The emperor neither explicitly opposed nor explicitly approved of Jiang Shuyue's idea.
Such things cannot be changed overnight. The implementation of a policy requires coordination from top to bottom. If there is any lack of coordination, the matter cannot be accomplished.
The emperor waited to see how Jiang Shuyue would handle the situation.
Jiang Shuyue did not persuade those who opposed her, but instead directly ordered people to start building the new academy.
The new academy was modeled after the schools in Tianxiang County, and was divided into two parts: one for children under six years old and the other for those preparing to take the imperial examinations.
Both men and women can apply as long as they pay a certain amount of tuition each month.
It doesn't matter if the officials in the court disagree, as long as their families agree.
Song Ning once said that women hold up half the sky, and the power of women should not be underestimated.
So what if they are born weak? They have the determination and awareness to become stronger.
Besides, there's Song Ning, a living advertisement.
Even women have the desire to contribute to the country, but they simply cannot do so on their own.
If such an opportunity were truly provided, who would be willing to stay indoors all day, surrounded by mundane family gossip?
Do you still think women are ignorant? If you keep men locked up in the house, they won't be much more knowledgeable either.
Song Ning was responsible for promoting the benefits of going to school. However, when people heard that girls could take the imperial examinations and become officials, no one believed it.
Jiang Shuyue wasn't in a hurry. This wasn't something that could be accomplished in a short time; she was simply making preparations in advance.
The next imperial examination will be open to women; those who are bold enough can give it a try.
Even if you fail, it's okay. As long as you've tried, it's better than not taking a single step at all.
Although it has been met with opposition from many people, it has also received support from many others.
Some of the more enlightened adults in the family, knowing that the school and academy were established at the suggestion of the Crown Prince, came forward to inquire about them.
When the school opened, there were ten students in one school, including six boys and four girls.
Although there weren't many people, there were still some, and Jiang Shuyue was already quite satisfied.
On the first day of school, Jiang Shuyue came to the academy to check, and as expected, there weren't many people, and they were all male students.
I didn't see a single girl.
Song Ning stayed by her side, and fewer and fewer students came in; she didn't see a single female student.
They waited until no one was left at the academy gate, but no woman came.
Jiang Shuyue sighed: "It's okay, this is only the first day of school. I know it won't be that easy. We'll just have to work harder next time."
Song Ning walked to the entrance of the academy and looked into the distance. She saw a glimpse of a skirt peeking out from behind a tree, and then a head sticking out from behind the tree. After seeing her, the head quickly shrank back.
Song Ning smiled, waved to Jiang Shuyue, and pointed behind the big tree.
Jiang Shuyue walked over and saw a woman standing behind a tree with a basket on her back containing books and writing materials.
Jiang Shuyue's expression brightened: "You...you're here to study?"
The little girl bit her lip and didn't say anything. She turned to run away, but Jiang Shuyue grabbed her arm.
"Wait, now that you're here, why don't you go inside?"
The little girl didn't dare to look up, and after a long while, she stammered, "I...I don't dare..."
The girl had never been to an academy before and didn't know what it looked like inside. Seeing so many people go in just now made her feel timid.
She wanted to study, but as the first person, she simply didn't have the courage.
"Don't be afraid, the academy admits female students. Come on, I'll take you in."
The little girl followed behind Jiang Shuyue, her head down the whole way, as if she had entered some terrifying place.
"Don't be nervous. From now on, you will be a student in the academy, no different from those men. What they can do, you can do too."
As the three walked, they attracted the attention of the male students.
However, the students who dared to come here were all accepting of boys and girls studying together; they were just a little curious, but no one pointed fingers or gossiped.
Song Ning asked softly, "What's your name?"
“I…I am called Fang Lan, Lan as in orchid.”
"Fang Lan, the academy provides subsidies to female students who arrive early. Someone will contact you later."
"Thanks."
"I'll take you around to familiarize yourself with the environment first, and then I'll take you to the classroom."
"Um."
The three of them walked around the academy. Fang Lan finally stopped looking down and dared to look up at her surroundings. Once she looked, she couldn't take her eyes off them.
Is this a place where I can read?
Leaving here, one can participate in scientific expeditions? And even enter the imperial court as an official?
Although these things don't sound very real, she was already content as long as she could read.
"Come on, let me show you where you're staying."
This place was built under Jiang Shuyue's personal supervision; it's where the students live, and she takes it very seriously.
Since we're all young women, sometimes we're not feeling well, or we have our monthly periods, which adds to our schedules.
The layout here is all based on Song Ning's suggestion, with the dormitories divided into two-person, three-person, and four-person rooms.
There is a fee for staying in the dormitory, but it is not much, and the cost varies depending on the number of people staying.
At the entrance, Song Ning also set up dormitory supervisors, who were older women, mainly to check if the students had returned or to provide them with some assistance.
"You're the only woman here now, living alone...Aren't you afraid?"
Fang Lan shook her head: "Don't be afraid, it's fine here."
Since there were few people around, Jiang Shuyue simply let her stay in a double room.
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