Chapter 462: He single-handedly spearheaded the establishment of the Women's Academy!

Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "With such an enlightened father as Lord Liu, the daughters in your household must be exceptionally outstanding. They must be the dream brides of the most prestigious families in the capital!"

Liu Mingxin felt as if a stone was stuck in his chest; he couldn't spit it out, nor could he swallow it down.

If Shen Lanxi thinks that flattering him will make him agree to stop targeting her, don't even think about it!

Shen Lanxi changed the subject, her tone laced with sarcasm: "Lord Liu understands the importance of educating and enlightening women, so why can't he put himself in their shoes? Is it because he's afraid that his other daughters will be too outstanding and steal the limelight from the ladies in your household!"

When Liu Mingxin first met someone who could distort the facts so blatantly, he flew into a rage.

"That's utter nonsense. I'm just teaching my own daughter; what business is it of anyone else's?"

Shen Lanxi clicked her tongue: "Everyone says that officials are like parents to their children. I don't think I need to explain what that means, do I?"

"If you can't even care for the common people, how can you understand their sentiments and opinions? If you can't even genuinely care for the people, then you can't expect to become an official!"

Liu Mingxin was furious again. These were fallacies and heresies, utterly illogical and heretical.

"Shen Lanxi, you're just beating around the bush and trying to normalize your fallacies."

Shen Lanxi raised the corners of her mouth: "What, am I wrong? You are a Grand Scholar, a role model for all scholars and students, worthy of being a teacher to all. You have methods for educating your children to become successful, yet you keep them to yourself. If the people of the world knew, wouldn't they be disheartened?"

Liu Mingxin was so angry he almost fainted.

"I'm here to discuss the case with you, nothing else. Don't try to change the subject."

Shen Lanxi said with a focused expression: "I am just talking about the case. The root cause of this case is that the people are not well-educated and do not understand the laws of our Great Zhou Dynasty, which is why such a tragedy has occurred."

“If that daughter-in-law knew the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, she could have filed a lawsuit against her mother-in-law when she was being tormented by her, and she could have also filed a lawsuit against her mother-in-law for selling people when her daughter was sold.”

“The old woman thought she could buy and sell her granddaughter without hesitation, but in reality she was committing the crime of selling off people. She had already started committing the crime the moment she had this evil thought.”

"This family completely disregards the laws of our Great Zhou Dynasty and the government offices of our imperial court. What difference is there between them and uncivilized savages!"

The officials were momentarily speechless.

"To teach women law is simply a bizarre occurrence throughout history!" Liu Mingxin said sarcastically.

Shen Lanxi smiled and replied, "This act enhances the prestige of our Great Zhou Dynasty and demonstrates the magnanimity of the royal family. It will surely become a legendary tale!"

The officials were stunned; what a load of rubbish, a timeless tale.

These are fallacies and heresies; they are utterly fallacies and heresies.

Shen Lanxi: "It's settled then. We'll start in the capital and establish the first girls' academy to teach them the laws of our Great Zhou Dynasty, and also to teach them to read and understand principles. I'm sure the parents with daughters are worried that after they get married, their daughters might have their dowries stolen by their husbands' families, be secretly mistreated, have concubines favored over wives, or die unjustly in their husbands' families!"

An official who felt sorry for his daughter stepped forward.

"That's a great idea!"

The officials all turned to look at the speaker. This official had only three daughters and no concubines, and was known for his love and care for his wife and daughters.

"Alright, I'll leave this matter to you."

The person who stepped forward was taken aback. They were from opposing camps, so why was he given the task?

People from the Ministry of Revenue stood up to object.

"The Ministry of Revenue is depleted and has no funds to allocate for establishing academies."

Shen Lanxi: "This matter will not be funded by the Ministry of Finance. I intend to turn the girls' academy into a free school, with students from various academies taking turns to teach there."

The official from the Ministry of Rites twitched his lips, feeling contempt.

She makes it sound so easy. It's the peak season for scientific expeditions right now, and people are too busy studying to teach a bunch of annoying women.

Shen Lanxi returned to the main topic: "What do you think of my solution, Lord Liu?"

Liu Mingxin looked at Shen Lanxi, his mind going blank for a moment.

So that's how it is. He actually became the one who handed Shen Lanxi a ladder!

"Lord Liu, you love the people like your own children!" Shen Lanxi said with a smile.

Liu Mingxin recalled her earlier rebuttal to the term "parent official," and her thoughts raced through her mind several times, but ultimately she didn't utter a word.

"Since Lord Liu does not object, it means he thinks my solution is feasible!"

Shen Lanxi stood up and looked at the official who had just spoken up for the woman.

"Ji Xiuran, is this Lord Ji?"

Ji Xiuran was taken aback and quickly bowed.

"All three young ladies in your household are of school age. I believe you will be able to personally oversee the establishment of the girls' academy!"

Ji Xiuran was shocked. He was an unknown historian, yet Shen Lanxi not only knew his name but also knew that he had three daughters.

"Hand over all your affairs to others. From this day forward, devote all your energy to the girls' academy!"

Ji Xiuran's eyes flashed, and he bowed respectfully, saying, "Yes!"

...

Shen Lanxi had long intended to establish a girls' academy, but the timing had not yet been set. Unexpectedly, someone took the initiative to deliver the opportunity to her today.

"Call Yuanxu here!"

After receiving the news, Shen Lanxi rushed to find Shen Lanxi.

"You're taking the lead at Bailu Academy, so just say that..."

Soon the news spread that a women's academy was to be established in the capital, and some even said that students from Bailu Academy would come to the academy to teach courses for free.

Meanwhile, some people spread the story of how the girls' academy was established.

"Indeed, marrying the wrong wife can ruin three generations!"

"It's better for women to be educated and reasonable, so that the children they raise will be better too."

"It is more important to send girls to school than to send boys to school."

"The saying 'a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent' is utter nonsense. It's just something we poor people say. Which son of a high-ranking official or nobleman doesn't marry a talented woman who is well-educated, virtuous, and proficient in all the arts?"

"That's right! Why don't those officials' families say that they should make sure their daughters are illiterate?"

"A woman who can read and knows manners will never have trouble finding a husband!"

"I heard that the butcher's daughter has a big birthmark on her face, making her ugly beyond belief. But because she's literate and good at accounting, good families from all around are vying to take her in!"

"Really?"

"Of course it's true. The families who married that ugly woman have already made their fortunes and bought houses in the inner city."

Are tuition fees expensive at women's colleges?

"I heard it's free!"

"If it's free, can you expect good stuff?"

Do you know about Bailu Academy?

"Of course I know, that place is known for producing great scholars and top scholars in the imperial examinations."

"The teachers at the Women's Academy are students of Bailu Academy!"

Some are interested, some are watching and waiting, and some are making other plans.

...

After discussing with the deans of several major academies in the capital, Ji Xiuran opened the academy at the former Hongwu Academy, which had previously been known for its martial arts examinations. It has now been officially renamed the Women's Academy.

Originally, only students from Bailu Academy took the lead, but somehow the news leaked that students who went to teach courses might be favored by officials. Suddenly, several other academies approached Bailu Academy.

Then Shen Yuanxu found Shen Lanxi.