Chapter 264 Vice Dean

Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu rolled her eyes inwardly and secretly complained: "It's all the same as the thousand-year-old Liao Zhai, why are you pretending?"

But what the queen was thinking at this moment was exactly what she wanted.

Concubine Shu could only suppress her dissatisfaction, bowed slightly, and said in a forced and respectful manner: "Thank you for your plea, Your Majesty. I will definitely be more careful with my words and actions in the future."

The emperor looked at the fifth prince, Chu Ci and his wife who had come in to pay their respects, and the eldest prince who had rolled off the stretcher in a panic. His brows were furrowed and his face was so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip out.

Upon seeing this, the Queen quickly stood up and sternly scolded the eunuchs who were accompanying her: "You damned slaves! How could you be so careless that you can't even do such a small thing as serving the King of Shu!"

"If anything happens to the King of Shu, I will punish him severely!"

Now there is no excuse for the outburst.

Seeing this, the emperor could only suppress his anger and try to put on a fatherly look. He looked at the eldest prince and said softly, "Get up. Don't add insult to injury."

After finishing the job, he turned to look at Concubine Shu, with a warning in his eyes: "And Concubine Shu, be careful next time."

"This time, considering how much you love your son, I will not argue with you too much. But please don't let it happen again."

When everyone heard this, they felt relieved and breathed a sigh of relief, and the matter was temporarily put behind them. "Thank you, Your Majesty." "Your son thanks your father."

At this moment, whether it was the Queen, Consort Shu, or the eldest prince, their thanks were sincere from the bottom of their hearts.

Only Chu Ci felt deeply sad as he looked at the scene before him.

What did Concubine Shu do wrong?

Even the queen's intention was just to have a brief talk with her son as soon as possible!

They were just mothers who instinctively expressed their dissatisfaction out of heartache and worry when they saw their sons injured.

However, in this world where imperial power is supreme, hierarchy is strict, and rules are complicated, they don't even have the right to complain.

Chu Ci, lost in thought, hadn't recovered when he heard the emperor speak gently, "Princess Yixin, I've heard you're renowned for your talent. The women's academy you run in Lianzhou is deeply loved by the local people. It not only educates many women but also cultivates their talents and moral character. The women in the academy are well-educated and well-mannered, adding a touch of refinement to the local atmosphere."

"Now, I want to open a Royal Women's College in the capital to demonstrate our dynasty's emphasis on women's education."

"After much deliberation, I feel that you are the most suitable person to handle this matter. I will now appoint you as the Vice President of the Imperial Women's College. How do you do that?"

"Vice-president? What about the president?" Chu Ci frowned slightly, her clear eyes full of doubts and confusion.

Chu Ci was very clear about his own abilities. The reason why Lianzhou Women's College was able to run well was entirely due to his ability to control everything.

She alone made the final decision on all matters of the academy, big or small. While others helped, they never deviated from the framework she had drawn up.

It would be fine if they had set up a Royal Women's College now, but they even have a deputy one?

Thinking of this, Chu Ci felt like a fire was burning in his heart and he was extremely anxious.

Her mind was already frantically thinking about how to resign the emperor's appointment.

Unfortunately, this is not the previous life. Before Chu Ci could even open his mouth, Fan Jingrui frantically signaled him not to do anything.

Naturally, this little action did not escape the emperor's eyes.

The emperor's smile remained undimmed, but that smile never reached his eyes, revealing a hint of chilling majesty: "Hahahaha, you are worthy of being the princess I personally conferred upon you. You are quite courageous."

"But Princess Yixin is asking so eagerly, could it be that she is dissatisfied with my order?"

Chu Ci was speechless, a feeling of helplessness and resentment welling up in her heart. She took a deep breath, gathered her composure, and said, "Your Majesty, do you know why Lianzhou Women's College was so successful?"

Without waiting for anyone to react, Chu Ci continued, "Because the 'Women's College' belongs to me, Chu Ci! From the initial conception to the step-by-step implementation, I personally oversaw every step. There was no one to dictate, and no rules to restrict me. I was able to run and develop it completely according to my own ideas, and that's how the 'Lianzhou Women's College' came to be."

The emperor was truly furious. His eyes widened, veins bulging on his forehead as he shouted, "Chu Ci, are you saying that the royal family is inferior to a mere woman like you? I've made an exception and given you a chance because I think you have some talent, but you are so ungrateful and arrogant!"

"Father..." But just as the fifth prince opened his mouth, he was stopped by the queen's fierce glare.

"Your Majesty, please calm down." Fan Jingrui knelt down without hesitation and anxiously pleaded for Chu Ci. "Your Majesty, Princess Chu Ci may have said something inappropriate, but I'm sure she was wholeheartedly concerned about running the Imperial Women's Academy well. I hope Your Majesty will calm down and not punish her for this."

On the other hand, Chu Ci, the person involved, was not afraid. Instead, he held his head high and stared at the angry emperor with a firm gaze. "Your Majesty, it is not Chu Ci who is arrogant."

"As a royal family, everything is top-notch, with abundant resources and sufficient manpower."

"But it's precisely because of this that Chu Ci, a princess with no background, faces many constraints in this complex palace with so many intertwined forces."

"If I cannot act according to my own wishes, I am afraid that this Royal Women's Academy will not be able to achieve the results you expect."

How many years has it been since anyone dared to tell the truth like this in front of him?

A glint of nostalgia flashed across the emperor's eyes. His deep gaze held a meaning that no one could understand, and his attitude towards Chu Ci also improved considerably. "Oh? Princess Yixin, tell me, what are my expectations?"

The emperor's tone was no longer so sharp, but instead contained a hint of curiosity and inquiry.

Chu Ci thought for a moment and said, "As the saying goes, if the father is a bear, the mother is a bear. Although this saying is a bit crude, Chu Ci deeply believes it."

"Although it's said that 'if a son is not well educated, it's the father's fault,' in reality, women often bear the important responsibility of raising children in the family."

"Most of a child's initial enlightenment education comes from their mother. A mother's words and deeds have a profound influence on her children's growth."

"If women can receive a good education, have rich knowledge and broaden their horizons, they can teach the next generation in a more scientific and wise way."

"In this way, generation after generation, under the influence of good family education, the overall quality of the population of the Great Zhou will inevitably be significantly improved, laying a solid foundation for the prosperity of the country."

"The Emperor's establishment of a women's college may seem spontaneous, but it's actually intended to fundamentally improve the quality of the population of the Great Zhou. His foresight and good intentions are truly a blessing for the Great Zhou and the people."