Tremble, Bonus Chapter!
The autumn wind in the outskirts of Beijing ripples through the golden wheat fields.
The heavy ears of rice bent their backs.
Looking around.
Everywhere you look is a breathtaking golden hue.
The air is filled with the fragrance of rice; the scent of harvest and hope wafts through the air.
Old farmer Wang Erzhu held a sickle in his hand.
I was so excited that my whole body was shaking.
He lived most of his life.
I've never seen rice that looks so scary.
Each grain of rice was so plump it looked like it was about to burst open.
They were crammed together in dense clusters.
"Goodness..."
"Is this the divine seed bestowed by His Majesty?"
The men next to him also looked stunned.
I forgot what I was doing.
"Don't just stand there!"
The village headman banged on the gong and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Hurry up and put it away!"
"After collecting them, we still have to weigh them!"
"This needs to be reported to the imperial court; no one is allowed to slack off!"
Everyone then came to their senses.
They were all like they'd been injected with adrenaline.
The sickle was swung swiftly.
By evening.
Mountains of gold were piled up on the threshing floor.
The official weighing the grain was holding an abacus.
His fingers clicked the strings loudly.
at last.
When that number was announced.
The entire room was silent; you could hear a pin drop.
The official took a deep breath, his voice trembling.
"Wang Erzhu's family yields eight shi (a unit of dry measure) per mu!"
The crowd erupted in chaos.
Eight stones!
What does that mean?
In the past, even in good years with favorable weather, the maximum yield was only three bushels!
That's more than doubled!
Wang Erzhu's legs went weak.
He knelt down on the ground.
Tears and snot covered his face.
"Good heavens!"
"The Empress Dowager is mighty!"
"Long live Her Majesty the Empress!"
The surrounding people were also so excited that they didn't know what to do.
Some people buried their heads in their hands and wept bitterly.
Some laughed loudly, looking up at the sky.
Amidst this jubilation...
A few regretful wails came from the corner.
My goodness!
Zhao Laosi from the next village.
He is currently squatting on the ground.
He slapped his thigh loudly.
That force.
I wish I could just take my legs off.
Because of his family's yield per mu.
Only six shi (a unit of dry measure).
Although it was a bumper harvest compared to previous years.
Compared to Wang Erzhu and his gang.
That would be a huge loss!
"I was so stupid! Really!"
Zhao Laosi had a long face.
He pounded his chest and shouted.
"Back then, the agricultural officials came down to teach us how to farm."
"They said they wanted dense planting and to apply that smelly fertilizer."
"I don't believe it!"
"I think that's just a waste of time!"
"I planted it the old way!"
"I just want to save that little bit of effort!"
"Two whole shi (a unit of dry measure) are missing!"
"That's two bushels of pure white rice!"
Zhao Laosi was filled with remorse.
I wish I could travel back in time and slap myself twice.
If we listen to the imperial court.
If you just plant it according to that booklet.
Isn't it me who is now the envy of everyone?
Several others around him also disobeyed.
They were all dejected.
It looks like a defeated rooster.
Just then.
A sound of horses' hooves rang out.
Everyone looked up.
A group of people came galloping towards them.
The leader was not one of those burly yamen runners.
Instead, it was a woman dressed in official robes.
She dismounted.
The movements were swift and efficient.
He held a bright yellow imperial edict in his hands.
The village head was startled.
Quickly lead everyone to kneel down.
"This humble subject pays his respects to Your Excellency!"
The female official had a gentle smile on her face.
The sound was clear and loud.
The news spread throughout the entire threshing ground.
"Fellow villagers, get up."
"I am acting on the orders of Her Majesty the Empress."
"I've come to share some good news with everyone!"
The female official unfolded the imperial edict and read it aloud:
"Her Majesty the Empress has decreed!"
"Considering the hardships faced by the people in farming, a new tax law has been promulgated!"
"Effective immediately."
"All the people of Great Yu".
"Abolish all poll tax, poll tax, and miscellaneous taxes!"
"Regardless of whether it is a year of plenty or a year of famine."
"Only 20% of the grain needs to be handed over!"
"The remaining 80% will belong to the people themselves!"
The words had barely left his mouth.
The entire venue was deathly silent.
Everyone stared wide-eyed.
