Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 759: Ascending to the Heavens (Part 4)
Newly appointed Advanced Scholars enter the Six Ministries to observe official duties and study for a year, as was customary for the court. After a year, the Six Ministries will assess all the newly appointed Advanced Scholars and classify their achievements. Those receiving high marks will be preferentially selected by the Ministry of Personnel for government appointments.
The Emperor suddenly directed that over ten female scholars should enter the Six Ministries. Not to mention how these female scholars would be selected for appointments later, but the fact that many women would suddenly appear in the government offices of the Six Ministries would surely cause a lot of trouble?
Minister Dong had foreseen this development and remained relatively calm.
The other senior ministers were caught off guard and showed varied expressions.
It was Minister Zhang who was the bravest, being the first to speak: "This humble minister dares to suggest, there are a total of twenty female scholars from this examination, and they wouldn’t be too many to send to the palace service. Your Majesty, the palace has recently released two batches of elderly Palace Attendants and eunuchs, lacking manpower. Why not keep them all here for service?"
Minister Zhou nodded unconsciously but fortunately did not speak up in agreement. Because in the next moment, Minister Zhang faced an unrestrained rebuke from the Empress: "I established the female examination to select talents for Da Liang, not to fill the court. They are scholars selected through the Ministry of Rites, meant to serve the court alongside their male counterparts."
Minister Zhang faced the rebuke, feeling embarrassed and unable to speak further.
Minister Zhou withdrew silently, not daring to utter a word.
Minister Dong loudly declared: "Your Majesty is wise, selecting great talents for the country. I request Your Majesty to allocate more female scholars to the Ministry of Rites."
Bah! The shameless lackey of the Emperor!
Minister Zhang hadn’t finished despising them before Minister Yang, who had just taken office in the Ministry of Justice, stood up: "The Ministry of Justice often holds female prisoners, which makes interrogations inconvenient. I am worried about having no available staff, so I ask Your Majesty to assign more female scholars to the Ministry of Justice."
Bah! The shameless henchman of the Emperor!
Minister Zhang berated in his mind.
Minister Ding of the Ministry of War also stood up: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War has complex affairs and lacks manpower, the arrival of female scholars is just timely."
Bah, bah, bah!
Will it ever end?
Minister Zhang was mentally overwhelmed.
Because Minister Ji also stood up.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has complex affairs and is most lacking capable officials," Minister Ji declared righteously: "Your Majesty can place all newly appointed female scholars in the Ministry of Revenue for training. After a year, when selections are made by the Ministry of Personnel, having learned how to calculate land tax and read accounts, they won’t be deceived by cunning clerks when appointed elsewhere."
Minister Zhang: "..."
Minister Zhang looked at Minister Ji in shock.
Minister Ji is the biological grandfather of the late Princess Bao Hua. During Emperor Taikang’s reign, he greatly trusted his father-in-law. When Emperor Taihe ascended the throne, Minister Ji was also highly trusted. Minister Ji was famously blunt and irritable, not caring for others when his temper flared.
Initially, Minister Ji did not fully support Jiang Shaohua ascending the throne as Commandery Princess.
Who would have thought, in just half a year, Minister Ji would turn from a proud hunting dog to a docile... no, a house dog wagging its tail at its master!
Minister Zhang felt indignant.
The Emperor appreciated Minister Ji’s insight and knowledge, smiling as he spoke, "Minister Ji has good intentions, which I take to heart. However, I still hope they are distributed among the Six Ministries, rotating every two months, so that within a year they will have learned all Six Ministries’ affairs."
Just like the men.
Their assignments will ultimately depend on the assessment results.
There’s no need to worry about them not adapting to the officialdom or being oppressed by superiors. After all, except for Lu Zhen, each female scholar has a substantial background. If anything arises, their family elders will naturally intervene.
Why did the ministers eagerly support the Emperor? Because among those dozen female scholars about to enter the Six Ministries for observation and study, some are relatives of the ministers.
Minister Dong thought that if the Emperor included this, then truly nothing was overlooked.
Whether Minister Zhang liked it or not, this matter was thus decided.
At the end of the court banquet, Jiang Shaohua kept three female scholars who would stay in the palace for service, along with Cui Wenxiu and Li Ying.
Jiang Shaohua said with a smile: "You three will first follow Chen Sheren, to learn the rules of serving in the palace, and act according to Chen Sheren’s orders."
The three female scholars answered together.
Lu Zhen held her head high and confidently.
Wang Shu maintained a calm and composed demeanor.
Li Fangfei spoke softly and elegantly.
Each had their distinctive qualities.
Chen Sheren was delighted to have three more subordinates and cheerfully took them aside to teach the rules carefully.
Jiang Shaohua smiled at Li Ying: "You have passed the female examination, in the future, you can hold your head high in front of County Magistrate Cui, without fearing him."
Li Ying replied with a smile: "Thanks to the Emperor, since six years ago I have been on equal footing with him."
Jiang Shaohua chuckled: "Do you really wish to return? Would you not prefer to stay by my side for service?"
Li Ying replied with a smile: "Ye County Women’s Academy is now renowned, attracting many girls every year. The number of female teachers at the academy is also increasing. I cannot bear to leave, I should return sooner."
Besides, there’s her husband and two sons! How could she bear to leave them?
Jiang Shaohua understood and did not press further, instead asking Cui Wenxiu: "If you stay in the Capital City, you can establish a women’s academy here and bring your son and daughter to the Capital City."
Li Ying has a husband and sons, while Cui Wenxiu is a widow, having fallen out with her in-laws and having little interaction with her maternal family. She has few ties or constraints. Bringing her daughter and son to the Capital City is feasible.
Cui Wenxiu indeed felt tempted.
She first looked at Li Ying.
Li Ying softly laughed: "The Emperor desires to promote women’s academies in the Capital City and indeed needs a loyal, reliable, and capable person. Ye County Academy has me, so rest assured. You stay in the Capital City. After I return, I will have someone send your children here."
Women can also create remarkable careers.
Years ago, she was bullied as a widow by her in-laws and had no recourse but to rely on her cousin in Ye County. Who would have thought she would one day pass the examination to become a scholar and have even greater prospects ahead?
Jiang Shaohua relaxed and smiled: "There are many noble officials in the Capital City who would hire tutors for their daughters. It can be said the Capital City is the place where women’s cultural pursuits are most flourishing in Da Liang."
"However, this is the privilege of the nobles or wealthy, ordinary families do not have such financial resources, unable to hire teachers."
"What I aim to establish with the women’s academy is for these girls."
"Just like the Ye County Women’s School in past years, tuition will be completely waived, with a free lunch provided daily."
"Monthly assessments will be conducted, rewarding silver coins to those with outstanding achievements. This way, more families would be willing to send their daughters to school."
Cui Wenxiu felt excited and accepted the imperial command with determination: "I will do my utmost to establish a successful women’s academy for Your Majesty."
