The whole family is insanely eavesdropping on my thoughts Chapter 588
Chapter 588: Confrontation Before the Court
Deng Zhi’s eyes were red.
The world praised Emperor Xuan Ping for his wisdom—establishing civil service exams, building academies, and enacting policies that benefited the people.
But none of these measures included women.
What Chao Chao truly wanted was to bring enlightenment to all women of the world, regardless of their status.
Deng Zhi bowed deeply to Chao Chao.
Lu Chao Chao nodded, clutching the money chest her mother had given her. Thirty thousand taels in silver notes!
She then sought out her eldest and third brothers, both of whom managed private businesses.
Together, they gathered another six thousand taels.
Chao Chao pursed her lips. “Third Brother, Third Brother, can you take me to the Lin family, the wealthiest in the land?”
Lu Yuan Xiao was no longer the naive child of the past. He ruffled Chao Chao’s hair. “Chao Chao, Lin Yan Yang won’t dare lend you silver. If the wealthiest family donates, it would signal their political stance. They are now Imperial Merchants and must rely on the court; they would not dare oppose it.”
Chao Chao tapped her chin. “I’m not looking for Lin Yan Yang. I want to meet Old Madam Lin.”
After some thought, Lu Yuan Xiao found an opportunity to take Chao Chao into the Lin residence.
Roughly an hour later, the young girl emerged.
After that, she visited the Eldest Princess, then sought out various noble madams. By nightfall, she arrived at the Empress Dowager’s chambers.
This visit lasted a bit longer, but before the palace gates closed, Lu Chao Chao stepped out, grinning.
Inside the palace, Emperor Xuan Ping pressed his temples. “She has left?”
The eunuch removed the teapot and brought forth a calming tonic.
“She just left, Your Majesty. If you wish to see her, summon her. I hear she is departing for the Brahma Kingdom soon.”
The Emperor hastily waved his hand. “Forget it.”
“She wants to establish a women’s academy. How could I possibly agree to that?”
“The ancestral emperor strictly forbade it. Furthermore, the court would surely object.”
Emperor Xuan Ping did not have a strong opinion on women’s education, but perhaps because of Chao Chao, he had begun to sense the power of women.
“Forget it, forget it. We will deal with it as it comes. If necessary, I will simply feign illness. Let them argue among themselves…”
“At least then, the officials won’t argue directly with me.”
The Emperor felt an immense headache coming on.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao returned home and retrieved the silver notes she had gathered from her hidden storage space.
Yu Shu’s eyes widened. “Wow! This is all from today’s fundraising?”
Chao Chao lay on her bed, counting them one by one with a grin.
“Where did all this money come from?” Yu Qin and the others carefully assisted in tallying the amount.
“From noble madams and young ladies.”
The group froze.
“These ladies may be Northern Zhao nobility, but they are women too. Only women can understand the struggles of women.”
“They gave Chao Chao silver, but they did not wish to leave their names.”
Little did Emperor Xuan Ping know, even the Empress Dowager had secretly opened her private treasury for Lu Chao Chao.
Despite her esteemed position, the Empress Dowager understood that only by educating women could their status truly improve.
“Altogether, thirty-eight thousand taels.”
Yu Shu’s eyes sparkled.
When the officials raised funds for academies, they had spent seventy thousand taels.
But Chao Chao was satisfied. Establishing a women’s academy would undoubtedly face opposition, and thirty-eight thousand taels seemed just right.
That night, Lu Chao Chao slept hugging her thick stack of silver notes.
She dreamed of the God of Wealth.
Upon waking, she was wrapped in the scent of silver.
“Yu Shu, Yu Qin, dress me in palace attire today.”
Chao Chao spread her arms. Yu Shu brought her the garments, dressing her in a solemn and dignified fashion.
The little girl drank a few sips of porridge before setting off for the palace.
Xu Shi Yun stood at the entrance, her face full of worry as she watched Chao Chao depart.
In her arms, Shan Shan’s eyes were brimming with tears. Shi Yun whispered, “Are you proud of your sister?”
Shan Shan expressionlessly watched his sister disappear.
No. I am mourning my gold bracelets and the private treasury.
…
Golden Luan Hall
“If there are matters to present, speak. If not, dismiss the court…”
After the ministers had finished reporting national affairs, they remained standing expectantly.
Moments later, a voice echoed from outside the hall.
“Princess Sunshine requests an audience!”
The court officials shuddered.
Against the backlight, Princess Sunshine entered, her palace attire immaculate, her delicate face carrying an expression of solemnity they had never seen before.
“I have a matter to present.”
Lu Chao Chao lifted her gaze to Emperor Xuan Ping.
The Emperor…
Really wanted to run away.
Weakly, he raised his hand, resting his right elbow on the dragon throne as he massaged his brow. Today’s court session would certainly devolve into chaos.
“Chao Chao wishes to establish an academy for women, to enlighten them, to teach them reason and wisdom—”
Before she could finish, a white-haired minister jumped up.
“Nonsense! Nonsense! Princess Sunshine, I respect you, but you must not act recklessly!”
“The ruler is to guide his ministers, the son to obey his father, the wife to submit to her husband. Women should not leave their homes, nor step beyond their courtyards. Their duty is to serve their husbands and raise their children. Your Majesty, I oppose the establishment of a women’s academy!”
The elderly minister’s face turned red with urgency. Such stubborn minds were the hardest to change.
The officials exchanged glances. Though they feared Lu Chao Chao, they could not back down on a matter that concerned men’s dominance over society.
“Men govern the external world, women the internal household. This is an ancient tradition. Your Highness, reconsider.”
“Reading the Admonitions for Women and Precepts for Women should suffice. There is no need for a women’s academy, lest they develop dangerous ideas.”
“There has never been a precedent for women’s education. The ancestral emperor expressly forbade it!”
“Princess Sunshine, establishing a women’s academy is no small matter. It involves too many factors. Please reconsider.”
The opposition was stronger than Chao Chao had anticipated.
One official even declared resolutely, “If a women’s academy is established, I would rather die on this very floor!”
Seeing their expressions as if facing an impending disaster, Chao Chao found it utterly laughable.
“You’re afraid!”
The petite girl stood against the entire court.
“Afraid? Afraid of women?”
The officials burst into laughter.
Women were mere appendages to men. Why would they fear them?
“If you’re not afraid, then why threaten death? Why fear women being educated?”
“Don’t try to guilt-trip me with death! If you wish to bash your head against the floor, do it now! Tomorrow, I’ll make sure you are reborn as a girl!”
Chao Chao planted her hands on her hips.
Excuse me, but I have divine backing!
“You—!”
The minister who had been preparing to hurl himself at the pillar nearly choked.
Several others, initially prepared to make a dramatic stand, clutched their foreheads and backed away.
“You are being unreasonable!”
“It was the ancestral emperor’s dying wish.”
“Your Majesty, if you agree, our forefathers will not rest in peace!”
The officials knelt, unwilling to meet Chao Chao’s gaze, using ancestral tradition to suppress her.
“The ancestor has been dead for how many years? Must we still be controlled by him? Besides, did he leave a decree?”
Chao Chao turned to Emperor Xuan Ping.
The Emperor frowned and shook his head. “It was merely a verbal wish passed down.”
Everyone knew this was just an excuse to oppose her.
“Fine, fine! You want to use the ancestors against me?”
Chao Chao’s fists clenched, her expression icy.
“Then we shall face them directly!”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation