The world is heavy and late

Chapter 190 Registration ([-])

On July [-]th, the weather was neither good nor bad, but the heat in the wind had dissipated a lot.

The capital city is very lively during this period, with students coming from all over the country to catch up for the exam, and there are rumors about the selection of female officials these days.

Although the emperor did not participate in this matter, in the eyes of everyone, this is a clear approval. Didn't you see that the place where the registration was registered is guarded by the imperial army?
Even candidates who entered Beijing paid more attention to this matter than ordinary people, because a piece of red paper was posted on the registration place, and the words on it were enough to attract students who came and went.

Xia Qing looked at it and smiled cunningly and said to the people next to him: "I just asked you to write it, so more people must read it."

Xu Zhong looked helplessly at Xia Qing who ran out and said, "There are so many people here, let's go up. I reserved a box on the opposite restaurant, and I can see here at a glance."

Xia Qing nodded and followed Xu Zhong to the restaurant.

After sitting down, Xia Qing leaned against the window frame with her chin in her hands and said, "Elder-in-law, why does your handwriting get better and better as you write it?"

Xu Zhong glanced at Xia Qing, who can only be considered mediocre in writing until now, and said with a sullen face: "The more you practice, the better you will be."

Xia Qing turned her head around as soon as she heard it, pouted and said, "Elder-in-law, you are bullying."

After speaking, she moved the seat under her to Xu Zhong's side, and began to hug Xu Zhong's arm, humming and acting coquettishly.

She said proudly, "I'm out of the palace today on business. I'll take family leave at the end of the month. That's the second anniversary of our marriage."

Xu Zhong glanced at the brown sugar Xia Qing, and sighed helplessly, but his eyes were full of gentle smiles, and he rubbed his chin against Xia Qing's forehead.

It took Xia Qing a long time to see Xu Zhong every time, so naturally he had endless things to say, Xu Zhong just answered Xia Qing's words, which made Xia Qing talk more happily.

The person in charge of the registration office below is Hu Sizheng. She is sitting in the back, with Shi Sizheng next to her, and in front are two female officials from the Secretary of Rites and two female officials from the Department of Gongzheng. .

Four people are in a group of two, with a stack of paper in front of them, and the four of them are writing something with brushes.

Hu Sizheng took a leisurely sip of tea and didn't ask where Xia Qing had gone. She knew where Xia Qing had gone when she saw the familiar words.

After appreciating the handwriting on the wall, the candidates who gathered together kept making gestures with their hands, and said in admiration, "This word really penetrates the back of the paper and penetrates three points in wood."

The person next to him nodded and said, "That's right. I got Mr. Mu's handwriting a few years ago. After practicing for a long time, I can't match this handwriting."

The examinee turned his head in surprise and said, "But Mr. Mu from Yunzhou?"

The person next to him nodded, and the two greeted each other, when the third person suddenly interjected: "Stop complimenting each other, and look at what is written on the paper."

The people around all turned their heads to look, and after a glance, someone spoke first: "I only heard that His Majesty appointed female officials a few years ago, but now this female official has started to be selected from the people?"

The person next to him said, "Don't tell me, this rule seems to be two points similar to the imperial examination."

Some people also whispered: "Didn't it mean that the current empress used to be a court lady? It doesn't look like this battle."

After the three of them glanced at it, they were also a little emotional, and the person in the middle said first: "If my little sister knows the news, she must come here."

The one on the left continued: "It's unheard of for this woman to be an official, I'm afraid few people will come."

Before the other person could speak, he heard a cold snort from behind: "Pretend, what can a woman do? It's just to show off in the palace."

Immediately, someone followed suit and said: "I think this is the empress selecting candidates. A woman who stays away from home for a day and dares to go out after entering the south is really immoral. If it is a female family member of my family, I will definitely not be able to bear it."

Even more humane: "That woman probably doesn't know a single character."

After speaking, several people laughed wildly, the laughter was full of rampant malice and contempt.

