NCCnovel Chapter 158: Game with Li Shanggong
Chapter 158: Game with Li Shanggong
"Fraudulent arguments? I'd like to ask Concubine Li, where am I being unreasonable?" Cen Jiexiao pressed on, refusing to give in. "We admit commoner women to Zhaoyin Academy so that more women can learn to read and become literate, so that they can better support their husbands and raise children, and contribute to their families and society. Does Concubine Li think that women should never leave the house, trapped in that square courtyard their entire lives, and be men's appendages?"
Li Shanggong's face turned pale and blue after hearing what Cen Jiexiao said. She was speechless and wanted to refute, but found that she had no way to refute it.
"You...you stop making trouble!" Li Shanggong pointed at Cen Jiexiao angrily, and after saying "you" for a long time, she couldn't make any sense.
Cen Jiexiao sneered and mercilessly exposed her disguise. "Li Shanggong, there's no need to use these high-sounding words to pressure me. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking! You're just worried that once a woman has learned and gained experience, she won't let you, the Queen Mother's party, manipulate her like before! You're scared, aren't you?"
"You...you are slandering me!" Li Shanggong was so angry that her whole body was shaking, and her fingers were trembling as she pointed at Cen Jiexiao.
Cen Jiexiao looked at her coldly, her eyes as sharp as a knife, as if she wanted to peel off her disguise layer by layer and reveal her ugly true face.
"You know clearly whether I'm slandering you or not!" Cen Jiexiao's voice was icy cold, devoid of any emotion. "Li Shanggong, I'll say this one last time. I'm an upright person at Zhaoyin Academy, and I'm not afraid of your behind-the-scenes tactics! If you're truly capable, then show me the hard evidence. Otherwise, don't mislead Her Royal Highness the Princess's growth and understanding!"
Li Shanggong was frightened by Cen Jiexiao's words and took two steps back. Her face was pale and her lips were trembling, but she couldn't speak for a long time. She never thought that this usually weak-looking Cen Jiexiao would have such a fierce side, and challenged her in front of the princess!
Li Shanggong was not to be outdone. The crow's feet at the corners of her eyes looked like the tongue of a poisonous snake. She continued to refute with a bit of viciousness.
"The Queen Mother said at the morning court that the Women's Academy is a complete joke! Such behavior is a challenge to the ancestral etiquette of the Great Zhou!"
Princess Jue Ling's expression changed slightly. Although she admired Cen Jiexiao's talent and ambition, Li Shanggong's words were like a thorn in her heart. Women's schooling had never been a precedent in the Great Zhou Dynasty. If this precedent was truly set, wouldn't she, the princess, be a traitor?
Cen Jiexiao naturally sensed Princess Jue Ling's hesitation, but she remained calm. She simply smiled and said, "Gong Shang Li is mistaken. I'm not challenging our ancestral laws. I simply wish to cultivate more talent for our Great Zhou. In ancient times, Hua Mulan joined the army in her father's place, and today, I'm establishing a girls' school. The women of our Great Zhou are as capable as men, so why can't we also serve our country?"
"Who is Hua Mulan? You're talking nonsense. Humph, anyway, Dean Cen speaks better than he sings!" Li Shanggong snorted coldly and said sarcastically.
"However, Dean Cen is full of knowledge and talent, but look at the female students you've taught. They wear immoral clothing. Do you have any sense of shame? You keep saying you want to cultivate talents for our Great Zhou, but I think you want to turn all the women in our Great Zhou into unchaste monsters like you!"
The more Shang Gong said, the more extreme her words became, and Princess Jue Ling's expression became increasingly grim. Although she was the Queen Mother's niece and Shang Gong had done her a favor, she had to admit that Shang Gong's words were indeed a bit excessive.
Although the new ideas and concepts advocated by Cen Jiexiao are incompatible with the traditions of the Zhou Dynasty, in terms of pragmatic development, they will definitely be beneficial in the long run.
