spend time

Chapter 691 Women's Medicine (I)

Ma Yaozong was also a little confused.

He had only been away from the capital for more than a month, but how come the Ministry of Revenue had changed so much? When did these old officials who dealt with money accounts all day become so diligent?

Ma Yaozong secretly complained in his heart, but he was also very warm on the surface, chatting and responding to the officials. After handing over the accounts, Ma Yaozong went to the palace to meet the emperor.

After waiting outside the Showa Hall for a while, the emperor's attendant Chen Jinyu came out.

The couple, who had been separated for more than a month, looked at each other and felt sorry for each other: "You have become darker."

"You've lost some weight, too."

Ma Yaozong was in a hurry to do his work, riding a fast horse all the way to the Huaiyang Palace. In just three days, he confiscated 80% of the family property and returned to the capital. The return journey was a little slower, and it took six hours every day. This kind of running around and working hard did make him darker.

Chen Jinyu's work in the imperial court was not very tiring. However, she was a strong-willed person. In addition to running errands and delivering messages every day, she also often studied and understood memorials to handle government affairs. This was the most exhausting thing. Compared to before, she was indeed thinner.

The couple only had time to chat for a while, and then Chen Sheren led Ma Yaozong into the palace to meet the emperor.

Jiang Shaohua was particularly gentle to his close confidant: "Thank you for your hard work these days."

Ma Yaozong immediately responded respectfully: "It is an honor for me to run errands for the emperor. I don't feel tired at all. If there are any errands outside in the future, the emperor can assign them to me."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "We'll discuss the future later. Go back and rest for three days before you go back to work."

Then he smiled at Chen Jinyu and said, "Since I ascended the throne, you haven't had even a day off. I will also give you three days off, so you and your wife can go back and spend some quality time together."

Chen Jinyu hesitated a little: "I am on leave, and there is no one around the emperor to send him."

Chen Changshi and Wang Zhongshuling went through memorials for the emperor, handled government affairs, ran errands, passed messages, and handled some paperwork. It was indeed easier and more convenient for Her Majesty to use female officials.

Jiang Shaohua laughed: "In just three days, the sky in the palace won't fall. Just take a rest and have a good vacation."

Only then did Chen Jinyu bow and accept the order.

After Chen Changshi learned about this, he thought about it for a while and privately advised the emperor: "Your Majesty cannot be without people to serve you. In my opinion, it would be better to summon all the female officials in Nanyang County to the palace."

There were five female officials in Nanyang County, and now Chen Jinyu and Sun Zelan were here. There was also Kong Qingwan from the military camp, and Cui Fuzi and Li Shanzhang from Ye County Women's Academy.

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said, "Kong Qingwan is in the military camp teaching the guards to read and write. Master Cui and Principal Li also have their own assignments, so they won't be moved for now. When the first batch of students at the Women's Academy graduates, I will select a few smart and capable ones from them."

"Also, next year we will hold a special examination. I plan to open a female examination to select and appoint talented female officials."

After the emperor ascended the throne, he would hold an imperial examination. However, the imperial examination for women was unprecedented.

Chen Changshi naturally had no intention of stopping him. His granddaughter was the first female official in Daliang, and now she was the emperor's close confidant. You can't hold a bowl and smash it at the same time!

However, Chen Changshi still implicitly said that organizing the women's imperial examination was no small matter, and he was afraid that it would cause criticism and dissatisfaction among the court officials. Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Let's spread the word first. The women's imperial examination will be held together with the men's imperial examination next year. Girls who are able to read and have talent in their families can come and try. Once they pass the exam, they can enter the palace and wait for my orders."

"If anyone is against women taking the imperial examination, then the women in his family will not be allowed to take part in the imperial examination."

This move is so powerful.

It is an open and aboveboard conspiracy, which is in line with the emperor's usual style of behavior.

First of all, in the Daliang Dynasty, those who could afford to send their daughters to school were at least from middle-class families. Those who could afford to send their daughters to school were even rarer, and they were either rich or noble.

The women's examination will be held next year. Women who are qualified and can take the examination nearby are basically in the inner houses of officials in the court.

So, should they fight to the end, or take advantage of this great opportunity to plan a bright future for their daughters and granddaughters?
Everyone has seen how Chen Sheren has gained the emperor's favor. Now that there is such a smooth path to heaven, how can the ministers not be tempted?
Chen Changshi thought about it and smiled: "Your Majesty has a plan in mind, and I am just worrying about nothing."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "We still need to plan this carefully. When Chen Changshi has some free time, he can discuss it with Minister Dong and set up a set of rules, which will be announced to all prefectures and counties first. The imperial examination will be held in February next year, so that all talents who are interested in participating in the female examination can come to the capital to take the exam."

……

Daliang Dynasty had 40 states, 300 counties and more than 1,000 counties, and the distances varied. It would take at least one or two months for the news of the female doctor to spread throughout Daliang and then rush to the capital. If the journey was far away, wouldn't it take half a year? This was also the case if the journey was peaceful, and it would be best if there was a father, brother or family member escorting them. After all, it was really inconvenient for women to travel far away.

As a result, the selection threshold for women's subjects naturally becomes higher.

Chen Changshi went to consult with Minister Dong about this matter. Minister Dong was quick-witted and asked immediately: "The imperial examination is a common practice. Three hundred Jinshi are selected in each examination. This is the first female examination. I wonder how many female Jinshi the emperor plans to select?"

Dong Shangshu was the first important official in the court to support the empress's ascension to the throne. With this meritorious service, he was promoted by the emperor and appointed as the Minister of Rites. Now, even his position is lower than that of Zhang Shangshu. Apart from Chen Changshi, Dong Shangshu is the number one civil official.

Shangshu Dong boasted that he was a loyal minister to the emperor. As the minister of rites, he naturally gave his full support to the emperor's decision to establish a women's department.

If the king and his subjects are of one mind, this matter will be easy to handle.

Chen Changshi smiled happily and said, "The emperor means that it is good enough to organize the first women's course, regardless of the scale or number of participants."

"There is no set number for the final selection. As long as they are talented, careful and capable, they can be selected. They will first serve the emperor and be used by him. Whether they stay in the palace or go to work in various government offices will be discussed later."

Minister Dong's brows relaxed slightly, and he smiled softly, "Your Majesty is neither impatient nor anxious, and he knows when to act. This will also facilitate the operation of the Ministry of Rites."

"Leave it to me. I will announce this matter to the Ministry of Rites first, and let the officials of the Ministry of Rites discuss the details of the female selection. I will take the opportunity to spread this news so that the ministers in the court can hear the news first and adapt to it. Wait half a month, and then submit a memorial."

Chen Changshi smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Minister Dong."

Dong Shangshu was very proud and unyielding in front of others, but when he came to Chen Changshi, he was very polite: "I eat the salary of the emperor, and I should share the worries of the emperor. Why do you say hard work?"

Talking to smart people saves you trouble.

Chen Changshi and Dong Shangshu smiled at each other.