Chapter 106 Xiao Haitang's Ambition
Song Tangning doesn't understand much about the ways of the world, but he knows that people sympathize with the weak.
Between her and the aristocratic families, she was weak and the Lu family was at fault, so she had the upper hand. But if she accepted the Lu family's money and lost her integrity, no one would sympathize with a person who was rich and money-minded.
Those people would only think that she had previously threatened the Lu family for gold and silver, and that she was greedy for money and power and not so innocent. Not only would it tarnish her own reputation, but it would also affect the reputation of her aunt and grandfather.
not to mention……
Song Tangning lowered his eyes to hide his thoughts.
She wanted to protect her brother.
Everything her brother did was teetering on the edge of the abyss. If he wasn't careful, he would be doomed. She was worried about his situation, but she also knew that this world would not allow him to retreat.
If you retreat, you will die.
Tang Ning couldn't persuade him, so he could only do his best to help him.
He had a bad reputation, so she accumulated a good reputation.
He was slandered and excluded by the aristocratic families and walked alone in the court, so she found enough "like-minded" people for him so that he would not have to fight alone.
It is extremely difficult to eradicate the power of the aristocratic families, but if there are enough students from poor families in the court who can win over enough upright court officials, the power of the aristocratic families will naturally be squeezed out.
She knew that her ability was limited and she might not be able to achieve that, but as long as she did enough and had a big enough impact, even if the imperial power really changed one day in the future and Xiao Yan was purged, she would not be helpless and could only stand by and watch him be convicted.
Song Tangning was afraid that her brother would laugh at her for being ignorant, and she was also afraid that he would laugh at her own wild ideas.
She just hid this thought secretly in her heart, and when she looked up, she only mentioned the Lu family.
"If I set up an academy, not only would I be able to attract students from poor families, but those upright officials in the court who are at odds with the aristocratic families would also side with me. With them around, even if the Lu family holds a grudge against me, they wouldn't dare to touch me. Moreover, I could also take advantage of the opportunity to use the connections my grandfather left behind, so they wouldn't be left to waste and benefit others."
More importantly, Tang Ning has other ambitions.
What she originally wanted to build was a women's academy. The idea came to her when Madam Qin talked to her about the current situation of women that day. However, she knew that if she only planned to build a women's academy, she would not get much support, and it would be difficult to use the hands of those poor scholars and court officials to push the Lu family to the forefront.
She is no longer the little girl who knew nothing, so she naturally understands the importance of taking advantage of the situation.
She wanted to win those people over first, use their influence to force the Lu family to make concessions, and then take advantage of the situation to bring up the matter of the women's college. Then, under the cover of those poor students, it would not be surprising even if she accepted a few female masters and female disciples, and others would not say much.
Song Tangning knew that her ideas were still lacking and immature. She couldn't help but look at Xiao Yan and said:
"The Lu family and I have come to this point. Rather than tearing each other apart and hurting each other, I might as well take this opportunity to gain some good reputation. No matter how much the Lu family took from me, I only want three times the amount of books as compensation. I don't want any other gold or silver. Brother, do you think this is a good idea?"
Xiao Yan looked at the little girl beside him with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
This method is not only good, it is unexpectedly good.
He originally thought that the little girl was just a little girl, and that she was quarreling with the Lu family mostly to vent her anger, but he didn't expect that she could think of so much without anyone reminding her.
In the final analysis, the matter between Song Tangning and the Lu family is just a private matter between the two families. No matter how big the fuss gets, it has nothing to do with others. Others can only watch the fun and use it as a joke to disparage the Lu family. However, although it was the Lu family who deceived her in the beginning, she was the one who gave those things away. If Song Tangning fights with the Lu family, the Lu family will certainly become infamous, and she will also be criticized by some pedantic people, which is not much better than the Lu family.
But if she asked for the Lu family's things not out of selfishness, but to raise funds to build an academy for poor students, then the meaning would be very different.
Not to mention those poor students who are eager to make a name for themselves, even court officials like Cao Dejiang who have already reached a high position but come from a humble family will lend their full support.
At that time, Song Tangning would not have to fight with the Lu family in an ugly way, and the Lu family would be able to be stripped of a layer of flesh.
Xiao Yan didn't expect that the little girl who started crying after being scared by him would actually have such thoughts. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers.
"Building an academy is indeed a good idea. It's far better for your current situation than directly confronting the Lu family. However, the collection of books needed to build an academy is more than just a few, and only paying back three times is too cheap for the Lu family."
Although it was to gain fame for Tang Ning and to win over the poor students to jointly resist the aristocratic families, in the final analysis it was also to find a way out for those students. In recent years, the disputes between the poor and the aristocratic families in the court have been ongoing. Now that Tang Ning wants to take advantage of the situation, those who claim to be upright in the court cannot be let go.
If the Lu family wants to bleed, others must also take advantage of it.
Xiao Yan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a "knock knock" sound. After a moment, he said in a serious tone, "Tomorrow is the three-day deadline. I will write two petitions for you. You can send one to Jingzhao Prefecture, and I will deliver the other to the palace for you."
"I will explain your affairs with the Lu family to His Majesty, and then ask His Majesty to erect a monument of literary virtue in front of the academy, inscribed with the contributions of all those who helped in its establishment. The Lu family will surely come looking for you, and when they do, you can ask them for half of the Lu family's collection of books, even if it's three times the price. Also, ask Lu Chongyuan to personally write an inscription on the monument on the academy's opening day."
"If the Lu family refuses, you can directly hand over the list to Jingzhao Prefecture and the Censorate and have them report it to His Majesty, who will then make the final decision on the matter."
Song Tangning's eyes widened when she heard this. She just wanted to peel off a layer of skin from the Lu family, but her brother wanted to gouge out the flesh and blood of the Lu family and take half of their lives.
Not to mention the collection of books, just the inscriptions would make Lu Chongyuan faint from anger.
The purpose of opening an academy for students from poor families is to cultivate the backbone to resist the aristocratic families. Logically speaking, it would be good enough if people from the aristocratic families did not come to cause trouble.
But once Lu Chongyuan wrote the inscription, how could the aristocratic families headed by the Lu family have the nerve to make things difficult for him?
"Will Lu Chongyuan agree?" Tang Ning hesitated.
"He will."
Xiao Yan said this with absolute certainty.
If it was before Lu Zhinian's accident, the Lu family might have had other thoughts, but Lu Zhinian is now in his hands. They can't touch Xiao Haitang, and they don't want to completely ruin the reputation of the Fourth Prince.
As long as the Lu family's bottom line is touched and they feel pain but do not turn against each other, Lu Chongyuan will be happy to "spend money to avoid disaster", even if this willingness means swallowing his blood and humiliation, he will grit his teeth and accept it.
Xiao Yan said, "Just go ahead and do it boldly."
Song Tangning felt relieved upon hearing this: "Okay, I'll listen to you, brother."
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