In the first imperial examination after Jin Yang took charge of the government, several amazing and brilliant figures appeared. After their articles were published, they aroused the enthusiasm of countless people.
But no one could have imagined that this time the imperial examinations had a shocking event.
Everyone knows that the imperial examinations have always been dominated by men, and there are very few examples of women entering the court as officials in the court. It was the female emperor in history who was in power and only reused a few women officials around him, and the important officials in the court were all men.
However, this imperial examination revealed that the second-class biography was a woman.
You must know that every candidate will not take off their clothes to check before the palace exam, but they will also search their bodies, not to mention various investigations related to moral reputation, but under such a strict system, there are women who have gotten in. , and also got the fourth place in the palace test.
Some people scolded this woman for corrupting Chao Gang, and some suspected that some of them were corrupt, so that a woman could pretend to be a man and appear in Zhaoyang Hall. Everyone was busy criticizing this woman, especially the literati students, who jumped up and down to express their dissatisfaction with the matter as if they had been insulted by the sky.
Everyone has forgotten that not long ago, they were all adored and admired for this second-class biography, and they even yearned and wanted to be friends.
After hearing this, Gu Rujiu disapproved of those literati who jumped up and down, but became interested in the second-class biography.
"My Dafeng imperial examination has always been to attract talents from all over the world, but who said that talents must be men?" Gu Rujiu sneered and mocked, "After all, these literati just think that women can't stand in that position, Shouldn't be in that position."
When Jin Yang heard Gu Rujiu's words, he smiled and said, "How do you think this matter should be handled for a long time?"
"I don't care about these things," Gu Rujiu snorted. "You should do the things that cost your mind. I'm only responsible for looking beautiful and eating and drinking."
Zhang Tai's biggest crime is not to participate in the imperial examination as a woman, but to be a woman, but the household registration is a man, and he has also participated in the palace examination. If he is seriously investigated, it is the crime of deceiving the king. If someone can't get through with her, only this one charge is needed, and Zhang Tai will have no chance of turning over.
Jin Yang smiled helplessly: "How come you are just like him after you have Zhuangzhuang."
"Then I can only blame you," Gu Rujiu held her cheek with one hand, and squinted at him with a smile, "Who told you to make me accustomed to this way?"
"Really?" Jin Yang approached Gu Rujiu with an innocent face, "How come I don't know when I got used to you."
Gu Rujiu held his face and looked left and right, and tugged at him with his hands: "Cheky-skinned."
The close court attendant, who has long been accustomed to this way of getting along with the emperor, looked at his toes calmly, trying to make a flower bloom on his toes.
He Ming finally knew why Bai Xian, the old fox, would happily rub against the queen. As far as the emperor's enthusiasm towards the queen was concerned, there was no difference between serving in front of the queen and serving in front of His Majesty.
He originally thought that Bai Xian had made a foolish trick. What's the use of the queen being favored for a while? Men are all lustful and lustful. If you can be nice to this woman today, you can still be nice to that woman tomorrow. That is the status of the queen. An extraordinary woman, but serving in front of the queen is not comparable to that in front of the emperor.
But now, because Bai Xian served the queen with all his heart, not only did he get a good deal in front of the queen, but even His Majesty began to value him again.
I know that such a person who can't afford to be too early can't do this kind of thing that hurts himself and others.
"This second-class biography of a woman disguised as a man is somewhat interesting," Gu Rujiu said suddenly, "Where is she now?"
Jin Yang said: "When things got to this point, they should have been put in prison." He himself didn't really care too much about this matter, but the outside world was too noisy, and he had to pay attention to it.
This kind of farce appeared in the first imperial examination after taking office. He was not very happy, and because of this incident, he saw the power of the literati's pen.
Sometimes the pen is too powerful, which is not a good thing for the emperor.
Jin Yang briefly touched Gu Rujiu's delicate palm, and his expression gradually became serious.
"Anyway, she's a woman, so it doesn't matter if I invite her into the palace to see her, right?" Gu Rujiu smiled at Jin Yang, turning a blind eye to his serious expression.
