Those who can serve as the headmasters of the major academies in Fengjing are all learned scholars and literary figures, and are by no means unknown individuals.
At this moment, they formed their own small circle, and the way they glanced at Lin Qiwu was somewhat unfriendly.
"Hmph! Headmaster Lin's back is probably about to bend to the ground!"
An elderly man with a thin face, dressed in an ochre-colored scholar's robe, stroked his beard and spoke with undisguised sarcasm.
A slightly plump-looking headmaster next to him spoke up, his voice not loud but loud enough for those around to hear:
"The integrity of scholars? It was probably crushed long ago by the plaque of Qingyun Academy, all this sycophancy and flattery..."
Another headmaster, with a serious expression, coldly said, "It's nothing but a monkey wearing a crown."
Upon hearing this, the crowd either let out suppressed snickers or echoed their agreement.
That being said, the emotions surging deep in everyone's eyes were far more complex.
Envy, jealousy, disdain... none of these could mask the underlying anxiety.
The academy heads, especially those ranked in the top five, showed a more pronounced difference in expression or gaze.
Why not choose the best, but instead choose Qingyun Academy, which is neither here nor there?
The ranking structure of Fengjing Academy has been stable for many years due to the power struggle among various forces.
Competing for top students, supporting renowned teachers and scholars, and creating a superior environment—none of these can be done without the support behind the scenes.
Rankings may fluctuate in the short term, but the top positions, especially the top three, are rock solid.
Now that Qingyun Academy has been chosen as the venue for the preliminary examination, if women's imperial examinations rise as a result, Qingyun Academy will surely leave a significant mark on this historical chapter.
Scholars may be indifferent to fame and fortune, but how many can truly transcend the temptation of "leaving a name in history"?
And this is merely the first and most superficial layer of influence.
Taking advantage of the Second Princess of Shuofeng's influence, His Majesty vigorously promoted the imperial examinations for women, even going so far as to break with convention and forcibly establish "supplementary enrollment" to recruit the most outstanding talented women from Zhongchen Road.
Will those who were originally observing or even secretly resisting still hesitate to invest resources when they see that their daughters and granddaughters can actually pass the imperial examinations and become officials, bringing tangible benefits to the family?
It is almost certain that the balance will be broken!
As the first place to do so, Qingyun Academy is bound to reap the first wave of benefits.
Reputation, the best female student resources, royal favor... but the most terrifying thing is the quality of students.
Becoming a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) is just the beginning; there are subsequent examinations, such as the Metropolitan Examination and the Palace Examination.
If Qingyun Academy were to acquire all of these top female students, and then receive covert support from the royal family...
The ranking of Fengjing Academy in the future is likely to be drastically altered!
The headmasters present were all shrewd individuals. The thought that Qingyun Academy might use this opportunity to open a girls' class, thereby attracting high-quality students and resources, made their eyes look incredibly complicated.
Not open? Are we just going to watch Qingyun Academy rise to the top and dominate the field?
Should they open up? And how should they balance the interests of their supporters?
"Shameless!"
Someone spat softly, which immediately resonated with the secret feelings of the surrounding mountain chiefs.
Originally, everyone was eating at the same table, the only difference being the seating arrangement.
Now, Qingyun Academy has quietly left them out and set up a separate table for them.
Isn't that just being shameless, flipping the table and breaking the rules? No wonder everyone's in a bad mood!
A little further away, the circle of instructors at the Imperial College was relatively quiet.
Among them, a man dressed in a blue cloth robe was particularly eye-catching.
He was tall and slender, with a handsome face and a gentle, refined demeanor. His brows conveyed the calm and focus characteristic of a scholar.
He was Pei Xueyan, the second son of the current prime minister.
A second-class Jinshi degree is a prestigious achievement that would bring glory to an ordinary family.
But he had an elder brother who was also a brilliant scholar, Pei Xueqiao, who was the top scholar in the imperial examination.
The eldest son, a man of exceptional literary talent, is undoubtedly the "face" of the Prime Minister's mansion.
In comparison, Pei Xueyan's brilliance seemed less dazzling.
After passing the imperial examinations, he did not enter the Six Ministries or the prestigious Hanlin Academy, but instead devoted himself to the Imperial Academy, willingly becoming an unknown and ordinary teacher.
However, gold will always shine.
Some people may be highly knowledgeable but not necessarily able to teach good students, but Pei Xueyan does not have this problem.
His lectures were insightful yet easy to understand, and he guided students patiently, which made him very popular with them.
In just five years, the number and ranking of the students he had guided to enter the imperial examinations and pass them had quietly risen to the top in the Imperial Academy. Although he dared not say that his students were all over the world, this momentum had already been established.
More importantly, the network of connections that came with this achievement was entirely separate from the Prime Minister's residence, stemming purely from Pei Xueyan's own knowledge and personal charm.
Initially, some people may have come because of his reputation as the "second son of the prime minister," but in the end, they were all impressed by his knowledge, character, and the teacher's demeanor of imparting his knowledge without reservation.
If Pei Xueqiao is the glamorous facade of the Prime Minister's residence, then Pei Xueyan is the unassuming foundation.
He worked diligently at the Imperial Academy, weaving his own network of relationships among scholars.
Given time, if the Prime Minister's residence were to encounter unforeseen calamities, Pei Xueyan might be the only hope for the Pei family to survive in the public eye.
When raising his elder brother, the father focused on scholarship and gentlemanly conduct, but avoided the profound and treacherous ways of officialdom.
Pei Xueyan could understand her father's good intentions.
He served as prime minister for thirteen years; this favor was too great.
If the elder brother is too sharp and ambitious, a slight misstep could lead to disaster, with fortune and misfortune unpredictable.
He, however, was different. On the surface, he buried himself in his books and ignored worldly affairs, but in reality, he inherited this skill.
Even now, whenever he returns home on his days off, he has private conversations in his study, where he inherits his father's wisdom on power and the ways of being an official, honed over decades of experience in the bureaucracy.
Therefore, Pei Xueyan had profound insights into the political situation at court.
His gaze swept calmly over the group of academy heads who were complaining in hushed tones, and he also heard the phrase "shameless scoundrel."
His face remained expressionless, but his mind was perfectly clear.
His Majesty may appear peaceful and tolerant over the years, but his inherent strength and decisiveness have never changed.
This sudden and significant move in the women's imperial examination system must have a far-reaching purpose.
Once a move is made, it must be well-planned before action, and every arrow will hit its mark.
In his view, the rise of women in the imperial examinations and officialdom was a foregone conclusion.
Pei Xueyan was not surprised by this, but she was surprised that her brother had been transferred to the Six Ministries.
This would never have been possible without the father's tacit approval or even encouragement.
Pei Xueyan had privately deduced the scenario many times, but still hadn't found any clues.
Taking advantage of this break and return home, he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
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