Choosing a consort (conclusion)

After 011 finished speaking, all the women in the Green Lotus Pavilion gazed at Meng Jiyao with admiration. They admired her courage in fighting back, and admired even more how she had outperformed a host of men to become Palace Examination Third Place. Not one of them envied Meng Jiyao.

In the eyes of many men, women loved getting jealous over trivial matters, forever envying one person or resenting another.

Little did they know that when women fought, it was never for anything else. It was for themselves.

In this era, women's status fell below that of men. If they did not fight and struggle for themselves, they would have nothing.

"Sister Meng, you're amazing!" A young woman in a pale yellow ruqun, her hair arranged in an ingot-shaped bun, cupped her round cheeks and gazed at Meng Jiyao in admiration.

Meng Jiyao smiled at her, a trace of wistfulness mingling with her modesty. "I've merely read a few more books than the rest of you. It's nothing remarkable. We're all the same."

The young noblewomen could not help looking downcast at her words. Indeed, what use was reading more books? In the end, they were still confined to the inner quarters.

If women could study and serve as officials just as men did, they might not be any worse than those men.

Just as the young noblewomen were sinking into dejection, Shen Shixu's inner voice rang out like heavenly music. [This Miss Meng Jiyao certainly has courage, daring to fight injustice. Her talent and learning are impressive, too. Come to think of it, if the Crown Prince chose her as his consort, it would be a good thing for both him and Miss Meng.

The Crown Prince needs a consort with ability, a good family background, talent, beauty, and character. Such a woman could help him manage his household at home, and help him assess the political situation and navigate social relationships outside it.

And after becoming the crown princess, Miss Meng could use the Crown Prince's influence to secure benefits for women—for instance, founding an academy for women and setting a precedent for women to serve as officials.]

Shen Shixu's words stunned everyone in Penglai Hall and the Green Lotus Pavilion. The men in Penglai Hall all considered his words outrageous and subversive. Letting women study and become officials would overturn the moral and social order.

They wanted to say something, but Xiao Jinyi's icy glare left them afraid to utter even half a sentence.

For the women in the Green Lotus Pavilion, however, it was as though Shen Shixu had lit a fire in their hearts. Female officials? If such an opportunity existed, they would fight for it with their lives.

It would be their only chance to escape confinement in the inner quarters, to stop living at the mercy of their husbands' and parents' moods, and to take control of their own destinies.

Shen Shixu's inner voice sounded again. [What a pity. The choice of crown princess isn't something other people can easily interfere with. Some ideas can only remain thoughts in my own head!]

Regret was written all over Shen Shixu's face, but Xiao Yuanqi had begun considering the idea. He had no one he particularly liked to begin with, and after hearing Shen Shixu's thoughts, he had developed some interest in Meng Jiyao.

Xiao Jinyi had grown up alongside Xiao Yuanqi. One look at his expression told him that Xiao Yuanqi had taken note of Meng Jiyao.

Knowing Xiao Yuanqi as he did, events might truly unfold just as Shen Shixu had suggested, with Meng Jiyao becoming the Crown Prince's consort.

And because of this Crown Prince's consort, Great Qian would undergo earth-shattering changes.

Xiao Yuanqi gave Xiao Jinyi a meaningful look, signaling for him to take Shen Shixu away. He needed to arrange what came next.

If Shen Shixu stayed here, even if they said nothing, someone as clever as him would surely notice something amiss from their actions alone.

Xiao Jinyi caught his look and immediately changed the subject. "Brother, I don't intend to choose a consort. Staying here is boring anyway, so I'll leave first.

"Oh, right. A-Xu doesn't want to get married either, so we'll leave together. We can keep each other company."

Xiao Yuanqi did not even try to persuade them to stay. "Very well. Since you're not interested, I can hardly force you to remain here with me. But Jinyi, this is Junior Official Shen's first visit to the palace. Take good care of him."

Shen Shixu had thought he would have to stay a while longer before finding an excuse to leave. He had not expected Xiao Jinyi to be so bold, wanting to retreat before things had even begun.

Still, leaving early was a good thing. He rose along with Xiao Jinyi and bowed to Shen Shixu, then the two of them left Penglai Hall together.

After watching them leave, Xiao Yuanqi summoned Little Dezi, who attended him, and instructed him, "Go find Nanny Fang in the Green Lotus Pavilion opposite us. Tell her I would like to meet Miss Meng Jiyao at the pavilion in the middle of the lake, and have her make the arrangements."

"Yes, Your Highness. This servant will go at once."

Upon receiving the message Little Dezi brought, Nanny Fang went to find Meng Jiyao in person and led her to the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

When Meng Jiyao saw Nanny Fang coming for her, she understood that someone of high standing wanted to see her. She simply did not know who.

Meanwhile, the young noblewomen looked worried when they saw Nanny Fang take Meng Jiyao away. Some even wanted to step forward and plead for her, but Meng Jiyao shook her head at them, stopping them.

Meng Jiyao had wondered whether the person who wanted to see her was the empress or perhaps the emperor. Never had she imagined it would be the Crown Prince.

And the Crown Prince went straight to the point. Without waiting for Meng Jiyao to bow, he asked, "Miss Meng, would you be willing to become my crown princess?"

Meng Jiyao was dazed for a moment, wondering whether she had misheard. "Your Highness, you heard Junior Official Shen's thoughts just now, too. Don't you think I'm willful and unwilling to accept a woman's proper place? Someone like me could hardly shoulder the position of crown princess!"

Xiao Yuanqi looked into her eyes. "The crown princess I want is not some fragile vine that can only cling to others. She must shoulder all of Great Qian alongside me, so she must be capable. You surpassed a host of men to place fourth in the imperial examination. That alone is enough to qualify you for this position.

"You must have heard the latter part of Junior Official Shen's thoughts as well. Don't you want to become the crown princess? As he said, you could give women a world of their own, allowing them to study just like men and serve as officials at court!"

Meng Jiyao was tempted, but she still had to ask, "Your Highness supports women studying and serving as officials?"

At that moment, Xiao Yuanqi revealed his ambition. "I want capable people. I hope they can help me govern Great Qian, so I don't care whether they are men or women. As long as they have ability, I will employ them!"

At those words, Meng Jiyao's heart began pounding. As she looked at Xiao Yuanqi envisioning his grand plans, she thought that perhaps an era belonging to women was quietly approaching.

Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi had only just arrived at Xiao Jinyi's residence within the imperial palace—the Azure Waves Palace—when they received word that the Crown Prince had already chosen his consort.

"His Highness certainly moves fast. Surely he didn't just pick someone at random because he wanted to leave?" Shen Shixu thought this was entirely possible. They had only been gone for half an hour, yet the crown princess had already been chosen. Had their departure provoked the Crown Prince and driven him mad?