Female Supremacy and Rise to Power: Lin Shu's Imperial Examination Adventures

The first session will be held on the ninth day of the eighth lunar month. Participants will be asked to write an essay from the Analects, the Doctrine of the Mean, the Great Learning, and the Mencius, as well as a five-character, eight-line poem and four essays on the interpretation of the classics. For the first session, participants must write more than 200 characters for each of the three questions on the Four Books and more than 300 characters for each of the four questions on the interpretation of the classics.

The second session was on the 12th. The test consisted of one passage from the Five Classics, as well as one passage from an imperial edict, judgment, memorial, or proclamation, each requiring more than 300 characters and demonstrating flexibility.

The third session will be held on the 5th. Participants will be asked to express their opinions or views on current affairs and politics by answering five questions, which will combine classical theories with their own interpretations.

The earlier questions weren't difficult, except for one question in the third session's current affairs section:

Which is more important, national livelihood or people's well-being?

Lin Shu frowned as she looked at the question. If she didn't answer it well, she might offend her superiors. It was a difficult question to answer.

However, if you answer well...

Thinking of this, Lin Shu picked up her pen and wrote:

As an ancient saying goes, the way to govern is to follow the will of the people, improve their livelihoods, and ensure their safety without disturbing them. The life of the nation is built upon the lives of millions of people.

It is evident that national prosperity determines people's livelihood, and people's livelihood is the core of national prosperity. There is no distinction of importance between the two; on the contrary, they are mutually reinforcing and complementary, and neither can be dispensed with.

……

After the three rounds of the provincial examination were completed, more than half of August had passed.

The city did not become deserted as a result. The students who took the exam would have to wait for the results to be released in September, which would take more than half a month.

During this period, many students frequented taverns and teahouses in groups, and some talented and romantic women even frequented brothels and entertainment venues, indulging in nightly revelry...

Lin Shu was also extremely busy. Her wedding to Li Huanzhi was set for August 20th, which was five days after the provincial examination ended. This was the first time she had married since she came here (the previous one she had brought home while she was not fully conscious).

From the wedding procession to welcoming guests and toasting… a series of tedious procedures left her exhausted. Fortunately, Li Huanzhi's parents arrived in the prefectural city in early August, allowing Li Huanzhi to leave for her wedding there…

Since I didn't know anyone here, most of the guests were students from the academy, and for a while, it was quite lively...

"Quickly, quickly! Bride, the groom is here!" The groom's father called for the people gathered around the Lin family to make way while helping Li Huanzhi out of the sedan chair.

Li Huanzhi was dressed in a red silk robe today, with a light veil covering his face, revealing only a pair of alluring fox-like eyes. He looked extremely seductive. As soon as he stepped out of the sedan chair, he stunned the onlookers.

Lin Shu was also dressed in red today, and her eyes showed a rare hint of amazement. She took a few steps forward, took the other end of the red silk, and led the people to the main hall.

"I bow to Heaven and Earth to grant us this blessed union!"

May your parents enjoy abundant blessings and prosperity!

"Husband and wife bow to each other in joy!"

"The ceremony is complete! Escort them to the bridal chamber."

Following the wedding announcement, Lin Shu and Li Huanzhi completed their ceremony and returned to their bridal chamber. Not long after, after having some food brought to Li Huanzhi, Lin Shu went out to greet the guests…

Lin Shu didn't return to her room until it was completely dark, still slightly drunk.

Hearing the woman push open the door, Li Huanzhi hurriedly hid the book he was holding under his pillow and quickly sat up straight. Thinking about what was about to happen, his face flushed, his back stiffened, but he also felt a little excited.

His father had taught him a lot about this a few days ago and had also given him several picture books.

He had just flipped through it and seen those poses and actions, which were truly embarrassing, but he was also curious, so he closed one eye like an ostrich, browsing with only one eye...

"What is Huanzhi doing?" Lin Shu had just opened the door when she noticed him hiding something under his pillow.

"Huh? No...no!" Li Huanzhi kept his head down, his voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Okay. I'm going to take a shower." Seeing his reaction, Lin Shu didn't ask any more questions.

