Chapter 284 Education for All
"The students targeted by the girls' academy are all women in the world, not just little girls."
Just as Yuan Hongqu finished speaking, Daiyu, who had been lost in thought, suddenly spoke up.
Daiyu is truly a woman who, when she does speak, makes astonishing remarks.
Zhao Huajing assumed that what Daiyu said was the same as what Mr. Yuan had just said, and nodded in approval.
“Daiyu and the teacher have the same idea. With the new class that the teacher has opened, it won’t be long before more ladies and wives will sign up.”
Daiyu's eyes sparkled as she looked at Zhao Huajing and said earnestly,
"Senior sister, what I said is not the same as what the old woman said."
Zhao Huajing looked at Daiyu, then at Yuan Hongqu, and saw that she also looked puzzled.
Daiyu continued,
“The nanny follows Confucius’s principle of ‘education for all,’ so the academy has a main campus for noblewomen and branch campuses for commoner women; now that courses and enrollment have been added to the main campus, the branch campuses should also increase similar enrollment programs.”
“Daiyu is right!” Zhao Huajing immediately chimed in, believing that educating the people should be a matter for everyone, regardless of gender.
However, the prevailing ideology in the world is that "a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent," so very few women are literate. Even women from many prominent families are not very literate.
I heard that Wang Xifeng, the granddaughter-in-law of the Rongguo Mansion, was completely illiterate, and it was Mr. Yuan who taught her to read.
Since Wang Xifeng learned to read, the things she did became more respectable and acceptable.
It's no longer like what Zhao Huajing heard a couple of years ago, that the granddaughter-in-law of the Jia family was a shrew or a vicious woman.
In particular, the charity auction organized by Wang Xifeng really impressed Zhao Huajing.
If a woman is literate and knows proper etiquette, she will be less likely to be fooled by men in the future...
Zhao Huajing felt that the girls' academy should not only be expanded, but also that illiterate ladies should be forced to learn to read!
Yuan Hongqu looked at the two students, who were singing in unison, and couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
She didn't have that much energy, nor did she have such lofty ideals. She just wanted to help Zhao Huajing solve the problem at hand, and it was just something she did on the side.
But looking at her two students, it's clear they want her to develop women's education and promote literacy for all. This is a long and arduous task, not something she can accomplish on her own.
She regretted raising an empress by accident back then, and she really didn't want to waste any more effort on it.
Now, she raises Daiyu in a completely free-range manner, teaching her to enjoy life and live happily, and taking her to explore the stars and the sea.
Daiyu was raised by her to be a girl with a bit of chivalry, clever and insightful, but still retaining the childlike innocence and purity of a child.
She was not a well-educated and virtuous lady in the traditional sense, nor would she be the best candidate to become the matriarch of a large family.
This also avoids the possibility of being chosen by the royal family.
Zhao Huajing and Daiyu had already started discussing what kind of students the girls' academy would recruit after expanding its enrollment, and even what courses it would teach. The two of them spoke eloquently about it.
Yuan Hongqu didn't want to spoil their fun, but she also didn't want to add to her workload.
"Why don't we treat this as a research project? The two of you can work on it together, and once you've completed the project, we can have the teachers at the academy contribute their ideas and efforts."
“This is a good idea. It’s all thanks to your extensive knowledge, sir. I was just thinking that after talking so much with Daiyu, I might have forgotten something in the process.” Zhao Huajing said with a smile, “I should go back now. Daiyu will come to my place tomorrow.”
As the Empress, although she didn't have to apply for leave the palace at least six months in advance like other concubines, and she still couldn't just leave whenever she wanted.
It's already a rare treat for her to leave the palace today, taking advantage of the opening ceremony of the girls' academy. If she were to come out again tomorrow, it would be rather inappropriate.
The two people eavesdropping outside the door did not appear after all, and secretly returned the way they came.
"Senior sister, the academy officially starts tomorrow. I still have classes, so I can only visit you during my days off."
Daiyu was thinking that school would officially start tomorrow, and she had skipped a grade to enter the advanced class. She was afraid that she would need some time to adjust at first.
Just as Zhao Huajing was about to say that it was fine not to go to school, she saw Yuan Hongqu cough twice and glance at her again.
She quickly changed her tune, saying, "Studies come first, so we'll go when you're on your day off. Sir, will the new class still be offered in three days?"
"Let's begin. If we want to vigorously develop this kind of education in the future, we need to see how the first class performs. Have them register and pay the fees with Mi Ling in three days. Registration will be open for two days, and latecomers will not be accepted. Classes will officially begin after the break."
Yuan Hongqu and Daiyu escorted Zhao Huajing to the carriage and watched it drive out of the Lin family's gate before returning home.
"Granny, Teacher Mi never comes unless there's a reason. Is it because she said that the Empress must not know about this?" Daiyu hadn't forgotten what had happened before, and as soon as Zhao Huajing left, she started asking Yuan Hongqu again.
Yuan Hongqu pondered for a moment and said:
"The Xue family's daughter will be going to the academy in a few days."
"The Xue family's daughter, Baochai?" Daiyu didn't react for a moment, then paused and realized, could it be Xue Baochai who lives at her maternal grandmother's house?
Yuan Hongqu nodded, took the wooden comb from Zijuan's hand, and gently combed Daiyu's hair.
Daiyu's hair was fine and soft, but it was thick and voluminous, cascading down her back like soft, smooth silk, glossy and lustrous.
"Isn't she ineligible for admission?" Daiyu wondered.
She was aware that Xue Baochai had been rejected from the academy last year.
“She was an auditor, and she got the recommendation through the madam.” Yuan Hongqu’s voice was calm, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her.
"Don't be surprised if you see her at the academy; just treat her like any other student..."
"Granny, I understand." Although she found it strange, Daiyu still agreed.
Zhao Huajing's carriage had just left the Lin family's residence when it suddenly stopped.
She would never be alone in the carriage in the past, but today, because she was coming to the Lin family unexpectedly, two of the people who usually accompanied her went back to the palace to report the news.
There was nothing unusual happening outside. After the carriage stopped, only a few footsteps could be heard, and there were no other sounds.
Zhao Huajing's heart jumped, and she reached for the bottom of the seat.
Even when the Empress traveled incognito, the security arrangements were beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
If there is any unusual movement outside, Zhao Huajing only needs to activate a mechanism, and the hidden mechanism on the carriage will shoot arrows, turning any strongman who tries to get on the carriage into a hedgehog.
"Jing'er, I've come to take you home."
A deep male voice came from outside the carriage, and Zhao Huajing's heart, which had been pounding, finally calmed down. Then, everything went dark, and a tall figure blocked the light from the luminous pearl hanging inside the carriage.
The spacious carriage suddenly felt a bit crowded.
"Fifth Brother, what brings you here!" Zhao Huajing was both surprised and delighted.
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