Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 755: Female Examination (Part 2)

Compared to the spacious examination hall accommodating two thousand scholars, the women’s examination hall here had only one hundred and four candidates. There were only two invigilators overseeing the exam, along with two patrolling officials.

When Jiang Shaohua stepped in, the officials hurriedly stood up to salute her.

Jiang Shaohua did not speak, only waved her hand, signaling the officials to perform their duties.

Among the women, some couldn’t contain their excitement and quietly lifted their heads to glance at the Empress. However, they gripped their pens tightly; at least none had dropped them, smudging the exam papers.

Jiang Shaohua’s sharp gaze immediately captured those two bright eyes and the familiar young girl’s face.

Ah, it was that Lu Daniu, who had aspired to be a female official since childhood!

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly.

The Empress noticed her! And even smiled at her!

Lu Zhen restrained her excitement and quickly lowered her head, continuing to diligently write her answers.

Chen Jinyu followed Jiang Shaohua’s gaze, and also smiled.

After leaving the examination hall, Chen Sheren chuckled softly: "Master Li and Mr. Cui were afraid no one would come to take the female examination, so they deliberately signed up to boost the Emperor’s morale!"

"And that Lu Zhen, she’s the most outstanding student from Ye County Women’s Academy. She also came to take the female examination."

Jiang Shaohua laughed and responded: "I still remember, the first time I visited the academy, Lu Zhen was just an eight-year-old child, and now she has grown up."

Chen Sheren laughed: "The Emperor is only seventeen this year, still in the prime of youth. Yet he speaks with such an old-fashioned air."

Only Chen Sheren dared to tease the emperor in this manner.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at her with a smile: "Though you are three years older than me, you appear more youthful and lively."

Chen Sheren raised an eyebrow with a smile, shamelessly said: "Of course, life would be much less interesting without me around."

"Yes, yes, I can do without Elder Changning, but not a day without you," Jiang Shaohua responded earnestly.

Chen Sheren laughed: "The Emperor must be sweet-talking me; surely you need me to undertake some perilous task!"

Jiang Shaohua chuckled: "I would never bear to."

The sovereign and the minister exchanged a smile.

The selection examination lasted a total of three days.

After the exams were completed, the Ministry of Rites needed to seal and transcribe the papers for grading, and then recheck to finalize the rankings. This was a complex and extensive task, requiring all personnel at the Ministry of Rites to stay in the government office. Only once everything settled, could the officials return home. This greatly minimized the chances of malpractice during the grading process.

Minister Dong, with a stern face, said to the officials: "I will say the harsh words upfront."

"For this examination grading, there must be no bias. If there is any mistake, neither I nor the Emperor will forgive you. You know well of the Emperor’s methods."

"When that time comes, your tears and regrets will be too late. No one will be able to save you."

After issuing this warning, Minister Dong did not stop, and during those few days of grading, he relentlessly inspected. Surprisingly, he indeed uncovered a cheating incident.

A candidate made a secret mark in the last sentence of the paper, and the transcribing officer found it peculiar, and reported it to Minister Dong. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Having served in the Ministry of Rites for over twenty years, Minister Dong had seen all sorts of tricks. After examining it, he coldly laughed, ordered the grading officer to be "invited" over, and had the candidate with the secret mark "invited" to the Ministry of Rites as well. After questioning them separately, he confronted them. The candidate could not withstand it, crying and kneeling, begging for mercy.

The grading officer, a Ministry of Rites official, turned pale, knelt, and pleaded: "Lord Minister, I had a momentary lapse of judgment and took three thousand silver. I will return all the silver, begging for your mercy this one time..."

Minister Dong sneered: "Saying these things now is already too late. I will report this matter to the Emperor, and let the Emperor decide. I cannot help you; you must ask for your own luck!"

That afternoon, Minister Dong promptly brought the paper to the palace, and reported the entire matter to the Emperor.

Jiang Shaohua calmly said: "Dismiss him immediately, and the court shall never use him again. His immediate family in three generations shall not take the Imperial Examination."

Not confiscating the family property or beheading was already an exceptional leniency towards the Ministry of Rites, also giving face to Minister Dong. It’s understood that a cheating incident in the Ministry of Rites brings no honor or pleasure to Minister Dong.

Last year, there were successive incidents in the Ministry of Revenue, and the Emperor did not show any leniency. Minister Ji also lost face during that time.

Minister Dong understood this, and with a grateful expression, said: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Jiang Shaohua looked at Minister Dong and slowly said: "The Imperial Examination is of utmost importance for selecting officials in the country. I trust Minister Dong, and I also believe that Minister Dong can control the Ministry of Rites officials, ensuring I have no worries."

These words, though gentle, carried a reminder, subtly knocking sense into him.

Minister Dong’s heart tightened, and he earnestly replied: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will exhaust my efforts to manage the Ministry of Rites for you."

Among the Six Ministries, the most lucrative are undoubtedly the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Personnel, while the Ministry of War, Ministry of Industry, and Ministry of Justice each have their own "sources". Does the Ministry of Rites have none?

Of course, it does.

The triennial provincial and metropolitan exams are the stage for the Ministry of Rites officials. In past Imperial Examinations, many officials privately shared exam predictions. As for pre-exam checks, prohibited materials during the exam, and post-exam grading, every stage has some room for "operation".

The officials of the Ministry of Rites appear to be incorruptible loyalists, each priding themselves as part of the court’s clean stream, yet in terms of family wealth, they are exceptionally well-off.

Even Minister Dong himself, originally from an unremarkable scholarly family, has grown and flourished over the past decade. In the Capital City, they have risen to the second tier. Minister Dong timely aligned with the right faction, achieving meritorious service for the throne, now further becoming an intimate confidant of the Emperor. Such a rapid rise in political status inevitably results in the rapid expansion of family influence.

Now, the Dong Family stands recognized in the Capital City. It can be foreseen that in the coming years and decades, as long as Minister Dong securely holds the position of Minister of Rites, the Dong Family can continue to enjoy prosperity.

Minister Dong doesn’t even need to engage in embezzlement or bribery. The annual gifts and tributes from the government, as well as the seasonal gifts from local officials, are substantial enough. They are entirely reasonable, lawful, and compliant. The Emperor wouldn’t go so far as to deny these small benefits.

After leaving Zhaohai Palace, Minister Dong wiped his forehead with his sleeve, then quickly returned to the Ministry of Rites office.

The unfortunate Ministry of Rites official had his official’s hat stripped that evening and was expelled from the Capital City.

The Ministry of Rites officials’ enthusiasm and efficiency for grading papers suddenly surged.

Two thousand men participated in the selection examination, and ultimately one hundred were chosen, with one selected for every twenty.

There were fewer papers for the women’s examination, and they were reviewed separately, so the results were out the next day.

Minister Dong personally verified and rechecked, selecting twenty papers out of the one hundred and four. He then divided the twenty exam papers into three tiers, with three in the first tier, five in the second tier, and twelve in the third tier.

One selected out of five.