Chapter 0214: Adding More Fuel to the Fire, Xie Chengze’s Art of Painting Visions Still Effective

“So, sisters, after entering the Imperial Academy, you must study hard!” Xie Chengze seized the moment to persuade them. “Your potential is limitless too! You need to achieve high scores to truly see through the real capabilities of those young masters! Moreover, I’ve heard the Imperial Academy will establish permanent academic positions for women. Those with outstanding results can be appointed—though not equivalent to official government posts, they come with stipends and allow frequent visits to the palace for grading papers and teaching.”

“Just imagine, with the entire academy’s academic records in your hands, discerning who is clever and who is foolish becomes effortless. When you have children in the future, you’ll even be able to select ideal wives or husbands for them in advance!”

He slammed the table forcefully, like a thunderclap jolting the Esteemed Daughters present awake. “Isn’t that enticing?”

“Enticing!” one Esteemed Daughter couldn’t help exclaiming. “Extremely enticing!”

The Esteemed Daughters grew excited, unanimously praising the Imperial Academy’s establishment and marveling at such benefits for them.

But that wasn’t all.

Xie Chengze added more fuel to the fire.

“I’ve also heard… the Imperial Academy has another unique feature. They say those who make exceptional contributions can not only receive a large sum of silver as funding but may even be granted honorary titles by His Majesty. The Prince Regent is also considering allowing them eligibility to attend the Qionglin Banquet!”

The Qionglin Banquet!

At this, the Esteemed Daughters gasped softly, dizzy from the sheer magnitude of this grand vision.

That was the Qionglin Banquet! A gathering of the most talented scholars from all of Jian’an—every one of them a rare genius. Moreover, all attendees would be recorded in the Qionglin Annals, admired by future generations!

“Sisters, don’t you wish to appear at the Qionglin Banquet? Don’t you want your names preserved in historical records?” Xie Chengze now stood up, raising his teacup high, his voice resonant like an orator rallying the people to rise. “Why should historical records only feature men? Why are women always relegated to a few brief mentions, only receiving more ink when labeled as ‘beauties who bring ruin’? Why must we be confined to managing households and making silent sacrifices while they bask in glory, their reputations revered for generations?”

“If we are willing to learn, even a mere flood can be resolved! If we are willing to learn, governing a county becomes a trivial task! If we are willing to learn, achieving immortality in history is within our grasp!” He lifted his veil slightly, drained his cup in one go, and then raised it toward the sky. “In contributing to the nation, we women should never hold back!”

Let them all fiercely strive and compete!

Later, he would go to the young masters’ side and taunt them about being outperformed by women long confined to inner quarters, crushing their pride so they would break and then rebuild, competing intensely alongside the women—

Then, this research institute would truly take off!

Beneath the veil, the smile at the corner of Xie Chengze’s lips grew increasingly wicked, like a devil spawned by capitalism.

Completely unaware of the sinister laughter in Xie Chengze’s heart, the Esteemed Daughters were stirred with passion, turning to their friends and saying, “Yes! Why should we silently toil in the inner quarters without even a chance to leave our names in history?”

“All the benefits go to them, while we only earn a reputation for virtue. How can virtue compare to serving as officials? Thinking about it this way, we’ve suffered a great loss.”

“To be honest, I never thought about it before, but today I feel that being recorded in history books would be such an honor…”

Who could resist the temptation of leaving a name in history?

Cheng Wuxue gazed deeply at Xie Chengze, as if seeing this person anew. After a long moment, she raised her hands in a salute, her eyes slightly reddened and her voice hoarse, “…Your vision is far beyond ordinary people, truly making us feel ashamed of our own limitations.”

“You are all towering trees, weathering storms and harsh seasons, yet still blooming and bearing fruit through the cycles of time, ever flourishing.” Xie Chengze shook her head seriously, “All things in nature come in male and female forms. The earth has long shown us that women can hold up half the sky.”

These words struck deep into their hearts.

No one had ever told them they weren’t delicate flowers competing for attention, but mighty trees with lush branches and leaves.

No one had ever told them that women could hold up half the sky.

They were like seeds buried deep in soil, forbidden to sprout and kept dormant. At that moment, as if a passing traveler had shoveled away the heavy earth that had suppressed them for so long, they began to quietly sprout, then rooted deep into the soil to draw nutrients and water, growing desperately toward the sky and the blazing sun.

Later, according to Jian’an historical records, after the establishment of the Imperial Academy, seventy-eight “professional professors” emerged during the Jian’an period alone, thirty-nine of whom were women. They excelled in fields including mathematics, physics, mechanics, and biology, with some holding multiple honors, making immeasurable contributions to Jian’an’s production and agricultural development.

…

Sheng Yiren stayed for a while after the Peach Blossom Banquet began before heading to the pre-booked room at Hanshan Temple, planning to change into women’s clothing to find Xie Chengze.

She had just concluded her business in Liaozhou when Shen Yuan urgently summoned her back, asking her to help with something at the Peach Blossom Banquet.

This matter was related to the Imperial Academy.

Although Xie Chengze preferred mandatory enrollment, Shen Yuan thought it would be difficult to get approval from the ministers. To ensure there would still be esteemed daughters willing to attend if the proposal failed, he wanted her to persuade them to voluntarily enroll in the Imperial Academy.

As the most renowned talented woman in Jingcheng and the eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites, Sheng Yiren was essentially the trendsetter for the capital’s esteemed daughters. Her every move was emulated by others. Having her discuss the Imperial Academy at the Peach Blossom Banquet would better attract esteemed daughters to enroll.

Only she and Shen Yuan knew about this plan. Shen Yuan said it was a surprise he had prepared for Xie Chengze.

Thinking of this, Sheng Yiren couldn’t help but play with the jade belt at her waist, muttering, “I wonder who it was that showed nothing but disdain and disgust for the Second Prince upon returning to the capital, yet now is eagerly thinking about currying favor with His Highness.”

Hiss… Now that she thought about it, did this mean she had leverage over Shen Yuan?

She could use this next time she needed him to pull some strings! Heh heh~

Humming a little tune, Sheng Yiren changed into women’s clothing and applied some pomade to conceal her tired appearance from recent busyness. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly heard footsteps and soft conversation outside her door.

Being particularly sharp-eared, she instinctively crouched behind the window and pressed her ear against it.

“Sister, is it here?”

“It seems so… Do you still have the silver?”

“Yes, I’ve kept it safe…”

“Once we get the item, we need to leave quickly.”

“But sister, why must we do such a simple task? I always feel like…”

“Shh! Don’t you want to cure Mother’s illness? Don’t ask unnecessary questions!” The woman addressed as sister sounded quite young, her tone irritable. “We just need to follow instructions. Even if there’s danger, we wouldn’t know about it!”

“Alright, alright…” The younger sister’s voice sounded even more childish as she hurried to keep up with the woman.

Sheng Yiren narrowed her beautiful eyes, instinctively sensing some shady dealings hidden beneath the surface. When she detected the fading footsteps, she quickly turned back to unwrap the package, swiftly rummaging through it until she retrieved a peculiar telescope with a curved tube.

This rare artifact had been gifted to her by the young master of the Jiang family when he requested she become the steward in Yangzhou. Capable of observing scenery from oblique angles, this antique was extremely rare—rumored to be the only one in existence. Originally Sheng Yiren had intended to use it for secretly gathering commercial intelligence, but never expected to employ it here first.

Poking a hole through the window paper, Sheng Yiren extended the telescope tube to observe which room the sisters entered. Only then did she open her own door and quietly slip toward a concealed corner near that very room.

Let’s see what’s really going on here~