"Okay, if you want to see her, announce her to the palace." Jin Yang knew that she must be curious about this "female disguise as a man" second-class biography, because in reality a woman pretending to be a man has not been discovered, which is too rare. It's not a small talk book, as long as you wear a man's clothes, everyone will be blind, treating the delicate little girl as a man.
Tian Prison has always been a place for detaining serious criminals. Zhang Tai sat in a dimly lit cell, listening to the voices of the prisoners around him talking or shouting grievances. He couldn't help hugging his knees and curled himself into a ball.
When the female prisoner in the same cell with her saw her like this, she sneered: "If you enter here, it will be difficult to get out again. You are considered a capable person, and you dare to commit the crime of deceiving the king." After that, she glanced up and down the stage. Fan, then shook his head and sighed, "If you weren't detained with me, I would have thought you were a man."
Zhang Tai glanced at her and said nothing.
"Yo," the female prisoner raised her eyebrows with a half-smile, "You scholars are good at everything, but this is not good. You are arrogant and arrogant. In fact, in life, who is not the reincarnation of the five grains, and you spend your whole life in the business for the sake of profit."
Zhang Tai looked at the female prisoner and said unwillingly for a long time; "This worldly man can make achievements, why can't we women?"
The female prisoner's face darkened slightly, and she sighed after a moment of stunned: "The world is not fair, so what if you are unwilling?" She glanced at Zhangtai pitifully, "You are full of talents, but what can you do with a ravine in your chest? Daughter, there is nothing I can do."
Zhang Tai saw that this woman was about fifty years old, and her facial features were very beautiful, but because of the hard life in prison, and she often went out to work, she looked very haggard. "What crime did you...commit, and why were you imprisoned here?"
In her opinion, this female prisoner looks kind and does not look like a wicked person.
"I..." The female prisoner smiled wryly and shook her head, "I'm stupid, there's nothing to mention."
Zhang Tai wanted to ask again, but when he saw a few officials from the Heavenly Prison lead a blue-clothed eunuch to this side, he didn't dare to say more, but watched carefully as these people got closer and closer until she was where she was. stopped at the door of the prison.
"You are Zhang Tai?" The blue-clothed eunuch looked at her with a displeased expression.
"It's right here." Zhang Taisui didn't know what was going on, but he didn't dare to neglect, got up and gave a big gift to the blue-clothed eunuch.
"Yeah." The blue-clothed eunuch nodded, "The queen wants to summon you, you come with our family."
Queen? ! Zhang Tai widened his eyes in astonishment and looked at the blue-clothed eunuch in disbelief. How could the queen want to see her
The female prisoner who was huddled in the corner heard the word "Queen", her body trembled, she looked up at Zhang Tai, and then slowly lowered her head.
"Can Mr. Zhang know how to ride a horse?" Bai Xian looked at Zhang Tai and didn't call her a girl, but Mr.
"The academy has taught horseback riding. Although I am not good at learning it, I can still travel." Zhang Tai got out of the prison and saw a guard in armor standing outside, and his awe was even greater.
"In that case, Mr. Zhang, please mount the horse." Bai Xian neatly mounted the horse, bowed his head and said to Zhang Tai, who was standing in the same place, "I don't dare to delay too much when the lady is summoned."
"Yes." After Zhang Tai bowed his hands to Bai Xian, he got on his horse. Her words and deeds are very free and easy, without the squeamishness of a boudoir girl.
Seeing this, Bai Xian has a bottom line in his heart. This Zhang Tai is afraid that he will be raised as a man since he was a child, otherwise he will not be able to do such natural actions.
How does Zhang Tai know what Bai Xian thinks, anyway, in her opinion, it is already a big thing for the queen to summon her. Long before she entered the capital, she had heard the story of the relationship between the emperor and the queen. In the story, the emperor was infatuated and gentle, and the queen was beautiful and charming. The two were a match made in heaven and blessed by God.
She didn't believe in ghosts and gods, and scoffed at these rumors, but she believed in the deep feelings between the emperor and the queen. Therefore, there is already a little more longing and yearning for the queen who has never met.
When they arrived at Baihumen, the group dismounted from their horses, and Zhang Tai followed behind Bai Xian, listening to him introduce some of the rules in the palace, and secretly remembered these in his heart.
