Shipin Dalizheng

After receiving the title, he had to go to the palace to express his gratitude. This time, he met Tang Tiantian outside the palace again. Tang Tiantian was so shy that her chin was pressed against her chest.

Because of the last scare, Tang Tiantian was accompanied by Madam Tang this time. She thanked the queen smoothly and received many rewards from her.

Although Queen Wang was old and did not care about the emperor's favor, she still hated Concubine Xie's domineering behavior and was very happy about her fall from favor. Therefore, she was more kind to Tang Tiantian and allowed her to call her mother.

If he calls his father the Emperor and his mother the Empress, even if the rumor gets out in the future, people will know how open-minded the Emperor and the Empress are.

After paying respects to the Queen, they took a stroll around the other concubines in the palace and were finally invited to dinner by Concubine Xian. After all, she was the legitimate elder of the Rong family.

Speaking of Concubine Xie's vicious thoughts, Mrs. Tang was still frightened and scared.

"Our Tiantian has always been honest and dutiful, and she has never offended Concubine Xie. Why is she so hostile to us Tiantian?"

The virtuous concubine gritted her teeth in anger, "This monster, no one can guess what's wrong with her. Although most women in the palace use their beauty to please men, none of them are as thorough as her. I guess it has something to do with Tang'er saying she's not as pretty as Tiantian a few days ago."

Tiantian is pretty, because she is young and fresh, and she has a top-notch Hu girl baby face, with a strong exotic style. To be honest, she is not as beautiful as Concubine Xie, who has been baptized by the years and has an ageless face, with a beauty that is almost demonic.

Mrs. Tang believed that her son-in-law's words were more like a statement to the emperor.

Her face turned pale with anger. "Noble Concubine Xie is already old, yet she's always comparing her looks with young girls. In this deep palace, does she still want Tang'er to praise her as prettier than her fiancée? She's shameless, and Tang'er is dying."

The virtuous concubine said calmly, "Those who serve others with their beauty will lose their love as their beauty fades. I think Concubine Xie is also worried about her appearance."

Nanny You interrupted, "That's right. She has no children, and His Majesty hasn't been favoring her lately. It's natural for her to be anxious, but I didn't expect it to be this crazy."

But Concubine Xian didn't say that the Xie family's action was also for revenge against Rong Tang.

"Your Majesty, I heard that Xie Ying was taken into the palace. Is His Majesty planning to use her to replace Concubine Xie to appease the Xie family?"

The virtuous concubine pursed her lips and smiled, "She was given a title of beauty and thrown into Sui Han Xuan, and she has never even met him."

She was nothing more than a hostage who would be imprisoned for life. Of course, Xie Ying was just an adopted daughter of the Xie family, originally raised for marriage. His Majesty's move also cut off the Xie family's path to marriage through their daughter, causing them to waste more than ten years in vain.

While they were chatting here, Rong Tang had already been invited into the imperial study to discuss serious matters.

Emperor Xuanning said, "I was worried that the Cui and Wang families would not let you go, but now it seems that they don't want to go too far and ruin the good reputation of this century-old family."

Rong Tang said, "Yes, Your Majesty. I also consider the degree before doing anything. How much loss can they tolerate? Is it worth being criticized by the world for those interests? However, I don't believe that they don't care at all and will let me go."

He dared to do it because he had the confidence to do so. In addition to the face that the aristocratic families wanted to maintain, there was also a discord between the emperor and the aristocratic families. All parties were trying to find a balance and were unwilling to be the first to overturn the table.

If it was Rong Tang who had just arrived, he would probably have been destroyed by the joint efforts of these families, but now he has Rongjia Village, Fuxinzhuang, and three thousand new troops, so it would be very difficult to touch him again.

Emperor Xuanning picked up a paper from the imperial desk and said with regret, "This paper is very much to my liking. It's a pity that I can't share it with the left and right prime ministers, nor can I discuss with them how to use this person."

