jdhmnovel Chapter 218 Why Not Give Him a Chance
Chapter 218 Why Not Give Him a Chance
Princess Shen Yunzheng's face showed slight anger. She sized up Shi Wanxia, secretly pondering to herself, "This woman is indeed quite beautiful. But Cui Zhihao, who grew up with Cui Lang since childhood, has never been interested in women. Why is he so concerned about this woman this time?"
What was so special about her? Shen Yunzheng grew increasingly angry as she thought about it, and immediately said sternly, "Guards, strip her of her official robes! How dare a woman defy the laws of our ancestors and dream of becoming a female official? This is utterly outrageous! Cui Zhihao has been bewitched by you, but I am not such a vulgar person."
Upon hearing this, Granny Liu hurriedly led her maids and servants forward, determined to act on the Princess's orders. The county yamen runners, however, did not back down; they risked their lives to protect Shi Wanxia.
Seeing this, Xu Mingyi hurriedly stepped forward to beg for mercy. "Your Highness, please calm down. Lord Shi, although you are a woman, whether it is solving the problem of food and clothing for the people, or personally leading people to build new water conservancy projects and solve strange cases, you are wholeheartedly doing practical things for the people."
"We, the people of Xinyang, are all deeply grateful for Lord Shi's great kindness!" Xu Mingyi's heartfelt words immediately won the approval of the people present, and everyone echoed his sentiments.
"Yes! Your Highness, please do not dismiss this good official who is dedicated to serving the people!"
An old man cried out in a trembling voice, "Yes! Lord Shi, you are upright, intelligent and quick-witted. If it weren't for Lord Shi's incorruptible and impartial judgment, my son's injustice would never have been redressed!"
A woman also pleaded tearfully. The people's words, one after another, reached Shen Yunzheng's ears.
Shen Yunzheng was slightly taken aback; she hadn't expected this woman to have such high prestige among the people. But as the eldest princess, how could she be easily swayed by such words?
Just as she was about to reprimand him, she saw Shi Wanxia slowly walk out from behind the yamen runner, her expression calm and composed.
“Your Highness, although I am a woman, all my actions have not deviated from the principle of seeking happiness for the people. Although the law does not explicitly state that women can hold official positions, it does not explicitly prohibit it either.”
"I am merely doing my best to fill the gaps in this land of Xinyang and improve the lives of the people. If Your Highness dismisses me because of my gender, I will have no complaints. However, I am worried that the people of Xinyang will fall into hardship again."
Shi Wanxia's words were neither humble nor arrogant, leaving Shen Yunzheng momentarily speechless. She scrutinized Shi Wanxia carefully, trying to find a trace of hypocrisy or timidity on her face, but all she saw was composure and determination.
Shen Yanchu was overjoyed. He really didn't expect that after not seeing Miss Shi for a while, she would be a completely different person.
He had always known that Shi was different from other women, but she shouldn't have dared to defy the world like this. As a woman, she dared to try to overturn the rules of this world; she was truly ignorant of her own limitations.
"Miss Shi, it's been a long time! How have you been?" Shen Yanchu tried her best to control the turmoil in her heart and bowed.
Shi Wanxia gave a slight curtsy. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Everything is fine." She was dressed in a light pink outfit, her posture was upright, and her eyes revealed determination and intelligence. Her former delicate and frail demeanor was nowhere to be seen.
Shen Yanchu frowned and said in a low voice, "Don't worry, Her Highness the Princess is my birth mother. She is gentle and skilled and won't make things difficult for you. We heard that you risked entering officialdom and are somewhat worried about your safety. If someone in the court finds out and reports it to His Majesty, Miss Shi will be in grave danger, and even I won't be able to protect you!"
Shi Wanxia raised her eyes, her gaze frank. "Your Highness's kindness is appreciated. But must women be confined to their chambers, serving their husbands and raising children? The rules of this world should evolve with the times. Why can't I be the one to take the lead in this path of change?"
Shen Yanchu looked quite awkward. He was delighted to see Miss Shi again, but her thoughts and actions filled him with worry. "Miss Shi, your actions are too risky. The officialdom is treacherous and unpredictable; how can you possibly handle it?"
