RWNEFE -Chapter 513 Women’s Martial Examination, an Auspicious Omen!

Wang Xiangzhi, a registrar in the Ministry of Rites, returned home in a rage, cursing as soon as he stepped through the door:

“Women should stay at home studying the Admonitions for Women and the virtues of the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. Yet now they parade around every day, trying to compete with men for profit—utterly disgraceful, utterly absurd!”

His wife, Madam Zhang, walked up with a smile. “Master, why be so angry? Be careful not to harm your health.” As she spoke, she poured him a cup of hot tea.

Wang Xiangzhi slammed the table angrily. “This truly infuriates me!”

Madam Zhang still wore a gentle smile, though it did not reach her eyes. She waited quietly until his temper eased a little before speaking.

“The tax for taking a concubine is due this month. The court has issued a new regulation: the head of the household and the principal wife must go together to pay it. I went today, but since I was alone, the yamen sent me back.”

Wang Xiangzhi slapped the table again in anger. If he went in person, wouldn’t he lose all face?

What kind of absurd laws had Shen Lanxi changed? They were clearly aimed at men, leaving them no way to live.

Wang Xiangzhi stood up, about to leave, when his two daughters returned happily.

“Father, perfect timing. Sister and I are registering for the imperial examinations. We need your signature here.”

Wang Xiangzhi felt as if struck by lightning. He stared blankly at the registration forms shoved into his hands, then turned furiously to question Madam Zhang.

“Who allowed you to send the girls to the women’s academy?”

The same scene was playing out in the homes of other officials and commoners alike.

Two days later, women began submitting registration forms one after another.

On the third day in court, Shen Lanxi brought up the matter of women’s examinations again.

“Impossible. I oppose it.”

“I also oppose it.”

Shen Lanxi looked at Wang Xiangzhi and asked, “Minister Wang, are you not opposing it this time?”

Wang Xiangzhi’s face flushed red. For a long time, he could not force out a single word.

What could he say? That if he disagreed, Madam Zhang would demand a divorce and report him to the authorities for favoring concubines over his lawful wife?

Shen Lanxi was truly the greatest calamity of the Great Zhou dynasty—she was driving him toward the ruin of his family and a life without peace!

“I… I am in favor of it.”

Shen Lanxi smiled lightly. “Minister Wang must be a very loving father and a man who cares deeply about his family.”

Wang Xiangzhi felt as if he had been slapped a dozen times; his old face burned red.

Many officials looked at him as if he were a traitor.

Wang Xiangzhi could only bow his head so low it was nearly touching the ground, unable to voice his grievances.

“I am also in favor.”

“I am in favor as well!”

“I agree…”

Shen Lanxi counted the supporters and opponents, then nodded with satisfaction. “There are slightly more in favor than against. Then the minority shall submit to the majority.”

Many officials glared in disbelief—this was not how it should be calculated.

Those opposed were mostly high-ranking officials of the third rank and above, while those in favor were largely below the third rank. By tradition, the higher ranks should prevail; the lower ranks were scarcely considered qualified to speak.

The three regency ministers, now little more than figureheads, exchanged glances but said nothing.

Shen Lanxi smiled. “Since women may take the civil examinations, they may as well take the martial examinations too.”

Some officials instinctively prepared to object, but Shen Lanxi continued: “On the battlefield, women kill enemies just like men. There is no reason men should earn merit and glory while women are fit only to serve as common soldiers and never receive equal treatment.”

The officials fell silent.

They might not know about other armies, but among the troops Shen Lanxi had trained, many were female guards, and many more were women physicians. They had personally seen them off at the city gates several times.

Besides, they did not truly believe women could defeat men. Most women, in their minds, were gentle and frail—some did not even dare to kill a chicken.

The Vice Minister of War suddenly conceived a plan.

“I believe we could first allow women to participate in the martial examinations. If it proceeds smoothly, then we may gradually allow further participation.”

If no one participated—or if it went poorly—then…

His eyes gleamed with the satisfaction of a scheme in motion.

Shen Lanxi glanced at him and smiled. “Very well. I think Minister Chen’s suggestion is excellent. As expected of the head of the Ministry of War—always attentive to military affairs.”

Chen Qing looked as though he had been choked. For some reason, he felt Shen Lanxi was being deliberate.

But after thinking it over, he shook his head. The idea of women taking the martial examination had been his own; Shen Lanxi could not possibly have anticipated it.

After court adjourned, Shen Lanxi immediately ordered a notice sent to the news bulletins.

The next day, headlines prominently announced that the Vice Minister of War strongly supported women’s participation in the martial examinations. Even storytellers and street vendors were discussing it.

When Chen Qing learned of this, his vision went dark; he nearly fainted and almost missed morning court.

Officials who had not aligned themselves with him surrounded him after court.

“Minister Chen, didn’t we agree before? You secretly sided with Shen Lanxi and left us in an impossible position!”

“Minister Chen, you pushed us out to take the blows while you gained the reputation of a good man!”

“Minister Chen, how could you…”

Chen Qing felt his anger surge, his temples throbbing. His vision went black, and he collapsed forward.

At the next morning’s court session, Shen Lanxi made an example of him.

“Minister Chen has labored tirelessly for the state, working day and night until his body could no longer endure, and he has fallen ill.”

“I am deeply pained, yet also proud that Great Zhou has such a devoted minister.”

“After court, I will certainly report to His Majesty and request that Minister Chen be generously rewarded.”

“With the Vice Minister of War on leave, state affairs cannot go unattended. The Assistant Minister of War shall temporarily handle Ministry of War matters in his place.”

The Assistant Minister knelt to give thanks.

As for the reward Shen Lanxi mentioned—it was merely rhetoric for the court. Not a single actual gift was given.

Chen Qing had only requested one day of leave. He never expected that while he lay at home drinking medicine, his post would already be temporarily taken over. Overcome with rage, he fainted again.

When Shen Lanxi received another leave request from the Chen family, she did not even look at it and handed it directly to Che Mingyuan.

Che Mingyuan took a red brush and casually added a stroke to the number “one,” turning it into “ten.”

Ten days of leave should be enough for Chen Qing to recover well, shouldn’t it?

Another victory report arrived from Shu. In high spirits, Shen Lanxi waved her hand and reduced agricultural taxes by twenty percent.

Some officials suggested, “Why not proclaim a general amnesty?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Those in prison are already guilty of heinous crimes. Such people are unworthy of pardon.”

Besides, the state prisons did not keep idle mouths to feed.

Those who deserved execution had already been executed; the rest had been sent to reclaim wasteland and farm. The prisons were nearly empty—who was there to pardon?

Shen Lanxi continued, “Rather than releasing such scum to harm the people again, it is better to reduce taxes so the common people can eat a few more bowls of rice during the New Year and have fish and meat on their tables.”

Liu Mingxian said, “Your Highness the Regent is wise!”

Shen Lanxi glanced at him and smiled faintly.

The joy from Shu’s victory had not lasted two days before another victory report arrived from Qianzhou.

Shen Lanxi waved her hand again—agricultural taxes were reduced by another ten percent.

The Ministry of Revenue was unwilling and had just begun to object when Liu Yanhui unfolded a memorial.

“Your Highness, today I received a report from Qingyang County. At the local livestock farm, a cow gave birth to six calves in a single pregnancy, and all survived.”

“There is also good news from the farm in Baishu County. A hen laid three eggs in one day, each as large as a goose egg…”