Chapter 38: The First Step Forward
When rows of carriages arrived outside the schoolhouse, Chen Bai was leading a group of students in building a fence.
That was because he had bought an incubator and was currently hatching quail.
Originally, he had wanted to hatch chicks and ducklings, but chickens and ducks ate too much grain, which really was not suitable. Quail were different. They ate very little, and most importantly, they only needed to be raised for thirty-five days before they began laying eggs. Their egg-laying interval was about seventeen hours, so the cost was low and the return was high.
The incubation time was short too, only around sixteen or seventeen days.
With an incubator, hatching eggs was simple. For the first six days, set the temperature to 38 degrees. For the next ten days, set it to 37 degrees, and then…
Just wait for new life to be born.
Ever since they began hatching eggs, the students would gather around the incubator whenever they had free time.
“Teacher said hatching eggs only needs the right temperature. It doesn’t need a mother hen at all.”
“This egg is so small. What will hatch from it?”
Their minds were full of fantasies. Such tiny eggs were truly rare. Even students who had experience stealing bird eggs from nests clicked their tongues in wonder, because when raiding a bird nest, seeing even a few eggs was already impressive. How could there be this many like now?
Chen Bai had hatched two hundred eggs in total. Each egg was only about the size of a small pebble. The number looked like quite a lot, but it was still only one incubator’s worth.
According to the hatching rate, around a hundred should hatch.
Forget the students being extremely curious—even Qi Zheng looked at the incubator with surprise.
Could they really hatch like this?
This had already exceeded the current understanding.
When the carriages stopped one after another outside the courtyard, Chen Bai froze. Their school had been built beside a small stream. Usually, the mountains were high and the waters distant; it was very remote. Even people who came to the nearby mountains to roast rabbits, pick grapes, and look at peacocks would not come here.
But in the future, that might not be true, because Qi Zheng had filled both mountains with rabbits. Their school was right between the two mountains, so perhaps people would pass by and take a look.
When Chen Bai saw the people getting out of the carriages, he froze again. They were at the age of young maidens, and judging from their clothing and adornment, they were probably all wealthy young ladies from officials’ inner chambers.
Why had they come here together?
They even craned their necks to look into the school. “It should be here. Look at those strange beasts playing.”
Chen Bai had the group of students continue working by themselves, then walked out.
When the young women saw Chen Bai come out in a red robe and mask, they quickly straightened their posture.
Now, after the movie was shown in Shangjing, the name Mountain Lord had truly caused a sensation.
If Mountain Lord’s name had merely spread throughout Shangjing before, now it had caused an uproar.
His painting skill was close to the Dao. What did painting birds so that birdsong could be heard, or painting cicadas so that cicadas chirped, count for? Mountain Lord’s divine painting on the wall could completely perform an entire story, and it was so tragically beautiful it made people cry.
This was the excuse Chen Bai had come up with because he could not explain the principles of film. Now the people of Shangjing had also generally accepted it this way. Although magical, it could be explained in a way they understood, so they would not push it toward demons and ghosts.
Chen Bai explained it this way because he had no other choice. In this era, belief in gods and ghosts was deeply rooted. Once something could not be explained, people would very likely naturally lean in that direction.
Therefore, the name Mountain Lord was now even considered by many to surpass Great Qian’s Four Great Gentlemen.
“Do you ladies have some matter?” Chen Bai asked.
The young women became nervous. They had only come here on a sudden impulse. They were delicate young ladies raised in deep courtyards, and they rarely went out. Even when they did go out, they had to be accompanied by fathers or brothers. They had few chances to speak to people alone.
In the end, the tall girl in front, wearing a pale yellow gauze dress, took the lead and gave a bow. “I am Lü Yuexi, legitimate granddaughter of Duke Lu.”
Chen Bai froze. She was actually from Duke Lu’s family.
Lü Yuexi then introduced the young ladies beside her.
Chen Bai thought to himself that they really were the pampered female relatives of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers’ families. But why had they come here?
Some of the young girls hesitated and stammered. “We came because we admire Mountain Lord’s talent, only…”
“Only Mountain Lord’s divine painting on the wall was truly too sorrowfully beautiful. Could you remake the latter half?”
