Chapter 84

Grand Tutor Tu was seething with anger and discontent, but he could only force it down and continue trying to persuade her.

Even so, the other party remained unmoved.

Grand Tutor Tu grew increasingly dissatisfied with the person now seated on the imperial throne and took it upon himself to act as an admonishing official, his words filled with reproach.

“Your Majesty, there is one more matter I must advise against. Establishing female officials and promoting women’s independence is an outrage against the entire world!”

“A few days ago, I perused several books for women in the library. They were truly vile, poisonous texts that corrupt women! A woman dying of hunger is a small matter; losing her chastity is a grave one. Chaste women are the true embodiment of feminine virtue. The Three Obediences and Four Virtues are the foundation of a woman’s proper conduct. If such poisonous texts are allowed to exist… in time, all of Yan Chi will surely descend into chaos, with rites and morality utterly destroyed!”

Grand Tutor Tu spoke with ringing force, citing the classics and historical examples of women who had brought ruin upon their countries.

He even cast a slightly smug glance at the other officials, waiting for them to immediately echo his outrage and join him in demanding that His Majesty abolish the policy of appointing female officials and promoting women’s independence.

Who could have guessed that the officials were indeed outraged—but at him.

The officials’ inner thoughts: You want to rescue Prince Ze, fine, but why are you, you malicious old geezer, dragging female officials into this?

During this period, Yan Chi had been widely publicizing the stories of women such as Pan Yuliang, Geng Gu, and Liang Hongyu, encouraging women to become strong and self-reliant. In particular, the examples of the two female officials, Wan Yu and Ning Ying, as well as the astonishing surprises continuously brought by someone as extraordinary as Consort Miao, had shaken them deeply.

Many of the officials had gone from resistance and disgust, to reluctant acceptance, and finally to restless eagerness.

As men, they understood better than anyone how unreliable certain men’s feelings could be. A marriage alliance was not necessarily secure, but if their daughters entered the palace as female officials and gained influence in the court, they could provide even greater support for their families!

Quite a few of them had already recommended their own daughters for official positions at court…

Once ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‍their own interests were involved, people became shamelessly inconsistent.

Before Yun Yaoyao even had to speak, several officials could not resist speaking up to refute Grand Tutor Tu.

Grand Tutor Tu stared at them in disbelief, his lips trembling furiously. The anger and shock in his murky old eyes seemed to say: You pack of traitors! Have you all become the Emperor’s lapdogs?

Yun Yaoyao merely smiled faintly. It seemed that her efforts over the past few days had indeed produced results.

In an unhurried voice, Yun Yaoyao said, “Grand Tutor Tu, you acknowledge that men should stand on their own, yet you refuse to allow women to do the same. Are you determined to divide people into different ranks and classes? Would that not violate the principle you yourself invoked—that the Son of Heaven is subject to the same law as commoners? Does that mean nobles should be superior to everyone else under every circumstance? That ‘what is permitted to the governor is forbidden to the common people’ is also correct?”

This was the first time Grand Tutor Tu had become a target for everyone’s attacks. His dignity thoroughly trampled, he began trying to attack other points in an effort to recover some of his pride.

“Let that matter rest for now. The last time I visited the library, I discovered many rare and unique books. How could common fools who have never received a proper education possibly understand them? Is leaving such books there not a waste of treasures, an insult to the wisdom of our ancestors, and a misuse of valuable resources?”

At this, Yun Yaoyao slowly shook her head, the amusement in her eyes growing even stronger.

Grand Tutor Tu was easier to deal with than she had imagined. Perhaps he had been praised for so long that he had more ink than wisdom.

“I had thought Grand Tutor Tu learned and well-read,” Yun Yaoyao said. “I never expected that you would possess knowledge without any reverence for the countless common people of this world. Were you not also an ignorant child who had yet to be enlightened when you were young? Yet your family still cultivated you, allowing you to read any number of rare and unique books.”

“There are quite a few officials in this court who were born into humble families. If we go back even several generations, many of these ministers came from common backgrounds. They, too, received no formal education when they were young. Are you saying none of them deserve to read rare books?”

