Golden Hall.

Zhao Xi, dressed in a bright yellow Dragon Robe embroidered with gold dragons, sat upright, the twelve tassels on his crown hanging still.

He had just proposed the idea of appointing female officials to the court, and the hall was now silent.

After the silence, the voices of opposition from the civil and military officials erupted.

"Not to mention our dynasty, throughout the entire history of Chu Country, there has never been a precedent for women entering the court as officials. If Your Majesty insists on this, it would be making a mockery of the court, likely to become a laughing stock to other countries. We implore Your Majesty to reconsider!"

"There is an official recruitment process in Chu Country, with an examination every three years. We do not believe the court lacks talent to the extent of needing female officials. Could this be a joke Your Majesty is playing on us?"

"I second that. If there are any vacancies, let the Ministry of Personnel rush to fill them. But appointing female officials is something unheard of."

"Though the late Emperor established schools for women, women are ultimately of limited vision. Even if they ascend to the court, they cannot offer good strategies for the country and would only become a laughing stock. On this matter, Your Majesty’s consideration is too hasty."

"The esteemed gentlemen think women are of limited vision, perhaps because they only see the women in their own homes."

At this moment, a clear and melodious voice came from outside the hall.

As the voice fell, Wen Wan appeared in everyone’s sight, dressed in a dark red dress with intricate embroidery. Her long black hair was styled in a cloud bun, and around her slender, fair neck was a cloud shoulder cloak embellished with complex and gorgeous embroidery. As she approached, it was as if a fierce flame swept through the hall, capturing all the beauty in the world, her slender figure and captivating visage mesmerized everyone.

Most of the court officials in the Golden Hall recognized her as the former Madam Song, and now Princess Yong’an, conferred by the late Emperor.

Yet today, she was unlike her usual elegant and simple self, draped in brilliant red, exuding a charm that seemed to captivate souls, making it impossible to look away.

Upon arriving in the hall, Wen Wan gracefully bowed, "I greet Your Majesty."

This greeting snapped the stunned officials out of their daze.

Some reacted quickly, looking at Wen Wan, then at Emperor Xuanjing on the Dragon Throne, "The person Your Majesty mentioned earlier, could it be Princess Yong’an?"

Although she held a noble status, she grew up in the countryside. Even though she spent a few years with Song Wei, how much broader could her vision have become?

If His Majesty intends to appoint her as a female official, isn’t this clearly nonsensical?

Some court officials felt utterly speechless.

Currently, almost all those in power at the court have become the "personal people" of the new emperor.

Starting with the Lu Family, Duke Lu oversees the Divine Soldier Bureau and also serves as the inspector of the Liaodong Iron Mine.

At the Changning Marquis Mansion, Prince Consort Lu Xingzhou was pardoned and returned to the Capital, and was appointed as the Commander of the Three Armies to head north to resist the enemy, restoring his military power.

The Song family was even more remarkable. Song Wei rapidly ascended, becoming the Imperial Tutor in less than ten years in the court, and also served as the Vice Minister of the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Office and Minister of the Divine Soldier Bureau.

These prominent figures were all relatives of the Zhao Family, and the court officials had nothing to say, given the evident power they held. But, but what about this Princess?

Is the new emperor planning to bestow favors widely, regardless of gender, letting all relatives taste the experience of being officials?

This doesn’t seem like the new emperor’s style!

The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel expressed deep concern, "Your Majesty, we request a reasonable explanation."

Zhao Xi looked at Wen Wan, "Why not let the Princess explain to them herself?"

Wen Wan stood up and turned to face the officials, gently curling her lips, "If I say that within three months, the Northern Border campaign will end in a major defeat, and Bei Yan will seize the opportunity to invade the Capital and conquer the Chu Country in one fell swoop, do you believe it?"

"Nonsense!"

The Minister of War was particularly furious, "The Northern Border has the most formidable army, the mechanical beasts that leave the enemy defenseless, and the War God Marquis Changning, who instills fear in the Yan Army. With abundant resources, defeating Bei Yan is just a matter of time. How could there be a major defeat? What are the Princess’s intentions with such alarming words?"

He glanced at Emperor Xuanjing, seeing Zhao Xi’s unchanged expression made the Minister of War’s face turn even darker.

He even had a bold guess: could His Majesty be so captivated by the beauty of Princess Yong’an that he lets her do as she pleases? 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

If this is true, then Chu Country is finished, completely finished!

Other court officials also showed grave expressions, "What does the Commandery Princess mean by saying Chu Country will be defeated right off the bat?"