“These past few days, quite a few of us sisters have cried until our eyes swelled. Whenever we think of it, we feel sorrow in secret and truly cannot let it go.”
Chen Bai was stunned. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai had become a story passed down through the ages precisely because of the tragic beauty of their love. Now this group of young girls wanted him to change the ending. If it were really changed, it would completely lose that soul-shaking regret. How could it still become a deeply moving love story passed down through the ages?
Besides, even if he wanted to change it, he could not.
Chen Bai answered, “I’m afraid I cannot.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, pairs of resentful eyes looked at him, making him unable to help shivering.
A group of young girls kept tugging at Lü Yuexi’s sleeves. Actually, calling them young girls was not quite right. Lü Yuexi had already reached the age of blossoming youth, and the other girls were all somewhat older than the students in his schoolhouse.
Lü Yuexi was probably the leader among these officials’ daughters. She raised her head. “If… if Mountain Lord does not agree…”
For some reason, her words became a little stammered. She gritted her teeth. “If Mountain Lord does not agree, then let us enter Sir’s school as students.”
“Just like Zhu Yingtai. Why can women not enter a school?”
Zhu Yingtai’s happy experiences in the academy had truly made them envious. This was their true purpose in coming here today.
As they spoke, their faces became somewhat excited.
The academy life shown in the divine painting on the wall was far too different from the private tutors their families hired to teach them alone.
Chen Bai’s expression changed. Were some worldly customs and rituals things he could break?
This era’s restrictions on women were far greater than its demands on men. Although Chen Bai did not mind having a few female students at the school, this matter would absolutely not be simple.
If he really accepted these female students, he would be branded a true rebel against tradition.
Chen Bai opened his mouth, but in the end, he could not bring himself to refuse. The restraints on them were already unfair enough. He truly did not have the heart to cut off this tiny request of theirs, one that was so insignificant, yet to them so longed-for and unreachable.
In the end, Chen Bai said, “If your families agree, the school will not oppose your joining.”
This drew a chorus of delicate cries.
Chen Bai sighed inwardly. Although he said that, he could not break worldly etiquette. How could their families possibly do so? Even if they were usually doted on, it would probably be very difficult for them to persuade their families.
What Chen Bai had not expected was that their families indeed did not dare, but one person did. Empress Dowager Zhaosheng in the deep palace was herself a legend among women. Her thoughts were quite different. Otherwise, back then, it would have been impossible for her, as a woman, to single-handedly guard Great Qian for twenty years against foreign enemies.
If Chen Bai or anyone else were to break this unwritten rule that women could not enter schools, they would probably suffer an unimaginable backlash. But Empress Dowager Zhaosheng, as Great Qian’s backbone, was herself an existence that opposed these rites restricting women’s behavior. If she broke the rule, then there would be no problem at all.
Who would dare oppose it? To oppose it would be to deny the existence of the Empress Dowager Zhaosheng who had once bravely gone to the battlefield and killed enemies. If Empress Dowager Zhaosheng had not existed, Great Qian would have been destroyed during those twenty years long ago.
One could say that among all the states, the only one that could break this worldly etiquette without backlash was Great Qian, because Great Qian already had an Empress Dowager Zhaosheng who was not bound by these restraints. It already had a precedent no one could deny…
Inside the courtyard, Qi Zheng, who was helping build the fence, could not help lifting his head to look at Chen Bai. He had actually not refused. Women entering a school—who knew how many people’s nerves this would provoke?
Chen Bai’s words even carried some encouragement. “If you truly enter the school, the school will not specially look after you because you are women. It will treat everyone equally. School life is not as easy as you imagine. Whatever the other students must do, you must also obey and complete…”
The group of girls: “…”
No special care. Everyone treated equally. It sounded like he was trying to dissuade them, but…
To others, these were the most basic things. But for women like them, they were extravagant hopes.
For some reason, the more sternly Chen Bai spoke, the more their hearts were shaken and the more they yearned.
A school that made no distinction, a school that treated women equally.
Their eyes filled with light. It was the simplest kind of hope and longing…
Chen Bai said a few more things. To him, they were perfectly normal words, but to these girls, they were so different.
Every sentence and every word was something they had never dared imagine before.
