"Since ancient times, reform has never been achievable by a single academy alone."
The carriage curtain was slowly lifted, revealing the face of an old lady.
Her silver hair was as white as frost, and her face was covered in wrinkles. She truly looked very old, probably in her seventies or eighties.
Despite her advanced age, she was extremely dignified and stately, kind and amiable. Fine lines crinkled at the corners of her eyes, but her eyes were still bright and black. Her silver hair was neatly coiled into a bun at the back of her head.
She was dressed in an ice - blue jacquard silk brocade jacket, and a whole piece of silver fox fur as white as frost covered her legs.
The interior of the carriage was filled with the faint and elegant fragrance of Chinese pear wood incense, which could only be detected when one got close.
She was as noble as a fragrant orchid in the river, beyond compare.
"In the past, Queen Zhaoyuan was an extremely talented and brilliant figure. She followed Emperor Taizu on expeditions, conquering cities and territories all the way with irresistible force, and finally pacified the world, laying the foundation for the everlasting prosperity of our Great Sheng Dynasty."
"Even a celestial - like figure like her could only achieve the result that the court would no longer prohibit women from going out. She faced countless difficulties when trying to promote women to serve in the court. What makes you so special that you think you can match Queen Zhaoyuan and accomplish what even she couldn't?"
Li Wanming was shocked and quickly knelt down. "Your humble servant is so vulgar and incompetent that I would never dare to compare myself with Queen Zhaoyuan."
Hearing the mention of Queen Zhaoyuan, she had roughly guessed who this old lady was.
It was said that when the wife of the Duke of Qing was young, she was taken to Queen Zhaoyuan's side to be raised.
By that time, Queen Zhaoyuan was already in her old age and was respected as the Grand Empress Dowager.
The young wife of the Duke of Qing was raised in front of the Grand Empress Dowager Zhaoyuan until she was eleven years old, and was only taken out of the palace after the founding queen of the Great Sheng Dynasty passed away due to illness.
Because of this relationship, the wife of the Duke of Qing had a very prominent status in her youth.
No matter which noble or duke saw her, they would give her some face.
Rumors in the streets said that the most noble woman below the Empress Dowager in the Great Sheng Dynasty was the Princess Chengping. But there was a second half to this sentence: above the Empress Dowager, there was still one person, and that was the wife of the Duke of Qing.
After she married the Duke of Qing, she proposed to establish a women's academy, allowing girls to be literate and learn the six arts just like boys, to be able to write with a brush and shoot arrows skillfully...
Such a novel and extraordinary idea was not opposed by either the Duke of Qing or the late emperor.
The Duke of Qing even allocated an entire mountain from the Yanshan Mu Clan's forests for her to build the academy.
The famous Cangshan Academy was thus established and became a place that noble ladies in the court flocked to.
However, Li Wanming's feelings towards the wife of the Duke of Qing were rather complicated.
She knew that the old lady was the head of the first women's academy in the Great Sheng Dynasty, the teacher of Xiao Yingchu and others, and the last disciple of Queen Zhaoyuan in the world...
But whenever she thought of the old lady, she couldn't help but think of the Duke of Qing's Mansion. And whenever she thought of the Duke of Qing's Mansion, she would think of that extremely luxurious memorial ceremony.
Half a year ago, it was the anniversary memorial ceremony held by the Duke of Qing for his mother that allowed her paper - making shop in the south of the city to earn tens of thousands of taels of silver in just ten days!
The long streets were draped in white, and half the city mourned.
At that time, the Duke of Qing really gave this naive country girl a huge shock of the grandeur of the noble family, allowing her to truly experience what it meant to treat pearls like dirt and gold like iron.
However, the wife of the Duke of Qing in front of her had a transcendent bearing, with a strong scholarly air in her words and deeds. Although her words were sharp, they were not mean - spirited, and there was even a kind of bright and straightforwardness of a young girl in her manner.
Li Wanming couldn't associate her with the wealthiest man in the dynasty for a while.
Anyway, the other party was the wife of the duke, with a noble status. Even the Empress Dowager would give her face.
No matter how much Li Wanming complained in her heart, she had to show full courtesy on the surface.
She lowered her head, speaking in a respectful and humble tone, putting herself in a very low position.
However, the wife of the Duke of Qing frowned.
"I thought you were a piece of unpolished jade, but it turns out you're just a useless piece of wood!"
"Your previous words were so just and righteous. You wanted to seek justice for all women in the world and questioned why there should be different levels in learning... But as soon as I ask you a question, you start to belittle yourself and say you're vulgar and incompetent?"
"What, don't you want women in the world to go out to work and earn their own living with their own hands anymore?"
Li Wanming looked up blankly, stunned. "Madam..."
She really didn't understand.
What did she say wrong?
Was it wrong to be modest and say she was vulgar and incompetent at this moment?
Should she straighten her back and boast shamelessly that her talent was so amazing that she could completely match Queen Zhaoyuan... No! She was even better than her!
... Would that be right?
That would probably be a crime of disrespect!
Moreover, her wine shop had been raided, and the academy was about to be closed. Years of hard work had gone to waste. Wasn't she incompetent enough in this situation?
The wife of the Duke of Qing looked at her for a while. Seeing that she was still looking blank, completely different from her passionate self just now, and instead a bit stupid and sluggish, she frowned even tighter and coldly said:
"I've already discussed with the Empress Dowager. Your Zhaoyu Academy will be merged into my Cangshan Academy."
"All the courses you originally offered will remain unchanged; all the teachers and students you previously recruited will not be dismissed and will stay as they are... However, from now on, Zhaoyu will be under the name of my Cangshan Academy and will have nothing to do with you anymore."
"You won't be able to interfere in any of the recruitment, enrollment, or assessment matters."
"... Do you agree?"
Li Wanming stood there, dumbfounded.
What was this... saying?
Did this mean... her Zhaoyu Academy... didn't have to close?
Then, her teachers and students... didn't have to be driven away either?
They could still brew wine, grow vegetables, do accounts, and practice martial arts in this academy...
Do you agree...?
How could she not agree!
She would agree a hundred times! A thousand times!
Li Wanming's eyes instantly turned red. She immediately knelt down, put her hands together in front of her forehead, and bowed deeply to the wife of the Duke of Qing. "Your humble servant... thanks the wife of the duke for saving the academy!"
This bow was sincere.
Regardless of the wife of the Duke of Qing's intentions, she had saved her academy.
The wife of the Duke of Qing pursed her lips and snorted. "You're not completely stupid if you can guess my identity."
"But don't be too happy too soon. Although the academy doesn't have to close, from now on, it has nothing to do with you."
"All future enrollment, teaching, assessment, and graduation matters will be decided by me."
"I'm a stubborn person and can't tolerate any slack. If your students are lazy and fail my annual assessment, I will mercilessly drive them out!"
Li Wanming's eyes were filled with tears, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up. "Please rest assured, madam. Although my students come from humble families and may have rough manners, they are all hard - working and motivated girls. They will definitely not disappoint you!"