I am engaged in construction in Datang

Since leaving the women's manor that day, Wu Wei and the other three went to visit Concubine Yang, and then settled down in the courtyard arranged by Concubine Yang.

The small courtyard on the second floor is not very grand, but it is more than enough to accommodate four ladies.

The summer flowers in the courtyard are in full bloom, and there are always butterflies that want to stay here for a while.

In the wing room.

"Auntie."

Wu Wei took out a few hairpins to choose from: "I always feel like something is wrong."

The last time they visited Concubine Yang, she never mentioned entering the palace, even though they had clearly agreed on it in a letter a long time ago.

Looking at the palace where Concubine Yang lived, there were not many attendants to be seen.

"Auntie, could it be that..."

Wu Wei didn't have the heart to say the word "falling out of favor".

For the women in the harem, this matter was too terrifying.

"Stop talking nonsense." Mrs. Rong glared at her daughter. She had never heard any rumors of her falling out of favor.

Wu Wei sighed: "It can't be that they are all farming, right?"

Isn't it just for show?

Mrs. Rongguo said as she combed Wu Wei's hair: "Who would know?"

"How can you and I guess what the emperor is thinking?"

"We will enter the palace today and investigate again."

After the two of them finished dressing up, they took a carriage to the palace. They had submitted their visiting cards before, and Her Majesty the Queen had accepted their invitation, so they would not be stopped now.

Harem, weaving factory.

Concubine Yang put down the loom helplessly: "Your Highness the Queen."

"That's fine." Empress Chang Sun said with a smile, "Just go and take a look. It won't delay anything."

"Alright."

Concubine Yang stood up and rode her 28-meter-long bicycle back to the palace.

Wu Wei and the other man were already waiting in the front hall. When they saw the lady coming in wearing short-sleeved shirt and long pants, they were both stunned.

They knew that this way of dressing was popular outside, but they didn't expect it to become popular in the palace as well.

"Sister, are you here today to discuss Madam Yu's marriage?"

Concubine Yang asked the people on duty in the palace to bring tea and cakes. She looked carefully at Wu Wei in front of her. She was truly a beauty.

"That's right." Mrs. Rongguo hesitated and said, "But what difficulties have you encountered?"

"it's not true."

Concubine Yang smiled and shook her head: "Nowadays, marriage requires mutual consent, and the lady and the husband must be attracted to each other."

"Your Majesty has seen Madam Wei."

"..."

A surge of anger suddenly surged in Wu Wei's heart, he clenched his fists, and his little face turned red.

It seems that she is not liked!

The question is, when did His Majesty meet her?

Why doesn't she have any impression?

"Auntie."

Wu Wei said aggrievedly: "Your Majesty has not seen Wei'er many times, how can you know that I don't want someone like me?"

"If it's just a few times, it won't be like this."

Concubine Yang smiled and said, "But some people say that a lady like Er should not waste her time in the palace."

Wu Wei lowered his head and thought for a moment, and instantly understood where the problem lay.

She raised her head and bowed to Concubine Yang: "I am sorry to trouble you this time."

The three of them exchanged greetings for a moment, and then Wu Wei followed A Niang back home.

In the carriage, Mrs. Rongguo sighed repeatedly: "I don't know who blocked Er'er's way."

Wu Wei looked at the noise outside the window and remained silent.

If she shouldn't waste time in the palace, where should she go?

How can women like them who don't even have a home earn enough to make a living?

"But Zhuangzi no longer accepts people..."

"What do you want from me?"

……

Female village.

Li Yin dragged a very heavy bag and walked towards the fields.

This is a new agricultural fertilizer developed by the School of Chemistry. It is said to be more effective than the one from last year, so she just happened to try it out.

It is now the end of June, the weather is hot and the sound of cicadas is continuous.

Li Shimin walked beside her, also carrying a bag of fertilizer.

"Sister, can this fertilizer really increase yields?"

“I don’t know that either.”

Li Yin shook her head: "The people from the Chemical Institute said it's okay, but we have to try it before we can come to a conclusion."

"Today, the daughter of the Wu family came to the palace to visit Concubine Yang. It was probably about marriage." Li Shimin thought of what his wife had said to him, and then he thought of the little girl that his sister-in-law had taken a fancy to.

"Pity."

Li Yin shook her head and sighed.

"What a pity?" He could never keep up with his stepsister's train of thought.

"It's a pity that a smart lady is trapped in the backyard."

Li Yin smiled and said, "Brother, why not think about Lu Liangxi, Yuan Tingran, Wang Youfu..."

"If not... I'm afraid I'd have to spend my whole life mending things."

“There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Li Shimin put down the fertilizer on his body and said: "This is the social structure. Men have to farm and work. Women are not that strong, and there are not as many women as Alang. Going out will always be dangerous..."

This statement was correct in the past, but it is no longer applicable now.

Li Yin retorted: "The small number of wives is caused by fertility and the preference for boys over girls. Now it is slowly improving."

"Farming has been replaced by machinery, and my brother has also seen the power of the steam engine."

"If you get into danger outside, it's the bad guys' fault. You need to be more defensive and can't always blame the lady."

If you calculate carefully, the labor output of women is actually slowly catching up with that of men.

"What I feel bad for is that even though the time has come for them to flourish, the ladies still cannot display their talents."

The two of them worked together to fertilize the fields, and after working for half a day they finally took a break.

I had noodles at noon today, which was refreshing and delicious.

"What my stepsister said makes sense as well."

Li Yin continued: "Brother, why don't you try my potential?"

"How about we make a bet?"

"How do we bet and what's the stake?" Li Shimin became interested. This was the first time that his sister-in-law bet with him.

Given Li Yin's cautious personality, this is truly the first time.

"Ask the women's village to take the lead and cooperate with the Ministry of Rites to jointly hold a Tang Dynasty Talented Women Examination."

Li Shimin was confused when he heard this: "What can this prove?"

"It is useless to simply conduct a talent test for women."

Li Yin said: "But if it is carried out at the same time as the imperial examination, it can be proved."

"The exam time is the same, the exam content is the same, and the ladies who win the top few places will be named talented ladies. It is not an official title, and they have no real power. But after marrying as a legal wife, if the husband's family is an official, they can ask their husband to be promoted half a level. If they are businessmen, they can be exempted from the title..."

"And you can't get divorced after marriage, you can only get a divorce. In addition, you can also receive some silver money subsidy every month."

"Just these?" Li Shimin had a hunch that his sister-in-law wouldn't want that simple thing.

"of course not."

"The examination papers are displayed publicly so that everyone in the world can see the women's answers."

Li Yin finished the noodles in her mouth and said, "Brother, I am just curious, do people in the world think that these ladies are qualified to compete with you in the real imperial examination?"

“Yes, but not too much.”

Li Shimin shook his head helplessly: "You gentlemen are specially trained, how can you be easily surpassed by others?"

"If it is really held, it would be great if there are one or two powerful people."

Li Yin served another bowl of cold noodles: "Brother, the provincial and county examinations are held once a year. Once the ladies from the noble families decide to participate, they will devote themselves to the effort."

"In three years, maybe all the ladies on the red list will be able to compete with you in the imperial examination."