"Li Shang Gong!" Cen Jiexiao finally lost her patience and her tone turned cold. "Don't slander me! The students of my Zhaoyin Academy are all excellent women with excellent character and academic performance, loyal to the emperor and patriotic. How can you slander them so casually?"
"Oh, Dean Cen is anxious?" Li Shanggong covered her mouth in feigned surprise, but the mockery in her eyes was even more obvious. "Why, are you angry because I hit the nail on the head?"
"You..." Sister Cen Xiao was furious. She had never seen anyone who could confuse right and wrong and speak nonsense like this.
"Enough!" Princess Jue Ling slammed the table, interrupting the quarrel. She looked at Cen Jiexiao with a complicated expression and a questioning tone, "Li Shanggong! If anything... it's still a bit biased."
Princess Jue Ling then turned to look at Sister Cen Xiao, saying, "Dean Cen, I also want to know what makes those new teaching methods you mentioned so special? Do you dare to demonstrate them in front of me?"
Cen Jiexiao took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in her heart. She knew that this was the best opportunity to prove her innocence and also the best opportunity to let Princess Jue Ling truly understand Zhaoyin Academy.
"Why not? I will have someone present the latest teaching results of the academy right away. Please take a look, Your Highness!" Cen Jiexiao said in a firm tone and with a burning gaze.
Seeing she couldn't stop it, Li Shanggong could only watch helplessly as Sister Cen Xiao sent people to retrieve those so-called "teaching achievements." She sneered inwardly, secretly calculating how to use this opportunity to disgust Sister Cen Xiao and her Zhaoyin Academy.
Not long after, the person sent by Cen Jiexiao came back with several thick books in his hands.
"Your Highness, these are the latest teaching achievements of our Zhaoyin Academy. These books cover a number of subjects including arithmetic, geography, astronomy, and medicine. They are all painstakingly compiled by the teachers of our academy. These books are not only novel in content, but also easy to understand. Even women who have never read a book can easily master the knowledge therein." Cen Jiexiao said, pointing to the books.
As Cen Jiexiao spoke, she flipped open a math book and pointed at the contents. "For example, in this math book, we've abandoned the traditional rote memorization method and adopted a completely new teaching method we call 'Arabic numerals' and 'vertical calculations.' This method is simple, easy to understand, and quick and convenient. Even children can master basic arithmetic operations in a short time."
Cen Jiexiao's voice was clear and pleasant, yet full of confidence and strength. She spoke eloquently, making the originally boring knowledge vivid and interesting. Princess Jue Ling, who had no interest in learning, could not help but listen to her fascinated.
Li Shanggong watched from the side, feeling increasingly uneasy. Cen Jiexiao's performance had completely exceeded her expectations. She had originally thought that Cen Jiexiao would only make some flashy and empty words, but she had never expected that these things she brought out actually had some tricks.
"Your Highness, it's all talk and no action. I, your Highness, would like to invite you to visit our Zhaoyin Academy in person. Seeing is believing, and it will also allow you to better understand the teaching philosophy and achievements of our academy." Cen Jiexiao struck while the iron was hot and extended an invitation to Princess Jue Ling.
Princess Jue Ling was a little hesitant. Although she was curious about the new teaching methods that Cen Jiexiao mentioned, she was still a little nervous when she thought about stepping into that women's college full of unknowns.
Seeing Princess Jue Ling's hesitation, Li Shang Gong fanned the flames, urging her to see for herself. However, she thought to herself, if Sister Cen Xiao really had a problem and was exposed on the spot, it would be a complete loss of face and humiliation.
"Your Highness, since Dean Cen has made such a solemn promise, let's not let her down and see for ourselves whether these so-called new teaching methods are just a publicity stunt."
Princess Jue Ling's face turned pale and blue. She looked at Cen Jiexiao, then at Li Shanggong, and it felt like a fire was burning in her heart. Finally, she took a deep breath, stood up suddenly, and said in a firm tone, "Okay! I will go with you to Zhaoyin Academy. I want to take a good look at your Zhaoyin Academy and see if it is really as you said!"