CCWAD – Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Chapter 38: The Winds of New Policy

Prologue:

“When the first batch of female Jinshi paraded on horseback, eggs and vegetable leaves were thrown alongside flowers. Yang Bamei shielded me, her silver spear deflecting a rotten egg: ‘Your Majesty, this road is even harder than we imagined.'”

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Spring turned to autumn, and in the blink of an eye, it was the second year since the establishment of the new dynasty. Women’s academies sprang up everywhere like mushrooms after rain, but the voices of opposition never ceased. This day, during the morning court, the atmosphere was particularly somber. Inside Chuigong Hall, the golden lacquer on the coiled dragon pillars glinted coldly in the morning light. Civil and military officials stood on either side, yet none dared to speak first.

“Your Majesty,” Censorate Vice Minister Wang Pu finally stepped forward, holding his jade tablet, his voice filled with sorrow, “Recently, slanderous pamphlets have been circulating in the capital, saying that Your Majesty… that Your Majesty intends to replace men with women, subverting human relations. Worse still, people have gathered in front of the Imperial Academy to protest, demanding the abolition of the female examinations. Last night, someone even committed suicide in front of the Confucius Temple to make a point, but thankfully, imperial academy students discovered them in time…”

Yan Qing sat on the dragon throne, her expression as calm as ever. “Oh? And who are these protesters?”

“Mostly… mostly imperial academy students.” Wang Pu lowered his head, his voice growing softer, “They claim that if the female examinations are held, they will collectively withdraw from the examinations. Several renowned scholars have also jointly submitted a petition, saying… saying that Your Majesty is about to cut off the cultural lineage of China.”

Silence fell upon the court. The imperial academy students were the reserve for future officials, and their attitude largely represented the trend of scholarly opinion. Several elder ministers exchanged glances, clearly having heard about this matter beforehand.

Li Shishi said softly, “Your Majesty, this matter should not be handled forcefully. These students are young and impetuous; if dealt with improperly, it might stir up greater unrest. Why not let this minister visit the Imperial Academy and have a good talk with these students?”

“No need,” Yan Qing stood up, the gold threads on her dragon robe flowing in the morning light. “I will go myself.”

Indeed, hundreds of students in white robes had gathered in front of the Imperial Academy. They held banners that read “Defend Sacred Learning” and “Abolish Female Examinations,” and their indignation was palpable. When Yan Qing’s imperial procession appeared at the street corner, the wave of protest reached its peak.

“A hen crows at dawn!”

“Restore ancestral traditions!”

“Abolish female examinations!”

Yan Qing stepped down from her imperial carriage and walked towards the crowd alone. The guards wanted to follow, but she waved them to stop. She had deliberately chosen to wear a simple, elegant cyan robe today, not her dragon robe, making her appear approachable.

“Everyone,” her voice carried clearly across the entire square, “What are you afraid of?”

A young student shouted excitedly, “Women entering academies, the imbalance of yin and yang, this is a sign of the nation’s demise! The Book of Documents states: ‘When a hen crows at dawn, it signifies the ruin of a household.’ Now, women are not only crowing at dawn but also entering the court to become officials. Will this not lead to chaos in the world?”

“The nation’s demise?” Yan Qing smiled faintly. “I would like to ask, how can women reading and writing lead to the nation’s demise?”

Another student, his neck stiff, retorted, “The sage said: ‘Only women and petty people are difficult to manage.’ Letting women read, will this not lead to great chaos in the world? Moreover, women are fickle; if they become officials, it is inevitable that they will put personal matters before public duty…”

“‘Only women and petty people are difficult to manage,’ you say.” Yan Qing’s gaze swept over the crowd. “Then I ask you, was Confucius’s mother, Yan Zhengzai, an unlettered foolish woman? Was Mencius’s mother, who moved three times, an ignorant village woman? Was Ban Zhao, who continued writing the Book of Han, an unlearned person?”

The students were momentarily speechless. They were all too familiar with these stories, yet they had never considered them from this perspective.

Yan Qing continued, “Let me ask you again, if your mothers and sisters wish to study and understand principles, would you also use the words of the sages to stop them? If your daughters are intelligent and talented, would you be content to let them be confined to their chambers their entire lives?”

At this moment, a clear voice came from behind the crowd, “Well said!”

Everyone turned to see a young girl in plain clothes supporting an old woman. Although the old woman’s clothing was simple, her demeanor was extraordinary, and her steps were steady.

“This humble one is Madam Su,” the old woman said, bowing to Yan Qing, “the daughter of the late Prime Minister Su Song. This humble one began her studies at the age of seven and read through the classics and histories. However, because I am a woman, my lifelong learning had no outlet. My late father often sighed, saying that if this humble one had been a man, she would surely have brought glory to the family. Now that Your Majesty has opened the female examinations, although this humble one is over sixty, I am still willing to be the first to register and participate!”

The girl in plain clothes also said, “This commoner’s father passed away early, and my mother and I depend on each other. If not for Your Majesty establishing women’s academies, this commoner might not even know how to write her own name in this lifetime. This commoner implores all you gentlemen to give us a chance!”

The protesting students looked at each other, and some began to waver. At this moment, an even more shocking scene unfolded. An elderly official in purple robes hurried over; it was the Grand Tutor, Zhao Mingcheng. He knelt before Yan Qing:

“This humble minister… this humble minister requests Your Majesty to permit his granddaughter to participate in the female examinations!”

