Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 691: Female Examination (Part 1)

Ma Yaosong was also a bit bewildered.

He had only left the Capital City for a little over a month, so how had the Ministry of Revenue changed so drastically? When did these old bureaucratic slickers, who dealt with silver coin accounts every day, become so diligent?

Ma Yaosong secretly grumbled in his heart, but outwardly he was particularly warm, exchanging pleasantries with the officials. Once the accounts were handed over, Ma Yaosong went into the palace to meet the Emperor.

He waited outside Zhaohai Palace for a moment, and then Imperial Attendant Chen Jinyu came out.

After being apart for more than a month, the married couple had a bittersweet moment when they saw each other: "You’ve gotten a lot tanner."

"And you’ve gotten a bit thinner."

Ma Yaosong rushed to complete his tasks, riding swiftly to the Huaiyang Prince Mansion, and in just three days, confiscated eighty percent of their assets and returned to the Capital City. On the way back, he traveled a bit slower, covering six hours of road each day. This travel and toil did indeed make him much darker.

Chen Jinyu, on the other hand, did not suffer physically as she worked at the imperial court. However, she had a strong personality and would often study and decipher memorials to handle state affairs, aside from running errands and delivering messages. This was truly the most draining task. Compared to before, she had indeed lost some weight.

The couple exchanged just these few words of idle chatter before Chen Sheren led Ma Yaosong into the palace to meet the Emperor.

Jiang Shaohua was especially warm to the dear confidants: "You’ve worked hard these past days."

Ma Yaosong immediately replied with respect: "It is my honor to run errands for His Majesty. I do not feel any hardship at all. If there is an outside assignment in the future, please graciously assign it to me, Your Majesty."

Jiang Shaohua smiled gently: "We can discuss the future later. For now, go back and rest for three days before resuming your duties."

She also said to Chen Jinyu with a smile: "Ever since I ascended the throne, you haven’t taken a single day off. I’ll grant you a three-day vacation so that you and your husband can spend some good time together."

Chen Jinyu hesitated a bit: "If I take a leave, there will be no one to send around Your Majesty."

Chief Historian Chen and Wang Zhongshu Ling would go through memorials and handle state affairs, while errands and some clerical work were all tasks for Chen Jinyu. The Empress indeed found using female officials much more efficient and convenient.

Jiang Shaohua chuckled: "In just three days, the sky in the palace won’t collapse. Feel free to take leave with peace of mind."

Only then did Chen Jinyu bow and accept the command.

Chief Historian Chen pondered over this matter and privately advised the Emperor: "His Majesty should always have someone by the side to send on errands. In my opinion, it would be better to summon the female officials from Nanyang County into the palace."

There were five female officials officially appointed in Nanyang County, and now both Chen Jinyu and Sun Zelan had come. Remaining were Kong Qingwan in the military camp, along with Mr. Cui and Master Li from the Ye County Women’s Academy.

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said: "Kong Qingwan is teaching the trusted aides in the military camp how to read and write, and Mr. Cui and Master Li all have their respective duties. Let’s not disturb them for now. Once the first batch of students from the Women’s Academy graduates, I’ll choose a few clever and capable ones to serve."

"Moreover, next year there’s going to be a special Imperial Examination, and I intend to open up a female examination to select and employ talented female officials."

After the Emperor ascended the throne, he would hold a special Imperial Examination. However, a female Imperial Examination was unprecedented.

Of course, Chief Historian Chen had no intention to oppose. After all, his granddaughter was the first female official of Da Liang, and now she was a close and trusted aide of the Emperor. He couldn’t very well undermine his own bowl while holding it, could he?

However, Chief Historian Chen cautiously indicated that conducting a female Imperial Examination was not a small matter and might provoke discontent from the court officials.

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "I’ll first let the news slip out. Next year, the female examination and the male special Imperial Examination will be held simultaneously. Any woman in the household who is educated and talented can give it a try. Once they pass, they can enter the palace and await assignments from me."

"If anyone opposes the female examination, then the women in their household won’t be allowed to participate in the examination selection."

This move was truly formidable.

It was an open and fair strategy, consistent with the Emperor’s usual style of action.

First of all, those who could afford to be educated in Da Liang at least belonged to a middle-class family. Those who could afford to educate their daughters were even rarer, being either wealthy or noble.

When the female examination opens next year, those eligible and able to conveniently take the examination are practically all within the official’s residences.

So, are they going to resist to the end, or take advantage of this great opportunity to secure a good future for their daughters and granddaughters?

The way Chen Sheren was favored by the Emperor was seen by everyone. Now there was such a clear path to success right in front of their eyes, how could the officials not be tempted?

Chief Historian Chen thought it over and then smiled as well: "The Emperor has it all figured out, and this is just my groundless worry."

Jiang Shaohua smiled: "This matter still needs to be carefully planned. With some leisure, Chief Historian Chen can discuss it with Minister Dong, finalize the plan, and first announce it to the states and counties. The examination will be next February so that those with the ambition to participate in the female examination can make it to the Capital City to take the exam."

...

The Da Liang Dynasty had forty states, three hundred counties, and over a thousand districts, with distances varying greatly. When the news of the female examination spread throughout Da Liang, it could take as little as one or two months to travel to the Capital City, while further distances might take up to half a year. This assumes peaceful travels, ideally with escort by a father or family. After all, it’s indeed inconvenient for women to travel far.

As such, the threshold for this female examination naturally became quite high.

Chief Historian Chen went to discuss the matter with Minister Dong, whose mind was quick to turn, and he immediately asked: "There are established conventions for selecting officials through the Imperial Examination. A round of the provincial examination can select three hundred advanced scholars. Since it is the first round of the female examination, how many female scholars does the Emperor intend to select?"

Minister Dong was the first court minister to support the Empress’s ascension to the throne. With this merit of supporting the dragon, he was promoted and valued by the Emperor. Besides being appointed as Minister of Rites, he even politically outweighed Minister Zhang. Setting aside Chief Historian Chen, Minister Dong was the foremost civil servant.

Minister Dong prided himself as a loyal minister to the Emperor, so it was natural that the Emperor’s desire to open a female examination received his wholehearted support as Minister of Rites.

With the ruler and his ministers aligned, the matter was much easier to handle.

Chief Historian Chen gladly smiled: "The Emperor’s intention is for the first round of the female examination to be successfully organized, regardless of scale or numbers."

"Ultimately, there is no set number of candidates to be taken. Only those who are exceptionally talented, meticulous, and capable should be selected. They can first be placed by the Emperor’s side for assignments, then it can be decided later whether they remain in the palace or serve at various government offices."

Minister Dong’s furrowed brows slightly relaxed, and he laughed softly: "The Emperor’s conduct is neither hurried nor rushed, with the timing just right. This also facilitates operations within the Ministry of Rites."

"I will handle this matter. First, I will announce it within the Ministry of Rites and have the officials deliberate the specifics of the female examination selection. Simultaneously, I will spread the word to let the court officials first hear about it, adapt, and digest. Then, after half a month, I will submit a memorial."

Chief Historian Chen laughed: "Then I will leave the burden to Minister Dong."

In front of others, Minister Dong was triumphant and uncompromising, but he was very polite in front of Chief Historian Chen: "Eating the sovereign’s grain, it is only right to worry for the sovereign. Where comes the word toil." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Speaking with clever people indeed saves a lot of effort.

Chief Historian Chen and Minister Dong exchanged a smile.