In Jing Country, can women also hold official positions?
The Ji sisters were at a loss for words to describe their astonishment at that moment.
"Yes, wasn't there an imperial edict posted about this?" The yamen clerk said impatiently, "As a special precedent, Concubine Liu has been appointed as Jing Country's first female official."
The Ji sisters and their maid were dumbfounded upon hearing this.
So this was what Jing Country was like.
In Chu State, women had never held official positions.
The imperial harem was not supposed to interfere in politics!
Even the Empress of Chu State couldn't dream of influencing state affairs.
"How much must the Emperor love her? Didn't the ministers object?" Yuan, the maid, couldn't help but blurt out.
"How novel. Where did you come from, some backwater village? This happened long before the New Year," the yamen clerk flipped through their franchise application and exclaimed, "Oh, so you're merchants from Chu State."
"Hey, counting you in, there were six groups of Chu State merchants who applied to join our Jing Country royal milk tea shop franchise yesterday!"
The Ji sisters were shocked once again.
Apart from them, other Chu people also wanted to learn the milk tea technique and open milk tea shops?
The sisters exchanged glances, both seeing the amazement in each other's eyes.
As expected of their Chu State!
There was a reason why Chu people were wealthier than Jing citizens. Chu State didn't look down on commerce; agriculture, industry, and trade were all supported by the court, without contempt or arrogance towards merchants.
That's why many Chu merchants were excellent at business, with a keen sense for trade.
Sure enough, many who came to Jing Country to purchase goods had sharp instincts and had set their sights on the unique milk tea and youtiao (fried dough stick) business of Jing Country.
If they opened shops in Chu State, being the first to enter the market, they would surely make a profit.
Ji Chunyue and Ji Qiuyue, the two sisters, grew even more eager.
"You Chu people should know, our Jing Country's Concubine didn't become a female official just because of the Emperor's favor." The yamen clerk perked up when talking about this.
"Concubine Liu leading the women to make winter clothes is already the smallest matter. Besides that, the Concubine also invented military..."
Ji Chunyue's ears perked up at the mention of military matters.
But the yamen clerk, astutely, closed his mouth and chuckled, "The secrets of our Jing Country army, we won't tell you Chu people."
The yamen clerk was very cautious, keeping quiet at crucial points, leaving the Ji sisters and their maid burning with curiosity.
On their way back to the inn, the three couldn't help but discuss in low voices.
"Why so secretive? Young Miss, it might be just like in the plays, borrowing the tiger's might. That palace concubine might be whispering in the Jing Country Emperor's ear, taking credit for others' achievements."
"Yuan, mind your words," Ji Chunyue pinched her, "Don't discuss state affairs on the street."
Especially on foreign soil?
But in their hearts, the Ji sisters silently agreed with Yuan's guess.
Since ancient times, nothing has been valued more than scholarship.
Women in Jing Country couldn't take the imperial examinations either, so that palace concubine had no academic credentials.
This female official position must have come from pillow talk, what else?
The Ji sisters felt a wave of sadness, suddenly feeling that even if they opened a shop, it wouldn't mean much.
"In this vast world, is there no place where women can achieve great things?"
"Sister, what's the use of our studies? Just to be good wives and mothers?" Ji Qiuyue's eyes were filled with frustration.
They were sixteen this year, of marriageable age.
That's why they had secretly come to Jing Country to travel, knowing that such willful, free times would not come again after marriage.
"Ah, sister, we got excited for nothing. If only we didn't have to marry. But alas, even that female official in Jing Country is the Emperor's woman, dependent on the Emperor for survival."
Ji Qiuyue sighed softly, her eyes filled with indignation and sorrow.
"I'm afraid that's how it will be for us too."
"At home, we rely on grandfather; after marriage, we'll rely on our husbands. Why were we born as women?"
Both were in low spirits, and even Yuan the maid couldn't help feeling sad.
If even young misses of such high status were like this, what about her?
"Young Misses, don't be sad. You're still better off than me—"
As they were talking, they passed by a courtyard where there was a bustling noise at the gate.