At first, they had come here only because they were attracted by the beautiful academy life in the movie, only because they wanted to live decisively and bravely like Zhu Yingtai. But now, it had become something they truly wanted in their hearts: to enter this kind of school, not because someone else had urged them or convinced them.
They raised their heads and looked at the school at the foot of the mountain, which only had a few classrooms. To be honest, to them, such a school was truly somewhat small. But now, it looked different. It was different from any grand, splendid academy.
The group of girls looked at one another. On the way here, they had been extremely nervous. Even they themselves had found their thoughts unbelievable. They had also imagined how rudely they might be rejected when they made such a request.
At first, they had only thought this was their willfulness.
…They had never imagined things would turn out like this, that they would even receive a little encouragement.
Precisely because they had never imagined this result, the small desire in their hearts became even firmer. Sometimes, people were like this. When they could not make a decision on their own, they needed someone else to help strengthen their belief.
Chen Bai knew their chances were slim, and he did not know whether giving them hope was good or bad.
Because… in this world, the only school willing to accept female students might be his.
The group of girls had already become determined to go home and persuade their families. At this moment, quite a few students ran out from the courtyard.
“Older Sister, wait…”
They were all younger generations from the families of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, so they more or less knew each other.
“It’s hot on the road back. Please have some frozen grapes. They’re icy and cool, and especially delicious.”
There were very few grapes left on the mountain now, basically sold out. The ones left on the mountain did not look very good, but that did not matter. They were still very sweet. These students picked them and froze them in the refrigerator, eating them happily every day.
“Older Sister, have some ice cream. We can only eat one piece a day too. We can’t freeze that many. We originally planned to bring them home for you to taste before, and they’re especially delicious, but they melted on the way, which would be such a waste. Hehe, so we ate them ourselves.”
A basket of grapes giving off white mist appeared in the girls’ hands. It was hot now, and when the grapes were taken out of the refrigerator, the cold water droplets on them evaporated into white mist.
There was also something in their hands called ice cream. It looked like peeled grapes had been frozen inside.
Their eyes blinked. “…”
They had eaten grapes before, but why were the ones in their hands giving off white mist?
This ice cream… was it made from ice and snow in winter? But now, in the heat of summer…
So their younger brothers could eat such refreshing things every day at school?
Unable to resist their younger brothers’ urging, they peeled a grape and put it into their mouths. Frozen fruit naturally had a different taste, especially in this hot weather.
As for placing the ice cream in their mouths and taking a small bite, it was simply comfortable to the extreme.
Even Chen Bai felt that in such hot weather, eating a bite of ice cream was one of the most enjoyable things in the world.
The group of students began twisting shyly. “Older Sister, when you go back, please help us pick the sunflowers along the road. There are really too many. We don’t know when we’ll finish carrying them back.”
They had each planted five hundred. Back then, it had only been five hundred sunflower seeds, so it had not seemed like much. But now that they had matured, they had become five hundred large and heavy flower disks. Every day, they carried one in each hand back home, yet they had no idea when they would finish.
Now the sunflower petals had already withered. Although it was a little regrettable, they could harvest the seeds.
“Older Sister, you know the stretch of road I’m responsible for. Just pick the ones I planted. After going back, break off the seeds and dry them in the sun. Raw sunflower seeds are especially tasty too.”
Chen Bai: “…”
This group of students really did not let go of any available labor.
Qi Zheng also looked at the sunflowers he had planted. He was even more worried. He had planted more than everyone else. But that did not matter either. Had he not let these students go up the mountain and pick the remaining grapes freely? The exchange condition was that they had to help him harvest sunflowers.
The group of girls: “…”
No wonder their younger brothers had suddenly become so attentive. They were treating them as laborers.
However, although the sunflowers had withered, the flower disks still looked rather nice. They could pick two to bring back. Besides, there were sunflower seeds to eat. Do not underestimate them just because they were small. Eating them when one had nothing to do was truly fragrant.
They rubbed the heads of their somewhat mischievous younger brothers. “Study well at school.”
Only then did they return to their carriages carrying the icy grapes and ice cream.
Chen Bai watched, the corner of his mouth twitching. Fortunately, these young ladies did not swagger through the city. Otherwise, young women eating ice cream in ancient times would look rather strange.
