Just after the Mid-Autumn Festival, rain fell over the capital.
The fine drizzle, accompanied by a slightly chilly breeze, slanted like woven threads, draping Changchun Garden as if it were a pavilion in the misty rains of Jiangnan, suffused with a lingering elegance.
Normally, when it rained, the Masters in Changchun Garden preferred gathering by the lakeside pavilion—three or five at a time—leaning against the railings, red windows half-open, slender fingers tracing the cool air drifting through the screens, lazily chatting for a comfortable half-day.
But this time, the rain started early in the morning and continued dripping until late morning, yet Changchun Garden was eerily silent, as if no one was there.
Only a few hurried palace maids and eunuchs moved briskly through the rain, bodies hunched, toes barely touching the ground, as if practicing a light-footed technique to glide over water, trying not to even catch their breath.
Early in the morning, a decree from the Emperor came out: due to ill health, court was suspended for three days.
Aside from the times when the Xiaokang Empress and the Grand Empress Dowager made their grand appearances, the Emperor had never before taken a leave like this while in the capital.
Yet no one was surprised.
Although only princes, nobles, and palace Masters were invited to the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, officials with sources quickly learned what had happened that night.
It was said that before the banquet, the Emperor and Noble Consort Zhaoyuan had quarreled fiercely over some unknown disagreement, both silently seething.
Then that fool, drunk and senseless, provoked these two august figures—meaning Duke Niu and Aling’a.
Many people were so angry that night they couldn’t sleep, cursing Aling’a and his ancestors up and down.
His brain was probably lighter than two taels of flesh, yet he dared to antagonize Noble Consort Zhaoyuan at this critical moment, driving her into a rage, sparking a fierce argument with the Emperor right then and there, threatening suicide to force the Emperor to accept a wager…
Officials who learned the contents of this wager were all shocked—some struck dumb as if hit by lightning, others nearly fainted.
Even so, they still tried to gather themselves and go to court, hoping to persuade the Emperor to retract his decree.
But on the way to court, many were moved to tears, their hearts heavy with worry.
This was the Emperor—the Master of Great Qing!
Everyone knew that allowing women to take the Imperial Examination was absurd.
Yet the Emperor’s word was law…
Even if he had lost his mind, no one dared to accuse him of error or force him to rescind the decree.
Retracting words was easy; losing imperial dignity was irreversible.
With unspeakable anxiety, the officials went to court in silence, as if attending a funeral.
Even Suo’etu and Mingzhu, standing at the front, wore grave faces and spoke not a word.
When Liang Jiugong relayed the Emperor’s decree, many couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief—some even fainted with relief.
Court suspended!
Court suspended!
As long as they had time, they could find a way to nullify that wager and save the Emperor’s face!
By mid-afternoon, the Lady of Zashuhu Li Dachun, a Lady of the Plain Blue Banner and wife of Zashuhu Li Dachun—the uncle of Fang He’s current identity as Zashuhu Li’s Third Miss—and a distant cousin of Consort Yi, and the Lady of Guoluoluo Mingyue, wife of Bingbu Yuanwailang Guoluoluo Mingyue, sent a plaque requesting an audience with Fang He and Consort Yi.
There were many such visits.
Even the palace consorts and princesses were anxiously awaiting news about how the wager would be resolved.
After receiving the report, Consort Yi went straight to Jiayin Hall and invited the two Ladies to speak.
Zashuhu Li Dachun was Fang He’s uncle by her current identity, Zashuhu Li Third Miss, so Fang He should call her “Aunt-in-law.”
Guoluoluo Madam was Consort Yi’s cousin-in-law.
The two middle-aged women entered the hall and were about to kneel to greet.
Fang He and Consort Yi immediately stopped them and had Xinhua and Ying Tao help the two Ladies to sit.
Fang He smiled and said, “Aunt-in-law and Guoluoluo Madam, no need for formalities. It’s still raining; did you come to the garden on urgent business?”
Her tone was light, but Consort Yi could see from the two Ladies’ faces a hint of distress, and her heart tightened.
