CCWAD – Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Chapter 47: A Vision of a Prosperous Era

Prologue:

“When the tenth Women’s Medical College was completed in Lingnan, the urgent imperial report still carried the sweet scent of lychees. Li Shishi smiled and pointed to the southernmost tip of the map: ‘Look, even the ends of the earth are blooming with the flowers of women’s academies.'”

—

In the twelfth year of the New Dynasty, just after the summer solstice, the lychees of Lingnan were beginning to blush red. A swift horse, kicking up the sweltering summer heat, galloped into Bianliang. The gilded lacquer box carried by the rider contained a memorial from the Lingnan Circuit Inspector, along with several strings of lychees chilled with ice.

“Your Majesty, the Lingnan Women’s Medical College is complete!” the messenger knelt before Chuigong Hall, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. “These are the first lychees picked by the local women, specially presented to Your Majesty.”

Yan Qing put down her vermillion brush and looked at the vibrant red lychees in the lacquer box. She was suddenly reminded of the scene eleven years ago when she and Li Shishi had made their vows by the shores of Jinming Pool. Back then, they had vowed that all women in the land would be able to study and understand principles. Now, that wish was slowly becoming a reality.

“Summon the Grand Tutor,” she said softly.

Li Shishi arrived quickly. Her eyes lit up when she saw the lychees. “The lychees from Lingnan have arrived? It seems the Women’s Medical College was built at just the right time.”

She unfolded the architectural plans for the medical college that came with the memorial. It was a three-story pavilion with white walls and blue tiles, and a lychee orchard was specially preserved in the courtyard. “This is the tenth Women’s Medical College,” her fingertip traced lightly across the map, from Youzhou in the north all the way to Lingnan in the far south. “Even the ends of the earth are blooming with the flowers of women’s academies.”

Yan Qing peeled a lychee, its translucent flesh trembling in her fingertips. “Do you remember what those old imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy said when we were building the first Women’s Medical College?”

“How could I forget?” Li Shishi took the lychee she offered. “They said women’s hands trembled and couldn’t hold golden needles; they said women were too soft-hearted and couldn’t bear to see blood. And now?”

Now, the first batch of female medical students had been practicing for five years. Last year, during the plague in Bianliang, it was they who, disregarding the danger, entered the affected areas to treat the people. The voices of doubt had long since vanished in the face of facts.

“Let’s go to the Imperial Academy,” Li Shishi suddenly suggested. “Today is the graduation ceremony.”

Before the Zhigong Hall of the Imperial Academy, over a thousand students were neatly lined up. Strikingly, nearly half of them were women. They wore uniform academic robes and square caps, their expressions solemn yet filled with excitement.

Lin Wanqing, the Minister of Rites, was reading out the list of graduates. This former top scholar in the Women’s Examination was now a powerful official in the court. When she called out, “Medical Academy Outstanding Student Su Nianwei,” a delicate and refined young girl stepped forward.

“Su Nianwei,” Lin Wanqing’s voice carried praise, “your thesis, ‘Essentials of Gynecology,’ has been adopted by the Imperial Medical Academy and will soon be published throughout the land.”

Warm applause erupted from the crowd. Yan Qing watched from a distance and suddenly recalled Su Nianwei’s origins – she was the daughter of a Suzhou embroiderer. If not for the women’s academies, she would likely have spent her entire life in the embroidery room.

After the ceremony, Yan Qing specifically summoned Su Nianwei.

“I heard you refused an appointment at the Imperial Medical Academy?” Yan Qing asked gently.

Su Nianwei bowed respectfully. “Replying to Your Majesty, this student wishes to return to her hometown in Suzhou to treat the women in the countryside. They… they always find it inconvenient to seek medical attention when they are ill.”

Li Shishi nodded from the side. “This is indeed the compassion of a physician.”

Leaving the Imperial Academy, the two strolled to the banks of the Bian River. The sun was setting, and boats plied the river. Many of these boats were steered by women. This was a new policy implemented last year – allowing women to engage in canal transport. Initially, it had also met with opposition, but in practice, women’s meticulousness had led to fewer accidents.

“Do you remember the Cao Gang rebellion from back then?” Yan Qing asked, gazing at the boats on the river.

