Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Within the vast Taiji Hall, the founding emperor of Great Qi sat upon the dragon throne. Before him, arrayed from north to south, were the three princes, over a dozen key civil and military officials, and more than two hundred newly successful *jinshi*. Excluding the palace maids standing in attendance, Princess Qingyang was the sole woman in the hall with the privilege of speech.

Just moments before, this princess had petitioned the emperor for permission to serve as an official at court.

Though the princess’s palace examination essay had earned the ministers’ praise and left the *jinshi* in awe, her unprecedented and audacious request to enter officialdom struck the hall like a colossal stone dropped into a tranquil lake, instantly stirring a tempest of murmurs. The *jinshi* exchanged shocked glances, whispering among themselves, while among the ministers, Yan Xizheng’s brow furrowed repeatedly. Just as he prepared to rise and object, another voice preempted him.

"Your Majesty, allowing the princess to participate in the palace examination has already violated the rules of the imperial examinations. You absolutely must not grant the princess’s presumptuous request."

Nie Ao strode swiftly from his seat. His steps were so forceful that even after he halted beside the princess, the hem of his purple official robe continued to sway.

Qingyang merely cast a fleeting glance at the Imperial Censor-in-Chief before raising her head once more, awaiting her father’s response.

She ignored Nie Ao, but he turned to rebuke her: "Since the princess is widely read, you must have studied the *I Ching*. May I ask, what is the meaning of this passage from the *Tuan Commentary*: ‘In the family, the woman holds her correct place within, and the man holds his correct place without. The correctness of positions of man and woman is the great righteousness of Heaven and Earth’?"

Qingyang turned to face him, meeting the Imperial Censor-in-Chief’s stern gaze: "This passage means that within a family, the woman’s proper place is within, and the man’s proper place is without. When men and women each occupy their correct positions, it embodies the great righteousness of Heaven and Earth. There is also a subsequent line: ‘Let the father be father, and the son son; let the elder brother be elder brother, and the younger brother younger brother; let the husband be husband, and the wife wife—then the way of the family is correct.’ This signifies that only when each family member fulfills their respective duties can the family’s conduct be upright, and only when the family’s conduct is upright can the world achieve peace."

"Wife wife" implied a woman adhering to wifely virtues. Qin Ren, seated alone to the side, felt a surge of anxiety for his sister.

Indeed, Nie Ao pressed on: "Since the princess understands the principle that a woman should uphold wifely virtues, why do you still insist on serving as an official, thereby defying the wifely duty of managing the household and raising children at home?"

Qingyang remained unperturbed. She turned again to face the assembled officials and *jinshi*, her expression serene: "The Imperial Censor-in-Chief’s question is likely what all of you wish to ask me as well, is it not?"

A ripple of whispers spread through the hall. Yan Xizheng spoke on behalf of the assembly: "Precisely. We admire the princess’s talent, but men and women each have their designated roles. This has been the established order and moral code followed for thousands of years. Since the princess has studied the classics of the sages, you should not knowingly transgress this principle."

Qingyang replied: "But what I have learned more profoundly from the classics is loyalty to the sovereign and service to the nation."

Prince Yong also disapproved of his niece entering officialdom, but being unversed in classics and history, he had been unable to interject when his niece and Nie Ao debated the *I Ching*. Now, he quickly advised: "Ling’er, loyalty to the sovereign and service to the nation are matters for us men. You, a princess, need not trouble yourself with such things. Look at all these civil and military officials—there are those capable of governing and those capable of waging war. The court is not short of one person. Be obedient and return to your seat."

His words were the most unpalatable, yet Qingyang smiled: "Uncle says that princesses have nothing to do with loyalty to the sovereign and service to the nation. But has Uncle ever heard of Lady Xu Mu, the princess of the Wei State during the Spring and Autumn period?"

Prince Yong: "..."

Qingyang first recounted the deeds of Lady Xu Mu to her uncle, then turned to Nie Ao: "When the Wei State was invaded and destroyed by the Northern Di tribes, if Lady Xu Mu, who had already married into the State of Xu, had merely adhered strictly to wifely virtues, she should have turned a deaf ear to the news of Wei’s destruction and obeyed Duke Mu by remaining secluded in the inner quarters to support her husband and teach her children. Yet, though a woman, Lady Xu Mu understood that loyalty to the sovereign and service to the nation took precedence over her personal family. Thus, she swiftly left her husband and returned to her homeland, raised troops, trained soldiers, sought aid from the Qi State, and ultimately recaptured lost territories to rebuild Wei. May I ask the Imperial Censor-in-Chief, was Lady Xu Mu wrong to seemingly violate wifely virtues in this manner?"

