EBE Chapter 1001: The Female Top Scorer in the January Exam
Chapter 1001: The Female Top Scorer in the January Exam
So clear!
Unlike the previous messy and illegible accounts, the ledgers in front of me were neatly formatted with clear entries.
The source, destination, handler, and date of every tax payment are all clearly recorded.
More importantly, each general ledger is followed by a summary of discrepancies, clearly marked in red pen all data inconsistencies, items of unknown origin, and non-compliant transactions.
"Great...great! What a brilliant double-entry bookkeeping method!"
The prefect of Qingzhou said "good" three times in a row.
He didn't even need to look at those detailed points of doubt; the clear structure of the ledgers alone was enough for him to see the outline of Qingzhou's finances.
He looked up at Qian Duoduo, his eyes full of praise: "Mr. Qian, you have made great contributions to this official!"
Then, his gaze turned to the twelve girls, especially Lin Xiaocao standing at the front, and his tone softened: "Children, you've worked hard."
“What you have seen and heard this past month may have made you unhappy.”
"But I must tell you, it is because of your hard work that the sky in Qingzhou is a little clearer."
The advisor added, "Sir, according to this new account, our preliminary calculations show that if we can plug these loopholes this year alone, Qingzhou Prefecture's tax revenue will be at least 30% higher than in previous years!"
"And that doesn't even include those old debts that have been recovered!"
Thirty percent!
The prefect of Qingzhou was greatly shocked.
This is not just about money; it's about the confidence he has in implementing policies, repairing water conservancy projects, and providing disaster relief to victims over the next few years!
This was also a weighty achievement he had to report to the imperial court!
"reward!"
The prefect of Qingzhou slammed his fist on the table, his voice ringing out, "He must be richly rewarded!"
He looked at the clerk and said, "Go, advance one thousand taels of silver from the treasury as a reward, and send it to the Seven Fairy Maidens Academy immediately!"
"In addition, prepare fifty bolts of silk and one hundred bushels of high-quality rice and flour, and send them over together!"
One thousand taels of silver!
The girls were stunned.
They had never seen so much money before.
They simply did what they thought they should do, never expecting to receive such a generous reward.
"Sir, absolutely not!"
Du Jiu quickly declined, saying, "It is the students' honor to share your burdens, how could they dare to accept such a generous reward?"
"We must accept it!"
The prefect of Qingzhou was unusually resolute: "You are worthy!"
"This was not given by me, the prefect of Qingzhou; it was given by the people of Qingzhou, and by the laws of the imperial court!"
"You've put in so much effort, you deserve a reward! That's the rule!"
He paused, then added meaningfully, "Take this and let the children in the academy know that earning a living through one's abilities and doing things based on knowledge is an honorable and respectable thing!"
This huge sum of money, along with the government's commendation, spread like wildfire throughout Qingzhou.
The reputation of the Seven Fairy Maidens Academy reached its peak at this moment.
When chests of heavy silver were carried into the academy, the entire academy was in an uproar.
That evening, Bai Yiyue gathered all the teachers and students who had participated in the tax collection together. The large box containing a thousand taels of silver was placed in front of everyone, glittering and dazzling.
"Headmaster, we...we've struck it rich!"
Bai Siyue stared at the silver, her eyes wide with amazement.
"Yes, with this money, we can make the academy even more beautiful and also increase the teachers' monthly wages!"
Bai Wuyue excitedly echoed her sentiment.
However, Lin Xiaocao, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
"Headmaster, gentlemen,"
She stood up, her gaze sweeping over the gleaming box of silver, her eyes unusually clear. "In this past month at the Bureau of Censors, I've seen not only corruption, but also incompetence."
"What do you mean?"
Qian Duoduo was somewhat surprised.
“I discovered that many accounts were in disarray, not entirely due to deliberate embezzlement, but because the clerks… they really couldn’t do the math.”
Lin Xiaocao said seriously, "They only know the simplest addition and subtraction, and they can't do anything more complicated than that."
“We use the counting rod method, and the amount that one person can calculate in a day is something that ten of them cannot finish, and they still make many mistakes.”
"I was thinking, what if we women could also become officials through the imperial examinations, just like men?"
"If we could sit in the Ministry of Revenue or the government offices of various prefectures and cities, becoming female officials or chief clerks in charge of the accounts, wouldn't the finances of the world be much clearer?"
Her gaze shifted to the box of silver.
"We're rich now, Headmaster!"
"We can hire the best teachers to teach us the classics and policy essays!"
"We must not only learn arithmetic, but also the principles of governing the country and bringing peace to the world!"
"We...want to take the imperial examination!"
"We want to take the imperial examinations!"
Chuntao and Qiuping also stepped forward.
For a moment, all the girls who had participated in the tax cleanup looked at Bai Yiyue with expectant eyes.
