Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 946

Chapter 946: Chapter 942: Alliance Between Two Nations

What is the difference between opposing women entering the school to take imperial exams and opposing Bai Qingyan, a woman, ascending the throne?

The officials of the Zhou Dynasty did not dare to oppose, but this decree stirred up a great storm in the hearts of the Yan envoy, Xiao Rongyan, and the Xiliang envoy and Li Zhijie.

Li Zhijie’s palm tightened, in Xiliang... the status of women is higher than that of women in the Jin Kingdom, yet even their Empress of Xiliang did not dare, after ascending the throne, to go against the world’s tradition and have the idea of appointing women as officials.

Bai Qingyan dare to make such a move upon her initial ascension. Is it truly feeling assured of success, or is it acting impulsively, thinking she can challenge the established protocol simply because she became the Empress of Zhou?

Xiao Rongyan, standing behind the "Ninth Prince of Yan," nonchalantly glanced around, noticing that almost half of the Zhou Dynasty officials looked displeased. He subtly sweated on behalf of Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan seemed too hasty in employing women as officials...

Haste is not always a good thing. Xiao Rongyan’s mother, Empress Ji, once wanted to elevate the status of women, allowing them to enter the court as officials, but eventually caused Yan Kingdom scholars to oppose, even causing them to gather at the palace gates, fiercely criticizing his mother as a demon empress misleading the country.

King of Hedong lowered his eyelids, his lips slightly curved. Indeed... Bai Qingyan is indeed moving forward with the idea of employing women as officials.

In this way, the efforts made to influence the scholars during this period were not in vain, and he could make something out of this matter.

When the decree was read, the officials of Zhou kneeled in gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Zhou!"

The enthronement ceremony came to a close amidst the shock of envoys from various nations.

After the ceremony, there was a banquet to host envoys from various countries. The female relatives of important ministers entered the palace and reached the Xuanming Palace where the banquet was set. They sat in the places led by attendants, conversing quietly to each side.

Some women from noble families, well-versed in poetry and books, heard today Bai Qingyan issued a decree to establish women’s schools, allowing women to participate in imperial exams and become officials, and trembled with excitement. Years of good upbringing and reservedness made them restrain their surging emotions, sitting and smiling expectantly, imagining joining their fathers in court as officials, making their fathers proud.

All the noble ladies were knowledgeable, knowing Bai Qingyan planned to elevate the status of women, which was reasonable since Bai Qingyan herself was a woman.

The entire Xuanming Palace was discussing Bai Qingyan’s new policy about allowing women to take exams and become officials.

Previously, one of the new policies encouraged widows to remarry. If a woman was widowed and had children, she shouldn’t remarry; the clan could not forcibly seize her husband’s estate. If the widow’s parents-in-law were still alive and she remarried with children, regardless of dowry, she must hand over half of her husband’s estate to her parents-in-law. If a woman stayed single with her children and remarried, she must leave her husband’s estate to her children. This new policy stirred much anger among scholars, violating traditional familial norms, creating a great stir among the populace.

They were interested in the Ninth Prince of Yan because they had seen the extraordinary Emperor Yan, Murong Yu. At least for now... these noble ladies had never seen a man more outstanding and handsome than Murong Yu; they wanted to know whether the Ninth Prince of Yan under the mask was as handsome as his brother.

They were interested in the Rong Ghost-faced Prince because they heard the prince was extremely ugly; curiosity drove these innocent ladies to see what kind of ugliness lay beneath the mask.

As for Li Zhijie, most of the noble ladies who came to the Xuanming Palace today had already seen him and were not very curious.

Li Zhijie took advantage of how Yan previously allowed Xiliang to see their treaty with Rong as a pretense to present himself favorably to the Ninth Prince of Yan, talking with him about the new policies of the Zhou Empress Bai Qingyan.

"This Zhou Empress has just ascended the throne, and every new policy challenges the conventional etiquette and aristocratic interests, too abrupt without comprehensive planning. If not for the military power in hand... it would be hard to stabilize the position!" Li Zhijie kneeling before the table, unfolded a sturdy folding fan, fanning occasionally.

The masked Ninth Prince of Yan sat upright, his voice steady: "Whose royal position is not stable due to the military power in hand? In the chaos of Yunjing... if it weren’t for King Yan’s escort with troops, perhaps the Empress of Xiliang’s position would be unstable as well."

Li Zhijie chuckled, his gaze drifted toward Xiao Rongyan seated behind the Ninth Prince of Yan: "I heard... Mr. Xiao and the Zhou Empress have an engagement, today the Ninth Prince brought Mr. Xiao, does it intend an alliance through marriage? If so, why not have Emperor Yan grant Mr. Xiao a title, elevate his status, establishing good relations between the two countries?"

Li Zhijie intentionally flattered Xiao Rongyan, nodding with a smile toward him.