The whole family is insanely eavesdropping on my thoughts Chapter 596
Chapter 596: Face Slapped Swollen
Nightfall.
Lu Chao Chao had yet to dine when a summons arrived from the palace.
“Oh my, this servant greets Princess Sunshine. May the princess be blessed with prosperity…”
“The princess has not yet had her evening meal? His Majesty has been missing you terribly today and specially sent this servant to escort you to the palace…” The grand eunuch beamed with a broad smile.
Having served the emperor for many years, even the court officials were courteous toward him.
Yet, when facing the Lu family, he was ever so cautious and humble, fearing he might offend His Majesty’s dearest treasure.
“Hah, I won’t even bother exposing him. Missing me?” Lu Chao Chao scoffed. The Lu family had just set the evening table when she casually grabbed a pigeon drumstick from a plate and followed the eunuch out the door.
The eunuch chuckled, offering flattery, “Nothing escapes the princess’s keen perception.”
Upon entering the palace, she found the emperor massaging his temples, his face lined with fatigue.
“Has the Sage been settled? If there are any difficulties, you may tell me at any time.” The emperor was well aware that having a Sage residing in Northern Zhao would attract scholars from all over the lands.
“There’s already a problem.” Lu Chao Chao raised her hand weakly.
The emperor’s temper flared. “You little troublemaker, is there ever a time you suffer a loss?”
“Wang Yuan Lu, open the national treasury and allocate fifty thousand taels of silver to Princess Sunshine. The empire shall cover their expenses.”
“You may cry poor before me, but do not dare weep poverty before the Sage. This concerns the reputation of Northern Zhao. I cannot afford to lose face over this!” The emperor knew Lu Chao Chao too well. She was shameless and audacious. If he wasn’t careful, she might even extort the Sage!
“No extorting the Sage!”
Lu Chao Chao grinned. “Am I such a person without shame?”
“Who do you think you’re fooling? The court officials vehemently opposed your Women’s Academy, yet you infiltrated their ranks and sweet-talked their wives into funding it.”
“Just the other day, court officials requested imperial physicians far more frequently than usual. It was all because of you.” They had made a bet with Lu Chao Chao in court, arguing to the point of exhaustion.
Only to return home and realize—good heavens! Their own households had already been persuaded into donating handsomely.
That very night, household servants rushed out to summon physicians, causing such a commotion that even the emperor was disturbed.
Upon learning the truth, he could only laugh and sigh.
“They have such frail hearts, getting ill over something so trivial. Chao Chao, on the other hand, is broad-minded and never takes things to heart. Never holds grudges.” Lu Chao Chao scoffed with disdain.
“Emperor Dad, why have you summoned me to the palace?”
The emperor set his brush down and let out a long sigh.
“I need your help. Those old officials have worn me down…”
“You understand the standing of a Sage among scholars. The moment they saw the Sage step into your academy, their ambitions were stirred…”
“They wish… to invite the Sage to teach a class at the Imperial Academy.” The emperor’s face burned with embarrassment. Wasn’t this outright poaching?
But the Imperial Academy was the heart of the nation’s talent cultivation, and he couldn’t simply refuse.
Noting Lu Chao Chao’s darkened expression, the emperor hurriedly added, “It won’t interfere with the Women’s Academy. Just one lecture a day, how about that?”
“If you have any objections, voice them. I will fulfill whatever I can.”
Lu Chao Chao’s gaze turned cold. “Emperor Dad, the very ones who led the protest against my academy’s establishment were none other than the students of the Imperial Academy.”
The leader, Senior Brother Lin, was one of them.
“Emperor Dad, do you misunderstand me? Do you take me for a magnanimous saint who repays grievances with virtue?” She looked at him in disbelief, her expression one of utter shock.
The emperor fell silent…
Thinking of the tragic downfall of Lu Yuan Ze’s family, he had to admit—she had a point.
This girl had never been one to endure grievances in silence!
“Chao Chao, can’t you make an exception?” The emperor sighed. Who would have thought karma would strike so swiftly?!
Lu Chao Chao waved her hand dismissively as she walked out. “No room for negotiation.”
“If they don’t even have the courage to approach me themselves and need you to speak on their behalf, why should I forgive them?”
“There are plenty of teachers in this world. It doesn’t have to be them.”
She left the palace but did not return home immediately, instead wandering around the city for a while.
“Miss, do you still have business to attend to?” Yu Shu asked, puzzled, as their carriage circled past the Lu residence twice without entering.
“Let’s wait a little longer, give them some time to prepare.” Lu Chao Chao’s words left Yu Shu confused.
Chao Chao calculated the time, then finally signaled the carriage to stop at the entrance.
Sure enough…
A group of dejected scholars stood there, heads lowered in shame.
Ha! The so-called proud sons of heaven, the elite among men, still ended up at my doorstep to beg for forgiveness!
Without sparing them a glance, Lu Chao Chao stepped off the carriage and strutted toward the gate.
Senior Brother Lin, watching as she walked past without even looking at him, hesitated before finally gathering his resolve. Closing his eyes and clenching his teeth, he spoke up: “Please wait, Princess.”
“It was my reckless words that caused great offense. May the princess be gracious and grant Lin a chance to atone, to serve Northern Zhao, and contribute to the Women’s Academy?” His face twisted with embarrassment. Who would have thought that words spoken yesterday would need to be swallowed whole today?
“Please forgive us. We were wrong.”
“We are the finest scholars of the Imperial Academy. No ordinary teacher can match us. We vow to teach with all our hearts, to impart our knowledge without reservation.”
“Please forgive us.”
These scholars, once so haughty, had their pride shattered. They dared not look down on anyone any longer.
Yu Shu and Yu Qin exchanged glances, finding this immensely satisfying.
Born to privilege, they had always viewed women with condescension. Now, they were here, pleading to enlighten young women.
Yet, Yu Shu did not expect there to be an even greater satisfaction ahead!
Lu Chao Chao pouted. “But there aren’t enough rooms for you all…”
Senior Brother Lin promptly responded, “No need for rooms! We can arrange our own accommodations. Yes, we’ll find places to stay ourselves.”
Lu Chao Chao muttered, “Three hundred taels per year…”
“That’s plenty! Three hundred taels is more than enough!!” Originally, the Imperial Academy only admitted noble and official heirs, but since the emperor opened the doors to commoners, even those from humble backgrounds could enter.
Three hundred taels was an exceedingly generous salary.
“No, you misunderstand.”
“Three days ago, when I invited you, it was three hundred taels with holiday bonuses.”
“But now, you will pay me three hundred taels. That’s the entrance fee.” Lu Chao Chao tilted her head, speaking words that left the scholars stunned.
“W-We are to pay you three hundred taels per year?” Senior Brother Lin pointed at himself in disbelief.
“We are to be teachers!!”
“Yes, and teachers must contribute.”
“Senior Brother Lin, times have changed.” Three days ago, she had shown them respect, yet they had refused.
Three days later, she would not spare them any mercy.
“Nonsense! What kind of rule is this? Teachers paying to teach? That’s absurd!” someone immediately protested.
Lu Chao Chao clasped her hands behind her back. “I won’t force you. Today, it’s still three hundred taels. Tomorrow, it may go to the highest bidder.”
“Right now, I am not the one begging you to teach at the Women’s Academy.”
“It is you who are begging to be let in.”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation