"Why... why though?"
Host, weren't you worried about this before?
To this, An Ning only chuckled lightly:
"Do you really think high-grade elixirs only enhance appearance and intelligence?"
"Actually, there's another exceptionally crucial thing they improve, and that's physical constitution."
Gazing at her precious daughter who had just given birth yet remained full of energy and vitality, An Ning's eyes held increasing amusent:
"Xi'er herself has an excellent foundation, practiced dicine since childhood, diligently studied martial arts, plus the health cultivation thods I've taught her over the years..."
An Ning had previously taken her daughter's pulse specifically, and barring accidents, as long as she maintained herself properly, living healthily past one hundred years wouldn't be a problem.
Based on this, what need was there to discuss who the next crown prince would be? An eighty-year-old new emperor?
As for whether her treasure might montarily lose perspective and abdicate early out of pity for her son.
An Ning couldn't help but sneer inwardly:
One could only say that anyone saying such things greatly underestimated the allure of the world's ultimate power.
Did they truly think the tiless saying "sober, grasp the world's power; drunk, recline on beauties' knees" was just empty words?
The reason she could let go wasn't just because of her incurably lazy bones, but more because she had seen enough and enjoyed the world's ultimate power and wealth more than once.
She had also reached the pinnacle of that world before.
But what about her own Xi'er?
Besides, in this regard, An Ning wouldn't doubt Zhang-soone's education in the slightest.
Perhaps there were risks involved, but so what?
Playing with the soft jade in her hand, An Ning thought with undisguised coolness.
Her points didn't co for free, to be so generous for others' sake. She wasn't so saint who had to shoulder the future and status of all won under heaven.
Two generations, about one hundred years of developnt ti, was already the most she could give...
"Besides, the arrival of this 'heir' might not be entirely bad either?"
Her gaze lingered montarily on Cao Xi and others nearby who seed to have complicated expressions, and An Ning couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
The system: "???"
Thanks to her excellent constitution, after completing her postpartum confinent, Zhao Xi, the current crown princess, quickly resud handling official duties, and An Ning finally got so relief.
It must be said that Eldest Young Master Su was truly the most suitable main consort. Though usually not very talkative, his actions were extrely ticulous and reliable.
He attentively taught the child and was considerate and careful with Xi'er. An Ning had seen more than once that whenever Xi'er practiced swordplay in the morning, this man would always wait under the pear tree nearby, holding a thick fox fur cloak or other outer garnt.
It was evident that her Xi'er quite appreciated this too.
After all, soone as intelligent as the Crown Princess could easily distinguish genuine feelings from false ones.
However, that was all...
Because whether it was admiration or warmth, as a true heaven-favored daughter, the Crown Princess had obtained too many things since childhood, and too easily.
At least for the still-young Crown Princess, the world was so vast that this warmth wasn't enough to make her linger for long.
Appreciating orchids didn't prevent one from admiring other novel flowers, did it?
Regarding this, An Ning only glanced briefly, with no intention of ddling.
Scummy? Rui'er from her previous life was even more so—did anyone think that was wrong then?
Ti flew, and several more years passed in the blink of an eye.
In recent years, with the rapid developnt of textile industries and handicrafts nationwide, and the utilization of various machinery, won bustling about on streets and lanes, even engaging in trade, could be seen everywhere.
In the imperial court, and even in major newspapers, so outstanding official daughters gradually began making their mark.
With economic prosperity and military discipline, under the governance of An Ning and her daughter, everything seed to be developing positively.
However, just when the Crown Princess's son Zhao Xuan turned ten years old, in the thirty-seventh year of Jiayou.
One day, a massive petition movent, even strikes, suddenly erupted nationwide. Initially started by several textile female workers, it was later brought directly before An Ning, the official, by several high-ranking noble daughters.
The petition content was actually quite simple: requesting His Majesty to permit won to enroll in schools and take examinations for local governnt offices, agricultural bureaus, textile bureaus, and even have the right to take the imperial examinations.
