coobybook Chapter 151 Shen Li's Wish
Chapter 151 Shen Li's Wish
The imperial physicians were already in place and quickly carried the Crown Prince and Lin Wan'er into separate tents.
"Li girl, do you know exactly what happened?" Emperor Cheng asked, standing up.
"Your Majesty, Miss Lin fell down the hillside. In his haste to save her, Your Highness's horse lost its footing and he also fell. When I arrived, I saw stones that had been trampled by the horse falling down the hillside and injuring Your Highness."
Shen Li answered fluently, her expression one of great relief: "Fortunately, it was only his leg that was hit. Your Highness is truly blessed with good fortune and a long life. It seems that no vital organs were injured."
"Get up," Emperor Cheng said, raising his hand. "What's wrong today?"
The fact that three princes were injured in a single day is something even those who aren't superstitious would find somewhat eerie.
Gu Chang'an finally understood: Lin Wan'er caused Li Heng to fall from his horse, and their Ah Li threw stones from behind. If Li Heng had been even slightly less alive, he would have died on that hillside today.
"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Yi only suffered a head injury with some bruising, and has regained consciousness after acupuncture," a royal physician reported.
"Reward him." Emperor Cheng said succinctly, then strode towards the tent where the Prince of Yi was located.
With his head wrapped in gauze, the first thing Prince Yi said to Emperor Cheng was, "Father, someone wants to harm me. My horse is usually gentle, how could it be so easily frightened?"
"My son, don't worry, rest well. Your father will definitely find out the truth," Emperor Cheng comforted him.
King Yi thanked him and lay back down.
Emperor Cheng left with a solemn expression.
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has three broken ribs, a broken leg, and minor bruises and scratches on his head and body." Another imperial physician stepped forward and said, "Fortunately, no vital organs were injured, Your Majesty need not worry."
"Take good care of him, and you will be rewarded if he recovers." Emperor Cheng said the same thing, but he was less sincere towards Li Heng.
In the past, he would have simply wanted to change the heir, but ever since he learned that the Crown Prince was actually trying to win people's hearts and minds and seize power, he had little emotion left.
No one can touch his rights, not even his son.
"Your Majesty, Vice General Lin has a dislocated arm and a sprained ankle, but they are both minor external injuries."
Emperor Cheng nodded: "That's good, treat him well."
With the King of Chess and Go unharmed, he felt more at ease and his mood improved. When he saw the deer with red antlers again, he remembered the prize.
"Li girl, your archery skills on horseback have become so accurate?" he asked, voicing his doubts.
"Your Majesty, I have only learned how to draw a bow; my arrows are not accurate," Shen Li replied truthfully. "It was all by chance."
"You're quite honest, child." Emperor Cheng smiled and asked, "I said that whoever can shoot this deer can tell me their wish. What is your wish?"
"This humble woman does indeed have a wish." Shen Li knelt down, lifting her robe, her expression becoming extremely serious.
Everyone, including the emperor, was watching her. Most people thought that Shen Li lacked nothing; wealth and status seemed to be the pinnacle that women could achieve. What wish could she possibly have that would make her so solemn?
"Tell me about it." Emperor Cheng didn't even dare to say he would definitely agree, because it seemed that Shen Li's wish was not so simple.
Gu Chang'an's expression was equally solemn, because he didn't know what A-Li wanted to say either.
"Your Majesty, I would like to request a decree granting me permission to participate in the imperial examinations." Shen Li said each word with conviction: "I also wish to take the imperial examinations and enter officialdom like men."
She has everything, but her influence on the court can only be through Gu Chang'an, the Crown Prince, or the Prince of Yi; these are ultimately not real matters.
Looking back on the days since her rebirth, the most significant thing she has done is on the battlefield. So, if she can go to the battlefield, why can't she go to the court?
Recently, both Yu Die and Shen Yue are in a dilemma as women. They don't know what kind of path women can take by studying and practicing martial arts, which makes them feel very uncomfortable.
Lin Wan'er will explore the path of becoming a military general, while she will take charge of the imperial examinations and officialdom. As long as she can open a crack, that crack will only grow larger in the future.
When she gains enough influence, women's scientific expeditions will inevitably become the norm.
These words truly caught everyone present off guard. A women's imperial examination? This was an unprecedented event.
Shouldn't women stay at home to support their husbands and raise their children? How come women in this dynasty have all changed? First, there was Lin Wan'er who joined the army, and now there's Shen Lizhi who is determined to take the imperial examination.
Simply outrageous.
"This..." Emperor Cheng hesitated for a moment. Although he thought Shen Li's idea might be a little strange, he didn't expect it to be this strange.
However, given Lin Wan'er's experience, he wasn't as shocked this time.
He recalled Shen Zizai's words: allowing women to enter the court would demonstrate the emperor's magnanimity in recruiting talented people. He had killed too many people in the first half of his life, which led to the crown prince's reputation for virtue being able to bewitch the people. Now was the time to be lenient.
Most of the civil officials who came with them were younger, and there were no important court officials. Even though they were men and did not want women to challenge their authority, no one present dared to say anything.
Although Shen Li is a woman, she is no ordinary woman. The power behind her is considerable. Compared to her, the Shen family is relatively better off, since even if Elder Shen is angry, he won't do anything.
But Gu Chang'an was different. Just because the emperor couldn't deal with the censors didn't mean he couldn't. He could easily pin a charge of forming cliques and embezzling money on the censors and kill them ten times over.