EBE Chapter 1048 Initially Taking Shape
Chapter 1048 Initially Taking Shape
During the two-day palace banquet, Prince Joliv spent the entire time discussing procurement matters with Han Fengli and Ouyang Yunxiang, Ouyang Yunyao's second brother.
Because Joliv and his people have made it clear that their country's muskets, gunpowder, firecrackers, and telescopes will never be sold to their country on the Yuzhou continent.
After discussing it, Chu Chenjing and Ouyang Yunyao accepted all the goods they brought. Moreover, the price of each item was only five taels of silver lower than that of the goods sold in Xichu Kingdom. Their sincerity made Qiao Lifu and his companions overjoyed and completely put their worries aside.
In just two days, Joliv and his group went on a buying spree of novel goods from the Western Chu Kingdom, spending almost all the gold and silver they carried with them and the money they earned from selling their goods.
Two days later, at dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the Kyoto post station, bathing the upturned eaves of the roof in a warm glow, and the more than ten carriages parked in the courtyard were also illuminated by the sunset.
The courtyard was bustling with activity. Joliv and his companions were standing beside the carriage, directing the guards to load the bags of goods they had purchased onto the carriage.
……
Meanwhile, inside the Chenfeng Courtyard of the Jingwang Mansion, a different, warm scene unfolded.
Ouyang Yunyao and Chu Chenjing sat at the dining table, having dinner together and exchanging a few words from time to time.
They had established a rule that whenever Ouyang Yunyao and Chu Chenjing dined together, no one would need to serve them. The maids and guards would eat in the adjacent side hall, allowing the two of them to eat and chat without any restraint, freely expressing their feelings.
The two men started talking about the purchasing of the Lopa people, and as they talked, they came to the recent surge in interest in learning the Lopa language in the capital.
Chu Chenjing carefully removed the fine bones from the fish's belly for Ouyang Yunyao and placed the tender fish meat into the white porcelain dish in front of her.
Then she smiled and said, "Yaoyao, you don't know, these past two days Father has been completely obsessed with learning the Luoba language, and he's even forcing the ministers to learn it too."
"Really? I wonder how long Father can hold on." Ouyang Yunyao scooped up a spoonful of soup, a smile in her eyes. "Our people in Fengyun Pavilion are also highly motivated. I even heard that the Imperial Academy is planning to offer this course specifically. Is that true?"
Chu Chenjing nodded, his gaze falling on her face: "That is indeed true. Shen Qingnian, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, specifically sought me out today, saying he wanted to personally invite you to give a lecture."
"Me?" Ouyang Yunyao's eyes widened slightly, her tone full of surprise. "Chancellor Shen is truly enlightened." It's well known that there has never been a precedent of a woman serving as a teacher in the Western Chu Kingdom. This couldn't help but surprise Ouyang Yunyao.
“He’s never been one to stick to the rules,” Chu Chenjing explained.
"Two years ago, he wanted to invite a female teacher to teach calligraphy at the Imperial Academy, but he was stopped by a few conservative old ministers. Now those people have long lost power, and Father, my elder brother the Crown Prince and I are all fully supporting you this time. No one will dare to say anything if you go to teach."
"Is that so?" Ouyang Yunyao suddenly realized, then raised an eyebrow. "Hmph, I'm not afraid of what people say."
"Yaoyao, I know you're not afraid." Chu Chenjing looked at her and said with a smile. Of course he knew she wasn't afraid, but he would still protect her.
Ouyang Yunyao thought for a moment and said, "A-Jing, I've always felt that the Imperial Academy should also give women the opportunity to study there."
Chu Chenjing had already watched many modern movies and read many books on the phone that Ouyang Yunyao had given him, and he had already been influenced by them.
He also knew that in her previous life, women were very independent and equal to men in society.
Now even the Emperor and his elder brother, the Crown Prince, though unaware that his queen is from a thousand years in the future, have seen those works...
They were all affected to some extent, which made the emperor, who was not particularly old-fashioned to begin with, even more tolerant of their new ideas.
Thinking of this, Chu Chenjing nodded, "You're absolutely right." Chu Chenjing echoed, "Since you started the school where girls and boys study together, it has already had an impact in the capital, and many schools now have girls."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "As for what you said about the Imperial Academy allowing women to study there, I have mentioned it to my father and elder brother, the Crown Prince, and I also mentioned it to Shen Qingnian a while ago. They all said they would consider this matter in a while."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Yunyao's eyes crinkled into a smile, and she deliberately said, "This is all thanks to you, my husband!"
Looking at her playful appearance, Chu Chenjing smiled absentmindedly and reached out to rub the top of her head: "Yaoyao, I know that men and women were equal in your time, but we are thousands of years behind, and the concept of valuing men over women is deeply rooted and cannot be changed all at once."
"Yes, I understand. It's already pretty good." Ouyang Yunyao nodded gently. She knew that the concepts formed over thousands of years could not be changed overnight, but rather there was a long way to go.
Things are much better now. She runs a school and a hot pot restaurant, and her assistants, Xia Yan, Mei'er, and Xiao Lü, are actively involved in managing the businesses. There's hardly any gossip or criticism anymore. Moreover, women are now attending schools in Kyoto, and some are even involved in business – this is progress, after all.
Chu Chenjing looked at her with doting eyes and said gently, "You mentioned before that you wanted to set up a department in the Western Chu Kingdom to protect women and children. I have already mentioned it to my father and my elder brother, the Crown Prince. My elder brother said it was an excellent idea and even took the initiative to take on the task."
“My elder brother will surely be a good emperor in the future,” Ouyang Yunyao exclaimed sincerely.
"Hmm." Chu Chenjing responded, his tone softening slightly. "As for your suggestion to allow women to participate in the imperial examinations, we need to proceed gradually and let the ministers slowly accept this idea." Chu Chenjing reassured her.
“Hmm! I know that. The Great Wall wasn’t built in a day!” Ouyang Yunyao said playfully, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Then, her expression gradually became serious. "Ah Jing, what I want to say now is that in my contact with the Luoba people these past two days, I learned some things about the Luoba continent from them, and that's what we should pay attention to."
Chu Chenjing was taken aback upon hearing this. "Yaoyao, tell me quickly, what is it?"
Chu Chenjing increasingly felt that Ouyang Yunyao's arrival in his life was truly a blessing. His queen was simply a lucky star of the Western Chu Kingdom, sent by the heavens.
“Ah Jing, I’ve discovered that the industry and military on the Luoba Continent far surpass those on our Yuzhou Continent, and their technology is also far ahead.”
Chu Chenjing's expression also darkened, and he slowly nodded: "Yaoyao, you're right. I've been thinking about this matter these past few days. If their military strength advances further and their shipbuilding technology improves, it's hard to guarantee that they won't one day launch an invasion against our mainland." But he didn't notice the industry that Ouyang Yunyao mentioned.
"Yes! Your analysis is correct, but I must remind you that their industry has already reached a considerable scale."
"industry?"