As of September 15, 1793, all candidates who participated in the new imperial examination in Beihai Town have completed their registration. According to the plan, the examination will be held in three days.

All the candidates who came to take the exam this time were Tong Sheng and Xiucai, with a total of 241 people.

The total number of Tongsheng is 189, of which 143 are from the four counties of Jiaodong, 18 are from Yangzhou, 15 are from Changzhou, and 13 are from Beihai Town's earliest stronghold in the pass, Funing County, Huai'an Prefecture, which is the jurisdiction of Sheyang Lake Tianzhuang.

The total number of scholars, that is, tribute students, is 52, of which 5 were exiled to Ningguta due to literary inquisition. The oldest of them was 55 years old. The remaining 47 were from Yangzhou, Jiangning, Zhenjiang, Taizhou, and Zhaowen (Changshu), all of whom were disciples of Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi.

However, on the afternoon of September 15, an unexpected registration application caused an uproar within the examination committee, and everyone was instantly divided into two factions, and a heated discussion started.

"No! I don't agree! Even if King Zhao is here, I will still be the same!"

Seeing Zhao Yi's beard and glaring at him, 77-year-old Yuan Mei put down the teacup and said with a smile: "Brother Yun Song, don't be anxious. Sit down and talk."

"Brother Zicai, you said you are almost eighty, how could you let your disciples do whatever you want? Sun Zixiao called him! He usually manages the family like this?"

Zhao Yi looked at Yuan Mei and was so angry that he thought to himself that you are not in a hurry. Xi Peilan is the "chief disciple" among your female disciples. If she can participate in the imperial examination, you, Yuan Zicai, would be very proud.

Hong Liangji, who was standing by, advised: "Young Master Oubei, you have been to Beihai Town for more than two months. There are women in both factories, schools, hospitals, public security police and the army. Under the rule of King Zhao, it is about equality between men and women. You have also been to administrative schools, and there are different female students."

"Young man and I have this set! You, Hong Jun, will naturally say good things when you are directly in Beihai Town. I don't take it! Women read and read, and read, to be polite, and take care of their husbands and children at home. Don't fool me with the situation in Beihai Town. King Zhao told me that it was because of insufficient staff, so that women could come out to do things. Although I felt that it was inappropriate, I also knew that King Zhao was short of staff at that time. But the imperial examination was a national talent ceremony. How could women participate? It was ridiculous!"

After Zhao Yi said that, he looked at Duan Yukai and Liu Taigongji who were silent, and stared at him and said, "What do you two say!"

Liu Taigong opened his mouth and then closed it again. He thought to himself that this was really a disaster for the gods to fight. You two Jinshi quarreled, why did you bring us in?

On the other hand, Duan Yukai also felt that it was inappropriate to let a woman participate in the first imperial examination in Beihai Town. He pondered for a moment and said to Yuan Mei: "Mr. Cangshan, you should advise Mrs. Sun, why not wait for the next time..."

Zhao Yi slapped the table: "Never do it next time! No woman has ever participated in the imperial examination since ancient times!"

Yuan Mei picked up the cup and took a sip of tea. The water temperature was just right. He turned to look at the silent Wang Zhong and smiled and said, "Rong Fu, what did you say?"

Hearing Yuan Mei ask him, Wang Zhong frowned and said, "Zhong thought that this matter was indeed inappropriate. But..."

"But what?"

"The words of the Duke of Oubei are not correct. Since ancient times, there have been still women who participated in the Tongsheng exam and were admitted, and they are still students of the Emperor."

Hearing this, except Yuan Mei, the others were stunned. Although the people here are all scholars, the number ones who read so much and remember them all must be ranked first among Wang. After all, they have the reputation of "no reading without books".

Yuan Mei said: "Tell me, let me see."

Wang Zhong said helplessly: "It is recorded in "Miscellaneous Notes on the Court and the Country since Jianyan". In the summer of the first year of Chunxi, a girl Lin Youyu asked for the examination for the Secretariat and reviewed the examination. She read forty-three scriptures and wrote them together. In April, Xinyou was specially awarded the title of the Lady."

Yuan Mei nodded slowly and said to Zhao Yi: "Brother Yun Song, Rong Fu was a young man who had no books to read. I believe him. Zhao Song, who was in a peaceful corner, could he tolerate a female tribute student. Could it be that the achievements of Beihai Town, which had far surpassed those of all dynasties? It was just a royal title. If I really became an official, I would not agree."

In the feudal history of China, there was only one woman who participated and passed the imperial examination in the court. Lin Youyu, the second emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, was only nine years old when he participated in the Boy Son. Because the imperial examination law at that time did not clearly state that women were prohibited from participating, Lin Youyu got into this loophole. Not only did he apply for the famous exam, but he also passed the re-examination of the Secretariat and was finally named a seventh-rank sect by the emperor.

