Chapter 754 No need for Your Highness to trouble yourself.
Cheng Wanwan carefully explained the educational philosophy of the girls' school to the Empress.
The Empress became more and more interested as she listened. Initially, she had only mentioned a small idea, but she never expected that it would become a tangible reality for Cheng Wanwan.
If all the women who sign up can receive basic education, learn two or three skills, and elevate their intellectual level, the entire Great Yu Dynasty should undergo significant changes.
However, Cheng Wanwan's ideas were too advanced and clearly not adapted to the feudal era. After the Empress offered her opinions, she immediately made changes. The two spent a whole day in Kunning Palace before finalizing the plan.
After the plan was finalized, the Empress summoned her female officials and instructed them to assist Cheng Zhao in implementing the plan.
Cheng Wanwan left after having dinner at Kunning Palace.
As soon as I reached the palace gate, I saw a familiar figure.
"Ahem!" The King of Qin walked over with his hands behind his back. "It's getting late, and the road isn't safe. I'll escort Lady Sui back."
Cheng Wanwan shook her head: "With maids and guards, Your Highness need not trouble yourself."
"Actually, I wanted to inquire about the girls' school with Lady Sui," the Prince of Qin said, making conversation. "The capital is the most prosperous place in the Great Yu Dynasty, yet even so, only the daughters of officials attend the clan school to learn to read and write. The daughters of merchants and commoners all consider studying a waste of time and money... In other words, the rich have places to study, while the poor have no need to. Can this girls' school really be established? If it fails, will your sister-in-law blame you?"
"Your Highness is overthinking it." Cheng Wanwan smiled. "Even if it doesn't work out, Her Majesty the Empress won't blame me. Besides, I believe the girls' school will definitely be successfully established."
She had discussed this issue with the Empress during the day at Kunning Palace.
The problem the King of Qin mentioned does exist, but it is not unsolvable.
The Emperor currently has three princesses, all of whom are of school age. Since the princesses cannot enter the Imperial Academy, they are taught privately by female tutors.
The Empress decided to allow the three princesses to directly enter the girls' school. In other words, the princesses, who had always lived in seclusion in the inner palace, appeared in front of the public. As a result, officials would rush to enroll their daughters in order to befriend the princesses. This is the celebrity effect.
With a princess leading the way, the wealthy have no problem attracting students.
The problem is even easier for the poor. The first three years of schooling are free, and thereafter only a small tuition fee will be charged. There will always be some people who will be tempted.
The biggest problem this school is about to face is that its students come from both the highest and lowest levels of society.
Cheng Wanwan silently lit a candle for the future headmistress of the girls' school.
The King of Qin looked at Cheng Wanwan. By the light of the palace lantern, he could clearly see her features. Her temperament was extraordinary, and her face was full of confidence and radiance.
She was a woman who traveled from Dahe Town to the capital, and wherever she went, she seemed to be able to do something sensational.
Even if the girls' school fails, it won't be a blow to her, but rather an experience. She will become more courageous with each setback and go further.
In the past, he felt that he had a special status and that the number of women in the world who were worthy of him could be counted on one hand.
Now, he saw her brilliance, and he truly realized that apart from his status, he was worthless and unworthy of Lady Sui of the Great Yu Dynasty.
Perhaps he should do something too.
"Your Highness, I must take my leave."
Cheng Wanwan performed a polite bow, then turned and helped Gu Bing into the carriage.
After the carriage had traveled a long way, Gu Bing lifted the curtain and looked out: "The King of Qin is still standing at the palace gate, looking in the direction of the lady."
"The way the Prince of Qin looks at you is strange," Gu Leng frowned. "Madam, why don't I sneak into the Prince of Qin's residence to find out what he's planning to do to you?"
Cheng Wanwan: "..."
She was already considered a straight woman, but these twin sisters were even more so.
“No need,” she said. “The girls’ school is about to open, and we’ll be busy with other things. There’s no need to waste time on this kind of thing.”
Her attitude was clear, and it seemed that the King of Qin would not pursue the matter further. Let's just let this matter rest.
Because the Empress rarely left the palace, and the female officials in the palace had difficulty understanding Cheng Wanwan's meaning, Cheng Wanwan spent the next period of time busy with the girls' school.
Lu Yingxue assisted Situ Man in opening the third reading room in the capital.
This reading room is located at the quieter end of a street in the north of the city. It has three floors and is decorated in a very stylish manner.
Lu Yingxue specially took out some of her husband's paintings, which he had made in his spare time, and hung them on the wall in the main hall: "People in the capital only know that Dongliu Jushi is good at analyzing the imperial examination questions, but they don't know that Dongliu Jushi is even better at painting. Look at these mountains, this water, this scenery, this people... how artistic they are in Dongliu Jushi's paintings..."
Situ Man nodded: "Nowadays, the name of Dongliu Jushi is very popular among the literary circles in the capital. A painting by Dongliu Jushi can fetch at least a hundred taels of silver."
“Our Yu family doesn’t care about a hundred taels of silver anymore,” Lu Yingxue said, hands on her hips. “Let’s put these paintings here and let those scholars look at them and praise them every day. Wouldn’t our old Yu’s reputation grow stronger and stronger? One day…”
She paused here.
She didn't know when that "one day" would be...
She decided to put aside what she didn't know for the time being and focus on finishing what she was doing. She continued her busy chatter.
Amidst the busyness, the news of the opening of the girls' school was officially released.
For a time, everyone on the streets was talking about it.
"Have you heard? Her Majesty the Empress and Lady Sui have jointly opened a girls' school, a place specifically for girls to learn to read and write."
"I heard that the three princesses in the palace have enrolled in the girls' school. If my daughter goes to this school, will she be able to see the princesses?"
“If even the princess goes to this school, then they must have the best teachers. I’ll send my daughter there to give it a try.”
“If my daughter goes to school, who will do all the chores around the house? I’m so worried.”
"You have such a low standard. Being classmates with a princess is such an honor, yet you're still thinking about those petty family matters."
"That's right, that's right. If we befriend the princess, we might be able to get a job by her side."
"..."
Regardless of what the common people thought, the girls' school became a hit.
In just half a month, people flocked to sign up, and the first batch of students numbered 136, two-thirds of whom were ordinary women.
Time flew by and it was already February.
Because the capital will be hosting its biggest event—the provincial examination—in mid-February, followed by the palace examination, the headlines in the capital for the next three to five months will be related to the imperial examinations.
Therefore, after discussing with the Empress, Cheng Wanwan set the opening date of the girls' school five days before the imperial examination.
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