Girls' School

If the Girls' School could be established, she would definitely enroll. She had no worries now and could make her own decisions.

From what Xiao Jinyi said, Shen Shixu understood that Xiao Yuanqi and the others had considerable ambitions. Most likely, just as he had suspected, they wanted to secure opportunities for women to serve as officials too.

He supported that idea. Having lived in the twenty-first century for so many years, he would never underestimate women.

Given the chance to develop, women would be every bit as capable as men.

"I know that His Highness the Crown Prince and the others, including you, want to establish a Girls' School for more than simply letting women study as men do. But some things can't be rushed. You have to proceed step by step.

"First, you need to get those officials to accept women studying the Four Books and Five Classics. At the same time, let the women learn other things too, rather than focusing exclusively on academic study.

"For instance, offer other courses alongside the Four Books and Five Classics, such as things women are skilled at—playing the zither, embroidery, dancing, composing poetry, managing a household...

"Besides the subjects noblewomen learn, include skills that ordinary women know too, such as weaving and cooking...

"They should also study the Six Arts of the Gentleman—rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics—as well as the Eight Refinements of Women—zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, flowers, and tea.

"With so many courses, the Four Books and Five Classics can be spread among them and won't stand out so much.

"Moreover, gathering so many noblewomen together serves another purpose: it makes it easier for them to form friendships and for their families to establish connections.

"They won't reject something that benefits their families outright. And their hesitation will be your opportunity.

"As for how to seize that opportunity, I imagine His Highness the Crown Prince knows what to do."

Shen Shixu was only offering an idea. How to put it into practice would depend on Xiao Yuanqi and Meng Jiyao.

Xiao Jinyi felt the same way. Giving them an idea was enough. Naturally, he would leave the rest to his elder brother and future sister-in-law.

"Of course. It was his responsibility to begin with. Sorry for troubling you even to come up with an idea. He ought to give you something nice to make up for it."

"Surely that isn't necessary!" Shen Shixu felt he had only helped by offering an idea. How could he accept anything from the Crown Prince?

Xiao Jinyi understood his reservations, but Shen Shixu had offered Xiao Yuanqi advice. They couldn't give him nothing in return, especially since Shen Shixu and Xiao Yuanqi barely knew each other.

Taking advantage of someone wasn't right. Besides, they would be family in the future, and he didn't want this to leave Shen Shixu with a bad impression.

"Of course it is. You give him advice, and he rewards you. That's only fair. My brother has plenty of fine things anyway. They're just gathering dust in his storeroom. I'll bring you something later."

As Xiao Jinyi spoke, he had already decided what to bring Shen Shixu. He remembered that Xiao Yuanqi had a Purple Bamboo Warm Jade Brush in his storeroom.

Its shaft was made of purple warm jade carved into the shape of bamboo joints, warm to the touch. The tip was crafted from superior sable hair, producing smooth, sharp strokes.

After the meal, Xiao Jinyi entered the palace again and passed Shen Shixu's idea on to Xiao Yuanqi.

As the Crown Prince, Xiao Yuanqi was exceptionally intelligent. He had been overthinking things before, but with this nudge from Shen Shixu, he now had a clear plan for how to establish the Girls' School.

They would still need to ask Empress Lin for help with this matter.

Empress Lin was very supportive when she learned that they wanted to establish a Girls' School. Beautiful and dignified, she sat upright on her phoenix throne, her eyes lighting up as she listened to the brothers' request.

"Giving women a chance to experience the wider world is a wonderful idea. I've always felt that we shouldn't be confined to the inner quarters, fighting tooth and nail over men every day.

"Let women study and do the things men can do. Show them that there is more than one way to live.

"I'll help with the Girls' School too. I'll find suitable teachers and people to endorse it for you."

Empress Lin knew those officials would not readily send their daughters to some Girls' School. Only when people of sufficient standing stepped forward to support it would they consider doing so.

She therefore decided to summon Princess Kangning to the palace shortly. The two sisters-in-law would go together to Cikang Palace to see the Empress Dowager, and the three of them—mother, daughter, and daughter-in-law—would discuss it further.

Hearing this, Xiao Yuanqi bowed with his hands clasped and said with a smile, "Then let me thank you in advance on behalf of the future students of the Girls' School, Mother."

Xiao Jinyi bowed alongside him. As Empress Lin looked at the two brothers paying their respects together, her eyes filled with pride.

Both her children had grown into such fine men. Her elder son was gentle and refined, yet capable of decisive action, and now he had the woman he loved by his side.

Her younger son appeared cold, but beneath that frosty exterior lay a warm heart that cared deeply for his family. Yet despite being old enough, he still had no one by his side.

At that thought, Empress Lin couldn't help nagging a little. As soon as Xiao Jinyi realized she was about to urge him to marry, he made an excuse and fled. Before leaving, he remembered to shoot Xiao Yuanqi a look, reminding him not to forget his earlier promise.

Watching Xiao Jinyi's retreating back, Empress Lin shook her head. "The moment marriage comes up, that child runs faster than a horse. Yuanqi, you should talk to him from time to time too. There's no hurry to marry, but he should at least settle on someone!"

Xiao Yuanqi thought, Settle on someone? He's already done that. He just hasn't won him over yet.

"Mother, Jinyi takes time to warm up to people. You need to give him time. Don't keep pressing him. Once he finds someone, he'll naturally bring him back for you to meet." Xiao Yuanqi covered for Xiao Jinyi, then found an excuse to slip away himself. "Oh, Mother, there are still some matters in my palace that need my attention, so I'll be going. Sorry to trouble you with the Girls' School."

Watching the brothers leave, each faster than the other, Empress Lin shook her head helplessly. "Those two children..."

Empress Lin soon summoned Princess Kangning and explained the matter to her. Princess Kangning wholeheartedly supported the idea.

After what had happened with Jiang Xingbang, she had come to understand one thing: men were the most unreliable creatures in the world.

Now that there was a chance for women to stand on their own feet, she would naturally do everything she could to make it happen. The two sisters-in-law therefore went together to see the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager had grown softer-hearted with age and naturally agreed when she heard of such a worthy endeavor.

And so, without the court officials knowing, an estate on the outskirts was transformed into the Girls' School.

The Girls' School was converted from the existing facilities. After more than a month of work, it was finally completed.

On the day the Girls' School was completed, every household in noble circles received a notice announcing its completion, along with an invitation.

When they saw who had issued the invitation, the officials who had initially dismissed the matter could no longer sit still.