Chapter 381: Wild and Rebellious Words

In front of the vermilion lacquered gate of the Imperial Examination Hall, the officials were startled by the sudden noise.

Especially the chief examiner Li Jingyao, who thought everything was settled.

I was already feeling guilty, and now I felt as if my heart was being hit by a heavy hammer, beating wildly.

Even though I hadn't actually done anything, I was so panicked that my back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

Li Jingyao forced himself to remain calm and strode towards the bulletin board at the center of the commotion.

The officials behind him looked at each other and followed hurriedly.

Coming closer, he asked sternly with a stern face, "What's going on? Why are you making such a noise?"

"The examiner is here!"

"Quick, let the adults take a look at this test paper!"

There was no need to ask any more questions, the angry people pointed to the test paper.

Li Jingyao glanced quickly and instantly locked onto the beginning of the volume.

Xianyun County, Chenyu, a name I have no impression of.

He suppressed his palpitations and quickly read the policy article.

However, after reading just a few lines, his face suddenly turned as pale as paper.

His body began to shake violently and uncontrollably, and his lips trembled.

He stretched out his fingers tremblingly, but couldn't utter a word.

In that article, it was clearly written in black and white:

"With a female ruler in power, yin and yang are reversed, and moral principles are lost, it is a sign of the country's demise!

Your Majesty is autocratic and dictatorial. Not only does he not consider returning power to the scholars and officials, but he also opens a department for women, disrupting the laws of our ancestors.

Women interfering in government affairs is like hens crowing at dawn, which is the source of disaster and chaos.

The empress's autocratic power and dictatorial decisions are not a blessing for the world.

If this continues, the country will no longer be a country..."

Openly criticizing the empress, denying women's participation in politics, and even bluntly calling the current emperor "the source of chaos," these extreme remarks actually appeared on the women's imperial examination paper?!

He wrote such outrageous and rebellious words, but not only was he not dismissed, he was actually selected!

Isn't this a joke? Where does this put the court's laws and the dignity of the imperial examination system?

How is this possible... How is this possible!

Li Jingyao felt dizzy in front of his eyes.

How could this be a test? It's clearly a death warrant!

My head buzzed, everything went blank for a moment, and my body fell to the side.

Officials on both sides hurriedly supported him, barely preventing him from collapsing on the spot.

But they all looked pale and were covered in cold sweat.

Sun Boheng, the deputy chief examiner and junior supervisor of the Ministry of Ceremonies, was also frightened, but he quickly calmed down.

After all, he has been in officialdom for a long time and is more stable than scholars like Li Jingyao who have been buried in the Hanyuan for many years.

Seeing that the riots were spreading like wildfire, and were definitely not seen by just one or two people, it was impossible to suppress or block the news by force at this time.

He took a deep breath, gathered all his strength, and shouted in a voice as loud as a bell: "Silence!"

The clerks on both sides slammed the killing sticks in their hands heavily on the ground, making a neat and dull "dong dong" sound.

The excited people were frightened by the noise and suppressed some of the noise.

Countless questioning eyes were fixed on Sun Boheng.

"I am Sun Boheng, Junior Supervisor of the Ministry of Ceremonies, honored to be the Vice-President of this Provincial Examination!"

Sun Boheng glanced at the entire audience, his voice steady and powerful.

"A provincial examination paper, from initial review to review and final ranking, must be reviewed by at least four examiners.

The papers that ultimately passed the examination needed to be confirmed and signed by no less than ten examiners before the candidate could be included on the list.

I would like to ask my fellow villagers, are we, the officials appointed by the court, all blind?

Seeing such an outrageous and rebellious article, you still have to pass it unanimously and make it public?

Could it be that all of us examiners for this year are tired of living and don't want to be killed anymore?"

The people's agitation had obviously subsided a lot, and the whispers had also become quieter.

Indeed, any person with any sense would not allow such an article to pass.

Seeing that the situation had been initially stabilized, Sun Boheng continued in a deep voice:

“Perhaps you don’t know that in order to protect this imperial examination, the palace Xuanji Guards were dispatched in large numbers.

Some time ago, many shops in Fengjing City were closed down, spies were arrested, and even the major cases concluded in Jingzhao Prefecture in recent days were actually all related to this matter.

The thieves destroyed my great cause, but my determination to uphold justice in the imperial examinations remains undiminished!"

There was a buzz of discussion from below.

This year's women's imperial examination has indeed attracted much attention, and due to the betting and gambling activities in the market, the attention and discussion have reached an unprecedented high.

Most people have heard about the series of major actions taken by Fengjing before.

Sun Boheng struck while the iron was hot, his voice becoming more and more passionate:

"Your Majesty has a unique vision. Not only did you establish the imperial examination for women, you also boldly reformed the centuries-old imperial examination system!

For example, a department of mathematics was established, and as long as one passed the examination, he or she could be recruited as an official in various government offices.

Even if you don't enter the officialdom, you can still become a good accountant and make a living.

Afterwards, the imperial court vigorously innovated papermaking technology and invented mulberry paper, which reduced the price of books to one-tenth of the old calendar price or even lower.

You may want to ask your elders and brothers in your family, how many more people can read and do math nowadays compared to before?

This is your majesty's benevolent policy that benefits all people!"

He glanced at some of the women in the crowd, and his tone turned deep:

"Let's go back to the women's imperial examination.

Who among you here doesn't have a mother or grandmother? Who doesn't have a wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter, or childhood sweetheart?

Women no longer have to be trapped in the small space of the boudoir and backyard for their entire lives!

They could openly participate in the imperial examinations and become officials;

You can also apply for Ming Suan, find a decent job and become self-reliant.

The thief's actions are despicable!

They want to ruin this hard-earned opportunity, to destroy the great cause of enabling everyone to learn to read and write, to understand reason and know honor and disgrace!"

Sun Boheng's words were powerful and decisive, and he had already tied his own life and the lives of all the examiners to the chariot of reform of His Majesty.

As the Junior Supervisor of the Six Departments, he was already one of the top few officials in the court. He was not a staunch supporter of the emperor and was always cautious.

But at this moment, a huge mistake has occurred, and no matter what the reason is, the examiner cannot escape blame.

For the sake of his career, and even more so his life and family, he had no choice.

We can only stand up for His Majesty at all costs and stabilize the situation.

“Although I don’t know what methods the thieves used, the court will definitely investigate to the end.

By then, we will give a clear and unambiguous explanation to students and people all over the world.

Until the truth comes out, all of us examiners will remain in the Imperial Academy, not taking a single step out, awaiting a thorough investigation by the imperial court!"

The riot was temporarily suppressed.

Sun Boheng immediately gave orders to send more yamen runners to firmly guard the notice wall and the gates of the Imperial Examination Hall.

At the same time, he quickly summoned all the examiners involved in marking the papers and did not let any of them go.

Several yamen runners carried the pale-faced Li Jingyao and staggered towards the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall.

Sun Boheng glanced at him, unable to hide his contempt.

Having been confined to the Hanlin Academy, a noble place for a lifetime, people have become pedantic and dull, and are unable to cope with it when faced with major events.

Oh, you still want to compete with Prime Minister Pei? Are you worthy?

The gazes were withdrawn as soon as they met, and Sun Boheng walked in front with his head held high and chest puffed out.

He doesn't look like a criminal who has committed a serious crime, but rather like a general returning victoriously.

In fact, I feel helpless and have done everything I can.

What happens next is no longer something he can control.