Zhu Junfan sat on his throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, amusedly watching his younger cousin, who was usually quiet seemingly become another person as he spoke animatedly of Yu Xiaocao. Hearing his last sentence, he rolled his eyes at Zhu Junyang, exasperatedly saying, "Do we even need you to remind us?"
Then, he continued to ask, "According to you, I should actually reward the ten-year-old little girl from the Yu Family instead of Yu Hai?"
However, Zhu Junyang shook his head and said, "The Yu Family successfully grew corn, that's a contribution and should also be rewarded. However, Yu Xiaocao's contribution is the greatest, so, by right, the reward should be on her name!"
"Your Majesty, this official disagrees! A woman's virtue is in having no talent; how could a little girl become an official such as us?" Imperial Censor Yang voiced out his opposition first.
Official Zhang, the Minister of Transmission, had always been good at guessing the emperor's intentions. Since his ascendance to the throne, the emperor had been consistently trying to raise the ranks of women, and his determination could be seen clearly from his awarding of the master of embroidery, Jiang Siniang.
Imperial Censor Yang was too pedantic and didn't know how to be more flexible, so even though he was more qualified than all the first-rank officials, he was still dawdling in second-rank. Zhang Zijian felt that he was younger and more capable than the old fellow, and he knew that the emperor really needed a loyal subject that could convey his intentions. Thus, he decided to test his luck!
"Official Yang! His Majesty and the emperor emeritus always value a person by their abilities. His Majesty once said, 'Do not restrict the talented'. Now, the drought in the north is still an ongoing problem and the areas by the sea also suffered from a locust plague. Food is the basis to calm the people—the important factor for maintaining peace in the kingdom! And Yu Xiaocao so happens to have such a talent! Talented agriculturalists are hard to find, so what is wrong with making exceptions?" After receiving the emperor's praising gaze, Official Zhang became more and more confident in his speech.
Imperial Censor Yang lifted his chin and said with a frown, "The success in growing corn didn't sp.a.w.n from only the efforts of that little girl! If her father were to be rewarded, she will also rise in ranks from a mere farmer girl to the daughter of an official, which will also be equivalent to her being rewarded. Why must we let a girl become an official and let her unsettle the court!"
"These words are not right, Official Yang! According to you, the contributions of children should be credited to the father, so doesn't that mean that in the future, if Deputy Yang made a contribution, he need not be rewarded? Instead, all the credit should go to you, so you can rise in ranks and get wealthy?"
Imperial Censor Yang's son was the current Deputy Minister of the Household, a fifth-rank official. This Deputy Yang had the ability, and wasn't as stubbornly pedantic as his father, so originally, he would've been able to reach magnificent heights in his career. However, in most dynasties, there were very few fathers and sons who were both of equal, high rank. With Imperial Censor Yang oppressing him, he had always been short of opportunities to rise through the ranks.
Hearing Official Zhang's words, Deputy Yang looked at his father with a gaze filled with dissatisfaction. His father was old and had already reached the peak of his career in the court, so it was extremely difficult for him to progress further in his career. However, Imperial Censor Yang enjoyed his high rank and dreamed of the moment when he would be promoted to a first-rank official, whereas Deputy Yang who was already more than forty years old was still a fifth-rank official because his father was oppressing him. If his father could retire earlier, he would definitely be able to achieve his father's dream of becoming a first-rank official before he, himself, retired. Such a big dream—they are indeed a father and son duo!
It is common in court to have both father and son as court officials. All the sons directed their discontented glares towards Imperial Censor Yang.
For a moment, Imperial Censor Yang felt like there were knives at his back. He was not so callous as he hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, this official did not mean it that way, it is Official Zhang who misinterpreted my intentions! This official simply thinks that women should not be appointed as court officials as they would unsettle the court!"
Zhu Junfan was a bit annoyed at this bunch of old officials that often took advantage of their seniority, and his expression showed his displeasure as he said, "Beloved Official Yang, you have crossed the line! How much trouble can a mere seventh-rank official under the Ministry of Revenue cause? Or is it that beloved Official Yang thinks that we are incapable rulers like King Zhou of Shang and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang?"
