The whole family is insanely eavesdropping on my thoughts Chapter 590
Chapter 590: The Morning Star
“Chao Chao is not a tyrant. If anyone has objections, feel free to speak up.”
With her hands clasped behind her back, Lu Chao Chao wore an innocent expression, looking like an honest and harmless young girl.
“I want to establish an academy for women. Any objections?” She smiled sweetly, but no one dared to treat her words lightly.
Everyone present understood what this meant.
Enrollment would mean examinations.
And if women could be educated, would female officials be far behind?
An elderly minister’s lips trembled, his mustache quivering with rage. His face turned pale, yet he dared not speak.
Who would dare provoke the wrath of their ancestors?
Who would dare risk being reborn as a daughter?
“If Princess Sunshine wishes to establish it, so be it. Let’s see if the women of this world are truly worthy of your favor,” an elder minister stated coldly.
In the hearts of men, women would always be mere appendages to them.
“Even if they gain entry, so what? Do you expect them to earn scholarly titles and become officials? Princess Sunshine, I fear this academy of yours will not last long before it collapses.”
“A woman’s duty is to bear children, serve her husband, and honor his family. Studying would only waste resources.”
“Or do you expect them to pass the imperial exams and enter the court?” The courtiers burst into laughter.
Male arrogance was deeply ingrained.
Lu Chao Chao grinned. “Gentlemen, shall we make a wager?”
“I wager that within five years, Northern Zhao will see its first female scholar!”
The hall erupted in astonishment.
One minister outright laughed. “Five years? Hahaha! Princess, do you understand what that means?”
“Even for men, progressing from basic education to scholar status in five years is an achievement for prodigies!”
Lu Chao Chao blinked. “So? Do you dare bet against me?”
“Why not! Five years it is! If there is no female scholar by then, the academy shall be shut down and converted into a boys’ academy!”
“Furthermore, Princess Sunshine must publicly acknowledge that women are inferior to men and promise never to meddle in Northern Zhao’s affairs again!”
The court officials, flushed with confidence, eagerly accepted the wager.
“Let Emperor Father bear witness to this bet,” Lu Chao Chao turned to Emperor Xuan Ping. With a wave of his hand, the emperor signaled the eunuch to record the agreement.
“If, within five years, a female scholar emerges, I want every official here to march through the streets, declaring that women are not inferior to men!”
“And bow three times to me, admitting their narrow-mindedness!”
The eunuch swiftly transcribed the agreement, and as Emperor Xuan Ping confirmed it, both parties exchanged triumphant smiles.
“Princess Sunshine, you have already lost! The women of this world cannot bear the weight of your trust,” the officials declared with certainty.
They knew the reality better than anyone.
Who would send their daughters to study? Even if education was free, who would allow it?
For most families, daughters were raised to be exchanged for a dowry or sold into wealthy households as maids. Education meant losing a laborer.
And as for passing the scholar’s examination? Laughable.
For centuries, women had been dependent on men for survival.
Obedient to their fathers before marriage, their husbands after, and their sons in widowhood.
And yet, Lu Chao Chao was determined. “Let’s seal it with our fingerprints.”
Lu Yan Shu and the Xu uncles stood with their hands behind their backs. “We shall not partake in this gamble.”
The court ministers, shaking their heads, stepped forward one by one, pressing their fingerprints onto the document.
“Rather than worrying about women studying, worry about the cost of building this academy. It won’t be cheap…”
“The state’s funds must not be used for a women’s academy!” The ministers declared firmly.
Lu Chao Chao waved dismissively. “The funds are already secured. No need to trouble yourselves.”
“Now, I shall not disturb my uncles and grandfathers as you discuss state affairs…” With that, she skipped out of the Golden Imperial Hall.
A minister frowned. “She is, after all, the Empress of the Southern Kingdom. Did she get the money from there?”
“Impossible. We’re talking about tens of thousands of taels! Would the Southern Kingdom fund Northern Zhao’s education? What a dream!”
“Doesn’t matter where it came from, as long as it wasn’t from our pockets,” another official remarked dryly.
Unbeknownst to him, his own mother had taken two thousand taels from him the day before, claiming it was for an important investment.
Outside the hall, Lu Chao Chao turned back to glance at the dense crowd inside.
“This court shall have a place for women,” she whispered.
When she had sent A-Man’s grandmother through the rift in time, she had glimpsed a world beyond imagination.
Boys and girls studying together in brightly lit classrooms, their voices reciting books in unison, echoing far and wide.
That vision had left her in awe.
She had never forgotten it.
Perhaps, in this life, as a mortal woman, this was her mission.
The young girl exited the palace, climbed into her carriage, and summoned Lou Jin Tang.
“Return to the Southern Kingdom. In my name, establish a women’s academy there, following Northern Zhao’s regulations.”
“And if they refuse?” Lou Jin Tang clutched her sword, looking puzzled.
“Refuse? Tell them I’ll abdicate this useless throne.”
Lou Jin Tang broke into a sweat and immediately packed her bags to leave.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao cradled a money chest, wondering who she should entrust with the academy’s construction. Then she spotted her mother, Shi Yun, sitting in the main hall, managing her vast businesses with perfect order.
“Hehe, Mother…”
“You look even younger today… Tsk, my mother is truly stunning! No wonder Father Rong Che couldn’t resist you.” She sidled up, massaging Shi Yun’s legs, showering her with compliments.
Shi Yun savored the flattery before speaking. “What do you want this time?”
Lu Chao Chao grinned. “I can’t hide anything from Mother.”
“I need manpower for the academy…”
Shi Yun tapped her daughter’s nose. “Already taken care of.” She gestured forward.
Zhou Shu Yao stepped up with a group of capable women.
“Sister Shu Yao! Last time you took me for roast duck, and I’ve been craving it ever since!” Lu Chao Chao gasped.
Zhou Shu Yao averted her eyes awkwardly. Taking the princess to see male courtesans had not been her proudest moment.
“This is Miss Zhou, your father’s cousin.”
“Upon hearing of your academy, she volunteered to help.”
“I shall handle this with Miss Zhou. Enrollment and operations must be carefully arranged.”
Convincing families to send daughters to study would not be easy.
Lu Chao Chao grinned from ear to ear. With her mother and Zhou Shu Yao’s support, what was there to worry about?
“You have taken the first step for all women. Leave the rest to us. Your Highness, this endeavor will benefit generations of women. On behalf of all daughters of the land, I thank you,” Zhou Shu Yao trembled with emotion as she bowed deeply.
Lu Chao Chao handed over the money chest, finally feeling a weight lift from her heart.
Tomorrow, she would set out for the Brahma Kingdom.
That night, yawning on her soft chair, she suddenly looked up.
A brilliant star was rising in the dark sky.
This time, it was the women who would rise.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation