The capital quickly stabilized, followed by purges outside the capital.

During this time, they investigated and announced the Xie clan’s collusion and dealings with the Xi Liang people, as well as some secret matters involving the Wei clan and other aristocratic families.

Several Xie clan patriarchs were imprisoned, family properties confiscated. The Xie family members dispersed—some seeking refuge with relatives and friends, others changing their names.

The Liang father and son were demoted again and exiled to border commandery labor service. The crimes of how the Liang father and son falsely claimed credit and rewards, and how Shipo City was breached, were also publicly announced throughout the realm, drawing waves of condemnation.

However, other Liang clan members in the border commandery who hadn’t been doing labor service were not given extended sentences. Released from criminal status, they made honest livings.

By the autumn of the following year, when Xiao Yu assumed personal rule, Great Xia had restored tranquility.

When Xiao Yu assumed personal rule, for the court officials, there seemed to be no difference.

The Empress still sat behind the Emperor.

Though there were differences—without Deng Yi, without Xie Yanfang, with over half the officials in court purged, with no one leading, the Empress seemed to have no opponents to dispute with and hardly spoke.

The Emperor became the person who spoke most in court.

The thirteen-year-old youth—after so many years of silence, when he finally spoke about court matters, showed not the slightest inexperience.

After all, he had sat in court for seven years and seriously read memorials for seven years. Though seemingly an observer, he had actually been participating all along.

Xiao Yu felt his life hadn’t changed. The time previously used for lessons was replaced by discussing court affairs. He still busied himself in the study.

After reviewing and discussing, he would bring memorials to the Empress’s chambers.

The Imperial Guards, attendants, and palace maids outside the Empress’s chambers all bowed when they saw him. Layer by layer, they announced his arrival. By the time Xiao Yu walked in, Chu Zhao already stood at the entrance to greet him.

Today Chu Zhao wasn’t wearing empress ceremonial robes but only casual jade-green garments with rolled-up sleeves, holding an arrow in her hand.

“Elder Sister,” Xiao Yu called happily.

Chu Zhao beckoned, smiling: “I’m playing arrow-toss. Come compete with me.”

Xiao Yu smiled: “All right.” Then added, “But Elder Sister, you must first review the memorials.”

Chu Zhao glanced at the attendants behind him carrying memorials and waved her hand: “Just bring them inside.”

The attendants respectfully carried the memorials to the Empress’s study.

Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu played several rounds of arrow-toss with the palace maids and attendants. Emperor and Empress each won and lost, then ate dinner together. Afterward, Chu Zhao sat down to review memorials. After reading Xiao Yu’s annotations, she took the jade seal and stamped it.

Though the Emperor had assumed personal rule, the jade seal remained in the Empress’s hands.

Xiao Yu had no objections whatsoever. He sat to the side reading, occasionally answering Chu Zhao’s inquiries. This was his favorite evening time.

“The matter of opening the civil examinations next year should be prepared now,” Chu Zhao said after finishing today’s memorials.

Xiao Yu put down his book and said: “I’ve already instructed the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Personnel to prepare. From local areas to the capital, examinations will be held level by level, striving not to overlook any person of ambition and knowledge.”

Chu Zhao said: “Regarding the civil examinations, I have another idea.”

……

……

“Have you heard? They’re opening civil examinations.”

“I heard long ago! His Majesty’s new policies abolish recommendations and broadly recruit talented people from throughout the realm.”

“No, besides His Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress is also opening civil examinations—for women.”

“Women! What are women taking examinations for! Will they also become officials!”

With the Custodian Guards now strictly watching, news wouldn’t spread throughout the realm like before when every sneeze the Emperor made reached everywhere. But if news did get out, it was certainly reliable and indisputable.

Though this news sounded truly absurd and unprecedented, if it was the Empress’s proposal, it must be true.

What the Empress wanted to do—her words always became deeds, her deeds always bore fruit.

