"And to those who claim that This Princess's policy of admitting equal numbers of male and female students wastes precious placements—how amusing."
Yun Shu strolled two leisurely steps across the grand hall, her pace unhurried, voice calm.
"This Princess's stipulation already exempts certain fields of study. Take blacksmithing, for instance. This Princess understands well that, in matters of brute strength, women may indeed be born with less than men.
Hence, for such fields, there is no demand. Even if every applicant is a boy, it makes no difference.
But in the disciplines of medicine, arithmetic, advanced mathematics, and the study of mechanical innovation—pray tell, how are women inferior?
Have men grown a second head that we have not heard of?"
The court fell silent.
Once, Yun Shu at fourteen could already silence a hall of elder ministers by sheer force of argument. Now nearing sixteen, and having spent almost a full year under the personal tutelage of Emperor Xuanwu, she had only grown sharper, more composed, more impossible to refute.
The same ministers—each old enough to be her grandfather—had stormed into morning court with the righteous fury of spring thunder, yet left with their heads drooping like frostbitten roosters, completely defeated.
Only Yun Shu remained fresh and unbothered, her stride as light on departure as it had been on arrival.
Within her private residence, Yun Ni, who had been specially invited to witness the session from the sidelines, was practically in tears from excitement.
To the outside world, the recruitment conditions announced in the latest issue of the Capital Weekly might have seemed like a spur-of-the-moment decision by Yun Shu. But in truth, she had been deliberating over it ever since she first conceived of establishing the Tian Sheng Academy.
Equal admissions for boys and girls—this was her way of giving more young women a chance to step into a different future.
Refusing applicants from families with a record of child abandonment or infanticide—this was her means of drawing a line in the sand, to deter further such acts and lay the groundwork for future revisions of Tian Sheng's laws, where the murder of one's own child would be punishable by death.
"Let the women of Tian Sheng live as freely as modern women do. Let them pursue their desires unshackled by so-called virtues and prohibitions crafted only for their suppression."
This had once been their shared dream.
And now, Yun Shu had taken the first real step toward making it a reality.
Yun Ni felt this in her very bones.
She was certain that one day, Yun Shu would make good on every word of it.
She looked forward to that day with all her heart.
Yet where there is hope, there will always be those who pray for downfall.
Like the Eldest Prince.
Upon returning to his residence, he very nearly smashed everything in sight.
That he did not succeed was largely thanks to one man: General Wei Yuan, who trailed after him like a vigilant shadow, snatching items from his hand before they could be hurled.
"Your Highness—eh, not that one! That piece is priceless!
That vase alone could fetch thousands of taels in silver.
Ouch, Your Highness! These things are far too valuable to break. If you must vent, break me instead. My bones are sturdy—I can take it!"
The Eldest Prince stood frozen.
His rage had been fierce, but it suddenly lost all momentum.
He looked down at the intricately glazed red-and-blue porcelain crane vase in his hands, caught mid-swing. Smashing it felt foolish now. But putting it back felt even worse.
After a long pause, he shoved the vase into Wei Yuan's arms, voice brimming with fury.
"If you had spoken half as well this morning in court, would Yun Shu be walking away so smug?"
"Your Highness knows full well that this humble subject is no master of words."
Wei Yuan gently set the vase back in its place, giving it one last regretful look before slumping into a seat nearby.
"Besides, the Crown Princess is sharp-tongued and quick-witted. If Your Highness had sent me to debate her, it would have been easier to just order me to march on Bei Xiang instead."
"The issue right now is not Bei Xiang!"
The Eldest Prince clenched his jaw, voice low and venomous.
"We can no longer let Yun Shu continue this smooth ascent. If she carries on like this, her position as Crown Princess will be more secure than the one the deposed Crown Prince once held."
"This Tian Sheng Academy enrollment—she must make a mistake. A serious one."
"Actually, if Your Highness wishes to stir trouble over this matter, it will be remarkably simple."
It was the strategist, silent since the prince's return, who finally broke his silence.
"In fact, one might even say it is very easy."
The Eldest Prince narrowed his eyes.
"You have something in mind?"
"Indeed."
The strategist's voice was calm and deliberate.
"It is obvious that the Crown Princess seeks to elevate the status of women. However, in doing so, she is directly undermining the interests of men.
Her enrollment conditions for Tian Sheng Academy are bound to spark dissatisfaction among commoners who only wish to enroll their sons.
Especially those who find their sons unable to secure a spot. If Your Highness were to quietly send agents to fan the flames, these people would naturally rise in protest.
And once chaos breaks out, Your Highness will find it much easier to move your pieces as needed.
Furthermore, Your Highness could begin to spread certain… rumors.
At present, the Crown Princess merely insists that women claim an equal share of admissions. But what of the future?
If a woman's heart is set loose, it will not end at education. Perhaps she becomes difficult to marry off, or worse—
Even after marrying, she may constantly dream of escape. No clean clothes. No meals cooked. No one to tend the children. And perhaps—
She may even stray outside the marriage and seduce—"
"I do not agree!"
"What?"
The strategist's words, though vile, were being followed attentively—until Wei Yuan suddenly broke in with a low, furious growl.
The Eldest Prince was caught completely off guard.
"Do not agree with what?"
"I do not agree with anything he said after that nonsense about women straying!"
Wei Yuan raised his head, eyes blazing, and shot the strategist a deadly glare.
"You want to cause trouble for the Crown Princess? Fine. I have no objection to that.
But why must you slander the idea of raising women's status in the process?
Only useless, cowardly men fear their wives stepping beyond the threshold. Men who are afraid of being left behind if their wives so much as catch a glimpse of the world."
"General Lu, are you defending the Crown Princess?"
The strategist's tone turned cold, his face darkening. It was no secret who his words had been aimed at, and Wei Yuan had caught every barb.
"Have you forgotten whose side you are on?"
"Spare me your doggerel!"
Wei Yuan slammed a palm against the table and stood.
"Do not accuse me of disloyalty. I speak of the matter, not of allegiance.
Tell me—have I spoken one false word? And as for you, if you were not such a coward—"
"Enough!"
The Eldest Prince's voice rang out as he rose to his feet, frustration seeping through his every word.
"Have you forgotten the hour? Have we even finished our discussion?
The matter is not yet decided, and here you are, turning against each other!"