I suspect there's something wrong with my ears.
Two percent?
Only 20%?
Previously, all sorts of exorbitant taxes and levies were added up.
If you can save half of your food rations by the end of the year, that's already pretty good.
Now you only need to pay 20%?
And there aren't any of those messy taxes anymore?
"grown ups..."
Wang Erzhu asked, trembling.
"Is this...is this real?"
The female official nodded with a smile.
"Absolutely true."
"These are His Majesty's golden words."
"The Empress Dowager herself stamped it!"
This time.
The people could no longer control themselves.
I don't know who started it.
A large number of people knelt down in a rush.
The cries were deafening.
But in that crying...
It was all gratitude and joy.
"Long live the Emperor!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"Waaaaah... We can finally have a full meal!"
"From now on, if anyone dares to say anything bad about the Empress, I'll fight them to the death!"
…
at the same time.
The capital city.
The Imperial Examination Hall.
This place was usually where men took the imperial examinations.
today.
The place was full of women.
Some of them were wearing coarse linen clothes.
Some were dressed in fine silk and satin.
There are teenage girls.
There were also women in their thirties.
Everyone's face showed tension and apprehension.
Princess Luan Xue was dressed in a bright red palace gown.
He sat upright in the examiner's seat.
Her gaze swept over the women in the audience.
A surge of unprecedented pride welled up within me.
this.
She is a promising candidate for female official in the Great Yu Dynasty.
It is also the hope for the future.
"Distribute the curlers!"
Luan Xue waved her hand.
His voice was steady and powerful.
The female guards held the exam papers.
They were sent out one by one.
Luan Xue stood up.
He stepped to the front of the stage.
He spoke gently, looking at the candidates whose hands were still trembling slightly as they held their pens.
"Gentlemen."
"Don't panic."
"This exam will not test your knowledge of the traditional eight-legged essay."
"The test will assess your arithmetic, literacy, and practical problem-solving skills."
"It's okay if you don't know how to answer some questions."
"Our Great Yu is in dire need of manpower right now."
"Factories need managers, shops need shopkeepers, and the imperial court needs female officials."
Even if I don't pass the exam this time.
"There will be opportunities to study at a women's college in the future."
"As long as you are willing to work hard."
"You all have a place in the world of Great Yu!"
The women in the audience heard this.
The weight on my heart lifted a little.
They all straightened their backs.
His eyes gleamed.
In a secluded corner of the examination hall.
Two small figures were furtively peering through the window.
Naturally, it was Empress Yu Zhaoning and Princess Aman of the Southern Frontier.
Yu Zhaoning was still holding half a piece of rice cake that she hadn't finished eating.
His cheeks were bulging.
Lin Qingyan served as the prime minister.
They've come to inspect the examinations today as well.
I happened to run into these two little devils.
He was about to bow.
Then the Empress's inner voice rang out.
Wow!
[System! System!]
Look at that lady in the green dress!
[You write so fast!]
[Is this the legendary academic superstar?]
The system's cheerful voice immediately popped into Yu Zhaoning's mind:
[Host! Host!]
[This is nothing!]
[I just stumbled upon some juicy gossip!]
[Did you see that woman in the blue dress in the third row?]
Yu Zhaoning blinked her big eyes.
[I see you, you're quite pretty. What's up?]
The system chuckled, its voice both lewd and irritating:
That's the concubine of that old-fashioned Minister of Rites!
[This concubine used to be the daughter of an accountant; she's incredibly skilled at using an abacus.]
[The Minister of Rites spends his days boasting at home, claiming that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, and forbids her from leaving the house.]
[As a result, this woman took advantage of the Minister of Rites going out for drinks and entertainment today...]
[I secretly climbed over the wall to take the exam!]
[The funniest thing is!]
[The Minister of Rites was boasting to someone in the teahouse next door about his excellent household management, saying that his concubine never left the house!]
[If he knew his concubine was about to pass the exam to become a female official, he'd probably spit blood on the spot!]
[And this woman was just doing her exams and she was even swearing to herself that the first thing she'd do after passing the exams and getting a salary was to dump the Minister of Rites!]
Yu Zhaoning almost choked on the rice cake.
Her face turned bright red.
[Ha ha ha ha!]
[This woman is so cool!]