Nie Ao: "...Lady Xu Mu’s efforts to restore the state are meritorious, and I hold her in utmost admiration."

Qingyang’s gaze shifted, settling on the Left Chancellor, who sat solemnly at the head of the civil officials: "There is also Princess Xijun of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Wu of Han, to resist the Xiongnu and forge an alliance with the Wusun, married Princess Xijun to the Wusun King Liejiaomi. Later, when Liejiaomi grew old, he wished for Princess Xijun to marry his grandson, Junxumi. Such an arrangement went against the wifely virtues of the Central Plains, and Princess Xijun naturally refused. But Emperor Wu, citing the national imperative to ‘ally with Wusun to destroy the Xiongnu,’ ordered her to remarry. Princess Xijun complied. May I ask the Left Chancellor, should Princess Xijun, who served both grandfather and grandson, be condemned or praised?"

Yan Xizheng sighed inwardly. Though reluctant to yield to the young princess, he replied: "All the Han princesses who married for alliance deserve to be remembered and respected by the world."

By this point, the hall had fallen into complete silence.

Qingyang surveyed every minister and *jinshi* seated in the hall before finally turning north and addressing her father on the dragon throne in a clear voice: "Father, the sages enlightened all living beings. Thus, from their books, I have learned both loyalty to the sovereign and service to the nation, as well as rites and norms. For example, the *I Ching* mentioned by the Imperial Censor-in-Chief states, ‘By correcting the family, the world is settled.’ I deeply concur with this."

"But I was not born into an ordinary household. I am a princess of Great Qi, an imperial daughter. All under heaven belongs to the sovereign. The emperor regards the state as his family, so the children of the emperor should also regard the state as their family. Since we enjoy the sustenance of all people under heaven, we should also fulfill our duties for the state and its people. This is why there was Lady Xu Mu’s restoration of Wei, and why the Han princesses bravely undertook distant marriages for alliance."

"Father, if I possessed no talent for governance and merely knew how to compose poetry and admire the moon, I would never stand here to trouble you. But the eight examination graders you personally appointed unanimously recommended me as the top scorer in this year’s palace examination, and 231 fellow *jinshi* also acknowledged my talent as the top scorer. Given this, if I possess talent yet do not seek to serve the nation and alleviate your burdens, what face would I have to continue as a princess of Great Qi?"

Yan Xizheng and the others could no longer see the princess’s face. They all gazed toward the emperor on the dragon throne, awaiting his decision with either tension or calm.

Emperor Xingwu looked at his daughter, then at Nie Ao, Yan Xizheng, and the other ministers. After a long moment of contemplation, he declared: "I believe the princess speaks with reason. Many women in this world may focus solely on their small families, but my princesses must place me and Great Qi before their personal households. When I issue policies and laws, they must obey them. Where Great Qi has need of their service, they are duty-bound to serve. Crown Prince, what is your view?"

Qin Hong felt that both Nie Ao and Yan Xizheng were correct, and his sister was also correct. Both sides held valid points, and since his father supported his sister, Qin Hong naturally chose to comply: "Your humble son believes that since my sister possesses the talent of a top scholar, Your Majesty could allow her to try serving in the court first."

Emperor Xingwu then asked Yan Xizheng: "And you, Left Chancellor?"

Yan Xizheng: "Your humble servant has never questioned the princess’s talent, but all departments of the court are staffed by male officials. I fear that if the princess joins, officials may be unable to concentrate on their duties, out of concern for inadvertently offending her."

Emperor Xingwu dismissed this: "These are minor concerns. Ling’er is magnanimous and will not hold such trifles against you."

Yan Xizheng had nothing further to say.

Emperor Xingwu looked at Nie Ao.

Nie Ao still could not accept it: "Since ancient times, the imperial consorts have been forbidden from interfering in governance..."

