When Jiang Wan wanted to summon those men into the palace, many people in the court opposed it.
The reason for their opposition was very strange. They just felt that men were unlucky and entering the palace would pollute their sacred court.
Many people also cited the words left by the first empress, pointing out that Jiang Wan has been too tolerant towards men, which will foster their ambitions and may eventually contradict the first empress's last wishes.
Some ministers also said that the man was of low status and was not worthy of being in such a place.
Jiang Wan didn't take these words to heart at all.
In the past two years, she has eliminated many extremists, and most of the ministers who remain do not have any deep prejudice against men. Now the entire court has become her one-man show. No one can stop her from doing what she wants to do. Whatever she wants to do, the whole world will be busy for it.
So Jiang Wan just said calmly: "I have made up my mind, you don't need to say more."
The ministers were indeed helpless with Jiang Wan, because in the minds of the ministers, her identity as the goddess of heaven was too solid and firm. Everyone was afraid of offending her and bringing disaster to their families.
Fortunately, she has the status of the Goddess of Heaven, otherwise the ministers would have tried every means to bring her down.
As many men who passed the test entered the hall and knelt down, the ministers gradually quieted down.
"You are all good men," Jiang Wan raised her hand slightly, looking at the group of men of different ages below, with a faint smile on her face: "Everyone, get up!"
A group of men stood up, but they all stood there uncomfortably, not daring to raise their heads, let alone look around.
Only Jiang Xingzhi, who was also among the men, was particularly bold. He quietly looked up at his mother sitting on the phoenix chair, and the tension in his heart suddenly disappeared completely.
Jiang Wan naturally also saw her eldest son. In recent years, she has been teaching her three children whenever she has time. However, Yizhi likes mountains and rivers and a free and easy life, while Muzhi prefers real money. Only Xingzhi likes to listen to the complicated events from her mouth.
So even though Xingzhi is very young, he is still one of the people standing in the hall today.
Jiang Wan did not show any special expression to her eldest son. She just looked at these good boys and said, "When you took the test earlier, I made a promise that the first group of people who passed the test would receive my reward."
"You are all very capable people who can stand out among so many students. And the test questions you took were originally the questions for this year's imperial examination. Since you have passed the imperial examination, then I," Jiang Wan paused, and then continued, "will reward you with official positions."
As soon as she said this, it was like a stone that caused a thousand waves.
No matter they were ministers or young men, they all widened their eyes and looked at her subconsciously.
The men's eyes were filled with excitement. Some couldn't help shedding tears, some bit their lips in disbelief, and some pinched their palms.
Before entering the hall, they had never thought that the so-called reward would be to become an official.
You have to know that since the first empress, there have been no men serving as officials in this world. Men can't even be waiters, let alone officials.
Can they...be officials
The men's emotions were complicated at the moment. Even Jiang Xingzhi, who had heard his mother talk about this earlier, could not control his excitement when he really faced this matter.
But for the ministers, this was absolutely earth-shattering and horrifying!
Soon, a large circle of ministers knelt on the ground, and each of them spoke earnestly:
"Your Majesty, this is impossible! How can a man be an official? This, this, this is really shocking and unbelievable!"
"That's right. Since the first empress, there have been no men in the court. This is a mess. Your Majesty, please think twice before you act!" "Yes, Your Majesty, this matter is very serious. You must not make a hasty decision."
"There are many things that can be rewarded to them. Rewarding them with official positions is not a foolproof approach. Your Majesty must think this through!"
"Your Majesty..."
Since this concerns the interests of all women, this time no minister would pretend to be deaf and dumb. They all stood up and begged the queen to revoke her order.
However, Jiang Qingfeng, who had been with Jiang Wan for the past two years, had a thoughtful look on his face and did not make any sound to dissuade her.
Seeing the ministers kneeling one after another, the men in the hall were also frightened and knelt on the ground as well.
Jiang Wan's expression was calm and composed, which was what she expected.
What she wants to touch now is the cake of all women who are the beneficiaries, which is no less than making enemies with the whole world.
"Since they have all passed the imperial examination, they are naturally qualified and capable of being officials. So I grant them official positions, which is also a good thing." Jiang Wan raised her chin slightly and said in a resounding voice: "I have spoken and I cannot take it back. You don't need to persuade me anymore."
But this time it's different.
In the past, due to her status, the ministers never dared to argue with her, let alone disobey her will.
But now, women all know that this should not be the first case. Once this precedent is set, the status of men will be elevated and men will no longer be so easy to control, and the interests of all women will be harmed.
So an imperial censor stood up and gave a long and earnest speech, trying to dissuade the empress from doing something impulsive.
The ministers in the hall all echoed, citing scriptures and turning into chatterboxes, trying to persuade the empress to stop acting recklessly.
But this was not a spur-of-the-moment action at all; it was something that had been planned for a long time.
In the end, the ministers failed to convince Jiang Wan. Instead, Jiang Wan brainwashed them with the words, "Who doesn't have men in their family? I am not giving opportunities to a few of them. I am giving opportunities to all the men in the world. As long as the men in your family are capable, they can still bring honor to your family and give you more support in the court."
For a moment, many ministers felt that her words made sense, but they also felt that something was wrong.
Even if women don't want it, everyone has several sons and grandsons in their families. If men can also become officials, then their sons and grandsons will also have the opportunity to enter the court. This is indeed true.
But they always felt that something was strange, but they really couldn't figure out what it was.
It was not until much later, when most of the officials in the court were men, that they finally realized that if men could become officials, then most of the official careers that originally belonged to women would be taken away.
A piece of cake that belonged exclusively to women eventually became a cake shared equally by men and women.
However, at this time, the ministers who were fooled by Jiang Wan all fell silent.
Therefore, the path to becoming an official for the first batch of male students was officially recognized by all ministers.
Once this news spread, it shocked everyone.
(End of this chapter)