Accidentally dressed as an empress

That day, Yunxiu was busy the whole afternoon. After meeting Li Xian at the palace gate, she took several students back to the Imperial Academy.

In the Imperial Academy, the students' spirits had become low, and the garrison troops were guarding the gate of the Imperial Academy with swords in hand.

Some students began to worry, “Will we be punished for gathering and causing trouble?”

"We seek justice for ourselves, so should we be punished?"

Isn’t it a bit late to think about the consequences now?

Your Majesty is of an arbitrary nature. Those who obey you will prosper, while those who disobey you will perish.

The students' behavior of gathering around the palace gate and forcing His Majesty to express his position will certainly not end well.

Yunxiu shook her head, the deceased was innocent.

She took out the magnolia-patterned brocade bag, took out some silver, and said to the student, "Please buy me two coffins so that the deceased's fellow villagers can carry him back to his hometown for burial."

After giving out the money, Yunxiu, the boy who gave away the money, felt that his mission was accomplished and returned home.

The next day, His Majesty's edict arrived at the Imperial College.

The dean of Taixue College was changing, and they also postponed their graduation.

"It's not fair! Why are we being punished?"

Someone said disappointedly, "This is not the Yun Kingdom in my mind at all."

"You know my family's situation. My mother has sold all the land to support my studies. I can't afford the tuition for next year, so I'd better drop out."

"I dropped out of school too."

"That's right! Drop out of school!"

"Those who graduated from the Imperial Academy could only become retainers at the homes of high-ranking officials. They couldn't become officials, and if they wanted to become clerks, they had to pay money to make friends with the rich and powerful."

"What are we studying so hard for for ten years?"

"To see the prosperity of Lingyun City, to see the gap between me and the nobles, and then to return to my own village and farm peacefully."

"After all this trouble, I still have to go back to the village to farm. It would be better to give up those foolish thoughts from the beginning and never leave the village!"

"Yes, would the teacher dare to hit those students from aristocratic families? Would the teacher dare to lock them up? They go to get out of class as usual."

"The teachers didn't dare to beat them or lock them up, so they only beat us who had no power or influence."

"You and I have talent but cannot use it. It's like reading books into a dog's stomach."

Gu Xiuzhi walked slowly into the Imperial College and heard the chatter of people inside, all of whom were frustrated with their lack of recognition and self-admiration.

Gu Xiuzhi asked, "You think you are very talented, right?"

Gu Xiuzhi picked up a bamboo stick and drew a big circle on the grass in the yard. Pointing at the circle, he said, "Has anyone read the Mathematical Classic? Those who have read the Mathematical Classic, please stand inside the circle."

Out of a hundred people, only about ten have read it.

Gu Xiuzhi drew another circle next to the big one. "Those who have read The Zhouguan, stand in this circle. Those who have read both books, stand in the middle of the two circles."

About twenty people came out and had read "The Book of Zhou Officials".

But only five people have read both books.

Gu Xiuzhi drew another circle on the ground and said, "Those who can ride and shoot, come here. Those who can do all three, stand where the three circles intersect."

No one stood in the middle of the three circles.

Gu Xiuzhi leaned on his bamboo stick and said, "A gentleman's six arts are ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. I haven't even tested ritual and music yet, and you've all been annihilated. Not a single one of you has passed the test."

The indignant students had quieted down to a complete silence, and many of them had expressions of shame on their faces.

Gu Xiuzhi paused, "Do you understand now the gap between you and the students from aristocratic families?"

"But we don't have a horse at home! If we change horseback riding to bull riding, we can still pass."

“We don’t have any musical instruments at home.”

"Yes, your family doesn't have these, but noble families have them from birth." Gu Xiuzhi said coldly, "The difference between you is determined from birth. Children of military officers learn riding and archery from a young age, are skilled in bows and horses, and are familiar with the art of war. What can you compare with?"

"Children of civil servants can compose poems at the age of seven, and by the time they enter the Imperial College at the age of fifteen, they are already fluent in classical Chinese and have read extensively in history. What can you compare them to?"

"Official positions and titles are not meant for you. You studied so much, spent so much money, and only became a minor official. Do you think it's worth it or not?"

Some of the crowd lowered their heads, as if a sore spot had been touched. Others looked up, their eyes gleaming with a gleam of unyielding determination, like a blazing flame, rising higher and higher.

"Those who can afford the tuition and are willing to continue can stay here. Those who can't afford the tuition and are unwilling can drop out."

Someone stood up and shouted, "Everyone learns the truth at different times! If we were allowed to learn, we could learn as well as they do!"

"That's right! We can learn it too!"

"The sages said that there should be no distinction between classes in education! The Six Arts should be accessible to everyone!"

Gu Xiuzhi smiled. "Okay, I'll give you a chance. In the next year while I'm in charge, you'll learn the same things the princess does. Those of you who excel in your studies will be recommended to the Imperial Astronomy Department to teach history. How do you do that?"

"The Dean must keep his word!"

"This academy is committed to its words." Gu Xiuzhi said, "However, one thing is for another. You hit the teacher, so apologize to them first."

All those who had beaten the teachers stood up and bowed to them.

One of the teachers said, "Next time I use the ruler, I will be gentler. Hitting with a bamboo stick really hurts."

The teachers and students smiled at each other, shook hands and made peace.