All of a sudden the scene became lively, and the few people under the temporary stand didn't share a look with everyone. Although no one stepped forward yet, they were not in a hurry.

The three people in front also frowned. Two of them had sisters in their families. Although the world is such a fashion, their families rarely let their daughters go out, but how can this be...

The three of them looked at each other without saying a word. One of them walked forward and saluted the female officials and asked, "I'm looking down on the announcement, it only needs to say that the three generations of the direct line are not slaves, and the women in other states are also not slaves." You can be an official."

One of the female officers laughed and said, "It's natural."

Another person also asked with interest: "Then how do you choose?"

The female officer glanced at the two people who were still sitting behind her and said, "The Queen, Concubine An, and each Sizheng have problems. Didn't you see what was said in the notice?"

The three of them looked at each other, they came up to ask out of curiosity, but they didn't expect that these female officials looked very good, very different from the women they usually met.

Another person asked: "The applicant can be between the ages of 14 and 35, so how do they care for their husbands and raise their children?"

The female official continued: "If you want to get married, you can get married in person. If you are pregnant, the queen also specially approves the pregnancy period. At other times, you will abide by the palace rules and take family leave on January [-]. If someone wants to go home with peace of mind, they can resign official."

The three of them looked at each other in blank dismay again, did this mean that they would not be able to support their husbands and children at home?
They had a lot to say, but they didn't know how to ask. After a long silence, the person just said: "Well, in this way, won't the in-laws of these women have any objections?"

The female officer glanced at the people who were looking around, and there were many women among them, so she raised her voice: "The female official also has a monthly salary, silk cloth, etc., which can be regarded as supporting the family. What's the opinion of the in-law's family? It’s all the same, even if you wait a few days to pass the Jinshi exam, you’ll only start as a low-level official, what’s the difference?”

"Furthermore, if you don't marry, you just need to do your best and be a female official for the rest of your life. Are you afraid that you will have no one to rely on in the future?"

These words were considered a thunderbolt, which made the people present dizzy, and also shocked some people to think suddenly.

Several female officials watched this scene with satisfaction, and saw that some people seemed to be rushing up angrily, Hu Sizheng gave a wink, and the imperial guards around immediately stepped forward to arrest them, and the noisy scene fell silent again. .

At this time, Hu Sizheng stood up with Shi Sizheng's support and said: "I bumped into a fifth-rank official in the street, turned them over to Jingzhao Mansion, and let them have a severe sentence."

Several people responded in unison, escorted them away from the place, looked at the people around them dumbfounded, and did not dare to speak nonsense.

Hu Sizheng's purple official uniform really shined brightly in the sun, which made people dare not offend him in the slightest.

Xia Qing also looked at it and said: "As expected, they were dressed up specially today. Look, father-in-law, how majestic it is."

Xu Zhong also saw it, and said, "It's Hu Sizheng who has a lot of official authority."

Seeing that Xu Zhong had erased his credit, Xia Qing suddenly became unwilling. He pinched Xu Zhong's sleeve and twisted it together. Xu Zhong felt a slight pain and looked down at Xia Qing.

Xia Qing also raised his eyes to look at him, his eyes were full of provocation and dissatisfaction, Xu Zhong looked at the vigorous Xia Qing and frowned helplessly.

After watching for a long time, seeing that Xia Qing was still staring at him, as if he had to change his mouth, Xu Zhong touched Xia Qing's forehead helplessly and said, "Our young lady is so smart."

Xia Qing was immediately happy, and the two continued to stare down.

After a long silence, an old man selling vegetables asked, "This girl can also make money?"

The female officer nodded and said: "Ninth-rank female officials have a salary of two taels."

"Two taels?!" The old man selling vegetables exclaimed, apparently he had never heard of anyone who could earn so much a month, and what about two taels, even if a family earns together for a year, it might not be able to earn so much, but The lowest female officer can earn it in just one month.

At this time, a woman in her twenties finally came out from the crowd, looked nervously at the others on the field, and tightly clenched the book in her hand.

Some dare not go in that direction again.

(End of this chapter)