I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 109 Imperial Examinations
...

After chatting for a while and having a hot pot of mutton, Li Lin, Ye Shiyun, Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng left.

After the four girls left, Zhang Chun picked up the book and started reading again.

Zhang Chun really wanted to win the imperial examination, not only because winning would allow her and Zhao Ya to have a son; but also because winning would prove that her knowledge, talent, and ability were indeed better than those of other women of Zhao Ya; it also symbolized that her efforts and talents were highlighted.

In his early years, Zhang Chun saw the examination paper of a top scholar named Zhao Bingzhong. The full text had more than 2,400 words, and there was not a single erased word. The handwritten words were no different from those printed.

Even if you ask an ordinary person to copy it, they will never be able to achieve such an effect.

Therefore, the path to the imperial examination is very difficult.

If you are unlucky and encounter a group of strong opponents, the difficulty will be hellish.

For example, the imperial examination in the second year of Jiayou in the Northern Song Dynasty.

This year's list is called the "Millennium Dragon and Tiger List".

That year, more than 400,000 people applied, but less than 400 were admitted.

Among these four hundred people, three are among the Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties, namely Su Shi, Su Zhe and Zeng Gong; there are also Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, the founders of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism; there is also Zhang Zai, a thinker who established his mind for heaven and earth, his destiny for the people, inherited the lost knowledge of the sages, and brought peace to the world for all generations; and there is also Wang Shao, one of the "Three Wonders Deputy Envoys" who was obviously a scholar but became famous in history for his military exploits.

In addition, Zhang Dun, Zeng Bu, and Lu Huiqing are also on this list.

However, none of these extremely outstanding historical figures made it into the top three.

This shows how difficult the path to the imperial examination is.

If it were a real imperial examination, even someone as conceited as Zhang Chun would never dare to give it a try, because with her literary level, it would be unlikely for her to become a Jinshi, let alone win the first place.

But now that I have traveled to this era where one can take the imperial examinations, as a scholar, it would always be a bit of a pity if I didn't take the examinations and get a decent ranking.

However, what makes Zhang Chun helpless is that as a woman, in this era of male dominance, she will never be able to make up for this regret, even if she is a time traveler.

Winning first place in the imperial examination was the best way for Zhang Chun to find solace.

……

One day, Zhao Ya finished his discussion with the ministers. Just as Zhao Ya stood up to return to the harem, Su Shi suddenly stopped him and said, "Your Majesty, wait a minute."

Zhao Ya stopped and asked, "My dear minister, do you have anything else to report?"

Seeing this, Zhang Dun and all the ministers stopped and wanted to see what Su Shi wanted to say to Zhao Ya.

Su Che, who was not noticed by anyone, smiled bitterly. He thought to himself, "My dear brother, can't you wait until everyone else leaves before returning alone to make this request?"

"I have a pair of talented and remarkable women under my wing. They heard that Your Majesty is going to hold an imperial examination and they want to see it for themselves. It would be even more desirable if they could participate in it. I wonder if Your Majesty will agree?" Su Shi stated his request directly.

Zhao Ya was stunned! He had never expected that Su Shi called him just to get two spots in the imperial examination.

In Zhao Ya's view, the so-called imperial examination in the palace was nothing more than the queen finding something for the women in her palace to do, so that they wouldn't be too idle and focus all their energy on competing for favor in the palace.

If that’s the case, what does Su Shi’s request mean?

Zhao Ya agreed without a second thought: "Just tell them to go to the palace that day."

Zeng Bu was the quickest to react. He immediately followed suit and pleaded, "My brother-in-law has a daughter who is quite like my humble wife when she was young. I beg Your Majesty to allow us to try this girl out as well."

Zeng Bu's wife, Wei Wan (also known as Madam Wei), was a famous female poet of this period. Up to this point, her fame was even greater than that of Li Qingzhao.

Historically, Zhu Xi once said in "Zhu Zi Yu Lei": "Among the women in this dynasty who are capable of writing, only Li Yi'an and Madam Wei" which shows her status in the literary world at that time.

Zeng Bu said that Wei Wan's niece has the charm of Wei Wan when he was young. Regardless of whether it is true or not, she should have some ability.

In this case, it doesn't make sense that Zhao Ya allowed Su Shi's followers to participate in the palace imperial examination, but did not allow Zeng Bu's niece to participate in this palace imperial examination?

Therefore, Zhao Ya agreed again: "That's fine."

We are all thousand-year-old foxes, why play Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio?
Su Shi and Zeng Bu obviously wanted to take this opportunity to send women to Zhao Ya, and hoped to support a concubine who supported their side in the harem, just like the New Party supported Liu Qingjing.

Cai Jing followed closely behind him and said, "My daughter has also studied poetry and literature for a few years. Please try it as well."

