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The imperial court is going to open a women's department?

The shocking news had already spread before the meeting of the Ministry of Rites was over. It quickly spread among the top official circles in the capital, causing a shock no less than the palace coup a few months ago.

"Ridiculous! Women should be virtuous and chaste. There is no reason for them to be in the limelight and serve as court ladies."

"Hush! Speak softly! If you open your mouth, you will offend the emperor, Chen Sheren, and the granddaughter's imperial physician in the palace."

Isn't it? Daliang now has a female emperor. She not only shows up in public every day, but also sits on the dragon throne to accept officials' kneeling worship and manages the government affairs!
Chen Sheren was the emperor's attendant, and it was common for him to go in and out of the six ministries to convey the emperor's oral instructions. Sun Zelan was also a high-ranking imperial physician, and she pioneered the practice of women serving as imperial physicians.

Unprecedented things happened one after another, and having another women's exam was actually not that difficult to accept.

"No! I can't control the affairs of the palace, but I have the final say on the future of my daughters and granddaughters. I won't allow them to take any female examinations. They should stay in their boudoirs. When they reach the right age, it's time to find a good husband."

Words like these were heard in the homes of many officials.

As for the officials, they acted differently when they got together. When they mentioned this matter, they praised the emperor for his pioneering move. As for whether the women in their own families would participate in the female examination, they never mentioned it.

In short, the entire capital city was excited by this news.

When Empress Dowager Zheng heard about this, she also agreed with it: "Your Majesty's idea is good. It is more convenient for women to work in the palace."

In the eyes of Empress Dowager Zheng, it was much better to select female officials and have them serve in the palace than to select people from among the palace maids.

Little did they know that this was only the first step. Jiang Shaohua planned to keep the selected female officials by his side for a few years, and then gradually assign them to serve as officials in the six ministries, and then to serve as officials outside the capital.

Once there is a first step, there will be a second and a third step. Even a thousand miles is achieved step by step.

Of course, there was no need to elaborate on these words to Empress Dowager Zheng. Jiang Shaohua followed Empress Dowager Zheng's words and smiled, "Grandma is right. I am the empress, so it is more convenient for me to have female officials around me."

Sure enough, the next sentence of Empress Dowager Zheng was: "Speaking of which, the Zheng family also has outstanding ladies. Why not choose one to enter the palace first."

Jiang Shaohua replied calmly, "The female examination will be held in February next year, on the same day as the special examination. No matter which family you are from, you can take the exam."

Empress Dowager Zheng was somewhat dissatisfied: "After the test, it's up to you to decide who to choose."

Jiang Shaohua said: "The selection of women's subjects will be handled by the Ministry of Rites. Minister Dong is thorough and experienced, and is familiar with the rules of the imperial examination. When the time comes, he will definitely formulate reasonable and detailed rules for the selection of women's subjects. Since the Zheng family has outstanding ladies with outstanding talents, they will definitely shine in the women's examinations when the time comes."

In short, no matter how much he talked, he wouldn't give a definite answer.

Empress Dowager Zheng was not a reasonable person. She relied on her status and seniority to make unreasonable demands: "I don't understand these things. Anyway, this female official position must be reserved for the Zheng family. If you promise me, I won't bother with you about Jiang Yuanwailang being sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Eunuch Zhao, who was standing aside, couldn't bear to listen any more and turned his head away silently.

Jiang Shaohua missed Chen Sheren who was taking a rest. As the emperor, it was not so convenient to say some harsh words.

If Chen Jinyu was here, with her sharp tongue, it would be appropriate for her to respond with some unpleasant words. "We'll discuss this matter after the women's exam is over." Jiang Shaohua didn't agree to it, and put the matter off until half a year later.

When they arrived at Ning'an Palace, before Empress Dowager Li asked, Jiang Shaohua took the initiative to talk about the women's department: "...I want to set up a women's department to select some useful people to serve by my side. However, this is different from the female officials in the palace. Those who pass the women's department are female Jinshi and have formal official documents."

"If the Li family has a suitable girl, she might as well review her studies and make some preparations early."

Empress Dowager Li was much more tactful and reserved than Empress Dowager Zheng. She also had no intention of asking for benefits by relying on her royal family status. Upon hearing this, she said in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty is right. I will send someone to the Li family to pass on a message. Even if the emperor intends to promote her, the Li family must have a girl with real talent and knowledge to show off."

This is the right attitude.

Due to time, location and study restrictions, the first female selection was destined to be limited to a small range of candidates. It was impossible to bypass the huge families such as Zheng, Li and Wang.

However, if you want to be admitted to the Women's Department, you must have real talent and knowledge. It is impossible to share the fruits directly.

……

Both Empress Dowager Li and Empress Dowager Zheng supported the female category, and the Ministry of Rites held a meeting to discuss the details. This move, which was destined to go down in history, did not cause too many twists and turns, and entered the second stage smoothly.

Cui Du, who had just returned from the imperial farm, heard about this and agreed with it: "Isn't this the central government's selection? This is a good idea!"

Central selection. Jiang Shaohua silently savored these words, and couldn't help but pursed his lips and smiled: "It seems that this matter is not uncommon in your previous place."

Cui Du smiled and said, "Of course. Where I live, women have been studying since childhood, and there are many outstanding women who work in all kinds of professions. There are female teachers, female doctors, female judges, female engineers, and female scientists. There are top talents in all walks of life."

"You are setting up a selection for women, which is actually selecting female civil servants. First, they will be trained by you, and then they will be released to serve as officials. Because of you, they have the opportunity to enter the official career, and they will be extra loyal to you."

"It will take at least 20 to 30 years for the court to appoint women officials. Fortunately, my Empress is very young and can slowly change the court's customs."

Chatting with Cui Du always makes me feel particularly relaxed and comfortable.

Here in Cui Du, everything is commonplace and there is no need to make a fuss or be shocking.

Jiang Shaohua chuckled: "Changes in the court, from top to bottom, should always be simpler and easier."

"There will inevitably be some people who are conservative or secretly competitive and will keep their daughters and granddaughters at home and not allow them to take the exam."

"That's fine. The most important thing about the first women's exam is to promote the selection of women as officials. Once the court has a tradition of appointing female officials, some people will covet this grand official career. In the future, it will also become a new trend for women to study."

This is the benefit of top-down reform. Give people benefits that are hard to refuse. Once some people pick the first batch of fruits and taste the first bite of sweetness, others will naturally rush to take the second and third bites.

The so-called customs and practices also gradually changed. (End of this chapter)