After they left, Chen Bai shouted at the students, “Why aren’t you going back? A bunch of clever little ghosts.”
“Hehe, wasn’t it Master who said servants aren’t allowed to help harvest sunflowers? They’re older sisters, not servants.”
Chen Bai: “…”
His original intention had been to make them participate in labor personally. He had not expected them to find a loophole anyway. But it did not matter. One sunflower alone was very heavy. With those young ladies just now, they could not help pick many.
After returning to the courtyard, Chen Bai glanced at the fence, which was almost complete. Since there were many of them, it was not too difficult.
What remained was helping Qi Zheng harvest sunflowers. One by one, they carried baskets and ran into the field.
“Prince Zheng, we helped you today, so you have to help us too. When you go back, help us pick sunflowers too.”
Qi Zheng replied, “Did I not treat you to grapes?”
“The grapes aren’t as big as before. They’re what other people left after buying.”
Qi Zheng glanced at them. “Then why do you still run up the mountain every day and pick basket after basket?”
“Hehe, teacher said you’re stingy. A dignified prince promised to let us pick grapes, but every day you glare at us with your eyes.”
Qi Zheng: “…”
The students jumped up and down in the field, because they were not as tall as the sunflowers and had to jump to pick them.
Chen Bai looked at the weather. It was truly hot. They would pick for a while, then go back to the classroom to enjoy the electric fan. There was no need to finish everything today.
He himself dried the sunflowers they had brought back in the courtyard. Several dogs ran over curiously to look a few times, then hid under the eaves to cool off.
Chen Bai muttered, “This courtyard doesn’t even have anything that provides shade.”
No, he had to think of a way to plant a few shade trees. Otherwise, if they had physical education class, someone would get heatstroke.
And so, after school ended and the students left one after another, Qi Zheng remained in the classroom playing on the computer. Chen Bai did not know why he played with such enthusiasm. Clearly, he had only learned Minesweeper, and could not even play the simplest card game.
When Qi Zheng came out, he saw several large trees lying in the courtyard, covered with flower buds.
Then a unique floral fragrance came to his nose. It was not the kind of choking floral scent, but a faint, elegant fragrance, extremely intoxicating.
The expression on Chen Bai’s face showed great pain. Do not think these were just a few trees. They were all century-old trees and had cost him quite a lot of money.
But smelling the floral scent and looking at the once-empty courtyard, he felt it was worth it.
There were five trees in total, a type of osmanthus that bloomed in every season except winter. If planted well, it could bloom continuously. Chen Bai believed that once people noticed how miraculous these “ever-blooming” osmanthus trees were, there would be plenty of exclamations again.
Right now, the flower buds were still white. After some time, they would turn pale yellow. Different periods offered different things to appreciate.
Generally speaking, people who sold trees would not leave flower buds on them, because they required a large amount of nutrients. After long-distance transport, the roots would not be able to absorb nutrients fast enough, and the buds would wither before blooming.
However, in this situation, Chen Bai had requested it deliberately, because there was no transport process for him. The moment the trees were dug out of the ground, he bought them here. As long as they were planted quickly, the damage could be reduced to a minimum.
Chen Bai looked at Qi Zheng. “I bought a few trees. We need to have people plant them immediately.”
Qi Zheng: “…”
Planting trees, hatching eggs—the school was slowly beginning to look more and more proper, although he had never before seen a school that hatched eggs.
However, the school did indeed have many things other places did not. Compared with those, hatching eggs seemed insignificant.
By the time they had people plant the trees, it was almost dusk, so they hurried back to Shangjing.
Shangjing City was still as lively as ever, only the atmosphere in some meritorious families’ residences had become strange.
Because the young women of their families had actually said something unbelievable: they wanted to enter a school to study.
Since ancient times, only men had been able to enter schools. Women only needed to stay at home. Even in meritorious families like theirs, if a woman wanted to study and was truly doted on, at most they would invite a tutor to teach her some simple things at home.
“Absurd. Do not think we do not know what you are thinking. You merely watched that divine wall painting of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai and developed rebellious thoughts. Do you not understand? Even Mountain Lord said it was only a folk legend. Just treat it as a storybook to look at. It cannot be taken seriously.”