When it came to Cai Jing, his greed was even more shameful. He actually recommended his own daughter without avoiding relatives.

It was not until then that Zhao Ya realized that they were not sending people to take part in the imperial examinations in the palace, but were clearly taking the opportunity to put people into his own harem.

Before, because Zhao Ya believed in Su Shi's character and Su Shi said this matter in public and did not seem to have any selfish motives, he did not guard against Su Shi, which led to Su Shi easily breaking through his defense line.

Then, Zeng Bu took advantage of the moment when Zhao Ya didn't react and sneaked in.

As an emperor, Zhao Ya must keep his word.

But the problem is that if he takes these women in, it means that the fire of factional strife may spread to his harem.

What's more troublesome is that Cai Jing opened his mouth again, and several other ministers were also ready to take action.

Zhao Ya suddenly had an idea and said, "It will be more lively with more people. You can each send one to try it out."

"Giving everyone a chance is like giving no one a chance. I'm treating everyone equally. I'm really smart."

How could the ministers not see Zhao Ya's intentions? But some of them still smiled slightly. Obviously they had their own plans...

……

On the day of the imperial examination.

In the early morning light, Li Qingzhao arrived at the palace in a carriage accompanied by her maid Cui Yu.

Along the way, Li Qingzhao's eyes were full of anticipation and confidence, and the scene of herself showing her talents in the examination hall kept appearing in her mind.

At the same time, Cai Jing's only daughter, Cai Xuan, also sat in a sedan chair and went to the palace. She looked arrogant and confident, ready to take the lead, bring glory to the Cai family, win Zhao Ya, and become the Cai family's helper in the harem.

Wei Wan's niece Wei Zhi was also sitting in a sedan chair and rushing to the palace.

Wei Zhi's mind was filled with what her uncle Zeng Bu had said to her before she left: "Zhi'er, you must remember, in this imperial examination, ranking is not important. You must be generous, decent, dignified and elegant, and make sure to leave a good impression on His Majesty. If you can make His Majesty look at you, you will be a great contributor to both the Zeng and Wei families..." When Li Qingzhao arrived at the gate of the palace, she saw Chao Min who had arrived with her.

Chao Min, the only daughter of Chao Buzhi, was nurtured by her family's literary atmosphere from a young age, and excelled in poetry. Her works are characterized by a fresh, natural style and sincere emotions. Many of her works circulated among the literati of her time, earning praise from some. She and Li Qingzhao are considered the twin beauties of the Su family.

The two women Su Shi had previously recommended to his tutelage were Li Qingzhao and Chao Min. Su Zhe had added the latter as a precautionary measure. After all, Li Qingzhao's appearance was considered average among beautiful women. Chao Min, on the other hand, was not only talented but also a true beauty.

Li Qingzhao and Chao Min were old acquaintances and best friends.

When they met, both of them were surprised and said at the same time: "Why are you here too?!"

Seeing that there were many people around, Chao Min pulled Li Qingzhao aside and said with emotion: "I never thought that you would also enter the palace!"

"What do you mean by entering the palace?" Li Qingzhao didn't quite understand what Chao Min said.

"You don't know?" Chao Min was also surprised.

"Know what?" Li Qingzhao was confused.

"The situation of our Yuanyou Party is worrying now. We need to draw strong support from the palace, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous. Therefore, we need a woman to enter the palace and gain the favor of Your Majesty, just like Empress Yuanfu." Chao Min said.

Li Qingzhao understood and quickly confirmed, "You mean, we're here to take part in the imperial examinations, not to meet friends through literature, but to participate in His Majesty's selection of concubines?"

"Otherwise, why do you think each family sent a woman with both talent and beauty to participate in the election?" At this point, Chao Min couldn't help but say with a worried look on his face, "Now, our Yuanyou Party and his Yuanfeng Party are at loggerheads. If we lose again, we might have another Shaosheng incident. There are also rumors that the traitor Cai intends to erect a monument to the Yuanyou Party. All officials who belong to our Yuanyou Party, if alive, will be demoted and exiled; if dead, all will have their official titles stripped and their rewards revoked. Moreover, the descendants of our Yuanyou Party will not be allowed to stay in the capital, nor will they be allowed to participate in the imperial examinations. Therefore, we must not lose this battle."

Li Qingzhao was completely bewildered: "What the hell is going on here? How did it even get involved in a party struggle?"

Seeing that Li Qingzhao didn't seem to be pretending, Chao Min asked, "Your father didn't tell you anything?"

Li Qingzhao answered truthfully, "I asked my master for this matter. My father knows nothing about it. I came here only to compete with the concubines in the harem and the female heroes of the time. I have no other intention."

Chao Min heard this and said with some disappointment, "I thought that after entering the palace, with you by my side, I would feel less lonely, but I didn't expect that it was all in vain."

