Destroyed outside, gold and jade inside

Chapter 320 The Academy
"I see that the students study all day. Although they are respectful and polite, they seem to lack the vigor of young people, and most of them are weak and powerless. Some students seem to be stuck in class all day, and they are listless. The Cottage Academy was originally a place to preach, teach and solve doubts, and it was also a place to cultivate useful talents for the court and the people. It would be a pity if it could not teach students according to their aptitude as the sage Confucius said." Shen Xinniang said slowly.

Mr. He frowned halfway, as if a little puzzled.

Shen Xinniang coughed softly, "My idea is to expand the Caotang Academy, add courses to the Caotang Academy, so that students can independently choose the courses they are interested in, and set up martial arts courses for all students, not to make them become capable. A general who is good at fighting, of course it would be better to have such a talent, if you don’t have it, you can also strengthen your body, wouldn’t it be multi-purpose?”

Mr. He looked at Shen Xinniang in surprise, "This is not a trivial matter, is it?"

"That's why I came here to ask Mr. He." Shen Xinniang said, "I don't need to worry about the cost of expanding the Cottage Academy. I will take care of it. I hope Mr. He can think about the courses offered, and I will also put forward some ideas for Mr. to choose. Wu’s course, I hope all students can participate.”

Hearing this, Mr. He looked at Shen Xinniang in surprise, thinking that she was a little girl, so he couldn't help nodding his head repeatedly.

What Shen Xinniang thought was that when they were in Lingshan, the master would not force them to learn alchemy, or to learn formations and talismans, but let them choose according to their own preferences and talents.She is not very clear about the situation in the outer door, but the atmosphere in the inner door has always been very good.Everyone in the teacher's school can learn what they are interested in, and they are very proactive. They are not forced to learn, so learning does not feel hard, but it is enjoyable.

"Miss Shen has a good idea, and this old man will think about it carefully." Mr. He cupped his hands and said.

Shen Xinniang returned the salute, "Mr. Xie."

Mr. He shook his head, "I can't thank you enough."

"For the expansion of Caotang Academy, you don't have to hesitate if you want to come?" Shen Xiniang asked.

"Young lady, you do what you say, with a vigorous temper?" Mr. He stroked his beard and smiled.

Shen Xinniang lowered her eyes, "I just want to do more things when I can do it, so as to comfort the ancestors and not make the living sigh."

Thinking of the deceased Mr. Lu, Mr. He let out a long breath and nodded slowly.

Shen Xinniang left Caotang Academy and returned to the palace, so she asked someone to give a New Year's gift to the servant of the Ministry of Industry who designed and renovated the palace.

The concubine took the initiative to give the gift, but the servant of the Ministry of Industry was overwhelmed by the flattery, and rushed to the palace that day to thank him for his kindness.Shen Xinniang didn't greet him so much, she met him directly in the flower hall, and asked him to help design the project of Caotang Academy.

"The Caotang Academy is not big enough now. If it wants to accommodate more students and offer more courses, it must be expanded. And there needs to be a school field in the academy, so that students can practice martial arts and keep fit." Shen Xinniang spread out the thatched cottage The current layout of the academy, slender and slender fingers lightly tapped on the drawing and said.

Yan Shilang of the Ministry of Industry nodded repeatedly, "Is this what the prince means?"

Shen Xinniang shook her head, "That's what I meant, I asked Yan Shilang for help in private, not in the name of the prince, if Yan Shilang is busy with official duties and can't spare time, then let it go, don't bother Yan Shilang too much."

Yan Shilang quickly waved his hands. The princess spoke so politely, he was very panicked, his cheeks turned red, and he got up and said, "No, no, of course I can find time, I can."

Shen Xinniang heard the words, pushed the blueprint forward, and drew around with her slender fingers, "These places can be bought or approved, how to plan and design, please ask Yan Shilang to go to the Caotang Academy personally, After Yan Shilang has a rough sketch, we will discuss it with Mr. He from Caotang Academy."

Yan Shilang took the drawing with both hands, "It is the honor of the academy and the students that the princess cares so much about Caotang Academy."

Shen Xinniang shook her head, "It's my luck."

There was confusion in Yan Shilang's eyes, but Shen Xinniang didn't say much. After thanking Yan Shilang, she ordered someone to send Yan Shilang away.It is a good thing to be able to make good friends with the prince and concubine in private. I heard that Princess Qi has a lot of private property and spends a lot of money, so she will definitely not treat him badly.Naturally, he couldn't be more happy with such a thing of fame and fortune, so he took the time to go to the thatched cottage on the outskirts of the city.

When King Qi heard that Shen Xiniang was going to start a martial arts course at Caotang Academy, he was not only a little surprised.

"It was Mr. Lu's accident that made you feel very sad? That's why you have such a plan?" Fang Yan asked softly, holding her hand.

Shen Xinniang shook her head slowly, "For one thing, if Mr. Lu hadn't been so powerless, maybe he wouldn't have been murdered so easily without being noticed by others. If he could find out in time... Maybe there's still a chance of survival."

