HLnovel Chapter 551 Do You Know (18)
Chapter 551 Do You Know (18)
The government acted even faster than Wangyou had anticipated, and the matter was resolved in just two years.
With the autumn imperial examinations approaching, the emperor suppressed dissenting voices and issued a decree allowing women to participate in the examinations. To prevent anyone from remonstrating to the death, the emperor repeatedly advised women to forget their worries the day before the decree was announced.
Therefore, when the officials went to court, they found a figure they hadn't seen in a long time sitting at the very front. Then, when the emperor announced the decree, none of the civil and military officials came out to stop him.
Nonsense, if you step out to block the lightning, you'll get struck by lightning and that would be the end of you. You'd better behave yourself.
When the news spread, countless young women confined to their chambers wept with joy and devoted themselves to preparing for the exam.
Because this was the first time women had taken the imperial examination, the government specially held an extra examination for both children and scholars, with both men and women participating. The questions and content of the examinations were the same.
Mo Lan, Ru Lan, and Ming Lan studied with such fervor that Chang Bai and Chang Feng felt embarrassed to slack off.
"Seventh Sister, will you participate in the imperial examination?" Rulan asked after finishing her question from earlier that day.
"I'm already the Crown Prince's tutor, what's the point of taking an exam?" Wangyou said, picking up the imperial edict from the side.
"Is this a secret decree?"
"No, it was forced upon me by the Emperor."
"That's great, I can become an official without taking the exam."
"Alright, stop being envious. These are the practice questions I compiled for the exam. You, your fourth sister, and your sixth sister should review them together, do them, and then give them to me for checking."
"Okay, I understand." Rulan, carrying a stack of test papers, went back to find Molan and Minglan with a miserable expression.
"Mother, do you think I should become the Crown Prince's tutor?" Wangyou took the imperial edict to her mother to confide in her.
"Just follow your heart. Whatever decision you make, your mother will support you."
“Mother, the crown prince is very important for the stability of a dynasty. However, apart from the first emperor, the emperors of the Song Dynasty have all been somewhat weak in character. Therefore, I want to raise a different kind of crown prince.”
"Yes, Mother believes that since I, Wangyou, have raised myself so well, the Crown Prince I raise will certainly not be bad either."
“Then I’ll go, but I’ll have to get something in return. I’ll go to the Emperor to give Mother a title.” Wangyou was a woman of action. She dressed and went straight to the palace.
"I'm telling you, you have to take the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, whether you want to or not." The Emperor's words were very firm, and it would have been better if his tone wasn't so weak. It was clear that he was still worried that Wangyou had come to the palace to return the imperial edict to him.
"Don't worry, but I have two requests."
"You said."
"First, since the Crown Prince has been entrusted to my upbringing, you cannot interfere."
Second, bestow upon my mother the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree.
"Alright, I agree. But what rank would be better if your mother granted you? Based on your rank, you could be granted the title of First Rank Lady, but that would surpass your father's."
"Let's also bestow a fourth-rank imperial title upon my stepmother, just like my father. And let my mother follow my rank. I'm sure they won't have any objections," Wangyou said after a moment of contemplation.
"Aren't you going to promote your dad?"
"Forget it, my dad is too arrogant. It's better to let him be down-to-earth."
"Alright, I will write the imperial edict right away."
"Alright, where is the Crown Prince? I'll take him with me and bring him in every few days so you can see him."
"Can't you enter the palace to teach?"
"There are too many rules in the palace, it's inconvenient to even go out. By the way, you might need to talk to the Empress."
"It's alright, I promise you, I will bring it in every few days so I can see it," the Emperor said, still somewhat worried.
"no problem."
After the emperor finished writing the imperial edict, the young crown prince Yuan Zhao was also brought in.
"Pretty auntie." Yuan Zhao's little eyes lit up the moment he saw Wangyou. Without needing to be carried, he ran over and hugged Wangyou's leg.
"Little Yuanzhao, you've grown so much. How about coming home with me?"
"it is good."
"If you come with me, you will never see your mother and father again."
"Then can I come to see Father and Mother every few days?" the child thought for a moment, then said seriously.
"Of course you can, but you can't cry when you come home with me."
"No way!" the child boasted.
Afterwards, Wangyou took the young prince and the messenger back.
After the imperial edict was read, everyone felt a mix of emotions. Indeed, sometimes one has to believe in fate; raising a good daughter is more useful than raising ten sons.
“I’m going to raise the Crown Prince from now on, so I plan to move out and live in the Princess’s residence. Mother, you should come with me too.”
“Alright, Mother, no problem.” Madam Yan nodded readily. She was already a first-rank noblewoman, while the eldest daughter-in-law was only a fourth-rank lady. It was always a bit awkward for them to live under the same roof.
Sheng Hong: I'm so annoyed!
"Father, this is the treatment for smallpox. Present it to the emperor tomorrow and see if he will promote you." Seeing Sheng Hong's sour face, Wangyou still gave him a consolation prize.
Is this true?
"Of course, I didn't raise such a big farm for nothing."
"Thank you, Dad!"
"Fourth sister, fifth sister, sixth sister, will you stay with me at the Princess's mansion before the exam, or will you study at home?"
“I’ll go stay at the Princess’s residence with you,” Rulan said first. What a joke! At this crucial moment, how could she let her tutor run away?
“I’ll go too.” Mo Lan glanced at Lin Xiao Niang, who nodded silently.
Minglan looked at the old lady, who sighed and nodded.
And so, the three Lans followed Wangyou and Yan Shi to the Princess's residence.
As for the housewarming banquet, Wangyou didn't even think about it, and Yan Shi saw that the maids were studying diligently, so she didn't mention it.
However, people frequently sent invitations to the Princess's residence. To keep her mother from getting bored, she let her decide for herself. Madam Yan thought that since she was already a first-rank official, no one except those of higher ranks could give her a hard time, so she went and even made a few close friends.
When the little prince first arrived at the princess's residence, he was still thinking about breastfeeding, but after only two days, he forgot about it because of the complementary food that Wangyou had made for him, and he ate his meals with great relish every day.
In addition, Wangyou taught Yuanzhao to recognize characters by combining pictures and text. She also took him jogging in the mansion every day. After a period of time, the child's exercise level increased rapidly, and his appetite naturally increased as well.
The two children, one big and one small, were having so much fun at the princess's residence that they completely forgot about what they had agreed to. Half a month passed without them remembering it, and the emperor, unable to bear it any longer, sent someone to remind them.
"Okay, I understand. Take Yuan Zhao to court tomorrow," Wangyou said after a moment of guilt.
"I'll go back and report to His Majesty right away." Having received confirmation, Eunuch Chu didn't linger.
The next day, as expected, Wangyou took the young prince to court. The Crown Prince's tutor was required to attend court, but Wangyou was just being lazy and didn't go. Besides, she was aware of what was going on, even though she didn't go.