Then, Chao Min helped Li Qingzhao analyze: "Maybe your master dotes on you and really taught you to play. You don't need to be like us. After the imperial examination, you will most likely be kept in the harem by His Majesty."

Li Qingzhao looked at the other women who came to the palace to take the imperial examination. They were all very beautiful. It can be said that each one had her own merits. Compared with them, her appearance was somewhat inferior.

From this perspective, what Chao Min said is very likely to be correct.

Li Qingzhao felt relieved. She patted her chest and said, "I was so scared! I thought I had become an imperial concubine for no apparent reason."

Chao Min laughed and said, "You wish for it. How can it be that easy to become an imperial concubine?"

At this point, Chao Min pointed at Cai Xuan with his chin. "That's the only daughter of the Cai thief. She's beautiful and talented. Her father, the Cai thief, is highly favored by His Majesty, so she has the potential to become the imperial consort directly. The low-key one over there has an even greater background. She's Zhang Nan, the granddaughter of Prime Minister Zhang Xianggong. And that's Han Yu, the granddaughter of Deputy Prime Minister Han Zhongyan..."

When Chao Min introduced Li Qingzhao to the women who had participated in the imperial examinations with them, Li Qingzhao could not help but be astonished! Although there were not many of them, their gold content was really too high. Any one of them had a background of more than the prime minister. Only her and Chao Min's backgrounds were not as good as hers.

At the same time, Li Qingzhao was also a little puzzled.

The prevailing trend of the time was that officials and nobles were reluctant to have their daughters enter the palace as concubines.

The palace was rife with rules and regulations, and strict restrictions on speech and behavior. For daughters of officials accustomed to a relatively free life, such constraints could be unbearable. Furthermore, palace intrigue was brutal, and concubines were often caught up in the political maelstrom. Choosing the wrong side or offending a powerful figure could not only endanger themselves but also implicate their families. Furthermore, once in the palace, opportunities to see their families were rare, making it difficult for them to fulfill their filial duties and enjoy the joys of family life.

Therefore, some officials at this time would use various methods to prevent their daughters from entering the palace, such as claiming that their daughters were unwell or already engaged.

For example, during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, Fu Bi refused to allow his daughter to enter the palace.

Why was it that during the reign of Emperor Zhao Ya, all these ministers rushed to send their daughters to the palace?
Li Qingzhao was very puzzled.

Li Qingzhao had no idea that this was no longer the period of Emperor Renzong of Song when ministers could control the emperor.

As early as the reign of Emperor Shenzong of Song, imperial power became increasingly powerful due to reforms, factional struggles, and other reasons.

Now is the critical moment for the new party and the old party to decide the outcome. Both sides will definitely try their best to avoid failure in the political struggle.

——These ministers with extremely high political sensitivity have actually realized that if they lose again this time, the consequences may be incomparable to those previous times.

Therefore, these ministers really tried their best this time and sent their best women to fight for power, for fear that they would become victims of the failure of the political struggle.

Li Qingzhao, who spent her days eating, drinking and having fun and living a carefree life, had no idea about this.

When the time came, Li Qingzhao and Chao Min followed a dozen other women who came to take part in the imperial examination into the palace.

Unlike others who were worried, Li Qingzhao was just here for sightseeing. She looked here and there, obviously full of curiosity about the palace.

Soon, Li Qingzhao and her party entered the harem and met Queen Zheng Xiansu.

Li Qingzhao was among the crowd and secretly glanced at Zheng Xiansu. She found that Zheng Xiansu looked dignified, elegant, amiable, and without any airs. She thought, "She should be easy to get along with."

Li Qingzhao looked around again, "Where is the little emperor?"

Li Qingzhao still hadn't found Zhao Ya until the imperial examination was about to begin.

Although in Zhao Ya's eyes, this was just a small show organized by the concubines and palace maids in his harem for their own entertainment, Zheng Xiansu and those who participated in the palace imperial examinations did not see it that way.

Under the leadership of Zheng Xiansu, this time's imperial examinations were all organized by the Ministry of Rites, and the format was all in accordance with the normal imperial examinations. Even the candidates' numbers were determined by drawing lots.

Not surprisingly, Li Qingzhao and Chao Min were separated.

Soon, Li Qingzhao found her place.

She saw in front of her a slender and tall imperial concubine with skin as white as jade.

Li Qingzhao bowed to the imperial concubine and said, "I, Li, pay my respects to the Empress."

Zhang Chun looked back at Li Qingzhao. Although the girl wasn't particularly good-looking, she was quite intelligent and cute. He smiled and said, "Please don't be polite. I've never seen you before. What's your name?"

……

……

Asking for a monthly ticket! ! !
(End of this chapter)