Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

The news of the establishment of the journalism award quickly spread from the palace.

After all, news needs to be widely disseminated, and Zhu Youjian did not ask for it to be kept confidential.

Even the fact that Zhang Yao was awarded the Public Service Award and was specially granted the status of a Yuanshi was widely publicized to enhance the appeal of the journalism award.

After learning that there is a possibility of being granted the title of Yuanshi, people in the newspaper and periodical industry have flocked to the journalism award and have warmly supported the establishment of this award.

Chen Jiru was also paying attention to this matter. When he learned that Zhang Pu's disciple Zhang Yao was going to be specially granted the title of Yuanshi, he almost broke down because he had been asking for it but couldn't get it:

"Who is Zhang Yao?"

"You are a junior who cannot even speak in front of me."

"If he can become a Yuanshi, why is it so difficult for me to become a Yuanshi?"

For this long-established hermit, Dong Qichang and Yuan Keli were his peers, while Qian Qianyi, Qian Longxi and others were considered his juniors.

Later, after Zhang Pu and others became famous, they could still barely say a few words to him. Even Zhang Pu's disciple Zhang Yao was given room to speak when he met Zhang Pu.

However, such people would be awarded the title of Yuanshi and become one of the "national scholars" in the eyes of the emperor.

How could he not feel angry when he always prided himself on being a patriot?

But looking at the reasons why the emperor rewarded Zhang Yao, he was speechless -

Zhang Yao solved the problem of the status of hired workers under the new ritual and music system, and he is indeed qualified to be called a national hero.

Even if this achievement was mainly made by Zhang Pu, there would be no problem for Zhang Yao, as his disciple and participant, to take the credit on his behalf.

On the contrary, although she had a great reputation, she had not done anything for the court. No wonder the emperor intended to grant her the title of Yuanshi, but left the issue of women's status to her:

"It seems that this matter must be resolved!"

"If I can't solve the problem of women's status in the new era, the emperor won't grant me the status of a Yuanshi."

"Even if this gets me into trouble, I have no choice but to go on."

Thinking of the abuse of the Jiangnan female workers and the criticism of the Beijing newspapers, Chen Jiru knew that he had no choice.

If he didn't solve the saying "women's virtue lies in their lack of talent", he would not be able to become a Yuanshi. Even his other remarks would be implicated and disappear in this era.

So he gave up all hope and no longer dreamed of creating momentum to get the emperor to grant him Yuanshi. Instead, he invited Chen Renxi to ask him how to solve this problem:
"My dear Zhitai, you are the Minister of the Zhanshi Palace, and you are also responsible for setting up the Weishufu. You are a close friend of the Emperor and the Empress."

"What do you think about the Emperor and Empress regarding the status of women?"

"Any instructions?"

Chen Renxi and Chen Jiru were close friends and had even collaborated on compiling a collection of poetry.

He had guessed what Chen Jiru meant when he attended the last party. Now that he saw his old friend asking for help, he smiled and said:
"I asked the Queen Mother about this matter, and she actually didn't know about Mei Gong's affairs."

"It was the Emperor who once said, 'A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent.' When the Empress heard this, she naturally chimed in with her criticism."

"Those talented female teachers in the girls' school also hate this sentence."

"Mei Gong's identity as a Yuanshi is stuck here."

First, he explained the cause of the matter, so that Chen Jiru would know where his identity as a Yuanshi was stuck.

After hearing the inside story, Chen Jiru said thoughtfully:
"My friend, what you mean is that the two people who are against me becoming a Yuanshi are the teacher of the girls' school and the current emperor."

"As long as the Emperor and the ladies are satisfied, there will be no problem with the Empress."

Chen Renxi nodded and smiled:
"exactly!"

"The Empress has always been obedient to the current Emperor. As long as His Majesty agrees, there will be no problem with the Empress." "Besides, the Empress has just given birth to a prince, and is now recuperating in the West Garden. She won't care about what's happening outside at all."

The Queen Mother became pregnant in March last year, and finally gave birth to a baby boy in the first month of this year.

This is her second legitimate son and he is now second in the order of succession.

With this son, Queen Zhou could confidently say:

Even if something happened to her eldest son, the heir would still be her son.

No one in the harem could challenge her position.

So now she didn't care about other things at all, and no longer clung to the power of the harem. Instead, she lived in the renovated West Garden and made sure that her newly born second son would safely pass through his infancy.

Chen Renxi, who worked in the inner court, knew about this matter.

After hearing this, Chen Jiru also knew that whether he could become a Yuanshi did not depend on the Queen at all.

What he needed to convince was the emperor, or to solve the issue of women's status according to the emperor's request.

This matter was really difficult to handle. Chen Jiru spent a long time in Jiangnan but could not come up with a solution.

The statement "A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent" is easy to explain. He can come up with many reasons to defend it, and even take it back when necessary.

However, solving the problem of women's status involved many issues, especially he didn't know whether the emperor would be satisfied with the solution he proposed.

Thinking of the several times Qian Qianyi met with the emperor when he wrote The Theory of Production, Chen Jiru said:
"Can Zhitai think of a way to take me to see the emperor?"

"To be honest, I am really curious about the current emperor."

"I wonder what kind of saint would dare to come up with the idea of ​​remaking ritual music!"

Chen Renxi didn't feel embarrassed at all when he heard this. Instead, he said with joy:

"Mei Gong is famous all over the world, and the emperor values ​​wise men the most."

"If he knew that Mei Gong had come to see him, he would have said with joy, 'There is no talent left in the wild.'"

"I will go to the palace right now and submit a memorial."

It was obvious that he thought it would not be difficult for Chen Jiru to meet the emperor, and that he would even be welcomed by the emperor.

This was the illusion he had as someone close to the emperor.

In his opinion, the current emperor is very benevolent and respectful to famous officials and wise men.

A hermit and wise man like Chen Jiru was naturally respected by the emperor.

But Chen Jiru himself did not dare to think so. If he had considered himself a hermit before, after being tossed around by the emperor with the reward of Yuanshi, he had realized that the emperor did not like him very much.

So he wrote a memorial respectfully and asked Chen Renxi to take it over.

This memorial could not be described as flattery, but it showed great respect for the current emperor, expressing the meaning of "meeting a holy ruler and making rituals and music" and the willingness to serve the court.

Zhu Youjian laughed as he looked at the memorial, knowing that his persuasion towards Chen Jiru had paid off.

This so-called hermit could no longer resist Yuanshi's temptation and fell into his trap to be used by him.

Thinking that his reputation in the world would have some effect and could convince some people, he generously commented:
"Chen Renxi and Chen Jiru are allowed to see the emperor."

"There are also Zhang Pu, Mr. Liu, and Mr. Qian."

He ordered the eunuchs of the Qianqing Palace to arrange a time for him to meet them here. (End of this chapter)