Let that old man, the Minister of Rites, cry!
Lin Qingyan, who was standing next to him, stumbled.
I almost lost my footing.
His mouth twitched violently.
I barely managed to hold back my laughter.
Minister of Rites?
That stubborn old man who's always spouting righteousness and morality?
This scene is so beautiful.
He didn't even dare to think about it.
Lin Qingyan took a deep breath, trying his best to maintain the dignity of the prime minister.
But the smile in his eyes was impossible to hide.
At this time.
Inside the examination room.
Zhao Yun sat in the corner, staring intently at the exam paper in front of her.
She remembered complaining to her parents at home half a year ago.
"Is the Empress Dowager getting senile?"
"How can a four-year-old child be made emperor?"
"If we put a baby who's still drinking milk on the dragon throne, is our Great Yu Dynasty doomed?"
At that time, she was filled with disdain.
They felt that the world was simply a child's game.
She even mocked the Empress in private with her close friends.
But now.
She's sitting here.
Holding this pen.
Looking around at the women who, like her, had once been confined to the inner quarters, fields, and looms, she felt a deep connection to them.
They had the opportunity to stand tall.
They have the right to decide their own destiny.
And all of this.
Who gave it to you?
Except for Her Majesty, who is also a woman.
Who would genuinely care about women like them?
Who would still bear the pressure from the whole world?
The imperial examinations for women were opened.
Build a factory, recruit a large number of female workers, and give them good treatment?
Now that their father has passed away, all the sisters rely on their mother for support.
If it weren't for the factory's generous wages, they would be living a life of hardship, struggling to get enough to eat and wear!
The more Zhao Yun thought about it, the more she felt like she was a worthless person.
The more I think about it, the more I realize how incredibly stupid I was before.
He simply slapped himself in the face.
The surrounding candidates were all startled.
They all turned to look at them.
Even Luan Xue was taken aback.
Zhao Yun's face turned red on one side.
But her gaze was more determined than ever before.
He even cursed himself in his heart.
"Zhao Yun, oh Zhao Yun!"
"You're such a pig-brain!"
"You're the one who's confused!"
"What if any other prince had ascended the throne?"
"You're still embroidering at home!"
"Where would you find the chance to sit here and take the exam for female officials!"
She wiped away her tears.
I gripped the pen tightly again.
His gaze was intense, burning with passion.
She made a silent vow in her heart.
"This lifetime!"
"My life, Zhao Yun's life, belongs to His Majesty!"
"If any bastard dares to mess with the Empress in the future..."
"Dare to say even a bad word about the Empress."
"I'll tear his mouth apart!"
"Even if it costs me my life."
"I also support His Majesty!"
She took a deep breath.
He lowered his head and began answering the questions.
The brush moves like dragons and snakes.
Every character was written with such force that it seemed to penetrate the paper.
Yu Zhaoning, standing outside the window, seemed to sense something.
He touched his nose.
[Huh?]
[Why does it feel like someone is suddenly talking about me?]
[Is someone trying to send me something delicious?]
system:[...]
[Host, besides eating, is there anything else you want to think about?]
[Points, points!]
[That gossip about the concubine divorcing her husband was great, +100 points!]
[This is in addition to the reputation points gained from the people's previous gratitude.]
[Host, we can now exchange for the blueprints for the fully automatic spinning machine, or the series of books on the theory and field research of hybrid rice. We won't have to worry about running out of hybrid rice seeds anymore!]
Yu Zhaoning's eyes instantly lit up like two little light bulbs.
[Change!]
[Change it immediately!]
[I will make the cloth of the Great Yu Dynasty sold all over the world!]
[Make lots and lots of small amounts of money! Research more and more hybrid rice!]
[Oh, right, we also need to prepare gene-enhancing pills for my two aunts. My grandmother took them last time, and she's completely recovered!]
Let's keep up the good work and not miss any opportunity to enjoy the drama!
[Tremble, all of you! Your scourge has arrived!]
Not far away, the Empress Dowager, who had just arrived at the scene and heard Xin's words, helplessly rubbed her forehead.
I thought to myself, "Zhao Ning is really lively, but it's good that she's lively."
That way I'll have more energy to review memorials later!
I'm getting old!
Now it's up to the Empress to show her skills!