The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Thousands of miles away from Linkang Prefecture, in Kailiang City, the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the towering city gate tower stands on the majestic city wall, as if whispering the glorious history of this capital.

The city is bustling with traffic, and there are all kinds of shops lined up one after another, with a dazzling array of goods that is dazzling.

"I heard that this city gate was once a key line of defense against the northern barbarians!" a passerby said to his companion.

"Come and have a look at the latest silk, just shipped from the south!" a peddler shouted enthusiastically.

"Come and see the newly arrived silk!" a vendor greeted customers enthusiastically.

"Here we have the latest porcelain at reasonable prices!" Another shopkeeper was also busy shouting.

Several women chatted quietly and laughed pleasantly while selecting fabrics, while scholars recited aloud in the teahouse.

Various sounds intertwined together to form the prosperous melody of Kailiang City.

However, compared to the bustling and prosperous urban area, the northwest corner of Kailiang City presents a different scene.

Here lies the solemn and mysterious imperial city, the power center of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

It is surrounded by high city walls covered with exquisite reliefs that tell legendary stories from thousands of years ago.

The vermilion door was tightly closed, and the heavy copper nails on the door panels flashed coldly, as if sealing countless secrets.

The magnificent glazed tiles sparkle in the sun, flashing with dazzling brilliance, as if telling of the luxury and power inside.

Inside the imperial city, pine and cypress trees stand in rows, and a few birds occasionally fly by, bringing a sense of tranquility.

The palaces and buildings are arranged in an orderly manner. Some are majestic and magnificent, while others are exquisite and elegant. Every brick and tile reveals the royal style and the exquisite craftsmanship of the craftsmen.

Inside the Anshou Palace in the imperial city of the Great Zhou Dynasty, in the magnificent and slightly solemn main hall, the air was filled with fragrance. An elegant and dignified middle-aged woman was sitting on a carved purple-gold dragon throne. The concern and thoughtfulness in her frosty eyes were like ice waiting for snow. Looking at the female official in front of her, she waved her white wrist lightly, took a sip of tea, and asked earnestly.

"Li Shang Gong, there's news from Linkang that your brother lost the competition for admission to Zhaoyin Academy to Cen Ke's daughter, Cen Jiexiao. It's said that girl is illiterate and uneducated."

The female official named Li Shanggong was wearing an extremely elegant light green top and white long skirt, standing in front of the elegant middle-aged woman.

Her face was full of sorrow, and her slightly trembling fingers were hidden in the deep palace robe.

"Reporting to the Queen Mother, this news is undoubtedly true. Chongguang also said that his niece has been illiterate since childhood. However, I never expected that the girl ran away from her marriage a few days ago and suffered an accident. After recovering, she is like a completely different person."

At this point, Li Shanggong's emotions fluctuated slightly, the corners of her mouth trembled slightly, and her confused mood was revealed on her face. She was both confused and disbelieving.

Empress Dowager Li's expression remained unchanged. She smiled faintly, sat upright on the throne, and waved her hand calmly, "Forget it, forget it. There's no need to worry too much about the affairs of the Zhaoyin Academy. The key for us right now is the affairs of Linkang Prefecture."

"Prefect Han Zheng was originally the Prince of Yan's teacher and a member of his staff. He cannot be moved for the time being, and many dishes must be simmered slowly. The Emperor hasn't yet taken power, and his brother princes are afraid of me. Once I follow the late Emperor into the afterlife, it's hard to say what will happen."

Upon hearing these words, Li Shanggong immediately knelt on her knees and trembled as she responded, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Li Chongguang is my brother, and many officials in the court are his disciples. They are loyal subordinates who have stood the test of Your Majesty and are willing to go through fire and water for you without complaint. As for Han Zhengxian, Your Majesty, rest assured. There is no impenetrable wall in the world. I will let Chongguang find a way to deal with him."

Empress Dowager Li nodded with satisfaction.

Then, Empress Dowager Li picked up the jade pen and waved it across the paper several times, slowly writing a few lines of words.

Her brows knitted slightly, as if she were considering a decision. After a moment, she said softly, "Li Shanggong, pass on my imperial decree. I appoint Li Chongguang, the headmaster of Zhaoyin Academy, as the inspector general of Chongzhou, Dingzhou, and Hezhou. He will begin his duties next month, and during this time, he will have full authority over all matters, big or small."

"Tell your brother that this is an important mission. Chongzhou, Dingzhou, and Hezhou are all important towns, and we must have our people there."

Upon hearing this, Li Shanggong's face lit up with gratitude. She knelt hurriedly, touching the ground with her hands, and said in a deep voice, "Thank you, Queen Mother, for your grace. My sister and I will definitely live up to your expectations."

After Li Shanggong stood up, she asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, your Majesty's personal maid, A Yao, has informed me that your Majesty has been leaving early and returning late for many days, spending every day riding horses in the stables..."

Before he could finish his words, the Queen Mother gently shook his hand and interrupted him, saying, "Go ahead. I know what you are thinking. The Emperor is currently enjoying the pleasure of riding a horse, so let him go."

This sentence seems to contain a lot of helplessness and confusion, and also invisibly reveals the complexity and power struggles behind the deep palace.

After leaving Anshou Palace, Li Shanggong immediately ordered the eunuch beside her to pass on the message, and she hurried back to her own bedroom.

Upon entering the room, Li Shanggong couldn't wait to pull a letter from her sleeve, carefully examining it. After confirming that the envelope was intact, she carefully opened it. There were only a few lines of words on the letter, but Li Shanggong read it word by word several times as if it were a rare treasure, and an irrepressible smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"Look, I said this move was right. Chongguang just lacked opportunities for experience. Now the Queen Mother has entrusted him with an important task. With time..." Li Shanggong said halfway and handed the letter to a woman in light blue palace dress beside her.

The woman took the letter, read it carefully, and then covered her mouth with a smile. "Sister, you are right. You are far-sighted and know how to plan for Chongguang. But, sister, this letter says that the girl from the Cen family now dares to openly oppose us? Humph, a young girl dares to show off her skills in front of us. She really doesn't know her place!"

Li Shanggong sneered, a fierce look flashing in her eyes. "My sister, you don't know, but this girl from the Cen family is no pushover. She just had a near-death experience a while ago, and she's a changed person since she came back. Not only can she read and write, but she's also full of new ideas. She even dares to talk about gender equality and that women can hold official positions! She even taught these heretical theories to the female students in the academy and took them everywhere to spread them. She's simply heretic and treasonous!"

"What? There's such a thing?" The woman in the light blue palace dress exclaimed, almost dropping the teacup in her hand. "Is this girl from the Cen family up to some sinister scheme? No, I have to tell the Queen Mother!"

"Hey, my dear sister, why are you so anxious?" Li Shanggong pulled her back and took a sip of tea slowly. "The Queen Mother is very busy with all sorts of things. There's no need to bother her with such a small matter. Don't worry, I have my own way to deal with this girl!"

As Li Shanggong spoke, a cunning glint flashed in her eyes.

"Oh? Sister, what good ideas do you have? Tell me quickly!" The woman in light blue palace dress immediately became interested and looked at Li Shanggong with anticipation.

Li Shanggong smiled mysteriously, leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words.

"Sister, your move... is really..." The woman in the light blue palace dress was stunned. It took her a while to find her voice. "It's really great!"

Li Shanggong smiled complacently, picked up the teacup, took a sip, but her eyes gradually became cold.

"Cen family girl, just wait and see!"