The officials in front of the vermilion gate of the examination hall were startled by the sudden commotion.
In particular, the chief examiner, Li Jingyao, thought that everything was settled.
Already feeling guilty, he now felt as if his heart was being pounded by a heavy hammer, pounding wildly.
Even though I hadn't actually done anything, I was terrified, and my back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.
Li Jingyao forced himself to remain calm and strode towards the notice board at the center of the commotion.
The officials behind him looked at each other in bewilderment and hurriedly followed.
Approaching them, he sternly demanded with a grim expression, "What's going on? Why are you making such a commotion!"
"The examiner has arrived!"
"Quickly, let the adults see this exam paper!"
There was no need to ask any further questions; the indignant people pointed to the exam paper.
Li Jingyao's gaze swept quickly across the page, instantly locking onto the beginning of the book.
Xianyun County, Chenyu—a name I had absolutely no recollection of.
Suppressing his palpitations, he quickly skimmed through the policy essay.
However, after reading only a few lines, his face turned deathly pale.
His body began to tremble violently and uncontrollably, and his lips quivered.
He shakily extended his finger, but couldn't utter a single word.
The article clearly stated in black and white:
"With a female ruler ruling, the balance of yin and yang is reversed, and the moral order is lost; this is truly a sign of the country's demise!"
Your Majesty wields absolute power and makes arbitrary decisions. Instead of returning power to the scholar-officials, you have opened a women's college, disrupting the laws and regulations of our ancestors.
Women interfering in politics is like a hen crowing at dawn; it is the source of chaos and disorder.
An empress wielding absolute power and ruling unilaterally is not a blessing for the world.
If this continues, the country will cease to exist...
Extreme remarks openly criticizing the Empress, denying women's participation in politics, and even stating that the current emperor is the "source of chaos" actually appeared on the women's civil service examination paper?!
He wrote such arrogant and rebellious words, yet instead of being dismissed, he was actually selected!
This is utterly ridiculous, and it undermines the authority of the imperial court and the dignity of the imperial examination system.
How could this be... How could this be!
Li Jingyao's vision blurred.
This isn't an exam paper; it's a death warrant!
My mind went blank for a moment, and my body immediately slumped to the side.
The officials on either side hurriedly helped him up, barely preventing him from collapsing to the ground.
But they were all pale and covered in cold sweat.
Sun Boheng, the Junior Supervisor of the Ceremonial Department and the deputy chief examiner, was also terrified, but quickly calmed down.
He was a seasoned official, and more composed than scholars like Li Jingyao who spent years buried in the imperial library.
Seeing that the riots were spreading rapidly like wildfire, and that they were not witnessed by just one or two ordinary people, it was now absolutely impossible to forcibly suppress or block the news.
He took a deep breath, gathered all his strength, and shouted in a booming voice, "Silence!"
The clerks on either side slammed their batons heavily against the ground, producing a rhythmic and dull "thump-thump" sound.
The crowd, initially agitated, was intimidated by the momentum and quelled some of the noise.
Countless questioning gazes were fixed on Sun Boheng.
"I am Sun Boheng, Junior Supervisor of the Ministry of Ceremonial, and I am honored to serve as the Deputy Chief Examiner for this year's provincial examination!"
Sun Boheng's gaze swept across the entire room, his voice steady and powerful.
"A provincial examination paper must be reviewed by at least four examiners from initial review to final ranking."
The papers that ultimately led to success in the imperial examinations required the joint confirmation and signature of no fewer than ten examiners before they could be listed on the honor roll.
Fellow villagers, are we, the officials appointed by the imperial court, all blind?
How could they possibly pass such a rebellious and outrageous article unanimously and publish it to the public?
Are all the examiners this year tired of living and don't want their heads anymore?
The commotion among the people subsided considerably, and the whispers also quieted down.
Indeed, anyone with a brain would not allow this kind of article to pass muster.
Seeing that the situation had been initially stabilized, Sun Boheng continued in a deep voice:
"Perhaps you are unaware that the Imperial Guards have been mobilized in large numbers to protect this imperial examination."
The recent closure of many shops and arrests of spies in Fengjing City, as well as the major cases that the Jingzhao Prefecture has been trying for several days, are all related to this matter.
"Thieves have destroyed our great cause, but our resolve to uphold fairness in the imperial examinations will never be extinguished!"
A buzz of discussion immediately arose from below.
This year's women's imperial examination was indeed a highly anticipated event, and the attention and discussion surrounding it reached unprecedented heights due to betting and gambling activities.
Most people had heard about the series of major moves that Fengjing had made previously.
Sun Boheng pressed his advantage, his voice growing even more impassioned:
"His Majesty has a unique vision and has not only established a civil service examination for women, but has also boldly reformed the civil service examination system that has lasted for hundreds of years!"
For example, a special department called the "Calculation Department" could be established, and anyone who passed the examination could be hired as an official in various government offices.
Even without entering officialdom, one can still become a good accountant and find a way to make a living.
Subsequently, the imperial court vigorously reformed papermaking techniques, invented mulberry bark paper, and reduced the price of books to one-tenth or even less of the price in the old calendar.
Those of you here might ask your elders, fathers, and brothers how many more people can read and do math these days compared to before.
This is His Majesty's benevolent rule that benefits all the people!
His gaze swept over some of the women in the crowd, and his tone turned serious:
"Let's go back to the women's imperial examinations."
Who among you doesn't have a mother or grandmother? Who doesn't have a wife, sisters, daughters, granddaughters? Or childhood sweethearts?
Women no longer have to be confined to the small space of their boudoir and backyard for their entire lives!
They could openly participate in the imperial examinations and become officials;
Alternatively, one can apply for a master's degree program to find a respectable job and become self-reliant.
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