Yet once these seemingly simple statents erged, all court ministers were astonished.
Although there had been so outstanding noble daughters promoted by the official in court over the years, the imperial examinations were different. With the official having almost abolished hereditary privileges, this was now the only path for scholars' advancent.
This sweet cake wasn't even enough for themselves—how could they allow others to co take a share?
But the next mont:
"Father, you must consider—given my two elder brothers' aptitudes, I'm afraid even if they took the exams for decades more, they'd have no hope in the imperial examinations. My nephews are still young, and if anything happens to you by then..."
"But I'm different! Whether I never marry or take in a husband, I'm willing to stay ho forever! Just like Minister Cao!"
"Father, think clearly—moving upward has always been difficult, but moving downward is all too easy..."
Similar conversations occurred frequently in various ministers' households.
Soon, many ministers' opposing voices gradually weakened, especially when they had daughters showing visibly promising futures.
An Ning wasn't surprised by this.
Over the years, with developnt across regions and increasingly mature printing technology, more common people had opportunities to beco literate and study, making the imperial examination path even more difficult.
Not to ntion other factors—having one more person ant one more hope.
As for whether this would increase competition among commoners!
Hah, the more backward regions would only have more stubborn mindsets. Ordinary families already struggled to support sons' education—where would they find the leisure and money to support daughters?
So stubborn individuals, like the current Three Departnts head Han Shuo, directly presented account records.
Over the years, taxes generated through various mariti trade, major textile factories, and artisans accounted for more than one-third of national revenue!
Plus those newly risen female rchants.
If these people actually went on strike, hah!
Could you bear the chaos that would ensue?
In Zichen Palace, reviewing reports from various regions, after a mont, An Ning finally stamped the freshly written decree heavily with a bright red seal!
The next day, by order of An Ning herself as the official, from then on, neither local official schools nor imperial examinations would have gender restrictions.
"May all talented individuals under heaven realize their grand ambitions between heaven and earth!" Finally, An Ning said sincerely.
With the news released by the Morning Daily, the entire Great Song Dynasty once again erupted in excitent! Cheers across various regions lingered unceasingly...
Witnessing this scene, the system remained dazed for a long ti:
"Is this the so-called benefit you ntioned earlier, host?"
"Indeed!"
Gazing steadily at the continuously falling snow outside the window, An Ning said softly:
"Regardless of which group, whether disadvantaged or not, true power must always be seized and fought for oneself, not by placing hopes on the temperant of those in power, or even probability regarding offspring!"
Especially when they already had so capital.
With her impending abdication and the next-next official almost certainly being male, how could they ensure the various asures An Ning had established, even the benefits and properties in their hands, wouldn't be stripped away!
"And I am the one with the most prestige and hope to open this precedent, am I not?"
For any policy, pressure from above alone is often insufficient.
In the thirty-ninth year of Jiayou, after completing the final policy of her reign, during one court session, An Ning announced her intention to abdicate in favor of Crown Princess Zhao Xi.
Thus a new cycle of prosperous age was about to begin.
***
Early morning at the dock, an exquisitely decorated steamship was moored by the shore. In the drizzling rain, seeing Zhang Zihou who had appeared here at so unknown ti, An Ning couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and chuckle lightly:
Her folding fan traced a graceful arc, just like during their first eting:
"I never thought our esteed Chancellor Zhang would be willing to part with it!"
The newcor snorted lightly, nimbly stepped into the cabin, directly leaned against the seat opposite An Ning, and casually poured himself a cup of hot tea:
"Hah, if Your Majesty can part with it, how could I, a re chancellor, be unwilling to part with my position?"
Half a day later, only after the two had disappeared without a trace did Su Zizhan in Bianjing finally react.
"Wait, the official, and Zihou, this..."
Then the current one couldn't be! Couldn't be!
Su Zizhan: "!!!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)