“We really spoiled you too much in the past. We often brought you outside to see rare things and lively events, but now you have become so discontented. It seems we truly were wrong before, allowing you to develop such thoughts. Had we known earlier, we should have been like other families and made you obediently stay in your tower before marriage.”
Discontented?
Just being able to go outside like men and see something interesting meant they should be satisfied?
The atmosphere became unbearably stifling, filled only with sobs.
Even when they went out, most of them had to stay inside sedan chairs, only lifting the curtains to look outside. The young ladies from military-merit families might have slightly better circumstances, as they could still follow behind their fathers and brothers to move around a little.
Those who scolded more fiercely went even further. “If this gets out, won’t people say our family has no upbringing? In the past, we let you have your way in everything, but only this matter today cannot be allowed. How can a woman show her face in public like this? What husband’s family would want you in the future?”
These words were like poking a hornet’s nest. Someone cried as she replied, “How… how would there be none? When Empress Dowager Zhaosheng went to the battlefield back then, why did you not stop her? Why did you not say women cannot show their faces in public? We only want to enter a school. We are not thinking of taking up spears and going to war. Besides, how would no husband’s family want us? Empress Dowager Zhaosheng later married the late king. Those who stayed obediently in their chambers were the ones the late king did not take a liking to.”
The rebuttal made people’s faces flush red. “How can that be the same? Empress… Empress Dowager Zhaosheng is different.”
“How is it different? Are we not all women?”
“…”
With the name of Empress Dowager Zhaosheng pressing down on them, they really could not say anything too excessive, unless they disliked having their official careers go smoothly and unstoppably.
It was because of Empress Dowager Zhaosheng’s existence that the current Great Qian existed. No one dared say that back then, Empress Dowager Zhaosheng had been wrong to make such a choice as a woman. At least no one in Great Qian had the face to say it.
“In any case, the family will not agree to such a thing. Give up that thought. For the next while, stay quietly at home.”
It was just the right time to see whether there were any suitable husband’s families, lest they cause some trouble.
Unfortunately, they themselves could not even reason it out properly. How could these women, who now had hope in their hearts, give up so easily?
Mountain Lord’s school was willing to accept them. The rest depended on themselves.
If their families would not agree, then they would think of a way to make their families agree.
And so… almost on the same day, all the women who had the ability to enter the palace did so. They all went to Empress Dowager Zhaosheng.
The old lady sat in her chair, looking at one noble young lady after another who was on the verge of crying herself unconscious. Her head hurt terribly. Even killing enemies on the battlefield back then had not given her such a headache.
“You are all young ladies raised delicately by your families. How can you cry like this? What would it look like if others saw?” Only after a long while did the old lady speak. “Stand up and sit properly.”
“It is because our families refuse to agree that we feel wronged. We truly cannot help it, so the tears came out.”
“When the empress dowager defended Great Qian back then, they praised you. Why, when it comes to us, are they unwilling to give way even a little?”
The empress dowager: “…”
How could that be compared with the past? Back then, Great Qian had truly been forced into a dead end and only had that one choice. For her and for Great Qian, there had been no choice at all. Had she not once been a noble young lady from a wealthy family too? If there had been a choice, why would things have reached that point?
What the world saw was only her bravery and decisiveness. But who had ever known what she had to face then, and the hardships she had suffered?
It was precisely because it had been too difficult that, when the old lady looked at these women preparing to walk the same path, she could not bear it. It was as if she saw her younger self again. Back then, under how many strange gazes had she walked to where she was now?
The current situation was different. How could people easily allow a second Zhaosheng to appear?
For women to live in this world was truly too difficult.
The old lady sighed. If she could lend a hand, when had she ever wanted to cut off the simplest hopes of these women who somewhat resembled her? She said, “Even if I can speak a word or two for you, what school in this world would accept female students? Do not think your request seems simple. In truth, it involves quite a lot.”
As soon as the words fell, the young girls who had just been sobbing suddenly perked up.
“There is, there is. Mountain Lord’s school is willing to accept female students. It is that Mountain Lord, the first retainer of Prince Zheng’s residence, the one famous throughout Shangjing.”
The old lady froze. “There is such a thing?”