Of course, Lin Youyu's ability to pass is also related to the tolerant social atmosphere of the Song Dynasty. Before the Ming and Qing dynasties, women talked about "virtue" rather than "natural chastity", so talented women not only will not be criticized, but will even be praised by the world.

However, the incident of Lin Youyu being admitted to the tribute student still slapped the ministers of Neo-Confucianism in the face. So when the fourth emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, Song Ningzong, another eight-year-old woman named Wu Zhiduan participated in the boy exam and passed the written test. But this time she was not so lucky. When she participated in the re-examination of the Secretariat, she failed because of collective opposition from the ministers in the court.

Let me say, the "female top scholar" of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom that is familiar to me in another time and space... Hehe, that was fabricated by later generations.

Speaking of Xi Peilan's registration for the imperial examination, Yuan Mei agreed after repeated consideration.

You should know that in the Ming and Qing dynasties, "male and female defense", it was even more serious in the Qing dynasty. Women mostly followed female teachers to study, or were taught by their fathers and brothers at home. Few people who were not shy about recruiting dozens of female disciples like Yuan Mei. His actions naturally brought him a lot of criticism.

Zhao Yi once joked that he was "looking for gentleness in the countryside, whether it is a man or a woman." Even his old friends said this, so there are naturally something even more ugly to others.

Specifically speaking of Sun Yuanxiang's wife Xi Peilan, this woman and Yan Ruizhu, Jin Yi is most valued by Yuan Mei among dozens of female disciples in Suiyuan. His poetry and literary talent are both first-class, and even Wang Zhenyi admires it very much.

This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Xi Peilan was smart since childhood. She finished "Mao Shi" at the age of eight, and then learned "Green Window Song". At the age of fourteen, she became a disciple of Yuan Mei and married Sun Yuanxiang at the age of seventeen. Her husband Sun Yuanxiang is also a man who was able to read Li Du's poems at the age of four, and started learning the Four Books of Elementary School at the age of eight. She was famous in the capital when she was young, but she failed many times. In other words, his father passed away three years ago, and now the mourning practice has ended, and the couple was abducted by Yuan Mei.

Xi Peilan didn't originally want to participate in the new imperial examination in Beihai Town, so she just followed her husband and wife. Unexpectedly, after arriving in Beihai Town, she found that not only the mountains and rivers were different from those in the pass, but the high social status of women surprised and puzzled her; women who showed up everywhere on the streets, and they were also engaged in various jobs like other men.

Later, when she was visiting the elementary school in Beihai Town, she accidentally met Wang Zhenyi, who had just finished class. The two of them talked in the first year of junior high school and felt that they met too late, so they quickly became confidants. When they learned that there were not only female doctors and teachers in Beihai Town, but also many women in factories, military and public security police, Xi Peilan was extremely shocked.

However, what surprised her even more was later. Wang Zhenyi told her that the key to Beihai Town’s ability to do all this is that the law explicitly ordered that infants should not be drowned, child brides, or concubines should not be allowed; boys and girls must study when they were seven years old, otherwise the government would have the right to confiscate the land in their homes. This way, the social status of women was improved from the root.

As for women working, it was because when Beihai Town was founded, there were more women and fewer men, and King Zhao did not discriminate, which laid the foundation.

Well, although Wang Zhenyi didn't blush when she mentioned the four words "No concubines allowed", she was still a little panicked.

When Xi Peilan learned that Wang Zhenyi had not only participated in map surveying and mapping in recent years, but also learned mathematics by teacher, but would soon become the first group of students at Beihai Town Higher Science and Technology College, Xi Peilan had a bold idea that she would participate in the imperial examination.

Although Sun Yuanxiang admired his wife's poetry and essay skills and the couple was very loving on weekdays, after learning about each other's thoughts, he actually laughed and joked.

Although Xi Peilan is graceful and quiet on weekdays, she is just like Wang Zhenyi, and she is also unwilling to admit defeat; otherwise, after the Xi family and the Sun family were rejected, she would not have asked Yuan Mei for help. Later, when she got engaged, she even asked questions to stump Sun Yuanxiang, which made the other party feel anxious.

So in anger, Xi Peilan went directly to find his teacher Yuan Mei and expressed his thoughts. Yuan Mei was originally a person with a temperament. He dared to accept so many female disciples, so he was not afraid of criticism from all over the world. In addition, through a conversation with Zhao Xin a few days ago, he felt that this person's attitude and practices in many things were different from all the kings who rebelled and seized the world since Zulong, and the system of Beihai Town does not discriminate against women, so he decided to test it out to see if Beihai Town really dared to be the first in the world.

Although Wang Zhong made an example in the previous dynasty, Zhao Yi still refused. He said that if he dared to let Xi Peilan take the exam with other candidates, he would quit the consultant and honorary examiner of the Lawshi, and the disciples he brought would also give up the exam.

