Chapter 514: Feigning Obeisance
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation I Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“These are things that no beggar would eat. I don’t want to eat them!”
In the dining hall, a young girl whose hair was styled into a flower bun pushed away the bowl and chopsticks in front of her and complained loudly.
By her side, a young girl who looked a little similar to her in demeanor said in a low voice, “Elder Sister, the food here is all like this. Bear with it. They say that after five days of classes, we can go home for one day. At that point, we can have good food.”
“It’s not your place to interrupt me. If you like to eat, then eat it all!” The young girl grabbed the spoon in the bowl and scooped a large spoonful of rice before stuffing it into the other young girl’s mouth.
“Ugh!”
The young girl was almost stabbed in the throat by that spoon, and she whimpered in pain.
The commotion here was too loud and it attracted curious looks from other people.
However, the girl who was throwing a tantrum did not have the slightest intention of restraining herself. When she saw that her younger step-sister had no strength to resist, she became even more smug.
“This kind of food is meant for cheap people. If you like to eat it, then eat more. You cheap girl!”
The buzzing voices from heated discussions in the hall stopped abruptly. All of them saw Su Ying standing at the door, but those two girls were sitting with their backs to the door, so they didn’t notice that there was someone at the door.
Su Ying furrowed her brows. “Is it a trend for commoners to take concubines now?”
The Minister of Revenue had gone to attend the court session today, so he sent his son to follow Su Ying in attendance, in case anything happened.
Su Ying’s words caused the son’s expression to change. He recalled how ever since the aristocratic families learned that Su Ying was going to open a women’s academy and that the matter of repairing the academy and recruiting students had fallen into the hands of the Minister of Revenue, many people had secretly approached the Minister of Revenue, hoping to send their daughters to the women’s academy.
It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford to hire a private tutor, but that they wanted to use this opportunity to let their daughters show their faces in front of Su Ying. If their daughters could gain the Empress’s appreciation, then they would have nothing to worry about regarding their futures.
The Minister of Revenue was cowardly, so he rejected many people Nonetheless, there were some people whom he really couldn’t refuse and could only bite the bullet and accept their requests. He could only hope that Su Ying wouldn’t care about the backgrounds of these students, or else he would have to pay the consequences!
However, now that something like this had happened, the son of the Minister of Revenue was sweating profusely, and his legs and stomach had already gone weak. Your Imperial Highness, this… this might be a misunderstanding. I’ll go and make inquiries now.”
“After you have inquired, bring all the students’ information to me.”
“Yes, yes.”
The information was quickly delivered to Su Ying. When these students registered, they had to record their household registration, and with Su Ying keeping an eye on everything, no one dared to falsify their records. After all, if they were exposed, things would blow up.
Su Ying’s expression was very grim, and the hearts of the people from the Minister of Revenue’s Residence were also heavy. It was as if a huge boulder was pressing down on their chests, making it difficult for them to breathe.
“Your Imperial Highness, this matter is indeed… indeed our negligence Your Imperial Highness, please give us a chance to send out the unqualified students and recruit some new students.”
Pow! Su Ying slammed the register shut and glared at them icily with her almond-shaped eyes.
“Feigning obeisance to me?”
“We wouldn’t dare.” The people in the room were so scared that they knelt on the ground at once.
“One-third of the people in the register are descendants of aristocratic families. I’m not saying they can’t study, but they shouldn’t take the places meant for children who have nothing when they themselves have everything.” Su Ying had said from the start that this academy was set up for the children of poor people so that these girls could improve their lives after learning something.
Although there was also injustice within the aristocratic families, it was nothing compared to those children who did not even have enough to eat.
“Your father agreed to let these people enroll because he was afraid of offending those people. Then he is not afraid of offending me?” Su Ying’s voice wasn’t loud, but it sent shivers down the spines of all the people from the Minister’s Residence.
“Your Imperial Highness, please calm down. Your servant… your servant will immediately send everyone away. Please spare us this time. These people were all allowed to enroll because I did not give due consideration. My father is not aware.”
Su Ymg glanced indifferently at the person on the ground. He had reacted quickly enough and even knew to take on the blame himself so that the Minister of Revenue wouldn’t be in trouble.
Su Ying was a little angry, but not to the extent that she would blow her top Who among these aristocratic families could avoid pulling strings here and there? Nonetheless, this was indeed a good excuse to get a hold of the Minister’s Residence.
I’ll remember this debt you owe. Get out at once and deal with the matter.”
“Yes, yes. Your servant will go now.”
“These people who act one way in public and act another way behind people’s backs are really too much. If it wasn’t for the dispute between those two sisters, Your Imperial Highness would still be kept in the dark.” Bai Shuang was a commoner, so she could understand the suffering of the commoners better.
The women’s academy set up by the Empress could very well be a channel that could change the lives of those children, but the chance had been taken away by others. These people were really despicable.
“Your Imperial Highness, I implore Your Imperial Highness to hand over the enrollment matter to me,” Zhou Xiangrong stepped forward and said.
“You?”
“Yes. I know of a slum in the capital city. The current situation of the slum badly needs to be changed the most. Many of the newly born girls there are either sold or killed. Even if they survive, they can only become stepping stones for the men in the family. This academy is particularly important to them I implore Your Imperial Highness to give me a chance to bring those children out of the quagmire.” Zhou Xiangrong looked at Su Ying with an incredibly determined expression, which exuded an imperceptibly convincing power.
Su Ying’s brows furrowed slightly. She had agreed to establish the women’s academy precisely for such students. This Zhou Xiangrong had the same understanding as her on certain levels.
“Fine. I will give you this chance. You may go there. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
When she received Su Ying’s approval, all the muscles in Zhou Xiangrong’s body relaxed.
“Don’t worry, Your Imperial Highness. I know that Your Imperial Highness is thinking of the people. I will definitely not disappoint Your Imperial Highness.” “Mm-hmm. Make haste.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
They had counted nearly a hundred students who had been sent in by the various influential families.
When Su Ying went out, those girls were waiting in fury for the girl who had caused trouble in the dining hall.
At this moment, that girl also realized the seriousness of the matter. Before she left her residence, her parents had instructed her to perform well and let the Empress notice her.
Now, the Empress had indeed noticed her, but she could forget about showing her face in front of the Empress ever again.
When the girls saw Su Ying walk toward them, all of them instinctively knelt down. They had all heard of the Empress’s temper, and no one had the guts to provoke her.
“I will not blame all of you for the decisions made by your fathers. Pack your things and go back.”
When they saw that Su Ying didn’t punish them, these delicate young ladies didn’t dare to stay any longer. They didn’t come willingly in the first place, so they felt it was fine to go back now.. After all, they weren’t the ones who had to explain to their families!