Volume 1, Chapter 39: The True Heiress is a Powerhouse 39

As the new Emperor ascended the throne, An Qianqian, as Empress, assisted with the funeral rites. Her brother, An Huantuo, having fulfilled his duty of escorting his younger sister, bade them farewell and departed the Yan Kingdom.

Si Chengnian’s mother, now elevated to Empress Dowager, summoned all the noble consorts to the Baifu Palace, which would henceforth serve as her private residence. An Qianqian sat beside the Empress Dowager in the hall of honor, waiting for the others to join them for tea. Once the assembly was complete, the Empress Dowager handed the Phoenix Seal to An Qianqian.

"Everyone," the Empress Dowager announced, "henceforth, the Empress shall be the master of this inner palace."

The hall was filled with the curling scent of sandalwood. The consorts sat in their finery, yet each harbored her own hidden agenda. Lady Li’s son had recently had his hands severed by the new Emperor for trespassing in the Ancestral Temple, and Lady Xian’s son was under house arrest for his complicity. Though they were forced to temper their arrogance, their gazes remained filled with defiance as they looked at An Qianqian. After all, why should a woman from the Shang Kingdom be granted the Phoenix Seal upon her very first day in the palace?

Lady Li signaled one of the women, who promptly set down her teacup. Glancing sideways at An Qianqian, she sneered, "Your Majesty’s decision is rather biased. The Phoenix Seal is a vital instrument of the state; how can it be so easily handed to a woman from another nation? Should she prove disloyal, wouldn't the people of the Yan Kingdom be plunged into misery?"

An Qianqian did not rush to argue. Instead, she looked at the Empress Dowager and asked, "Mother, who is this?"

The Empress Dowager glanced at the woman with indifference. "Just a consort of the late Emperor. She has no children of her own, and back then, she begged so piteously that I allowed her to remain in the palace. She arrived at Baifu Palace early today and simply refused to leave."

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s attitude, An Qianqian understood the situation. She took the Phoenix Seal, not even deigning to look at the woman, and said coldly, "The grace of heaven is vast. Instead of showing gratitude, you dare to put on airs before me, the new Empress. Whether the Phoenix Seal should be given to me is not for you to interfere with. It seems you are a creature who knows nothing of etiquette. Lingyi, drag her out and punish her according to palace rules."

The woman’s face turned deathly pale, her arrogance shattered in an instant. She threw herself to the floor, crawling toward the Empress Dowager’s feet, weeping and wailing, "Your Majesty, have mercy! I was muddled by greed and spoke out of turn! Please, for the sake of our past, spare me this once!"

Seeing the Empress Dowager sitting with her eyes closed, unmoved, the woman turned to An Qianqian, tears streaming down her face. "Empress, I was wrong! You are the true mistress of the world, and the Phoenix Seal belongs rightfully in your hands. I was blind! Please, I beg you, intercede for me!"

An Qianqian looked down at her, her voice calm. "Nothing can be accomplished without rules. You are not a child; since you chose to be someone else’s dog, you must bear the consequences."

The woman panicked, bowing her head frantically. "Empress, I will never dare do it again! Please, show mercy and spare my lowly life!"

Her forehead struck the golden bricks with a dull thud, and soon blood began to seep out. An Qianqian, however, did not spare her a glance, merely fiddling with the Phoenix Seal in her hand.

Lingyi stepped forward. Before the woman could speak again, she stuffed a cloth into her mouth. The woman struggled, kicking wildly, but was held by two young eunuchs behind Lingyi. Like a dead dog, she was dragged out of the hall and soon vanished from sight.

The hall fell into a silence so profound one could hear a pin drop. The way the others looked at An Qianqian was now tinged with fear. The Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes and cast a satisfied smile at An Qianqian. "Good, very good."

She took a sip of her tea and added with a sense of relief, "The Yan court is in turmoil; it is no place for the soft-hearted. Seeing you act this way, I am at ease."

