Chapter 22: Restructuring
Song Juguang wore darkly-coloured sleep attire, her figure slender and tall. She held the teacup, respectfully and deferentially standing before Jiang Changbai's bed, no different from the other maids. Jiang Changbai looked at her in astonishment, a great shock in her heart. For a moment, she didn't know what to do, her extended hand halting in midair, and then she awkwardly drew it back to scratch behind her ear.
"Didn't Bixia say she was thirsty?" Song Juguang asked, lightly holding the cup up before Jiang Changbai. Yet Jiang Changbai didn't take it, only staring at her. Song Juguang, seeing this, didn't actually say much more; she neatly drank half the hot water in the cup. Then, she held the cup before Jiang Changbai again, not forgetting to explain herself. "Just now, this minister also felt a bit thirsty."
Only at this did Jiang Changbai hesitantly take the cup, her palm sensing the heat seeping from the cup. She sighed softly, and swallowed the remainder of the water. Her dry throat was whetted by the water, she once more looked towards Song Juguang, an inexplicable shame rising in her heart.
"Did A Guang have some matter that she came for in the depths of night?" Jiang Changbai asked in a low voice, her tone slightly searching.
Song Juguang, hearing this, smiled slightly. "This minister couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd go take a bit of a walk. How could I have thought that, when I reached the door, I would hear you calling for Xun Zhu to bring water? This minister, seeing that I didn't have anything to do, poured the water and brought it in for her, and instructed her to keep resting."
Jiang Changbai nodded, the suspicions in her heart growing deeper. The Song Juguang who, a shichen ago, had said she was too tired to return to her residence, and now, the one who said she couldn't sleep and was wandering about was also Song Juguang. Jiang Changbai simply felt that these words of hers were utterly without logic, and for a while, couldn't fathom what it was she wanted to do. She sighed, wanting to speak and command Song Juguang to return to the side hall to rest. Unexpectedly, though, the sound of the wind outside the window rose suddenly, the sound of thunder following it. Shortly thereafter, bean-sized raindrops pounded against the eaves, letting out a melodious sound. The rainwater slid down the eaves, and, through the window, one could see them falling like a waterfall.
The half-open window was blown wide by the wind, the wooden window frame letting out a muffled banging sound. The rain fell in sheets, and so, Jiang Changbai didn't have a reason to send Song Juguang back, and could only let her remain in her own quarters.
The damp wind, carrying a slight chill, threaded its way into the bedroom. The day had been extremely hot, and as a result, the sleeping attire that Jiang Changbai wore was incredibly thin. Now, suddenly brushed by the cold wind, she couldn't help but shiver.
Song Juguang, seeing this, hurried to the window, and closed the wide open frame. At this moment, Xun Zhu had also been startled awake by the thunder, and hurriedly came in; seeing Song Juguang was there as well, she was surprised at first. So, she shifted her gaze to Jiang Changbai, until she saw that she was waving a hand at her, and only then followed her original path back out.
Song Juguang shrugged, and came over to Jiang Changbai's bed and sat down. The bedroom didn't have any lit lamps, and Jiang Changbai could only vaguely see Song Juguang's neatly-gathered hair. "Bixia," Song Juguang said, her tone carrying a degree of probing, "is it the Shejin matter which has caused you to be unable to fall asleep?"
Jiang Changbai nodded lightly, even though she knew that Song Juguang couldn't see her motion. "A Guang, what do you think?"
Song Juguang muttered to herself for a moment. "Since the chaos of war at the border has been pacified, this minister thinks it would be best to send Yan Gaoge to replace Wei Xiren. Xiren's character is harsh and headstrong, and if she's always let alone outside, I'm afraid there will be many incidents. On her way back from the Western border, the path Xiren takes will probably be no different than the one that that Liang Jiwen followed into the capital." Having spoken halfway, Song Juguang paused, as if waiting for Jiang Changbai to continue.
Jiang Changbai realised her intent, and continued, "Then we'll tell her to pay careful attention, and also command the officials of all parts to be mindful of someone whose appearance is that of a Shejin person's."
"This minister also thought that."
The two's conversation was gradually covered up by the sound of the rain, yet the rain outside the window didn't have the intention of stopping.
Early the next morning, the Shengru Palace.
