Bai Xiucai stared blankly at Song Yaozhu, suppressing all the questions in his heart.
How could a puppy question its owner's decision? He immediately replied, "Your Highness, I don't know anyone yet. Give me a few days, and I'll have someone soon!"
Song Yaozhu slightly raised her chin, and Caiyin stepped forward to hand him a heavy purse.
"Scholar Bai, meeting new friends inevitably involves hosting a dinner party. This is a gift from the Princess for you. Go and have some new clothes made. Dressing up will make it easier to meet people."
Scholar Bai accepted the money and left. Most of the students at Yushan Academy were from wealthy families. His own poor appearance made it difficult for him to establish connections with them.
After Bai Xiucai left, Song Yaozhu rested her chin on her hand and looked out the window. Suddenly, she said, "I heard that a girls' school has been built here. Let's go and have a look."
Caijin and Caiyin found a young page to lead the way, and the group passed through the pavilion and entered the backyard.
There was a small gate in the backyard, guarded by two old women, each with a fierce and menacing face and a robust physique, presumably to intimidate any unscrupulous students in the front yard.
Song Yaozhu entered the backyard and saw that the yard was covered with sand and gravel. A burly man with a bear-like back was using a shovel to turn over the sand and gravel, as if he was going to build something.
Several women were standing under the eaves. One of them saw Song Yaozhu come in and walked over, lifting her skirt.
"Why is the Princess here!" Shen Qingyu was very surprised that Song Yaozhu would appear here.
Upon hearing Shen Qingyu's voice, the burly man working also looked over. When Song Yaozhu met his gaze, she felt that the man was quite familiar, but she couldn't recognize him at first.
The other person spoke first: "Is the Princess here for an inspection today?"
Song Yaozhu was taken aback. "Cao Zhi?"
No wonder Song Yaozhu was surprised. Cao Zhi shaved his beard, revealing a face completely different from his physique. He had a round face and round eyes, but his mouth and nose were very delicate. Just looking at his face, he looked like a pampered young master.
Song Yaozhu never expected that such a thick beard hid such a... baby face. She was surprised after surprised.
"Hehehe, maybe the princess doesn't like it because I shaved my beard." Cao Zhi scratched the back of his head, his smile carrying a hint of naivety.
“I really couldn’t recognize him.” Song Yaozhu looked at him, then asked Shen Qingyu, “What are you doing?”
"They are building a stove. The master wants to open a cooking course, and it won't work without a stove."
"Your women's college teaches cooking?"
“Of course!” came the reply from a little girl in a blue dress standing in the corridor. She skipped over to Song Yaozhu and said, “Eating is a basic necessity. We can forgo studying or working, but we cannot forgo eating. I plan to teach them how to start a fire and cook, and how to identify wild vegetables. In case they ever get lost in the mountains, they won’t starve to death!”
"Great idea! Master's idea is excellent!" Song Yaozhu encouraged.
The noble ladies of the capital city did indeed learn many talents, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and dance, but they also abandoned much of their common sense about life. As a result, many girls were completely ignorant of basic agricultural knowledge and couldn't survive without their servants. Although these things may seem useless now, they might come in handy in the future.
“However, we’re having a tough time recruiting right now.” The little scholar awkwardly kicked a small hole in the ground with his toe. “So far, we only have two students.”
Song Yaozhu looked at the small courtyard and thought for a moment before saying, "You can talk to the headmaster. For example, among the students who bought places in the outer courtyard, if they are willing to send their daughters to study here, we can reduce the fees by 10%. I believe quite a few families will be willing to send their daughters here."
The young scholar immediately beamed with joy and excitedly said, "I'm going to find the headmaster!"
When Song Yaozhu and Shen Qingyu entered the room, they saw that her current appearance and demeanor were completely different from when they first met, and they realized that the environment has a great influence on people.
Once she has finished everything, she will take Xie Liwei and leave this place. They will travel the world and live the life they want.
“I saw workers outside, why did you let Cao Zhi do this job?”
Song Yaozhu's gaze fell on Cao Zhi, who was sweating profusely. She heard Shen Qingyu say, "I don't know those workers well, and the courtyard is full of women. I was afraid of scaring the students, so I asked Mr. Cao, whom I know, for help."
Actually, it was Cao Zhi who volunteered. He said he often did these kinds of jobs back in his hometown and could finish them in half a day.
Song Yaozhu looked away from Shen Qingyu, seemingly having seen through something, but without revealing it.
How is the preparation for the Tzu Chi Foundation's exam going?
"I can't say I'm 100% sure, but I'd say I'm 70% or 80% sure," Shen Qingyu said with a shy smile, but her eyes shone with light.
"Alright, then I'll be waiting for you to win the championship and treat me to dinner."
"I'll invite Yongle along then. It's been a long time since I've seen her. I heard that Princess Xuan has been taking her around to meet potential partners recently, and I'm thinking of settling her marriage by the end of this year."
"She is indeed not young anymore, so it's only natural that Princess Xuan is anxious."
She'll be twenty soon after the New Year. In the capital, apart from Zhao Ying'e, which girl would spend her twentieth birthday at her parents' home?
“Rather than marrying someone you don’t know well, it’s better not to marry at all.” Shen Qingyu’s expression suddenly turned a little sad, but she composed herself well. “I hope Yongle can find someone who can take care of her. After all, with her personality, she seems like she’ll never grow up.”
Speaking of this, Song Yaozhu couldn't help but sigh about her marriage.
On the way back, she was also thinking about her inexplicable marriage, and she just felt that she had married well, married too well!
She knows Xie Liwei's background well; his family is like her own family, so she doesn't need to worry about the couple sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams, because she understands Xie Liwei's character very well.
"Caiyin, stop at Changkeju for a while. I want to eat their braised pork knuckle and eight-treasure duck. Go and pack them up to take back home."
The carriage stopped as instructed in front of the Changkeju restaurant, a long-established establishment with many customers. It wasn't mealtime yet, and there were only a few scattered patrons. Song Yaozhu lifted the curtain slightly to peek at the street scene and suddenly saw a familiar figure dart into the Changkeju. The person was dressed in ordinary maid's clothes, presumably having sneaked out.
She chuckled; she had just been talking to Shen Qingyu about Yongle when she ran into her on her way back.
Perfect, having this little girl around while eating will definitely make it more lively.
She changed her mind, got off the carriage, and went to the Changkeju to find Yongle. After telling the waiter that she was acquainted with Yongle, she gave him a silver ingot and asked him to take her to the door of Yongle's private room. Just as she was about to go in, she heard people arguing inside.
"My mother has been making me meet all sorts of men these days, so why won't you let me tell her about our relationship? I may be a bit older than you, but my status is not high enough to embarrass you!"
Another man in the private room coaxed, "Yongle, don't be angry. You know how I feel about you. It's just that my mother has arranged a marriage for me with a distant cousin. I need to cancel this marriage first before I can tell my mother about us. It's not that I'm afraid our past will be exposed; I'm just afraid your reputation will be damaged. Only heaven knows how much I want to propose to you right now!"
Song Yaozhu withdrew her hand from the door, her gaze darkening.
What kind of pig dares to rummage through my own yard for cabbages?!
She turned and went into the next private room, saying to Caijin, "Go and buy some bamboo."
Cai Jin was puzzled. "Why are you buying bamboo?"
"Weave pig cages!"
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