PFC Chapter 127 They are ants, what are you?
Chapter 127 They are ants, what are you?
A bracelet was also put on each wrist.
Not counting clothes, these alone weigh more than ten pounds on the body.
Now that I'm back home, I should at least relax a little.
Zhong Ning took off her complicated clothes, put on a light dress, and simply tied up her long black hair with a hairpin.
Compared with Murong Xin's exquisite elegance, Zhong Ning has now taken off all her jewelry, looking extremely simple.
But in this simplicity, there is a hint of laziness and leisure.
He was leaning on the phoenix couch, flipping through a book in his hand.
Murong Xin took a closer look and noticed that Zhong Ning was looking at the list of servants in her mansion.
The roster was prepared by Zhong Ning early in the morning. It recorded the life histories of all the servants who entered the princess's mansion.
For example, where you are from, where you live now, who is in your family, when you entered the palace, which palace you worked in before, what you are good at, etc.!
After flipping through the book for a while, Zhong Ning asked, "This booklet records that the maids and stewards, including Lady Ruan, are in charge of the various courtyards in the Princess's Mansion, the embroidery workshop, and the kitchen. Most of their families live in Qingliu Lane and have children and nephews!"
"Yes," Lady Ruan replied with a smile, "Before I entered the palace, my family rented a house in Qingliu Lane. The land there is on the outskirts of Beijing, and the price is quite cheap."
"Over the years, I've saved some money, and was able to barely afford the house. The other housekeepers probably rented most of the houses, as prices in Kyoto are incredibly high!"
"Since you are working in the Princess's Mansion, you should be given more protection. Go and do something," Zhong Ning thought for a moment before saying:
"Send someone to Qingliu Lane to rent a house and turn it into a school. Anyone in the princess's residence who has children or nephews can enroll for free!"
"Teacher, the imperial examination is coming soon, and there are always a few poor students. Go and investigate them, select two with good character, and hire them as teachers. Help teach them first, and then look for other candidates privately. If they pass the exam, you can have a replacement."
"The required money will be paid from the Princess Mansion's official account!"
"Your Highness, Your Highness is so kindhearted. I will definitely see to it!" Lady Ruan's face flushed with excitement. "I will tell them the good news right away and let them thank Your Highness the Princess for her kindness!"
"No need to rush. First, count the number of children and nephews in their family," Zhong Ning thought for a moment and said, "First, divide them into two groups, boys and girls, and bring the girls along!"
"This..." Lady Ruan hesitated, pondered for a moment, and replied carefully, "Women are mostly regarded as laborers by their families and are not allowed to show their faces in public easily. If we ask them to go to school, I'm afraid they won't agree..."
"Refused?" Zhong Ning sneered, a hint of coldness in her voice, "Just because I'm a woman, everything they have is given by me."
"Tell them that if there are girls in their families who are enrolled in school, they can send an extra boy to school. If there are girls in their families who are unwilling to send them to school, then the boys don't have to go either."
"Yes, I obey your order! I will definitely see to it!" Lady Ruan retreated awkwardly, and the four palace maids beside her were all very excited.
Although they could recognize a few words, they did not have a very high level of education. Their biggest regret was that they could not go to school like boys.
Now that I hear that those girls have this opportunity to go to school, it shows that if they are married in the future, they will also be eligible to send their children to school for free.
As long as the children are willing to work hard and achieve success in the future, they will have one more hope in life.
When the four of them thought of this, they felt even more grateful to Zhong Ning!
However, Murong Xin felt that Zhong Ning was being overly cautious. Those people were just servants. Why should he consider them so much?
Moreover, this kind of thing requires endless effort and time, and there is no telling when the return will be seen.
"Sister Zhong, why do you do this?" Murong Xin asked, puzzled. "If it's to gain the gratitude of those servants, then there's no need. We are members of the royal family, why should we have to consider their expressions?"
Zhong Ning slammed the book shut, raised his eyes and looked at Murong Xin coldly.
Murong Xin was startled by Zhong Ning's sudden look, and then he thought that Sister Zhong also grew up in an ordinary family, so it was inevitable that she didn't understand the rules of Kyoto.
Thinking of this, Murong Xin felt that it was necessary for him to tell Sister Zhong about the Kyoto rules. After all, they were already a family and belonged to the same class. Sister Zhong could not be involved in too many such shameful matters.
Because in Kyoto, everyone knows a fact.
People are divided into noble and humble types.
If we get entangled with these lowly slaves, it will have a very bad influence and will damage the reputation of the royal family.
"Sister Zhong, I know you have a kind heart, but kindness should be limited. We are royal nobles and cannot waste our time on these servants, lest we lose our status."
Zhong Ning suddenly stood up, put away the booklet and put it in Su Xin's hand.
Then he walked up to Murong Xin, pulled up her sleeve, and walked straight to the window.
Looking down from a high vantage point, one can see that there are still many servants busy at work in the princess's mansion, some moving flowers, some cleaning lamps, and some sweeping up fallen leaves.
"Look at them, what do you think they are?" Zhong Ning asked.
Murong Xin was puzzled, "Aren't they slaves?"
"No, they are human beings, just like you and me!" Zhong Ning said seriously, "They have noses and eyes, brains to think, legs to walk, and hands to work."
"They also have parents, brothers and sisters. If life wasn't so difficult, who would want to be someone else's slave?"
"No, Sister Zhong, they are slaves, born lowly creatures, ants that can be trampled underfoot. How can they be the same as you and me?" Murong Xin raised her little face and retorted angrily.
She was born a princess and was surrounded by all kinds of servants.
In a sense, those slaves are no longer human beings.
If they were human, why were they beaten and killed at will by the masters in the palace, and why did they dare not resist?
Therefore, they are just ants under the feet of the royal family!
How can a group of ants compare with the royal family?
"They are ants, so what are you?" Zhong Ning stared into Murong Xin's eyes, his voice as cold as water. "Then what are the people in this world?"
Murong Xin was so frightened by Zhong Ning's voice that he froze in place and didn't dare to speak.
Zhong Ning then asked:
"The emperor calls himself the Son of Heaven and regards the people of the world as his subjects. He is the father of all people, but his daughter calls those people ants?"
"Murong Xin, tell me, if there were no ordinary people in the world, and only the royal family was left as an empty shell, would the so-called royal nobility still exist?"
"Don't forget that all your wealth and glory were gained by stepping on their heads."