Watching the great army move slowly like a long dragon, growing more distant, Shen Qingzhu urged her horse forward and said quietly to Bai Qingyan: “Eldest Miss, let’s return! You still need to go to the Imperial Academy at the si hour.”
Bai Qingyan nodded, pulled the reins, and turned her horse around: “Let’s go back!”
“Eldest Miss, I received news… last night, some Imperial Academy students went to request Master Guan Yongchong,” Shen Qingzhu said quietly to Bai Qingyan as she rode beside her.
Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together without speaking, her hand quietly tightening on the reins.
She naturally knew why those students had gone to request her teacher, but Bai Qingyan believed… her teacher would understand her intention in allowing women to enter schools, take the imperial examinations, and serve as officials.
Back then, her teacher had been able to defend her outside the Wude Gate in front of so many students, calling her the pride of his life, so she believed her teacher would surely understand her intentions in doing this.
After all, if women could be allowed to study, take imperial examinations, and serve as officials, then… the entire Great Zhou dynasty would have twice as many talented people to select from.
Not judging superiority by gender, not ranking high and low by gender, with everyone equal… each contributing to the Kingdom and people with their own strengths, this nation would grow strong at several times the speed.
“It’s nothing. Let’s return. Have Wei Zhong prepare to depart for the Imperial Academy,” Bai Qingyan said.
The Imperial Academy’s Sacrificial Wine and Chancellor, along with everyone from the Imperial Academy, had been standing early at the academy gates awaiting the Empress.
The morning sun was beginning to shine brightly, and fine golden light filtered through the layers of green foliage from the tall trees, falling on the shoulders of the Imperial Academy students. The students, unaware of this, stood behind the Sacrificial Wine and Chancellor, whispering among themselves, still discussing how to fearlessly debate with Bai Qingyan.
On the grass leaves on both sides of the Imperial Academy’s high steps, several dewdrops hung precariously, each one brilliantly shining, as if a small world was embedded within them, containing the dazzling morning sun, the academy’s slate-black tiled roofs with their layered eaves, and these neatly dressed, spirited students.
Suddenly, someone came galloping to report that the Empress was about to arrive. The Sacrificial Wine hurriedly took the Chancellor’s hand and walked down two steps from the platform. Seeing Bai Qingyan riding from the bright morning light in the distance, he quickly lifted the hem of his robe and led all the Imperial Academy instructors and students down to greet her.
The students had thought that today Bai Qingyan would come wearing dragon robes in male attire… after all, after the Xiliang Empress ascended the throne, she wore Xiliang imperial robes and would appear in emperor’s attire when holding court.
They had repeatedly deliberated over this matter last night and had prepared to make an issue of it today. Unexpectedly, Bai Qingyan sat on horseback, not wearing imperial robes. She wore plain white riding attire, her raven-black hair styled in a high cloud bun, with no pearls or jade ornaments in her hair, only a white jade goose hairpin. From a distance, she was a strikingly beautiful woman of elegant refinement, yet within that clear elegance was an extremely profound sense of steady dignity that prevented anyone from harboring even the slightest disrespect due to her beauty.
Bai Qingyan was escorted by heavy armored cavalry, approaching slowly and stopping at the foot of the Imperial Academy’s high steps.
“Greetings to Your Majesty!” The elderly Sacrificial Wine was the first to kneel and bow to Bai Qingyan.
No one from the Imperial Academy dared to put on airs, and all knelt and kowtowed.
Bai Qingyan dismounted and personally bent down to help the elderly Sacrificial Wine to his feet: “You are all pillars of our Great Zhou’s future. There’s no need for excessive ceremony. I know you students have many questions to ask and many opinions to express. Please enter the Imperial Academy and take your seats first. Today, Bai Qingyan has entrusted all court affairs to Grand Marshal Lu and will remain here at the Imperial Academy with you students to clear the grievances in our hearts, so that in the future… we may work together with one heart to support Great Zhou.”
The woman in narrow-sleeved riding attire cupped her hands toward everyone, her voice calm and gentle. Standing among these Imperial Academy students in their loose robes with wide sleeves swaying in the wind, holding whisks with elegant bearing, she appeared particularly refined and graceful.
Bai Qingyan did not try to gloss over the situation. She knew the Imperial Academy students harbored much resentment. She put on no airs, used no intimidation, and spoke candidly, dedicating this entire day to clearing grievances with these students who had not yet entered government service, after which they would set aside past conflicts and work together to build Great Zhou. Her magnanimity and broad-mindedness truly won the students’ respect.
Xue Renyi, who had once gained great fame by beating the petition drum to plead for students worldwide and exposing the imperial examination fraud case, had been exceptionally admitted to the Imperial Academy because of this incident. Today, he was also among the students who would debate with Bai Qingyan, and he sincerely bowed to Bai Qingyan again, following the Sacrificial Wine and the instructors.
Bai Qingyan entered the Naxian Hall lecture hall surrounded by the Imperial Academy students.
The Sacrificial Wine had long ordered preparations to be made, setting up seats throughout the Naxian Hall under its ancient flourishing branches and garden full of shade. The usually quiet Naxian Hall was packed with Imperial Academy students on both the first and second floors, leaving no empty seats. Those few students who harbored thoughts of remonstrating with Bai Qingyan unto death knelt in the first-floor seats, and even outside the Naxian Hall, heads crowded together.
Bai Qingyan knelt in the center of a clear spring, with the sound of gurgling water in her ears and the rhythmic tapping of bamboo hitting stone as it filled with water. In this hot summer season, the cool sensation seemed able to soothe people’s restless hearts.
After taking her seat, Bai Qingyan first bowed and said, “Whatever dissatisfaction you have with the new policies, speak freely today. If your words can truly benefit the people, Bai Qingyan will reward you with high positions.”
A student loudly said to Bai Qingyan, “This humble one dares to speak. Regarding Your Majesty’s… decision to allow women to take imperial examinations and serve as officials, I am greatly puzzled. This is not because I am pedantic or look down on women, but because, since ancient times, men have managed external affairs while women have managed internal affairs. If women can take imperial examinations and serve as officials, who will support husbands and teach children?”
Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded, slowly beginning to speak: “From ancient times to now… which law has ever stated that men should manage external affairs while women manage internal affairs? Which law has explicitly stated that women should support husbands and teach children? That women should enter schools, take imperial examinations, and serve as officials… why does this make you students so indignant? Bai Qingyan has roughly analyzed this and found several reasons…”
“First, as this student said, since ancient times, men have managed external affairs while women have managed internal affairs. If women can take imperial examinations and enter government service, there will be no one at home to serve elders or teach children. Even worse, men would need to manage internal affairs, which would greatly lower their status. Second, imperial examinations are the only path for students from poor families to enter government service. If women can take examinations and serve as officials, they will inevitably replace some students. After all, official positions are limited, and this would inevitably give scholars throughout the realm more competition! Third…” Bai Qingyan smiled faintly, “I’m afraid it’s because of dissatisfaction with Bai Qingyan ascending to the imperial throne, is it not?”
“Women who brought disaster to nations are not few in history! Daji, Baosi… which of them was not a demon concubine who brought disaster to the Kingdom and harm to the people! How can women bear great responsibilities?!” Hearing Bai Qingyan mention the matter of the imperial throne, Xue Renyi clenched his teeth and stood up with the determination to die.