The eldest daughter of the Yan Family, isn’t that Princess Anping, Yan Wanqing, who is famously known as the "female Zhuge Liang"?
Upon hearing this, the crowd quickly made way.
Yan Wanqing, seen today in a plain blue robe covering her face with a scarf, only exposed her clear and bright eyes, still faintly revealing her exquisite figure.
"Big sister!" Yan Hongzhao’s eyes reddened when she saw Yan Wanqing; she walked over and latched onto her arm.
Yan Wanqing gently patted her hand, comforting her with a "Don’t be afraid."
With those words, Yan Hongzhao’s originally angry and restless heart instantly cald down.
With her big sister here, she had a pillar of strength.
"What happened?" Yan Wanqing’s voice was crystal clear, her pace of speech unhurried, making one feel at ease.
The nursemaid then clarified the whole incident.
It turned out that Yan Hongzhao was playing with friends and the topic of whether won could enter the court or battlefield ca up. Yan Hongzhao said she wanted to emulate her older sister, to contribute her efforts to the peace and tranquility of the world in the future, which just happened to coincide with the likes of Wang Shujian’s insinuations. He suggested that won were naturally supposed to look after their husbands and educate their children, and that those who showed their faces in public couldn’t be considered decent won, which infuriated Yan Hongzhao, leading to an argunt. The confrontation escalated, and a physical fight broke out amidst Wang Shujian’s provocations.
Having understood the circumstances, Yan Wanqing’s beautiful eyes fell on Wang Shujian.
She inwardly sneered, thinking that the lesson she had given so days ago was not enough, and this jumping jack still dared to provoke her younger sister.
"It’s just as well that the Princess has arrived. Although I, Wang, am but a simple scholar, I should not have to endure this humiliation. I ask that Princess Anping give us, and everyone under Heaven, an explanation!" As soon as Wang Shujian noticed Yan Wanqing’s arrival, he persisted doggedly.
Yan Wanqing looked sideways at him: "You want an explanation from , the Commandery Princess?"
Such an ignorant creature.
Wang Shujian, relying on having been beaten and thus having the upper hand, said: "The Princess is the idol of all scholars; since your younger sister has started a fight, how could you not owe an explanation to us all?"
"Very well," Yan Wanqing’s eyes slightly narrowed, "I will give you an explanation, but before that, I too have a question for the Top Scholar."
Wang Shujian wanted to refuse, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, he had no choice but to say, "...Please ask, Your Highness."
"Born amidst worries we die in peace; we enjoy a golden age of peace and worry for the dawn of all under Heaven. It’s everyone’s duty to pursue Loyalty and Righteousness and repay the nation with our life." Yan Wanqing stared at Wang Shujian: "I ask you, is it not so?"
Wang Shujian furrowed his brow: "...Of course it is."
Yan Wanqing’s lips curled up: "Since that’s the case, should not the charioteers, footn, rchants, artisans, farrs, and even the great families all be considered part of all under Heaven, yes or no?"
"...Yes," Wang Shujian could not refute.
"If it’s about the brave duty of being first for the sake of all under Heaven, then why does the Tanhua Scholar divide everyone into various ranks, distinguishing between n and won? Could it be that in the minds of you young n, won are not worthy of having a heart full of loyalty and bravery, ready to serve their country?" Yan Wanqing articulated with a flowing eloquence, her gaze icy cold.
"I, I didn’t an that..." Wang Shujian suddenly t those watery eyes and, frightened by the sternness within, stumbled back several steps and fell to the ground, inelegantly scrambling to rebut.
"How audacious of you! To dare claim ’I’ before Princess Anping," Cong Ge took this chance to rebuke him in a sharp voice.
Cold sweat broke out on Wang Shujian’s forehead; indeed, during that day at the Yan Family, Princess Anping had really held back. Now in a direct confrontation, he dared not et her gaze.
"This commoner dare not, please forgive , Your Highness. It was rely a spur-of-the-mont argunt and play with the fifth Miss..."
Yan Wanqing stepped forward slowly, she towered above him.
"Originally, as young people’s debate, I, the Commandery Princess, should not have intervened. However, Wang Shujian, you used the debate as a pretext to attempt to judge the won of the whole world from a position above , and that is where you were mistaken." Yan Wanqing’s voice was very low, and everyone present listened intently: "When I, the Commandery Princess, was ten years old and went to the battlefield to protect our ho and country, you were still clinging to your mothers asking for food."
Wang Shujian’s face turned ashen, he clearly understood the implication of Yan Wanqing’s words.
Her valor at ten years old was a supre honor they could never attain in their entire lives.
Yan Wanqing today did not only humiliate him but every man who did not respect won!
"Good!" It was unclear which young lady from the crowd shouted first, but it was quickly followed by more applause from other daughters of noble families.
Their eyes were fervent, brimming with tears.
From a young age, they were all required by their fathers and brothers to be well-versed in the virtues and precepts for won, to be gentle and virtuous, but no one had ever asked them to just be themselves.
"Why can’t won serve the country with their own bodies, why can’t won go to the battlefield! If n can do it, so can we won!" Yan Hongzhao now had the confidence, and she spoke aloud with a resonant voice.
Underneath her voice, more daughters of noble families were filled with righteous indignation.
"Right! Whatever n can do, won can do too!"
"If the imperial examination were open to won, I’m afraid the entire court of scholars and warriors would be composed of Hong Ying!"
"You n put together aren’t even a match for Princess Anping, and you still have the face to clamor here, get out!"
"Get out! Get out..."
Instead of calming the situation down with her arrival, Yan Wanqing only escalated it further.
She stood in the crowd, her face veiled in a light gauze, her tranquil eyes now turbulent like raging waves.
"Please—" Wang Shujian was the first to kneel: "Please punish , Your Highness Commandery Princess!"
He had not anticipated the situation becoming so serious. The noble daughters present were all potential fine matches for his future; finding himself in this predicant could have severe implications for his future prospects.
After all, he was still a commoner without any official position!
If this reached the emperor’s ears, what would the emperor think of him... Wang Shujian was truly panicked now.
He had assud that soone like Yan Wanqing, who had always been a model for scholars across the land, would never indulge in pointless quarrels or argue with people like them.
But he was wrong, Yan Wanqing not only argued but also managed to figuratively sar their faces with dog blood in the manner of scholars and poets.
If he didn’t withdraw in ti now, he might invite even more trouble.
Seeing Wang Shujian and the others kneel quickly and firmly, Yan Wanqing sneered in her heart.
She had no intention of smoothing things over.
To strive is to live, to avoid is to die.
This muddy water, she was determined to stir until it turned upside down.
Not far away, under the magnolia tree.
A man in a maroon robe with dark patterns stood leisurely.
"What happened up ahead?"
The well-inford Little Eunuch by his side imdiately explained the cause and event.
The man slightly curled his lips, "Is that really true about her?"
The Little Eunuch nodded: "Not just that, the Commandery Princess seems to be angry."
"Like a little cat." Yan Wanqing, who had been tender and cautious last night, turned out to be able to bare her teeth and bite during the day.
Xiao Pingfeng took another distant glance at the crowd, where he could only see a charming silhouette, too hazy to make out clearly.
"Let’s go," Xiao Pingfeng lifted his foot, but the Little Eunuch was puzzled: "Your Highness is not going to intervene?"
Xiao Pingfeng didn’t look back: "If she can handle it herself, why should I interfere?"
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