When I look at this gorgeous palace again, I only feel that the rules are strict and it is overwhelming.
Baihumen is a long way from Qiankun Palace. Zhang Tai didn't know how long he walked with his head down before he heard Bai Xian in front: "Mr. Zhang, Qiankun Palace is here."
She looked up and saw a resplendent palace standing in front of her. There was a plaque on the gate in front of the palace with the words Qiankun Palace written on it.
After entering the gate, Bai Xian took people directly outside the Zichen Palace. Seeing that the person guarding outside the palace was Qiuluo, he said, "Miss Qiuluo, the person the Empress wanted to see has arrived."
Qiu Luo smiled at him, and nodded slightly to Zhang Tai before saying, "Please wait a moment."
Zhang Tai thought in a trance, even the maids in front of the Empress were like gods descended from the earth. I don't know how beautiful and majestic the Empress is.
Not long after, she saw the beautiful palace maid walking out just now, with a smile on her face when she didn't speak.
"The lady told you to come in." Qiu Luo made a gesture of invitation.
"There is Miss Lao Qiuluo." Bai Xian smiled politely at Qiuluo, then turned to Zhang Tai and said, "Mr. Zhang, please come with me."
After stepping into the Zichen Palace, Zhang Tai only felt a dark fragrance filled his nose in the hall, and the furnishings in the house were like a fairy palace, and he was suddenly at a loss. When she entered the inner hall, when she saw the woman in red sitting above, she stayed for a moment before returning to her senses and giving a big salute: "Student Zhang Tai, I have seen the empress."
She hasn't been stripped of her fame yet, and there's nothing wrong with calling herself a student.
"You are Zhang Tai?" Gu Rujiu looked at the girl who was bending over to bow to her. If she hadn't already known that the other party was a woman, she would never have believed that the other party was disguised as a man.
I don't know if the other person looks too much like a man, and even the throat is slightly bulging, like a man's Adam's apple, but it is not so obvious compared to ordinary men.
Also, she has broad shoulders and a burly stature. She doesn't know if her breasts are restrained on purpose or not plump. She looks like an ordinary man without any feminine features.
"It's the student." Zhang Tai didn't know the Queen's concubine's intention to summon him, so she would answer whatever the other party asked.
"I've read your article, and it's very talented," Gu Rujiu gave her a seat. "Especially the content about water conservancy you mentioned in the article is very interesting."
Unexpectedly, the Queen Mother would appreciate her article, Zhang Tai was a little excited, and repeatedly said: "The students are not talented and have little knowledge, which makes the Queen laugh."
"No, you are a rare talent. Even His Majesty has personally praised your articles." Gu Rujiu shook her head and sighed. Looking at Zhang Tai, she felt a little pity. It's a pity...
Zhang Tai knew what the unfinished words of the Queen Mother were, and when she remembered her current situation, she felt a sense of despair.
"Can you tell me why you want to dress up as a man to take part in the imperial examination?" Gu Rujiu thought for a while, "If there are extenuating circumstances, I am willing to intercede for you in front of Your Majesty."
Standing in the corner, Bai Xian glanced at Zhang Tai enviously. This girl is really lucky. Usually, the Empress seldom goes to her Majesty for mercy for others.
As soon as Zhang Tai's heart moved, he spoke out about his past.
In general, when she was not born, her father died unexpectedly, and her mother falsely claimed that she was a boy in order to save the family's property, and wrote her gender as male when she was registered in the household registration. Later, her mother remarried a squire, and she began to read and write. Because of her talent and intelligence, she was admitted to an academy, and then the township exam...
She was raised as a boy since she was a child, and until she was ten years old, she always regarded herself as a boy, and only later did she realize that she was different from a real boy. When she participated in the palace exam that day, she even thought that if she could show her ambition, it would be worth it to be a man in this life and not marry.
But she didn't expect her identity to be exposed. Not only did she commit the crime of deceiving the king, but she might also implicate the family and the academy, so she was in a panic and wanted to apologize to her death.
She is not afraid of death, but is only afraid that death will affect her family and the gentlemen of the academy.
