Quick Transmigration: Survive to the End

Back in the main hall where the funeral was being held, the Crown Prince remained indifferent to the Empress Dowager, but unlike before, he did not shout for violence.

Therefore, the imperial family, including the Empress Dowager, breathed a sigh of relief and also raised Yin Yin's status.

As a result, Yin Yin was unable to return to the Prince's Mansion during the entire funeral period.

However, because of the long time she spent in the palace, Yin Yin made an unexpected discovery.

The Crown Prince had spoken with such grief and indignation that everyone assumed he only hated the Empress Dowager and still harbored affection for his father, the Emperor.

But what she inadvertently saw was the Crown Prince's string of curses against the Emperor, which showed that the Crown Prince was just putting on a good show.

"Your Highness," the Crown Prince walked in from outside, showing no surprise at seeing Yin Yin standing by the table, "how do you think my copy of this scripture is going?"

Yin Yin only needed a moment to think before she realized that the Crown Prince had deliberately left such a big flaw for her to discover. She immediately said, "Your Highness wrote very well. If His Majesty knew in the afterlife that he had received your filial piety, he would surely be very happy."

“I knew the Princess would understand me,” the Crown Prince said slowly as he put away the words. “I plan to burn them before my father’s spirit tablet now. Would the Princess like to come with me?”

Yinyin sighed inwardly and agreed.

After all, the Crown Prince himself said that this was a scroll of scriptures he had personally copied for the Emperor. If she refused to witness the Crown Prince's "filial piety," wouldn't that be disrespectful?

Since the emperor is dead anyway, no matter how "filial" his son is, he can't bring the emperor back to life.

Accompanied by Yin Yin and witnessed by many people, the Crown Prince burned the scroll of "scripture" for the Emperor, covering his face and shedding tears, looking as if he could not accept it.

All the members of the imperial family and ministers were grateful for the Crown Prince's filial piety.

Only Yin Yin, though outwardly worried, was inwardly wondering why the Crown Prince had deliberately exposed himself. Clearly, if he had simply written it down and burned it, no one would have noticed.

What do I have that the Crown Prince would value?

After the funeral was over and the Crown Prince ascended the throne, Yin Yin learned the answer.

“Running periodicals, establishing orphanages, lecturing to children regardless of gender, and teaching them skills,” the new emperor recounted Yin Yin’s deeds one by one, before finally saying, “I know what the princess is thinking. You hope that ordinary people can also have the opportunity to change their own destiny, and that women can, like men, at least have more power and ability to choose for themselves, right?”

When questioned by the new emperor, Yin Yin readily admitted it.

The new emperor showed a hint of smugness on his face. He said, "Have you considered using the power of the imperial court to expand your operations further and realize your ideas more quickly?"

This time, Yin Yin was somewhat surprised: "Your Majesty is willing to support me?"

“Of course,” the new emperor said, “the more ordinary people step forward, the better it is for the court’s rule.”

At least in terms of personnel selection, there is no need to constantly consider the powerful families and allow them to control the court.

While it must be acknowledged that aristocratic families do indeed produce many talented individuals, is it really impossible for ordinary people to produce capable and good officials?

Of course not, they've never had that opportunity since birth.

"And women..." The new emperor paused, then whispered to Yin Yin, "I also hope that there will be fewer women like my mother. That way, there will be fewer children who have a childhood like mine."

Yin Yin's eyes softened slightly: "Since Your Majesty has such intentions, I will accept them without being impolite."

Although Yinyin readily agreed, she remained cautious in her actions.

This is a world controlled by powerful families. Those who are not from powerful families either spend their lives as beasts of burden or remain stuck in the lower ranks of officialdom.

It would be very difficult for the people Yin Yin has already trained to break through this barrier. And once the aristocratic families discover her true intentions, Yin Yin will face endless risks, and she will have to continue accumulating power.

However, a few talented children have now passed the imperial examinations and been sent to other places to serve as local officials.

If they use the excuse of seeking merit in education to open private schools and free schools in their jurisdiction, day after day, there will eventually be a day when qualitative change turns into quantitative change.

Regarding giving women more choices, Yin Yin suggested that the new emperor first improve the system of female officials in the inner palace.

After all, whether female officials could only serve the women in the palace or participate in politics and become inner ministers depended on the emperor's will and the power granted to them.

Women who could enter the palace as ladies-in-waiting must have come from aristocratic families, at least initially.

Within established families, there are conservatives, and naturally, there are also those who don't care whether it's a son or a daughter, as long as they can gain greater power and status.

In this way, they can always win over a few powerful families who are willing to help them.

If we recruit some and punish others, there's still room for things to get done.

However, since entering the palace as a lady-in-waiting and participating in politics meant that the safety of these ladies-in-waiting still needed to be guaranteed. At the very least, it was crucial that the emperor could not force them to become imperial concubines.

Yin Yin's ideas were somewhat idealistic, so she and the new emperor spent a lot of time discussing and adjusting them, gradually making changes.

There are indeed suspicious and intelligent people in aristocratic families, but Zhan Zheng would definitely help his younger sister unconditionally in this situation.

With his help, and given Yin Yin's cautious and unhurried nature, those who had doubts naturally dispelled their concerns.

The new emperor originally wanted to use more radical methods, thinking that this would be more effective, but Yin Yin stopped him.

The analogy of boiling a frog in lukewarm water subtly changes people's perceptions. Although it comes too slowly, it's something most people won't find offensive or noticeable.

If radical methods are used, many people whose interests will be affected or who are particularly conservative will come out to oppose it. If they all unite, they will be a force that Yin Yin and the new emperor cannot ignore.

The new emperor was busy discussing matters with Yin Yin and didn't have time to cause trouble for the late emperor's empress dowager. After her family had passed the period of keeping a low profile, they boldly petitioned the new emperor to restore the empress dowager to the rightful place.

After all, it was awkward for the late emperor to be the empress in the palace, but the empress dowager was different; she was a position that even the emperor could defer to.

The new emperor initially didn't want to pay much attention to them, but their persistent attitude and the fact that they even brought in helpers angered him.

"Look at these people, they're afraid I'll forget about her, so they're sending her to her death sooner rather than later!"

“It’s all because there’s something to be gained,” Yin Yin said. “But their relentless pressure is also an opportunity.”

The new emperor nodded: "Yes, we have to give them a big gift in order to teach them how to speak and act."

"And don't even think about trying to get your uncle's way in front of me. What are they anyway, daring to challenge me?"