An Argument Breaks Out
Seeing her niece's bewildered expression, Noble Consort Cen shook her head and said, "You rest here for a while, I'll go greet the guests." With that, she stood up and left.
Cen Peixuan looked up and immediately saw Zhao Ruxi sitting in the distance, talking to the Wife of the Duke of Wei.
She stared at it for a moment, then said incredulously to the maid, "What gives her the right?"
So what if she has some talent? Even a prince looks down on her; does she think she can fly to the moon?
Her maid knew these words shouldn't be spoken in this setting, as they could easily be overheard. Not only had Prince of An repeatedly instructed her young lady to maintain a good relationship with Miss Zhao, but Noble Consort Cen only had these two sons, and her young lady and Miss Zhao were sisters-in-law; any conflict would make them a laughingstock.
The Crown Princess, Consort of the Prince of Ming, and Consort of the Prince of Qian were all looking this way just now.
She lowered her head and didn't respond to Cen Peixuan's words.
The banquet began soon after.
Although Zhao Ruxi has not yet married Xiao Lingyan, the formalities of marriage have been completed, with only the wedding ceremony remaining. She is essentially now a member of the royal family. Xiao Ge already valued this daughter-in-law highly, and since Noble Consort Cen was in charge of the inner palace, he intended to give his daughter-in-law face. Therefore, he treated Zhao Ruxi as a proper princess consort, arranging her seat behind the Consort of the Fourth Prince's Consort of the Prince of Qian, and above the Dowager Princess of Zhennan and Princess of Zhennan.
The Consort of the Third Prince, also known as the Consort of the Prince of Ming, deeply resented Zhao Ruxi.
Initially, the Emperor doted on Consort Jin, and her husband, the Third Prince, was also deeply favored by the Emperor. Later, because she targeted Zhao Ruxi twice, her mother-in-law lost favor, and her husband also fell out of favor with the Emperor.
Later, someone attempted to assassinate Zhao Ruxi and pinned the blame on the Third Prince. During this period, the Emperor continuously suppressed the Third Prince.
If it weren't for all the unpleasant things Zhao Ruxi caused, her husband wouldn't have needed to take such a risk.
In her opinion, Zhao Ruxi was a jinx, specifically designed to bring bad luck to their faction.
They hadn't had a chance to meet before, but now Zhao Ruxi was sitting there just across from Consort of the Prince of Qian, Consort of the Prince of Ming couldn't help but want to target her.
"Hey, isn't this the famous female scholar who topped the imperial examination? Why aren't you hanging out with those men in Nanyang? Why are you here instead?"
Upon hearing the sharp and sarcastic words of Consort of the Prince of Ming, Princess of Zhennan, who was sitting below Zhao Ruxi, couldn't help but frown.
However, during this period, Prince of Ming attacked anyone he could, and Prince of Zhennan was unwilling to get involved in the struggle for the throne. At this time, it was really not appropriate for Princess of Zhennan to speak up for Zhao Ruxi.
At first, no one paid attention to this side, but as the room gradually quieted down, everyone sensed something was wrong, shut their mouths, and looked over here.
"The lewd see lewdness, the benevolent see benevolence." Zhao Ruxi chuckled. "The official positions that Empress Shengyao fought for for us women are, in your eyes, Consort of the Prince of Ming, seen as 'mingling with men.' I don't know if Empress Shengyao will be so angry that she'll crawl out of her coffin to settle scores with you, but the Emperor will definitely be furious to hear this. After all, he appointed me as the top scholar, bestowed upon me an official position, and granted me this marriage. If he didn't approve of women's participation in politics, I wouldn't be sitting here today."
A grand banquet was held in the palace, and all officials of the third rank or above were eligible to attend.
They were currently in a large hall with five tables. In addition to the imperial concubines of the rank of "concubine" and above, as well as those with children, princesses, royal daughters-in-law, the wives of princes, first-rank noblewomen, and the mothers and elders of princesses were also seated there.
These women held high positions, and many of them were involved in political maneuvering. They greatly admired Zhao Ruxi, who had risen to power through her own talent and learning.
Upon hearing Zhao Ruxi's words, several people couldn't help but want to applaud and cheer.
"Great, Zhiwei's words are absolutely right." Someone stood up opposite Zhao Ruxi, clapping and cheering.
Upon hearing the voice, Zhao Ruxi knew it was Grand Princess Shangde.
In her past life, during last year's border battle, the Fu Family Grand Princess Shangde father and son were killed in action and the border fell. General Shen General Shen of Princess Shangde, was urgently summoned from the southwest to save the day, but he also died at the border, allowing the Third Prince to secretly seize military power. Grand Princess Shangde, now a widow, did not attend this year's birthday banquet.
General Shen is still alive this year, and Grand Princess Shangde stood at the banquet dressed in a bright and flamboyant red dress.
She sized up Consort of the Prince of Ming, then scoffed, "My royal brother is magnanimous. He doesn't deny Zhiwei's talent just because she's a woman. He encourages women to study and become officials, not to depend on men, not to be confined to the inner quarters, and to realize their ideals and ambitions. These are rights that Empress Shengyao fought for for us women her whole life. But in your mouth, it's become 'mingling with men.' Truly, 'the lewd see lewdness.' Heng's daughter-in-law, if you don't uphold your wifely virtues and think about such nonsense all day, I'll tell my royal brother tomorrow and have you sent back to your parents' home."
Consort of the Prince of Ming's mother and grandmother were also present, and they were shocked to hear this.
Wasn't her daughter (granddaughter) criticizing the future Consort of the Prince of Qi for being unchaste? How did the conversation turn around and become that she herself was unchaste?
Consort Jin naturally wouldn't allow her daughter-in-law to be bullied by Grand Princess Shangde and Zhao Ruxi. Just as she was about to speak, Grand Princess Shangde's gaze fell on her, and she preemptively said, "Consort Jin, your daughter-in-law only thinks about that kind of thing when she sees a man. Are you still going to protect such a daughter-in-law? Divorce her immediately, lest you embarrass our royal family."
She clicked her tongue twice as she spoke, "No wonder the Capital Women's Academy has been declining year by year under your leadership. So this is how you view women's education and official careers. Back then, Empress Shengyao went to great lengths to establish the Women's Academy and even set its educational principles; but under your leadership, you've only taught noble ladies how to flatter and please men? Do you think our status as women isn't low enough, so you want to be even more self-degrading?"
"Indeed, a low social status is terrifying. Women who climb to high positions through flattery are even more terrifying."
As soon as Grand Princess Shangde said this, the way everyone looked at Consort Jin changed.
Aside from some concubines, everyone present who married princes and noblewomen were of noble birth. Their families were their source of strength, and they never felt inferior to their husbands. The men who held sway in the court were either their sons or their husbands who respected them greatly. In their eyes, only lowly concubines needed to flatter and fawn over men.
Thinking of how their daughters and granddaughters had been sent to study at the Capital Women's Academy, and how Consort Jin had served as the headmistress for so many years, they were furious and felt like vomiting blood.
"Empress Shengyao's insistence on having the Empress herself serve as the headmistress of the Capital Women's Academy was entirely justified," the old Princess Prince of Zhennan's Residence said slowly.
Her daughter-in-law and Grand Princess Shangde were best friends, like sisters. Even if she didn't speak up, Consort Jin didn't like the Prince of Zhennan's Residence. So, she naturally had to support Grand Princess Shangde.