But she felt unwilling, why couldn't she become an official in the court, just because she was a daughter's family? Because she is a daughter, she cannot inherit the property? Because she is a daughter, should she marry her husband and teach her son? Just because she's a daughter, she can't have ambitions or talents
She was not reconciled, but there was nothing she could do.
After listening to Zhang Tai's life experience, Gu Rujiu felt that Zhang Tai had gender cognitive impairment. Although she accepted the fact that she was a woman, since she always thought of herself as a boy before the age of ten, her way of speaking and doing things, They are not bound by "what women should be like".
Gu Rujiu has always felt that the so-called thinking of men and women is deceptive, and there is no difference between men and women in their thoughts and personalities, but later men wanted women to be delicate and to keep themselves safe, so they set rules for women, and once Once again, I said to women, what should you women be, and what you women should do is right. If you go beyond this frame, you will be degrading customs, and it will go against women's duty.
And women gradually lose themselves in this frame, thinking that women should be like this, and then forget to jump out of this frame, and also teach other women not to jump out.
They will say that outside the box is terrible and unethical.
Even Gu Rujiu herself stood in the middle of the frame, looking at the scenery outside the frame, but didn't take a step. Therefore, she has some admiration for a woman like Zhang Tai.
A talented person is worthy of respect, regardless of whether he is a man or a woman.
"You... a very talented person," Gu Rujiu said while looking at Zhang Tai, "I remember that in history, there was a precedent for a woman to be an official and a woman to be a patrol officer?"
Zhang Tai stood up and saluted Gu Rujiu: "Hui Niangniang, there is indeed a precedent."
It's just a flash in the pan, just like a small wave in the sea, it can't be disturbed by many ripples.
Gu Rujiu nodded and said after a moment of silence, "You go back first." She turned to Bai Xian and said, "Eunuch Bai, send Mr. Zhang back and tell the guards in Tianjing, don't embarrass Mr. Zhang."
Hearing the empress call Zhang Tai "Mr. Zhang", Bai Xian knew something in his heart and immediately agreed.
After leaving the Qiankun Palace, Bai Xian smiled and said to Zhang Tai: "Mr. Zhang is a blessed person. If you don't die, you will have future blessings, please don't worry."
Zhang Tai is not a fool, she naturally knows what Bai Xian means. She turned around and gave a big salute in the direction of Qiankun Palace. After three bows, she followed Bai Xian and left.
Above the court, the civil servants were arguing about Zhang Tai. Most people believed that Zhang Tai's crime of deceiving the emperor was unforgivable. And some people think that Zhang Tai is a rare talent, and because she is a woman, she cannot deny everything about her.
The people on both sides insisted on their own words, and the quarrel was dark and dark, but no result was reached. The most surprising thing for everyone is that even His Majesty did not immediately make a decision on this case, but let the civil servants discuss it. It seems that he has not made up his mind on this Zhangtai.
Most of the people who can stand here are not really mediocre people. They have also read Zhang Tai's answer sheet and know that she is a rare talent. Even before they knew she was a woman, many people thought that she had a great deal. for.
It's a pity that the world is unpredictable. Who would have guessed that the person who has this talent is actually a woman.
"Your Majesty, this minister thinks that Zhang Tai's move is to corrupt the court and affect your reputation. Such a serious crime of bullying the monarch should be executed," a civil servant said, "otherwise, more women will imitate her in the future. , causing great chaos in the world, this case must not be opened."
"Well," Jin Yang looked at the civil servant and said thoughtfully, "But this woman is so talented, wouldn't it be a pity if she beheaded?"
The civil official said, "Your Majesty, I have a lot of talented people in Dafeng. How can there be a shortage of talented people, but the rules can't be messed up." Women can take any imperial examinations and just stay at home.
As soon as these words came out, those who did not agree with him began to pinch again.
After these civil servants were almost at each other's throats, Jin Yang said: "In ancient times, there was King Wen who was thirsty for talents. There are no men or women in the world. As long as they are willing to help King Wen, he will treat him with kindness. There are even more female generals in my dynasty who lead troops to fight the enemy. A hundred battles will not be lost, and when we come to me, if there is no room for a talented woman, how will the world treat me, and how will future generations treat us?"