Emperor Xingwu scoffed: "I’ve observed that in those dynasties that upheld this rule, few truly kept the inner court from interfering. Ultimately, the downfall of those states was due to the incompetence of their emperors, who then sought various excuses. In my view, a wise emperor fears neither the inner court, nor external relatives, nor powerful ministers. Whether I am wise or not is for you to judge, but I fear none of those. If Ling’er is capable, I will employ her. If one day she proves incapable, I will send her home. By then, even if I wished to intervene, I would be unable. Great Qi has abundant talent; it truly does not lack her alone. But I would rather have her contribute modestly in the court than have her hastily and helplessly fill gaps for me if Great Qi faces crisis someday."

Nie Ao hastily interjected: "Your Majesty’s northern campaigns against West Hu and southern campaigns against Biao State have allowed the people of Great Qi to live in peace and prosperity, free from the ravages of war. You are indeed a model wise emperor!"

The ministers and *jinshi* all echoed in agreement.

Emperor Xingwu smiled: "Very well. Since you all declare me a wise emperor, then my appointing Ling’er as an official is certainly not a foolish mistake. This matter is settled. After Ling’er undergoes her coming-of-age ceremony, she will serve in the Ministry of Appointments."

Qingyang joyfully declared: "Your humble daughter accepts the decree!"

Emperor Xingwu waved his hand helplessly: "Everyone, return to your seats. After debating for so long, even if you aren’t tired of speaking, I am tired of listening."

Qingyang smiled and walked back to her seat.

Qin Ren greeted his sister’s return with an expression of profound admiration. Once she was seated, he quickly poured her a cup of tea to soothe her throat and leaned in, whispering: "You are truly amazing. My heart nearly stopped just now, yet you remained so calm and cited classics with such ease."

Qingyang thought to herself that to contend with these literati officials who loved to quote classics, she had to read extensively so she could use the same method to silence them.

***

After the assembly concluded, Qingyang saw her father depart with her eldest brother. She allowed her second and third brothers to tease her for a few moments before returning to Jiuhua Palace.

In the Imperial Study, Emperor Xingwu first attended to his needs, then settled onto the couch and asked his son: "Tell me, do you truly wish for Ling’er to serve as an official? Speak from your heart, no pretense."

Qin Hong swallowed the empty words he was about to utter and carefully replied: "Your humble son is willing to support my sister in doing what she wishes. I only fear that if the ministers continue to oppose, it will eventually sadden her."

Emperor Xingwu snorted: "Do you think those ministers dare oppose me? As long as you can keep them in check, they will at most grumble a few words. In the end, the emperor has the final say."

Qin Hong lowered his gaze and nodded.

Emperor Xingwu glanced at him, then suddenly sighed, leaning back and looking up at the carved beams and painted rafters overhead: "I know you are soft-natured. While I am here, I can support you. But after I am gone, if you have no one by your side to hold firm for you, those ministers will slowly dare to climb over your head. Lü Zan is honest and kind, but he is a military general and cannot out-argue the literati officials. Your second brother is reckless, and your third brother is a wastrel. Tell me, besides Ling’er, who else can help you?"

Qin Hong looked at his father in astonishment. So, his father’s arrangement for his sister to serve in the court was all for him?

Recalling how his fifteen-year-old sister had handled the senior ministers and *jinshi* with such ease in the hall, while he, her elder brother already a father himself, could only watch helplessly as Nie Ao and Yan Xizheng challenged her, Qin Hong was instantly overwhelmed with shame. He knelt down, tears streaming: "It is all my incompetence that has troubled you, Father. Even my sister—"

Emperor Xingwu reached out and patted his eldest son’s head perfunctorily: "Enough, enough. Where did all these tears come from? Quickly, compose yourself."

Qin Hong took out a handkerchief and choked back his sobs before finally regaining his composure.

Emperor Xingwu: "I am already fifty-five. How many more years can I worry for you? In the future, if you find Ling’er useful, employ her. If you cannot bear her serving as an official, send her home. Anyway, by then, even if I wanted to intervene, I would be unable."

Qin Hong, his eyes red, said: "Father, do not say such things. You will surely live a long life."

Emperor Xingwu gave a faint smile: "I hope so. By the way, finish up the matters at hand, then return to the Secretariat."

After all, this son had been in the Censorate for three or four years without much use. Returning to the Secretariat would also prevent unnecessary suspicion among the ministers.