Jiang Huaiqian didn't expect his father to ask such a question, and he couldn't help laughing: "Although I have never seen the little Jiuniang with my own eyes, I know that the child is not obese, but is a little plumper and rounder, and is still very cute."
Thinking of the portrait he saw at his mother's house a month ago, Jiang Huaiqian couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth again.
At that time, when he saw the fat doll with peony on his head and short clothes, he thought it was the palace maid who painted the New Year doll to make his mother happy.
After all, he had only seen An Yu in real life, with a rosy and plump little face, sparkling round eyes with a smile, small arms and legs like lotus joints, and an extraordinarily festive child with red lips and white teeth.
"The queen mother was worried that her cousin was showing off her daughter's good taste because he was raising the child to be too fat, so she sent two imperial doctors from the imperial hospital, Zhang and Chen, who were good at treating children, to check her pulse.
When the two imperial doctors came back, they both said that the child was in extremely good health, which was rarely seen among noble families in the capital. He did not need to pay special attention to his health, it was just fine if he was raised like this. There was no need to worry about the child's body, they just said that it would be fine as he grew older. "
Of course, given that the little guy has such a good foundation, it will be difficult for him to become thin even when he grows up. He is probably just... slightly plump, right?
Jiang Huaiqian thought so, feeling a little envious.
He currently has more than a dozen children, all of whom are well-fed and well-fed, but each one is thinner and thinner than the last.
If Anyu hadn't raised him well, he would have thought there was something wrong with the way the family raised children!
Thinking of the feel of his nephew Anyu's chubby paws, Prince Jiang Huaiqian began to envy his cousin in melancholy.
Emperor Chengyuan did not expect that his momentary curiosity would arouse such rich associations in his son's heart.
At the moment, he was smacking the little poems written by the two daughters of the third son of the Sheng family, and while he was having fun, he asked Yang Xun to send someone to check to see if the layout of the Qin family's boudoir was really that exaggerated, and then asked Lin Che's cousin Not really like Sheng An.
Hearing Emperor Chengyuan mention Lin Che, Jiang Huaiqian's eyes moved slightly: "Father, the Lin family is a wealthy family in the Later Qi Dynasty. This time, he will donate some islands to his family in Chu, and there are quite a lot of mineral deposits in them."
"The gift is astonishing, and what he asks for is not shallow. He may not only want to preserve his family." Emperor Chengyuan heard the words, his face was pale, "I have never forced him to donate his assets, and I will not be jealous of his family's accumulation over generations. If he keeps to himself, I can tolerate it...I'm just afraid that people's hearts are not enough."
Jiang Huaiqian said nothing, thinking about the collection of books accumulated by the Lin family for generations, and he was very moved.
Emperor Chengyuan didn't want to guess his son's thoughts. He chuckled and asked, "What can you tell from the farce in the sea of flowers in Taoyuan?"
Jiang Huaiqian thought to himself that it was just children's nonsense, so he shook his head honestly: "The Lin-Qin Alliance is not worth mentioning."
"That's not what I'm talking about."
Emperor Chengyuan looked at him, his lips moved slightly as if he had something to say, but when he reached his lips, the words turned into a sigh:
"I thought that Qin Erniang would have a falling out with Sheng Ran. I didn't expect that the little girl was very smart. She didn't push forward when she should retreat. She was discerning and disrespectful. She didn't hesitate when it was time to give up. Even if the two families already have an alliance... …What does this mean?”
Jiang Huaiqian felt that his father was thinking too much, so he bowed his head and remained silent.
Emperor Chengyuan frowned slightly: "Not to mention the sharp-tongued Sheng An, this smooth Qin Erniang, and even Qin Wuniang who is slightly annoying but can come out to deal with her at critical moments, are no less than that Lin Che! Prince, I will follow you As you said, don’t underestimate women, even if they are still little girls.”
Jiang Huaiqian did not understand why his father insisted on opening the way for women to take the imperial examination: "Father, for two or three thousand years, it has been a common practice for men to take charge of foreign affairs and women to take charge of housework. If we set a precedent from our dynasty, I am afraid that the ministers in the dynasty will be dissatisfied, and then there will be another Add more twists and turns.”
Emperor Chengyuan stared into his eyes and asked: "The split between Chu and Qi has been a common practice for thousands of years. According to what you said, why do I insist on swallowing Qi and returning to Chu? Why do I want to point my sword at the grassland?"
Jiang Huaiqian saw that although his father asked two questions in a row, his words were gentle and his eyes were encouraging. He knew that this was the only chance to be honest, so he said truthfully: "But the two are not the same."
"What's the difference? It's just breaking the rules. I look at the ancient records. Before Yao and Shun, there was even a period when women were the most respected. It can be seen that everything changes and starts again and again. Why can't the rules be changed?"
Jiang Huaiqian hesitated: "I'm afraid there's a lot of resistance up and down the court."
Emperor Chengyuan laughed: "Prince, do you think the interests of the monarch and his ministers are really consistent?"
Jiang Huaiqian was about to say yes, but couldn't help but think about it more and felt that he couldn't be absolutely sure.
When Emperor Chengyuan saw him like this, a smile flashed in his eyes: "It is said that the whole world is not the land of the king, and the shores of the land are not the king's ministers. The subjects of this world, men and women, are all my people. They are protected by me and serve as my messengers. .What is the difference between men and women to me?
The courtiers' objections had their own reasons, but the reduction in official status and authority was a hindrance to their interests. But for the emperor and the royal family, wouldn't it be a good thing to have more loyal talents to help the great Chu flourish?