The civil servants who originally proposed beheading Zhang Tai were a little dumbfounded. Listening to His Majesty's meaning, it seems that they did not intend to pursue Zhang Tai
Dafeng does have historical records of female generals going into battle to kill the enemy. A hundred years ago, the Gaoluo Kingdom invaded, and the general defending the city died of illness. In order to guard the city gate, his wife took charge of the army on behalf of her husband. Later, with her outstanding ability, she made the soldiers worship her. In the end, she not only defended the city gate, but also led troops to help the neighboring counties retreat from the enemy. This female general is one of the 100 famous generals in Dafeng. She is the general of the second-rank town army. She was once praised as a hero by the king of Dafeng.
Thinking of this, the civil servants in Dafeng felt a little bitter. Is it not enough for them to show a woman to beat a military general, and do they have to show a woman to beat their civil servants in the face
But at this time, no one can stand up and say, yes, as men, we are jealous of the virtuous, and jealous of a woman who is better than us, so we want your majesty to cut her off.
Regardless of whether he is really jealous or not, he will stand up now and pass it on to the ears of future generations, that is his ability to be jealous of a woman.
I have been an official for decades, and the picture is of a famous person. Who doesn't cherish their feathers
It's impossible for this woman to become popular anyway, what's the point of them jumping in such a hurry at the moment, anyway, even if she enters the court, there won't be many opportunities for promotion. The pheasant fell into the phoenix's nest, and she couldn't become a phoenix no matter how hard she tried.
"Your Majesty said that although Zhang Tai's actions are guilty, but his guilt is excusable, and the minister asks His Majesty to give him a light sentence." The official who helped Zhang Tai speak took advantage of this opportunity to stand up.
This part belongs to people who are more advanced in thinking and do not stick to stereotypes. Gu Zhiyu is also a member of this representative team.
"My minister agrees!"
"My minister agrees!"
Some military attaches stood up and expressed their support for Zhang Tai with practical actions. With Zhang Tai coming to hit the civil servants in the face, they somehow felt relieved.
The final conclusion is that Zhang Tai can be forgiven for serious crimes, but minor crimes are unforgivable, so she was assigned to a remote county as a county magistrate to benefit the people in remote areas.
In this remote area, the ethnic groups are complex, the culture and agriculture are backward, and the miasma is serious. Generally, people with a little knowledge will not come here to become officials.
So everyone rejoiced, Zhang Tai's fame was preserved, but he went to a bitter and cold place. People who are more disgusted with her are also very satisfied, because in this kind of place, the county magistrate who went to either died of illness, or he tried his best to be transferred and left. How long can a woman in Zhangtai last in such a place
Persistence may lead to death from illness. If you do not persist, you will not be able to keep your fame. People in such an environment will be insignificant.
But no one knew that when Zhang Tai took office, the Queen Mother gave her a doctor.
The palace exams finally came to an end. After a period of time, Zhangtai's affairs were gradually forgotten by everyone, and the court returned to its former scene.
Just when everything was stable, there was another thunderstorm in the capital. This thunderstorm was also related to the Li family, a first-class family in the capital.
A woman sued Li Guangji for using a concubine as his heir, hiding from the sky and crossing the sea.
As soon as this happened, there was an uproar in the whole court. Isn't Li Guangji's direct son Li Huaigu, one of the famous sons in the capital
But when Mrs Wu was pregnant with Li Huaigu, many people saw that she had a big belly, so how could she use the concubine as her heir
If Li Guangji did this himself, would the Wu family and the Wu family know
More importantly, Li Huaigu has grown up so much, and no one has come forward to say anything for so many years. Now someone suddenly makes such a thing. If there is nothing tricky about it, who would believe it
When the matter reached the court, the Li family was disgraced, and Li Guangji vowed to say that this was simply nonsense, and asked the emperor to investigate everything.
"How can a mother not know if the child is for her?" Jin Yang looked at Li Guangji, who was full of grievance and anger, "Why don't you ask Mrs. Li to help investigate this case?"