“By placing rare and unique books in the public library for the people to borrow, we demonstrate the excellence of papermaking and printing, the enlightened rule of the Son of Heaven, and the strength of Yan Chi. Yet all you can see is that these books are being wasted…”

At this point, Yun Yaoyao stopped speaking. She gave Grand Tutor Tu a profound look, then turned her head away and shook it, sighing as disappointment overflowed from her expression.

The officials grew even more dissatisfied.

You old geezer!

You always thought yourself superior when you were in court before, and now you’re mocking us for not being worthy of reading good books? Who wasn’t from a humble family a few generations back?

And you keep calling us common fools. You’ve read a few more books—are you planning to ascend to heaven now?

The officials once again descended upon Grand Tutor Tu with a torrent of criticism.

Even a humble-born official in Prince Ze’s faction, who had struggled greatly to study in his youth, could not resist making a few sarcastic remarks.

Only after finishing did he realize that Grand Tutor Tu had come on Prince Ze’s behalf. Why had he accidentally attacked one of his own?

Oh dear. He had simply lost his temper for a moment. Please, Grand Tutor Tu, carry on~

By now, Grand Tutor Tu had completely forgotten about pressuring the Emperor on Prince Ze’s behalf. His old face had turned bright red, his entire body trembling with rage, and his eyes seemed ready to spit fire.

The Former Emperor had been raised under his strict tutelage, while Prince Ze had both feared and respected him.

Yet Tu Shanjin had come from the Cold Palace. He was an unfavored prince who had received no proper education as a child. After ascending the throne, how dare he treat Grand Tutor Tu with such disrespect?

And what of this whole group of officials who showed no respect for their sovereign?

His fury overwhelmed his reason. Grand Tutor Tu blurted out, “Your Majesty, although I never formally taught you, you secretly listened to my lectures several times when you were still a prince. I may be considered half your teacher. Were Your Majesty’s words just now not a violation of the principles of honoring one’s teacher and respecting the Way?”

The moment Grand Tutor Tu said this, Yun Yaoyao’s expression turned completely cold.

She advanced step by step, her voice icy. “The state comes first. As the ruler of a nation, should I prioritize honoring my teacher, as Grand Tutor Tu suggests, or should you first remain loyal to and respect your sovereign?”

Her pitch-black eyes were so cold that they seemed to look down upon a lowly insect that could be crushed at any moment. For the first time, Grand Tutor Tu was frightened enough to retreat two full steps.

Only now, when he looked properly at this ruler before him, did Grand Tutor Tu realize that Tu Shanjin was no longer the unfavored prince of his youth—the one he had caught secretly listening to his lectures time and again, and whom he could scold and punish at will.

He held the highest authority in all of Yan Chi. If he wished, he could kill Grand Tutor Tu!

The realization left Grand Tutor Tu drenched in a cold sweat.

He still wanted to say something, but the other party had already regained her composure.

“Grand Tutor Tu, I am tired today. Present your matters again tomorrow.”

With that, she left without looking back.

Grand Tutor Tu had originally intended to use the Former Emperor’s edict to pressure her, but he also knew that now was not the right time. He could only plan to return to Xuanzheng Hall the next day.

By then, he had a general understanding of the court’s situation. Tomorrow, he would surely be able to use the edict to force His Majesty to release Prince Ze!

The moment court was dismissed, Yun Yaoyao secretly summoned the Dragon Shadow Guards.

The Dragon Shadow Guards knelt respectfully before her, their chests burning with fervor.

His Majesty had not formally summoned them like this in a long time. These were troubled times, and surely His Majesty was about to give them an order capable of unleashing a storm of blood and carnage!

“I have an important mission for you,” came the stern and dignified voice from the throne.

The Dragon Shadow Guards looked up excitedly.

Go on, Your Majesty. As the most elite force under your command, no matter how difficult the mission, they would certainly complete it!

“Tonight, go steal the Former Emperor’s edict from Grand Tutor Tu.”

The Dragon Shadow Guards: ???