Your Highness, your wife has had her virginity mark applied and married someone else.

When I returned to Qingyun Academy, everything had changed, yet it seemed as if nothing had changed at all.

Shen Mingshu still has very few capable people around her.

She didn't ask for another guard from the Zhang family. Zhang Yu wanted to arrange a personal maid for her, but Shen Mingshu already had Chunxue, so she just said she would transfer her when Lüluo recovered from her injury.

Besides that, there's not much else that can be used.

Fortunately, Chunxue is worth three people.

"Chunxue, do you know who Zhou Yuansheng is?"

Upon entering the study, Shen Mingshu found a resignation letter on her desk, causing her heart to skip a beat.

She lost a gentleman so soon after taking office, which is not a good sign.

Spring Snow, seemingly knowing everything, nodded in reply.

"Your Excellency, this man is ambitious and talented. His essay 'A Good Strategy for Securing the Borders' made him the top scholar appointed by the Emperor. However, he does not want fame or fortune. He only wants to cultivate more talented people like himself and dedicate more strength to the people of the world. Therefore, he requested to come here and has been teaching for three years. However—"

Chunxue looked at the resignation letter in her hand, a hint of helplessness appearing on her usually composed face.

"It's just that the students are unruly, especially this year's students led by Prince Yan. Since then, Mr. Zhou has submitted his resignation several times. Last time, it was only thanks to Young Master Lu that he was able to calm him down."

Shen Mingshu asked, "How many times did he mention it?"

Chunxue replied, "It's been once a week since Prince Yan came."

Shen Mingshu then asked, "When was the last time Yan Shang offered his reassurance?"

Chunxue paused for a moment: "Yesterday."

"..." is a talented person who has made up his mind to leave.

But Zhou Yuansheng was also a talent personally selected by the Emperor!

If she were truly forced to leave by Shen Mingshu, how would she explain it to Lu Yanzhi?

Shen Mingshu sighed and rubbed her forehead, "Where is he?"

……

In the classroom.

Shen Mingshu could hear the argument from a great distance.

Zhou Yuansheng: "The people are the most important. If the people didn't cultivate the land and pay taxes, where would the luxurious lives of the upper class come from? Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. You all came here full of expectations. If you cannot bring happiness to the people in the future, what is the meaning of your existence?"

Yan Jing: "Sir, you are mistaken. Our imperial family maintains a million-strong imperial guard to protect the people and repair canals to prevent floods. Isn't it only right and proper for them to contribute their labor and pay taxes? How can you say they owe us anything?"

Zhou Yuansheng, his face pale with rage, slammed his fist on the podium and roared, "The Imperial Guards are forcibly conscripting women, officials are embezzling funds from the canal project, and tenant farmers can't even afford chaff after paying their rent! Can't you see all these problems?!"

Yan Jing suddenly stood up and kicked over a stool: "You, a pedantic scholar who climbed up from the bottom, dare to question the imperial court? The lives of ordinary people are cheap, what does it matter if a few die?"

"If all officials of the Celestial Empire were as indecisive and sentimental as you, where would the dignity of our Celestial Empire be!"

These words were like a slap in the face to Zhou Yuansheng. He stared at Yanjing, then suddenly snapped his pointer: "If all sons of officials treated human life like dirt, I couldn't teach them!"

Turning around, everyone saw Shen Mingshu standing at the door.

Zhou Yuansheng's anger subsided.

They didn't know who the new supervisor was, and assumed that Shen Mingshu had come to see Wei Yuan.

Although it was against the rules, Zhou Yuansheng didn't want to do it anyway, so he calmed down a bit and said.

"get out of class is over, please go inside."

"Mr. Zhou, we're here to see you."

Shen Mingshu saw his handsome face flush red with anger, his clear eyes meeting Yan Jing's still fearless expression, his tone calm yet every word sharp and insightful.

"Does Prince Yan know that the Eldest Princess personally went to the disaster area to investigate, in order to save the very people you speak of as lowly?"

"Furthermore, it is known that when the late emperor pacified the realm, he personally visited civilian areas more than once, constantly persuading the people that the war would not harm them, thus gradually winning their hearts and minds, which led to the prosperous era we enjoy today?"

