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Chapter 58
Her eyes were filled with admiration and reverence: "Your Majesty, before coming to the palace, I had no opportunity to experience all of this. I used to hear my father speak of the hardships of the common people, and I imagined they lived in poverty and neglect. But today, when Your Majesty took me to observe the spring plowing, I discovered that although they may not be wealthy, everyone seems to live happily. Even with patched clothes, they all looked clean and tidy. I believe... the empire Your Majesty governs is what the books describe as a world of great harmony."
A glimmer flashed in the Xuanwu Emperor's eyes, and he looked at Jiang Xinyue with curiosity and interest: "What is this 'world of great harmony'?"
Jiang Xinyue paused for a moment, then responded thoughtfully: "When the Great Way prevails, the world is shared by all. The worthy and able are chosen for office. Fidelity and friendliness are valued. People care not only for their own parents and children but for others too. The elderly live out their days in peace, adults are gainfully employed, and children are nurtured. Widowers, widows, orphans, the childless aged, and the disabled are all cared for. Men have their proper roles and women have their homes. Goods are not left on the ground, yet they do not have to be stored in private. Work is done, but not for one's own benefit. In this way, selfish scheming does not arise, and bandits, thieves, and other lawless elements do not exist. Hence, outer doors do not need to be shut. This is called the Great Harmony."
She had forgotten that the dynasty she had traveled to was a fictional one that didn't exist in history. People here didn't know Li Bai, Du Fu, nor were they familiar with famous thinkers like Mencius, Laozi, or Zhuangzi.
Precisely because the Xuanwu Emperor was also unaware, Jiang Xinyue had managed to impress him greatly.
She could clearly sense that the Emperor's gaze upon her had changed. He excitedly murmured to himself: "The widowed, the orphaned, the childless, and the disabled are all cared for; men have their roles, and women have their homes..."
This had been his guiding principle since he was the Crown Prince, and he had strived for this ideal all his life.
Yet he had never shared this political aspiration with anyone. How did Consort Zhen... how did she know about it?
No!
Rather, why did Consort Zhen understand him so well?
In just a few sentences, she had summed up the lifelong wish of an emperor with grand ambitions, stirring his emotions and leaving him deeply moved.
And for Consort Zhen to say that he had already achieved this great harmony, how could he not be excited?
The Xuanwu Emperor let out a genuinely delighted laugh: "My dear, your description of 'great harmony' is the most pleasing words one could hear. My grandfather, my father, and now I have sat on the throne: it has taken three generations of effort to barely reach the threshold of this great harmony. To truly achieve what you describe, where all the disadvantaged are cared for, I: I have a long and arduous road ahead."
The Xuanwu Emperor had unconsciously begun to confide in Jiang Xinyue.
He had placed her in a position of equal dialogue, rather than just discussing trivial matters of love, treating her as mere entertainment.
Among all the women in the harem, who wasn't just the emperor's plaything?
Concubine Li had earned two parts of the emperor's true affection, but even that wasn't much. If she truly occupied all of his heart, he wouldn't be so kind to Consort Li and herself, Consort Zhen.
"Your Majesty still has plenty of time to realize your ideals. In my limited experience, I already feel that you have done exceptionally well."
The Xuanwu Emperor helped her sit down: "Where did you come across this concept of 'great harmony'? Did Vice Minister Jiang tell you about it?"
The Xuanwu Emperor disliked discussing state affairs with his harem consorts, believing that overly intelligent women could become excessively ambitious, as exemplified by the Dowager Empress Wu.
Therefore, he was even less fond of historically renowned talented women. In the harem of the Great Yan Dynasty, no famous talented woman had ever been favored.
Jiang Xinyue replied: "In my father's study, there were many miscellaneous books. I often helped my father organize his study, so I read quite a few books. I vaguely remember it was said by someone called Confucius, but I can't recall which book it was from. Last summer, when the servants were lighting candles, they accidentally burned quite a few books in the collection. I'm not sure if we can still find it!"
It would be a shame if such a talented person couldn't be found.
Jiang Xinyue thought to herself, even if you turned this Great Yan Dynasty upside down, you wouldn't find anyone named Confucius! "Vice Minister Jiang is also a rare talent."
The emperor seemed lost in thought. Jiang Xinyue smiled slightly, realizing she had achieved her goal.
If she wanted to rise in status, she needed to make her convenient father elevate Aunt Ruan's position. A favored concubine was still just a concubine, but if she became a secondary wife, that would be different.
Aunt Ruan's slave contract was still in the hands of the official wife. She refused to have Aunt Ruan's lowly status officially removed at the government office. Previously, it was to control Aunt Ruan, but now it was to suppress Jiang Xinyue.
But Vice Minister Jiang was a clever man. Today, Jiang Xinyue had put in a good word for him with the emperor. In the future, he would surely give her what she wanted.
Moreover, of Madam Zhou's two daughters, Jiang Yutong had committed suicide by hanging herself, and Jiang Yulin had been publicly humiliated by the emperor at the New Year's banquet, ruining her reputation. Among the five daughters of the Jiang family, only she could compete for a place in the palace. Her honor and disgrace were now tied to the Jiang family.
If she couldn't be promoted due to her status, Vice Minister Jiang's career prospects would also be unlikely to advance in the short term.
At the Jiang residence—
After returning from the morning court session, Vice Minister Jiang couldn't stop smiling. He had the servants gather everyone in the front courtyard, saying he had a big announcement to make.
Madam Zhou had recently been worrying herself sick over Jiang Yulin's marriage prospects, with several strands of her hair turning white from stress.
Hearing that her husband was all smiles and about to announce some good news, she thought it might be about the marriage proposal she had begged him to make to the Marquis of Ruyang's household for their son to marry Jiang Yulin. Her worried face immediately brightened.
"Go bring the third young miss here. It must be about her becoming the heir's wife. She's been confined at home these days and hasn't been in a good mood. Let her be happy for a while."
The maid, wanting to please the young miss, told Jiang Yulin what Madam Zhou had said in advance. She excitedly ran to the front courtyard, only to hear her father say to her mother: "I've already taken Aunt Ruan's slave contract to the government office and had it nullified. From now on, she will be equal to you as a mistress of this household. You will all address her as Lady Ruan, and she will share the responsibility of managing the household with you."
Although the status of a secondary wife was lower than that of the principal wife, from now on, her children would be considered legitimate and eligible to inherit the family property. Moreover, she would no longer have to pay respects to Madam Zhou as a concubine or suffer her humiliation.
"I won't accept this!"
Madam Zhou shrieked, "I am the legitimate daughter of a Privy Council editor, a young lady from an official family! How dare you make me equal to a lowborn dancing girl? Jiang Yankun, you've gone too far!"
Lady Ruan, startled by her shrill voice, hid behind the man and said, "Sister, my husband must have his reasons for doing this. I won't compete with you for the right to manage the household. Please take care of your health and don't get angry."
Vice Minister Jiang nodded, "That's right, Qing'er speaks wisely. During this morning's court session, the Emperor has already approved Minister of Rites, Zheng's petition to retire. I am now the head of the Ministry of Rites."
How did this relate to elevating Lady Ruan to the status of an equal wife?