When she came out, still damp, Li Huanzhi was still sitting on the edge of the bed, his head nodding, clearly exhausted.

Lin Shu remained expressionless, shook her head slightly, moved over and gently carried the person to the inside. Then, she casually reached under the pillow and took the "book" into her hand. After opening the contents, Lin Shu frowned slightly.

Perhaps sensing someone beside him, Li Huanzhi groggily opened his eyes, only to find Lin Shu holding the book he had just read, engrossed in it. He instantly blushed crimson...

"Awake?" Lin Shu turned her head.

"Ok!"

"It's getting late, let's rest!"

After speaking, Lin Shu didn't wait for his reply before turning off the light and getting into bed...

He was still holding the book he had just been reading.

...The two studied the 'knowledge' in the book all night. (Details omitted; please use your imagination.)

No sleep for one night.

……

September 10th.

Chen Jin dressed up early in the morning and came to find Lin Shu to go see the list together. Fearing there would be too many people, she didn't bring her three husbands.

When the two arrived at the vicinity of the examination hall, they saw that the main street in front was already crowded with people. Judging from the crowd, it was so large that even a needle could not be inserted, let alone a person could squeeze in.

"Forget it, let's go back and watch it later." Chen Jin said helplessly. She really didn't expect there to be so many people.

"Well, let's just wait and see." If you pass the exam, someone will come to your door with the good news.

On their way back, the two saw several groups of people beating gongs and drums heading in different directions. For a moment, the sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers rose and fell.

A female yamen runner walked up to the door of an inn and loudly announced: "Good news! He Jing of Ping'an County has passed the provincial examination of Mengzhou Prefecture in the thirteenth year of Qingli, ranking forty-eighth."

"I won?" As the voice fell, a frail old woman in her sixties or seventies rushed down from upstairs.

After confirming it was him, he danced around excitedly on the street in front of the inn, shouting, "Hahaha! I passed! I passed! After decades of taking the exam, I've finally become a Juren..."

She was crying and laughing at the same time when she suddenly slumped over and fainted, startling the people around her and the yamen runners who came to deliver the good news. They hurriedly went to fetch a doctor for her.

Lin Shu watched with a sense of helplessness. This was a real-life version of "Fan Jin passing the imperial examination"! Except this person fainted from excitement after only passing the provincial examination; if he had passed the imperial examination, perhaps…

With each report of good news, Lin Shu and the other person returned home.

When she arrived home, she was greeted by a joyous atmosphere. It turned out that the messenger had already come to deliver the good news, and as Lin Shu had expected, it was once again the top scholar in the imperial examination.

……

After dinner, Lin Shu mentioned that she was going to the capital. Her husbands and Song's parents were all very excited, since none of them had been there before, and they kept discussing what to bring back...

Only Xue Wen seemed to have something on his mind; his brows had been furrowed ever since he returned.

In the evening, a warm breeze blew, and the osmanthus blossoms in the courtyard swayed in the wind.

Lin Shu entered the courtyard and looked at Xue Wen under the osmanthus tree. Lin Shu walked up to him and said softly:

"Father, is something on your mind?" Lin Shu hadn't forgotten the conflict that flashed in Xue Wen's eyes when he mentioned going to the capital at the dinner table.

Xue Wen turned to look at his daughter, his eyes filled with a similar tenderness, shook his head, and said:

"It's just a recollection of the past! Now that my Shuer is back, and with such extraordinary talent, I'm overjoyed. But I feel a little lost..."

"My personality has changed drastically since I woke up before the New Year. Aren't you curious, Father?" Lin Shu heard Xue Wen's words and doubts arose in her heart. What did he mean by 'Lin Shu is back'?

Upon hearing this, Xue Wen gently stroked Lin Shu's eyebrows and eyes, and smiled:

"My daughter has always been this way since she was little, how could she have changed much? If there is anything different, it is those five years..."

-

[Babies, I'm too scared to drive now. I don't know if I got reported before, but it's still not fixed... Waaah...]