The entire assembly erupted in shock. Zhao Mingcheng was one of the most vehement opponents of the female examinations! Just yesterday, he had eloquently argued in court, saying, “I would rather resign and return to private life than acknowledge the female imperial examinations.”

Zhao Mingcheng’s eyes welled up with tears: “My granddaughter, from a young age, was intelligent and had a photographic memory. But because she is a girl, she can only be confined to her embroidery room all day. Yesterday, she knelt before this humble minister and said that if she cannot participate in the imperial examinations, she would rather die… This humble minister… this humble minister truly…”

Yan Qing helped the old minister up and faced the crowd. “You have all seen. It is not that I want to establish female examinations, but that the women of the land want a fair opportunity! I ask you, reading and understanding principles, cultivating oneself and managing the household – are these the teachings of the sages not to be divided by gender?”

The protesting crowd gradually dispersed. But Yan Qing knew this was only the beginning.

As expected, during the subsequent imperial examinations, more storms arose. Large crowds of protesters gathered outside the female examination venues, and some even attempted to storm the examination halls. Yang Bamei led the Flying Phoenix Camp to guard day and night, ensuring the smooth progress of the examinations. On the day of the examination, some people beat gongs and drums outside the venue, trying to disrupt the candidates.

Even more disheartening was that some women’s families strongly opposed it. Some fathers locked their daughters at home, and some husbands beat their wives who wished to take the examinations. Yan Qing had to issue an order that anyone obstructing women from participating in the imperial examinations would be punished according to the law.

The day the results were posted caused an even greater sensation in the capital. The top scholar of the female examinations was a woman from a humble background, Lin Wanqing, while the top scholar of the male examinations came from an ordinary farming family. This was simply unimaginable in the past – in previous examinations, Jinshi were mostly from aristocratic families, and it was difficult for those from humble backgrounds to rise.

According to custom, the new Jinshi would parade on horseback. When the female Jinshi appeared on the streets, the scene immediately became chaotic.

“Wicked women! Get down!”

“Women are fit to parade on horseback?”

“Disgraceful!”

Flowers and eggs flew together, cheers and insults intertwined. Some agitated members of the crowd even attempted to charge the parade procession. Yang Bamei led the female soldiers of the Flying Phoenix Camp to form a human wall, protecting the female Jinshi in the center.

A rotten egg flew directly towards Yan Qing. Yang Bamei’s silver spear flicked, precisely deflecting the egg, and the liquid splattered on the ground.

“Your Majesty,” Yang Bamei said in a low voice, shielding Yan Qing, “this road is even harder than we imagined.”

Yan Qing looked at the angry faces on the street and said softly, “Even if it’s hard, we must walk it. If even we retreat, what will happen to the women who come after us?”

Inspiringly, more and more women emerged from their homes, standing on the street to cheer for the female Jinshi. Among them were young girls, white-haired old women, and women holding their children. They might not have fully understood the significance of the imperial examinations, but they knew that for the first time in centuries, women could walk in the sunlight with dignity.

An old woman, trembling, held a bouquet of wildflowers, wanting to offer them to the female Jinshi, but was forcibly pulled away by her son. A young girl secretly threw her embroidered handkerchief towards the parade procession, only to be slapped publicly by her father. However, these obstructions only caused more women to step forward.

As the parade procession reached the middle section of Yujie Street, a group of strong men wielding clubs suddenly rushed out from the side. They were clearly prepared and headed straight for the female Jinshi’s mounts.

“Protect the Jinshi!” Yang Bamei brandished her silver spear, and the female soldiers of the Flying Phoenix Camp immediately formed a formation to meet the enemy.

Although these women were well-trained, they gradually fell into a disadvantage against the desperate attackers. Just as the situation became critical, a detachment of imperial guards arrived in time, led by none other than Zhong Shidao.

“This old general is under imperial decree to protect the new Jinshi!” the old general’s voice boomed like a bell. “Anyone who dares to cause trouble will be killed without mercy!”

The unrest was quickly quelled, but everyone understood that the resistance to this reform was far greater than imagined.

That evening, Yan Qing held a Qionglin Banquet in the palace. The new Jinshi took their seats in order, men and women seated on the left and right. Although there were still divisions, they could at least serve in the same court.

Lin Wanqing, the top scholar of the female examinations, raised her cup to toast, “Your humble subjects express their deepest gratitude to Your Majesty for your benevolence. If not for Your Majesty establishing the female examinations, we would likely have been confined to our inner chambers our entire lives, living a mediocre existence. The humiliation we suffered during the parade today, we accept gladly, only wishing to forge a path for those who come after us.”

Yan Qing looked at the brilliance in her eyes and smiled with relief. “Serve well as officials. Let the world see that women as officials can also benefit the people.”

She turned to all the new Jinshi. “The grievances you have suffered today, I have all noted. But please remember, the opening of every new era requires someone to pay a price. The infamy you endure today will surely become a celebrated tale in the future.”

Halfway through the banquet, an urgent report suddenly arrived: a severe drought in the north, millions of starving people, and widespread banditry.

The test of the new policy had only just begun.

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(End of Chapter 38)