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It has to be said that Minister Dong is quite unique in understanding the emperor's mind and intentions.

The emperor was determined to hold a women's examination to select female officials, and the first women's examination was particularly important. The admission ratio this time would set the tone for future women's examinations.

One out of five is indeed much better than one out of twenty for men. However, very few women have studied since childhood. Even fewer can register with the Ministry of Rites and enter the examination hall. From this point of view, one out of five is very suitable.

Sure enough, when Minister Dong entered the Showa Hall holding the twenty successful examination papers, Jiang Shaohua smiled and praised him, "Minister Dong is really efficient in his work."

Minister Dong replied solemnly: "I have received great favor from the Emperor, and it is my duty to help His Majesty."

"The court has set up a female examination to select female officials, which is a major event that will benefit the country. I will personally do everything to select talents that are truly useful to the emperor."

"I have selected twenty, and Your Majesty is requested to review them one by one. The actual ranking will be determined by Your Majesty himself after the palace examination in the future."

Generally speaking, those who passed the joint examination would not be rejected in the palace examination, only the final ranking would be determined. The emperor personally reviewed the papers and determined the rankings, and all the new Jinshi became his disciples.

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "The palace examination will be held in ten days. On that day, I will be the chief examiner, and Minister Dong will be my deputy examiner."

In fact, the job was still done by Minister Dong, and Jiang Shaohua was just the chief examiner. This was also the responsibility of the Minister of Rites.

Minister Dong quickly agreed with a smile.

After Minister Dong left, Jiang Shaohua carefully looked through the twenty female examination papers.

The exam questions were all set by Minister Dong himself. The number of questions was one-third less than that of the men's exam papers, the difficulty was much lower, and the emphasis was also different. This was also set in consideration of the actual situation of women's education. The daughters of wealthy families read poems and songs to cultivate their temperament. The imperial examinations required reading classics, history, and essays, and writing contemporary articles and national policies. It was indeed difficult for women to take these exams.

Shangshu Dong placed emphasis on memorizing the classics, history, and literature, leaving only two questions on current affairs and national policy.

The number of women who could participate in the female selection was indeed small, and they all had real talent and knowledge. Li Ying and Cui Wenxiu were both selected without a doubt.

There was also a girl named Li, who should be a descendant of Empress Dowager Li’s family.

There are people with the surname Cui, Lu, Wang, and even Zhang. Look, Minister Zhang is not stupid at all. While he is trying to win over his followers, he also wants to get some benefits from the female officials.

Jiang Shaohua curled the corners of his mouth and sneered in his heart.

Jiang Shaohua saw the name on the last test paper, took a look, and laughed, then turned to Chen Jinyu and said, "Lu Zhen is indeed promising, and he was also selected."

Chen Jinyu's eyes lit up and he came over to take a closer look.

Lu Zhen started studying at the age of eight and studied in Ye County Women's Academy for six years. She ranked first in the annual assessments. She can be said to be the most outstanding student cultivated by Ye County Women's Academy.

"Lu Zhen's calligraphy is great." Chen Jinyu smiled and praised: "Let's not talk about the article first, just looking at the words, it is also first-class."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and hummed: "The article is also well written."

The young girl is full of vigor and courage. When she writes, her writing is particularly sharp. Her talent and vigor are overwhelming.

After reading the test paper, Chen Jinyu praised Lu Zhen highly: "Good! This Lu Zhen is a promising talent. After the palace examination, let her enter the palace to serve. I will train her well."

Chen Jinyu is already 20 years old, and it is time to consider having children. She was too busy before, and when there are female officials working in the palace, she can find time to get pregnant and give birth to a child, and the emperor will not have to worry about having no one to use. Compared with the daughters of wealthy families, Lu Zhen, who was born in the common people of Ye County, is obviously more suitable for the emperor.

Apart from other things, the most important thing for serving the emperor is absolute loyalty to the empress. No matter how talented and learned women from the Lu, Cui, Li, or Wang families are, they will still be worried about using them. Once there is a conflict between the emperor's orders and their families, will they be too selfish and side with their own families?
Lu Zhen had no such worries. Her family was ordinary people, thousands of miles away. She would be alone in the palace in the future. She had no connection with the civil and military officials in the court. From this point of view, she was even more suitable to be the emperor's attendant than Chen Jinyu.

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly: "After the palace examination, I will look at her test paper and give her a good ranking."

……

Lu Zhen naturally didn't know that the emperor had already given him a high ranking before he even passed the palace examination.

On the day when the results of the imperial examination were announced, the men's list was posted first. The women's list was much shorter, with a total of 20 names. There were so many people gathered under the list that the women could not squeeze in.

Girls like Miss Li, Miss Cui, Miss Wang, Miss Lu and so on all sent their servants to check the list.

Li Ying also asked the servants to look at the list. In short, there were only twenty names. They squeezed to the front and took a few glances, and then they finished looking at the list.

The servant who was checking the list squeezed forward with great effort, and soon came back with a happy face to report: "Great news! Great news! The headmaster and Master Cui are both on the list! Miss Lu also passed the exam!"

Li Ying and Cui Wenxiu smiled at each other.

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Lu Zhen didn't have such determination. After hearing the good news, his eyebrows and eyes curved with joy and he laughed happily: "I passed the exam! Master! Principal! I passed the exam!"

Li Ying smiled and touched Lu Zhen's head: "Good job!"

"There is still the palace examination. You should prepare carefully and get a good score." Cui Wenxiu was full of confidence in his beloved disciple: "Perhaps, the emperor will directly keep you in the palace to serve. This is a step to heaven for you!"

Lu Zhen nodded vigorously, his bright eyes shining with joy.

Who could have thought that a maid from a weaving family in Ye County could study in an academy, take the female examination, and even pass it to become a female official?

The ambition she had set since childhood was now within reach.

In the next few days, Lu Zhen didn't even leave his room. Under the guidance of Li Ying and Cui Wenxiu, he practiced contemporary writing hard.

County Magistrate Cui was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. Li Ying accompanied her husband to study and had great knowledge of contemporary literature. Even if Li Ying passed the female examination, she would return to Ye County Academy and continue to manage the academy as the principal. Cui Wenxiu was the same. The only one who could really stay in the capital to work was Lu Zhen.

The two of them almost completely gave up on their own palace examinations and focused on guiding Lu Zhen in preparing for the exam.

On the day of the palace examination, one hundred men and twenty women formed three lines and filed into the Golden Palace. Under the guidance of the ceremonial officers, they bowed their hands together to salute the emperor.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at everyone's nervous faces and smiled, "No need to be polite, take a seat. Today is the palace examination, and I will be your chief examiner."

"Minister Dong, let's begin!"

Minister Dong responded and ordered two officials from the Ministry of Rites to distribute the examination papers. (End of this chapter)