Eagle-eyed and wolf-watching

Chapter 1754 Matters in the Palace
At this moment, Madam Cui in the warm pavilion didn't think too much about it. Looking at Chen Rou'er's humble expression, she praised her:
"What Consort Rou said is very good. Your insight shows that you have been studying Buddhism diligently!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Rou'er immediately said:

“When I was at my parents’ home, my mother often studied Buddhism, and I was influenced by her and developed a longing for Buddhism!”

"Oh? Not bad, not bad!"

Seeing Ye Cui's repeated praises, Chen Rou'er was secretly delighted, feeling that spending one hundred taels of silver to buy Ye Cui's catalog of Buddhist scriptures was well worth the money. However, just as she was about to strike while the iron was hot, preparing to flatter Ye Cui and get closer to her, Ye Cui looked at Bai Yuanyuan beside her and said:

"Consort Bai, what have you been up to lately?"

Bai Yuanyuan was somewhat surprised to hear that Ye Cui had actually asked her about it. She had been involved with Ye Mingsheng in a PX affair and was in her second marriage when she married him. Therefore, Ye Cui had always disliked her. Bai Yuanyuan was well aware of this, so she always tried to keep a low profile in the presence of Ye Cui and not give Ye Cui a chance to make trouble for her.

At this moment, she kept a low profile as usual in the warm pavilion. However, Ye Cuishi did not ignore her as usual. Although it was somewhat unexpected, Bai Yuanyuan could only stand up with her head held high under Ye Cuishi's gaze.

She stood up, but she didn't know how to answer Ye Cui's question. In the past, when Ye Mingsheng was in the palace, she would think about how to win his favor, but now that Ye Mingsheng was out on inspection tours, Bai Yuanyuan's life basically consisted of eating, drinking, and playing mahjong…

Bai Yuyuan's rehearsals were among the most important of the concubines in the harem. She would play two rounds almost every day, which was one of her few recreational activities.

Normally, if others asked her, Bai Yuanyuan could honestly say that she was playing mahjong. But now, in the warm pavilion, under the Empress Dowager's question and with dozens of concubines watching, Bai Yuanyuan couldn't say in public that she was playing mahjong. If word got out, she would definitely be seen as a gambler, and even the censors of the Censorate would impeach her.

Although she was momentarily speechless, Bai Yuanyuan was quick-witted and soon came up with an explanation:

"I've been staying home taking care of my two children lately!"

Upon hearing Bai Yuanyuan mention her two children, Ye Cui, as the grandmother, continued to ask:

"How are Xingtong and Jingheng doing lately?"

"Xingtong, Jingheng has recently been studying under Mr. Gao Yu from the Hanlin Academy!"

"Has Xing Tong been studying all along?"

Bai Yuanyuan, unaware of Ye Cui's question, answered truthfully as before:

"Yes! Xingtong has been studying hard; she's especially good at Chinese and math."

Upon hearing Bai Yuanyuan's answer, Ye Cui's expression darkened. Bai Yuanyuan noticed this change in Ye Cui's expression and became flustered, unsure which of her words had offended Ye Cui. She could only look to An Miaoyi for help…

Bai Yuanyuan was somewhat confused, but An Miaoyi, who was standing next to her, knew what her mother-in-law was thinking.

As the emperor who spearheaded the reforms, Ye Mingsheng was relatively open-minded about his children's education. He allowed his daughters to receive the same education as his sons, learning subjects such as Chinese, mathematics, geography, physics, and physical education, so that his children could develop morally, intellectually, physically, and aesthetically in an all-round way.

However, Lady Ye Cui was deeply influenced by feudal ethics, so her views on the education of her descendants were quite traditional. As a woman, she also agreed with the idea that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent.

Therefore, she believed that her granddaughters, the princesses of the Great Qian Dynasty, should not learn mathematics, geography, and physics. What would be the point of a princess of the Great Qian Dynasty learning those things? Those were the kinds of knowledge that accountants and craftsmen needed to learn.

In Ye Cui's eyes, her granddaughters especially shouldn't have taken that physical education class. It was fine for the princes to take it, but girls should behave like girls. It was disgraceful for them to run around like tomboys during physical education class, completely forgetting all the royal etiquette they had been taught.

