The matter of ascending the throne had only been out for a day, and these people were already impatient to create obstacles for her.
Her path to becoming empress was destined to be fraught with difficulties.
Si Fengwu also knew that if it weren't for the greater good, Lu Qingwan would have had no interest in being the emperor. He was now trying his best to appease her.
Lu Qingwan was merely teasing Si Fengwu. The succession of the throne was no small matter, and it was already the result of much effort that the ministers could accept her.
While she could joke and tease now, she absolutely could not play with the imperial throne.
Having had her fill of playing, she stood up directly, "You are determined to be the Regent, and that can be officially conferred after the enthronement ceremony.
Before that, I need to deal with someone."
Si Fengwu played along, blinking, "Who?"
"Yan Heling, the eldest son of the Prime Minister of Da Qin."
Lu Qingwan stated without hesitation, "I don't know what kind of bewitching spell Liu Hanyan and Meng Fuyuan cast on him, to the point that he would slander his own father to sow discord between you brothers.
But I cannot allow such a madman to extend his reach into my court, interfere with my governance, slander my officials, and malign my people.
There are two ways: first, you can have someone gather all of Yan Heling's evidence of crimes and send it to my imperial brother, so he can be dealt with according to Da Qin law.
Second, I can have someone assassinate him and be done with it."
From the very beginning, his intention was to help Si Fengwu govern Tian Feng, and later, he forged evidence against Chi Yaoyao and Lu Qianhuang, intending to incite the ministers' dissatisfaction with Lu Qingwan, thereby shaking Si Fengwu's position.
Every single deed was investigated clearly. They had only hesitated to act because they weren't certain if the Crown Prince Chengan and his consort's accident was related to Prime Minister Yan Liheng.
He, however, assumed that Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu were afraid of him, and directly inserted his spies around Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan.
If they still didn't act now, it would truly seem as if everyone in this world was a fool, and only he was truly intelligent.
Si Fengwu stroked her head, "I will have my men gather evidence of his crimes and let the imperial brother handle it directly.
As the emperor of a nation, what would it look like for you to send assassins after an unknown nobody?
Later, if the imperial brother and sister-in-law found out, they would think you had a personal grudge against Yan Heling, and it would only create resentment."
With the matter of Yan Heling settled, Si Fengwu put aside the pile of memorials and continued to dote on Lu Qingwan, "So many people are eager to help you find female officials, shall I introduce one to you as well?"
Si Fengwu had always adopted a permissive attitude towards Lu Qingwan's cultivation of female officials.
He never praised or criticized anyone, and if Lu Qingwan wanted to train someone, he wouldn't stop her.
Hearing this suddenly, he genuinely became interested, "Who do you want to recommend to me?"
"Grand Princess Jinyang."
Si Fengwu said without hesitation, "Back then, the late emperor and empress only had two children, the imperial brother and Grand Princess Jinyang. They were deeply in love their entire lives, and the imperial brother and Grand Princess Jinyang had a very good sibling relationship.
The imperial brother was mature beyond his years, and Grand Princess Jinyang found him too somber. Fearing he would be lonely, she studied alongside him in the Imperial Study.
So, before Grand Princess Jinyang was married, her education was identical to the imperial brother's.
In recent years, while Prince Consort Shao has overseen the northwest, the Grand Princess has appeared to be idle at home, but in reality, she is thoroughly familiar with the affairs of the northwest.
If she were to enter court, it would undoubtedly be like adding wings to your tiger."
Lu Qingwan blinked in surprise and then slapped Si Fengwu's thigh.
"How could I have forgotten? Choosing female officials is not like selecting concubines; older women are also eligible!
Older women not only have experience, but any woman who dares to step into the court at this time is definitely no ordinary person!
As long as someone dares to come forward, they don't even need an examination; they've already passed the first hurdle!"
Lu Qingwan happily slapped Si Fengwu's thigh repeatedly. He chuckled, "I just wanted to find a few people to help you, to make the beginning of your reign easier.
The appointment of female officials to court is a precedent set by our generation.
If you suddenly flood the court with so many female officials, will it cause the proportion of women in office to be too high, thereby affecting the normal order of the court?"
Si Fengwu didn't oppose Lu Qingwan appointing women to office, but as someone in the court, he knew well that while the ministers accepted Lu Qingwan, it didn't mean they could completely accept women leading them.
Ultimately, for these people, Lu Qingwan's strength was already sufficient for them to overlook the discomfort their gender caused.
Lu Qianhuang, Chi Yaoyao, and Wen Ruge all had various relationships with Lu Qingwan and their superiors.
Furthermore, Lu Qingwan, as emperor, indeed needed a few female officials by her side to facilitate better communication and ensure efficiency.
They granted favor for the sake of the others, allowing those three to enter the court.
However, their tolerance was probably reaching its limit. Si Fengwu himself was unsure about recommending Grand Princess Jinyang.
If Lu Qingwan were to bring in a large number of female officials all at once, the court ministers would surely revolt.
Lu Qingwan laughed at him exasperatedly, "What are you talking about? Am I so foolish?
I mean, the court is in ruins and needs rebuilding. There will always be more places to spend money than to earn it.
I want to find people to help the court make money.
Over time, as the court earns money, these women's reputations will naturally soar, and more and more people...
In the future, if women wish to enter the court, the obstacles they face will naturally be much smaller, won't they?"
Having unexpectedly stumbled upon a good idea, Lu Qingwan, who had been quite vexed earlier, became happy again.
However, this newfound happiness didn't last long. Duan Yue came to report, "Reporting to Your Highness, Your Highness's Consort.
Minister Cheng and Minister Zhou have arrived."
These were the two officials rumored to have recommended Madam Yue Zhao for the imperial harem.
Unaware of the situation, they bowed to Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan with bewildered expressions.
There were no eunuchs or palace maids serving in the imperial study, so Lu Qingwan got straight to the point, "May I ask, sirs, how familiar are you with Madam Yue Zhao, the female chieftain of the Wu tribe?"
Cheng Nanliu shook his head in confusion, "I have heard of this person. It is said she holds a high position in the Wu tribe, but I cannot say I am familiar with her. I have never even met this female chieftain of the Wu tribe."
The Prefect of Jingzhao responded with sincere trepidation, "Replying to Your Highness, after the plague, Madam Yue Zhao frequently took the initiative to persuade the Wu tribespeople to submit to the court and cease their disrespect.
I, your subordinate, saw that Madam Yue Zhao was very skilled at persuading these people, so I specifically spent a large sum of money to ask Madam Yue Zhao to help me persuade some stubborn individuals.
Especially in the unified establishment of markets and the organization of the Wu tribe's salt and grain shops in a guild-like manner, Madam Yue Zhao greatly assisted me.
Therefore, I am reasonably acquainted with Madam Yue Zhao."
Lu Qingwan deliberately tried to startle them, "Because she helped you greatly, as soon as you heard the court needed female officials, you immediately brought her before us?"