Li Shishi chuckled. “How could I forget? Li Jun, that stubborn old man, is now helping to train female canal workers in Jiangnan.”

The changes in the world could not be more evident.

The next day, at the morning court, the Ministry of Revenue presented a summary report on ten years of new policies. Yan Qing looked at the figures and couldn’t help but feel emotional:

* Women’s Academies: From zero to 2,300

* Female Students: From zero to 307,000

* Female Officials: From zero to 2,400

* Women’s Workshops: From zero to 800

“Your Majesty,” the old minister Zhao Mingcheng stepped forward, “this old minister has a memorial to present.”

This elder statesman, who had once been the most opposed to women’s participation in politics, was now a staunch supporter of the new policies. His granddaughter, Zhao Qingyun, was now making waves in the Ministry of Works.

“Permission granted.”

“This old minister suggests establishing Women’s Advocacy Halls in each prefecture and county,” Zhao Mingcheng said. “As more women are involved in legal cases, it would be more convenient to have female lawyers.”

This suggestion was immediately echoed by many ministers. Not long ago, women had to wear veils even to appear in court; now, they could openly defend themselves.

After the court session, Yan Qing and Li Shishi strolled through the Imperial Garden. The lotus flowers were in full bloom, their pink and white petals trembling slightly in the morning light.

“Sometimes it feels like a dream,” Yan Qing said softly. “Eleven years ago, we were still arguing with the entire court about opening the first women’s academy.”

Li Shishi plucked a lotus flower and tucked it into Yan Qing’s lapel. “This shows that the path we are taking is the right one.”

She suddenly remembered something. “By the way, Yang Bamei sent a letter saying she built a women’s equestrian academy in the northwest. She said the women on the border are skilled in riding and archery, and their talents shouldn’t be wasted.”

Yan Qing thought of that spirited woman, always in red with a silver spear. The three hundred female soldiers of the Flying Phoenix Camp back then were now scattered in various places, some becoming female generals, others becoming female instructors, all changing the world in their own ways.

“Let’s go see the children,” Li Shishi suggested.

In the elementary school attached to the Imperial Academy, the children were attending class. It was gratifying to see that boys and girls studying in the same room had long since become a common sight. A little girl with twin buns was reciting the “Thousand Character Classic,” her voice clear and pleasant.

“Heaven and Earth are dark yellow, the universe is vast and boundless…”

“Women should admire purity, men should emulate talent and integrity…”

“If you know your mistakes, correct them; if you gain ability, do not forget…”

Listening to the sonorous recitation, Yan Qing’s eyes suddenly welled up. These children knew from a young age that both boys and girls could study and understand principles. They would no longer believe, as their ancestors did, that “a woman’s lack of talent is her virtue.”

“We are creating history,” Li Shishi said softly.

“No,” Yan Qing shook her head. “We are merely sowing the seeds. Those who truly create history are them.”

She pointed to the young girls in the classroom, diligently listening to the lecture. When these children grew up, they would become female officials, female doctors, female teachers, and would propel this era even further.

As evening approached, the two ascended the city walls of Bianliang. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire city. The lights of the Imperial Academy began to light up one by one, like the brightest stars in the night sky.

“The tenth Women’s Medical College…” Yan Qing gazed south, lost in thought.

“There will be an eleventh, a twelfth…” Li Shishi chimed in. “Until all the women in the land can receive medical care when they are sick.”

The evening breeze brushed their faces, carrying the sound of reading from distant academies. Yan Qing suddenly recalled a line from the Book of Songs: “Though Zhou was an old state, its mandate was renewed.” This ancient land was regaining its vitality.

“It’s time for dinner,” Li Shishi reminded her softly.

Yan Qing remained standing, unmoving. “Let’s wait a little longer. I want to watch a bit more.”

She wanted to watch this peaceful and prosperous era a little longer, to watch the lights of countless homes. Within these lights, the destinies of so many women had been changed, and so many dreams were being realized.

As the night deepened, they walked down together. Palace lanterns were lit one after another, casting warm halos on the bluestone slabs.

Tomorrow there would be morning court, reports to approve, and new policies to implement. But tonight, they only wanted to savor this hard-won tranquility.

After all, such a prosperous era was worth their lifelong guardianship.

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(End of Chapter Forty-Seven)