Seeing that Zhao Yi was stubborn, Yuan Mei had no choice but to write a letter and asked Wang Zhong to pass it on to Zhao Xin. Although Wang Zhong looked down on Yuan Mei, he also knew the meaning of the other party coming to Beihai Town, so he agreed.

In the eyes of outsiders, "Prince Zhao"'s home is very cautious, but Wang Zhong came when he wanted to come. He brought the letter to the door that afternoon. Zhao Xin heard Wang Zhong talk about the story, and after reading Yuan Mei's letter, he pondered for a long time with his eyes rolling.

This matter is really hard to deal with. It would be fine if Xi Peilan was a teenage girl. But she is 23 years old this year, and even her son is five years old. That's right, there were women in ancient times who participated in the imperial examination, but they could take the imperial examination even if they were never a mother. Maybe it would turn into a big joke.

But then he thought, if he didn't agree, wouldn't the "equality between men and women" in Beihai Town become a self-tapping empty talk? And what should those women who are already married and mothers and are engaged in various jobs? Technical ratings also require exams!

Zhao Xin was immediately indignant at Zhao Yi's attitude of being a Gubuhua, thinking that what's wrong with being in the same exam room? Can you become a tiger and eat people?! This old guy actually has to take his disciples to take the exam. It's easy, without Zhang butcher, I won't eat a pig!

Alas? Zhao Xin suddenly had an idea and held his chin with his hands and said to Wang Zhong: "Mr. Rongfu, do you say the last sentence Mr. Oubei said?"

"He said that if he dares to let Xi Peilan take the exam with other candidates, he will take his disciples to stop the exam."

"That's it!" Zhao Xin slapped his palms and said with a smile: "We'll do this..."

After hearing Zhao Xin's idea, Wang Zhong was amused and cried, thinking that if Zhao Yi knew about this, he might have to protest again. Zhao Xin said indifferently: "It's okay, as long as the exam is completed, it will be too late for him to know. I just want the people under Beihai Town to see that women can be gentlemen."

At noon the next day, Xi Peilan took the admission ticket handed over by her husband incredibly, and her excitement was hard to express. Sun Yuanxiang smiled bitterly, thinking that it was no wonder that the Qing Dynasty court said that Beihai Town was a group of demons, and actually letting women participate in the imperial examinations was shocking. The problem was that this woman was still his wife, and there was no place to reason.

Before, Yuan Mei called him over and handed the admission ticket to him, and said that the couple participated in the imperial examination together, which has not happened since ancient times. King Zhao admired Yunfen (Xi Peilan's name). In order to make her the first female scholar in Beihai Town, to avoid material discussions, he would arrange a separate examination room for her at the administrative school. If the exam passes, King Zhao and the princess and his wife will personally issue her certificate. After hearing that King Zhao said this, Sun Yuanxiang could only agree dejectedly.

Two days later, the first new imperial examination in Beihai Town was held as scheduled.

Chen Qingsong did not brag about Zhao Xin. When a group of candidates walked into the examination hall with schoolbags with stationery, they saw gongs and drums, firecrackers, and colorful flags fluttering in the wind. There were several huge red cloth hanging from the three-story floors used in the examination hall, and there were big white slogans on it. Everyone was excited to see it. I thought it was the first time I saw this scene.

"Abide by the discipline of the examination room and maintain the dignity of knowledge!", "Be calm and down-to-earth!", "Looking at the height of life, there are only hardships and hardships!"...Okay, these are all copied from the examination slogans in another time and space.

Since Beihai Town has its own methods of inspection and cheating, there is no body searching process for the candidates. However, in the eyes of the candidates, this is a new atmosphere in the new dynasty.

Many people think that although this sentence is straightforward, the truth is not simple. Knowledge has dignity, and we scholars have dignity. Taking off all our clothes and searching for our bodies like the court is really a disgrace!

Because the number of candidates for the exam is only 241, and the scholar and Tong Sheng are divided into two buildings, even if 20 people are arranged in each examination room, many rooms are still empty, which is just used as dormitories during the exam.

All candidates provide a set of bedding, and the classrooms used as dormitories are also divided into partitions. The invigilator will remind the candidates not to communicate. In addition, all three meals during the exam are provided by the canteen of Beihai Town. They are nutritious and must be full.

Considering the educational background and habits of the candidates, there are still eight-part essays in this imperial examination, but it was shortened to two. Whether it is a child or a scholar, it is six days and five nights. The first one is the Four Books, and the second one is the essay.

At 8 o'clock in the morning, all the candidates found the examination room according to the admission ticket number and sat there. Each person put a glass of water on the table, which could be drunk or used for grinding. While everyone was busy taking out their pens and ink for preparation, the invigilator read out the "Examination Room Discipline" hanging in the house.

At 8:15, as the harsh ringing rang, the invigilator sent a kraft paper bag containing the test questions, answer sheets and draft paper to the candidates.
Chapter completed!