He Leyong wore deep blue court dress, her head high and chest out as she stood in the centre of the great hall. Matters had occured all of a sudden, and her court dress actually didn't fit her well, yet on her figure, it appeared even more imposing. The greying strands of hair at her temples had been pulled back, and the scattered inkspots on her face made her identity clear to others. Even though now, female officials in the court were no longer rare, the tattoo on He Leyong's face still caused others to cast sidelong glances. The ministers were discussing spiritedly, their speech full of a lack of understanding. There were older ministers who recognised her, and tugged at their own friendly colleagues, telling them not to keep commenting.
He Leyong stood with her head held high, her eyes bright and full of expression, as if she didn't know that the person those around her were discussing was her. Or,, perhaps she knew, but didn't care in the slightest.
Jiang Changbai emerged, her gaze sweeping across the ministers. The clamouring sound in the hall immediately stopped, the ministers all seeming to kneel in a flash, calling out long live neatly.
"Dear ministers, please, rise. Today, We have an important matter to announce." Jiang Changbai cleared her throat, and said, "We have decided that this year's dianshi will be delayed until next Spring, and the restrictions against women participating in the imperial examinations will be lifted. The details will be left to He Leyong and Xie Qianbing to preside over; do you dear ministers have objections?"
When these words issued forth, the court fell into immediate uproar. One had to know that the keju being at the start of the Autumn had already been sustained for over a hundred years, and this time hadn't even been delayed by the chaos of war. Yet now, with the nation in peace, it was going to be delayed. Everyone couldn't help but be puzzled, simply feeling that this matter wasn't according to custom.
Jiang Changbai's gaze swept over them all. "There is no lack of talented persons among women, and they can also serve the nation. We believe that now, with this reform, it will definitely cause even more pillars to emerge from the Great Li's court."
The multitude of ministers still didn't understand, but even if they didn't understand, there wasn't anyone who dared to stand out and refute it. Even Liu Zihe and Wu Dongmu only stood with bowed heads, not speaking, and there wasn't anyone who could see their expressions.
Only three people in the court stood with heads high and chests out, upright as brushes. He Leyong and Xie Qianbing need not be mentioned; they'd known of this matter from the start, and had long since prepared their minds. To say nothing of the fact that presiding over the keju was a great undertaking, in the former years, it was always someone recommended by Liu Zihe who went to preside over it. Now, the two were even more unable to contain their joy, and even their features carried a smile.
But Lin Yinqing was also this unperturbed, which was somewhat unusual.
Jiang Changbai had long since heard of his deeds. The late Emperor was muddle-headed, and was even less willing to listen to others call into question his decisions. Every time he'd hear it, regardless of what matter and who had wronged who, that minister would be beaten first. Everyone was wary, and in court, they only praised Emperor Tai. There was only Lin Yingqing who was never afraid of this, and repeatedly admonished the late Emperor, and so would be beaten such that the next day he couldn't attend court, and would still persevere with his own views. He was the one who was most hidebound by convention, and he would frequently speak of opposition against traditional rules.
Jiang Changbai, this time, had assumed that the one who would first obstruct it would definitely be Lin Yingqing, but she couldn't have imagined that he wouldn't say anything at all. Her gaze faintly fell on his figure, merely feeling that this matter was strange.
Suddenly, a lively voice broke through the clamour. Lin Yingqing's hands held up his ceremonial tablet, approaching, his gaze clear, and he raised his voice to call out, "Bixia is a brilliant master, this exam will most certainly cause the Great Li to be even more prosperous!"
Lin Yingqing's features were delicate and fine, his forehead showing a heroic spirit. His figure was slender, yet, standing there, it was just like a tall and straight pine. The multitude of ministers hadn't expected this turn of events; there was no one who could guess that, on an ordinary day, the most conservative Minister of Revenue, most persistent in his own opinions, would be the first to stand out in favour of reform, and so, all of their gazes shifted to him.
Jiang Changbai's mind was also equally suspicious, but her expression didn't betray it. She could only raise her hands before her chest, chuckling as she clapped her hands. Immediately afterwards, she looked towrds the multitude of ministers, their heads still bowed, her tone carrying a deterent exclusive to the emperor: "Is there anyone else?"
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