Are you kidding? Xiao Poyun's test paper is specifically aimed at the aristocratic families. If the news gets out, the four major families will kill him first.

"Nangong He had a good eye for choosing him as the top scholar, but it's a shame he couldn't keep him. I feel sorry for him too, such a great talent, wasted..."

The selection of officials is still very strict nowadays, and there are clear requirements for their appearance and physique. People like Xiao Poyun no longer have the possibility of becoming a court official.

"Your Majesty, I have a good idea to put this man's knowledge to good use."

"What's a good idea?"

"Open an official school and appoint him as the principal to train talents specifically for Your Majesty."

"Official school? But we already have the Imperial College..."

"We could also have an Imperial College. It would not only teach the Four Books and Five Classics, but also mathematics, industry, agriculture, commerce, medicine, natural disaster prevention, disaster emergency response, and post-disaster reconstruction..."

Emperor Xuanning became interested and said, "My dear minister, please elaborate."

"Yes. Mathematics may seem useless for governing a country, but it's essential for national development at all times. Industry, agriculture, and commerce all require it. Let's not even talk about industry, which involves making weapons and farm tools. Agriculture involves developing plant varieties and researching how to increase land production and income. Commerce is the lifeblood of a nation; only when goods flow freely can it be a vibrant country. These together are the lifeblood of Dai Viet. Your Majesty, don't you want these three lifelines to develop rapidly?"

Emperor Xuanning had a look of longing on his face. This is what every emperor would want, right?

"Build a university to recruit talents from all over the world to build Dai Viet for Your Majesty. Your Majesty can also personally serve as the honorary president of the university. Students graduating from this university will all be disciples of the emperor. I have only one small request."

"What request?"

"When God sends talents to Your Majesty, it's not limited to any particular type. It includes men and women, young and old. I hope Your Majesty will also recruit talents of all kinds and employ those who have talent."

"You mean, opening a girls' college?"

"What I mean is not just to open a women's college, but also to allow women to teach. There is no order of learning, and those who are more accomplished can be teachers."

This is truly a historical first. Although there have been female teachers in all dynasties, they were all kept by aristocratic families for private use and were not circulated.

From an emperor's perspective, this is undoubtedly of great benefit to the country and his regime, and Emperor Xuanning has no reason to refute it.

"Once the Imperial Academy is built, it will be divided into several major disciplines, and then independent academic colleges will be established. For example, there will be a College of Engineering, a College of Agriculture, a College of Commerce, and a College of Medicine. Graduates of the Imperial Academy can take up local positions or remain at the academy to conduct research. Those with academic achievements that can contribute to the development of Dai Viet will be rewarded accordingly according to the law. Those who are capable of becoming officials will be able to do so, and those who are not will be able to have a lifelong support. Some staffing can be established, and a portion of the profits generated by the academy can be used to support these veterans. This way, the future will be bright, and craftsmen with unique skills will be willing to contribute their secret recipes to the court, thus benefiting both sides."

Emperor Xuanning spun around excitedly. "I was just wondering if building such an academy would be opposed by the six ministries. And according to you, it might even generate profits later on?"

"Of course. Ultimately, everything we do aims to generate profits. For example, if the results of a research project at the Institute of Engineering are state secrets and cannot be leaked, then the court will allocate funds to buy them out. People have to be supported, right? If the results of an Agricultural College or a Business School are suitable for dissemination, then the first group of people who want to benefit will also have to pay to purchase the technology..."

"It's like the Ministry of Industry selling fan blueprints!"

Rong Tang paused, "That's basically the same principle. Something so beneficial to both the country and the people, even if there are stubborn court officials who oppose it, as long as Your Majesty supports it, I can accomplish it on your behalf in my personal capacity."

Emperor Xuanning's eyes sparkled. "Marquis Jian'an, you are so young, where do you get all these fantastic ideas?"

Rong Tang bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty, ever since I inherited the teachings of Master Huici, I've felt that life is but a few short decades, a mere process of cultivation. Since it's all life anyway, why not live it to the fullest!"