Ye Cui had spoken to Ye Mingsheng about this issue, and Ye Mingsheng knew he couldn't change his mother's mind. So, when facing his mother, Ye Mingsheng would dodge the question, but in reality, he still did things his own way. Ye Cui was quite angry about this, but she also understood that she couldn't change her son's mind, so she could only try to avoid seeing it and not worry about it.
However, when she was alone with her mother-in-law An Miaoyi, Ye Cuishi often asked An Miaoyi, as the Empress, to properly advise Ye Mingsheng.

The enduring appeal of the saying "A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent" is not merely empty rhetoric. Girls can be educated, but they should primarily study classics like the *Classic of Filial Piety*, *Admonitions for Women*, and biographies of virtuous women, learning how to be a virtuous and kind wife and mother…
Daughters from ordinary families might need to learn skills like needlework and knitting, but princesses of the royal family don't need to learn these. However, they should learn court etiquette to ensure they always maintain an appearance befitting their status. As for other arts like poetry, songs, and folk arts, they can also learn them appropriately.

However, these princesses should not receive the same education as the princes, after all, this is the royal family, and there are examples like Princess Taiping of the Tang Dynasty right before our eyes.

Because of her previous exchanges with Madam Ye Cui, An Miaoyi understood why Madam Ye Cui looked displeased. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke up:
"Mother! Princess Xingtong has studied the Classic of Filial Piety and the Admonitions for Women very well. We'll have Princess Xingtong come over sometime and have her tell you a passage!"

Upon hearing An Miaoyi mention this, Madam Ye Cui also looked at Bai Yuanyuan and said:

"Consort Bai, you must teach the princess well, and make her study the 'Admonitions for Women' and the 'Biographies of Virtuous Women' properly. A princess should act like a princess!"

Although Ye Cui's tone was quite ordinary when she said this, it was extremely grating to Bai Yuanyuan's ears. Stimulated, Bai Yuanyuan clenched her fists, but outwardly remained humble as she spoke...
"I will heed the Empress Dowager's teachings..."

After educating Bai Yuanyuan, Madam Ye Cui turned to Pei Zhixiu beside her and said:
"Consort Pei, how are those female students you taught at the medical school doing?"

Seeing that Madam Ye Cui had still brought up the matter, Zhi Xiu was somewhat helpless, but she still stood up and said:
"Your Majesty, everything is proceeding according to the prescribed teaching method!"

"Following the established procedures? You really want to train them to be doctors?"

Pei Zhixiu was speechless when faced with Ye Cuishi's question. She didn't want to train them to become doctors, so was she just going to play around by insisting on going to the medical school to teach them?

Although she really didn't want to answer such a question, Bae Ji-soo understood that this was the palace, and she had to abide by the palace rules and couldn't act on her own whims. Therefore, she could only remain respectful and say:
"Your Majesty, these female students are all very intelligent, and I believe they can all become qualified doctors!"

Madam Ye Cui nodded in satisfaction and said:
"Very good! Then Consort Pei, you should train these female students well!" After saying that, Madam Ye Cui looked at An Miaoyi beside her and instructed her:

"Miaoyi, have someone keep an eye on those female students. If there are any outstanding ones among them, let them all enter the palace. There are many women in the palace, and sometimes it's more suitable and convenient for these female doctors!"

"Yes! I've got it!"

Upon hearing that Ye Cuishi intended to send female medical students to the palace, Pei Zhixiu was stunned. She never expected Ye Cuishi to have such a thought. Instinctively, she wanted to stop her. Although the female students often complained about her strictness in teaching and even gossiped about her behind her back, as their teacher, she genuinely wanted these female students to have a bright future. Therefore, she didn't want to see them jump into a fire pit…

At this moment, Madam Ye Cui also noticed the change in Pei Zhixiu's expression, but she did not know that Pei Zhixiu already regarded the palace as a pit of fire, so she asked:
"Does Consort Pei have any recommended candidates?"

Upon hearing this, Bae Ji-soo immediately replied:

"Many of them have just started learning and are currently only learning some theoretical knowledge. They are still a long way from being able to put it into practice!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Ye nodded slightly in response:
"No rush, Consort Pei, you should teach them well so that they can all become good doctors!"

Although she desperately wanted Ye Cui to abandon this plan, seeing the situation as it was, Pei Zhixiu could only agree to it for the time being:
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager's decree is hereby obeyed!"

After talking with Bae Ji-soo, Lady Ye Cui chatted with the other concubines before finally dropping a bombshell.

