a little worried.
"Don't be afraid! In fact, there are not many women who can really take part in the imperial examinations." Zhao Xiaokun said.
"Yes! There are indeed very few women who can truly read the Four Books and Five Classics and write good eight-legged essays. Besides, their parents may not be willing to let them show their faces in public. It would be great if all men in the world were like you two brothers." Liu Rushi said.
"I heard that there is someone in the palace who is quite capable, but unfortunately he refuses to help the princess and says that my sister-in-law has monopolized all the power." Zhao Xiaokun said.
"Who? Who is so bold?" Liu Rushi asked.
"Concubine Ni! The granddaughter of Ni Yuanlu! I heard that she has been familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics since she was a child, and her essays are also very good, no worse than those of the scholars. It's a pity that the female precepts and female training made her stupid." Zhao Xiaokun said.
"I would like to meet this Ni Zhaoyi and see who is stronger between me and her!" Liu Rushi felt a sense of competition.
"Hahaha, I think you'd better forget it. If you go to see her later, she might beat you out! But you can go to the palace to help my sister-in-law!" Zhao Xiaokun said with a smile.
"Enter the palace? I can go and take a look. The emperor is still a child now, and no one will say anything if I go and take a look." Liu Rushi said.
"Okay, I'll tell the princess later. It would be great if you could help her! Maybe one day you can really become the greatest female prime minister in ancient and modern times!" said Zhao Xiaokun.
In the afternoon, Zhao Xiaokun went to the palace. Princess Kunxing happened to be resting at home today.
"Brother, why are you here?" Kunxing saluted when he saw Zhao Xiaokun.
Seeing Liu Rushi behind him, Kunxing said, "Liu, you're here too!"
"Greetings, Her Royal Highness the Princess!" Liu Rushi quickly bowed.
"Don't be polite, we are all family. My husband said that although you are concubines, in my eyes and my husband's eyes, you are all my sisters-in-law. Good sisters-in-law, come in and talk!" Kunxing said with a smile.
As they entered the house, Zhao Xiaokun said, "I have something to discuss with you today!"
"Brother, please speak!" said Princess Kunxing.
"I think some educated women can also participate in the imperial examination next year! You and the Queen Mother are busy with government affairs, and there is no one to help you share the burden, so I came up with this idea." Zhao Xiaokun said.
"Brother, your idea is good, but now you know that Lu Ling and I are behind the government, and these ministers and local scholars are gossiping all day long. If I really set a precedent for women to take the imperial examinations, there will probably be chaos in the world." Princess Kunxing said.
"I didn't think it through!" said Zhao Xiaokun.
"Brother, you are thinking about me. How can I blame you? If all the men in the Ming Dynasty thought like you and my husband, there would have been women holding official positions long ago." Princess Kunxing.
At this moment, Liu Rushi's eyes showed a look that said, "You are nothing special. We are all daughters-in-law of the Zhao family. We are all people who have been influenced by the brothers' ideas of gender equality. You, the princess regent, are nothing special."
Princess Kunxing could of course see the disdain in Liu Rushi's eyes. She said, "This kind of thing can be done but not said. Instead, we can find some extraordinary women like my sister-in-law to enter the palace. Let them help me and Lu Ling handle some official business. What do you think?" Kunxing was asking Zhao Xiaokun.
"My sister-in-law has thought it through very carefully, and that's what she should do! I think we should ask the Embroidered Uniform Guard to find out about this matter. Then let them give me the list, and I'll let Ru Shi go and invite them in person, how about that?" Zhao Xiaokun said.
"That's not appropriate! We should issue an imperial decree to recruit some educated women into the palace. After the two lootings by Li Zicheng and Jianlu, there are not many palace maids left. Why not just recruit them under this pretext? What do you think, brother?" asked Princess Kunxing.
"My sister-in-law thinks more carefully than I do! That's it! I think we should let Rushi come to the palace to help you. Her knowledge is also top-notch." Zhao Xiaokun said.
"I have known about Liu's knowledge for a long time. I would be more than happy if you could come to the palace to help me!" Princess Kunxing said with a smile.
"That's good! Your sister-in-law is diligent in her official duties. Many of my official documents are written by her. You also know Xiaofei and I's writing style. It's unbearable to read." Zhao Xiaokun said.
"I just don't understand. With the talents of the prince and my husband, who can write so many good poems and lyrics, how come you are so bad at calligraphy?" Liu Rushi asked in confusion.
Zhao Xiaokun thought to himself: "That was all copied! I've only just learned to recognize all the traditional Chinese characters."
"That's it. As long as big brother doesn't feel bad, my sister-in-law will seduce Liu away for a while!" Princess Kunxing said with a smile.
In the Forbidden City, Concubine He and Concubine Huang sat together and chatted. Both of them were pregnant.
Concubine Huang Shu hoped to bear a son, becoming a true empress dowager, rather than a figurehead. Her current health prevented her from participating too much in government affairs. But that didn't mean she didn't crave power; her desire for it was no less. It was just that bearing a child was her top priority, leaving everything else to Kunxing and Lu Ling. She listened intently, observing their responses and how they handled the situation.
Although Concubine He also wanted to compete for the position of ruling from behind the curtain, she knew that apart from her appearance, she was definitely no match for Concubine Huang Shu and Princess Kunxing in terms of insight and courage.
It is important for people to know themselves. Concubine He only hopes that mother and child will be safe. He Tengjiao also sent money to the palace, hoping that his daughter and future grandson would be safe.
A palace maid walked in and said, "Outside, Concubine Shun said she wants to come over to pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine! Please give your instructions, Imperial Concubine!"
"Tell her I'm tired and tell her not to come over!" said Concubine He.
"Wait! Sister, I think it's better to ask Concubine Shun to come in and talk. More friends mean more ways. We can't compare to the princess, she has the support of her husband. We can't compare to the queen, she is the principal wife. If we don't unite, who can help us if something happens?" Concubine Huang said.
After hearing her words, Concubine He thought for a moment and said, "Let Concubine Shun come in and talk! Serve some good tea!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The palace maid went downstairs to call Concubine Shun in.
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