An Qianqian had won the first battle. Once the period of national mourning ended, Si Chengnian officially ascended the throne, and the Empress Dowager’s plans for a school for women began to take shape. What was expected to be a simple matter immediately met with fierce opposition.

In the imperial court, as soon as Si Chengnian announced, "The Empress Dowager intends to open a school for women in the capital to teach young ladies to read and write; the Ministry of Rites will oversee this," the court erupted in an uproar.

"Your Majesty, you must not!" The Chief Councilor was the first to step forward, his gray beard trembling with rage. "Since ancient times, it has been held that 'a woman’s lack of talent is a virtue.' If they are allowed to show their faces in schools, will it not destroy the very foundations of our social order?"

The Minister of War followed suit. "I agree! A woman’s place is to support her husband and raise her children. If they acquire knowledge, they may develop delusions that undermine the authority of the husband, which is detrimental to the nation!"

Opposition surged like a tide. Most of the ministers bowed in agreement, and even the usually progressive censors looked troubled.

"Delusions?" Si Chengnian’s voice was quiet but carried a piercing weight. He fixed his gaze on the Chief Councilor. "Chief Councilor, your own daughter passed the provincial examinations last year under a man’s name. Was that not knowledge? Did her 'delusions' undermine the foundation of the Yan Kingdom?"

The Chief Councilor was left speechless, his face flushing deep red. This was a private matter, and he had not expected the new Emperor to be aware of it.

Si Chengnian then turned to the Minister of War. "Minister, you say women should only support their husbands, yet Lady Li once accompanied you to guard the borders and used her intellect to expose an enemy ambush, saving three thousand soldiers. Was that achieved through a 'lack of talent'?"

The Minister of War was left stuttering. The hall fell silent.

Si Chengnian slowly stood up. "You all cite 'a woman’s lack of talent is a virtue,' yet you forget that in ancient times, Leizu taught the people to raise silkworms, and Mu Guiying led armies into battle. If they had been illiterate and ignorant of the world, how could they have achieved such glory?"

His gaze was like a torch. "The Empress Dowager’s school is not to parade women before the public, but to ensure they can read letters and discern right from wrong, so that when they raise their children, they may teach them propriety and righteousness. This will lead to more virtuous folk and a more stable nation. Is this not a benefit to the country and the people?"

"But... the rites do not permit it!" a young scholar whispered in protest.

"The rites are made by men," Si Chengnian said coldly. "If the rites only permit men to read and forbid women from understanding reason, then these rites must be changed."

He turned to the Minister of Rites. "Within three days, present the charter for the school. Your ministry is responsible for the teachers, the premises, and the students. Anyone who obstructs this will be dealt with as if defying an imperial decree."

The Minister of Rites dared not delay, bowing low. "I obey!"

The other ministers looked at one another; seeing the new Emperor’s resolve, no one dared to speak further. After all, this new ruler, who had endured life as a hostage before becoming Emperor, was seemingly gentle, but his inner steel had been clearly revealed during yesterday’s coronation.

As the court dispersed, the officials whispered in small groups—some sighed and shook their heads, while others seemed deep in thought. No one had expected that the first order of the new reign would be the establishment of a school for women. It seemed the very heavens of the Yan Kingdom were destined to change.

When Si Chengnian returned from court, An Qianqian was waiting in the side hall. Seeing him enter, she handed him a cup of hot tea. "I heard there was quite a quarrel in the court today?"

"A group of stubborn old men," Si Chengnian said, taking the tea. He added slowly, "But it matters not; the matter is settled."

An Qianqian smiled. "When the Empress Dowager hears of this, she will be very pleased."

"As long as she is happy," Si Chengnian said, holding her hand, a flicker of warmth in his eyes. "The Empress Dowager has had a difficult life. If she can fulfill this wish, it will benefit the people. There are so many women in this world; perhaps in the future, they will become a pillar for the advancement of the Yan Kingdom."

Regardless of the inner thoughts of the cabinet officials, the school for women was eventually established. Three months later, it welcomed its first intake of students.