The common people were in an uproar, discussing this matter everywhere. No shortage of words about great transgressions emerged. Although the Empress had always acted domineeringly and fearfully, many scholars were furious about matters overturning the proper way of yin and yang, the distinction between men and women, disrupting proper order—this was intolerable! Some even ran to government office entrances to loudly denounce it, with the goal of sacrificing themselves to awaken the world.

But neither the government offices nor the Custodian Guards and Dragon Robe Guards, whether openly or secretly, arrested anyone.

The government offices even summoned these protesting scholars and suggested: “Telling us is useless. This was decided from top to bottom. How about this—you all peacefully take the civil examinations. When you test into the capital and before the Empress, then go passionately remonstrate with her to change her mind and return to the proper path.”

This sounded quite good, but some scholars felt something was off—what if they couldn’t pass?

“Can’t pass? If you can’t pass, go study properly! If you haven’t even read the classics of the sages clearly, what principles are you discussing!” The officials were equally blunt. “First cultivate yourself, then manage family and govern the state!”

Women who received the news were also shocked beyond measure.

At this Empress’s palace banquet, more people came than other times. Many familiar yet strange faces rushed from other regions.

Familiar because many were Chu Zhao’s former playmates. Strange because over these years, everyone had married and borne children—it had been long since they’d met.

“Your Highness, are you really making us take examinations?” one woman asked directly. “If we pass, can we really become officials? Like my father, wearing court robes, riding horses, going to government offices, even attending court?”

Someone nearby couldn’t help muttering: “Qi Leyun, your father isn’t even qualified to attend court.”

The other women all burst out laughing.

Chu Zhao also laughed, looking at Qi Leyun who was already dressed as a matron but whose features, temperament and disposition were still girlish.

“It’s truly examinations, competing on equal footing with men, just like our Chu Garden literary gathering back then,” Chu Zhao said with a smile.

At the mention of the Chu Garden literary gathering, the women gathered here became excited.

Over seven years had passed. Everyone had married and borne children. Past times had grown blurry. Sometimes they didn’t even know if events from their girlhood were dreams.

Hearing the Empress mention it now, memories instantly became clear. If it was a dream, it was the most beautiful dream of their lives—they absolutely couldn’t bear to forget it.

“This time, everyone won’t be competing in a small garden but before all under heaven.”

Chu Zhao continued, raising her eyebrows at Qi Leyun.

“Are you afraid?”

Qi Leyun said: “When have I, Qi Leyun, ever been afraid!” She looked at Chu Zhao. “I, I even dared bully you back then.”

The women were amused again. Some patted her, others exclaimed.

Qi Leyun also felt somewhat awkward, instinctively wanting to find her mother. But then she remembered she was a mother herself now. Her mother no longer accompanied her.

Chu Zhao huffed: “Qi Leyun, you’re quite proud about bullying people.”

The woman before her in empress ceremonial robes looked annoyed. Yet Qi Leyun didn’t feel afraid—instead, she couldn’t help laughing.

Chu Zhao had been exactly this fierce back then. She hadn’t changed at all.

“Don’t be angry! I stopped bullying people later,” Qi Leyun said with a laugh.

“I imagine you didn’t dare anymore,” Chu Zhao said with a smile, somewhat proudly. “Because bullying me made you suffer greatly and taught you a lesson.”

Qi Leyun’s face flushed red with laughter.

The other women also all laughed.

“After passing, you can truly become officials with official robes, ride horses, go to government offices,” Chu Zhao continued, smiling slightly. “As for whether you can accomplish what your fathers, brothers, and husbands cannot—that depends on your own abilities.”

It really was true! The women grew excited.

“I said it was true,” Chu Tang said from the side, holding a teacup. “I’m at least a princess. Why didn’t you believe me when I told you?”

“You’re a princess, but you’re not an official,” Qi Leyun said. “Of course we didn’t believe you.”

Chu Tang set her teacup heavily on the table: “Fine. After this time, you’ll all see my official authority.”

Qi Leyun laughed: “A’Tang, can you even do it? Just peacefully be a princess.”

Listening to their playful banter, a woman who had been standing quietly in the back walked forward.

