Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 762: Female Official (Part 2)
An hour later, Jiang Shaohua emerged from Jingyang Palace and proceeded to Ning An Palace.
Li Fangfei was not well-received at Jingyang Palace, but at Ning An Palace, things were quite different. Empress Dowager Li regarded her niece with warmth and affection, and proactively inquired, "How have you been adjusting to your duties in the palace these past few days?"
Li Fangfei responded respectfully, "Replying to the Empress Dowager, I have been learning my duties from Lu Sheren and Wang Sheren during the day, and lodging together at night. Everything concerning our clothing, food, and lodging is well arranged. However, I am somewhat more slow-witted than Lu Sheren and Wang Sheren, and I am learning my duties at a slower pace."
Empress Dowager Li chuckled, "In taking up duties, the first priority is loyalty, and the second is still loyalty. As long as you wholeheartedly consider the Emperor’s wishes and follow his orders in all matters, your tasks will naturally not go astray."
Why is it said that ginger is spicier the older it gets?
Li Fangfei was still feeling regretful that she hadn’t ventured out of the palace today to see the world, and her words revealed her slight unease compared to her colleagues. The Empress Dowager Li, catching on, smiled and offered some words of encouragement and reassurance.
Jiang Shaohua joined the conversation with a smile, "What the Empress Dowager says is true. The three new housekeepers in the palace each have their distinct personalities and strengths. Lu Sheren is loyal and capable, Wang Sheren is bold and straightforward, and Li Sheren excels in tenderness and meticulousness. Having the three of them around lightens my burden considerably."
Li Fangfei blushed at the compliment, her eyes sparkling brightly as she said, "I will be diligent in my duties, and will not disappoint the Emperor’s favor and affection."
Empress Dowager Li laughed, "Enough with the pledges of loyalty. True strength is revealed in times of crisis, and only with time can one truly see a person’s heart. True gold will naturally shine through in the long run."
Li Fangfei, still blushing, acknowledged this and tactfully excused herself.
Only then did Empress Dowager Li have a heartfelt conversation with Jiang Shaohua, "This girl Fangfei, I’ve watched her grow up since she was a child. She is wonderful in every way, except that her temper is too restrained; she doesn’t have the daring of that girl from the Wang Family, nor the vigor of that girl Lu Zhen."
The three newly appointed female scholars in service of the Emperor were certainly attracting a lot of attention. Lu Zhen, from Nanyang, was a staunch supporter of the Emperor and her loyalty was beyond doubt, making her particularly noteworthy. Wang Shu was also exceptional, despite being raised in a prominent family, she had a straightforward and unyielding temperament, showing no fear even when facing high-ranking court officials.
In comparison, Li Fangfei’s temperament was indeed softer. In the inner chamber, she was the epitome of virtue and gentleness. However, as an official, whether acting within the court or serving in the palace, she was somewhat at a disadvantage.
Empress Dowager Li could see this and was secretly worried, hence she made a special effort to encourage her niece today. Privately, she even intervened on Li Fangfei’s behalf.
Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Everyone has different personalities and temperaments, so there’s no need to forcibly compare them. I greatly appreciate Li Sheren’s sense of propriety and understanding of when to advance or retreat."
Empress Dowager Li sighed with a smile, "Just take it as my biased love! I always hope she stands out as the most capable among the housekeepers."
Jiang Shaohua smiled gently, "Aunt’s love for her is evident, and she understands it. She will certainly be dedicated to her duties in the future."
Empress Dowager Li also smiled and then turned the conversation to the trivial matters of the palace.
With Grand Empress Dowager Zheng once again bedridden, the affairs of the palace naturally fell to Ning An Palace. During this period of authority, Empress Dowager Li had already released a batch of palace attendants, and now she was planning to release another batch.
"The first batch released eighty people, the second batch had ninety. I plan to release a hundred palace attendants and eunuchs in the third batch," said Empress Dowager Li. "The total number of palace attendants and eunuchs amounts to nearly eight thousand. Now, there are very few legitimate masters in the palace, and we certainly don’t need so many people."
"In a few years, when Bao’er grows older and needs staff, we can select another batch of young and capable eunuchs and palace maids."
The main point is to slowly clean the rear palace during this time and gradually remove the people of Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, replacing them with our own people.
Jiang Shaohua nodded, "I’ll leave these matters to Aunt’s capable hands. I am overwhelmed with state affairs every day and truly have no time to manage these issues."
"If we release twenty to thirty percent of the palace maids and eunuchs, it won’t affect palace operations. If there’s indeed a need for people in the future, we’ll just select palace maids, not eunuchs."
Why does the palace use eunuchs? 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
It’s because there are many concubines and even more palace attendants. Eunuchs, having been castrated, will not corrupt the palace and ensure the purity of the bloodline of the Imperial Family’s princes and princesses.
In Jiang Shaohua’s case, she no longer had these concerns. She also didn’t favor having delicate eunuchs around her. Those already castrated and serving in the palace could stay. But there was no need for further sinning by forcibly making men neither male nor female.
Empress Dowager Li evidently misunderstood Jiang Shaohua’s meaning and chuckled, "It’s fine not to use eunuchs. After the three-year mourning period, I will select some gentle and handsome young men for you to serve in the palace."
Jiang Shaohua maintained her composure, smiled, and replied, "There’s no rush for that matter, we can discuss it later."
...
By dusk, Chen Sheren returned with Lu Zhen and Wang Shu.
After having the time of their lives outside the palace for most of the day, even Chen Sheren was glowing. Lu Zhen, used to the countryside and without many rules at home, would go wherever she pleased.
Wang Shu, raised in the Wang Family’s inner chambers, was usually restrained in her behavior, with elders and maids watching her every move when she went out. Today, she freely left the palace and roamed outside for most of the day, feeling as liberated as a colt newly freed from its reins.
Jiang Shaohua glanced at Chen Sheren with a smile, "How did today’s tasks go?"
Chen Sheren replied seriously, "Reporting to the Emperor, Mr. Cui found a large mansion to be used as the women’s academy. The owner of this mansion is a criminal already exiled from the Capital City, and it is currently under the Ministry of Revenue’s domain, so we can use it for the academy without spending a single piece of silver."
"Some modifications are needed in the mansion, but the cost won’t be much. We have already invited the female teachers, eight in total, most of whom, like Mr. Cui, are widowed women. Their monthly pay is set at three taels of silver for now. Once the academy is running, based on the monthly academic evaluations of the students, the female teachers will receive an additional reward. This reward will vary based on merit."
So, each female teacher can earn more than three taels of silver a month, which is not low at all.
Jiang Shaohua nodded, "If the academy runs well, there will be additional rewards from me."
Chen Sheren smiled, "Then I shall thank the Emperor on behalf of Mr. Cui for your graciousness." He paused and continued with a smile, "Over at the Ministry of Revenue, Ji Shang quickly approved the paperwork."
"I took the paperwork to the Ministry of Industry, and they agreed to send over a dozen craftsmen. In at most a month, the mansion will be properly renovated."
This efficiency is indeed impressive.
Jiang Shaohua smiled with a nod, noticing Lu Zhen eager to speak out of the corner of her eye, she couldn’t help but smile, "Lu Sheren, do you have something you wish to say?"
Lu Zhen, with the fearless energy of a newborn calf, immediately requested, "I would like to ask the Emperor to give a name to the women’s academy."