Emperor Xuanjing remained silent, and although they were furious, they dared not speak, suppressing their anger again and again.

"My meaning is simple, Chu Country will be defeated, but I can turn the tide." Wen Wan smiled, her eyes curved and her red lips curled upward. Her eyes seemed to have hooks, alluring without her realizing it.

Although most of the court were dutiful officials with a strong sense of resolve, Wen Wan’s flamboyant appearance was too eye-catching. Her smile made quite a few officials turn away, not daring to look directly.

However, despite not daring to look, her words drilled into everyone’s ears without missing a word.

The crowd drew a sharp breath; was Princess Yong’an crazy for daring to speak such words in the Golden Hall, or was the new emperor crazy for allowing her to do so?

Wen Wan took in the reactions of the officials one by one.

The Liaodong Iron Mine was a secret, and many were unaware of such a place, so she couldn’t use it as an example, but she could only utilize the epidemic in the Northern Border.

Clearing her throat, she spoke again, "The reason Chu Country will be defeated is because the epidemic has spread to the army, the soldiers have fallen ill one after another, causing great panic among the populace. The Beijiang Government failed to control the epidemic, leading to the frontline’s collapse. A group of officials planned to cover it up, so they ordered villages to be sealed and burned, burning to death whoever was infected or not, escalating the panic among the people, who then fled desperately, spreading the epidemic across various provinces. If the Capital becomes shrouded in the epidemic, Bei Yan’s attack would be effortless."

The Minister of War furrowed his brows and said solemnly, "Since the epidemic started, the court has been continuously providing supplies, and the reports from the Beijiang Government said that the epidemic is gradually being brought under control, with hopes to completely eliminate it by the end of the year. Hence, the situation the Commandery Princess describes does not exist."

"It hasn’t happened yet, so it naturally doesn’t exist now." Facing the skeptical looks of the ministers, Wen Wan’s tone remained calm. At this moment, she did not seem like a woman confined in her chamber for years, but more like a seasoned politician, "Lord Qi is in the Capital and hasn’t seen the situation in the epidemic areas with his own eyes. How can you be sure there’s no falsified report from the Northern Border?"

The Minister of War was at a loss for words, more lines forming on his furrowed brow.

"Regarding how to control the Northern Border epidemic, I’ve already drafted a plan. If you trust me, I’ll present the plan to Your Majesty for immediate implementation. If you feel I’m here today at the Golden Hall to cause rumors and panic, how you wish to handle it, this little woman will accept."

The court officials looked at each other in dismay.

Although they disagreed with women entering the court, Wen Wan’s words did pique many people’s interest.

For a moment, the officials couldn’t make a decision and could only look towards Zhao Xi.

Zhao Xi responded calmly, "The lives of tens of thousands at the Northern Border compared to appointing a female official, the weight of each is already known to you, gentlemen. If Princess Yong’an’s calculations are wrong, she won’t escape punishment under Chu Law. But if it turns out true while you ignore it today, who will bear the consequences of the loss?"

The Minister of War still found it inappropriate, "Even if the Commandery Princess speaks the truth, the court can adopt her advice, why must she be appointed as a female official?"

"So that in the future, speaking won’t be such a waste of your words like today aiming to criticize me." Wen Wan raised her eyebrows, "As a mere woman, I do not seek high rank or wealth, just let me hold a position at the Astronomical Bureau."

The State Preceptor position offered by Zhao Xi was tempting, but Wen Wan dared not.

The role of State Preceptor is a symbol of faith and reliance for the nation’s people.

She was not an enlightened sage who could predict the nation’s trajectory by divining. The path she walked defied fate, aiming to change it. Her abilities were stolen from the heavens, and if they failed one day, rendering her sightless, she couldn’t withdraw from such a sacred and exalted position safely.

The outcome of an incapable State Preceptor could be imagined.

Wen Wan’s words surprised Zhao Xi slightly. He originally thought Wen Wan would happily accept his arrangement but unexpectedly she sought only this little.

Well, she was only to serve three years in the court as State Preceptor, and once she does, it would not be easy to dismiss her.

At the end of the court assembly, Zhao Xi issued an order in front of all officials, appointing Wen Wan as Vice Overseer of the Astronomical Bureau, assistant to He Jianzheng.

Vice Overseer?

Why does that title sound so awkward?

However, after so much effort, getting the new emperor’s decree, Wen Wan felt a sense of unspeakable satisfaction.

She could finally openly change fate for her husband!

Returning to Changning Marquis Mansion, Wen Wan didn’t even have time to eat and first penned a letter to Song Wei, informing him of the good news.