They no longer wanted to be just recorders or bystanders...
They want to be a change-maker!
Bai Yiyue looked at them, at the indomitable light in their eyes, and felt a mix of emotions.
She knew that this seed had been planted the moment they stepped into the Qingli Division.
"it is good."
Bai Yiyue slowly uttered a single word.
She walked up to the box of silver and said to everyone, "This money is not for pleasure."
"It will be a new starting point for our academy."
"Our goal is not just Qingzhou, not just the counting rods, but the Dragon Gate that leads to the imperial court!"
"We want to prove to the world that women can not only manage a household and run a business, but also—bring peace and stability to the country!"
......
Time passes by in a hurry like a white horse.
Since the Seven Fairy Maidens Academy set its sights on the grand ambition of having women take the imperial examinations.
Thanks to the amazing abilities they demonstrated in the Qinglisi battle, the first batch of students from the Calculation Pavilion, led by Lin Xiaocao, passed the exam without any doubt.
The success in Qingzhou led the prefect of Qingzhou to submit a detailed report, along with a clean account book, to the emperor, proving that women serving as officials were not only harmless but also highly beneficial.
The matter was hotly debated in the imperial court.
Conservatives condemned the move as "a hen crowing at dawn, threatening national chaos," while a minority of enlightened officials continued to express their support.
With the examples of Su Mingyue and Magistrate Lin, many people gradually supported women serving as officials.
Later, the reigning emperor abdicated, and the crown prince succeeded him, establishing the Jingming dynasty and becoming Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming went further, saying, "Whether you are a man or a woman, anyone with talent and learning can become an official!"
"Even becoming a marquis, a duke, or a general is fine."
The starting point of all this, the Seven Fairies Academy, is no longer what it used to be.
Bai Yiyue used the thousand taels of silver bestowed upon him by Prefect Sun as start-up capital...
We recruit renowned scholars and attract a wide range of students...
Bai Lu and the others also contributed some money, turning the academy into a sacred place for women's imperial examinations.
Several years have passed in the blink of an eye.
In today's scientific expedition, Bai Yiyue has turned sixteen, shedding her girlish naiveté and blossoming into a graceful young woman.
She was no longer just the headmaster of the academy, but also a candidate who personally took the exam.
She, along with Lin Xiaocao, Chuntao, Qiuping, and other first-generation students, stepped into the examination hall in the capital.
The day the results were released was the focus of everyone's attention.
"Great news! The top scorer in the undergraduate exam—Bai Yiyue from Liangzhou Prefecture!"
The news sent shockwaves throughout the capital.
Even more astonishing is that the second and third place winners also came from the Seven Fairies Academy!
Lin Xiaocao and another talented woman named Su Wen ranked second and third, respectively.
Seven Fairy Maidens Academy swept the top three spots!
......
The Golden Palace was solemn and dignified.
Civil and military officials lined up on both sides, and sixteen-year-old Bai Yiyue, dressed in the red robe of a top scholar and wearing a black gauze hat with gold flowers, stood before the officials with her head held high and chest out.
Although she was young, the composure and calmness between her brows were in no way inferior to any of the seasoned officials in the hall.
On the dragon throne, Emperor Jingming looked at the young girl below him with a complex expression.
There is appreciation, there is emotion, and there is also a touch of warmth that is not easily noticed.
He is the current emperor, but he is also Bai Yiyue's uncle.
She and Bailu were connected by blood.
It is also connected to one's own bloodline.
They are family...
They are a family.
"The newly appointed female scholar, Bai Yiyue, shall step forward to receive her title."
The eunuch's high-pitched voice rang out.
"Your subject, Bai Yiyue, is here."
Bai Yiyue stepped forward, bowed, and spoke in a clear, crisp voice.
Emperor Jingming looked at her and asked in a deep voice, "Bai Yiyue, I have a question for you."
"You study hard for years, striving to be the best. What is it you seek?"
This is the last question in the palace examination.
Bai Yiyue raised her head, looked directly at the emperor's face, and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Majesty, I have three requests."
"Firstly, to find a path for women of the world to go from the study to the court."
"Let them know that being a woman is not a constraint, and that the pen and abacus can also be powerful tools for the country."
"Secondly, we seek to ensure the integrity of Your Majesty's national treasury."
"Using my mathematical skills, I will investigate taxes, plug deficits, fill the national treasury, and make the people prosperous."
"Third,"
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, and declared resolutely, "To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations!"
"What I seek is the same as that of all scholars in the world!"
"What a wonderful idea to be in harmony with all scholars under heaven!"
Emperor Jingming was overjoyed, exclaiming, "With such a capable minister as me, how can I not worry about the prosperity of the nation!"
He stood up, his voice echoing throughout the entire Golden Palace.
"I will grant your wish today!"
"I hereby appoint you as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a third-rank official!"