Aunt-in-law was rather thin and looked more uneasy than Guoluoluo Madam, perhaps because the Zashuhu Li clan had long been unrewarded in Shengjing.
Hearing Fang He’s question, she hesitantly replied, “Consort Yi, I must report that two of your younger cousins were hit on the head with stones by students at the academy. The attackers were scholars themselves. This humble wife comes to plead with Consort Yi to show mercy…”
Consort Yi frowned; the way she said it made it sound as if her son had ordered the attack on the scholars.
Guoluoluo Madam was also from Shengjing, but because her family was well-off through Consort Yi and Guoluoluo Guiren, she carried herself with more ease and authority.
Seeing Aunt-in-law speak awkwardly, she quickly smiled and took over the conversation.
“To be honest, these scholars have studied so long they might be a bit daft, easily riled up by others.”
“They heard that women would be allowed to take the Imperial Examination and looked down on them deeply. They never thought about the clothes on their backs, the food in their stomachs, and the stubbornness in their bones—all of which come from women!”
Consort Yi laughed, “Cousin-in-law speaks rightly. We don’t need to compete with those stinking men for glory. It’s just that Duke Niu’s words were too harsh.”
She was even more straightforward than Guoluoluo Madam.
“To be frank, from Emperor Shizu to our Wan Sui Emperor, Han studies have been increasingly valued. We dare not meddle in court affairs, but the Han customs towards women are truly hard to bear.”
“I don’t want to hear that any of our girls have bound feet or are criticized for reading a few books or going out just a few times. Back before I entered the palace, I could ride and hunt freely and whip anyone who displeased me. Look at now…”
Consort Yi sighed.
“I have Fourth Princess Yierha under my care, and Noble Consort has Ninth Princess. As mothers, we never want the day when our princesses are bound stiff by these rules and rituals.”
Her words were heartfelt and emotional, sure to resonate with any woman who heard them.
Consort Yi did not expect the two Ladies to rise up but only hoped they would not assist those oppressing women.
Fang He casually glanced at them.
Guoluoluo Madam looked moved, but Aunt-in-law’s expression remained indifferent.
Suddenly, she asked, “Do Aunt-in-law and Guoluoluo Madam have daughters?”
Guoluoluo Madam smiled immediately and replied, “I have two unpromising daughters. Hearing of the ladies’ kindness, they almost jumped onto the beams at home, shouting to read books.”
But then she added, “Yet, I think while this is a good thing, since the exams require physical inspection and detainment for days, a young woman’s reputation is very important. We must not be too hasty.”
Aunt-in-law also had two daughters.
She frowned deeply and said quietly, “We hired female teachers to teach them the Four Classics for Women. When the time comes for marriage, they must learn embroidery and how to manage the household. This is how it’s always been.”
“Sometimes they can walk out accompanied by brothers, but they cannot be out every day. Whether they marry or not is another matter. If they are abducted or lose their lives, I cannot bear to let them go out.”
Consort Yi’s face grew darker and darker, a hidden irritation stirring.
She knew the two Ladies spoke truthfully—but did that mean they had to allow women to be increasingly confined to the inner quarters?
At first, Consort Yi only wished to prevent more palace entries.
But after the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet and Fang He’s words stirred ambitions in her, she too wanted to venture outside the palace.
Once this thought arose, it was hard to suppress.
Fang He remained unruffled, smiling and asking, “So you came to persuade me to apologize to the Emperor, admit defeat for the women, and beg the Emperor to retract his edict?”
The two Ladies immediately rose and knelt, unable to speak the words they dared not say.
This was the instruction from their masters—and their masters’ superiors.
To not hurt the Emperor’s face, this was the only way.
Fang He chuckled lightly, lifting her tea cup to her lips.
“You two should tell your masters… or whoever else… that since I have accepted the decree, unless the Emperor regrets it, I will follow the edict faithfully and will not turn back.”
“As for your concerns, since the Emperor has issued the decree, the Inner Cabinet and the Six Ministries will surely draft regulations to resolve these issues.”
A faint light sparkled in her eyes.