Shen Xinniang regretted the time she spoke.

Fang Yan shook her hand, "It's too sad..."

Shen Xinniang nodded, "There is another one. It is because I went to the Caotang Academy and saw that the atmosphere of the academy is very elegant and harmonious, and the students are very polite. Just studying hard every day is very harmful to the body. If you can practice martial arts to strengthen your body, Naturally, it is better. Moreover, if more students have the opportunity to experience the elegant atmosphere of Cottage Academy, it will be of great benefit. But maybe some people who could serve the court and the common people are not good at reading. Wouldn't it be better if we could recruit talents in an eclectic manner, so that students who are not good at reading can also use their own expertise?"

Fang Yan nodded deeply when he heard the words, "If the master sees all this and what you have done, he will be very pleased."

Shen Xinniang sighed softly, "Actually, I have selfish intentions."

Fang Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, "What kind of selfishness? Xin'er's idea is clearly for the court and for the common people. I can't see where the selfishness lies?"

"Do you still remember that you once said that Lingshan can be rebuilt?" Shen Xinniang asked.

Fang Yan nodded.

"To me, all of this is preparing for the reconstruction of Lingshan. When you can leave the court and return all the power in your hands to the Holy One, we will return to Lingshan." Shen Xinniang was very solemn. Said.

Fang Yan was a little surprised, "You are serious."

Shen Xinniang stared at him, "Do you think I'm joking?"

Fang Yan was silent for a moment, then squeezed her hand tightly, "Okay, then, let's go back to Lingshan together."

Shen Xinniang is getting more and more busy in the expansion of Caotang Academy.While her body was not too heavy, she prepared everything in the early stage.

Mr. He is not a pedantic and stubborn person, although when the Cottage Academy was first established, it was just for the students to have a place to learn, teach and dispel doubts, and pass on what they know and learn from the older people to the younger ones. People, and no more ideas.

But thinking about Shen Xinniang's thoughts, it really is more thoughtful and there is nothing wrong with it.

After He Zhu discussed with other Confucian scholars who taught them, they quickly agreed.

As a result, the news that Caotang Academy made an exception to recruit students spread quickly.In addition to studying various schools of thought in literature and science, there are also martial arts courses, as well as miscellaneous courses such as farming, water control, animal husbandry, etc.

It sounds quite complicated, but students are not forced to learn, only the students' talents and interests are considered.

Caotang Academy has a great reputation, and students flock to it. Although Caotang Academy is not directly controlled by the imperial court, Caotang Academy is undoubtedly a shortcut for poor students to enter the imperial court.

Most of the gentlemen of Caotang Academy were great Confucian scholars at that time, and they were inextricably linked with high-ranking officials of the court. It is a shortcut to enter the court for recommendation. It is not impossible to join the ranks of the gentry all at once if they are rejected by the gentlemen because of their advantages.

So when it was heard that the Cottage Academy was about to expand its enrollment, the people in the capital who were close to the water and the first to get the moon were the first to boil.

The registration place of Caotang Academy is overcrowded all day long.

Originally a student in Caotang Academy, you can also switch to study other courses according to your interests and hobbies, take part-time courses, or major in other courses.

Shen Xinniang has often stayed in thatched cottage these days, listening to Mr. He's suggestion, while looking at Yan Shilang's sketch, discussing the revision of the plan.Suddenly, Shen Xinniang felt as if someone was hiding not far away, secretly peeping all the time.She felt a scorching gaze on her body, and looked back, but there was no one there.

"What are you looking at, my lady?" Jin Xiang could not help asking, having noticed it keenly.

Shen Xinniang lowered her eyes and ordered in a low voice: "Go around and see who is hiding behind those old locust trees?"

Jin Xiang was taken aback, and was about to turn around, but Shen Xinniang grabbed her, "Don't look, just go around, and you'll find it when you go around."

Jin Xiang nodded and left, Dan Xin still didn't understand why.

Yan Shilang handed the sketch to Shen Xinniang. Shen Xinniang looked at it carefully and nodded again and again, "The other ones can be a little later. From registration to completion, there is still Chinese New Year in the middle. There is still time. It is better for the school to be earlier."

Yan Shilang cupped his hands and replied: "The school grounds can be built around the Shangyuan Festival at the earliest."

Shen Xinniang nodded, "Then please take care of Mr. Yan."

Yan Shilang raised his hand to take the sketch, bowed and retreated.

Jin Xiang's voice suddenly came from behind the locust tree, "Who is hiding here?"

Shen Xinniang turned around to look, and there were three and a half teenagers who were slipped out from behind the tree by Jin Xiang.

The three of them lowered their heads very nervously, like children who made mistakes, not daring to look up at Shen Xinniang in front of them, and endured Jin Xiang's scolding without refuting.

Shen Xinniang waved at Jin Xiang, and Jin Xiang stepped forward, "My lady, just now the three of them were hiding behind the tree and peeping all the time, plotting something wrong!"

(End of this chapter)