"To be in charge of all the land and taxes in the land, and to be an upright official in charge of all matters!"
"I hereby bestow upon you a gold medal, which shows your official rank is three levels higher!"
"If you encounter a corrupt official, you may execute him first and report it later!"
These words shocked the entire court!
The newly appointed top scholar was usually given an official position of no more than the sixth or seventh rank, but Emperor Jingming directly granted him the position of Vice Minister of the third rank, which was an exceptionally unusual event!
The Ministry of Revenue is the central authority for the nation's finances and provisions. Entrusting such a crucial task to a sixteen-year-old girl is simply unheard of!
Before his ministers could object, Emperor Jingming offered an even more significant reward.
"Furthermore, I grant you one more favor!"
He looked at Bai Yiyue with complete trust and support in his eyes, "I grant you the right to travel throughout the land, and permit you to establish a girls' academy and teach in any state, prefecture, or county of the dynasty!"
"Local governments must fully cooperate and there must be no mistakes!"
"I want all women in the world to have access to books and to have reason to understand!"
Bai Yiyue bowed deeply, her eyes slightly moist.
She knew that from this moment on, her ideals were no longer just a mirage.
In her hand was the imperial sword, personally handed to her by her uncle, the emperor.
She is about to usher in a new era for women.
She raised her head and bowed softly and solemnly to express her gratitude.
"Your subject, Bai Yiyue, accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"
"We will never fail Your Majesty, nor the people!"
On the golden throne, the sixteen-year-old female scholar, though slender, seemed to be able to support a spine weighing ten thousand pounds.
Upon being granted an official position in the Golden Palace, Bai Yiyue became the most sought-after figure in the capital.
For a time, the Bai family mansion was bustling with visitors, and visiting cards piled up like mountains.
Bai Yiyue declined all offers and instead devoted herself to studying the documents sent by the Ministry of Revenue in her residence.
"January!"
With a familiar call, a figure slowly entered the study and embraced Bai Yiyue, who was reading official documents.
"Mother! What brings you here!"
Bai Yiyue was both surprised and delighted. She put down her pen and hugged her tightly.
After several years apart, Bai Lu's eyebrows and eyes have lost some of the traces of time, and gained a touch more heroic spirit.
"My good daughter has become a high-ranking official of the third rank in the imperial court. How could I not come to congratulate you?"
Bai Lu released her and looked her up and down. "Tsk tsk, she actually looks quite the part in this official robe!"
"You're just too thin. Do you stay up all night looking at those old ledgers every day?"
The mother and daughter were reunited and had so much to talk about.
That evening, Bai Yiyue cleared all her plans and hosted a family banquet at her residence, inviting only her closest relatives—Bai Lu, Lin Xiaocao who had also passed the imperial examination with flying colors, and an unexpected guest...
As night falls, the lights are on.
A tall, upright figure, dressed in casual clothes, stepped into the courtyard under the moonlight.
He had a slender figure, a handsome face, and a pair of deep eyes.
Upon seeing Bai Yiyue, she instantly transformed into a pool of gentle spring water.
He is none other than Leng Bingnian, the most trusted military general of the current emperor, who rose to fame at a young age and is now a second-rank official, holding military power in the capital region.
He and Bai Yiyue grew up together and were as close as brothers.
Five years ago, he beat Bai Yiyue to the punch in the martial arts examination, winning the title of Martial Arts Champion and being personally recruited by Emperor Jingming to train in the army.
He has fought in numerous battles over the past few years, achieving many remarkable feats, which is why he has reached his current position.
"Brother Bingnian!"
Upon seeing him, Bai Lu's eyes lit up, and she happily went to greet him, "You've finally arrived! Come on, we've been waiting for you!"
Leng Bingnian smiled and nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on Bai Yiyue.
He walked step by step to her, and all his words, though unspoken, were condensed into a low and gentle voice: "January, congratulations."
"Brother Bingnian..."
After several years apart, he had lost his youthful vigor and become more composed and reserved, but his concern for her since childhood had never changed.
After several rounds of drinks, the moon was high in the sky.
Bai Lu recounted her interesting experiences doing business in Pingzhou over the years, while Lin Xiaocao shared her observations at the Qingzhou government office, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
Suddenly, Leng Bingnian stood up, picked up his wine glass, and walked up to Bai Yiyue.
The noisy courtyard fell silent instantly.
Everyone's eyes were on him.
He looked into Bai Yiyue's eyes, those starry eyes that struck fear into the hearts of enemies on the battlefield, now filled only with tenderness.
"January,"
His voice was slightly hoarse, “Five years ago, I went to the capital to take the imperial examination, and you saw me off.”
You told me, "May your future be bright."
"Today, you are granted an official position in the Golden Palace, and your wish has been fulfilled."
"I also want to say something to you."