Chapter 968 - 964: Drawbacks
He made a formal bow to Bai Qingyan, then continued, "It is unheard of in our history for a woman to lead a nation’s governance. Indeed, the Jin Emperor lost his mind in his later years with his obsession with alchemy. You should have helped the Crown Prince ascend the throne, but instead, you destroyed the Jin Dynasty for the Bai family’s personal vendetta, disregarding the loyalty between monarch and courtier. Where is your virtue?"
Xue Renyi’s gaze shifted to Bai Qingjue, who was kneeling beside Bai Qingyan, his demeanor elegant, "Even when the officials forced the people to rebel, the Bai family had no choice but to act. But could not the seventh son of the Bai family ascend the throne? What virtue or ability do you possess to ascend the imperial position? You act willfully, ascending as a woman to implement new policies, governing without respecting the sage’s methods of ruling the world, and enforcing severe new laws! Now, you are even using your power for personal gain, allowing women to take the imperial exam and serve as officials, seeking to break from customs and doctrines established since ancient times. Is it not because you worry that a woman ascending to the throne lacks legitimacy, thus striving to elevate the status of women at the fastest speed?"
Xue Renyi’s voice was high-pitched.
"Xue Renyi!" The principal of the Imperial College turned ghastly pale, stood up, and shouted, "Escort Xue Renyi out!"
"There’s no need for such action, principal. Today, in this Naxian Hall, there are no monarchs or subjects, we are merely discussing matters as they are!" Bai Qingyan slowly stood up, glanced around, and smilingly addressed the infuriated Xue Renyi, "Xue Renyi, I remember you... sounding the drum for fairness for scholars nationwide, exposing cheating in the imperial exams, truly living up to your name as a man of great virtue!"
Bai Qingyan bowed to Xue Renyi, her voice gentle as flowing water, "A physician cures people; does it mean a woman physician cannot treat patients well simply because she is a woman? My aunt, Bai Suqiu, already proved this. During the great plague in Jiaozhou, when the entire nation was helpless, it was my aunt Bai Suqiu who volunteered to go to Jiaozhou, eradicating the plague and saving the people! Who dared to say my aunt’s medical skills were ineffective just because she was a woman?"
The scholars present were indeed aware of the Jiaozhou plague incident, recalling Bai Suqiu... the esteemed legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhen’s household, King of Zhen Bai Weiting and the Eldest Princess’s legitimate daughter, who died in Jiaozhou for the sake of the people. The scholars pursed their lips in silence, seemingly understanding Bai Qingyan’s intention.
"Treating illness... governing a nation, it’s the same principle! As long as I can keep the people from suffering from hunger and cold, who dares to say I am not a good Monarch even if I am a woman?"
Bai Qingyan surveyed the surroundings, a faint smile on her face, unhurriedly, "Just as I am a woman... who dares say I cannot lead troops into battle like a man?"
In terms of her achievements in leading troops into battle, Bai Qingyan was indeed unrivaled throughout the Zhou. Xue Renyi’s demeanor darkened as each point of his interrogation was refuted by Bai Qingyan, his inner discontent was met with acceptance.
The surrounding scholars held their breath, fixated on Bai Qingyan, silence pervaded the entire Naxian Hall, only interrupted by the sound of water and the waking bamboo rhythmically hitting the stones.
"If one were to blame women for the downfall of the nation, who kept Daji and Baosi by their side? King Zhou was a nation’s ruler, who could command him? Obsession with wine and women is not a fault of the monarchs, but is it instead blamed on the beauty of women? What kind of logic is that?" Bai Qingyan moved slowly beside her seat, turning her gaze to the students upstairs or in the courtyard, "King You of Zhou amused the vassals with the warning beacons; was it Baosi who coerced the king’s life into this? She showed no favoritism to King You of Zhou, is her integrity not worthy of admiration? Throughout history, it’s only the monarchs and evil ministers who have truly corrupted the dynasty; there has never been a case of a woman causing the downfall of a nation!"