Noble Daughter of a Farming Family (Imperial Examination)

Du Qingtang was born into a rural farming family. Her family was poor, and her father died young. To protect their few acres of land, her mother disguised her as a boy. Although Du Qingtang was a "boy", her mother taught her the "three obediences and four virtues" year after year, with the expectation that she would carry on the family line. She meticulously planned every step, painstakingly strategizing, dreaming of one day passing the imperial examination and becoming a high official. However, her identity was still exposed, leading to a tragic end. On the verge of death, Du Qingtang awakened her modern memories. She remembered that in modern society, men and women were equal, and women could study and even become officials.

In her second life, Du Qingtang picked up her books and continued her pursuit of the imperial examination. Rather than marrying and having children, living an ordinary life, she yearned to wield power, second only to one person. In the sixteenth year of Qingyuan, Du Qingtang passed all six levels of the imperial examination, becoming the youngest top scholar in Great Xia. The following year, Du Qingtang's female identity was exposed. All the officials rose up to attack her: "A woman in politics violates the way of Yin and Yang! This woman has deceived the emperor and committed insubordination; she should be severely punished!" Under pressure, Du Qingtang was demoted to a small border town. The border town was chaotic and disorderly, filled with displaced people; murder and robbery were commonplace, and people died every day. Everyone thought Du Qingtang would perish there. However, the previously inconspicuous border town became the Northwest's most prosperous pearl, collecting the most taxes. When foreign enemies invaded, the "Women's Army" personally formed by Du Qingtang routed the enemy, creating the miracle of six thousand defenders defeating fifteen thousand enemies. Upon her departure, the local people presented Du Qingtang with a "Myriad People's Umbrella" and erected a shrine in her honor. Du Qingtang turned the situation around, fighting a magnificent comeback battle. She returned to the capital in glory, entered the cabinet, ascended the platform, assisted two emperors in founding an era of prosperity, and became the first female Grand Chancellor in history!

The twenty-third year of Qingyuan was a year that women of Great Xia would never forget. In this year, the imperial court established women's schools and allowed women to participate in the imperial examinations. Also in this year, thousands of women, fearless of worldly opinions, walked out of their homes to study literature and practice martial arts. Looking back, they did not regret their original decision. From books, they saw another possibility. They were no longer simply "so-and-so's wife" mentioned in passing, but rather "Minister so-and-so" commanding the court, or "General so-and-so" galloping on the battlefield, slaying enemies. They too could be recorded in history and leave an everlasting legacy. "The world says women are inferior to men, but I refuse to accept my fate." "Grand Chancellor Du brought the east wind, and I will ride upon it, soaring ninety thousand li!"

【Reading Guide】

1. Early stages: Female protagonist disguised as male for imperial examinations; later stages: Regains female identity and becomes an official.

2. The female protagonist does not marry or have children.