Volume One, Chapter 17: How Can Knowledge Be Entrusted to Women?

Page 1/3

Zhu Xiaozhi toyed with a small lock of her hair, her eyes flashing with a clever idea.
“What if I disguise myself as a boy and don’t reveal my identity to them?”

The mischievous princess was once again ignoring the rules. Wei Niang’s heart tightened, and she hastened to extinguish this reckless notion.
“The Imperial Academy isn’t a place anyone can just walk into. If a stranger suddenly appears as a young scholar, wouldn’t everyone be curious? It wouldn’t take long before they’d uncover everything—your ancestral background, where your father and brothers serve, and which street and ward your family belongs to.”

Zhu Xiaozhi deflated and slumped over the stone table.
“Then, how else can I get to know these future greats...”

Wei Niang, eager to make a good impression before the new mistress, pondered and finally came up with an idea.
“His Highness Prince Zhao has recently restored his status and returned to Chang’an. According to protocol, he should enroll in the Imperial Academy. You could get to know the scholars there through His Highness’s introduction.”

Zhu Xiaozhi counted on her fingers, recalling Zhu Xianzhi’s arrogant face and the historical records that labeled him a profligate.
“That really is a good idea, but would that fellow actually attend classes diligently...”

Then it struck her: impersonating someone else would be inconvenient, but pretending to be Zhu Xianzhi himself would be easy!

They were twins, and their appearances differed only slightly. Besides, he was younger, and his Adam’s apple was barely developed. All Zhu Xiaozhi needed was to darken her eyebrows a bit and sharpen her Cupid’s bow, and their looks would be nearly identical.

Careless youths would hardly scrutinize their companions’ features closely; as long as the voice was indistinguishable, they could easily deceive everyone.

Of course, to pull this off, besides the advantage to her younger brother, she would need a helper—and who better than her overly compliant father?

Would Zhu Xianzhi’s doomed fate change if she took his place?

Pretending to be busy peeling grapes, Zhu Xiaozhi quietly established a mental connection with Zhu Xuanli.
“Father, your daughter has an important wish she hopes you will fulfill.”

Zhu Xuanli was sitting alone in the vast hall, bored. Documents needing his signature were spread before him, but upon hearing his daughter’s voice requesting help, his spirit brightened, and his eyes gleamed.
“Xiaozhi, speak quickly. Father will fulfill any wish you have!”

Seizing her father’s unguarded moment, Zhu Xiaozhi did not hesitate and dropped the bomb.
“I want to study at the Imperial Academy.”

Meanwhile, Wei Niang noticed the princess was still struggling with the same grape and sighed quietly.

Page 2/3

“Your Highness, you’ve been peeling that grape for quite a while now. May I peel it for you?”

The princess grew up in the countryside of Fanyang and likely had never seen such fresh grapes before, which explained her clumsy peeling. Princess Changle had instructed her to patiently teach the princess.

Just as Wei Niang reached for the grape, Zhu Xiaozhi stopped her.
“It’s fine, I just enjoy peeling grapes.”

Her interruption conveniently diverted Wei Niang’s attention from the long chain of shock and doubt that had been forming in her mind. Zhu Xiaozhi smiled at Wei Niang and resumed speaking to her father through their mental link.
“Why can’t a woman attend the Imperial Academy? When the Empress Dowager was in power, there were even female officials wearing black hats in court.”

“That’s different...”

Women needed to rely on men to become officials or emperors, borrowing their power. But attending school was a completely different matter.

How could women be allowed to master knowledge? If they all left their homes, who would bear children and manage the household?

“Father, didn’t you say you would fulfill any wish? Look, you’re breaking your promise again.”

Zhu Xuanli bowed his head, rubbing his palms nervously.
“Well... I suppose... I could mention it in court in a few days and gauge the ministers’ reactions.”

“Thank you, Father!”

Both father and daughter briefly achieved their goals: the father delayed by waiting for ministers to reject the idea so he wouldn’t be the villain, and the daughter successfully floated this bold proposal, planning to later promote a less rebellious alternative after a failure.

Thus, their call ended with a joyful farewell, with neither suspecting that the ensuing events would become a pivotal turning point for the empire’s future.

At least for now, they were both content.

She popped the intact grape into her mouth, skillfully peeling its skin and spitting out the sour seeds with her tongue and teeth, showing Wei Niang.
“See? I really just like peeling grapes.”

Wei Niang stared wide-eyed at the nimble movements of her lips.
“Your Highness, that’s far too unladylike!”

Noble ladies in Chang’an were taught from childhood to follow strict rules; their every word and gesture was carved from the same rigid mold. Zhu Xiaozhi barely lifted her eyelids, her fingertips brushing over several names—common now but destined to be immortalized in posterity.

“We still need to find these people. Since common names cause confusion, let’s start by searching for those within Chang’an city—only those under thirty years old.”

Page 3/3

The next day, Wei Niang eagerly came to report, handing Zhu Xiaozhi a cup of hot tea and speaking briskly,
“Your Highness, there are two individuals named Wang Shi who fit your description: one is from Luoyang, trading in the East Market; the other is a wanderer from the Western Regions, currently living near Yong’an Ward.”

Wang Shi was the most renowned poet of the Great Chu. He came from the Western Regions, sword in hand and carefree. He had once composed verses before the emperor and traveled extensively across mountains and rivers. His poems remained immortal, still read aloud by youths a thousand years later.

Yet now, many years later, the elderly man with white hair composing timeless verses in frustration would have been just a young wanderer in his twenties.

Zhu Xiaozhi paused with the tea cup in her hand.
“It’s only been a day, Wei Niang. You really have excellent sources.”

Wei Niang fluttered her eyelashes like delicate insect wings, her eyes sharp like a small beast.
“I used to serve Princess Changle, so many people wanted to curry favor with me. Naturally, I have many friends.”

Her answer was flawless, leaving no room for skepticism. Zhu Xiaozhi drank half the cup and then set it down.
“Let’s go see this Wang Shi from the Western Regions.”

Not yet accustomed to the grand entourage that followed royal heirs on outings, Zhu Xiaozhi allowed only Wei Niang to accompany her as a guide. When they reached the street corner, they saw from afar a man in blue robes and a woman in yellow, along with their luggage, being thrown out of an inn.

The man still looked indignant, loudly shouting at the innkeeper,
“We already paid to stay another day, and I pawned my mother’s jade bracelet to you. Why are you kicking us out?”

“You cut down all the trees in my backyard and didn’t compensate me. You’re lucky I don’t make you pay! Get out, now!”

The slender girl wrapped in a large robe gently tugged at the man’s sleeve.
“Brother, let it go. We were at fault. I’ll bring the new money tomorrow to redeem Mother’s keepsake. Tonight, we’ll just take shelter at a small temple on the city outskirts.”

Zhu Xiaozhi watched the disheveled siblings’ retreating figures, inwardly feeling the girl’s silhouette looked familiar.

At the same time, Wei Niang lifted the inn’s curtain and asked,
“Innkeeper, do you have a guest named Wang Shi staying here?”