ebookland Chapter 445 Li Si agrees to let Li Yanran study at the Great Qin Women's Academy
Chapter 445 Li Si agrees to let Li Yanran study at the Great Qin Women's Academy
Just then, he heard his daughter, Li Yanran, bring up the topic of studying at the Daqin Women's Academy again. Li Shi felt a headache coming on. He stared at Li Yanran and saw her looking at him expectantly, seemingly filled with longing to go to the women's academy.
Li Si's face instantly darkened. He leaned back in his chair and said coldly, "Yanran, why are you still not giving up? Didn't I already make it clear to you before? A woman's duty is to support her husband and raise her children. Studying is just icing on the cake. How can you put the cart before the horse?"
“Father, I am not acting recklessly,” Li Yanran hurriedly explained. “I am well aware of a woman’s responsibilities, but the Great Qin is currently in a period of great upheaval, with various forces intertwined. If I can study at the Great Qin Women’s Academy for three years, I will not only gain more knowledge but also get to know many noble ladies. In the future, as the Crown Princess, I will be able to better assist Prince Fusu, share your burdens, and contribute to the stability of the Great Qin.”
Li Si frowned even more deeply. He looked at his daughter with a scrutinizing gaze: "You think that studying at the academy for a few years will make such a big difference? You're too naive. In these three years, you should be learning how to manage the inner quarters, how to handle interpersonal relationships, and preparing yourself for marrying Fusu."
“Father, the academy not only teaches poetry and prose, but also classics, history, philosophy, and strategies for governing the country. I can learn a lot about governing the country here, and this knowledge will definitely come in handy in the future,” Li Yanran argued, her eyes shining with determination.
Li Si felt somewhat anxious. He had been marginalized and was no longer part of the core circle of Qin officials, and many things left him feeling powerless. Originally, he had planned to send his second son, Li Xu, to the army, hoping that he could distinguish himself and bring glory to the family.
However, because of Yanran's matter, he had to draw upon a great deal of personal connections he had accumulated in the past. These connections might have been useful when his career was going smoothly, but now that his official position was declining, their help was gradually diminishing, and they would probably become increasingly difficult to utilize in the future.
At this moment, Li Si's greatest wish was to facilitate the marriage between Yanran and Fusu. He knew that only in this way could the Li family's future be more secure. Although he had confidence in his eldest son, Li You, he understood the King of Qin even better.
King Qin was an ambitious, shrewd, and extremely intelligent emperor. Li You's appointment as Director of the Criminal Law Department was not primarily due to his exceptional talent, but rather to King Qin's consideration of balancing various factions. Moreover, Li You was currently far away on Baga Island, and his return was uncertain. Even if he eventually returned, whether he could retain his position as Director of the Criminal Law Department was also highly questionable.
In contrast, the situation would be very different if Fusu and Yanran could marry sooner. However, the key issue is that the wedding is three years away, and three years is a period with too many variables, causing Li Si great anxiety. Now, Yanran is determined to study at the Qin Women's Academy, and Li Si is beginning to consider the pros and cons.
Li Si remained silent for a long time before speaking, "Going to the academy to study might broaden your horizons and help you become a qualified Crown Princess in the future, which is not impossible. But you must promise your father that you will not neglect your studies at the academy, and even more so, you must not cause any trouble." Li Yanran's eyes lit up, and she quickly nodded, "Your daughter will certainly abide by Father's teachings."
Li Si continued, "These three years are not a short time. You should socialize with the young ladies from all walks of life in the academy and make more friends so that you can build up your network. At the same time, you must not forget to cultivate your relationship with Prince Fusu. Although Prince Fusu is not in Xianyang now, you can visit his residence every now and then. In this way, you can gradually begin to take control of Fusu's household affairs."
After listening, Li Yanran was initially taken aback, clearly surprised by Li Si's words. However, she quickly recovered and nodded, indicating that she understood. Although it was indeed somewhat inappropriate for her to manage Fusu's household affairs before officially marrying into the family, their marriage was, after all, bestowed by the King of Qin, and was practically a done deal with no surprises. She would definitely marry Fusu in the future, and since Fusu was not in Xianyang, it seemed reasonable for her to take care of the household affairs. Moreover, to ensure a better life for herself in the future, Li Yanran felt it was necessary to manage Fusu's residence in advance. With this in mind, Li Yanran nodded in agreement without hesitation.
Li Si pondered that if his daughter could excel at the academy and make connections with more daughters of powerful figures, it might bring new opportunities to the Li family. Moreover, with his daughter at the academy, he could also learn more about various developments. Therefore, attending the academy wasn't necessarily a bad thing; it might even help the Li family overcome its current difficulties and solidify its future. Thinking this, Li Si nodded slightly, acknowledging his approval of his daughter's decision to go to the academy.
Overjoyed at receiving approval, Li Yanran quickly thanked her father, left Li Si's study, and began preparing for the entrance exam for the Great Qin Women's Academy.
Inside the main hall of Xianyang Palace, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the carved beams and painted rafters, casting golden beams that illuminated the entire hall. King Ying Zheng of Qin sat high on his majestic throne, his cold and stern face appearing even more imposing in the interplay of light and shadow, exuding an aura of authority without anger.
Your Highness, the Wei envoy, dressed in magnificent yet somewhat restrained attire, respectfully presented a confidential letter. His hands trembled slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, as if he sensed the invisible pressure in the hall.
King Ying Zheng of Qin, expressionless, reached out and accepted the secret letter from the State of Wei handed to him by Fu De with both hands, his movements seemingly casual. Then, he casually picked up a sharp dagger from the table, gently pried open the wax seal, producing a crisp "click" sound that was particularly clear in the silent hall.
The King of Qin slowly unfolded the secret letter, his gaze sweeping over each line, his brows gradually furrowing into a deep frown. The letter stated that Prince Ji of Wei had voluntarily come to Qin to study and wished to take the entrance exam for the Great Qin Academy.
After reading it, the King of Qin suddenly raised his head, staring intently at the Wei envoy with eyes that seemed to see right through him. He made no attempt to hide his surprise and asked directly, "Does Wei want to send Crown Prince Ji to Qin as a hostage?"
The Wei envoy was caught off guard by King Ying Zheng's sudden and direct question. A moment of embarrassment flashed across his face, and a slightly stiff smile appeared on his lips. He had meticulously rehearsed the meeting scene countless times in his mind, expecting the King of Qin to exchange a few polite greetings before gradually steer the conversation to the point. However, he never expected the King of Qin to be so decisive and get straight to the point.