Kangxi was not surprised by such words from Fang He.
He had agreed to the wager last night partly for her, to avoid trouble from palace entrants, but had also weighed pros and cons carefully.
If this could inspire officials and scholars with some sense of crisis, it was not without merit.
Most importantly, the Selection was always a Banner affair.
There were countless Han women whose marriage and family matters were barely controlled by the court.
The greatest difficulty in promoting Han studies was maintaining the Manchu’s elevated status amid Manchu-Han integration.
Han people were simply more numerous.
It was unacceptable to favor Han officials and neglect Manchu ones in court.
If the Selection could be extended throughout Great Qing, choosing virtuous and talented women for marriage, promoting Manchu-Han intermarriage, it might actually benefit the dynasty.
Kangxi suppressed these thoughts without a word.
“Well then, tell me how you want to end this mess?”
Fang He smiled and accepted tea from Li Dequan’s hand, offering it to Kangxi.
“Your Majesty asks well. Since you agreed, don’t tell me you have no way to end it.”
Kangxi, always thinking many steps ahead, would never do something he wasn’t sure about.
He maintained his expressionless face.
“You started the quarrel, Noble Consort. Now that I’ve granted your wish, you want me to end it? You play a good game indeed.”
Fang He puffed her cheeks.
In her past life watching dramas, favored consorts just smiled and waved, and everything came their way.
Why was she stuck with such a calculating dog?
She crossed her arms firmly.
“One year’s allowance!”
The Noble Consort’s annual stipend, counting seasonal bonuses, was two thousand taels.
Add gifts, daily necessities, and food, spending was about twenty thousand taels a year… not to be calculated precisely, but painful to think about.
Kangxi smiled without speaking.
Fang He glared, “Two years tops!”
Kangxi chuckled, “I forgot to tell you, at the grand court session after three days, a Yushi will definitely submit a memorial to remonstrate. Most officials will have learned ‘the law does not blame the many.’ I’m in a difficult position. To maintain court stability, I must blame Duke Niu’s household, order them to bear the blame and apologize to Noble Consort until the misunderstanding is resolved.”
When the misunderstanding ends, the wager naturally ceases.
“F…five, no, three years…” Fang He clutched her chest.
No way, thinking of so much silver made her feel breathless.
She stepped back in disbelief, looking at Kangxi aggrieved.
“Your Majesty’s previous gifts were saved for your daughters and sons. You’ve emptied my treasury—who benefits from this?”
Kangxi laughed, pulling Fang He into his embrace to sit face to face.
Liang Jiugong and others hurriedly lowered their heads.
Liang Jiugong hesitated, wondering if he should leave.
After all, it was late, and these two Masters could bicker endlessly.
But to be honest, even Liang Jiugong, Chief Steward of Qianqing Palace, was still startled by the Mid-Autumn Palace wager, his heart racing wildly.
He felt this was no time for the two Masters to sulk.
They must not stay long in Chunhui Hall, lest news leak and the Emperor find trouble.
Kangxi gave Liang Jiugong no time to hesitate.
He whispered a word in Fang He’s ear.
Fang He froze; her expression changed sharply, looking at Kangxi with disdain, pushing him away while mumbling.
“Remember who you are, Your Majesty. Don’t be too much…”
A deeper smile gleamed in Kangxi’s eyes as he calmly said, “The ministers will try to persuade you tomorrow. When they come to me the next day, that will be my chance to help you. If you wait until the day after, it’ll be too late.”
Fang He’s cheeks flushed pink, glaring at Kangxi.
They say the ancients had intense tastes—compared to Kangxi, modern people are novices.
She blushed and stood, biting her lip.
“I’ll wait for Your Majesty’s good news!”
When the palace maids left, Xinhua, who came with her, heard the faint laughter inside.
For some reason, she felt there was someone redder-faced than Fang He.
Thankfully it was night; otherwise, people from afar would have gasped at the red-faced monkey appearing in Changchun Garden.
***
The next morning, Suo’etu and Mingzhu, along with the Six Ministries’ ministers and Left Censor Chen Tingjing, arrived early at the Imperial Study to request an audience.
Liang Jiugong frowned as he led them in.
“Everyone, be careful with your words. Yesterday, Lu Yuanzhang came by saying the Emperor cannot afford to be angered these days.”
Mingzhu, attentive, immediately noticed Liang Jiugong’s discomfort.
“Poexe…”
Liang Jiugong instinctively held his backside, gasping as he released it, forcing a smile.
