Tong Nianyi still couldn't understand.
No matter who I asked, I couldn't get an answer. Even the teacher in the school couldn't explain the reason.
But it was also during this constant questioning that she was certain of one thing.
Although I don’t know why I should read, reading must be useful.
Doesn't require much explanation.
In fact, she just needs to know that it is useful.
Later, she returned to the academy. After that, she was no longer as careless as before, and slowly picked up the things in the book one by one.
Maybe it was because of reading, but after more than a year, Tong Nianyi felt very different. Her speech became less childish and more disciplined, but she still retained the innocence of a child.
Slowly growing up.
Mr. Xiucai often praised Tong Nianyi, saying that the girl had enlightened herself and was very good at reading.
But when talking to Tong Zhihuan, Mr. Xiucai was very helpless about the matter.
"She is very talented in reading, but she just happened to be in troubled times and couldn't put it to use. But with the current situation, I think she will be able to recover after a few years of imperial examination, but... she is a girl."
Tong Zhihuan couldn't help but sigh when he heard this.
yes.
Since ancient times, there has never been a female official seen in the court.
As soon as Tong Nian heard this, her husband also told her about it.
She told the big cat what her husband said.
"big cat."
"The teacher in the school said that I am very good at reading, but I can't read too much. He asked me to read less. He said that the better I read, the more I read, and I would be helpless in the future. I asked the teacher why, but he didn't do it before. Keep telling me..."
"I heard my father chatting with the teachers in the school today. They said that women cannot participate in the imperial examination. Is that true?"
Lihua jumped down from the wall, came to Tong Nianyi's side, and said, "It seems like this. I've heard of it before."
Tong Nian paused for a moment, lowered his head and said, "Why aren't women allowed to participate in the imperial examination?"
Cihua shook her head, she didn't understand.
Tong Nian stretched out his hand and threw the stone into the river, making some splashes.
She sighed softly, and suddenly seemed to understand why her husband said what he said.
She was still wondering at the time, what was wrong with reading more?
If you read well, what's wrong with it?
It turns out that's why.
Just because she is a woman.
Tong Nianyi suddenly paused and said, "If I disguise myself as a man, can I participate?"
Lihua blinked after hearing this, feeling that Tong Nian had a wonderful idea.
"It seems so."
"This won't work."
A voice came over.
Tong Nian looked back and called out quickly.
"Grandpa Jin."
Jin Sanye threw a piece of dried fish to Lihua.
He walked up and sat down and said: "The imperial examination is not a joke, and not everyone can participate in the imperial examination. To participate in the county examination, you need someone to vouch for you, so as not to be mixed in, and the person guarantor must be the same." As a scholar, you will need to be searched when entering the examination room, and your identity will also be found out. If you are found to have disguised yourself as a man, not to mention whether your teacher will also lose your reputation due to you, your whole family will probably suffer."
When Tong Nian heard this, his face turned pale and he said, "Then, is there no other way?"
Jin Sanye said: "This matter is very dangerous and unnecessary. Are you going to take part in the imperial examination because you want to be an official?"
Tong Nian was stunned after hearing this, "Do, become an official?"
"Yes, to be an official."
Jin Sanye said: "The imperial examination is a way to become an official. The purpose of the imperial examination for students is to become famous in the future, become an official, and become famous. Your aunt Ruyi's brother went all the way to the imperial examination, won three yuan in a row, entered the Hanlin Academy, and finally sat on Jing Zhaoyin’s position.”
"So you have to understand that the imperial examination is just for becoming an official. If you don't want to be an official, you don't have to think too much about it."
Tong Nianyi sighed softly and said, "Grandpa Jin, I don't want to be an official either. I just don't understand why it is so unfair. Is there such a big difference between women and men?"
Mr. Jin Sanye smiled after hearing this, but did not say this.
The child is still young, why are you talking so much?
He just said perfunctorily: "Then you have to find the answer yourself."
After thinking about it, Third Master Jin said again: "But Nianyi, don't think about seeking justice for women. This is Grandpa Jin's advice to you."
"Why?"
"In the past years, Grandpa Jin, I have seen a lot of things like this. Back then, there was a woman who disguised herself as a man and was finally discovered by the Jinshi. She talked loudly and spoke up for the woman, and finally the words fell into the mouth of the official. , the officials were particularly interested in this woman, and wanted to recruit her into the palace, but when the palace people went to invite her, they found that the woman had been hanged from the beam."
"Why?!" Tong Nianyi exclaimed and asked, "Even if someone is unwilling to reform, we can't force them to death."
"You are wrong." Jin Sanye said with a smile: "It was not done by those who are unwilling to reform. In their opinion, although this woman made nonsense, it would not kill her. It really killed her. It's the gossip that kills you."
"In ancient times, it has been understood that a woman's lack of talent is a virtue. The past thought taught that women should respect the three obediences and the four virtues, that is, obey their fathers before they are married, obey their husbands when they are married, and obey their sons after their husbands die. The four virtues refer to women's virtues, women's words, Women's appearance and women's merit are the requirements for women in terms of appearance, moral character, speech and behavior, etc. This is what most women think about."
"When women in the community hear such words, they will only think that this girl is embarrassing herself and has forgotten the three obediences and four virtues that women should abide by, so they will curse, insult, and give advice."
"Perhaps she herself never thought that while she was speaking for women in the world, in the end it was these people who belittled and humiliated her. Not only did they not appreciate it, they also cursed her and even wished her a bad death. That was also Therefore, she was so disappointed that she hanged herself in the house."
Tong Nianyi fell silent. She seemed to be unable to understand why at such a young age.
There had never been any rules about three obediences and four virtues in her family, and she didn't even understand them.
Her eyes were blank, as if she didn't understand anything at all.
Mr. Jin Sanye sighed and said: "In fact, the government intended to have a female official system back then, but after something like this happened, I was greatly disappointed. At the same time, I also understood that this reform could not be achieved in one day, so this matter has been going on forever. It was shelved and never mentioned again.”
"The official is a wise king, and there are only a handful of emperors like him in the past years. It is also because of this that the woman made a lot of nonsense that day before she could return home unharmed. If it had been Taizu Xiang or the Emperor Jing, maybe he would have killed that woman with a stick that day for the crime of deceiving the emperor."
