Chapter 1257: 23 Things About the Fake Emperor and the Powerful Officials
The establishment of a girls' school went much more smoothly than expected.
Yuan Chizhi did not object. Some people in the court followed his lead and naturally would not say anything.
On Shi Li's side, some people had some complaints. But the first person to be promoted in opening a girls' school was Xie Qingyun, so these people chose to acquiesce for the sake of Mr. Xie.
Only a few imperial censors, as usual, criticized and condemned Shi Li, and submitted memorials to him one after another.
Shi Li did not pay direct attention to them, but wrote with a jade pen and directly included the most outstanding girl in their family in the first batch of female students' list.
With a combination of kindness and severity, the matter was quickly settled.
As the top student in female studies, Xie Qingyun came to Shi Li to express her gratitude before leaving the palace.
She remained graceful and bowed respectfully to Shi Li, watching her dismiss the others around her.
"Your Majesty, my original path forward was indeed to become the Queen."
Compared to the past, Xie Qingyun's eyebrows looked much more relaxed. "Your Majesty should have guessed that this was Yuan Chizhi's idea. Before my grandfather died, he really wanted me to marry him. My grandfather said that he was not an ordinary person and his true personality was very eccentric. If I marry him, I can watch him do less bad things."
Shi Li showed an expression of "as expected". What Xie Qingyun said was indeed consistent with historical records.
"But I don't want to marry, and he doesn't want to marry me either. I admire my grandfather's reputation for a lifetime, but I can't be like him. Your Majesty, I also want power and wealth."
Xie Qingyun said it clearly, and then she seemed to remember something, and her smile became more intense, like a graceful peony. After she entered the palace, she did everything she said and did according to the future queen. Unfortunately, someone changed their mind halfway through.
But it didn't matter. For her, becoming a queen was for her own glory. Now she could be the first person to open a girls' school, which would also bring glory.
As for why Yuan Chizhi changed his mind and whether he could achieve his own goal, Xie Qingyun didn't care.
Considering that the two had known each other for a long time, Xie Qingyun finally said a good word for him in front of Shi Li.
"Your Majesty, Yuan Chizhi is indeed a man of deep cunning, but what he is doing now is sincere to you. I don't know how difficult this road is, but since he has chosen to go, I sincerely wish him success."
Shi Li blushed slightly, and her heart was in turmoil. After thinking for a while, she stood up and said to Xie Qingyun, "Then you should start by letting the world know that women are not necessarily inferior to men. Xie Qingyun, if you can do it, all the women in the world will thank you. I... also thank you."
"I will devote my life to this mission to the utmost."
Xie Qingyun saluted Shi Li again, but not by kneeling. Instead, she bowed to Shi Li to express her gratitude, just like the court officials.
After the ceremony, she took a few steps back, turned around and walked out of the hall resolutely.
As the sun was setting, the orange-gold light shone obliquely on Xie Qingyun's back, making the dignified and graceful person appear even more radiant.
Shi Li stared at it for a long time and took a deep breath.
Even Yuan Chizhi and Xie Qingyun dared to embark on that destined to be bumpy road, so what else does she have to fear?
As long as she believes that it is right, then all she needs to do is persist. Even if the final result is not so good, at least she will not regret it.
Of course, this cannot be accomplished overnight and needs to be done step by step.
The most important thing at the moment is to properly receive the envoys from the northern country who come to the imperial capital to pay tribute.
Unlike previous years, this time it was the Second Prince of the Northern Kingdom who came as a tribute envoy. It was reasonable for Shi Li to treat him with courtesy and not allow anyone to find fault with him in such a matter.
The people in the Ministry of Rites were very capable. They made major changes to the reception procedures of previous years and carefully went over each procedure. Only after they were sure that there were no errors were they sent to Shi Li.
Shi Li looked at it several times but couldn't find anything wrong with it. Subconsciously, she wanted to ask Yuan Chizhi to take a look at it, but then she gave up the idea.
As the king of a country, you can't really rely on him for everything, you have to be able to act on your own.
"Sir, the Ministry of Rites has presented the proposed reception to His Majesty."
On the other hand, the confidant also reported the matter to Yuan Chizhi.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Chizhi put down the half-written copybook and opened his mouth to say "enter the palace".
The words came to his lips but he gave up.
It’s not a big deal. If she needs him, she will naturally summon him into the palace.
If you don’t announce it…then so be it.
It's not like she can't handle it.
Yuan Chizhi was quite confident in Shi Li's abilities, after all, he was the one who taught him personally.
In the following days, more and more imperial censors sent Shi Li memorials criticizing women's education. Shi Li kept them in his palace and did not publish them. As a result, the number of memorials became less and less.
In addition, the envoys from the Northern Kingdom had arrived in the imperial capital, and everyone's attention was diverted to this matter. No one cared about the women's school anymore.