Shi Wanxia smiled gently, “Your Highness, please don’t underestimate me. I have been well-versed in the classics and history since childhood, and I have strategies for governing the country. What men can do, I can do too.”
Shen Yanchu sighed helplessly, "Do you know that once your identity is exposed, you will face condemnation from everyone, and even your entire family will be implicated?"
“I know that, but if no one tries, this woman’s fate will never change.” A resolute look flashed in Shi Wanxia’s eyes.
"Furthermore, I am all alone. What can I do for the people? What's wrong with doing my little bit to make their lives a little better?"
Shen Yanchu spoke up, trying to persuade his mother to change her mind: "Mother, what this woman said makes sense. Look at how much the people of Xinyang support her, she must indeed have something extraordinary about her. Why not give her a chance to continue governing Xinyang? If there are any mistakes, then it's not too late to deal with her."
After weighing the options carefully, Shen Yunzheng knew that if she forcibly dismissed Shi Wanxia at this time, it would likely cause dissatisfaction among the people of Xinyang and damage her own reputation.
"Hmph, since Prince Xiang has pleaded for you, I will spare you for now. But you must remember that your every move is under my surveillance. If there is the slightest mistake, I will not forgive you."
Shi Wanxia quickly bowed and expressed her gratitude: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will do my best to live up to your expectations."
With the storm temporarily subsided, Shi Wanxia continued to handle county government affairs, but she understood that this contest with the Princess was only the beginning.
After returning to her room, Shen Yunzheng's curiosity about Shi Wanxia intensified. She decided to secretly send someone to investigate Shi Wanxia's past and find out the real reason why Cui Zhihao treated her differently.
In the seemingly peaceful town of Xinyang, an undercurrent is quietly flowing around Shi Wanxia, and her entanglement with the princess will gradually unfold in the subsequent story, involving more secrets and emotional entanglements.
In the days that followed, although Shen Yunzheng still harbored doubts, she began to pay attention to Shi Wanxia's every move. She saw Shi Wanxia get up early every day, first going to the study to review files and handle various official documents. Her focused expression and efficient way of doing things made Shen Yunzheng nod slightly in approval.
One day, a sudden fire broke out in the city. The fire was fierce and spread rapidly. Upon hearing the news, Shi Wanxia rushed to the scene without hesitation and commanded the fire with composure.
While organizing the yamen runners to evacuate the people, she also arranged for people to fetch water to put out the fire. She herself disregarded the danger and personally went into the sea of fire to rescue the trapped children. Shen Yunzheng watched from afar, a strange ripple rising in her heart.
As the fire subsided, Shi Wanxia, her face covered in soot and her hair disheveled, remained concerned for the safety and losses of the people. Exhausted, she moved among the ruins, comforting the affected residents and allocating relief supplies.
Shen Yunzheng approached her and couldn't help but say, "Is it worth it for you to disregard your own safety like this?" Shi Wanxia looked up, her eyes firm: "Your Highness, in my heart, there are no small matters concerning the people. Protecting them is my greatest duty."
Shen Yunzheng fell silent. She recalled that she had always lived a life of luxury and privilege, and although she was of noble status, she had never so truly felt the hardship and satisfaction of serving the people.
On one occasion, she saw Shi Wanxia arguing with the local gentry for the sake of Xinyang's development, just to secure more resources to renovate the school and provide the children with a better learning environment.
Shi Wanxia's voice was slightly hoarse but full of strength: "The children are the future of Xinyang. We cannot sacrifice their future for short-term gains."
Gradually, Shen Yunzheng's deep-seated prejudice against Shi Wanxia began to crumble. She no longer saw Shi Wanxia merely as a female official who broke the rules, but as a responsible, compassionate, and capable person who genuinely worked for the well-being of the people.
She began to reflect on her initial judgment. Perhaps, women serving as officials wasn't as despicable as she had thought; Shi Wanxia was the best example. On a quiet night, Shen Yunzheng took the initiative to find Shi Wanxia, the moonlight shining on them.
Shen Yunzheng spoke softly: "Miss Shi, perhaps I misunderstood you before. You have shown me a different way of being an official, and you have also given me a new understanding of the abilities of women."
Shi Wanxia was slightly taken aback, then revealed a sincere smile: "It is a blessing for Xinyang and the people that Your Highness can understand."