Elder Wen also echoed, "Elder Chi's words are indeed most fitting.
Since the court already has female officials like Lu Qianhuang and Chi Yaoyao, they can be appointed to official positions, allowing the hundred officials time to adapt.
If it's possible, my granddaughter Rugge, as well as the Princess Consort's subordinates Wu Ying, Yun Ying, and Ru Yue, can also make public appearances.
At least this way, the hundred officials will know that the Princess Consort becoming empress is not a rash decision by the Prince..."
With both Grand Elders agreeing to Lu Qingwan's ascension, the heads of the Six Ministries understood that this matter was inevitable.
After exchanging glances, they finally assented.
Si Fengwu then said, "In that case, Cheng Nanliu, arrange appropriate positions for Chi Yaoyao and Lu Qianhuang.
As for the three of Yun Ying, they will not enter the court for now.
During this period, any grumbling or complaints will be ignored.
However, if anyone abuses their power under the guise of women entering officialdom, they will be severely punished without exception."
Upon hearing this, it was clear that the decision for Lu Qingwan to become empress had been made and was not to be debated.
Cheng Nanliu withdrew, followed by the heads of the Six Ministries. Only Lian Yu, Wen Chi, and the Southern Prime Minister remained.
As soon as the others left, Lian Yu clutched his chest and complained, "I say, the two of you, when announcing such a significant event, couldn't you have discussed it with us?
You had to spring a surprise.
Are you afraid that I, as your elder brother, would refuse to transform from a maternal uncle into a prince?"
The Southern Prime Minister and the two Grand Elders, who had been maintaining stern faces and had intended to have a long talk about Lu Qingwan's enthronement, couldn't hold back after Lian Yu's complaint.
The Southern Prime Minister threw caution to the wind and said, "Lord Lu is correct. Regardless of who becomes emperor, my position will remain secure. It doesn't matter to me who is emperor.
But you are truly audacious to spring such a shocking matter as a woman becoming emperor without prior consultation. Aren't you afraid the court and the populace will explode?"
It was known that for many court officials, and even commoners, the idea of a female emperor was completely unacceptable.
They wouldn't even need a definitive reason; a simple statement like "A woman as emperor is unprecedented and goes against tradition" would suffice to exhaust any supporter of Lu Qingwan's claim.
Therefore, neither Wen Chi nor the Southern Prime Minister, nor even Lian Yu, truly supported a female emperor.
It was precisely because the person about to become empress was Lu Qingwan that they reluctantly agreed.
Had it been anyone else, these four would have been the most vocal opponents.
It was also for this reason that they understood better than anyone the immense obstacles Lu Qingwan's ascension would face.
They were not entirely in favor of Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu announcing to the heads of the Six Ministries their intention for Lu Qingwan to become empress without prior consultation.
Despite so many differing opinions, Si Fengwu showed no panic. He calmly asked, "Do you find the advantages I mentioned regarding the Princess Consort becoming empress to be logical?"
The Southern Prime Minister subconsciously nodded, "Of course, they are logical. Not to mention other benefits, once the Princess Consort ascends, Great Qin can no longer legitimately recruit us."
"Exactly. Since you all believe the Princess Consort has more advantages in becoming emperor than I do, use those recognized reasons to persuade the ministers and the populace.
Of course, you can also tell those who are merely joining in the commotion.
The continent of Bu Ye Zhou, which supports the two million troops of Tian Feng, the Ji Ci Hospital that has saved countless lives, and the Li Ren Fang that provides opportunities for countless refugees and distressed women, were all established by the Princess Consort.
The imperial highway network being built by the Ministry of Works, and the water wheels and canals that irrigate the fields for the people of Zhu Bei Di, are all independently undertaken by the Princess Consort.
When they understand the implications, I believe they will make an informed choice."
Whether the court officials and populace would make an informed choice was unknown, but the adults present were stunned by Si Fengwu's words.
"We already knew the Ji Ci Hospital was the Princess Consort's enterprise, but Bu Ye Zhou and Li Ren Fang are also her enterprises?
Your Highness, are you serious?"
Elder Chi was so surprised that he accidentally plucked a clump of his beard, and was so heartbroken he almost cried.
Lian Yu chuckled with a hint of smugness, "Without these enterprises, Elder Chi, how do you think she supports so many troops and still has the resources to pave highways and build water channels and wheels?"
With the court's various departments fully established, Lu Qingwan could no longer directly fund troop salaries and provisions as she did before.
However, she personally financed the construction of water channels and wheels.
Although Elder Chi was not adept at business, he had served as an official for decades and, if not intimately familiar with the economy and road conditions across Tian Feng, he at least had a general understanding.
He naturally knew that such endeavors required enormous sums of money.
After digesting this for a long while, he slowly nodded, "In that case, I will have a way to deal with the court officials."
"Not just the court officials. If the commoners are made aware that building highways and irrigation canals were originally their corvée labor, then the populace should also be amenable.
However, while dealing with the court officials is manageable, as we only need to explain things to them, how can we ensure the commoners understand that the Princess Consort becoming emperor is most beneficial to them?"
The one who asked was the Southern Prime Minister, who had spent his life dealing with court officials and found it truly difficult to fathom the thinking of the common folk.
At that moment, Elder Wen, who had been silent for a long time, said leisurely, "Your Princess Consort's Bu Ye Zhou is not short of all sorts of peculiar talents, is it?
Storytellers, ballad singers, and even the popular crosstalk performances in Yuyang. Find people to compile and embellish your Princess Consort's deeds over the years and publicize them.
There's no rush to have them acknowledge the Princess Consort's status before the enthronement ceremony. As long as they don't cause trouble before she ascends the throne..."
The Southern Prime Minister and Lian Yu simultaneously gave Elder Wen a thumbs-up, "As expected of a four-dynasty elder, indeed, Elder Wen is brilliant!"
With such effusive praise, Elder Wen's eyes crinkled with pleasure, and he left the palace smiling like the Maitreya Buddha.
The news of Lu Qingwan's impending enthronement was poised to stir up a great storm, not just in Tian Feng but across the entire continent.
However, to everyone's surprise, the officials and populace of Tian Feng did not exhibit strong rejection or opposition.
In fact, by the third time the court convened after the news spread, someone had already proactively suggested that Lu Qingwan be allowed to attend court sessions.
Lu Qingwan was astonished when she heard this news, "No way, are the officials of our Tian Feng so psychologically resilient?
Quickly tell me, which precious soul had such forward-thinking vision?"