The next day, in the court, after Fu Yuheng had dealt with some trivial matters with the ministers, he cleared his throat and asked tentatively: "My dear ministers, I heard that you have some complaints about Concubine Xian. Today I would like to hear what you think of her?"
When these words were spoken, all the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment. Talking about the emperor's concubines in the court was extremely disrespectful. What was the emperor up to
Seeing that no minister dared to speak out, Fu Yuheng added: "Everyone, please speak freely. I want to hear the opinions of all parties."
After saying this, the Minister of Works dared to be the first to speak, and stepped forward, "The Concubine Xian is a beautiful woman with both talent and skills, and she is also virtuous and kind. Naturally, she is a good person who can share the worries of the emperor."
After hearing this, Prime Minister Liu snorted coldly and advised: "The virtuous concubine is naturally very smart, otherwise she would not be loved by the emperor. However, a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. Moreover, the harem of our dynasty has always been forbidden to interfere in politics. I heard that the virtuous concubine often appears in your majesty's study, and I think this is extremely inappropriate."
Fu Yuheng frowned slightly, "I also think it's inappropriate, and I can't stop you from talking nonsense."
Before Prime Minister Liu could even smile, Fu Yuheng's next words stunned him, "So I have decided to make Consort Xian a female official of the first rank, and she will be in the imperial court like all of you in the future."
"What? How can this be possible?"
"It has never happened before for a concubine in the harem to serve as a female official!"
"How can a woman be allowed to discuss national affairs?"
Suddenly, there was a cacophony of discussion in the court, and it was in chaos.
Fu Yuheng had expected this to happen. It was harder than climbing to the sky to convince these stubborn old men. But since he had promised Shen Qingwan, he had to do it. "I have made up my mind. You don't need to say anything more."
As soon as he finished speaking, Prime Minister Liu knelt down with a plop. "Your Majesty, you must not do this! Allowing the harem to interfere in government affairs is against the rules that have been in place for thousands of years. It will definitely lead to disaster, Your Majesty!"
Fu Yuheng's face was already not looking good. It was Prime Minister Liu, the old antique, who relied on the fact that he was a veteran of three dynasties and had no taboos. He took advantage of his seniority and for some reason regarded Concubine Xian as a thorn in his side.
"I know Concubine Xian's talent and character best. If she serves as a female official in the court, she will surely be able to lend a helping hand to me. This will be a great thing for the development of the country!" Fu Yuheng was still arguing.
But even the Minister of Works who had just praised Shen Qingwan stepped forward to object, "Your Majesty, no, no matter how talented the Concubine is, the harem cannot interfere in government affairs. This is the ancestral rule and cannot be exceeded."
"How dare you!" Fu Yuheng slammed the armrest. "I am the ruler of a country. What I say is what goes. I set the rules for this country. It is not your turn to teach me a lesson!"
"Your Majesty just said that he would listen to the opinions of all parties, but now he is determined to appoint Concubine Xian as a female official?" Another minister came out to question Fu Yuheng.
Prime Minister Liu couldn't wait to stand up and throw dirty water on Shen Qingwan. "The virtuous concubine's position is already as high as that of a concubine, and the emperor favors her the most in the six palaces. What else is she dissatisfied with? She wants to be a female official. It is enough to show that the virtuous concubine is very ambitious. Such a person can't be trusted to serve the emperor, let alone serve in the court!"
Prime Minister Liu's words seemed sincere and heartfelt, but in fact, every word was meant to put Shen Qingwan to death. Unfortunately, there were too many ministers in the court who were on good terms with Prime Minister Liu, so when Prime Minister Liu said this, he was approved by all the civil and military officials in the court.
Seeing so many people supporting him, Prime Minister Liu became even more complacent, "Your Majesty, if Your Majesty insists on doing this, we will have no choice but to purge your entourage!"
The three words "clean up the emperor's side" made Fu Yuheng's temples throb. He never expected Prime Minister Liu to be so audacious. He was so angry that his face turned blue. He stood up and roared at the civil and military officials in the court: "How dare you threaten me? Clean up the emperor's side, what a good clean up of the emperor's side, Prime Minister Liu, don't think that I dare not kill you just because you are a senior official of the court!"
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Liu was also frightened and trembled. Then he burst into tears and kowtowed deeply, saying, "I have devoted my entire life to the court. Every word I say is eloquent and my loyalty is known to the sun and the moon. If my death can make the emperor take back his order, I will not regret dying."
Fu Yuheng looked at Prime Minister Liu in shock. He didn't expect him to be so fearless.
After Prime Minister Liu finished speaking, all the ministers knelt down and said in unison: "I hope Your Majesty will withdraw your order."
Fu Yuheng was so angry that his veins popped out. He didn't expect that in such a big court, no one supported him.
At this time, he saw General Shen in the queue and was surprised. What about him? Didn't he even say a fair word for Shen Qingwan
"General Shen, don't you also support me in making Consort Xian a first-rank female official?" General Shen, who was named, was stunned at first, then walked out of the queue and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I have nothing to say."
"Nothing to say." Fu Yuheng sneered, "What a thing to say!" Fu Yuheng's gaze was like a sharp arrow, sweeping across the entire court, making people shudder.
For a moment, the court was completely silent, no one spoke, it was like a silent confrontation, the atmosphere was so heavy that it made people feel suffocated.
After a long while, Fu Yuheng finally spoke again, in a tone that brooked no room for argument, "No matter how much you object, I will not go back on my words. I must make Concubine Xian a first-rank female official."
He was silent for a moment, and then added: "Everyone present here is responsible for the situation that has come to this. If any of you could help me solve my problems, I would not have allowed my concubine to serve in the court. It is precisely because of your stupidity and incompetence that the outstanding talents of Concubine Xian are highlighted. Instead of reflecting on yourselves, you slander Concubine Xian for having ulterior motives. You are really judging others by your own standards!"
After saying this, he flicked his sleeves and left, leaving all the civil and military officials in the court looking at each other in bewilderment.
With such a big thing happening in the court, the news naturally spread to the harem quickly.
Suddenly, the harem was in an uproar. Concubines were allowed to serve as officials in the imperial court. This was something that had never happened in previous dynasties. Concubines could only compete for the emperor's favor in the small world of the harem. How could they expect to go to court to discuss state affairs with the emperor
When Xiao Shushen heard this, she was so angry that she threw the teacup in her hand heavily to the ground, "Is what you said true? Is it true?" She couldn't believe her ears.
Nanny Gui nodded hurriedly, "It's absolutely true. The court was in an uproar. All the civil and military officials advised the emperor to take back his order. Prime Minister Liu even threatened to die!"
Xiao Shushen snorted coldly, clenched her hands into fists, and her sharp nails pierced deeply into the flesh, "I will definitely not let her get her wish so easily."