Chapter 200 Female Studies
Halfway through the meal, Su Zhenzhen asked someone to bring the pot and took off her fox fur cloak lined with red gold-woven feather gauze and white fox fur. Everyone looked at her pearl-collared cloak with sparkling eyes. The style was really beautiful.
The fifth princess asked her, "Fourth sister-in-law, are these the pearls that our father gave you as a reward? They are so beautiful." She also liked pearls. She thought the style on her fourth sister-in-law was exquisite, novel, and beautiful, so she wanted to buy the same one.
Su Zhenzhen looked at them and said, "This wasn't a gift from my father. I found it myself along the coast of Fujian and Guangdong." Xu Siyu examined them carefully and said, "Princess, why don't your pearls seem to be the same size?"
Nowadays, everyone loves round pearls, preferably without any flaws. The same goes for jade pendants, which cannot have even a single flaw.
She had a tray of Baroque-style pearl bracelets brought in, just enough for each of them to wear.
Su Zhenzhen picked up the largest bunch and gave it to the Crown Princess. Princess Jin, Princess Chu and the princesses also got one.
Also present were her mother, elder sister-in-law, second sister-in-law and Xu Siyu.
The current price of ordinary rubies and sapphires is 80 taels of silver to one fen (a fen), with one tael equal to 10 qian (a qian), and one fen (a fen) equaling 0.37g (1.85 carats). Pearls of equal value are much cheaper than gemstones, at 12.5 taels to one fen. Rubies and sapphires are 6.4 times more expensive than pearls. (Information sourced online by the author.)
The above pearls are all of good quality, round in color and of moderate size, but they are still a bit expensive and not as cost-effective as the gold hairpin.
After all, pearls are not as valuable as gold and gemstones. They will turn yellow with the passage of time, which means that pearls will fade with age.
The Crown Princess touched the pearl bracelets of various shapes on her wrist and couldn't let them go. "Fourth sister-in-law has such good taste. I didn't expect that pearls that are not round can be so beautiful." The Princess of Jin and others were the same. No woman can resist the temptation of pearls.
Su Zhenzhen smiled and said immediately, "I bought a pearl workshop in Fujian to cultivate pearls. In the future, sisters-in-law and princesses can buy pearl jewelry from me. I will give you a discount."
Princess Ningxia of Chu blinked and said in a daze, "So Fourth Sister-in-law wants to make money from us?" When she realized what was happening, her face turned red and she bit her lip and kept silent.
The eyes of the Crown Princess and Princess Jin moved slightly, as if they knew why their father rewarded Fourth Brother's wife with so many pearls as soon as she returned to Beijing.
Everyone realized that this flower viewing banquet had other purposes than the banquet itself.
Su Zhenzhen glanced at Ningxia and said, "Fifth sister-in-law, you are still wearing the bracelet I gave you. This is called advance investment." Thankfully, this is a fictional dynasty, and Su Zhenzhen can use modern words directly, otherwise it would be easy to be exposed.
Then he said confidently: "I won't cheat you. It is definitely worth the money. Moreover, the price is two-thirds cheaper than the round pearl headpiece. It is very nice to wear every day." Anyway, there is profit to be made.
The Crown Princess looked at Su Zhenzhen and smiled, "Then I trust Fourth Brother's wife and have made a reservation first." Princess Jin and others also echoed.
Su Zhenzhen was holding a butterfly-shaped pearl-tasseled hairpin in her hand. She smiled and said, "I plan to use the profits from this business to build the Daqin Girls' School, teaching women a craft to make a living." She blinked and looked at them, "So, would you sisters-in-law like to make a generous donation?" She looked at everyone and said, "Everyone has a share. Do you want to join in?"
They spoke up almost the next moment, "I want it! Princess Yan, I'll contribute five hundred taels." "I'll contribute six hundred taels!" "One thousand taels!" Anyone who doesn't profit from his fame is a fool.
Isn't this obviously a good thing that will make your name be remembered forever?
The Crown Princess looked at Su Zhenzhen, a hint of ambiguous emotion flashing across her eyes, and then she smiled and said, "Then I'll have to pay 5,000 taels." Never mind, the Princess of Jin also smiled and said, "Then I'll pay 4,500 taels."
Su Zhenzhen nodded, "I'll have someone carve a monument of merit for the person who funded it at the girls' school." She smiled again, "Crown Princess, you know I'm a lazy person. How about you help me with this?"
She doesn't want to work.
Besides, Su Zhenzhen just had a flash of inspiration. Thinking of the girls and women she had met along the way over the past six months, she wanted to give them another chance to choose another path.
She was not so unrealistic as to think that women could be allowed to take the imperial examinations, which was impossible in feudal society.
Men will not give up the benefits they have enjoyed for thousands of years. She is not an individual of the same era.
Perhaps by the time of the Industrial Revolution, gender equality will be possible, but there is still a long way to go.
All she could do was make the woman's life better than before.
A hint of surprise flashed across the Crown Princess's face, "Fourth sister-in-law, have you thought it through? This is a great thing that will be remembered for eternity?" Is she just going to become a hands-off boss?
Princess Jin, Princess Chu and others were surprised that Su Zhenzhen gave up power so readily. They had thought that the Crown Princess would definitely quarrel with Princess Yan over power in the future.
Su Zhenzhen looked at them innocently. "I've thought it over, Crown Princess. I'm really a lazy person. Besides, you won't erase my contributions, and my name will be remembered forever." Seeing that the Crown Princess was speechless, she smiled shyly. "Besides, I have to leave the capital with His Highness next year, so I don't have time."
Everyone: ...
Sorry to bother you, they don't deserve it.
This year, the Princess of Yan has traveled from the capital region to Jiangnan and Lingnan, and then returned to the capital along the Yangtze River. Nominally, she was accompanying His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan on a business trip.
In fact, it was just that His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan specifically asked His Majesty for a honeymoon at public expense.
You guys are actually going out next year!
By then, we'd already been married for three years and still be on our honeymoon!
Isn't that a bit too much?
For the sake of immortalizing her name, forgive her!
Ye Mingyan was very pleased. Her precious daughter, whether intentionally or unintentionally, knew how to behave well and was like a fish in water. When she returned, she asked the master to send Yao Jie'er and Su Yu's newly born daughter Yan Jie'er (future), as well as Tong Xuan'er and Zhou Ge'er to study in the mansion school after their enlightenment.
Ye Mingyan was very proud that her daughter was not the kind of woman who only knew the three obediences and four virtues and was trapped in the inner house for her whole life. It turned out that raising a daughter in wealth meant enriching her vision and knowledge.
Su Zhenzhen looked at her mother's doting eyes, revealed a sweet and well-behaved smile, and said to the Crown Princess and Princess Jin: "Crown Princess, please take good care of her. I can help Crown Princess when I'm free. I'm afraid she won't be able to handle it. Fifth brother's wife and several imperial sisters can also join us. There is strength in numbers." Their eyes lit up. Can women also have their own careers?
The Crown Princess thought for a moment and said, "But we want to build a girls' school. Shouldn't we discuss this with Father and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" Su Zhenzhen waved her hand and said, "Don't worry, my husband will take care of it. There's no need to trouble Father and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Then he looked at the cooked pot and said, "Come and eat, this pot is delicious." Everyone smiled and discussed the construction of the girls' school, which they had invested in.
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