Refusal

She stood up, feigning humility and gratitude. "To be favored by the Princess, Ruxi, know not how to express my gratitude. The Capital Women's Academy is a place I have always longed to visit. Due to household registration restrictions, I was unable to take the entrance exam for the Capital Women's Academy and thus missed the opportunity to be the Princess's student, Ruxi I deeply regret." Hearing this, Xiao Yuyue smiled with satisfaction.

She knew that with Consort Jin standing behind her, no one would dare refuse her request, no matter what it was.

But before her smile could fully appear, Zhao Ruxi added, "However, my master is a teacher at the Beining Women's Academy, and as his disciple, I naturally have to serve him."

"Furthermore, the Emperor decreed that I teach portrait painting to officials and painters from various regions. In order to avoid adding unnecessary expenses to the Court of Judicial Review and local governments, the painting lessons were held in Beining, opposite the Beining Women's Academy. Between my studies and important court affairs, the important court affairs naturally take precedence. Therefore, I have to stay in Beining almost all day. It's simply impossible for me to attend the Capital Women's Academy in terms of time."

"I never had the opportunity to study systematically under the tutelage of the Master before. Now that I have the chance to sit in the academy and listen to the Master's teachings, Ruxi cherishes this opportunity very much. In addition to teaching painting to officials from various places, Ruxi would occasionally return to the academy to listen to lectures or privately consult with the Masters. The Ruxi has achieved such a meager result in the annual examination is not Ruxi is smart, but because she seizes every opportunity to learn from the Master."

She bowed and said, "So, although Ruxi sincerely hoped to study at the Capital Women's Academy, due to various reasons, she could only regretfully miss the opportunity. Fortunately, the Beining Women's Academy is a subordinate academy of the Capital Women's Academy. Studying in Beining, she can also receive instruction from the Prefectural Master. Thinking this way, Ruxi has no regrets."

Upon hearing Zhao Ruxi's words, both the old lady and Lady Zhu were on edge. They both looked at Xiao Yuyue simultaneously.

Both of them had spent their entire lives in high society circles and knew that what these people valued most was "face".

Although Zhao Ruxi's words were extremely sincere and her reasons were quite valid, a refusal is a refusal. Someone like Princess Pingyang would never understand her predicament; she would only feel resentment because of her refusal.

Sure enough, Xiao Yuyue's expression changed.

Fortunately, although the smile on Xiao Yuyue's face disappeared, she seemed to have been holding back and finally did not fly into a rage.

She said calmly, "I understand what you've said. It's not a big deal. Your master was originally a teacher at our Capital Women's Academy. You just need to bring him back. The doors of the Capital Women's Academy will always be open to him."

She forced a smile, "As a disciple, you should also consider your master's health, shouldn't you? He's almost seventy years old. Traveling between the capital and Beining every day, how can his body take it? The Capital Women's Academy isn't far from the Kang Residence, saving him the trouble of traveling back and forth, isn't that good?"

"As for your issue of not having time to study in the capital, that's easy to resolve. I understand your situation; you used to hardly ever go to the academy, only going for about a day or two every ten days. So, you can study on your own during the week, and on the days off, come to the Capital Women's Academy, where I'll have a tutor give you private lessons."

"The teachers at our Capital Women's Academy are all great Confucian scholars of our time, far superior to the teachers in that small county town of Beining. With their guidance, your studies should improve even further. The two methods I've suggested completely solve your problem. What do you think?"

Ever since Xiao Yuyue took over the management of the academy for Consort Jin, apart from a few princesses, everyone else fawned over her.

If it were up to her temper, she would have stormed off when Zhao Ruxi refused, and then used various means to thoroughly punish the Earl of Suiping's Residence and Zhao Ruxi.

So what if Zhao Ruxi was Kang Shilin's disciple? Besides his relationship with the Emperor, what else did Kang Shilin have?

As for their relationship with the Emperor, who can compare to Consort Jin?

However, the painting that fetched a high price of 25,000 taels of silver at the auction, though unknown to others, could not be kept secret from Consort Jin, who was greatly favored by the Emperor.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad. After all, Zhao Ruxi is Kang Shilin's apprentice, so it's only natural that she's good at painting.

Even if she painted well and produced such a valuable painting, winning first place in the year-end painting competition, it wasn't thanks to the Beining Women's Academy, but to Kang Shilin. They didn't care about that.

Even if the students of the Capital Women's Academy don't win prizes in painting, they can still excel in other areas such as music, chess, and calligraphy. They are in no way inferior to the Beining Women's Academy.

But now, Zhao Ruxi not only paints well, but she also got first place in the annual exam. The students from the Capital Women's Academy, who came in second, were not just a little worse than her, but far worse.

This is Consort Jin cannot ignore.

The teachers at the Capital Women's Academy are all renowned scholars from the capital, their graduates being either top scholars (Consort Jin, or Tanhua). Yet, the students they teach can't even come close to the level of a student from the Beining Women's Academy. How can Consort Jin and her face be saved? Who knows how Grand Princess Shangde will flaunt her power in front of Consort Jin?

Absolutely unacceptable.

Therefore, after hearing her report, Consort Jin instructed her to come to the Earl of Suiping's Residence to personally invite Zhao Ruxi, showing respect and courtesy to a talented person.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have lowered herself to personally recruit Zhao Ruxi at the Earl of Suiping's Residence. Which student from the Capital Women's Academy wouldn't have higher status and position than Zhao Ruxi? Why would she need to condescend to invite her like this?

She doesn't actually want Zhao Ruxi to attend classes at the Capital Women's Academy; she just needs her to be listed as a "student of the Capital Women's Academy."

If it weren't for that, she would have stormed off long ago. Why would she lower herself to negotiate with Zhao Ruxi so politely?

Zhao Ruxi had long been mentally prepared to endure for the time being, to accept the invitation for the sake of the greater good, and to study at the Capital Women's Academy.

Seeing Xiao Yuyue's attitude, she refrained from making a scene despite her visit. However, Xiao Yuyue's haughty demeanor and threatening tone were truly displeasing to her.

She's not the type to swallow her anger.

She hasn't even become a student at the Capital Women's Academy yet, and Xiao Yuyue is already acting this way because she needs something from her. Once she agrees and makes Xiao Yuyue her teacher, who knows how rude Xiao Yuyue will become or what excessive demands she will make, using the title of "teacher."

Her refusal of Xiao Yuyue's request would be disrespectful to her teacher and would put her in a very passive position.

Therefore, going to the Capital Women's Academy is absolutely out of the question.