In this rainy autumn, it brought an inexplicable chill.
“If they can’t solve even these small problems, then either they are useless relics in office, or they fear gambling against women. If they dare openly declare such things to the world, then the wager will cease to exist.”
“Xinhua, see them out.”
The two Ladies felt a tremor in their hearts—asking officials to admit these points was tantamount to asking them to die.
After they left pale-faced, Consort Yi’s frown deepened.
She looked at Fang He and said, “These two ladies are probably just forerunners. Others will surely come as emissaries later. This matter… will be difficult to realize.”
Fang He laughed, “Who says it must be realized? Have you forgotten our original goal?”
Changing the Imperial Examination system might take ten or twenty years to gradually achieve.
Suddenly overturning yin and yang rules was just a dream.
Consort Yi’s eyes widened.
“But what does suspending the Imperial Selection have to do with the Examination?”
“The Selection won’t stop, just change the method—one where women don’t suffer like Aunt-in-law.”
Fang He pushed the newly brewed tea toward Consort Yi and said. “Don’t rush. We have plenty of time and much to do.”
From the moment Aunt-in-law entered, Fang He knew she was the quintessential woman of this era—taught the Three Obediences and Four Virtues as a child, then teaching her daughters the same after marriage.
Women like her still exist in later generations.
Their ignorance and sorrow are not their fault.
No one is born with a lowly spirit; the environment shapes them.
Though Fang He’s motives were somewhat selfish at first, within her power she would do her best to make this environment friendlier to women.
After Consort Yi sipped the tea and calmed herself, Fang He continued “First, you’ll have to work harder these days—tell the consorts who spoke up at the banquet to stay secluded. If anyone comes to disturb, blame it on me. Secondly, those who didn’t speak will surely side with the men. Any society lacks no sycophants. You don’t need to argue with them. Just let them know opposing me is opposing the things my ancestors granted me.”
These tasks were not difficult for a skilled strategist like Consort Yi.
“Since the Imperial Examination can’t be changed, reforming the Selection rules is no small matter. They probably won’t let us succeed easily.”
Consort Yi still didn’t understand.
“What do we do after these three days?”
“We do nothing.” Fang He’s smile grew brighter.
“Just watch. In less than three days, they’ll be crying and begging to change the Selection system themselves.”
After all, she still had her trump card.
By evening, the rain had yet to stop.
The constant drizzle through the day made hearts damp and restless.
Plaques requesting audiences with consorts and even the Empress Dowager came in unendingly.
Even some princes’ wives were bustling with visitors all day, nearly exhausting all conversation.
Night darkened early.
When it was time to light palace lanterns, two palace maids headed from Jiayin Hall to Chunhui Hall with green bean soup for the Emperor.
Though the garden seemed silent, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Jiayin Hall and Chunhui Hall.
When they saw only two maids going to Chunhui Hall, many were disappointed.
Little did they know, the green bean soup never reached Kangxi’s stomach.
One coquettish palace maid was nearly devoured alive.
When Fang He entered wearing her purple-brown palace robes, Kangxi came forward with a face colder than the storm outside.
But when he raised his hand to knock on the maid’s face, his fingers stopped, pressing lightly instead.
“Who the hell told me this was just a little on-the-spot bet? Do you really think your head is unnecessary?”
Fang He grinned and clung to Kangxi’s arm, nestling into his chest.
“…But Your Majesty still granted my wish, daring to defy all the world’s resentment. I am deeply grateful, truly at a loss for how to thank you.”
Kangxi raised an eyebrow, coldly waiting for this fool to produce some trick.
Instead, Fang He earnestly switched tone.
“Next life I’ll be your beast of burden!”
Kangxi: “……….”
Dream on!
Seeing him lift his arm to drag her toward the couch, feeling her backside unsafe, Fang He quickly shouted “I’m wrong!” three times.
“This is for Great Qing’s good!”
“You promote Han studies with good intent. Han culture is indeed profound, with many splendid traditions to inherit. But it has been twisted by malicious people. If we don’t change early, it will harm the realm!”
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