“Yes. Mountain Lord promised it himself. Although we have only met Mountain Lord once, to us he seems far more graceful than those Four Gentlemen of Great Qian. His learning must also be excellent. Did he not defeat the retainers of the crown prince’s residence so thoroughly that they could not lift their heads?”
After saying this, they seemed to feel it was somewhat inappropriate and quickly changed their words. “Isn’t Grand Scholar Zhaoxue also Mountain Lord’s student? Even his student helped Great Qian win back a city.”
“As for his character, there is even less need to say. When Shangjing was struck by the great illness, it was he who came forward and contributed miraculous medicine, saving many people.”
“Recently, he even held such a large-scale art exhibition for his students. From that, one can see how vast his masterly kindness is. And there is also that divine wall painting—even a monster talent like Crown Prince Sudan of Zhao praised it nonstop.”
The old lady murmured, “He can certainly teach you. My legs have been inconvenient for many years. Recently, after Prince Ning used that electronic acupuncture device on them, they seem to have improved somewhat. It can be seen that the students he teaches are not bad either.”
Only, she did not know why he wanted to challenge this worldly custom. That was what was worth pondering.
The old lady waved her hand. “Let me think about it.”
Not long after, Chen Bai received an edict from Empress Dowager Zhaosheng. The edict was for Mountain Lord. It first arrived at Qi Zheng’s residence, then was passed to him.
The contents of the edict were very simple, and even seemed somewhat cold and emotionless, just like the old lady’s personality.
It directly asked him one question: why had he agreed to summon women into the school, something not tolerated by worldly custom?
Chen Bai was surprised. So those young girls had actually taken the matter all the way to Empress Dowager Zhaosheng, and had even made Empress Dowager Zhaosheng issue an edict to ask him.
They really had some ability.
Chen Bai thought for a while, then took up paper and brush and wrote a long, flowing reply.
“Now the various states are in constant conflict. Although Great Qian’s military strength is somewhat stronger, who dares say that Great Qian can remain forever prosperous and undefeatable in the wars among the states?”
“As long as Great Qian fights a battle against any powerful country, its strength may very likely be dragged down until it is equal to the other states. Great Qian’s military strength has not yet reached the point where it can suppress all the states.”
“Great Qian has always relied on men to defend the home and nation, to guard its territory. But can women not do so? Did Empress Dowager Zhaosheng not defend Great Qian for twenty years back then? Only because of that does the present Great Qian exist.”
“Therefore, if the school can cultivate a second, a third, or even more women like Empress Dowager Zhaosheng back then, what would Great Qian’s situation become?”
“The number of women in Great Qian is considerable. If, at the most critical moment, these women could suddenly step forward, they would surely deal a heavy blow to the wolves and tigers who covet Great Qian.”
Chen Bai sighed. This was the only step he could help these girls take. Back then, the old lady had been able to step forward and defend Great Qian, so one could imagine that Great Qian existed in her heart. In writing this, highlighting the number of women and the role they might play, he wanted Empress Dowager Zhaosheng to at least, for this reason, help the women of Great Qian win a little more freedom.
In the imperial palace, the old lady’s body trembled as she read the reply. Her eyes fell on the final line:
“Great Qian’s strength has always been underestimated, because no one sees, and no one would think, that Great Qian still has a group of women who do not lose to men. This is Great Qian’s hidden strength.”
“What a fine ‘Great Qian’s hidden strength.’ Truly rebellious against orthodoxy.”
As she spoke, the corner of her mouth lifted slightly. “This Mountain Lord is unlike others. He does not look down on women so much. Since that is the case, how can women look down on themselves? Helping them say a word or two is not impossible. I would like to see how his unknown little school plans to teach a second and third Zhaosheng…”
And so, over the next few days in Shangjing, the atmosphere in some meritorious families’ residences became strange.
“If you do not let me enter the school, why are you talking to me? Go speak to Empress Dowager Zhaosheng yourselves. This is something Empress Dowager Zhaosheng agreed to.”
“If you are not afraid of angering Empress Dowager Zhaosheng, then go.”
The group of parents were completely stunned. So their daughters really were going to enter a school and study like men?
The key point was that the old lady in the palace was backing them up. They really could not say much.
