The capital city was filled with an atmosphere of unease and fear.
In the imperial court, the debate over the "calamity of female officials" had been raging for three full days. The conservative officials, led by the regent, were like sharks smelling blood, bombarding the emperor on his throne with vehement criticism. They cited classical texts, expressing their deep sorrow and indignation, as if they would be failing their ancestors if they didn't nip this reform in the bud.
Inside Cining Palace, the scene was bustling with activity. Ladies of various noble families took turns entering the palace, ostensibly to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, but in reality, they kept repeating the idea that "ancestral rules cannot be disregarded," attempting to use the pressure of public opinion within the harem to force the young Empress of Kunning Palace to back down.
For a moment, a tense atmosphere, like the impending storm, permeated the entire upper echelons of the capital. All eyes were fixed on Kunning Palace, awaiting the Empress's reaction. In their view, faced with such a powerful, united attack from the old guard of the empire, compromise was her only option.
However, what they received was not compromise, but an even louder and more unexpected slap in the face!
That morning, as the people of the capital opened their doors to begin their day, they were surprised to find that the bulletin boards on the main streets of the city were packed with people, three or four layers deep, making it impossible to move.
"Make way, make way! What's going on? Has the government issued another new notice?"
"This is much more exciting than that! It's an imperial edict issued directly from Kunning Palace! It's an imperial edict from Her Majesty the Empress!"
"What? The Empress's decree is usually only issued within the palace, so why is it posted on the street?"
Amidst the clamor of discussion, several literate scholars were loudly reading aloud the "recruitment notice" written on bright yellow Xuan paper and stamped with a bright red phoenix seal to the illiterate people around them.
Yes, it's a job posting.
Although it was nominally called "Empress's Edict," its content and form were completely different from any official document that the common people were familiar with.
Instead of using obscure and convoluted official documents, it clearly and simply presented all aspects of the female official system to the public in the most straightforward and easy-to-understand language.
"...In order to strengthen the Six Bureaus and assist the Empress, a special examination is held to select female officials. All women of our Great Liang are eligible to apply. Their ranks and salaries are as follows:"
"Shanggong (rank 5), in charge of palace records and guiding the Empress, with a monthly salary of fifty taels."
"Shangyi (rank 5), in charge of etiquette and daily life, with a monthly salary of fifty taels."
"Shangfu (rank 6), in charge of clothing and treasury, with a monthly salary of forty taels."
"..."
As a series of official titles and salaries were read out, a collective gasp immediately rose from the crowd.
Fifth rank! Sixth rank! These are ranks reserved for officials appointed by the imperial court! And their salaries are higher than those of a seventh-rank county magistrate in the capital!
This isn't a selection of palace maids; it's clearly a selection of officials!
But what shocked everyone even more was yet to come.
The scholar cleared his throat and read out the most crucial part—the selection criteria.
"Those eligible for selection must meet the following three requirements:"
The crowd fell silent instantly, everyone holding their breath and straining to hear. They naturally assumed that what followed would be stringent requirements regarding family background, three generations of experience, appearance, and character.
However, what the scholar read aloud made everyone's eyes widen.
"Firstly: They are literate and can read and understand documents."
Secondly, he was proficient in arithmetic and could manage accounts.
Thirdly: a clean background and no criminal record.
That's all.
That's it... finished reading?!
An eerie silence fell over the crowd.
"No...it's gone?" someone asked in disbelief.
The scholar looked at it carefully again, then nodded with absolute certainty: "That's it! Just these three!"
"boom!"
The crowd erupted instantly!
"My God! Really... really they don't care about background?" A young woman dressed in plain clothes grabbed the arm of the person next to her excitedly, her voice trembling.
"Not only did they not ask about one's background! They didn't even mention appearance, virtue, needlework... not a single word about these things!" An old scholar with white hair stroked his beard, his face full of disbelief.
He was literate, proficient in arithmetic, and of impeccable character.
These three standards, like three thunderbolts, struck everyone's hearts hard, breaking the invisible shackles that had bound all women for thousands of years, called "birth" and "virtue"!
what does that mean?
This means that a merchant's daughter, as long as she is literate and can do math, has the opportunity to become a fifth-rank palace maid!
This means that a talented girl from a farming family, as long as she is of good character, has the opportunity to enter the palace and make a bright future with her own talent!
This means that women who are full of talent but are destined to be buried in the inner quarters of the house because of their gender and humble family background have finally seen a great path to change their fate through their own abilities, which is completely different from "marrying".
"I...can I go?" A thin girl asked timidly from the crowd. Her father was a down-on-his-luck scholar from the south of the city. She had studied with her father since she was a child and was quite good at writing and arithmetic, but her family was poor and didn't even have a decent set of clothes.
"Why can't you go!" An older woman next to her immediately patted her on the shoulder and exclaimed, "It's clearly written in the notice that they don't care about your background! Girl, you can read, which makes you better than 90% of the women in this city!"
In an instant, a light called "hope" burst forth in the girl's eyes, a light she had never seen before.
This "recruitment notice" from Kunning Palace bypassed the endless disputes in the imperial court and overcame the layers of obstruction from the old nobles. In the most direct and domineering way, it spread the seeds of reform directly to the vast majority of the people!
It ignited the passion of the entire capital, especially among the educated women from the lower classes!
"Dad! Mom! I want to register!"
"My husband, our daughter has been intelligent since childhood. Let her give it a try! This is a great opportunity to bring honor to our ancestors!"
"Quick! Go check at the registration desk!"
For a time, the entire capital was in a frenzy. Countless women from humble backgrounds, yet with some literacy, mustered their courage and stepped out of their homes, amidst the excited or expectant gazes of their families. They had only one destination—the registration office for female officials set up outside the Ministry of Rites.
The once quiet registration area was completely packed within half a day. A long queue stretched from the government office to the end of the street and was still growing.
Among the group were simply dressed poor girls, shrewdly dressed daughters of merchants, and even a few daring daughters of officials who had secretly run away without their elders' knowledge. Their faces all wore the same expression, a mixture of nervousness, trepidation, and fervent anticipation.
They represent a new and powerful force from the people, eager to change their own destiny!
And this strength is exactly the solid support that Lin Wanwan needs!
...
The Regent's Palace.
"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened! The registration area... the registration area is about to burst with people!"
The butler scrambled into the study, his face filled with panic.
Xiao Yuan, who was discussing with several confidants how to continue to put pressure on the emperor in court the next day, suddenly stood up upon hearing this, his face instantly turning extremely ugly.
"What's going on?!"
After hearing the steward's description of the "recruitment notice" in the city and the bustling scene at the registration office, he was struck dumb, staggered back two steps, and collapsed onto the armchair.
It's over.
Only these two words remained in his mind.
For the first time, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness.
He could suppress court officials and use ancestral laws and rituals to control the emperor.
However, he could not suppress this raging fire, ignited by "hope," which came from the very bottom of society and was unstoppable!
Lin Wanwan's move was a decisive blow, bypassing all their defenses and forging the strongest alliance with women from poor families all over the world!
He knew that as long as the first batch of female officials was successfully selected, and as long as those women from humble backgrounds truly entered the Sixth Bureau based on their talents, then Lin Wanwan's power would be fully realized.
At that time, she will not only control an efficient harem, but also a new political force that will be able to shake the foundation of the entire aristocratic family!
“Well… well, Lin Wanwan…” Xiao Yuan muttered to himself, his eyes revealing genuine fear for the first time.
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