“Of course they can.”
Tang Ning smiled lightly. “The academy has never prohibited women from enrolling, and the teachers have always said they teach without distinction. However, there’s a rule that anyone who wishes to study there must first pass the entrance exam. This year’s admissions are already over, so you’d have to wait until next year.”
Miss Wang’s eyes lit up. “But I heard that during the academy’s minor exams, some underperforming students are eliminated, and the vacant spots are filled through additional recruitment.”
“That’s true.”
“Can I participate in that recruitment?”
“Of course you can.”
Tang Ning was slightly surprised but also pleased. “The academy is all about merit. If you can pass the recruitment exam, you’ll naturally be admitted.”
Miss Wang’s face lit up with joy, her scholarly aura unable to hide the sparkle in her eyes.
From a young age, she had immersed herself in poetry and literature. As the only daughter in her family, her father had never been dissatisfied with her for being a girl or lacking a son. Instead, he had meticulously nurtured her education.
Her knowledge was no less than that of any man, but because she was a woman, no matter how talented or learned she was, she could only earn the superficial title of a “talented lady,” adding a slight advantage to her marriage prospects.
But that wasn’t what she wanted.
She didn’t want to be judged like a commodity, her worth measured by others. She didn’t want years of hard study to end with her simply marrying and bearing children like other women.
She wasn’t opposed to marriage, but she wanted to be Wang Yuzhen first, before becoming someone’s wife.
Yet these thoughts couldn’t be voiced aloud. To speak them would be rebellious, unacceptable to society, and would tarnish her father’s reputation and that of her clan’s other sisters.
Tang Ning and Rongsheng Academy were the only opportunity she could seize.
With Princess Xiangning as a precedent, no one could criticize her if she entered the academy.
“Yuzhen, are you going to take the exam for Rongsheng Academy?”
“Yes, Sister Wang, the academy is full of men. Are you really going to try?”
Miss Wang replied, “I want to give it a shot. Besides, Princess Xiangning and Miss Xue are there too. It’s just studying together, not anything else…”
“Pfft!”
Before Miss Wang could finish, a cold sneer came from the side.
“Men and women shouldn’t share the same space after seven years of age. While our Great Wei isn’t that strict, there’s still a distinction between genders. Studying in the same academy, seeing each other daily, aren’t you afraid of ruining your reputation? Besides, how can you compare yourself to Song Tang Ning?”
“She broke off an engagement, drove her kin to death, got herself expelled from her clan, and instigated her aunt to divorce. She has the Emperor’s favor and is close to Supervisor Xiao. With someone protecting her, do you think you can be like her without drowning your Wang family in gossip?”
Miss Wang’s expression turned cold. Tang Ning turned her head and saw a group from the imperial clan, her gaze landing on the speaker.
Xie Yuyan sneered coldly, “What are you looking at?”
Tang Ning smiled faintly. “I’m looking at how spirited Princess Wenching is. It seems your injuries have healed.”
Xie Yuyan’s face paled, instantly recalling that day at Lingyun Temple when she was kicked hard by the maid at Song Tang Ning’s side and whipped by Qian Qiyue.
Her face darkened, and she was about to retort when Qian Qiyue, with a mocking smile, lightly patted Tang Ning. “What are you talking about? There’s no ‘Princess Wenching’ here.”
Tang Ning immediately looked regretful. “Right, my mistake. I forgot the title of ‘Miss’ was stripped long ago. My apologies, Miss Xie.”
Some people nearby couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.
Xie Yuyan’s anger flared. “Song Tang Ning!”
“What?”
Qian Qiyue stepped forward, blocking Xie Yuyan as she tried to rush over, pushing her back with a fierce glare. “Was one whip that day not enough for you?”
“You!”
Xie Yuyan stumbled, nearly falling, but was caught by someone beside her. That person quickly restrained Xie Yuyan, who was about to lash out, and looked at Song Tang Ning with displeasure. “You may be a princess, but Yuyan is of imperial blood. You attacked her at Lingyun Temple, which was already an offense. Why must you two be so aggressive?”
Qian Qiyue almost laughed in anger at those words. “Us, aggressive? Wasn’t it her venomous tongue that started it?”
The woman’s face showed disapproval. “How can you speak like that? Such crude language from a young lady, is this the upbringing of the Qian family?”
“I—”
Qian Qiyue, with her fiery temper, was about to lose it on the spot.
Tang Ning quickly grabbed her arm, pressing it firmly, and called out, “Sister Qiyue,” her voice soft but enough to interrupt Qian Qiyue’s rising anger.
Holding the fuming Qian Qiyue, Tang Ning looked at the speaker.
“Everyone in the capital knows what the Qian family’s daughters are like. Sister Qiyue is straightforward, hates injustice, and speaks up when she sees something unfair. Reasonable people wouldn’t find that offensive. As for you…”
Tang Ning glanced at Qian Qiyue, who muttered, “She’s the wife of the heir to Prince Lu’s mansion.”
Upon hearing “Prince Lu’s mansion,” Tang Ning understood her motives and said with a cold gaze, “Since you say Miss Xie is of imperial blood, she should act with the decorum expected of the imperial family.”
“Rongsheng Academy was personally established by His Majesty. On the day it opened, everyone heard His Majesty recite the words of the sages, saying that the academy’s students, regardless of wealth or status, would be the pillars of the court in the future. He also hoped the teachers would impart knowledge without bias.”
“The academy is a sacred place, and its students are grateful for His Majesty’s grace, eager to study and serve the court. Yet in Miss Xie’s mouth, the academy becomes a place of filth and debauchery.”
“What, in the eyes of you imperial clan members, is the academy such a disgraceful place? Does a woman stepping foot there automatically tarnish her reputation?”
At Tang Ning’s words, everyone’s expressions changed.
The wife of Prince Lu’s heir said sternly, “I didn’t say that!”
“But she did.”
Tang Ning looked at Xie Yuyan without hesitation. “Mocking me is one thing, your narrow-mindedness just makes you pick fights. But insulting Rongsheng Academy and humiliating the students who strive to study and serve the court? That’s utterly despicable.”
“If you don’t apologize to them, I’ll personally ask Prince Ji if his household looks down on the academy His Majesty painstakingly established and despises the scholars of the world!”
Princess Ji, standing nearby, turned pale, as did the wife of Prince Lu’s heir, who had spoken up for Xie Yuyan.
She had only held a grudge from the Qixi Festival, when Old Princess Lu lost face because of Tang Ning, and her attendant, Nanny An, was publicly slapped thirty times. Though it was a setup, and Prince Lu’s mansion later retaliated against Princess Leyang’s household, which suffered consequences, Old Princess Lu’s loss of face still left her ill with resentment.
Old Prince Lu had died in battle years ago, and the mansion relied entirely on the old princess. The palace had long delayed the heir’s succession to the title. If anything happened to the old princess, Prince Lu’s mansion would fall into chaos.
The wife of Prince Lu’s heir had supported Xie Yuyan not out of closeness to Prince Ji’s household but to undermine Tang Ning’s reputation. She hadn’t expected Tang Ning to be so unyielding, not only retorting directly but escalating the matter to involve the academy, the scholars, and even Emperor An.
Seeing Tang Ning finish with Xie Yuyan and turn to look at her, the wife of Prince Lu’s heir instinctively took half a step back.
Qian Qiyue scoffed, “Tch!”
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You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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