Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 545: Chapter 545 This Precedent Must Not Be Set_1

Third Class Agricultural Official?!

Regardless of its rank, that’s an official position, when has there ever been a woman in office? When Su Chengyu said this, there was an uproar throughout the court.

Even the Emperor of Xiyun was taken aback. He never expected Su Chengyu to make such a move.

The Imperial Censor was the first to stand up in opposition, ”Emperor, since ancient times, there has never been a woman in office. The Crown Prince’s action is inappropriate!”

Prime Minister Li also stepped forward, ”Emperor, since ancient times, men have handled external affairs while women have managed the household. Women should abide by the ’Three Obediences and Four Virtues,’ and not make themselves publicly visible. I hope for the Emperor’s wise judgment.”

The Minister of Rites also objected, ”Emperor, this is against ritual and law. Men and women have different roles, and it’s inappropriate to have a woman work alongside men. Furthermore, if a woman holds office, wouldn’t that make us the laughingstock of other nations, suggesting Xiyun has no men?”

”Emperor, this precedent should not be established, Emperor...”

”Emperor...”

”Emperor...”

The voices of opposition were endless, but Su Chengyu remained calm and composed, until everyone had expressed their opinions, then he spoke once more with great emphasis, ”Father Emperor, fish farming in the fields benefits the increase in rice production, grain rice and the Stepping Dehusking Machine benefit faster rice milling, and terraced fields benefit increasing the arable land for the common people. All these are the results of Imperial Sister-in-law’s careful thinking.”

”Furthermore, the original material for white paper was discovered by the Imperial Sister-in-law. Now that the national treasury is full, the Imperial Sister-in-law’s contribution is indispensable.”

”Moreover, when locusts passed through six counties, it was the Imperial Sister-in-law who found that sifting plant ashes or lime onto the grain would deter the locusts from eating it. Otherwise, the six counties would surely face famine, with unimaginable consequences.”

”Gathering all these meritorious deeds benefiting the nation and the people, which Xiyun Agricultural Official can compare to the Imperial Sister-in-law?”

When Su Chengyu said this, the few Agricultural Officials present all shamefully lowered their heads.

Yet, Su Chengyu, as if he hadn’t seen those officials lowering their heads, continued, ”How many officials in Xiyun can establish so many merits like the Imperial Sister-in-law?”

The other officials, whose merits couldn’t surpass An Jing’s, also shamefully lowered their heads.

Still, as if he hadn’t seen anything, Su Chengyu continued forcefully, ”The earth’s character is receptive; a gentleman carries things with great virtue. A true man should have a broad mind. The Imperial Sister-in-law, though a woman, indeed possesses exceptional talent, and you all ought to acknowledge it, rather than reject her out of a sense of lost face because she is a woman. Deceiving oneself and others into believing she lacks this ability and excluding her is to bury her talent.”

At this point, Su Chengyu suddenly knelt down, gave a solemn bow towards the jade steps above where the Emperor of Xiyun sat, his head knocking against the ground, and spoke with even greater emphasis, ”Father Emperor, in my opinion, Xiyun can embrace all things. Although the Imperial Sister-in-law is a woman, she is also a subject of Xiyun. She is fit for the position of Third Class Agricultural Official, and Xiyun can accommodate this. I implore Father Emperor to grant this with your grace, never to bury a talented person without merit!”

”Xiyun can embrace all things...” The Emperor of Xiyun slowly repeated this phrase, and after a long while, he repeatedly praised, ”Good! Good! Good! The Crown Prince dares to be the first in the world, and is truly my son! Excellent! Very good!”

”Emperor—”

”Hmm?”

The court officials still wanted to object, for in a male-dominated era, how could they tolerate a woman meddling? But with the Emperor of Xiyun’s neutral ”Hmm,” the court officials were so frightened that even if they wanted to object, they didn’t dare to speak up anymore.

As an enlightened ruler, the Emperor of Xiyun naturally wouldn’t ignore the unanimous opposition of the civil and military officials and act recklessly, so, once he saw that the court officials had been silenced by the Emperor’s authority, he spoke slowly, ”The Changsheng Princess has made great contributions and has outstanding abilities, unlike the ordinary woman. Today, I will specially grant her the title of Farmer Official of Hecheng County. I hope that she can continue to present strategies that benefit the nation and the people of Xiyun.”