Chapter 957 - 953: Stirring Up Trouble
Bai Qingyan saw Xiao Rongyan furrowed his brows, reluctant to let go, so she pushed against his chest, saying, "Commandant Lu has returned, there must be an important matter!"
Only then did Xiao Rongyan, full of displeasure, release Bai Qingyan. He watched her tidying her clothes and heading towards the seat behind; he also went to his seat, lifting the hem of his robe and kneeling down.
Before long, Wei Zhong opened the palace doors, inviting Commandant Lu, Minister Shen Jingzhong, Minister Dong Qingping, and Xie Yuchang to enter. They all bowed to Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingyan glanced at the properly bowing Xiao Rongyan and asked, "Imperial Master, you returned together with Minister Shen, Minister Dong, and General Xie. Is there indeed an important matter?"
"Your Majesty!" Commandant Lu bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan, "I have received news that the students of the Imperial College are planning to gather and cause trouble. They are preparing to sound the Dengwen Drum, kneeling outside the Imperial Palace in protest, pleading for Your Majesty to retract the decree... allowing women to take the imperial examinations and serve as officials."
"Are all of you here because of this matter?" Bai Qingyan asked.
Shen Jingzhong nodded, "Indeed!"
"The matter of the Imperial College students is of great importance..." Dong Qingping bowed to Bai Qingyan, "When Commandant Lu received the news, both I and Master Shen happened to be there, so we specifically invited General Xie to come and seek Your Majesty’s decision... Whether to first have General Xie deploy the imperial guard to control the students of the Imperial College, to prevent a major disturbance on Your Majesty’s first day of ascension."
On the first day of the Emperor’s ascension, envoys from various countries are present. If the Dengwen Drum were to sound... it would not look good.
Bai Qingyan, upon issuing that decree, knew the students would not be satisfied, yet did not anticipate... that the students of the Imperial College would be so quick to protest.