Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 455 Graceful Examination
“There was indeed a troublemaker just now, but Commander Bai has already dealt with it. Father, so you've been here for a while now? Why didn't you call me earlier so I could have come to serve you?”

"Wasn't the library busy when I arrived? That centurion was quite good; he remained calm in the face of trouble. If he hadn't been quick-witted enough, he would have fallen into that man's trap. These powerful families are truly incorrigible. I have let them off the hook many times, yet they still don't repent. Since that's the case, there's no need to give them face. Jiu Que, do whatever you want; I'll back you up."

Emperor Jingtai had said this several times, but every time he heard Jiuque, he felt warm inside. What could be more reassuring than having someone wholeheartedly supporting you and backing you up while you charge into battle?

However, she did have something she needed Emperor Jingtai's help with.

"Father, the reason these aristocratic families are putting up such a stubborn resistance is simply because they still have many sons serving as officials in the court. What if one day, everyone in the world, regardless of gender or age, could serve as an official in the court?"

You mean the imperial examinations?

Emperor Jingtai, being a seasoned emperor, quickly grasped the situation. However, he found the matter somewhat difficult. He had previously held imperial examinations, but in those days, literate people were few and far between, and those who received a good education from a young age mostly came from aristocratic families. This contradicted his original intention in establishing the imperial examinations. Over time, he stopped holding them regularly.

However, since Jiu Que brought it up, it means he was already prepared.

He pointed to the bustling royal library behind him, his spirit soaring.

"Now we have a royal library where everyone in the land can read. This royal library doesn't necessarily have to be in the capital; each prefecture should have one. Moreover, I have produced cheaper and more abundant paper, making it even cheaper for children from poor families to learn to read and write. But all of this depends on one prerequisite: that the court is willing to open a path to the heavens, allowing those who truly learn and are knowledgeable to enter the court as officials. With such a carrot dangling in front, there is no need to worry about people not being able to read and write, nor about those who are truly talented not being able to enter the court as officials."

"So, Father, let's hold an extra imperial examination."

"Enko?"

Emperor Jingtai pondered these two words, lost in thought. In the past, the imperial examinations did not have a fixed number of years; Emperor Jingtai would hold them whenever he wanted to recruit talents. However, he quite liked the term "special examination."

That's not entirely impossible. But if we hold a special imperial examination now, those from aristocratic families will still be the ones who pass, which would be pointless.

Jiuque also had a solution to this.

"Father, those aristocratic sons only learn poetry and prose. I have reviewed the questions from past imperial examinations, and most of them are similar, with policy essays making up a very small proportion. But what is truly needed to govern the country is policy essays, and we can recruit talent according to the needs of the court. For example, the Ministry of Revenue lacks actuaries, so we can specifically recruit those skilled in this field. In fact, there is no need to hold the imperial examinations now. We can give everyone more than half a year to prepare. The weather is cold now, and it would take students from all over the country a month or two to get to the capital. Why not set it for October? The weather will be cool then, and we won't have to worry about students getting sick on their way to the capital. There will be plenty of time, and we won't have to worry about them not being able to make it."

"Giving them a few months will also allow those who have abandoned their books to pick them up again. It's a win-win situation, so we might as well give it a try."

Emperor Jingtai was quite intrigued by the idea, and he genuinely believed it was feasible. He had long been troubled by the powerful families who produced officials. If this method were used, it could truly solve the problem of most officials in the court coming from aristocratic families. However, as he listened, he realized there was something the boy hadn't explicitly stated, and he was playing mind games with him, which he found somewhat amusing.

"You've been hiding something from me all along. You said that people of all ages and genders should be allowed to participate in the imperial examinations, so you want women to be able to participate as well?"

"Hehehe, I knew I couldn't hide it from Father."

Jiu Que smiled and hugged her father's arm. It was perfectly natural for her to act cute and silly with her own father.

After all this build-up, isn't this what Jiu Que was all for?
“Father, as you know, there are many talented women in this world who lack only a path to advancement. If they could enter officialdom, they would surely fight for the rights that women all over the world deserve. Don’t you also believe that everyone in the world, regardless of age or gender, is useful as long as they are useful?”

"That's quite right."

Emperor Jingtai was a man who valued talent above all else; otherwise, he wouldn't have promoted several women like Chunyu Shuang despite the resistance from other officials. If it were the last emperor of the previous dynasty, even with Jiu Que's numerous achievements, he wouldn't have given her a position with real power.

Moreover, Jiu Que's words were truly without any ulterior motives, since this child has always been kind only to the weak.

Emperor Jingtai had actually considered this matter long ago. Now that he had decided on his successor, he naturally needed to build momentum for the imperial court. If the court was filled with officials who opposed women and looked down on female officials, his son would inevitably face many obstacles. As parents, they naturally hoped their children could have an easier life. If there were more female officials in the court, the child would likely not have such a difficult future.

Emperor Jingtai was not one to hesitate; once he made a decision, he immediately put it on hold!
"Then it's settled!"

When the imperial decree was issued, the resulting uproar was unimaginable; the entire capital city was abuzz with excitement. Countless impoverished students and scholars from humble backgrounds wept upon seeing the decree.

They studied diligently for years, yet never found a path to success; even with the will to rise, there was no way to do so. They would never even see one or two of the books used in the imperial examinations in their lifetime.

But things are different now. His Majesty has opened a library with many rare and unique books. His Highness the Prince's Minshuo Bookstore has many books for the imperial examinations. Moreover, the Minshuo Bookstore sells cheap, high-volume paper, which is the best news for impoverished scholars like them. Not to mention the Minshuo ten-day newspaper, published every ten days, which records many edicts issued by the court. In the past, how could ordinary people know about the court's decrees? With this, even commoners can know the court's inclinations. More importantly, this ten-day newspaper is not expensive. Even a few poor scholars can band together, one buying this time, another next time, and they can read every issue.
Besides these people, there are some unbelievable individuals who are secretly reveling.

Wang Heng held a newspaper in her hand, which reported on the upcoming imperial examination in October. Ordinary people only saw the large number of people to be recruited and the complex requirements; even those skilled in only calligraphy and mathematics could pass the exam and become minor officials. But only someone like her, who had been waiting for an opportunity, could see the deeper meaning hidden behind this decree.

In this world, women can now participate in the imperial examinations?