From cute to empress

Chapter 290: School Dispute

The eunuch's words resonated like thunder in my ears. A joint memorial from Yuelu Academy and Bailudong Academy? What were they planning? Suppressing my rage, I coldly demanded, "Where's the memorial? Present it!"

The eunuch nervously handed me the memorial. I unfolded it and quickly scanned it, my expression growing increasingly grim as the content grew. It clearly stated that the students of Yuelu Academy and Bailudong Academy strongly protested my proposed educational reforms, arguing that they "violated ancestral rules and undermined the foundations of the nation" and demanding that I immediately repeal the reforms and restore the old system.

"Ridiculous! Absurd!" I slammed the memorial on the table, livid. "I'm wholeheartedly devoted to the students of this world, and how dare they be so disobedient!"

"Your Majesty, calm down!" The ministers in the hall knelt one after another, their faces pale with fear. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. I knew that the more I was at this moment, the more I couldn't lose my composure.

"Tell me! What's going on?" I asked coldly, suppressing my anger.

An official in charge of education stepped forward tremblingly and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I understand that the students of Yuelu Academy and Bailudong Academy have expressed dissatisfaction with some of the clauses in the reform plan. They believe..."

"What do they think? What right do they have to think so?" I interrupted him, angrily saying, "I am the ruler of this world. My words are the imperial decree. Are they planning a rebellion?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down. I would never dare to do that!" The official was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground, sweating profusely.

I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself down. I knew that now was not the time to get angry. I needed to figure out the whole story before I could find a solution to the problem.

"Go on!" I said coldly.

The official trembled with fear and quickly said, "Yes, yes! From what I understand, the students are mainly dissatisfied with the provisions in the reform plan regarding the standardization of textbooks and exam content. They believe that doing so will stifle students' individuality and creativity..."

"Nonsense!" I couldn't help but interrupt him again. "I do this precisely to break down prejudices and ensure that all students can receive a fair and just education. How could they..."

Just as I was about to continue, a sudden commotion erupted outside the hall. I was startled, and a sense of foreboding washed over me.

"Your Majesty, this is bad!" A guard rushed in, fell to his knees, and said breathlessly, "The students from Yuelu Academy and Bailudong Academy... they... they rushed to the gate of the palace!"

I stood up abruptly, my face livid. They actually... they actually dared to surround the palace!

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Absolutely not!" Official C panicked upon hearing the students were blocking the palace. He scrambled to his knees at my feet and cried out in horror, "These students are so audacious, openly blocking the palace. They are a sham of imperial authority and unforgivable! Your Majesty, send troops to suppress them immediately. Kill one to serve as a warning to others!"

He shouted at the top of his lungs, sweat dripping from his forehead like raindrops. His expression of fear made me even more irritated. I knew he had a point. Students besieging the palace was a serious crime in any dynasty. If not severely punished, it would inevitably undermine the majesty of imperial power.

"Your Majesty," Zhen Youcai, who had been silent until then, suddenly stood up. His upright posture and determined gaze formed a sharp contrast with the flustered Official C. "I believe this matter needs to be handled with caution."

"Oh? What do you think, General Zhen?" I turned my gaze to him, a glimmer of hope igniting in my heart.

"Your Majesty, these students are hot-blooded and impulsive, and they acted drastically in the heat of the moment. However, their original intention was not to rebel, but to express their demands. I hope Your Majesty will hear their voices," Zhen Youcai analyzed calmly. "If we take strong measures to suppress them now, I'm afraid it will only intensify the conflict and be counterproductive!"

"General Zhen, what you said is absolutely correct," I nodded slightly, feeling relieved by his calmness and wisdom. "Then, in your opinion, how should this matter be handled properly?"

"I believe the most urgent task is to calm the students' anger and understand their true demands." Zhen Youcai paused and said sincerely, "Your Majesty, please go to the academy in person and communicate with the students face to face, listening to their voices to demonstrate your benevolence and sincerity."

Official C turned pale with fear upon hearing this, and hurriedly tried to dissuade him, "Your Majesty, absolutely not! You are a precious person, how can you take such a risk? Those students are so bold, if..."

"That's enough!" I interrupted him sharply, having already made up my mind. I knew that simply avoiding and suppressing the conflict would only exacerbate it. Only by facing the problem squarely could we find the root cause and resolve it.

I looked at the sky outside the hall. The setting sun dyed the clouds blood red, and I felt a mixture of emotions. I spoke slowly and firmly, "Let's go to Yuelu Academy!"

Official C tried to persuade him further, but a look from me stopped him. I took a deep breath, stepped out of the hall, and headed towards the unknown storm... The setting sun cast a faint glow on the bluestone pavement of the imperial city, casting a faint halo on the golden glazed tiles. I rode in a sedan chair and slowly exited the palace gates, followed by a team of elite guards, but they kept their distance to avoid creating a tense atmosphere.

The streets were crowded with onlookers, whispering and discussing, their eyes filled with curiosity, worry and expectation. I opened the car curtain and gave them a reassuring smile, hoping to calm their anxiety.

After a bumpy ride, we finally arrived at the prestigious Yuelu Academy. Even before we approached, I was met with deafening slogans and protests, and my heart trembled with the sound. At the academy's gate, a sea of ​​students knelt, holding banners covered in protest slogans. They were furious, shouting slogans like "Oppose reform" and "Give us back fair education!"

I signaled the guards to stop and dismounted the sedan chair not far from the crowd. There was a commotion among the crowd, but the chanting gradually died down, and everyone's eyes were focused on me. I took a deep breath, and despite the immense pressure, I stepped forward towards the agitated students.

"Long live His Majesty!" Someone in the crowd took the lead in shouting, the voice full of complex emotions, including anger, unwillingness, and a hint of expectation.

I walked to the front of the crowd and stood still, my gaze sweeping across the young, energetic faces. A mixture of emotions washed over me. These students are the hope of Dazhen's future. My original intention for this reform was to create a fairer and more equitable learning environment for them, but I didn't expect it to provoke strong opposition from them.

"I know you harbor resentment and dissatisfaction." I spoke slowly. Although my voice was low, it carried clearly throughout the square. "I have come here today specifically to listen to your voices and to see where my reform measures went wrong."

As soon as I finished speaking, the crowd erupted in a commotion. The students whispered to each other, as if they couldn't believe their ears.

At this moment, a thin-faced man in a long, green robe stepped out from the crowd. He took a deep breath, bowed deeply to me, and said in a clear voice, "I am the president of Yuelu Academy, and I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

Immediately afterwards, an old man in a gray robe and with a long gray beard came out and saluted me, saying, "I am the headmaster of the White Deer Cave Academy, and I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

The two leaders of the academy were looking at me with complicated eyes at this moment. There was worry, dissatisfaction, and even a hint of deep-seated...hostility in their eyes.