Chapter 383 Extra: The Regent and His Wife's Official Life (Part 4)
Song Zhimian shook her head and pushed Xiao Huaijin a little further away.
"You didn't understand what I meant. I didn't mean to take things from you. What Mingmin and I meant was to snatch things from the men of the world."
"Xiao Huaijin, don't tell me you don't understand what I mean." Song Zhimian looked at Xiao Huaijin.
Xiao Huaijin quickly pulled Song Zhimin into his arms again.
"I know, I know! How could I not know! Back then, the reason we arranged for you and Ye Mingmin to enter the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel was precisely for that matter, wasn't it?"
But... you know how difficult this is!
Even though her elder sister became empress, she didn't dare to rush things. She just arranged for you and Ye Mingmin to be included first.
Even with just this small amount of work done, the imperial court was almost thrown into chaos.
You have a certain status, and Ye Mingmin is known as the most talented woman in the capital, as well as the most outstanding student of Nanqing Academy.
Even so, those people still made a fuss.
If you were to actually bring up that thing you're thinking about... it would be like tearing the sky apart.
"Those old guys are usually cowardly and afraid of death. When the time comes, a few of them who don't have many days left to live will definitely come and fight to the death, spilling blood in the court." Xiao Huaijin whispered to Song Zhimin.
Song Zhimian certainly knew all this.
When a woman snatches something from a man, especially after a prolonged struggle, it often results in a bloody and violent conflict.
However, it's best to consider this matter carefully.
"Your Highness, may I ask you what your opinion is on this matter? Do you also believe that women should not serve as officials in the court?" Song Zhimian asked, wrapping her arms around Xiao Huaijin's neck.
Xiao Huaijin quickly shook his head.
"I never thought that way! I am a member of the royal family, and in my view, the officials of the court are all serving the country of Dayu."
As long as one has talent and ability, one can govern Chongqing well.
In my opinion, women are sometimes more sensitive and handle things more appropriately.
From my perspective, anyone with talent and learning can enter the court, regardless of gender!
Why exclude half the people from the very beginning?
Therefore, I support it!
But they can offer support secretly, not openly.
"Zhimian, many things still need to be planned out by your elder sister and the rest of you. I can only offer you some assistance," Xiao Huaijin said earnestly.
Song Zhimian hummed in agreement. She knew that Xiao Huaijin couldn't go too far, otherwise who knew what kind of trouble the people below would cause.
We can't exactly tell Xiao Huaijin to kill all those people!
"Alright, let's not talk about things that far ahead. Tell me what your older sister thinks first! That way I can make some plans for you all," Xiao Huaijin asked in a low voice.
"The Empress said... the more women there are in the court, the greater the power to fight for women's rights."
Therefore, there shouldn't be only Mingmin and me in the court.
"Two junior officials from the Censorate should be able to be transferred to the Ministry of Revenue!" Song Zhimian said softly.
Xiao Huaijin understood.
The people in the Censorate are good at auditing accounts, and they can use this opportunity to expose the two corrupt officials they had previously kept in the Ministry of Revenue.
While you're at it, send those two female junior officials from the Censorate to the Ministry of Revenue.
Gradually... the Ministry of Revenue had female officials again.
Indeed, the eldest sister's gradual approach is truly impressive!
...
A month later, Xiao Huaijin suddenly ordered an investigation into the Ministry of Revenue's accounts. Thanks to the efforts of the Supervisory Department, the corruption of two officials and a junior official in the Ministry of Revenue was uncovered.
The three were dismissed from their posts and investigated.
Xiao Huaijin said that no one could be found to replace him in the Ministry of Revenue at the moment, so they could only transfer a few people from the Censorate.
Firstly, the duties of the inspectors are accounting, so in a sense, their positions are the same.
On the other hand, having the people from the Censorate temporarily take over their duties was also to keep a close eye on the people in the Ministry of Revenue, so as to prevent them from going astray again.
Thus, the Ministry of Revenue had a female official again after sixty years.
However, the people in the Ministry of Revenue had already gotten used to it and did not react as strongly as those in the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel.
...
As for Xiao Huaijin, he continued to live the life of waiting for his princess to have time off so she could come and discuss life with him.
As a result, many people in the capital were saying behind his back that the Regent Prince was lacking in masculine authority and had lost face as a man.
Even Wei Yanli, who was far away in the southwest, wrote to Xiao Huaijin, saying that Xiao Huaijin's love for the princess had no limits. There were already gambling dens in the southwest that had opened betting, and everyone wanted to bet on when the regent would lose his temper and take a concubine.
Xiao Huaijin dared not tell Song Zhimian what Wei Yanli had said.
He knew what Song Zhimian would do. As long as he had the intention of taking a concubine, Song Zhimian would definitely be happy to go to the palace to ask her elder sister for permission to divorce.
What were Song Zhimian's goals before she got married?
Isn't it just about having a big estate in the suburbs, and then keeping a group of handsome men in the estate to dance shirtless for her every day?
If it really gets to my older sister's ears...
Hehe, my eldest sister would definitely wholeheartedly support my divorce from Song Zhimian.
After all, both the eldest sister and Princess Shou Kang had children before marriage, while Song Zhimian only got a divorce. Compared to them, this was child's play!
Xiao Huaijin knew that as long as he had the intention of taking a concubine, Song Zhimin would definitely not be heartbroken.
...
Two years later, Song Zhimin became the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Ye Mingmin became the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
Five years later, Song Zhimian completely won over the Ministry of Rites, and the people in the Ministry of Rites went from looking down on Song Zhimian to showing her great respect.
Ye Mingmin also established himself in the Ministry of Personnel and became the Minister of Personnel.
Three years later, Ye Mingmin became the first female prime minister of the Great Yu Dynasty, leading all officials! Song Zhimian became the Minister of Rites.
Also in the second year after Ye Mingmin became the female prime minister, Nanqing Academy, the top women's academy in Chongqing, launched its most rigorous student recruitment program.
Not only has the number of places been drastically reduced to just over half of what it used to be, but applicants are also required to have recommendations from two prominent families.
Furthermore, a standardized teaching method was adopted after enrollment.
Although there was much discussion, many powerful and wealthy families wanted to send their children there.
A year later, during a grand court assembly, Prime Minister Ye proposed allowing eligible women from various academies to participate in the imperial examinations.
This resolution caused a huge uproar at the court meeting, with both sides arguing evenly. In the end, with the approval of the former empress, the students of the girls' academy were allowed to participate in the imperial examinations.
Back then, all forty-eight students from Nanqing Academy passed the county and prefectural examinations!
The following year, these women continued to participate in the provincial examinations and all passed, becoming the first batch of female scholars in the Great Yu region.
In the third year, this group of female candidates went to the capital to participate in the metropolitan examination and the palace examination...
All forty-eight women made the list, and in the palace examination, they even won the top two spots...
Thus, women officially entered the court of Dayu as officials.
This also propelled Chongqing to a new milestone...
...
The main text is finished!
Thank you for your support.
Tip: Come here to find good novels to read!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
