Chapter 1 The Top Scholar: Xu Siyun
Lin Qingge read the large characters repeatedly before finally matching the name to the person.
Good heavens!
Could this Xu Siyun be the Xu Siyun she knew?
Amazing!
Was she truly the daughter of Lord Xu Changling, her nominal brother's teacher?
To snatch the top spot right from the start, what an inspiration to women!
"Look, it's the female top scholar!"
Someone in the crowd shouted, and everyone surged in one direction.
"Make way, make way, give our female top scholar some room!"
Yongning's boisterous voice sounded from below. She stood with her hands on her hips in front of Xu Siyun, her excited and exaggerated demeanor as if she herself had achieved the top scholar.
"This female top scholar is so beautiful."
"Learned and beautiful too, truly makes one envious.
No, I must go back and urge my foolish son to study harder!"
"I know this female top scholar. She is the daughter of the Minister of Justice, Lord Xu!
When Lord Xu served as the prefect of Shuntian, he feared no power and did many good deeds for the people. He was a rare, upright official.
Who would have thought Lord Xu's daughter would also be so intelligent and virtuous!"
The crowd lavished praise on the newly minted female top scholar, but soon discordant voices emerged.
"Hmph, she's just a seductive vixen who relies on her looks."
"Exactly, this female top scholar is so beautiful, His Majesty must have taken a fancy to her and wants to take her into the palace, which is why he awarded her the title of top scholar!
Just you wait, the palace will soon have a new imperial concubine!"
"More of your sister's kin!"
Unable to listen further, Lin Qingge spat and made to descend to apprehend those impudent citizens who dared to question the Emperor.
Setting aside Lin Moyuan, who only wanted to poach her territory, Xu Siyun's status as the daughter of the Minister of Justice alone made entering the palace as a companion to the Emperor almost a mere matter of a memorial from her father, Lord Xu.
Therefore, there was no such possibility, nor was there any reliance on looks.
Moreover, the imperial examination was presided over by Feng Qingchen, who was impersonating the new Emperor. With that fellow's appreciation for talent and his exacting standards, there would be absolutely no trace of nepotism in this year's imperial examinations.
In other words, Xu Siyun's title as top scholar was well-deserved.
But she couldn't understand, whether in her past life or in this one, why people harbored such malice towards women.
When a man passed the imperial examinations, it was celebrated with banquets and widespread announcements.
Yet, when a woman achieved the rank of top scholar, she was accused of using her looks?
It was the same in her past life. A woman, not exposing her arms or legs, dressed modestly while eating barbecue by the roadside with her best friend, was harassed. Upon her firm refusal, she was beaten by the man, nearly losing her life.
Why!
Just because she was a woman?
When she saw the news back then, she had wondered why those scoundrels didn't try to hit on her. She would have beaten them so badly their own parents wouldn't recognize them, and she would have written her name, Lin Qingge, backwards!
As Lin Qingge grew increasingly angry and prepared to go down and stand up for Xu Siyun, Leng Ningyue grabbed her and shook her head.
Just then, new developments unfolded below.
Several fair-skinned scholars pushed their way forward, adjusting their askew scholar hats, pointing at Xu Siyun with their fingers, and indignantly criticizing:
"For a woman, the first lesson is self-cultivation, and the method of self-cultivation lies solely in chastity and purity.
Purity cleanses the body, chastity honors it.
You, a woman, have achieved fame, appearing so publicly. You should be scorned by all women!"
Xu Siyun pulled the fuming Princess Yongning to her side and whispered a few words to her. Then, she leaped onto the tall horse prepared for the top scholar's parade. Looking down at the scholars, she chuckled lightly:
"His Majesty's benevolence is vast, decreeing that eligible women of suitable age may also participate in the imperial examinations just like men.
Yet, you stand here spouting nonsense, using outdated dregs from who knows how many years ago to question His Majesty's wise decision.
Do you perhaps believe that His Majesty's decree is flawed?
Or perhaps, His Majesty himself is flawed?"
"You—"
As soon as Xu Siyun spoke, the faces of the scholars changed drastically in fear.
In the capital, the very heart of the empire, under the Emperor's watchful eye.
Even if they were given ten thousand more times the courage, they would not dare to disrespect His Majesty.
However, not answering would make them appear weak and hesitant. Thus, they stammered for a long time, their hands pointing at Xu Siyun trembling incessantly as if spasming, unable to utter a second word.
At this point, Xu Siyun spoke coldly again:
"By the way, if my memory serves me correctly, you few were in the same examination hall as me during the preliminary examinations.
However, I did not see you during the final imperial examination. I presume you failed."
"Hmph, with a woman like you, who disregarded propriety and shame, in the solemn examination hall, we were influenced by this perverse atmosphere and performed poorly!"
"Bah!
If you say so, then if you can't defecate, you'll blame the outhouse?"
"Yongning, discipline your words!"
Yongning, reprimanded by Xu Siyun, glared fiercely at the scholars and continued to puff out her cheeks like a steamed bun.
Xu Siyun then swept her gaze over the men who glared at her and said indifferently:
"Ultimately, you simply feel that I, a woman, should not participate in the imperial examinations, should not hold a pen, should not discuss politics, and should not stand upright in the sunlight.
What are you men afraid of?"
As she spoke the last sentence, a mocking curve appeared on her lips.
The crowd fell silent. She withdrew her gaze and declared loudly:
"So what if I am a woman?
Since I can remember, I have been accompanied by books day after day. I believe I have read no less than anyone here.
Whether it be poetry, lyrics, or music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, I am proficient in all.
These are not learned overnight; they are the result of my relentless study day and night.
Men are praised as scholars and gentlemen simply for reading.
And because I am a woman, my life must be confined to the inner chambers, raising my husband and children?
Doesn't that seem ridiculous?
Fortunately, His Majesty is wise and has given us women an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with men.
Thus, I am able to stand here today.
His Majesty's grace is immense. I, Xu Siyun, want the world to know!
Women also have soaring ambitions, and are women ever inferior to men!"
"Good!
Well said!"
Lin Qingge's voice, clapping her hands in sheer excitement, suddenly rang out.
Yongning, who had been staring blankly up at Xu Siyun, snapped back to attention and echoed with admiration:
"Siyun is right!
We women can be as powerful as men!
No, Siyun, you are even more powerful than men!"
Reaching out and ruffling Yongning's head, Xu Siyun said softly yet with immense firmness:
"I wish to be a sword, to clear the thorns for countless women in the world to break free from worldly constraints.
I wish to be a tree formed from my bones, to offer shelter to women in future generations who wish to fight against destiny.
And I believe that in the future, many women like me will step forward.
The rise of women is an unstoppable force."
Among the onlookers were not only commoners but also many ladies and young women.
Although most were seated in carriages, they were all looking out.
At this moment, some looked at her with disdain, some with confusion, some with a bewildered expression, and some with eyes shining brightly.
Her gaze swept over these women, finally landing on Lin Qingge and the other person in the distance. Then, Xu Siyun bowed deeply.