Look at the courtiers, even if they form cliques for personal gain, use power and money, and corrupt the country, for them it is just a matter of changing the country and the court. They can still take scientific examinations and still be officials. In the end, they will still be high-ranking officials with generous salaries. But what about the royal family of Chu? If the world changes, how will the Jiang family of Chu cope with it? "
Jiang Huaiqian had obviously not considered the problem from this perspective. At this moment, he could not help but feel his heart gradually: "What the father said is true, but... When a woman becomes an official, it is inevitable that she will be affected by the three obediences and the four virtues. Even if she becomes an official, she may be even more controlled by the family. Her father's Brothers, their husbands and their children, who are not bound to each other? I am afraid that they will become puppets."
"It depends on what the emperor does. As long as we are treated fairly, these problems will gradually cease to be a problem."
Emperor Chengyuan looked like he was wise. He took the teacup handed by Yang Xun, spread the tea leaves gently, took a few sips, and then motioned for the prince to drink tea, and then continued: "It is said that literacy begins with worries in life. This person knows how to see more, and when he has a broad mind and a broad vision, he will think more and want more.
If women have talents and a place to display their talents in pursuit of fame and wealth, do you think they would still be happy to be locked away within high walls without freedom?
Although they are obviously very talented, their family still favors their incompetent brothers. As time goes by and they have seen more, do you think they might feel resentful?
There are few men in the world who are infatuated. If you find a lover who only takes a spoonful of water, that's it. If your husband has three wives and four concubines, and the land is full of concubines, how can a woman be willing to do so? How could he not have any reservations?
When people have the ability to fight for and protect their own interests, then they will have enough confidence. At that time, for a woman, her father, brother, and husband are no longer the authority; it is easy to talk about it when it does not affect her own interests, but if it does, there will be resistance!
Therefore, as long as women know that the foundation of their lives lies in the Emperor of Chu, they can rely on the Emperor of Chu who can treat them equally!
The imperial court only selects talents based on ability and character, not gender. As long as education is in place, guess who is the person in the world who most wants to protect the country of Chu? "
Emperor Chengyuan's slightly seductive tone made Jiang Huaiqian feel uneasy.
He heard his father say in a low but powerful voice: "Even if unscrupulous people cause dynasties to change in a few generations, even if the country changes hands at that time, the women of the world will still try their best to choose a master whose attitude towards women is similar to ours.
And if such people are in power, whether they actively or passively continue to recognize women's imperial examinations, they will definitely take the opportunity to inherit the country in the name of inheriting the orthodoxy of Da Chu.
In this way, it is impossible to leave a way for those unscrupulous descendants in future generations to survive, and maybe they can still become Xiaoyaohou or an ordinary wealthy family. "
The far-reaching concerns of Emperor Chengyuan made Jiang Huaiqian stunned for a long time, and he didn't know what to say for a long time.
After a long while, he slowly breathed a sigh of relief and said half-jokingly: "My father is far-sighted and far-sighted, which is beyond the reach of his sons, but...my father is not afraid of royal ladies and no longer respects his father, brother, and husband?"
When Emperor Chengyuan heard this, he seemed to have heard a joke. He looked at him up and down for a long time and sneered: "The royal family has always been different from the courtiers and common people. Even without this move, how could the concubines in the harem be simple? In the past few years, my harem has Isn’t it a battlefield anymore?
Even if she is a woman with no ideas, who can survive in the harem and have the three obediences and four virtues? Who can command the three armies without wearing armor?
The status of women has never had a great impact on the royal family! "
Jiang Huaiqian was once again shocked by his father's remarks.
Emperor Chengyuan couldn't help but shake his head when he saw that he was struck by lightning.
I thought to myself, after all, the prince is still immature and not knowledgeable enough!
He is the only one who can produce many people in his backyard. Let's see what happens after he succeeds to the throne!
Although he didn't want to admit it, Emperor Chengyuan couldn't help but feel relieved.
"I originally wanted to discuss these words with you after the garden party is over and the female guard has compiled the poems and articles written by boys and girls. But since I happened to say it... let's talk about it!
Of course, don't worry about it. Although I want to open the way for women to take the imperial examination, I will not issue an explicit decree. In the future, this merit... I will leave it to you.
Even if you regret not choosing this path, it doesn't matter.
After all, I am getting old, and I have more ambition but less strength. Therefore, all I can do is to think of a way out for future generations. This choice may not be the best. Whether you choose it or not is up to you. If it is really unacceptable, just give up!
But you have to remember that it is better not to do such a precedent-setting move than to do it in vain. If you cannot truly treat female officials fairly, you may make them angry and lose their will over time. "
After Emperor Chengyuan said this in one breath, he waved his hand for the prince to leave: "I'm tired of all this, so I won't leave you to eat here. You go to Manfu Palace and stay with your mother there. After eating, Leave the palace again."
Jiang Huaiqian was agitated by what Emperor Chengyuan said. Although he wanted to talk about it again, he knew that it was not easy to talk about it at this moment, so he could only take a deep breath, bow and exit.
After leaving Manfu Palace and returning home, he withdrew his attendants and ordered no one to disturb him. Then he went into the study alone and sat in front of the case in a daze. After a while, he opened the drawer and took out two identical notebooks.
His hand paused for a moment, then he no longer hesitated. He put one back and opened the other to take a look. Then, he neatly put it into the pen washer, letting the writing inside blur and then gradually disappear.
At the same time, after a full meal, Sheng Yuan and her sister came to Huguangshise.
