Chapter 592

Chapter 592: They All Turn into Turtles

“Exactly! Women should stay in the backyard. Studying is a man’s duty!”

“They were born to bear children and raise them!”

“If they go to school, who will take care of the children? Who will handle household chores? Who will serve their elders? Who will support them?”

“A women’s academy will only inflate their ambitions. It is utterly useless!”

“Does His Majesty actually believe they can pass the imperial examinations and earn titles, bringing glory to the empire?” As the scholar spoke, the crowd burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!”

“We’ve dedicated years to studying, not daring to slack off even for a moment, just to obtain a title. Do they think passing the exams is so easy?” A group of frustrated scholars, emboldened by their numbers, spoke without restraint.

The law does not punish the masses.

Besides, even the court officials opposed the women’s academy—what harm was there in voicing their discontent?

They refused to believe that women could truly achieve anything through study!

“Teaching women? That would make us the laughingstock of the world!”

“Even in poverty, I would never stoop to teaching at a women’s academy!”

“Exactly! No matter how poor, I won’t become a teacher for them! Let’s see if they can even find any teachers and still run their academy! Women should return to their proper roles—supporting their husbands and raising children!”

The scholars raised their hands and shouted in unison.

“But I heard Lu Yan Shu and Lu Yuan Xiao, the two top scholars, are going to teach at the academy…” A hesitant voice interrupted.

“They are the princess’s elder brothers! Of course, they are only doing it to save face.”

“We don’t need to concern ourselves with that.”

“I want to see how they plan to run the academy without teachers! Women dreaming of studying? Dreaming of taking the imperial exams and entering court? I’d love to see how they manage that!”

“Not everyone can study!” To them, studying was the last path to success.

If women were to compete for the same opportunities, what future would remain for them?

The greatest threat of the women’s academy was to the scholars themselves.

“I will stay here on Xiang Yun Street. For every notice they put up, I’ll tear it down.”

“Whoever dares to teach at the academy—don’t blame us for what happens next!”

“Yes! Teaching at the women’s academy is a betrayal of all scholars!”

“I swear today, whoever teaches at the academy is a turtle bastard!”

“Me too! Anyone who teaches there is a turtle bastard!” The scholars shouted in unison, their voices filling the street.

Lu Chao Chao and Zhu Mo stood on the outskirts of the commotion, unmoved. Zhu Mo turned to her. “Still going in?”

Lu Chao Chao shook her head. “It’s pointless. We won’t find teachers here.” Not just here—throughout all of Northern Zhao, it would be the same.

Scholars clung together. Even if some were tempted by the academy’s benefits, they wouldn’t dare step forward.

Doing so meant standing against all scholars and making enemies of the entire learned world.

The court officials had surely anticipated this outcome and were merely waiting to see her fail.

“Then what do we do? Everything is ready—we can’t let it fall apart at this stage.” Zhu Mo knew she had invested much effort into this. Giving up now was not an option.

“Should we just abandon it? It has been tradition for men to pursue careers while women raise families. There’s no benefit to you in fighting against it…” Zhu Mo cautiously suggested.

Lu Chao Chao’s eyes were indifferent. “If men and women must be divided, then why did I bother saving men when I saved the world?”

“Why not only save my own kind?”

Zhu Mo was momentarily stunned.

That… made too much sense.

Lu Chao Chao smirked coldly. [I didn’t discriminate when saving lives, and yet, they think they deserve special treatment?]

“No teachers? Then we simply won’t hire them! The women’s academy does not need them!”

“Go tell Mother—I’ll depart in two days. I swear, I will make them all turtle bastards!” Lu Chao Chao had already formulated a plan. Without hesitation, she turned and left for home.

At the Lu residence.

Lu Yan Shu had just finished bathing and sat under the veranda, reading with his long black hair loose.

“Big Brother, have you ever heard of the Book Sect?”

Lu Yan Shu was momentarily surprised before he smiled. “Of course. The Book Sect is revered by all scholars.”

“During the era of rampant demons, mortals were weak. Then, a great sage discovered that the aura of literature could repel demonic forces. Thus, he founded the Book Sect, cultivating the Dao through the written word. Its disciples were all renowned scholars from various nations.”

“Later, the Book Sect moved to the Spirit Realm and became a legend.”

“But every scholar dreams of joining it.”

“Back when Northern Zhao was plagued by demons, I led scholars to recite literature in the streets to drive them away.” Lu Yan Shu’s eyes held nostalgia. Back then, he had still been crippled.

Lu Chao Chao nodded. She remembered it well.

“Why do you ask? The Book Sect is a hidden sect, long removed from the mortal world.” Lu Yan Shu smiled.

Lu Chao Chao grinned mysteriously.

“The disciples of the Book Sect… they must be quite famous, right?” She giggled.

Lu Yan Shu chuckled. “You skipped classes constantly, and now you don’t know?”

He knocked her forehead twice.

“Famous? More than that! The Book Sect selects disciples with the highest standards. Every one of them was already a great scholar in the mortal world, with countless students of their own.”

“Their students have inherited their knowledge and now hold significant positions in the world.”

“Every scholar dreams of receiving even a few words of guidance from a Book Sect disciple.”

“Have you heard of Elder Zhi Xin of the Book Sect?”

“……” Lu Yan Shu’s expression darkened.

Lu Chao Chao blinked, confused by her brother’s look. Even Lu Yuan Xiao, who had just arrived home, sighed in exasperation.

“Is he someone important?” That old man had even tried to take her as a disciple in the Spirit Realm.

Lu Yan Shu took a deep breath. “You… Every academy has statues of the Three Sages, which you pray to every day.”

“Before the imperial examinations, all scholars worship them for literary fortune…”

“The Sage of Books, the Immortal of Literature, the God of Writing…”

“Zhi Xin is the Immortal of Literature! He is the guiding light of all scholars, the very foundation of their existence!” Lu Yan Shu shook his head.

Lu Chao Chao’s eyes sparkled. “Thank you, Big Brother. I know what to do now.”

She jumped off the stool and skipped away.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“I thought she’d be heartbroken from the scholars’ rejection and cry at home. I even rushed back to comfort her… Look, I even bought her favorite roast duck.” Lu Yuan Xiao scratched his head. Did she have a plan?

“Chao Chao doesn’t need comforting.”

“You’d best save your energy to comfort the scholars instead.” Lu Yan Shu flipped a page, his azure robe draping elegantly over his straight posture.

“Comfort them? They’re parading through the streets, protesting the women’s academy…”

They even swore that no scholar would teach there.

Lu Yuan Xiao fumed with anger.

Lu Yan Shu smiled knowingly, not even looking up. “Soon, someone will be turning into a turtle.”