“Will the women’s examinations also proceed from bottom to top with layer-by-layer selection like the men’s?” she asked.

Some women saw her and couldn’t help saying: “Zhou Jiang, of course you’ll come to test.”

She remembered that Zhou Jiang had originally been quiet and not fond of competing—until the Chu Garden literary gathering exposed her true nature. Truly worthy of someone who liked chess—she loved competing most.

Zhou Jiang frowned: “I originally didn’t care, but my grandfather wants me to come to the capital as an official. He wants me to bring my husband and move here together. If I do, he’ll give me the family’s inherited chess manual.”

So it was for the chess manual! The women laughed again. Truly worthy of Zhou Jiang.

Chu Zhao also laughed and said: “Because this is the first time, there certainly won’t be many participants. So only one major examination will be held in the capital. Those who pass will only become Hanlin officials, not truly able to go everywhere and do everything like men.”

Saying this, she looked at everyone.

“This is only the beginning—the goal is to make people accept it.”

“Only after acceptance can we do more step by step.”

“After women become officials, we can then promote women’s academies in various regions.”

“Let the world know that reading, studying, and learning skills can also be women’s foundation for security and livelihood.”

“Only then will more women come to take examinations, become officials. When there are many people, there will also be more opportunities, more attempts.”

She smiled slightly.

“So what the future holds rests on all of you.”

Qi Leyun pressed her hand to her chest, murmuring: “Am I really this important? Can I really decide how the future will be, bear such heavy responsibility?”

This life won’t be lived in vain!

Someone nearby coughed and laughed: “First pass the examination!”

Qi Leyun huffed: “What’s there to fear? If I can’t pass, I’ll have my daughter test. If my daughter can’t pass, there’s still my granddaughter.”

The women all laughed heartily. Yes, if they couldn’t do it, there were daughters and granddaughters. As long as there was opportunity, things would be different.

Watching the banquet dissolve into laughter, Chu Tang leaned close to Chu Zhao and said quietly: “Remember to use favoritism to reserve the best official position for me.”

Chu Zhao said quietly: “Of course. With official status plus princess title, I’m counting on you to hold the fort and throw your weight around to support everyone.”

Chu Tang gave her a reproachful glance: “I knew I wouldn’t get any peace.” Then she smiled. “I want to repeat what my father secretly said at home.”

She imitated Chu Lan’s voice with a long sigh.

“Forget it. We’re here to repay her debt, right?”

Chu Zhao laughed: “More or less. Thinking this way is correct.”

……

……

Though discussion was everywhere, indeed what the Empress wanted to do—once spoken—truly could not be stopped.

In the autumn of the fourth year of Jianning, women rushed toward the capital preparing to take examinations. In various regions, men’s civil examinations also began. They would test step by step from county to commandery to prefecture to the capital.

“This is really interesting,” said a clerk in the county office while organizing the scholars’ registers and joking with a colleague. “You know what they’re saying outside? ‘Hanging from beams, pricking with awls, boring through walls to steal light—all to compete with women.'”

Another clerk shook his head: “No need to pay attention. Those are all sour words from people who can’t pass.”

“I know. People must be allowed to talk. I think Her Majesty the Empress doesn’t mind either. Recently the Custodian Guards have been quite idle—they’re not arresting anyone,” the clerk said. Suddenly his voice paused with an “oh.” “This name—”

The clerk beside him asked: “What about the name? Does it violate a taboo?”

The civil examinations were very strict. Violating taboos might mean truly being unable to participate.

The clerk shook his head, holding the register in a daze: “No, it’s somewhat… familiar.”

A name could be familiar? There were many people in the realm with repeated names and surnames. The colleague beside him laughed: “What’s strange about that?” He reached over to take it, glanced at it, and his smile also paused.

“Mm.” He stroked his short beard. “This name is quite familiar.”

Deng Yi.

Actually sharing the same name as the former Grand Tutor who had risen spectacularly with the identity of a guardian of the orphaned heir, then fallen spectacularly and ended with the crime of treason.