“Sorry, your servants failed to advise the Master to drink less wine. It’s natural he’s ill. After serving the Emperor yesterday, your servant went to the Office Of Punishment and Investigation to receive punishment—a lesson learned.”
The Six Ministries’ ministers exchanged looks.
Suo’etu and Chen Tingjing frowned.
They were the highest officials in Great Qing, all sharp minds.
They understood without Liang Jiugong saying more.
The Emperor had drunkenly accepted the wager and, upon realizing what he had done, would surely rage.
Not only Liang Jiugong limped before the Emperor—inside the hall, some looked pale, as if wounded.
There was no way around it; when such a restless Noble Consort appeared before the Emperor, they all knew the ancient remedy of gouache painting was very useful—to change styles as needed.
As for the limp, no one was beaten; at worst, it was a valuable experience for taking blame.
Liang Jiugong secretly kicked Qi Sanfu’s lame leg.
If he limped again, Liang Jiugong would send that little bastard to the Office Of Punishment and Investigation for real.
Startled by the tense atmosphere, the officials bowed to Kangxi in the study but none dared to speak first.
Kangxi swept them with a stern glance.
“Why have you come to the throne to be mute? If your tongues are useless, I can cut them off and feed them…”
Suo’etu braced himself and bowed.
“Your Majesty, the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet incident… was caused by us overindulging in wine and losing restraint, angering Noble Consort Zhaoyuan. I accept guilt and apologize to Noble Consort, but the matter of the Imperial Examination must not be taken lightly…”
“Do you think I need your lessons?” Kangxi slammed his tea cup on the table, glaring coldly at Suo’etu and interrupting harshly.
“The Imperial Examination is Great Qing’s way to select pillars of the nation. It takes years, even decades, to cultivate a few useful talents to benefit the country and people. This is a matter of state. Even if I sacrifice my own face, it must not be treated as a joke!”
“Long live the Emperor!” Xiong Cilu, newly appointed Minister of Rites replacing Crown Prince’s tutor Wang Yan, quickly said.
“I believe it was just a few jokes at a family banquet, not to be taken seriously…”
Kangxi impatiently cut him off.
“You mean that everyone heard me accept the wager in person, but I shouldn’t take my own words seriously?”
Xiong Cilu hurried to explain.
“I dare not say so. I only meant it was not an official decree. Privately letting scholars compete with learned women might be seen as fulfilling the wager…”
Before he finished, Kangxi angrily shattered the tea cup on the floor.
The shattering sound made everyone’s hearts tremble.
They immediately knelt, shouting for the Emperor’s mercy.
Liang Jiugong had just reminded them not to anger the Emperor again.
If the Emperor’s health was harmed, they would have no excuse.
Kangxi, furious, laughed bitterly and said, “I do not want to speak harshly, lest you slave officials become arrogant, expecting me to praise you.”
“Why did I agree to Noble Consort’s wager?”
“Use your foolish brains. You lost to women at their own game, even having the slip to let me out of the palace thrown in your faces. You really think all that shame sticks only to your own faces?”
“You’ve disgraced Great Qing’s sons, letting a group of women mock us. If I refused, I’d be embarrassed for you!”
“If the rules are proper, and women enter the exam hall, those stubbornly conservative fools who loudly spout misogyny should go home and be wet nurses!”
The crowd was scolded dry-mouthed.
Mingzhu quickly said, “Your Majesty, please calm down. I think this concerns not only the nation but also the imperial dignity. It must not be taken lightly.”
Kangxi’s face darkened further.
“What? You want me to let women enter the Imperial Examination?”
“Then will I give your official titles to your womenfolk, so I don’t have to be angry every time I see you?”
Neither left nor right could satisfy.
Suo’etu half-closed his eyes, shrunk his neck, wishing he could become a temple tortoise with a shell to hide.
This was truly distressing.
Mingzhu remained composed.
“My humble opinion is that women must not be allowed to tamper with the official examination, and the Emperor’s words must not be treated as a joke.”
“But what if, separate from court affairs, the Ministry of Rites hosted a women’s Imperial Examination during the provincial exams?”
“Successful male candidates serve at court. Female candidates could be granted official titles or honors by the royal family, with a separate official ceremony on an auspicious day, openly competing in parallel. That would settle the wager without harming the realm.”
Kangxi’s expression softened slightly.
Mingzhu was truly an old fox, unmatched in cunning.