"Recently, I have been feeling uneasy and unwell. After discussing it with Abbess Jingchen, I have decided to go to Tianci Nunnery outside the city for three months of spiritual practice in order to seek the Buddha's protection!"

Upon hearing this, the concubines in the warm pavilion exchanged bewildered glances. Just then, Murong Qingwu stepped forward and said:
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is the Empress Dowager of our dynasty. His Majesty's birth mother going to a nunnery to practice Buddhism is a matter that has far-reaching consequences! We urge Your Majesty the Empress Dowager to reconsider!"

The concubines already thought it was absurd for Lady Ye Cui to go to a nunnery to practice Buddhism, but they didn't know how to dissuade her. At this time, when Murong Qingwu stood up, everyone echoed her and urged Lady Ye Cui to think it over.

At this moment, Ye Cuishi also seemed somewhat hesitant. Just then, Murong Qingwu, who had just voiced her opposition, changed the subject and said:

“Master Jingchen’s Buddhist teachings are profound, and her words naturally have some merit. However, I believe that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is devoted to Buddhism, and the Buddha knows her sincere heart. Even if she does not personally go to Tianci Nunnery to cultivate, she can still receive the Buddha’s protection…”

Hearing Murong Qingwu say this, Madam Ye Cui also spoke up:

"Qingwu, what are your thoughts?"

"Your Majesty, I think you can choose one of your concubines to go to the Tianci Nunnery to practice Buddhism in your place!"

As Murong Qingwu finished speaking, Pei Zhixiu glanced at Chen Rou'er with some pity, while Ye Cuishi continued to ask:

"Qingwu, your idea is good, but who should we send?"

Murong Qingwu replied without hesitation:
"I don't have a specific candidate for Empress Dowager, but I do have some ideas about the selection criteria."

"speak!"

"Firstly, the person who enters the Tianci Nunnery to cultivate on behalf of Your Majesty cannot have a low rank in the palace, so as to show Your Majesty's sincerity!"

"Secondly, the person who entered the Tianci Nunnery to cultivate on behalf of Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is someone who is well-versed in Buddhism and has a karmic connection with the Buddha!"

"Thirdly, it is not suitable for concubines who have given birth to children to go. The princes and princesses are still young and need their mothers' care. If they go to cultivate for three months, it will be three months of separation from their children, which does not match the name of Tianci Nunnery!"

Upon hearing Murong Qingwu's first two points, Chen Rou'er didn't immediately grasp their meaning, but after hearing the third point, she felt increasingly uneasy...
Just as Chen Rou'er began to become wary, she also felt Ye Cui's gaze. Ye Cui calmly said:

"Consort Rou, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

As soon as Madam Ye Cui said this, everyone's eyes were focused on Chen Rou'er. Realizing what was going on, Chen Rou'er's face immediately turned pale.

Only then did she realize that she was being asked to go to Tianci Nunnery to cultivate. Her instinct was to refuse; she was young and full of life, how could she want to spend her days with only the dim light of a lamp and ancient Buddha? But before she could even open her mouth and utter a word, she heard Bai Yuanyuan say gloatingly:
"Consort Rou, didn't you just say that your mother also often studies Buddhism? Are you trying to cultivate a longing for Buddhism through your own experiences?"

"Now you finally have a chance. Master Jingchen's Buddhist teachings are profound. You can learn a lot from her!"

Hearing Bai Yuanyuan say that, Chen Rou'er was furious, but she didn't know what to say. After all, she had already said it, and if she changed her mind now, she would only be contradicting herself!
If we could avoid contradicting ourselves, that would be one thing, but the most important thing is that if we change our tune now, it would be deceiving the Empress Dowager, a crime equivalent to deceiving the emperor, and in serious cases, it could lead to the execution of the entire family!

Thinking of this, Chen Rou'er felt very regretful, regretting that she had spoken so confidently earlier, saying things like she had developed a liking for Buddhism.

If she could do it all over again, she definitely wouldn't have bothered with this at all.

Feeling Ye Cui's gaze, Chen Rou'er understood that the Empress Dowager of the Great Qian Dynasty had already decided on her, and it would be difficult to change her mind whether she wanted to go or not.

Since it was a matter of facing death whether she stuck her neck out or not, Chen Rou'er gritted her teeth and said:

"Rou'er is willing to go to Tianci Nunnery to practice Buddhism for three months in place of the Empress Dowager..."