Chapter 365: Opening a Girls' School
At this time, Wen Wan was reading a picture book on the soft couch by the window. Seeing Shen Yu's expression, she said:
"It seems that the results of the investigation are not very good?"
Shen Yu responded and walked up to him and handed him the note.
Wen Wan put down the sketchbook, took the note and took a look.
The note read: The owner of the yard is Princess Jiarou.
"There are only two people in the world who have the authority to appoint female officials: His Majesty, and the Empress."
"The letter of engagement that leaked from the poetry club was obtained by a fifth-rank female official in the palace from the Empress."
"It is said that this lady-in-waiting was seriously ill, and before she died, she asked the Queen for a letter of appointment to a seventh-rank lady-in-waiting."
"How the engagement letter that female official requested got from the palace to the poetry club is unknown. But if the owner of the courtyard is Princess Jiarou."
"With Princess Jiarou's connections inside and outside the palace, it's not impossible for her to get this letter of appointment."
"Besides, Princess Jiarou's identity does indeed fit the description of 'all-powerful'."
After this analysis, Wen Wan frowned and asked Shen Yu:
"Could it be that the person behind the poetry club is Princess Jiarou?"
Shen Yu remained silent for a while.
He walked back to the desk with the note and took a tinder to light it.
The flames jumped and the note quickly burned to ashes.
He then spoke solemnly, "Whether it's true or not, this group of people in the poetry society are constantly pushing for a higher status for women, and they've even started writing stories about women serving in the court. Is it just to marry into a good family?"
He smiled sarcastically again: "I think they have big plans."
Wen Wan nodded in agreement and said:
"They were like boiling a frog in warm water. They first planted the seeds of feminist thought among the women who read the storybooks little by little."
"From the initial belief that 'women can do anything men can do,' to the current situation where women can serve as officials in the government and even continue to make achievements..."
Wen Wan frowned and said, "They are deepening their feminist ideology step by step. No one knows where the end of feminism lies. Maybe it will be a unified world?"
She was just joking. Unexpectedly, Shen Yu looked at her deeply.
Wen Wan's scalp tingled when she saw him looking at her, and her smile froze on her face.
"What do you mean? I was just joking, just saying it casually."
Shen Yu didn't laugh: "Did you know that just yesterday at the morning court, someone proposed opening a girls' school?"
"Girls' school?"
Wen Wan was stunned for a moment, frowned and asked, "Who brought it up?"
Shen Yu looked at him meaningfully and said sarcastically, "An old acquaintance of yours."
Wen Wan blinked her eyes and sensed something from his sarcastic tone.
She suddenly thought of someone.
"Are you talking about Meng Jin?"
Shen Yu said "hmm".
Wen Wan said, "Hasn't Meng Jin always looked down on women? Why did he change his ways this time and actually speak up for women?"
After a pause, she suddenly realized.
"Could it be that Princess Jiarou asked him for help? Given his relationship with Princess Jiarou, it's not impossible for Princess Jiarou to find him."
"But I always feel something is wrong." Shen Yu analyzed: "Meng Jin is not the kind of person who would agree to be the first to take action just for the sake of favors."
"You should know how outrageous it would be to propose opening a girls' school in the court, as seen by those old scholars."
"At that time, many veteran officials stood up and scolded Meng Jin for his behavior."
Wen Wan could imagine the fierce quarrel in the court.
After thinking about it carefully, I felt that Shen Yu was right.
Meng Jin was a man who would not do anything without profit. Despite the criticism from so many ministers, he still proposed opening a girls' school. Perhaps he had a greater interest in mind.
After the two people analyzed the situation, they felt a chill on their backs.
At first glance, it seems that there is no one in the court who can cover the sky with one hand.
Whether it was the former King Anding, or the old General He who held military power, or the younger generation of Shen Yu and He Qing, they have now all had their sharp teeth pulled out and no longer have the power they once had.
It would be fine if these were just coincidences.
But if there is someone behind all this who is deliberately pushing this, then this person is too scary.
The atmosphere in the room was very solemn. Wen Wan no longer had the heart to continue reading the storybook.
Seeing him like this, Shen Yu hugged her in his arms, gently touched her head, and comforted her:
"Don't even think about it. We'll figure it out when the time comes. Luckily, the enemy is out in the open while we're in the dark. We still have time to investigate."
Wen Wan then nodded.
*
Two days later, Wen Wan prepared five thousand taels of silver and filled three large wooden boxes.
He asked Banyue to deliver the letter to the poetry club in advance and inform Mrs. Lin.
Soon, Mrs. Lin sent someone to deliver a message, asking her to deliver the silver to a small courtyard in the west of the city.
Wen Wan asked Agui and Banyue to follow her, and drove the carriage to the courtyard at noon.
Someone was waiting at the gate of the courtyard and welcomed Wen Wan and the carriage in.
This courtyard is not big, with about a dozen rooms. The backyard is very unique, with a separate water pavilion built on it.
After a while, Mrs. Lin came out with several guards, and he asked the guards to move the silver away.
Wenwan enthusiastically asked Agui to go along and help.
Ah Gui responded, then walked over with a smile on his face and said, "I'll come and lend a hand to you big brothers."
A guard turned around and looked at Madam Lin.
Mrs. Lin nodded almost imperceptibly, and several guards asked Agui to help.
Mrs. Lin enthusiastically took Wen Wan's wrist and walked towards the water pavilion.
"Come, I'll show you something good."
Wen Wan was puzzled, but followed Mrs. Lin obediently.
They stopped on the corridor not far from the water pavilion.
Standing on the steps and looking towards the waterside pavilion, you can see a dozen young women reading in a large house.
Wen Wan exclaimed in surprise: "This is..."
Mrs. Lin lowered her voice and leaned close to her ear and said, "These are all intelligent women selected by our poetry club from all over the place."
"I'll tell you another secret. The imperial court will soon open a girls' school."
"We all come from a business background. You must understand that if you want to make money, you have to stay ahead of others."
"When it comes to girls' education, if we want to gain more benefits, we have to be ahead of others."
Wen Wan nodded and agreed: "Mrs. Lin is right."
Madam Lin patted her hand gently and said, "Madam Wen, when I first met you, I felt that we were the same kind of people. That's why I told you this in advance."
Wen Wan feigned ignorance and replied, "Thank you, Madam Lin, for your kindness."
"No need to be so polite. Since I've told you something so important, I naturally treat you as one of my own."
She went on to say, "The five thousand taels of silver you sent will all be used to support these young women who are studying. If they achieve anything in the future, you will be their benefactor."
Wen Wan understood instantly.
Mrs. Lin is building up her own power.
Perhaps because Wen Wan could provide money, she was allowed to have a share.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