He hadn’t yet mentioned the Selection, but Mingzhu accidentally hit near the mark.
Yet Suo’etu voiced doubt.
“There has never been a women’s Imperial Examination. Even if women don’t enter the provincial exam hall, if news spreads, the barbarians will mock us, saying we are ruled by women, running amok.”
Xiong Cilu frowned tightly.
“Moreover, during provincial exams, countless candidates arrive. A woman’s reputation is crucial. Going out daily is already improper. If something unsavory happens, it would disgrace us all.”
Mingzhu lowered his gaze, calmly said, “This is just my humble opinion. If others have better ideas, please feel free to consider mine nonsense.”
Kangxi said nothing, sat back with a stern face, radiating low pressure over the officials.
He must not alter the Imperial Examination, nor lose his own face, and must calm potential unrest if the matter spreads.
In short: want it all, keep it all. You decide.
Suo’etu and the others left the Imperial Study looking defeated.
Outside, Suo’etu mocked Mingzhu.
“You’re good at reading the Emperor’s mind, but have you thought about what happens if women can take the exam? Will the Nalan family’s gate be daubed with gold paint by scholars, bringing you infamy?”
Mingzhu raised an eyebrow.
“In front of the Emperor, before the Noble Consort, Suo’etu can’t open his mouth. At the Selection, no one objected. Now you can talk.”
Minister of Revenue Zhang Yushu shook his head.
“How can the Selection compare to the Examination? It doesn’t test knowledge.”
Mingzhu quoted his own wife from the Jueluo clan.
“Gentlemen, don’t be blind. What’s the difference between Selection and Examination?”
“Someone said Selection depends on lineage, Examination on physical inspection. Selection tests physical condition.”
“Both require skill. The Examination tests the Four Books, Five Classics, and Six Arts. Selection tests women’s embroidery, chess, calligraphy, painting, and the Four Classics for Women.”
“Candidates are locked in exam halls writing essays to display talent. Selected women live in the palace, with strict rules and many skills to demonstrate. Really, comparing them…”
Mingzhu paused, then continued.
“The Examination is a battlefield for scholars. Isn’t the Selection a battlefield for women too? Just add a few items to Selection, change its name, and the problem’s solved.”
Jueluo’s wife said, “Honestly, who’s more favored or despised is hard to say. Both face a bridge alone among thousands of soldiers, leaping the dragon gate to bring glory to their families. Why should you men be so superior?”
After the Jing Consort’s faction came by, no one knew what words were passed between Noble Consort and Jing Consort, but Jueluo’s wife refused to say a word, being sent to sleep in the study at night.
She was told she couldn’t enter the inner palace until the matter was settled, nor attend to her concubine.
Mingzhu thought of the hard bed in the study that had rarely been rested on, leaving his shoulders sore.
After Mingzhu’s words, except for Suo’etu, the anguished Xiong Cilu and several ministers showed signs of interest.
Not to mention before, now that things were compared this way, there was indeed a certain similarity.
If the Selection’s rules were changed, this matter might bear fruit.
Suo’etu sneered, “You’re the one who is blind. Selection was originally for the Emperor to choose consorts, then imperial relatives and ministers. It’s a Banner matter.”
“Noble Consort Zhaoyuan obviously wants all women to be restless!”
“I’ll say this bluntly. If Zhaoyuan succeeds, she’ll interfere in court affairs, causing chaos!”
Xiong Cilu nodded rapidly and left.
“Suo’etu speaks truly. This must not be allowed. I’ll submit a memorial soon!”
He hurried off.
How to rationally spin the wager between the Emperor and Noble Consort into a flattering story, without harming men’s dignity, was worth pondering.
If this crisis was resolved smoothly, perhaps his career would advance further.
They were just women seeking power.
Xiong Cilu, with a formidable wife at home, saw no problem.
No matter how capable she was, she couldn’t grow two taels of flesh under his seat and stand in court for him.
The Emperor was wise and mighty; Suo’etu was worrying needlessly.
The other ministers, including the quiet Chen Tingjing, politely expressed verbal support for Suo’etu before dispersing.
Regardless, all the sharp minds knew Suo’etu’s defiance meant he represented the Crown Prince’s faction.
The Crown Prince and Emperor were likely already in a struggle for the throne.
Kangxi was still in his prime; unless forced to switch sides like Mingzhu, no one foolishly tangled in this fight.
***
Three days passed quickly.
Inside Jiugong Sanshi Hall, after Kangxi entered the hall, the gong sounded again.