RWNEFE -Chapter 464 Liu Mingxin’s Conversation with Sun Daoxue

“The first girl was kind-hearted and knew how to protect herself. The second girl was clever and alert, also aware of self-protection. The third girl calmly stated the facts…”

“All twenty girls we enrolled have their own thoughts and are courageous enough to independently handle certain situations.”

“If you have ideas, the academy will teach you how to respond next time. How to respond in a way that protects yourself while also helping others.”

The commoners had never heard anything like this. For a moment, they looked at one another, unsure what to say.

The mother of the first girl from a wealthy family stepped forward.

“Your Excellency, my husband is a cloth merchant. I would like to donate a batch of clothing for the academy’s teachers and students to make school uniforms!”

Shen Lanxi glanced at Ji Xiuran. Money—here it comes.

The women’s academy received no government funding and therefore had no treasury. Ji Xiuran personally handled negotiations with the wealthy lady.

Next came discussions about the style and materials for the uniforms.

Those with business sense also stepped forward.

“Your Excellency, I would like to donate desks and chairs for the academy.” She came from a furniture-making family.

“Your Excellency, I would like to donate ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones.” Her family ran a stationery business.

“Your Excellency, I would like to donate five hundred taels of silver…” This was the mother of a girl who had not been selected earlier; she wanted to secure a spot for her daughter.

Shen Lanxi left all these matters to Ji Xiuran to coordinate.

…

“Desks, chairs, stationery, and uniforms for the students are all arranged!”

“Yes!”

“The teacher’s stipends have also been arranged!”

“Yes!”

“Lord Ji, when selecting students to teach, please prioritize those with good character and families in need!”

“The civil examination is about to begin. Many of the scholars coming are the best from across the provinces, but most have to sleep in dilapidated temples outside the city or share overcrowded rooms. Their conditions are extremely harsh.”

Ji Xiuran’s eyes filled with tears. He looked up at Shen Lanxi and, in the next moment, respectfully clasped his hands.

“I thank you, Lord Shen, on behalf of those impoverished students!”

After further discussions and finalizing the next steps, Shen Lanxi handed the women’s academy over to Shen Yuanxu and Ji Xiuran, while she went off to attend to other matters.

The academy was flourishing, but many officials at court were skeptical.

“Women should stay home, learning to be frugal and manage the household. How can they be parading about all day?”

“This is utterly improper. Let’s see how, in the future, the women’s academy becomes a chaotic, corrupt place. How will Shen Lanxi answer for that?”

“Shen Lanxi surely harbors ill intentions. The common people are already gossiping, saying that by opening the academy, she is teaching daughters from poor families to flatter the rich.”

“She has no right to teach those girls the tricks of household intrigue. She’s not teaching them understanding; she’s bringing them harm!”

“Lord Liu, you must take the lead and stop this! The women’s academy must not continue!”

Liu Mingxin was also exasperated and frustrated.

In the past two days, his own daughters had insisted on attending the women’s academy. Even the tutors he had hired—though not great scholars—were still highly respected in the capital. How could they compare to a small women’s academy?

“A group of women surrounding a young scholar—what kind of propriety is this?”

Then an idea lit up Liu Mingxin’s mind. He could achieve what he wanted—closing the academy—without acting personally.

After court, Liu Mingxin immediately sought out the head of Bailu Academy.

“Brother Daoxue, the civil examinations are approaching. Students should focus on reviewing and preparing, not running around wasting time.”

Sun Daoxue put down his book and looked at Liu Mingxin, whose face showed clear anger.

“Brother Mingxin, what do you think the civil examinations are for?”

Liu Mingxin was momentarily stunned, then replied, “Of course, it is to obtain official titles, serve in government, and benefit the people!”

Sun Daoxue sighed. “There are countless scholars across the land. Do you think they all pass the exams and obtain office?”

Liu Mingxin hesitated. “Of course not. The exams are meant to select talent, and naturally, the best are chosen.”

Sun Daoxue asked, “And what about those who are not selected?”

Liu Mingxin was surprised again.

Sun Daoxue continued, “Brother Mingxin, you have also presided over the civil exams. Have you ever stood beneath the city walls on announcement day? Many scholars, already elderly, fail repeatedly, year after year.”

Liu Mingxin fell silent for a moment, then said, “What does that have to do with what I just told you?”

The imperial exams are like hundreds of soldiers crossing a narrow plank—those who fail, fail because they did not work hard enough. That is their fault, not anyone else’s.

Sun Daoxue looked at Liu Mingxin and smiled helplessly. “It has everything to do with it. Those who pass go on to serve in office and collect government salaries. But what about those who fail? How are they to earn a living and support their families?”

Liu Mingxin fell silent again.

Sun Daoxue continued, “Do you expect them to fail year after year and do nothing but rely on their families while focusing solely on studying? Is that realistic?”

How many students’ families were truly wealthy enough to support a repeatedly failing scholar?

“Brother Mingxin, studying is also a means of making a living—it can support one’s family,” Sun Daoxue said with deep meaning.

Liu Mingxin wanted to argue but didn’t know how.

He was already a Grand Minister, powerful in court. He could not directly tell an old friend, Don’t let the academy students teach at the women’s academy, or it would seem he was deliberately opposing Shen Lanxi.

“Brother Mingxin, we both came through the exams and are old classmates. But our ambitions differ. You serve in government, I teach at the academy. Our directions are different, so our understanding of affairs differs.”

“For a teacher, the hope is that everyone in the land can learn to read, understand reason, and be educated—without distinction.”

Liu Mingxin remained silent for a long while, then quietly left.

Even so, he still did not believe Shen Lanxi was right.

The court ministers were waiting for someone above to challenge the women’s academy. Weeks passed, and no one intervened.

When every grade at the academy was filled, there was still no resistance.

Some impatient ministers went to Vice Chancellor Wu Yanzhi.

“Vice Chancellor, we cannot let Shen Lanxi continue to act arrogantly. She is undermining the foundation of our Great Zhou!”

Wu Yanzhi scoffed. “It’s just a few girls attending school, a minor affair. The foundation of Great Zhou rests with the men. As long as Shen Lanxi doesn’t interfere with the men, let her make a fuss. If it grows too big, the Emperor will naturally intervene.”

He had no intention of being the whistleblower and drawing the Emperor’s disfavor.