Quick Transmigration: Drama Queen's Daily Life Chapter 1472 - 1461: The Lady Who Did Not Desire Power

Ten years later, the Third Prince ascended the throne, and the Third Prince Consort of the Zhang Family was crowned Empress. Empress Zhang strongly supported the expansion of the academy, even personally taking on a Guest Elder position, selecting outstanding women from the academy to serve as female officials, managing household affairs in the palace.

"Lady is simply muddleheaded; how can women show themselves publicly? You, as the Mother of the Country, should set an example, not act impulsively and make a fuss with Ye Qiu," Li Family was extremely upset, specifically entering the palace to reprimand her daughter.

Yan Jing looked at her mother’s flushed face and sighed, "Mother, you’re overreacting."

Li Family stood up angrily, "Is this overreacting? Did all the books I had you read go into a dog’s stomach? Since you got married, you haven’t properly looked at Women’s Precepts and female virtues!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Jing’s face turned cold, "Mother, your words are too intense."

The female official beside her also said solemnly, "Please, Lady, be cautious with your words."

Only then did Li Family realize that Yan Jing was now the Empress and no longer someone she could casually reprimand. She could scold her daughter, but what about the little Imperial Grandson?

Li Family broke out in a cold sweat, quickly bowing her head to apologize: "Lady, forgive my chatter, I spoke too much."

Yan Jing sighed again, "Mother, there’s no need for such ceremony; please sit down quickly."

Li Family held back her words but still couldn’t help saying, "Lady, although I spoke too much, I believe I’m right. A woman should obey her father before marriage, obey her husband after marriage, and her son after her husband’s death. A woman’s life depends on men; we should be virtuous and gentle, not show ourselves publicly. Look at the current state of the capital; ever since that academy was built, single women and divorcees are everywhere. By setting such a precedent, aren’t you encouraging these women to divorce?"

"And what’s wrong with that?" Yan Jing looked at her mother.

Li Family was furious, "It’s against the social morals."

"Social morals are truth? Weren’t they also established by people? If they don’t fit the current national conditions, they should be changed."

"What do you mean it doesn’t fit the current national conditions? It’s been this way since ancient times."

"Since ancient times, from when exactly? And has there always been continuity? Mother, even Your Majesty supports women’s employment, don’t you understand?"

"But rules are rules."

"Rules are also made by people. Mother always talks about social morals, but they also say one should be loyal to the Emperor. Why do you always doubt Your Majesty’s orders?"

"I..."

"Mother, not everything about social morals is right. The political situation is always changing; after experiencing the previous dynasty’s corruption, the most important thing for our current dynasty is to recuperate. The people can’t even fill their stomachs, what rules do you want them to follow? Can one man support a whole family? If they can’t, they’ll have fewer children, so where will the country’s labor force come from? Who will cultivate the wasteland?"

"But you can’t support women divorcing and remarrying! How can a woman serve two masters?"

"Mother, are there really that many divorces? If life can be manageable, how many would choose to divorce? If widows don’t remarry, where will those struggling to find wives marry, and how will they have children?"

"You always have such reasoning, now you’ve learned to use these crooked reasons to suppress your mother. You just wait; those scholars will surely rebel, you’re infringing on their interests," Li Family said angrily.

"Claiming they’re unqualified to take office if they’re infringing on their interests? Such people surely aren’t fit to serve in the court. Mother, I am the Mother of the Country, I must do something for this world."

"Your grandfather won’t forgive you."

Yan Jing chuckled, "I knew today’s visit was for the Li family; all these rules aristocratic families advocated are for what? Isn’t it to demonstrate their authority, to uphold their status? Mother, Your Majesty is the Emperor; I hope you remember this. You’re a woman of the Li Family, yes, but you’re also a daughter-in-law of the Zhang Family. You’ve been devoted to the Li Family all this time, why can’t you think more for my brother and me? After being bound by social morals for so long, haven’t you thought of being freer?"

Li Family remained silent, but she looked very dejected, perhaps never expecting her always-proud daughter to educate her one day.

When Li Family left the palace, she suddenly realized that raising women’s status was inevitable. She knew it was good for women, but her lifelong education told her it was wrong. As a woman benefiting from this matter, she didn’t know whether to oppose or support it.

But her daughter’s words awakened her—the world belongs to Your Majesty, and divine will cannot be disobeyed. Now, having married, she’s a daughter-in-law of the Zhang Family. So, over time, if people from the Li Family came, she hesitantly refused to meet them, thinking about her son and daughter regardless.

Consequently, with Yan Jing’s public support, the vast capital saw a trend of women studying and working; some even ventured into business.

Initially, opposition was not lacking, especially from most men, but when they realized the extra income women brought to their households through work, gradually, some fell silent, appreciating the material benefits.

With women no longer restricted from going out, the economy thrived. Capital suburbs were filled with women riding horses. Some were even inspired by Ye Qiu’s book, aspiring to traverse An Country.

Ye Qiu watched these scenes and was undoubtedly joyful; she couldn’t change much but had done her best.

"Mother, everyone says you’re extremely wise, why do all these sisters admire you?" A small child nestled beside her and said.

Ye Qiu picked her up, chuckling, "You’ll understand when you grow up. Have you completed the tasks Mother set for you?"

"I have, but the last question I couldn’t do; Father helped me."

"Alright." Ye Qiu turned back and saw Jian Yunchi standing there, gently smiling at her and their child.

Ye Qiu’s life was quite impressive. Although she was born an orphan, she had an Old Lady who cherished and loved her. After marrying, her husband respected and cared for her, assisting greatly in her career. Her in-laws were extremely tolerant, never thinking her actions were treasonous.

Recalling past experiences, although past sufferings were partly the Marquis Mansion’s calculations, they might also have resulted from her vanity shaking decisions.

Hence, in this life, she didn’t retaliate against most people of the Marquis Mansion. She only lightly taught a lesson to her Second Aunt Duan Family and Duan Yinyin, who continuously troubled her. Her Second Aunt had family guidance, and her sons were promising, living well despite discord with her daughters-in-law. She heard of Duan Yinyin’s unsatisfactory life, but it was no longer her concern.