Chapter 650 Inspecting the Academies of the Nation on Behalf of the Emperor!

Seeing that the old minister was about to faint from anger, Shen Lanxi waved her hand and immediately adjourned the court. After the court session, she ordered someone to summon the Grand Tutor and Mr. Ruohua.

“It’s not that I’m speaking up for Xiao Fang, but Xiao Fang is a loyal, filial, and virtuous man who never misbehaves in matters of love and sex. He is a very good husband candidate.”

The two understood.

"The document was sent from Tianjin. Xiao Fang and Liu Xian are currently in Tianjin, so they must have discussed it before sending the document to the capital."

"If Lord Liu truly loves his daughter, he shouldn't be forcing the couple apart."

Shen Lanxi looked troubled: "Who says otherwise? I'm worried for Lord Liu. What if a year or two passes and he already has a child? Should I help Lord Liu kill Xiao Fang, or... well, you tell me, I'm really torn between two options."

The Grand Tutor took over the conversation: "We will now make a visit to Lord Liu's residence!"

Shen Lanxi: "There's no time to lose, let's go!"

Grand Tutor Ruohua went straight to the Liu residence without stopping.

It is unclear what the two discussed, but the next day when Liu Mingxin went to court, he submitted a memorial requesting leave.

"Your Majesty, I am truly worried about my daughter. Although she is capable, she is, after all, a woman and young and inexperienced. I must go to Tianjin to personally ask her what is really going on between her and Xiao Fang!"

Shen Lanxi looked troubled: "This... the imperial court can't do without Lord Liu!"

Liu Mingxin's words were earnest and pleading: "Your Majesty, please grant a father's wish to care for his daughter!"

After much deliberation, Shen Lanxi finally relented.

"If I don't agree, I'll seem heartless. Very well, I will grant Lord Liu's wish to have his daughter!"

After the court session that day, Liu Mingxin immediately ordered his men to pack their bags, and the next day, before dawn, he left without even waiting for the city gates to open.

During court, Shen Lanxi repeatedly exclaimed, "A father's love for his children and the children's filial piety towards their father—this is the best example of paternal love and filial piety!"

When she was in a good mood, she waved her hand and presented Liu Mingxin with a piece of calligraphy.

Not two days later, the Ministry of Works delivered a plaque praising the Liu family as "the best father of our time," complete with some banging and knocking.

The women of the Liu family were all very proud and wished they could replace the plaque at the main gate with this one.

After winter, spring was just around the corner, and the imperial examinations were once again put on the agenda.

After the court session, Shen Lanxi specifically kept the Grand Tutor and Mr. Ruohua behind.

"I'm keeping you here today to pave the way for the imperial examinations five months from now."

The two of them knew Shen Lanxi too well; if she said that, she must have something on her mind again.

"What are Your Majesty's plans?" Mr. Ruohua asked.

Shen Lanxi: "I want to select one of you two to inspect the academies in various places. One reason is to promote the merger of schools, and the other is to supervise whether anyone is hindering students from enrolling."

Both of them were scholars, and they knew the importance of this as soon as Shen Lanxi mentioned it.

Mr. Ruohua said: "The academy is the place that will produce pillars of our Great Zhou Dynasty. It must not be lost."

Shen Lanxi glanced at the Grand Tutor a few more times, then said, "My lords, which of you is willing to inspect the academy on my behalf and care for the students?"

Mr. Ruohua glanced at the old Grand Tutor. The old Grand Tutor was old and not suitable for a long journey. He was younger and, in terms of the choice, he was more suitable than the old Grand Tutor.

"Grand Tutor, you are highly respected and a teacher to all the scholars in the land. To inspect the academies across the country on behalf of His Majesty is an important responsibility that no one but you is fit to undertake!"

The old Grand Tutor gave Shen Lanxi a deep look, and then said, "Mr. Ruohua, you are too modest. Your talent is no less than mine."

"This job is a great opportunity to make a name for yourself among students all over the country. I feel ashamed that you are giving up such a good job!"

Mr. Ruohua thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, the territory of our Great Zhou is too vast. Why don’t I go with the Grand Tutor? One of us will be in the south and the other in the north. The inspection will be faster.”

The old Grand Tutor's eyes flashed. Was Mr. Ruohua someone His Majesty had promoted?

Shen Lanxi: "Mr. Ruohua is right. This task cannot be completed by one or two people alone. I also intend to have you two take the lead and select some students from among the scholars to accompany you!"

The old tutor's brows relaxed.

“Your Majesty, this matter can be handled by this old minister alone. Mr. Ruohua is in charge of both the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Agriculture, and his official duties are very busy. Moreover, the harvest season is just around the corner, and the Ministry of Agriculture is even busier. Please leave the task of inspecting the academies in various places to this old minister!”

The old Grand Tutor also had his own considerations. He had long since handed over his original official duties. After Shen Lanxi took office, she assigned him new duties, which was to take charge of all the academies in the capital, arrange for students to enroll, and formulate the curriculum.

In recent years, the academies in the capital have long been on the right track. Apart from the recent merger that kept them busy for a while, they usually just go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to show up for the ceremony.

He claims he's been sidelined, yet he still has things to do. He says he hasn't been sidelined, but in reality, he's long since lost all real power.

His reputation as a figurehead grew, and there are now three statues of him both inside and outside the capital.

No one would say that His Majesty has discarded the useful donkey after it has served its purpose.

But Liu Mingxin is gone!

Just like when Wu Yanzhi left back then!

Shen Lanxi began to ponder again: "This?"

The old Grand Tutor bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, it is my lifelong dream to ensure that all children in the world can have access to education. I beg Your Majesty to grant my wish."

"Mr. Ruohua, this old minister is begging you, with all my might, to give this task to me!"

Mr. Ruohua quickly helped the old grand tutor to become the official in charge.

"His Majesty……"

"Grand Tutor..."

Shen Lanxi no longer insisted: "Since the Grand Tutor has made up his mind, I will grant you this favor. The Grand Tutor may choose from all the talented scholars in the capital!"

Upon hearing this, the Grand Tutor silently breathed a sigh of relief.

The next day, the old Grand Tutor was absent from the imperial court, but an official who was on behalf of the emperor inspected the academies and selected talents for them.

...

"Did you figure it out?" Zhou Xinrou asked Huang Yu, her mind preoccupied.

"What did you see?" She trains her troops every day, and today she finally had a day off and came back, and now she's being asked to guess riddles?

Zhou Xinrou said with a deep look in her eyes, "Shen Lanxi has once again gotten two old ministers out of the capital."

Huang Yu knew about this.

"Liu Mingxin is just going to Tianjin to see his daughter; he'll be back in a while. The old Grand Tutor is the same; he's inspecting the academy, but he won't be doing it forever."

Zhou Xinrou thought about it more.

"Leaving aside Liu Mingxin for now, the old Grand Tutor is already in his seventies. The Great Zhou is vast. If he really inspects the whole place, he might die of old age on the road."

Huang Yu: "Really?"

Zhou Xinrou: "None of the Grand Tutor's children are capable. After he left, his power became useless."

Huang Yu realized the seriousness of the situation.

"Does Shen Lanxi intend to replace everyone in the court with her people?"

Zhou Xinrou was worried, but Huang Yu saw it as an opportunity.

“Great, we can take this opportunity to arrange some of our people.”