NOVEL NEXT Chapter 166: Is There Really a Woman Who Became Emperor
Chapter 166
"In fact, throughout history, there have been many empresses, empress dowagers, and great politicians with first-class political acumen, but they never truly stepped into the spotlight."
"Only Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty actually took the step to become a female emperor!"
Boom!
Everyone present, including the citizens of the plague-stricken city, stood stock-still as if struck by lightning, their minds going blank.
What had they just heard?
A female emperor?!
The first female emperor in history?
Some women covered their mouths, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief, whispering, "A female emperor... Can a woman really become an emperor?"
The men's emotions cycled through shock, anger, and doubt as they all turned to look at Gu Sang.
The reaction of the ministers in the great hall was even more extreme. They immediately burst into curses, their eyes full of opposition: "Outrageous! Preposterous! This is utterly absurd!"
"Since ancient times, when has there ever been such a thing as a female emperor?"
"Instead of staying at home to support their husbands and raise children, how could women become emperors? No wonder the country would fall! This must be the fault of that female emperor!"
"Yes, a woman becoming emperor would be the laughingstock of all people."
Compared to the ministers' anger, the common people were skeptical and found it hard to accept.
They held thousand-year-old traditional beliefs in their hearts. In their minds, women were weak, lacked a big-picture perspective, and could never rise above men.
A female emperor?
It was unthinkable!
All the citizens stared wide-eyed at Gu Sang on the screen, wanting to seek confirmation from her, to ask if what she had just said was true.
Or rather, they wanted to ask how a female emperor could possibly command respect and obedience!
But Gu Sang's next words were like a slap in the face to all the ministers and citizens, stinging sharply.
She said, "Whether man or woman, as long as one has great ambition and cares for the world, how can they not bring blessings to the people? How can the capable not be allowed to take charge?"
"Must it always be that men work outside and women inside the home?"
"Some of you have seen life in future times, witnessed the bravery of women, seen how they selflessly devote themselves to the world, and how they fight and sacrifice everything for the peace of future generations. Do you dare say such women are inferior to men? Do you dare say they are only fit to stay at home and bear children?"
"Think carefully, who defined the idea that women cannot ascend to the throne and should be confined to their homes? On what grounds was it defined? Born as humans, why can men do things that women cannot? Why can you men achieve great things while they can't even leave the house, and are scolded even for trying to do a little business? Are they truly incapable, or is it simply because they are women, and just because they are women, they deserve to be oppressed?!"
As her words fell, everyone was stunned.
They opened their mouths, with countless rebuttals ready—wanting to say that women lack physical strength, that women can't study, that women are this or that.
But as the words reached their lips, they all froze.
Because—
Women might lack physical strength, but that's only because they're confined to their homes and can't go out.
But those working in the fields, farming, carrying firewood until they're exhausted—their physical strength isn't necessarily much worse than men's!
Education?
Is it that they don't want to study?
No, they can't!
It was decreed that for women, lack of talent is a virtue! And who knows who came up with such a saying!
In the end, it was the rules that oppressed them, preventing them from ever rising up! But they themselves are capable of becoming excellent, they can be very excellent indeed!
Just like in future times, so many "angels in white" (nurses), so many women dedicating themselves to the people—how are they inferior in any way!
Seeing the citizens' minds racing at that moment, Gu Sang spoke again:
"So let's come back to this: is a female emperor necessarily incompetent? As long as she has strategy and skill, a broad perspective, cares for the world, and can provide a good life for everyone, with food and clothing assured—isn't that much better than having an incompetent man as emperor?"
"What's the main concern for us common people?"
"It's to live a good life, to have a good standard of living, to have enough to eat, to have peace, to keep getting better and better!"
"It's not about the emperor having to be a man, as if you couldn't survive without a male emperor, as if everything would be ruined and you'd all die if the emperor wasn't a man. Don't you agree?"
As her words fell—
The entire place fell silent!
Everyone was moved!
Because they realized with shock that this damn divine woman made some sense!
In the plague-stricken city, all the citizens looked at the Elder Princess with grateful and trusting eyes. She had saved their lives and given them a livelihood. Without her, they would have long been abandoned by the emperor.
When their very lives were at stake, who cared whether the emperor was male or female?
In the hearts of the plague city's citizens, they had already accepted the reality of a female emperor.
Moreover, they believed that if the Elder Princess became emperor, she would certainly be stronger than the current emperor!
"Thud"
The first person began to kneel, and the citizens behind them spontaneously knelt as well.
"Long live the Elder Princess! Long may she reign!"
"All I know is that the current emperor abandoned our plague-stricken city. The current emperor is unworthy of his position. It was the Elder Princess's arrival that brought us a good life!"
"If she wishes to be emperor, then we common people will honor her as our emperor!"
"Long live the Elder Princess!"
Seeing this scene in the plague-stricken city, a smile tugged at Gu Sang's lips.
Everything she had done was worth it.
In fact, the common people are quite simple. When it comes to the big picture, they know who to follow to live a good life.
Does it really matter if it's a man or a woman? After seeing so many videos from the future, their thoughts had begun to change. Maybe it wasn't so important after all.
Seeing that the citizens from other cities remained silent, Gu Sang began to play videos of the Tang Dynasty for the ancient people.
As they watched, the citizens were stunned.
They discussed among themselves: "Heavens, so these are Tang Dynasty women. They look so confident."
"Look, there are women wearing foreign clothes and riding horses for fun. Could Tang Dynasty women really go out? And they could even wear men's clothing."
"Wow, this is the Tang Dynasty capital. It's so prosperous and grand."
"Look, foreigners are entering the city. They're going to pay respects to the sovereign."
"Whoa, this... this is the aura of a female emperor. Such intimidating majesty! Just one look from her makes me feel like I should kneel. Who says women can't have the same aura as men! This is far more imposing than many high officials!"
"So there really were precedents of women becoming emperors. Viewed this way, the Elder Princess's desire to... isn't without reason."
When ancient women saw the women of the Tang dynasty, they were filled with intense envy. These Tang women exuded confidence from within, radiating it outwardly as they walked down the streets.
The women of Tang were like magnificent peonies - self-assured and spirited, graceful yet bold. They had none of the coy affectations typical of women. They could drink with men in taverns and join them in horseback riding and hunting.
Even their revealing attire could not conceal the confidence that emanated from these Tang women, inside and out.