"Recruiting seamstresses and tailors! Must be quick, clean, and free of serious illnesses!"
"Meals provided, fifty wen monthly wage, plus two wen per piece completed."
This call soon attracted many onlookers.
"Oh, Aunt Pei, is Consort Liu's Winter Clothing Workshop recruiting again?! Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll quickly call my daughter over!"
In an instant, the middle-aged woman in clean cotton clothes at the courtyard gate was surrounded.
"Auntie, do you think I'm suitable? I'm married but don't have children yet."
"Of course! As long as you can work, why not?" Aunt Pei waved her hand cheerfully, "The Concubine said, we were making winter clothes for refugees before, but now that spring has come, we still need to continue. We need to make more, so that this year and next year, more people won't suffer from the cold!"
"We need to recruit many more people!"
The young woman who asked the question was clearly a bit timid, but very tempted by the sewing wage, "But... I don't know if my husband will agree to me working outside."
Aunt Pei immediately put her hands on her hips, "He dares not agree? Let him come, and when Concubine Liu comes out of the palace, we'll ask him why he's so short-sighted, not supporting his wife and daughter!"
"You're not just earning money by coming here, you're working for the Concubine, making clothes for our Jing Country soldiers! Making clothes for the suffering people of the world!"
"Is he, a single man, so capable? What has he done? He dares to hinder us women from doing things for the world?" Aunt Pei was clearly skilled at scolding, and directly addressed the timid young woman, "Let him come, I'll scold him, the Concubine will scold him!"
"Our Emperor supports the Concubine, letting her leave the palace to do things anytime. What, is that man of yours more impressive than the Emperor?"
Yuan the maid's footsteps suddenly stopped with a creak.
Her ears were perked up high!
The Ji sisters were listening with their mouths agape.
These Jing Country people might not be as wealthy as those from Chu.
But were all Jing Country women this fierce?
A woman from the imperial harem could leave the palace at will?
"Those of you who are good at needlework and have free time at home are all welcome to come," Aunt Pei at the courtyard gate put her hands on her hips and looked at the timid girls peeking outside, "You have the Concubine to embolden you, you have the clothes-less people of the world to embolden you, don't be afraid!"
"And the money you earn from sewing is yours. If any man in your family or any mother-in-law dares to take it away, you come find me!" Aunt Pei patted her chest with a thump.
Yuan the maid and the Ji sisters' jaws dropped.
A married woman follows her husband.
In Chu State, many husbands' families even seized their wives' and concubines' dowries, claiming them as their own!
Moreover, the money earned by women would likely belong to their husband's family after marriage.
There were many cases of cruel mothers-in-law and husbands demanding money, and if the women refused, they were beaten. Even if they went to the magistrate's office, unless someone died or was seriously injured, there were no laws to protect them.
But at this moment, Aunt Pei standing before them, as well as the other women coming out of Consort Liu's Winter Clothing Workshop, all looked confident and bold.
"Whether you're sewing clothes for the army or for refugees, the Consort will remember your contributions."
"Our Consort is a female official!"
"We have someone backing us," Aunt Pei pointed back at the courtyard and spoke passionately to the growing crowd of women, "Don't be afraid, everyone."
"Whoever disagrees with you coming out to work, whoever tries to take your sewing money, our Consort will deal with them!"
"That's right," Min Rou also stepped forward, "We still need many more people for sewing. Whether you're married or not, with or without children, you can all participate."
"Here, we have aunties responsible for looking after children, and we've even hired a teacher who can tutor the kids."
"Everyone can leave their children in the courtyard, freeing up their hands to make clothes."
"!"
"!!"
The Ji sisters and their maid Yuan were stunned.
Could it really be done this way?
Who came up with this idea?
[Oh my goodness, the Chu State Twin Beauties' loyalty to Jing Country has risen to 49%!]
Xiao Chuchu heard the system message and couldn't help but be surprised.
[Why is this system prompt so strange?]
[Wow, the people of Chu State are willing to follow our Jing Country?]