Chapter 0213: Xie Chengze Who Loves Stirring Trouble, Shen Yuan Who Gets Used as a Tool
Upon hearing this, many Esteemed Daughters lightly covered their lips in surprise.
“The Imperial Academy? Both men and women can attend? You mean we can also go to school in the future?”
“I heard about this before, but I thought it was just a rumor!”
“Wuxue, is this true?” one of the Esteemed Daughters couldn’t help but ask Cheng Wuxue, as she would typically know the truth about such matters.
Cheng Wuxue nodded slightly. “It is indeed true. My father said His Majesty has already approved the decree, and preparations are currently underway. Unmarried women between the ages of eight and twenty-five will be required to study at the Imperial Academy when the time comes.”
“But what would we learn at the academy?” the Esteemed Daughters wondered, not understanding. “The Four Books and Five Classics like the men? But even if we study them, we can’t become officials. What’s the use then?”
“Exactly. We might even be mocked, told that it’s useless for women to study, just a waste of effort. It would be better to stay quietly at home…”
The Esteemed Daughters shook their heads one after another, not optimistic about the idea. Some even asked, “Is this mandatory? Can we choose not to go if we don’t want to? We’re already exhausted from learning music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and managing household affairs. We can’t handle any more tossing and turning.”
The previously enthusiastic atmosphere of curiosity vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of dejection among the Esteemed Daughters. Clearly, they did not view the Imperial Academy favorably.
Xie Chengze blinked but did not try to persuade them out of frustration. Instead, he turned to Cheng Wuxue, a slight curve at the corner of his lips, and asked, “What does Miss Cheng think?”
Cheng Wuxue pursed her lips, her gaze clear and resolute. “Even if we can’t become officials, it will at least help broaden our knowledge and horizons, rather than keeping us confined to the inner quarters with narrow perspectives.”
She also wanted to become an official, specifically the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review who could uncover the truth in cases. To that end, she had secretly read many books that only men typically studied, persisting even when her father did not understand her actions.
Those books had undoubtedly opened up a new world for her, fueling greater ambitions within her.
Seeing Cheng Wuxue speak up, the three Esteemed Daughters beside her quickly chimed in, “Yes, yes! And the curriculum at the Imperial Academy hasn’t been finalized yet, right? It might just be music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?”
“Didn’t they say both men and women can attend? Since we’ll be going, surely the young masters of Jingcheng will be there too. Usually, we only get to see them at banquets. If we go to the Imperial Academy, we can see them every day and better assess which young masters are more talented and promising, right?”
“Exactly! It would also prevent us from being blind when choosing a future husband. Thinking of it that way, it does seem like a benefit.”
The Esteemed Daughters found this reasoning persuasive and nodded in agreement. “If that’s the case, it might be worth checking out.”
Xie Chengze propped his chin on his hand and listened for a while. These Esteemed Daughters had been raised with the idea of finding a good husband to benefit their families, so it was inevitable they would think this way. As long as he could “trick” them into entering the Imperial Academy, wouldn’t he ultimately have the final say?
However…
He parted his lips slightly, a faint, mischievous smile flickering in his eyes. “This humble girl has heard a little news from Lord Shen Yuan.”
Upon hearing this, all the Esteemed Daughters instantly turned their attention to him.
Shen Yuan enjoyed immense renown in the capital. Back when he had investigated and sealed so many official residences with such swift decisiveness, his handsome and capable demeanor had captured the hearts of many Esteemed Daughters. It was widely said that if one were to marry, it should be to someone like Young Master Shen—both handsome and competent. Thus, when they heard that Xie Chengze had obtained information from Shen Yuan, all eyes turned to him.
Come to think of it, this woman had always worn a veil without revealing her true appearance, yet her knowledge was so profound. Could she have some special relationship with Lord Shen?
“What information?” Compared to the relationship between Xie Chengze and Shen Yuan, Cheng Wuxue was more curious at the moment about additional details regarding the Imperial Academy.
“The Imperial Academy teaches many kinds of knowledge that have never been publicly shared,” Xie Chengze cleared his throat. “Even the high-ranking officials in the Golden Luan Hall may not have access to such knowledge!”
Hearing this, the Esteemed Daughters couldn’t help but gasp in surprise, their interest instantly piqued.
People are always drawn to the extraordinary and aspire to become extraordinary themselves.
“Could it be some treasured ancient texts?”
“Will we have to study them too?”
“Oh, dear sister, hurry up and tell us! You’re going to drive your elder sister crazy with anticipation!”
The Esteemed Daughters quickly sat down, gathering around Xie Chengze and anxiously pressing for answers, their beautiful eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge.
Xie Chengze deliberately slowed his speech, enunciating each word carefully: “That knowledge, I’ve heard, is extremely profound and difficult to master. Only those as diligent and studious as you sisters would have the perseverance to grasp such challenging content.”
“Surely not,” one Esteemed Daughter disagreed. “If even the scholars can’t master it, how could we women, who’ve never been exposed to it, possibly understand it thoroughly?”
“Sister, you’re mistaken!” Xie Chengze declared firmly. “Just take that flood control problem earlier—didn’t you understand it? Questions that stump those scholars, you all were able to comprehend. That alone proves your potential!”
“Let me ask you, which of you hasn’t practiced the zither until your fingers ached, yet never gave up? Which of you hasn’t stood stubbornly before the desk practicing calligraphy and painting until your neck, wrists, and back all hurt? Which of you hasn’t scoured through books and even humbled yourselves to borrow ancient chess manuals from others to improve your skills? Such perseverance is no less than that of men—in fact, it often surpasses theirs!”
“When it comes to established knowledge, those scholars and young masters might far exceed you. But the Imperial Academy teaches new knowledge. You and they stand on the same starting line, exposed to these new subjects simultaneously. Yet you possess perseverance they can’t match. So, why wouldn’t it be possible for you to master it?”
The Esteemed Daughters thought it over and realized he was right. If it were the Four Books and Five Classics they were familiar with, they might not measure up. But when it came to learning new things at the same time, they might very well outperform the others.
“Most importantly!” Xie Chengze tapped his forehead through the veil, his tone deliberately provocative. “Since everyone is starting from scratch, it will truly reveal whether those young masters are intelligent and promising! Lord Shen said the Imperial Academy holds monthly exams, with identical content for both the male and female divisions. If the other party can’t even outperform you in the exams, then he’s not worth marrying—absolutely not worth it!”
He sighed deeply, his expression grave. “Intelligence, after all, is hereditary!”
Hearing this, the Esteemed Daughters’ eyes widened in astonishment.
This young lady spoke with such compelling logic!
Which of them didn’t wish to marry a truly talented man, bear intelligent children, and bring prosperity to their family through future generations. However, the young masters in Jingcheng were a mixed bag—genuine talents hidden among impostors. Often, marriage became a gamble. Many Esteemed Daughters would wed only to discover their husbands were unlearned and incompetent, their reputations as gifted scholars entirely purchased.
Yet the Imperial Academy’s examinations offered them a means to distinguish the truly capable from those young nobles who might be even more foolish than themselves.
If a man couldn’t even outperform them in the exams, his intellect was undoubtedly lacking. The mere thought of their children inheriting such a father’s traits… was simply too dreadful to contemplate!