As expected, Lian Yu immediately announced new measures.

Universal imperial examinations.

If it were another emperor suddenly throwing out this proposal, the hundred officials would definitely be stunned. But Lian Yu had given advance warning. Since age sixteen, he had consistently used his crown prince authority to develop the economy, reduce taxes, promote water conservancy, establish education, strengthen military, and reform administration… After ascending the throne, for two years he had intensified all original projects, keeping officials constantly busy—absolutely earning their salaries. In administration, he was especially strict, adopting and improving Li Zhaoting’s suggestions. After the Huang Tianba case, layer by layer down, he dismissed and dealt with many corrupt officials while implementing new policies one by one. Many people glanced at Suzhen’s position that had been empty for some time. Therefore, though this move was also quite fantastical, it wouldn’t cause the entire court to panic. Moreover, if one thought carefully, Lian Yu had mentioned this matter at least twice in court, though his tone was very light at the time. Everyone couldn’t be sure if he was just speaking casually or what, but today it seemed he had planned it long ago.

Lian Jie, Lian Qin, Yan Da, National Uncle Murong Jing, Si Lanfeng, Gao Chaoyi, and other Royalist ministers stepped forward one by one, speaking passionately about how this decree would benefit the people and should naturally be followed.

However, quite a portion of officials didn’t nod in agreement, including the Quan faction and the neutral faction led by Grand Tutor Wei.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend; naturally, what the enemy supports must be opposed.

Huang Zhongyue, since the Huang Tianba incident, seemed to have gradually transitioned from the neutral faction to the Quan faction. He stepped forward to present his case, appearing deeply pained: “Your Majesty, this absolutely must not be done!”

“Since ancient times, the Three Bonds and Five Constants have long been established. Women should observe the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, staying home to assist their husbands and educate children. Ancient poetry and books also say that women with long tongues are the root of disaster. These women have little strength, no wisdom, are jealous, and their knowledge is shallow. Their words and actions are often the root of trouble. Even managing households sometimes fails to meet standards. If they were to stand in court as officials, that would truly be… the disaster of national ruin! Please, Your Majesty, withdraw this decree.”

The more Huang Zhongyue spoke, the more excited he became. By the end, it wasn’t about factional grudges but truly his inner thoughts—the debate between men and women.

Wei Chenghui immediately followed by stepping forward to memorialize, requesting Lian Yu to think thrice before acting and not to disrupt ancestral family laws.

This Grand Tutor usually seemed to mostly protect himself wisely and didn’t lean toward either side. However, this time, whether because he considered it contrary to Confucian moral thought or for other reasons, he was also passionate in his words and disagreement.

Among the Royalist party, several old ministers also held opposing views. They supported Lian Yu but had deep-rooted Confucian thinking, believing women taking examinations violated moral order and was intolerable to heaven and earth.

For a time, in the vast court hall, officials argued on both sides with such intensity that hadn’t been seen for years since the founding of the nation!

Lian Yu didn’t speak. The young monarch’s brow and lips showed traces of irritation, his expression very angry.

With Quan Feitong absent, the Quan faction was apparently led by Huang Zhongyue. At this moment, he secretly glanced at Wei Chenghui, who didn’t respond, but his peripheral vision was clearly fixed on the emperor on the dragon throne.

Without needing to communicate anything, both understood that this reform would definitely face great resistance among the people. If it couldn’t first gain recognition from all court ministers, when news spread to the people, civilian scholars and intellectuals would probably use this as an excuse to publish opinions opposing the change.

Among women, even if there were those interested in taking examinations, such “heretical” people wouldn’t be many. There were more ignorant women in the world, or women who took pride in observing women’s moral instruction.

Then, even if Lian Yu forcibly implemented the policy, without female candidates or with only a few, this prairie fire couldn’t burn brightly. With insufficient follow-up, it would quickly die down, and this reform would be considered a complete failure, leaving only a laughable entry in Great Zhou’s history!

Huang Zhongyue secretly sneered. You, Lian Yu, are so domineering, showing the Huang family no mercy that day. Now you should also suffer some setbacks.

Just as he was pondering, a sharp gaze cut across. He was slightly startled and saw that behind the pearl curtains, Xiao’an and the others had lifted the curtains and emerged. The one meeting his gaze was precisely this Empress Dowager.

“Lord Huang, according to what you just said, women are ignorant, so this dowager shouldn’t speak here. But today there are some things I really want to say. What should I do?” Xiao’an looked at him with a half-smile and asked.

He was momentarily speechless, and the court seemed to be awed by this Empress Dowager, gradually quieting down.

“Gentlemen, this dowager, being a woman, is shallow and untalented and originally shouldn’t speak—”

But Xiao’an didn’t continue. She just swept her slightly upturned phoenix eyes over the crowd in the hall.

All officials bowed together: “The Empress Dowager is too modest. We dare not.”

Huang Zhongyue couldn’t respond for the moment, but Wei Chenghui quickly stepped forward again to memorialize: “In this old minister’s heart, the Empress Dowager and the several other ladies and princesses present are all talented women. But Your Majesty, such talented women are rare and hard to find. How many foolish women among the people can govern the country? Not to mention abandoning the foundation of the nation—once women taking examinations is implemented, women will inevitably become arrogant, participating in examinations. However, most of their essays will probably be crude, with poor diction and logic. Won’t this make neighboring countries laugh at us?”

Xiao’an’s expression changed slightly.