"When the Prince of Yan belittles the common people, is he also negating all the achievements of your ancestors and your mother?"

"you--"

No one expected Shen Mingshu to dare to embarrass Yanjing in public. Yanjing was also so shocked by the heavy look in her eyes that he didn't react for a long time.

"How dare you! A mere page dares to speak so arrogantly before this young master! Guards!"

Yan Jing roared, "Arrest him! Slap him a hundred times!"

"Yanjing!" Wei Yuan stood up, frowning as he warned, "Mingzhu is now a Superintendent of Personnel under the Ministry of Personnel!"

The moment the words "supervisor" were uttered, the room erupted in uproar.

"Mingzhu has become the abbot?"

"When did this happen? Wasn't the abbot arranging a trip? Where did he get the money?"

"You're so stupid! Of course the academy will pay for it! The headmaster is only responsible for the arrangements and planning."

"Oh, so when are we going on our trip?"

"..."

The topic gradually veered off course. Everyone had been looking forward to a trip, and upon seeing Shen Mingshu, their first thought was not to consider the legitimacy of her promotion, but only to focus on the trip arrangements.

Someone else asked directly, "Master, has the date for the trip been set? My father said it will rain in three days, and the scenery after the rain will be perfect for an outing and composing poetry. Can we postpone it until then?"

The Imperial Observatory was used in this way, which can be considered as conforming to the "will of the people".

Many people looked at Shen Mingshu expectantly. Under the gaze of so many eager eyes, Shen Mingshu's serious face began to stiffen.

The atmosphere on the field shifted instantly.

Shen Mingshu coughed lightly: "Our hospital was preparing for the date, but now we need to deal with a more serious matter."

Shen Mingshu looked at Yan Jing with a stern face: "Young Master Yan, the first lesson for a student is to respect teachers and value the Way. You can rationally discuss different viewpoints on some matters, but you must also know where the bottom line is."

"You don't need the Princess to teach you what to say and what to do, do you?"

Shen Mingshu knew very well that she could no longer keep Zhou Yuansheng with just a few words.

However, Zhou Yuansheng's desire to resign stemmed from his feeling that he couldn't manage the situation and couldn't alarm the higher-ups.

Since that's the case, Shen Mingshu will help him "alarm" the situation.

As expected, when the eldest princess was mentioned, Yanjing fell silent once again, like a wilted eggplant.

"He wanted to discuss things freely, but he was the one who started making a big deal out of nothing. He's incompetent; what kind of lousy book is he teaching?"

Yan Jing snorted and sat down, clearly unconvinced.

Zhou Yuansheng looked wearily at Shen Mingshu, as if all the energy had been drained from his body: "Your Excellency, as you can see, I am truly incapable of continuing to teach. I beg Your Excellency to allow me to retire and return to my hometown."

Shen Mingshu understood Zhou Yuansheng's helplessness at being unable to pass on his ambitions to the next generation. She remained silent for a moment, her voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone present to hear.

"Teaching is like forging iron over a thousand days; it cannot be accomplished in a single day. If you leave, they will no longer even listen to the words 'people-oriented'."

"What you learn from books is never enough. Since you can't truly understand the teacher's earnest advice, why not take this trip and experience it for yourself?"

Zhou Yuansheng was slightly taken aback. Looking into Shen Mingshu's bright eyes, the gloom on his face was instantly swept away.

"Great idea!"

He taught principles for three years, but all he ever saw in his students' writings were empty words.

When Shen Mingshu proposed this method, it was as if he had finally seen a glimmer of light in the fog.

In an instant, the confusion in my heart cleared up.

His face flushed red with excitement again. He nodded and left his homework behind.

"After the trip, everyone must submit a policy proposal on 'the people and the world'."

"ah????"

The classroom was immediately filled with sighs and groans.

Everyone is looking forward to this trip, to have a good time and relax. With this coursework here, who can have any fun?

Shen Mingshu hadn't expected Zhou Yuansheng to assign her a class, and she silently felt sorry for the students for a second.

But he remained respectful: "Mr. Zhou, may I have a word with you?"