Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 766: Nanyang (Part 1)

One month later.

The plaque inscribed by the Emperor was hung up, and the four big characters of Nanyang School glittered brilliantly in the dazzling sunlight.

People gathered to watch the spectacle, crowding the area outside the school. Among them, more than half had sent their daughters to study here.

As Jiang Shaohua had anticipated, the implementation of the women’s academy went quite smoothly.

Reforming from the top down is far simpler than from the bottom up. Da Liang, with its Empress, the female examination selection, and female officials, along with the Ye County Women’s Academy founded six years ago, it was only natural for the Capital City to establish a women’s academy now.

Most of those hired as female teachers had influential backgrounds. These families, naturally, would support Nanyang School publicly.

Moreover, the future expenses for Nanyang School would be covered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with not a penny needed from the Ministry of Revenue. The courtiers had no grounds to oppose such a beneficial venture.

For the residents of the Capital City, the fact that their daughters could study without tuition fees and enjoy a free lunch was a tremendous blessing. If their daughters excelled academically and could participate in the female examination selection, like the legendary Lu Sheren, rising from the daughter of rural folk to a female scholar and official... such fortune was enough to make one smile from their dreams.

In short, throughout this month, there was a constant stream of people bringing their daughters to enroll. Some even shamelessly brought along their sons: "Let my boy enter the school too! My boy is very smart, much smarter than my girl. Since the school is already built, enrolling a few more students can only be a good thing, right?"

Cui Wenxiu, who had served as a teacher in Ye County for several years and had dealt with all sorts of parents, was not upset by these words and kindly replied, "Nanyang School is the women’s academy personally established by His Majesty and only admits female students. Boys wanting to study can attend the official schools or many private academies in the Capital City."

"We ordinary people can’t afford the official schools. Private academies charge expensive tuition, and we can’t afford them. Please accept my boy..."

As he spoke, he made his son kneel and bow.

Cui Wenxiu could only gently persuade them to leave.

These were relatively easy to deal with. There are always some stubborn and unreasonable residents who, seeing the free academy does not accept boys and lacking daughters to take advantage of the benefits, would cause disturbances outside the school.

Fortunately, a team of Imperial Guard had been dispatched from the palace. Facing these problematic residents, they would threatenly brandish their weapons to drive them away.

Cui Wenxiu had lost count of his worries throughout this month and sighed to Li Ying, "Now I realize how difficult it was to successfully establish Ye County Women’s Academy back then."

Li Ying also sighed with a smile, "To accomplish something is never easy. At first, despite strong publicity, we only managed to enroll five female students. When we couldn’t hire female teachers, my husband, County Magistrate Cui, turned his attention towards me. It was only with the full support of the Commandery Princess that things gradually improved."

She also comforted Cui Wenxiu with a smile, "You’ve done very well. We’ve hired female teachers, rebuilt the academy properly, and nearly two hundred students have already enrolled. Think of Ye County Women’s Academy; it took until the fourth year to reach this scale."

Cui Wenxiu thought for a moment and smiled, "You’re right. No matter how difficult the tasks, we must tackle them one by one, slowly."

Under the watchful eyes of the public, the plaque was hung at Nanyang School, and on this day, classes officially commenced.

Having stayed in the Capital City for so long, Li Ying received numerous letters from her husband and son urging her to return. She was also much needed at Ye County Women’s Academy, and soon packed her luggage and set off back to Nanyang.

Before leaving, Lu Zhen specially came to see her off.

Having served in the palace for over a month, Lu Zhen’s youthful vigor hadn’t diminished one bit and she was even more composed and confident than before. Like a fine jade, with a bit of refinement, she shone brilliantly.

Li Ying held Lu Zhen’s hand, reluctant to part, and whispered, "Take care while serving in the palace and don’t let down the Emperor’s favor."

Lu Zhen nodded firmly, "Rest assured, Mountain Master, I will certainly work diligently and never bring disgrace to Ye County."

Li Ying smiled warmly and reached out to caress Lu Zhen’s head.

Lu Zhen was slightly displeased, muttering, "I am now a court official, an Imperial Attendant. Mountain Master, please don’t treat me like a naive child."

Li Ying chuckled, retracting her hand, then turned and bade farewell to Cui Wenxiu for a long while. As she left in her carriage, Li Ying felt a deep reluctance, gazing afar at the tall city gate.

...

After traveling for more than half a month, by the time she returned to Ye County, it was already the increasingly sultry month of May.

County Magistrate Cui, accompanied by his two sons, came to greet her outside the city gates. Many female students and female teachers also came to welcome her.

Feeling honored by such a grand reception, Li Ying smiled broadly, "Why have so many people come?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

With a short beard making him look even more handsome and mature, County Magistrate Cui laughed, "Ye County Women’s Academy has successfully produced three female scholars; what an achievement! Everyone couldn’t go to the Capital City, but upon hearing of Master Li’s return, they insisted on coming to welcome and congratulate you, and I couldn’t stop them."

The Emperor of Da Liang had established a special female examination, selecting twenty female scholars. Ye County produced three of them, including the top scorer, Lu Zhen, making a great splash.

With pride in his heart, County Magistrate Cui’s eyes were filled with admiration for his wife.

The growing Cui Dalang and Cui Erlang rushed to their mother’s side, looking at her with eyes full of admiration, "Mother is also a female scholar."

"Mother is truly amazing!"

Li Ying, basking in the praises of her sons, radiated joy and happiness.

Female students gathered around, chattering with questions, "Mountain Master, has Senior Sister Lu really stayed in the palace to work?"

"Of course." Li Ying seized the opportunity to inspire all her female students whose eyes were filled with longing, "She is the top female scholar and is now a Standard Eighth Rank female housekeeper, with an official uniform. She receives a salary every month and has the right to attend court meetings."

All the female students collectively expressed their admiration.

Li Ying smiled, "If you study hard in the future, when the court holds another Imperial Examination, you can also register to participate. As long as you can pass our academy’s internal selection exam, you’ll be escorted to the Capital City for the examination, with travel expenses covered by the academy."

The journey from Ye County to the Capital City takes almost a month by carriage, and the cost of food, drink, and accommodation is a significant expense. To female students of ordinary backgrounds, it’s almost unaffordable. Li Ying’s assurance solved their biggest worry, prompting a burst of excitement and cheers.

Then, a pair of familiar faces rushed forward.

One was Lu Zhen’s grandmother, the other her mother.

Without a word, Mrs. Lu Zhang knelt and bowed to Li Ying, "My eldest daughter could reach today’s achievements thanks to Master Li’s guidance. I bow to Master Li, grateful for her vast kindness and benevolence."