The official from the Ministry of Rites thought he had misheard. Since ancient times, there had been an ancestral rule that lowborn people could not enter halls of learning. Could it be that Yushan Academy was breaking this precedent and privately giving these lowborn people a way forward?

The examinee who had been forced to kneel on the ground because of his lowborn status raised his head in disbelief. He didn’t understand how he could have been suffering humiliation just moments ago, only to have such a dramatic turnaround. He had been mentally prepared for insults—he had come to take the exam clutching the most minuscule hope. Before he left home, his mother had held him and wept, saying her child’s learning was sufficient, but alas, his social status was an insurmountable chasm. Even if he came, he would inevitably suffer humiliation and unjust treatment. Just moments ago, he had been ready to leave, so how could he suddenly be allowed to take the exam?

While urging the Ministry of Rites official to get on with his work, Yun Ye asked the examinee with a smile, “Don’t understand?”

The examinee shook his head in bewilderment. Yun Ye continued, “A true man has nothing he cannot speak of openly to others. The questions I just asked you were about your actual circumstances—I was confirming your identity. As long as you’re a person of Tang, there’s nothing shameful about you. Rather than hiding and covering things up only to have them discovered later and end up with a ruined reputation, it’s better to openly bare your heart and use your own efforts to earn others’ respect. I can see you’re a person with determination. If you can pass the academy entrance exam, you’ll become a useful talent for the nation. Study well for the exam. Once you enter the academy, you’ll discover that no amount of effort you put into it is excessive. Consider these words the first lesson I’m giving you at the academy.”

After finishing his words to this linen-clad youth, Yun Ye turned his head and looked coldly at the other examinees who had mocked the youth earlier, saying, “Right now you’re not yet students of the academy, so the academy can’t discipline you. But remember this—if you’re fortunate enough to enter the academy, you’d better put away these thoughts of gloating over others’ misfortunes and ridiculing others. Otherwise, the academy’s discipline will teach you what remorse means.”

Yun Ye’s icy words made these young people feel a chill from the bottom of their hearts. Recalling the punishments they had heard about from senior students who had graduated from the academy, they fell silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to make a sound.

“Thank you, sir. This student Zhang Jianzhi will never forget your gracious teachings.” Yun Ye paused slightly but stood there and accepted his three bows, then dragged away the pouting Xiao Wu and returned home.

Whenever Yun Ye held his young son or little daughter, Xiao Wu would follow along. When Yun Ye went to grandmother’s room to pay his respects, Xiao Wu followed too. In short, wherever Yun Ye went, she followed. The exasperated Yun Ye finally said, “It’s not impossible for you to go to the academy, but you need to use other methods that don’t annoy me to achieve your goal. This kind of pestering doesn’t count.”

Having finally heard this promise, Xiao Wu was overjoyed and went to find Xiao Ya to discuss strategies. As for Shishi, forget it—she was the most obedient to her master’s words. If he said not to go to the academy, she wouldn’t go. Her principles were very firm.

Xiao Wu had several close female friends, and Xiao Ya’s social circle was even broader. She forcibly dragged Li An, who liked to cling to Guo Wei, to bring her and a large group of companions to the palace, nominally to pay respects to the Empress—this was legitimate business. However, after they coordinated with Gao Yang and Lan Ling, it turned into a scene of a group of little girls weeping in the palace hall.

Empress Zhangsun also had a headache. Thirty or forty delicate young ladies were kneeling in her Liangyi Hall, crying their hearts out. She couldn’t bear it either—they were all legitimate daughters from noble families. Looking at their ages, they ranged from ten to fourteen years old. After finally consoling them, she heard their suggestion to go study at Yushan Academy.

“Absolutely not!” Empress Zhangsun refused sternly. Yushan Academy was now a vital institution for Great Tang. The nation’s talents depended on a continuous supply from there. How could she agree to let a few little girls go there and cause trouble? For girls, being able to read and write was good enough—being able to manage a household and keep accounts clearly was excellent. Otherwise, learning some poetry and literature to cultivate their temperament was also fine. As for those practical governance subjects taught at the academy, it was better for women to know less about them. The more they knew, the worse it was for them. They were all legitimate daughters; in the future, their husbands would certainly be either wealthy or noble. It was no good for women to meddle in government affairs. She did not agree.

Gao Yang actually put on the donkey ears that Yun Ye had given her again and said while crying, “The ancients said that only through learning can one attain reason. In the ‘Three Character Classic’ that Yun Ye wrote, it also says, ‘Silkworms spin silk, bees make honey. If people don’t learn, they’re worse than animals.’ Your daughter was humiliated by Yun Ye with donkey ears precisely because she didn’t study well. Your daughter can no longer endure such ignorant days. You don’t know this, but that crude Fang Yi’ai, after studying at the academy for several years, knows so much more than your daughter. If this continues, as an imperial princess, where will your daughter have any dignity?”

Not only did she cry, but all those little girls cried too. At their teenage years, their families had already arranged their marriages early on, and most of their future husbands would be academy graduates. Thinking that in the future they would be coaxed like fools made them cry as if they wanted to die.

