"Prince Zhenbei, what is the meaning of your staring at me?"
The girl in the python robe chuckled softly and said:
"Grand Tutor Xu is very eloquent; please say a few more words later."
The Empress Dowager had not summoned him for more than half a month. According to Huo Xiaolong's thinking, as long as the Empress Dowager kept quiet, it was highly likely that Grand Tutor Xu would not stop him.
Unexpectedly, even though the emperor had a psychological distance from the empress dowager, Grand Tutor Xu still spoke up in court.
This is a difficult situation. This matter is not only opposed by people in the court, but also by people all over the country.
"The imperial examinations are approaching. Today, the Prince of Zhenbei petitioned the Emperor on behalf of all the women in the land, requesting that the Emperor grant permission for women from the Great Yan to participate in the examinations. I wonder what your opinions are?"
The largest restaurant in the capital, a gathering place for talented scholars, and a place where intellectuals could drink a little wine and, when inspired, pick up their pens to compose poems.
Since Zhao Kai accompanied Cen Ang to the capital, he has been a regular guest at this restaurant.
Zhao Nian'ang's writings in recent years have been a breath of fresh air in the Great Yan region. They lack the soaring resentment of unappreciated talent, and the decadent extravagance of a decadent lifestyle. Instead, they offer only realistic accounts of the battles fought by the girls in the border town, and the biting winds of a harsh winter.
"I believe that the Prince of Zhenbei's move is a great act of kindness. I wonder if you have read Zhao Dajia's account of the border war? Back then, a group of women defended the city for the country. Women can do what men can do. How many men dare not go into battle to kill the enemy? But they did it, and the city was defended. So it is our good fortune to be able to sit in the same examination hall as these women."
"If women all go out to serve as officials, what will men do? My friend, you should know that the imperial examinations are even more difficult than the single-plank bridge with thousands of troops crossing it. How many people have studied hard for more than ten years to become candidates for the lowest level of the imperial examinations, such as the candidates for the lowest level of the imperial examinations, the candidates for the highest level of the imperial examinations, the candidates for the highest level of the imperial examinations, the candidates for the highest level of the imperial examinations, and the candidates for the highest level of the imperial examinations? Now you are telling us that women can also take the exams. Such behavior means that half of the results that should belong to us have been taken away!"
"There probably won't be many women applying for the preliminary exam this year, but what about in the future?"
"So you admit that the woman took your spot and that she wasn't very capable, which shows you have a good sense of self-awareness."
Zhao Kai was drinking in the private room, watching the group of students argue. Next to him sat Cen Ang, who was leisurely looking at the account book.
"I wonder which distinguished guest is in the restaurant today?" the scholar downstairs called out.
"The person upstairs today should be Master Zhao, I saw that the door to his private room was open."
"I wonder what insightful opinion Master Zhao has?"
Zhao Kai was not a person who pursued fame and fortune, and he did not have high desires for these things. At that time, he had thought about speaking out for the people, but the emperor ascended the throne too quickly, and he had to leave the capital for Cen Ang before he could do so.
Today is the day he fulfills his promise to his goddaughter.
"Uncle Zhao, can a woman be a gentleman?"
"Can."
This is a question Huo Xiaolong asked him when he was a child.
For this one sentence, he also stirred up the waters of the Great Yan literary world.
Zhao Kai put down his teacup, put his hands behind his back, walked out of the room, stood on the railing, and said to the students below:
"Of course, women are never any less than men. You can think about it: if the father or husband is not up to par, there is still the mother and wife. No matter who is outside and who is inside, as long as everyone does their job, it is always good."
"They weren't born into this inner quarters; they were imprisoned here by us, weren't they?"
"The Grassland King and the Northern Guardian King have set an example for all the women in the world. What happens next is up to them."
Cen Ang watched the man's retreating figure with a smile on his face.
She just loved Zhao Kai's scholarly air about him; it was so charming!
"Master Zhao, I have an important matter I would like to ask you."
"Speaking."
"If women go out into the world, engaging in commerce or holding official positions, what should their husbands do?"
“A real man should stand tall and upright. If he is overshadowed by his wife, it won’t be a good thing to say.”
Upon hearing this, most of the people around him looked at him with a strange expression.
I ask you, aside from men who have ambitions or are born into wealthy and powerful families, how many men in the world would not want to be a concubine in a princess's harem?
If it weren't for those few taels of silver, or the pursuit of high office and generous salary, who would stay up all night studying so hard?
There are people in the world who genuinely love reading and scholarship, and there are also people who care about the world and speak out for the people.
But these are definitely not the majority.
Most people study in order to secure a future, a stable life, and to bring honor to their ancestors.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Kai gave a cold laugh.
"Face? May I ask how many taels of silver your face is worth?"
"A man's dignity is something he earns himself, not something his family gives him."
In the private room next to Zhao Kai's was a prominent figure. Zhao Kai had always wanted to win this figure over to work for Long'er, but this figure rarely showed up and never got involved in politics, so Zhao Kai gave up on the idea.
Today, students downstairs also asked him for advice.
An elderly man emerged from the doorway. He wasn't looking at the students downstairs, but rather at Zhao Kai, and said:
"This is a good thing for the Great Yan."
"But for men in the world, it doesn't count."
"Why say that, sir? We simply don't believe that decades of hard study can be inferior to a girl who has just picked up a textbook," the students downstairs said.
Zhao Kai bowed slightly to express his gratitude to the person who spoke up for him.
"In that case, I wish you all the best in next year's imperial examinations, may you all achieve top honors and win the golden laurel!"
"We will certainly live up to the congratulatory messages from both of you!"
Zhao Kai and the old gentleman turned and walked back to the room. Halfway there, the old gentleman stopped and said:
“I have a daughter who studied the Four Books and Five Classics with me since she was a child. Her poetry, prose and essays are just as good as any of my disciples. But she still couldn’t resist the gossip and got married. By all accounts, she’s about the same age as the man in your house.”
"If...if women could take the imperial examinations, she wouldn't have to suffer in that backyard anymore."
"Master Zhao, I wish you all your dreams come true. I can't help you much, but I can only ask the students not to cause you any trouble. I hope the Prince of Zhenbei will pay close attention to this matter."
Cen Ang came out of the house and bowed to the old man on behalf of Long'er.
"Thank you for your help, sir."
The old man staggered back into the private room.
Many people will definitely stand up against this.
But thinking of his daughter, who was exceptionally intelligent since childhood, being confined to the inner quarters for a short and unfulfilling life, he was unwilling to accept it.
He has sons, but none of them are as talented as his daughter, so the old man sometimes thinks that it would be better if she were a boy.
Looking at Zhao Kai outside the door writing blessings for the students, the old gentleman suddenly understood.
It's not that she should be a man, but rather that the rules of this world should open a path for women, a path that goes beyond the inner quarters of the home.
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