Volume 1, Chapter 40: The True Heiress is a Mastermind 40

The gates of the Qihui Academy for Women remained open all day, yet not a single soul came to register.

The elderly Hanlin scholar in charge of admissions stomped his feet in frustration. Seeing An Qianqian approach, he pulled a long face and said, "Your Majesty, forget about young ladies from noble families—not even a single daughter from an ordinary household has shown up."

An Qianqian glanced toward the alley entrance, where several women clutching baskets were huddled behind a tea stall, whispering. When they noticed her gaze, they hurriedly lowered their heads.

"You may return for today. I will handle this matter; there will be people coming tomorrow."

Just as she spoke, a commotion erupted across the street. A man was dragging his wife back by the arm, shouting, "What are you looking at? Can a woman's literacy put food on the table? Get home and finish sewing those shoe soles!"

The woman was dragged away, but she kept looking back, her eyes filled with unconcealed longing.

No sooner had the woman’s figure vanished into the alley than the sound of rapid footsteps echoed from the street corner. A young woman came stumbling toward them, her hair disheveled and her fine silk dress stained with mud, though the quality of the fabric remained unmistakable.

"Don't close it! Please, don't close the gates!"

She lunged toward the academy entrance, her fingers gripping the doorframe so tightly that grass clippings were wedged under her nails. "I want to register! I want to enroll!"

The elderly scholar was startled, his hand pausing as he was about to shut the door. "Who are you?"

"I am Shen Yuwei, the third daughter of the Minister of Revenue!"

The woman panted, her chest heaving. An Qianqian stood just inside the gate, watching the stubbornness swimming in the girl’s reddened eyes, and gave a slight nod.

Seeing the scholar still stunned, Shen Yuwei pushed forward again. "I beg of you, take me in! I can read, I can recite the Analects—I won't need the teachers to start from zero..."

"Come in," An Qianqian’s voice drifted from within. "Fill out this registration form, and you shall stay in the academy dormitory starting tonight."

Shen Yuwei looked up abruptly, her eyes wide with disbelief. The elderly scholar standing nearby quickly prompted, "This is the Empress. Why have you not yet offered your thanks?"

A light ignited in Shen Yuwei’s eyes. She stammered, "Oh! Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

While Shen Yuwei filled out the form, An Qianqian surveyed those around her and instructed Ling Yi, "Ling Yi, investigate who is obstructing the enrollment process. Furthermore, you are to remain here and bolster the academy’s security. See to it that no men from the outside enter the premises."

"Ling Yi shall strictly obey the Empress’s decree."

"Chuntang, go to the Minister of Revenue’s residence and inform them of Shen Yuwei’s enrollment. If they attempt to block her, cite the Emperor’s imperial edict."

"Chuntang shall strictly obey the Empress’s decree."

With everything settled, An Qianqian returned to the palace and headed to the Baifu Hall. Ling Yi had already sent the results of the investigation via carrier pigeon. Upon meeting the Empress Dowager, An Qianqian shared her thoughts.

"Only one person registered for the academy today: the third daughter of the Minister of Revenue."

The Empress Dowager frowned in thought. "Logically, even if enrollment were slow, it shouldn't be this desolate. Have you discovered the cause?"

An Qianqian replied, "Most of those who opposed the academy in the imperial court belong to the factions supporting Noble Consort Li and Consort Xian. They have colluded beforehand to warn other officials away."

"These people are determined to work against us," the Empress Dowager said, her eyes flashing with severity. "If soft tactics fail, we must use force. We need the Emperor to issue a decree: all daughters of officials of the fifth rank and above, aged eight to sixteen, must enroll. Anyone who defies this decree will lose their official status."

An Qianqian nodded. "Force alone is not enough. They must see the benefits." She paused, her tone crisp. "We should add a clause: those who qualify for the top class will be granted the rank of 'Female Official' by the imperial court."

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow and smiled. "That is an excellent strategy. While ordinary families hope for their daughters to marry well, official families may not always be satisfied with that. Give them a path to earn their own keep through talent, and you need not fear a lack of interest."

"Indeed, Your Majesty."

"Those old stubborn fools claim that women's education is useless? Let them see that women can not only study but also use their learning to stand in the imperial court, forcing their own fathers and brothers to look upon them with newfound respect."

An Qianqian added, "After enrollment, there will be monthly examinations, and the results will be posted publicly. Those who perform well will not only receive monetary rewards but will also be personally praised by the Emperor. Which family does not hope for their daughter to bring them honor? We shall host a banquet and seat the girls from the top class at the head table."

"Let it be done." The Empress Dowager turned, her smile deepening. "I shall have Chengnian draft the decree tomorrow. I want to see if those who treat their daughters as mere bargaining chips dare to defy an imperial order."

At the morning court the following day, Si Chengnian placed the drafted decree upon his imperial desk.

"Hear my decree: all daughters of officials of the fifth rank and above, aged eight to sixteen, are required to attend the Qihui Academy," he announced, his voice steady and devoid of emotion.

No sooner had he finished than the Minister of Personnel stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I have an objection! My family maintains a private clan school, and my daughter has been educated there since childhood. If she were to attend the women's academy, the schedules would conflict."

This statement was like poking a hornet's nest. Several ministers in crimson robes followed suit: "I agree! We noble families all have clan schools whose instruction is surely no less than that of the Qihui Academy. We implore Your Majesty to rescind this order!"

Si Chengnian looked at them and suddenly smiled. "The clan schools are superior? That is perfect." He raised his gaze, sweeping over the crowd below the steps. "Since you all believe your clan schools are better, then the opportunity to enter the top class and be granted the rank of Female Official shall be reserved for the daughters of ordinary commoners."

"If your daughters do not enroll in the Qihui Academy, then all future vacancies for female officials in the imperial court will be filled exclusively by those from the academy. Even the daughters of merchants or farmers, provided they excel in their studies, will be entitled to wear official robes and receive a salary."

These words struck like a heavy hammer, silencing the ministers instantly. They had opposed the academy simply because they feared their daughters would be "corrupted," and even more so, they feared that women from humble backgrounds would find a path to advancement, shaking the very foundations of their power. But if the positions for female officials were to be surrendered entirely to the common people, would that not upend the political landscape of the court? The Emperor had never mentioned granting official titles to women before!

The Minister of Revenue stood in the crowd, eyes darting upward. When Chuntang had come to his mansion the day before to deliver the message, he had planned to resist, but now his grip tightened on his ceremonial tablet. If his own third daughter, Shen Yuwei, could place into the top class and earn the rank of Female Official, could their family not start utilizing their women just as they did their men?

Si Chengnian watched the shifting expressions of the court and his tone turned indifferent. "What? Do you find this arrangement unsuitable?"

No one dared to answer. Everyone understood that the new Emperor was cutting the ground from beneath their feet. They could either send their daughters to school and let them compete fairly with the daughters of commoners, or watch the opportunity slip away and let someone else's daughter climb above their own.

"Since there are no objections, proceed accordingly. Within three days, the daughters of all officials are to report for enrollment. Those who fail to appear by the deadline will be charged with defying an imperial decree."

When the court was dismissed, the ministers walked out in small groups, the arrogance of the previous day entirely vanished from their faces. Some cursed under their breath about "the Emperor favoring the commoners," but they nonetheless turned to their attendants and commanded: "Quickly, go home and tell my wife to have the eldest daughter pack her belongings. She must report to the Qihui Academy within three days!"