Chapter 341 Women should support their husbands and raise their children
After giving her instructions, Jiang Wan Ning turned to look at Bai Lan, who looked anxious.
Tea and snacks were always kept in the carriage of the Langya Prince's Mansion. Jiang Wan Ning first poured Bai Lan a cup of tea and said softly, "Don't rush, speak slowly."
Bai Lan thanked him, took the teacup and downed it in one gulp. Wiping her mouth with her sleeve, she hurriedly said, "My young lady has been going to the study and teahouse these past few days to compete with those people in poetry and prose."
"Because she was afraid of the inconvenience of going out, the young lady often dressed in men's clothing. Those people were all very polite to her. Later, when they found out that the young lady was a woman, although they were somewhat resentful, they mostly kept it in check."
"But today, as usual, Miss went to the teahouse and spoke up for a man. Unexpectedly, she offended the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue. At first, he wanted to cut off Miss's hand so that she could no longer write."
"Later, when he found out that the young lady was a woman, he stopped cutting off her hand but wanted her to be his concubine. He even said that women should stay at home to be good wives and mothers, instead of going out and being with a group of men."
"It's not like Miss is from a good family."
"When I saw that something was wrong, I quickly ran out to find the Princess."
Jiang Wan Ning frowned slightly, "His Majesty has decreed that women can also participate in the imperial examinations and study, so why do they still have prejudices against women studying?"
Bai Lan bit her lip. "How could those men really be willing to let a woman ride on their heads? They wouldn't allow someone more talented than themselves to appear, especially since that person is a woman."
"The son of the Vice Minister of Revenue is said to have already been pre-selected as the top candidate in this year's imperial examination."
"Since the imperial examination is about to begin, he pretended to come to this teahouse to become a familiar face and recite a few lines of poetry that he had prepared in advance, so that his reputation would spread."
Jiang Wan Ning's mind raced as she listened to Bai Lan's words, then she stared at Bai Lan quietly, "Is there something you forgot to tell me?"
Bai Lan's face flushed red instantly, and she lowered her head timidly, saying, "Nothing can escape Your Highness's eyes."
"The young lady and the scholar were evenly matched in their poetry contest. Originally, the scholar wanted to become sworn brothers with the young lady, but after learning that she was a woman, the two... fell in love."
"The young lady also told the scholar about her past, and the scholar won her heart with just one sentence."
Jiang Wan Ning remained silent, gesturing for Bai Lan to continue.
The scholar said, "This is not the young lady's fault; it is that she has met the wrong person."
"This is a good thing, why didn't you tell me?" Jiang Wan Ning wondered.
"Miss feels...it's too fast...she's afraid everyone will think she can't stand being alone."
Jiang Wan Ning almost spat out her tea, but held it in and continued, "And then?"
It's really my fault. I've been so busy with this and that lately, and I've been constantly invited to the palace by the Empress. I haven't had time to ask about Junjun or show her any concern.
All that is known is that ever since His Majesty proclaimed the law that women could also participate in the imperial examinations and serve as officials, Junjun has been spending her days in the study and teahouse.
The term "study teahouse" literally means a place where a group of scholars who have not yet passed the imperial examinations often gather to compose poems and occasionally hold a competition.
"The young lady and that scholar outshone all the other students in that teahouse, especially the scholar, he was very impressive."
"I didn't know the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue was also there today, so I outdid him with my poetry, which angered him. Later, the young lady came out to defend him..."
"No need to say anything, I understand." Jiang Wan Ning had roughly figured out what had happened.
Jiang Wan Ning recalled for a moment that the current Vice Minister of Revenue was a new official promoted by the Emperor after the Wu family was wiped out.
His name was Qin Zhaolin, and his son's name was Qin Hualang.
Qin Zhaolin is an honest and upright person, which is why His Majesty gave him the position in the Ministry of Revenue.
"You and your young lady frequent places like this, do you know how the positions determined by the imperial examinations are decided in advance?"
To ensure fairness and impartiality in this imperial examination, my maternal grandfather, the Duke of Rongguo, and Grand Secretary Ye Zhang served as examiners. Not to mention the other two, even my maternal grandfather would not do anything like favoritism or cheating.
The exam topics were all set by the Emperor himself, and the three examiners were unaware of them until the very end. How could he have decided on the topics beforehand?
"Your Highness, you may not know this, but the Vice Minister of Revenue, relying on his high position and power, has reportedly managed to get some of his retainers into the imperial examination."
"Then the two of them exchanged exam papers and added each other's names?" Jiang Wan Ning continued.
“Yes, that’s it.” Bai Lan slapped her thigh.
Jiang Wan Ning didn't say anything more. It seemed that Jun Jun and that scholar were too outstanding and had attracted attention.
"Ah San, hurry up!" Jiang Wan Ning shouted to Ah San outside the carriage as she lifted the curtain.
"Alright, Your Highness, hold on tight and sit tight." Ah San tightened the reins and gave the horse's rump a hard slap.
The carriage sped along the road, and in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, it arrived at the teahouse where Jiang Wanjun was.
As soon as Jiang Wanning walked in, Jiang Wanjun saw her. "Sister, what brings you here?"
Then he looked at Bai Lan beside him and realized that Bai Lan had been away for a long time. "Didn't I tell you not to bother your older sister so easily?"
Bai Lan lowered her head guiltily.
Jiang Wan Ning said softly, "Alright, don't blame Bai Lan. But you, what do you mean by 'troubling me'?"
"I saw that my sister has been too busy lately. This is not a big deal, and there is no need for my sister to come to such a noisy place."
Jiang Wanning looked at Jiang Wanjun with a reproachful gaze, "Your matter is a big deal."
"If I hadn't come, you wouldn't have known when you married me."
Jiang Wanjun blushed and said in a strange tone, "What is Bai Lan gossiping about behind my back again?"
Bai Lan lowered her head and silently took two steps back.
"Oh, are you going to get reinforcements?" Qin Hualang looked Jiang Wanning up and down. "This one is even prettier than the other one."
Qin Hualang leered at Jiang Wanning, "Little beauty, how about I marry you?"
He just told Jiang Wanjun that he would take her as a concubine, but this Jiang Wanning is fair-skinned and beautiful, she is really pretty. It is said that the most beautiful woman in Dongling is the Princess of Langya.
Although he had never met the Princess of Langya, this woman must be even more beautiful than the Princess of Langya, because no matter how beautiful the Princess of Langya was, she was already a married woman.
The woman in front of me looks like a flower bud.
"Once I become the top scholar in the imperial examination, you will be the top scholar's wife," Qin Hualang said with a smile. "How about it?"
"Sister, you go first. This guy is a scoundrel. Don't let him bother you." Jiang Wanjun stood protectively in front of Jiang Wanning.
Another man stepped forward to protect Jiang Wanjun, saying, "You two sisters go first. I'll hold them off here. I refuse to believe that they would kill someone in the street right under the emperor's nose."
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