As the newly appointed top scholar, Ouyang Nan was the first person the emperor wanted to meet. As soon as Ouyang Nan appeared, he attracted the attention of the emperor and his ministers.
"Next up is the newly crowned champion, Ouyang Nan."
"Your Majesty, it is indeed your humble servant."
“Minister Ouyang, I have read the information. You are only seventeen years old this year, a native of Shuixian Town, and the youngest top scholar since the founding of our dynasty.”
So young, yet so learned; I have specially reviewed your examination papers for this reason.
Judging from your answers, you are indeed exceptionally talented and learned, a rare talent in our Great Northern Dynasty. You truly deserve to be the top scholar in this imperial examination.
It seems that Shuixian Town is a place of outstanding people and abundant talent. I would like to ask, do you know Zhao Xian, the Marquis of Zhengyang from Shuixian Town?
"Your Majesty, the Marquis of Zhengyang is my elder brother."
The Emperor was taken aback. Ouyang Nan said that the Marquis of Zhengyang was his elder brother, but the two did not share the same surname. What was going on?
“Minister Ouyang, the Marquis of Zhengyang’s surname is Zhao. Are you two sworn brothers?”
"I lost both my parents when I was young and had to rely on my elderly grandfather and my younger sister for survival. Later, my grandfather met with a tragic end, and my sister and I became orphans. I was eight years old at the time, and my sister was only five."
In order to survive, I begged along the streets with my sister. Fortunately, we met the Marquis of Zhengyang, who took us in, brought us back to Shuixian Village, and allowed my sister and me to attend school.
"Lord Zhengyang is not only my elder brother, but also the benefactor of my sister and me. From then on, my sister and I studied diligently, determined to serve the country and repay Lord Zhengyang's kindness in raising us."
"I see. According to the calculation, your younger sister is already fourteen years old this year. Is she still in school?"
"She is currently still studying. There is a girls' school in Shuixian Town, which has already enrolled more than 100 female students."
"Really? I didn't expect there to be a girls' school in Narcissus Town. These female students who have studied hard for so long are all my subjects."
"They, like the men, all want to serve the country. It seems the court should hurry and open a women's examination as soon as possible to select talents for the country." The emperor said excitedly.
After receiving the top scholar, the emperor summoned the second and third scholars, both of whom were talented individuals from the Northern Dynasty. The emperor was very pleased to talk with them.
More than 300 people passed the imperial examination this time. It was impossible for the emperor to summon everyone. Although the emperor was not in good health recently, he still insisted on summoning most of the successful candidates.
As noon approached, the emperor felt extremely tired, so he looked at his ministers and said:
"My beloved ministers, I am a little tired. Let's call it a day."
"Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance; please return to your palace to rest," the ministers said.
Then, the emperor slowly stood up and, supported by two eunuchs, slowly left the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Next, the officials left the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the scholars, under the arrangement of the organizing officials, moved on to the next activity.
At this moment, Ouyang Nan was excited, knowing that his future was full of opportunities and challenges.
He secretly resolved to live up to the Emperor's favor and repay the kindness of Marquis Zhengyang in raising him.
Several months later in Narcissus Town, Master Lin was teaching with several other teachers in the school when County Magistrate Wang Zhibo suddenly came to visit, accompanied by Ruan Fang.
Master Lin had met Wang Zhibo several times, but this was the first time Magistrate Wang had personally visited his girls' school.
Master Lin hurriedly came out to greet them, cupped his hands in greeting, and said:
"Greetings, Your Excellency, Magistrate; Greetings, Scholar Ruan."
Normally, Master Lin was arrogant and rarely bowed to the powerful and wealthy, but when he saw Wang Zhibo and Ruan Fang, he immediately lowered his stance and became very polite.
Wang Zhibo and Ruan Fangde were both talented and virtuous, and Master Lin respected them greatly, so he treated them very well.
"Master Lin, you've worked hard. This time, I and Scholar Ruan have come to the Master's Academy to deliver some good news."
"What good news is it? Please tell me, Your Excellency," Master Lin said, intrigued.
"Starting this year, all talented women in the country can participate in the provincial examination in August without any qualifications. This is an important measure taken by the imperial court to select talented women."
This year's situation is special, and it's hard to say whether it will be like this in the future, but this autumn hunt is very important to the Master.
Once a woman passed the provincial examination and was listed on the honor roll, she became a female scholar who passed the provincial examination.
Once a woman obtained the title of "Juren" (举人), she could enter the government as an official or pursue further studies, participating in the provincial and palace examinations.
"It is indeed so." Master Lin was overjoyed. He had not expected this to happen so quickly, allowing him to directly participate in the provincial examination and bypass the county and prefectural examinations.
"Master Lin, what is this?" Ruan Fang asked, then took out a document and handed it to Master Lin.
Master Lin took the document and began to read it carefully.
Indeed, this is an official document issued by the imperial court, requiring local governments to expedite preparations for women to participate in this year's provincial examinations.
The opportunity for women to participate in the provincial examinations was also granted once every three years. If they missed this year, they would have to wait another three years.
The provincial examination, held every three years, takes place in August, hence it is also known as the "Autumn Examination." It is currently April, and there are still four months until the provincial examination.
In Master Lin's school, many female students have been studying for many years. Zhao Lingling was the first student in Master Lin's school, and Ouyang Xiaoyu has also been studying there for many years. They are intelligent and hardworking, and they have been preparing for many years so that one day they can participate in the imperial examination.
Four more months of preparation time is enough. There are more than a hundred female students in the school. They have been studying hard for many years, and a considerable number of them have the ability to pass the imperial examination.
Since this was the first time a woman had participated in the imperial examinations, even nationwide, there probably weren't many women who participated in the provincial examinations.
As a result, there were not many competitors in the women's provincial examinations, giving Lin Fuzi Academy many opportunities to achieve excellent results.
Without delay, Master Lin immediately summoned several teachers from the school to begin the final sprint for the female students to prepare for the provincial examination in August.
In the following months, both teachers and students actively prepared for the exam, and the number of participants in this year's provincial examination reached an unprecedented level.
Since there was no qualification screening required for the women's provincial examination, Master Lin arranged for forty women to participate in this year's provincial examination.
Only fifteen students from Wufang Academy participated in the provincial examination. Don't underestimate these fifteen students; according to the imperial court's regulations, no more than fifty students from a county could participate in the provincial examination.
Four months passed quickly, and by early August, the provincial capital was overcrowded. All the guesthouses, big and small, were full, and it was truly difficult to find a room.
With Wang Zhibo personally in charge, the students' accommodations in the provincial capital had been arranged long ago, and all the students had to do was take the exam.
This year's provincial examination is of extraordinary significance to Zhengyang County. Because the male and female students of the county are well prepared, it is destined that Zhengyang County will become famous throughout the world.
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