Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 441 Filial Piety
"What was that voice Your Highness was referring to?"

Jiu Que stretched out his finger and drew a semicircle in front of him.

“Everywhere you look, you see them. No matter how many upright officials there are in the world, can they outnumber the common people? Throughout history, the common people have always been the most docile. They seem to have no voice of their own, and there is always someone willing to speak for them. But do they really think that way? I think they also want to make their voices heard.”

In the distant future, that struggle, sparked by the lowest strata of society, was enough to burn away the remnants of thousands of years of feudalism. Their voices were not merely deafening; they transformed society as swiftly as thunder.

However, these words may be difficult for people today to understand, so Jiuque chose the simplest method.

"We just need to be faster than them. Layman, I've heard that you are exceptionally talented, comparable to Ban Zhao. I wonder if you can still write with the same spirit you had back then, after so many years without picking up a pen?"

Wang Heng was taken aback. Her writing was indeed quite good, and she had been praised by many people before. But before this, no one had ever looked her in the eye and said such things. Chunyu was right; only those in the same situation as you could truly understand your feelings. If it were any other prince today, he would find even seeing her situation unlucky.

This Prince Chen was not only willing to help me, a complete outsider with no relation to him, but also willing to give me such an excellent stage.

Faced with such kindness and goodwill, how could she say no?

She used to read in books that a scholar would die for his confidant, but back then she often paid more attention to the half-line of "a woman adorns herself for her lover." Now it seems that what men are so reluctant to share with women is indeed a good thing, and she hasn't felt this kind of exhilarating feeling for many years.

"Your subordinate will do everything in his power!"

Today's incident has caused a huge uproar, and the whole capital is buzzing about it. After all, it involves the outrageous behavior of five families and seven clans. These families are all renowned and prestigious, including some that have existed for hundreds of years. It is truly astonishing that such a prominent family, which values ​​its reputation so much, would produce such a rebellious daughter.

Today, I wonder how many families are secretly educating their daughters behind closed doors.

"If you dare to emulate that Wang family girl, I'd rather strangle you before you're married than disgrace my family! Women are supposed to be obedient and virtuous. Everything was fine before this prince appeared, but now, all the women are restless. It's one thing to not settle down and have children, but they're all scrambling to get into officialdom. Do you think officialdom is easy to navigate? It's treacherous and unpredictable. Even I, your father who's been an official for decades, can't guarantee I'll have a smooth ride. My dear daughter, you should listen to me. You can study, but let's focus on needlework and women's precepts. Think about it: nowadays, women all want to be like Prince Chen, all strong and tough, which doesn't appeal to men. If you remain as gentle and submissive as before, many outstanding men will be willing to marry you. After all, not every man in this world likes a woman stronger than himself; most prefer women who are subservient, gentle, understanding, and considerate..."

"That Wang family still has the nerve to boast that they are the family of the former imperial tutors, and that they have produced several empresses. That's all ancient history! Now, they're letting the whole world see how they raised their daughter, producing such an arrogant and rebellious woman. Does she really think that getting involved with Prince Chen will guarantee her a worry-free life? Women are truly short-sighted. With her words of divorce, no man in the world will let this go! Is she trampling on Xie Kun's face? She's trampling on the face of all men in the world. No man with backbone would want to see this situation. It's a pity for Prince Chen. He's worked so hard to earn so many merits, and he's wasting them all for a woman who has nothing to do with him. Just wait and see, His Majesty will definitely not let this go easily. After all, His Majesty is also a man."

"Speaking of Xie Kun, he's a disgrace to men, unable to even control his own wife. He's the first man in the world whose wife has threatened to divorce him. He'll surely be remembered in history, hahaha..." "No, such an arrogant person cannot remain by His Highness the Prince's side. Although His Highness is incredibly strong, he's still too young and a woman. Any woman who confides in him will soften her heart. This is not a long-term solution for the country, the family, or the law. We are students, destined to serve in the court. We can't just stand by and watch the Prince be deceived by such a person, can we?"

"What does Brother Wang mean?"

“In that case, let’s jointly write a memorial and submit it to His Majesty. Her Highness is of noble status, and we ordinary people certainly can’t say much. But His Majesty, as the prince’s father, has the right to discipline his daughter, both publicly and privately. There are no private matters in the royal family. Our purpose is to prevent the royal family from making mistakes!”

“Brother Wang is right. We will submit a memorial immediately, earnestly requesting His Majesty to purge the court of corrupt officials and arrest the treacherous ones!”

"Correct!"

……

Such conversations echoed throughout countless corners of the capital. Given the uproar, especially right under the Emperor's nose, Emperor Jingtai couldn't possibly be unaware. When Jiufu came to report, his words were tinged with deep worry. "His Highness the Prince is still too young. He doesn't understand the horrors of verbal sparring, especially with those scholars. They can hurl insults without using a single vulgar word, and incidentally, they can also tarnish your reputation and that of your ancestors for eight generations, making you wish you could die of rage."

Those scholars are truly despicable. It's not a big deal; what does it have to do with them, outsiders, if a couple wants to divorce? They have to make a big fuss about it! They're such a worry. His Majesty's health is getting worse and worse; can't these people just behave themselves for a few days?

Jingtai leaned against two soft pillows on the dragon bed. This position was somewhat unfamiliar to him, but he had to admit it was quite comfortable.

As Jiufu held his breath and remained silent, filled with worry, Emperor Jingtai suddenly smiled.

"I still need a daughter. Jiu Que is so thoughtful. When have my sons ever been so filial to me? This pillow is quite comfortable. Have you ever seen such a beautiful pillow?"

Jiufu glanced at the clumsy stitching. The pillow's only redeeming quality was its high-quality materials; it was stuffed with cotton from the northern frontier and covered with excellent cotton cloth. But to honestly praise its exquisite craftsmanship, Jiufu couldn't bring himself to do so. However, having served the emperor for so many years, how could he openly compliment the pillow's workmanship?
So he sighed with envy.

"His Highness Prince Chen is indeed very considerate. This old servant has traveled outside and met many children from other families. I can guarantee that His Highness's filial piety is first-rate. His Highness always thinks of His Majesty when he has something good!"