A Laughingstock
Mia Qian refused to show weakness. She gripped the cart and stubbornly tried to stand tall, but her legs were as soft as noodles. With a stumble, she lost her balance, and the memorial she was holding slipped from her arms.
Mia Qian's face flushed instantly. She reached out to pick it up, but Princess Jade Hayes was quicker and snatched it up before her.
"What's this? A memorial?" Princess Jade Hayes held it in her hand. Just then, Alexander Hayes walked over, also eyeing the memorial with interest.
"This is... this is..." Mia Qian noticed Alexander Hayes had arrived too. Remembering what she'd written in the memorial, her embarrassed face couldn't hide her discomfort.
Princess Jade Hayes casually opened the memorial and, together with Alexander Hayes, glanced over it. She clicked her tongue twice and said, "Using the village as a unit, you want to force all boys aged six to fifteen to attend school. If they don't go, the family gets fined thirty copper coins a year. Miss Qian, is this your plan to promote schooling?"
Mia Qian, her face still red, could only nod honestly.
Princess Jade Hayes let out a derisive laugh. "Miss Qian, do you know how much a village family earns after a year of hard work? Let me tell you: around Charleston, if a household can save a hundred copper coins by year's end, they're considered wealthy. For ordinary families, thirty coins saved is a good year. In bad years, they have to borrow just to survive. Your thirty-coin fine—are you trying to push the people into rebellion?"
Mia Qian stiffened her neck and argued, "Th-then if they just follow the rules and send their children to school, they won't get fined, right?"
Princess Jade Hayes gave another contemptuous laugh. "Miss Qian, do you realize that boys aged six to fifteen must help at home just to earn enough for their daily food? If you send all poor boys to school, what will they eat and drink? How will they survive? Wouldn't that just add to the burden of struggling families? If you push this policy, you'll stir up public resentment, and all you'll achieve is teaching boys to read. The girls, the elders, everyone else—they'll still be illiterate."
"Th-then..." Mia Qian stammered for a long while, but couldn't come up with a proper answer.
Princess Jade Hayes placed the childish, laughable memorial back in Mia Qian's hands and said, "Miss Qian, if you're not cut out for this, don't force yourself to play a role you can't handle. These ridiculous ideas—better not write them down next time, or you'll become a public joke."
After finishing, Princess Jade Hayes turned and walked away with Alexander Hayes, calm and collected. Mia Qian, left behind, was utterly humiliated. Unable to bear the embarrassment, she covered her face and burst into tears.
"Grandpa, she... she's gone too far! You have to help me get justice!" Mia Qian cried as she threw herself into Quentin Qian's arms.
Quentin Qian looked pained, but what could he do?
"Mia, it's not that Grandpa doesn't care or won't stand up for you. But she's Queen Lily of Qin and the Chancellor. I'm just Lord Qian in name only, with no real power. These days, our Qian Clan can't even get a foothold in court. There's nothing I can do!" Quentin Qian said, clearly troubled.
"So... so that's it!? I can't accept this!" Mia Qian sobbed.
Quentin Qian sighed and said, "Mia, since we know Queen Lily of Qin is skilled at ruling, don't set yourself up for embarrassment. You have your strengths—you're young, beautiful, gentle, and gracious. Surely you'll find a way to win the King's heart. Why compete over state affairs? Listen, men don't like women who are too capable or clever. Women like Queen Lily, who stand out too much, will be cast aside sooner or later. It's girls like you, pretty and a bit naive, that men prefer."