Empress Zhangsun’s brows were furrowed into knots. While it was certainly not good for hens to crow at dawn, it also wasn’t a good sign for women to be overly weak. Qing Que now had nothing to talk about with his wives and concubines, and his wives and concubines didn’t understand what their husband actually needed. Sometimes, heartfelt care would invite their husband’s dissatisfaction because the care was misplaced.

After sending the little girls away, the Empress summoned many titled noblewomen, including Xinyue, who had just finished her postpartum confinement month. These women inquired into every detail of the Yun family’s private matters, especially the intimate bedroom conversations between husband and wife.

Xinyue’s face turned as red as a freshly steamed bun just out of the steamer, radiating heat. There was no helping it—the questions these women asked were not only bold but also peculiar.

An old lady with a full head of silver hair tapped her cane and said, “Everyone here is experienced—what’s there to be embarrassed about? This concerns these young girls’ entire lives, so we should be cautious. Never mind them finding it difficult—even this old woman often doesn’t understand the thoughts of her two grandsons who graduated from the academy. Mind you, these two children were raised by this old woman herself! If husband and wife can’t even speak the same language in the future, how can that be considered a happy marriage?”

Xinyue said with her head lowered, “My humble husband never speaks those strange words at home, nor does he speak incomprehensible odd words. As for bedroom matters, it’s been fine…”

“Yun Ye is famously quick-witted, so naturally he wouldn’t neglect you. How many men in the world have such an exquisite heart? You’re lucky to have married into a good family, though there are quite a few sister-wives, what a waste of dowry…”

Xinyue didn’t know how she got out of the palace. She only remembered that she seemed to have agreed to establish a women’s branch academy within the academy. These noble ladies rarely had the opportunity to participate in such a major matter, so naturally they were all enthusiastic—some offered advice and strategies, some generously contributed funds, some promoted and publicized. Their capabilities were so formidable that even Empress Zhangsun was amazed.

Xu Jingzong’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot as he held the document. Standing prettily before him was a beautiful female official from the palace, with a long line of matrons behind her, all dressed in short green tunics, looking competent and capable. They were just somewhat intimidated by this cultured place of learning that was the academy, keeping their heads lowered and not daring to speak.

“This humble official understands Her Majesty’s decree. May I ask how to address this palace official?”

“This official is Lai Ying, serving as Director of the Palace Bureau. I’ve come this time to inspect where the women’s branch academy should be arranged. When Yushan Academy opens, those young ladies will also enter the academy to study. Course arrangements and accommodation requirements will all be determined by us. We will dispatch whichever instructors are needed from the academy. Now arrange lodging for me and these matrons—no delays permitted.”

Xu Jingzong’s anger immediately rushed to his head. He was a dignified fourth-rank Academy Supervisor, being ordered about by a seventh-rank woman—what kind of propriety was this? This was the academy, his territory, not the Palace Bureau. You’re a female official who barely has a rank, throwing your weight around like this—what’s the meaning of it?

“The academy hasn’t yet received His Majesty’s decree. Even if we received His Majesty’s decree, the academy would need to deliberate before deciding whether to request His Majesty to rescind the order. Since ancient times, improper orders need not be obeyed. Women should properly support their husbands and educate their children—what learning do they need? This is absurd.”

“The academy is an imperial academy. Her Majesty is the mother of all under heaven. What’s so significant about arranging for a few young ladies to study? I’ve seen plenty of officials like you. Should I go tell Her Majesty that the academy refuses to accept Her Majesty’s decree?”

Xu Jingzong suddenly wasn’t angry anymore. He was also an important personage—arguing with a sharp-tongued woman would damage his dignity. He carefully rolled up the decree, placed it in Lai Ying’s hands, flicked his sleeves, turned around, and left the office. He simply wouldn’t accept it—what could she do?

“Heh heh, Supervisor Xu, think carefully. Her Majesty may truly have no way to deal with you, but you can’t afford to offend even one of those young ladies who want to come study at the academy. This matter was something these young ladies cried and begged for. If you ruin their good fortune, the consequences will certainly be more miserable than exile. Let me tell you—there are a total of sixty-two young ladies, with sixty-two noble families behind them. If even one becomes angry, you won’t be able to bear the consequences.”

After long deliberation, Xu Jingzong sighed and sat back down in his chair. Taking up his brush, he allocated that previously sealed small building of the academy to Lai Ying and ordered servants to clean it thoroughly in preparation for receiving those young mistresses.

Lai Ying achieved final victory and proudly swayed her hips as she went to that courtyard. She was very satisfied with this enclosed environment. She imitated the academy’s practice of numbering each room, and after finishing this, forcefully demanded that the academy prepare dining halls and bathing facilities for these women. Whatever the male students at Yushan Academy had, the women’s branch academy must also have.

However, the person receiving her this time had changed—it was Yun Ye. Yun Ye completely demolished all her plans, denying everything except the living quarters.

Want to eat? Queue up at the dining hall. Want to bathe? Go to Huang Shu’s bathhouse. Want entertainment? Sorry, the academy doesn’t provide that. What they can provide is only morning running and evening martial arts practice. Once people enter the academy, they are disciples of the academy—no one can be an exception. The academy will arrange the curriculum. After Hypatia returns, she will concurrently serve as director of the women’s branch academy.