The abandoned concubine who transmigrated woke up shouting "Long live the widow!"

Hearing Jingxue's words, Lu Zijing suddenly felt a lump in his throat. At first, he and several classmates were full of enthusiasm and ambition when they started the academy. However, they did not expect that it would be so difficult to put into practice. If it weren't for his sister's support, he probably would have given up long ago.

Only he himself knows the hardships he endured.

"Headmaster Lu, let me give you ten thousand taels of silver first."

The three of them were stunned when Jingxue said that.

"Your Highness, you've misunderstood! We don't need that much!" Lu Zijing thought that Jingxue might not have read the ledger carefully!

Jingxue smiled and said, "Headmaster, please listen to me. There are conditions to my taking out this money!"

"First, I want to open a girls' school at Baichuan Academy. Second, all children of martyrs on the battlefield who come from impoverished families will have their tuition, no, all living expenses and room and board waived!"

As soon as Jingxue finished speaking, the three men were shocked!

The three of them slowly came to understand each word Jingxue said.

Lu Zijing paused for a moment and said, “Your Highness, it is not an easy thing to set up a girls’ school. I am not prejudiced against women. It is because women cannot hold official positions. Many families, especially poor families, hold the idea that ‘a woman’s virtue lies in her lack of talent.’ Therefore, it will be difficult to set up a girls’ school. Also, men and women should not be too close to each other. It would be best if female students taught the girls’ school!”

“It’s not easy to find a female senior. Most talented women are from wealthy families. Who would be willing to show their face in public and become a teacher at the academy?”

After Lu Zijing finished speaking, Qin Jing and Ye Musi both nodded in agreement.

Jingxue smiled and said, "So, we have to solve these difficulties one by one. Many people look down on women, but think about it, where in our daily lives do we not see women? There are also female generals on the battlefield, right?"

Jingxue said this because she knew that the old lady of the Ningguo Duke's family was a former female general, and besides, Princess Jingyi had also been on the battlefield.

Jingxue continued, "If the headmaster is concerned that female teachers are hard to find, he can first buy some educated women from the local yamen. Also, we are not running a girls' academy for women to take the imperial examinations or become officials. Women's literacy will broaden their horizons and allow them to see a wider world, instead of becoming frogs in a well!"

"Our girls' school is not just a girls' school. The entire academy cannot just teach children to read and write. It must also strengthen their bodies. I heard that some students find it difficult to persevere even during the few days of the imperial examinations. That won't do! In addition, we must teach them some basic survival skills so that they don't become bookworms who 'don't know the five grains or the six domestic animals'!"

Jingxue glanced at the three of them and then said, "I know that establishing a girls' school isn't just about having money; there are many difficulties to face, such as social pressure—no, external pressure—as well as enrollment issues and the management of the academy. These are things that Headmaster Lu needs to solve. I won't just take the money and leave it at that; I will do everything in my power to help!"

After Jingxue finished speaking, none of the three men said anything.

"If Headmaster Lu finds it too difficult, then forget it!"

"Your Highness, no, I didn't expect you to have these thoughts, and I don't know how to answer for a moment!" Lu Zijing hurriedly explained.

“Professor Lu, I know there’s a lot to do here. Women, especially girls, are a vulnerable group in this era. It won’t be easy to do this well! How about this: don’t rush to reply to me. Go back and discuss it with your classmates. It’s okay if they don’t agree!” Jingxue wanted to suggest a partner.

"No! Your Highness, I am truly astonished by your extraordinary feat!"

Ye Musi said, "It is indeed a precedent. Once this girls' school is established, it will attract too much attention, even from the imperial court! A single misstep could bring infamy. Third Sister-in-law, you must think twice before you act!"

Jingxue knew that Ye Musi meant well. "I understand what the Fourth Prince said. In fact, it's not just about this matter. No matter what it is, someone has to be the first to do it. If we only follow the rules and laws left by our ancestors, society—bah! the court—is no good!"

Jingxue didn't know how to phrase it to make the three people understand. Indeed, the three people were confused by her use of "society" and "pui" at the end!

“It’s all about development! We at Beiye need to develop and progress!” Jingxue gestured with her hands.

After remaining silent for a while, Qin Jing said, "I understand what my cousin-in-law means. It means that our Bei Ye must become strong, stronger than other countries, and have what they don't have."

Oh my! Jingxue even wanted to give him a high five.

She continued, "There are several girls in our household who haven't gone to school. Yes, I have money, and I can hire a tutor to teach them to read. But what about the millions of girls from poor families? They are repeating the same tragic lives generation after generation!"

"People have long held the belief that women are too weak to do physical labor, let alone care for the elderly in their old age. The poorer the family, the more they look down on women. Some families even throw away their daughters when they are born!"

"Actually, there are many things women can do, such as business, medicine, teaching, etc. Now, after years of war, the male-to-female ratio in Beiye is severely imbalanced. It is estimated that now a man can marry eight or ten wives and there are still women left over!"

"Haha..." Qin Jing, who has a low threshold for laughter, couldn't hold it in again.

Jingxue rolled her eyes at him. "Be serious!"

“Sister-in-law, there used to be a man who married eight or ten wives!” Qin Jing said, then quickly pursed her lips.

"I mean, if all the men in Beiye were distributed equally, the population ratio would be unbalanced!!" Jingxue slammed her hand on the table. Ye Musi, remembering the table that Jingxue had smashed in the courtroom, tried to purse his lips, afraid that he would laugh out loud.

Lu Zijing cupped his hands and said, "Hearing Your Highness's words is better than reading books for ten years!"

"You flatter me, Headmaster! Beiye is so big, one or two people can't change anything. I want more people to understand this principle and for more people to do this..."

Before Jingxue could finish speaking, Qin Jing said, "That way, our Beiye will develop faster and progress more, right, sister-in-law?"

Jingxue: Congratulations! You're even answering questions first!

"Yes! When the country is strong, its people stand tall. Similarly, when the people unite and contribute to the country, the country will gradually grow stronger. The two complement each other!"

After hearing Jingxue's words, Ye Musi and the other two nodded in agreement.

“Brother Lu, I’ll do my part too! I’ll contribute ten thousand taels of silver!” Qin Jing said.

Lu Zijing was a little overwhelmed, "This, this... thank you so much, Prince Qin!"

"Headmaster Lu, regarding the free enrollment of martyrs' children, they still need to get a certificate from the government. Sigh... even so, not every family is willing to send their child to the academy. Some might have to find a job to put food on the table first!" Jingxue knew the difficulties involved.