But no. They had to enter the palace and seek the king. Only the king could stop this.
As for the king, the situation on his side was actually not very good either, because…
Great Qian’s eldest princess, Princess Lexun, was standing expressionlessly before the king. Even her voice was cold. “I ask Father to allow me to attend the school.”
The king was frowning, not knowing how to advise her.
Princess Lexun was no longer young, but she had never married. It was not that she did not want to marry, but that no one could marry her.
When Princess Lexun first reached marriageable age, she had been promised to a proper, legitimate prince of Yan. In the end, before the wedding date arrived, that proper prince somehow died.
Then she was promised to a rather good prince of Zhao, and not long after, that prince died too.
Later, they thickened their skin and promised her to another prince, but his end was not good either. It was said he went mad.
Even the king felt rather embarrassed. Why were these princes so unlucky? Then he thought foreign countries were so far away, and he did not know the specific situations there anyway, so he simply decided the eldest princess would not marry far away.
Thus, he promised the princess to the son of a minister. Only this time it was even faster: the man died the next day. This had happened right under their noses, so it could not be faked.
Now there were some things one had to believe even if one did not want to.
Lexun had wasted away until now and still had not married.
The eldest princess in the past had been very poised and gracious. She had not been this cold. Only after these incidents did she shut herself away, and the more she shut herself away, the more problems developed, until she became as she was now.
The king was actually guilty in his heart. After all, she was his first daughter, and the affection he had shown in the past had all been on her. Seeing his eldest daughter, who had originally been pampered by everyone all her life, become like this—and this being her first request after many years—he truly could not refuse.
He also knew why Princess Lexun had suddenly come to him. That day’s divine wall painting—he had heard that Lexun had been brought to see it like a walking corpse.
There was no other way. He could only brace himself and agree, because the king felt that even if he agreed, the school would not agree to accept her.
He had only just agreed when the other ministers arrived.
The king: “…”
He had agreed to let his eldest daughter enter the school, but refused to let the daughters of other meritorious families enter. This…
The king thought to himself, if only you had come a moment earlier, you could still have advised the eldest princess. Now look, it is too late to say anything.
…
Just like that, the matter was quietly settled.
Chen Bai also welcomed his first batch of female students.
Only… these female students had each put on masks and pinned up their hair.
Looking at those masks, Chen Bai felt endless oppression.
Unlike him, he wore a mask because he had to conceal his identity, but these women were probably not doing so willingly.
This was their families’ final compromise. Even though, because of Empress Dowager Zhaosheng, matters had reached the point where they could no longer stop it, they still did not forget to place this final barrier. After all, these women entering a school to study was not merely a personal matter for them; it also involved their families.
Chen Bai felt uncomfortable just looking at them. In his eyes, these masks were not merely masks, but shackles placed on these women.
They were like imprisoned cages, only now transformed into these masks one after another.
The oppression made his heart feel so stifled that he could hardly breathe.
What was even sadder was that these masks had been forced onto these women by their own hands, because if they did not wear them, they might never be able to take this first step.
Chen Bai sighed. Since that was the case, the first lesson he would teach them would be how to personally remove the masks from their faces and openly become ordinary students of this school.
Chen Bai said, “First enter the multifunctional electronic classroom and familiarize yourselves with your learning environment.”
In truth, not many women dared take this first step. Chen Bai did not know whether there would be more in the future. For now, there were only eight people.
His classroom already had seventy-two students, so there happened to be eight seats left. Anyone who came later could only become an auditing student.
When Chen Bai walked into the multilingual classroom, he heard a group of students enthusiastically explaining.
“Older Sister, click this. This is the power button.”
“The things on this screen can be operated. You can poke it with your hand or click it with this mouse.”
“If you wear the headphones, you can hear sound.”
“You can’t bring water over to this side of the classroom. See that lounge area? If you’re thirsty, you can go over there and take water from the fridge. There are also grapes we froze, and ice cream.”
“Older Sister, older sister, this is called a computer. Teacher teaches through this. You must learn how to use it, or you won’t even be able to listen to class.”
The group of girls: “…”
They had imagined that school life would be very different and very exciting, but this seemed to have exceeded the limits of their imagination.