“The Grand Tutor speaks reasonably and expresses this princess’s thoughts,” Lian Yue suddenly emerged from behind Xiao’an, facing the court ministers: “Though this princess is a woman, I also don’t support women taking examinations. For no other reason than four words.”

As she spoke, she smiled and knelt before Xiao’an: “Your Majesty, that is… ancestral family law. Lian Yue knows that Your Majesty supports His Majesty’s new decree, but Lian Yue, as a princess of the Great Zhou royal family, cannot watch ancestral family law be destroyed. If my mother were here, though she too was a woman, she would probably not agree either.”

Lian Xin and Murong Jin were caught off guard and shocked, while only Aluo remained relatively calm. Xiao’an’s gaze turned cold, and in the complete silence of the hall, she laughed coldly: “Very good. You’re indeed a good daughter taught by your mother. This dowager thought I was good at training dogs, never thinking some bitches can never be tamed no matter how you train them.”

Her words were directly insulting, and seeing the two of them, all officials couldn’t help but be shocked.

Lian Yue didn’t get angry but smiled instead, maintaining a very respectful posture. As her long lashes moved, they cast faint shadows on her cheeks.

Lian Qin and others were as anxious as ants on a hot pot.

Lian Qin tugged at Lian Jie’s sleeve, gritting his teeth and lowering his voice: “Seventh Brother, didn’t you say you had already reached an agreement with the Princess Imperial? Why is she now biting back instead?”

Lian Jie’s expression was ugly, clear anger already showing in his eyes.

“Sixth Brother was right. She won’t help us—she deceived me! I always thought she had the Great Zhou royal family in her heart, that this was reform promoted by the royal family, thinking she would assist. Who knew Huo Chang’an’s matter completely changed her. Originally, Sixth Brother and the Empress Dowager told me not to find her, but I was too foolish!”

Yan Da also gave National Uncle Murong a meaningful look: “National Uncle, this matter was already difficult, and now I fear it will give people more ammunition…”

National Uncle Murong smiled bitterly and sighed deeply: “Everything about my sister is good, but once it involves Consort Ai’s matter…”

“This subject pays respects to His Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!”

Wei Chenghui and Huang Zhongyue exchanged glances and smiled. Wei Chenghui’s gaze was dark as he seized the opportunity to speak: “Please forgive this old minister’s offense. Even if the Empress Dowager and Princess Imperial are phoenixes among women, now they’re having… conflicts in their words due to political disagreements. How can ordinary women and common wives in the world bear the weight of this court hall and the vastness of the realm?”

Speaking to his passionate point, he lifted his robes and knelt, even deliberately adopting an attitude of dying remonstrance. Encouraged by him, even several old ministers from the Royalist party knelt in dying remonstrance.

“This is bad!” Yan Da, Lian Jie and others exchanged glances, all alarmed in their hearts. Not only was the Princess Imperial singing a different tune from them, she probably deliberately angered Xiao’an.

“This subject pays respects to His Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!”

Huang Zhongyue was secretly pleased and about to lead the ministers in kneeling to petition when he suddenly saw that the irritation in Lian Yu’s brow had long disappeared. He slowly stood up, his lips slightly curved. Suspicious in his heart, he suddenly heard voices from outside the hall.

All officials startled and turned around, only to see three elderly men slowly walking in. These three had reached their sixties and seventies—one in front, two behind, wearing white shirts, gray robes, and black clothes respectively, all in plain civilian dress. The two behind either had peaceful features or short, thin builds with nothing particularly special about them, but both had scholarly literary aura in their brows. The one in front was tall, with clear, thin features, eyes containing bright light, as if everything worldly was reflected in his eyes—truly an immortal, otherworldly bearing. If what he carried wasn’t a heavy scroll of paper but a horsetail whisk, he would look exactly like a transcendent immortal cultivator.

Officials grew increasingly puzzled—who exactly were these three people?

At this moment, Lian Yu had already stepped down from the dragon throne, walked to the center, and actually smiled as he bowed to the three: “Today I have the honor of meeting Masters Mingjing and Shiyu, and… the Great Confucian Tingyu. I am deeply honored.”

Hearing this, everyone was greatly shocked. Though they had never seen these three people, they had heard these three names—they were renowned throughout Great Zhou, representing the highest learning in the world. Among them, Great Confucian Tingyu’s reputation resounded throughout all nations.

Using learning to help the world, students everywhere.

Among them, today’s absent Vice Minister of Revenue Li Zhaoting and current Prime Minister Quan Feitong were both his disciples. At the same time, in this hall was also one of his female disciples—formerly Gu Shuangcheng, now Gu Xiluo.

He lived hidden in deep valleys. The late emperor had wanted to invite him out and make him prime minister, but he hadn’t agreed. Who would have thought he would suddenly appear in this court hall today.

“Your Majesty is too kind. How can we mountain folk bear such great ceremony from the sage ruler?” The white-robed elder at the front lowered his head in return courtesy, then smiled slightly, his gaze falling on Lian Yue and Wei Chenghui. “The Princess and Grand Tutor speak reasonably, but this commoner humbly believes that all things in this world wax and wane, there are times for decline and growth, breaking and establishing—nothing is established without breaking. Before Great Zhou, wasn’t this court hall ruled by Tang people? But Tang was incompetent, so Zhou Taizu followed the way of heaven, destroying the old and building the new. Was this wrong or right? They say the hen rules the morning, but everyone in the world—who wasn’t born from a hen? Having the world in one’s heart—is this only for men?”

As he spoke, his hand holding the scroll moved quickly, and the scroll in his hand unrolled downward, spreading out and extending several yards, right to Lian Yu’s feet.