Chapter 109: Chosen Female Champion
An hour later, the eunuch collected the answer sheets of the candidates and presented them to Emperor Hui.
Emperor Hui looked at them one by one, but his expression was a little solemn. It was obvious that the answers of these candidates were not to his liking.
Most of their answers were full of flattering words but without substance.
In simple terms, it's just flattery and there's nothing original about it.
Emperor Hui had a sullen face and flipped through the pages quickly. When he read the last article, he paused and saw the beginning of the article: "A ruler should treat his ministers with courtesy, and a minister should serve his ruler with loyalty."
This sentence comes from the Analects of Confucius, which means that the monarch should use his subjects with courtesy, and the subjects should serve the monarch with loyalty.
The entire article does not contain any flattery or fancy words, but only describes in detail from multiple angles how the monarch and his subjects get along with each other.
However, what surprised Emperor Hui the most was the last sentence of the article.
She asked, "May I ask if Your Majesty is a wise ruler?"
Throughout history, no one has ever dared to question him, but this candidate is so bold.
Emperor Hui looked at the name signed at the end of the article and found it was Song Shiwei.
He narrowed his eyes, stared at Song Shiwei who was standing at the back of the crowd and said, "Song, you are so brave."
The students in the hall didn't know what was going on. Seeing His Majesty's rage, they became so nervous that they dared not breathe.
Song Shiwei was not afraid of danger. She stood up, walked to the middle of the hall, knelt on the ground and said, "I wonder what crime I have committed?"
Emperor Hui stared at her and said, "How dare you question whether I am a wise ruler?"
"Not a question."
Song Shiwei raised her head and said in a clear voice, "I'm just asking if Your Majesty is a wise ruler?
Your Majesty, you only need to answer yes or no, why are you questioning it?"
Emperor Hui snorted and said, "If you think I am a wise ruler, why do you need to ask?"
Song Shiwei asked him: "Your Majesty, who should judge whether a ruler is wise?
Common people? Court officials? Or the emperor? What are their criteria for judging?
For the people, they live and work in peace and contentment, there are no excessive taxes, no wars, and no injustice in the world. Your Majesty is a wise ruler.
For the court officials, being appreciated and promoted, their ambitions have been fulfilled, and their ideals and aspirations have been realized. Your Majesty is a wise monarch.
What does it mean to explain the word "Jun" to the emperor? It is precisely because I do not know that I am asking Your Majesty. "
In the hall, one could hear people gasping. They were all terrified, fearing that they would be implicated because of Song Shiwei.
Emperor Hui, who was sitting on the throne, couldn't help but fall into deep thought after hearing what Song Shiwei said.
In the hearts of the people, he is a wise ruler. In the mouths of the court officials, he is a wise ruler. So is he really a wise ruler?
Do not!
He is not!
Song Shiwei was using the relationship between a ruler and his subjects to make him examine his own moral character.
Being in this position, he heard too many words of praise.
However, all these praises are empty and unrealistic. As Song Shiwei wrote in the article, a monarch should be respected by his subjects, not simply feared.
Without respect, there can be no loyalty.
Looking at the entire court and the world, how many people have awe for him as the king?
Emperor Hui took a deep breath, suppressed the anger on his face, and said to the students in the hall: "Look at your answers.
This is what you get after ten years of hard study.
His courage, intelligence, and insight are not as good as a woman's. He is a disgrace to the men of Nanli."
Everyone knelt on the ground in panic and confessed their crimes.
Emperor Hui said, "Send an order. Miss Song Shiwei from the Cheng'en Marquis's mansion is very talented and courageous. She has won my heart and I have chosen her as the new number one scholar."
When these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was stunned.
Even Song Shiwei was a little surprised. There had never been a female top scholar in Nanli throughout history, but His Majesty set this precedent for her.
But she knew that the so-called top scholar was just a title and she still could not enter the officialdom.
Song Shiwei bowed and thanked him. Only then did Li Defu react and hurried out to convey the order.
All the officials who were waiting outside the palace were shocked when they heard Emperor Hui's decree, and they gathered together to discuss the matter.
Only Xiao Jingheng stood tall and looked towards the palace in front of him, with a faint smile on the corner of his lips.
Soon, all the students in the hall withdrew.
Although His Majesty finally selected the second and third place winners, they were insignificant compared to Song Shiwei's brilliance.
Emperor Hui summoned all officials into the palace, and all the court officials' eyes fell on Song Shiwei.
"My dear ministers, you have come at the right time. This is the new number one scholar I have chosen, the eldest daughter of the Cheng'en Marquis's Mansion, Song Shiwei.
I'm sure you are all familiar with her name. At the banquet in the marquis's mansion that day, she sang a song that caused hundreds of birds to sing in harmony.
Now he shines again in the imperial examination, and his essay on the relationship between the ruler and his subjects is full of unique insights.
It is a great fortune for our country that a woman from Nanli can have such talent."
Emperor Hui introduced Song Shiwei to the court officials with an admiring tone.
"His Majesty."
The first person to stand up was the elderly Imperial Censor Feng, who said, "I know that Your Majesty admires Miss Song's talent, but she is a woman after all, how can she be the top scholar in Nanli?
If this gets out, wouldn't it be announced to the world that there is no talent in Nanli, and even the top prize falls on a woman? Isn't this ridiculous? "
Some people followed suit and agreed with what Censor Feng said.
Song Shiwei turned around and looked at Censor Feng and said, "This gentleman is absolutely right.
I, Nanli, really have no talent to use. If Your Majesty had the wisdom to see through me, why would you have given me the title of No. 1 Scholar?"
"you……"
Censor Feng was stunned by Song Shiwei's words, then pointed at her and said, "You are so arrogant."
"What the subject said is true, but your ideas are old-fashioned and pedantic. You actually think that the top scorer in the female high school is a joke to me, Nanli?
However, I feel that Your Majesty is far-sighted and courageous in setting a precedent. Once this matter is spread, people will not only not laugh at you, but will praise you.
What the people will really laugh at are those who look down on women."
Song Shiwei's words made Censor Feng blush.
The emperor on the throne watched with great interest the argument between Song Shiwei and the old man.
You know, even the emperor himself is afraid of the censor's mouth. Now he is speechless after being scolded by Song Shiwei in person, which is quite gratifying.
"He's just a very clever talker."
Someone else stood up and questioned Song Shiwei, "Then tell me a reason why you deserve the title of female champion."
Song Shiwei raised her eyebrows and said, "My status as the top female scholar can motivate students all over the world to work hard. Is this a reason?"
She added: "No one in this year's examination can compare to me. All the men in Nanli are ambitious, so how could they be willing to lose to a woman like me?
So they will certainly work hard and push themselves. Isn't this my credit?"
"well said!"
Yongning Hou shouted and asked the courtier who had just spoken: "Lord Li, what do you think of Miss Song's reason?"