My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 141 Don’t save me until you die
Lu Jinshi closed his eyes and ordered the carriage to head towards the academy.

Lu Jinshi thought that she couldn't save He Jinlan either. The He family had married He Jinlan off to a merchant from another place. She could save He Jinlan this time, but could she save He Jinlan a second time?

He Jinlan is not able to stand on her own two feet. Does she have the kindness to be a good older sister and give He Jinlan a satisfactory marriage?

She should have foreseen this day when she was so proud of marrying Huang Teng.

Lu Jinshi closed his eyes and headed towards the academy, listening to He Jinlan's cries for help grow fainter and fainter.

Once inside the academy, Lu Jinshi had rested enough.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was clear that there were far fewer female students coming to the academy.

Originally, they wanted to follow the example of Miss Xu and study at the academy in order to find a good husband. Now that they have all passed the imperial examination and entered the Eastern Palace, they will no longer come to Lingxiao Academy.

Then these wealthy families would no longer want their daughters to study at the academy.

Lu Jinshi thought that recruiting female students should be done through the proper channels, and at the very least, they should be approved by their families.

In Chang'an, it was difficult for daughters of marriageable age from wealthy and powerful families to be allowed to study, but this was not the case for girls from ordinary families.

Nowadays, Lingxiao Academy provides room and board, so some girls from poor families are allowed to come and study there.

Establishing a girls' school in Chang'an is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it can only be done gradually.

Lu Jinshi instructed Caiyun and Yunfeng: "From today onwards, the academy will cover all the food, lodging and clothing for the female students in Lingxiao Academy. Each female student who comes to study will not need to pay any money. However, there will be an assessment every quarter, with grades of A, B, C, and D. If a student receives a grade of D three times, they will no longer be able to stay in the academy to study."

I will select several female officials from the Imperial Household Department to teach students skills such as embroidery, jewelry making, incense making, medicine, and accounting. Each female student can learn a skill, and even if she is academically incompetent and fails the civil service exam three times, she can still earn a living with her acquired skills.

Caiyun chuckled and said, "Miss, your suggestion is excellent, but it must cost a lot of money, right?"

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "This amount of silver is just a drop in the ocean for the Crown Prince."

Lu Jinshi said, "When recruiting female students, those with wicked intentions should not be accepted. Also, if so many students live in the academy, there will inevitably be some disputes. You must handle these matters impartially and set rules."

"Yes, girl."

Lu Jinshi added, “The girls’ schools in Chang’an are quite different from those in Shanyin. You must pay close attention to them.”

"Yes."

After checking, Lu Jinshi divided the remaining twenty-odd female students into classes. "We will recruit a total of one hundred and forty female students. They will be divided into classes from low to high, namely Kaiyang, Yaoguang, Yuheng, Tianquan, Tianji, Tianxuan, and Tianshu. The Kaiyang class will last for two years, and the Yaoguang to Tianshu classes will each last for one year, progressing step by step. The female students in the Tianshu class should be considered as having the talent to pass the imperial examinations."

Caiyun said, "What if, after reading Yaoguang, a student becomes literate and then no longer wants to continue studying?"

Lu Jinshi said slowly, "Then let her be. However, since students are recruited to Kaiyang at the age of seven or eight, by the time they reach Tianshu, they will be of marriageable age in the common people. I suppose those who can continue their studies may not be willing to leave..."

"As I said before, academic knowledge is secondary in this girls' school. What's important is the academic atmosphere and reputation. If any female student tarnishes the school's reputation, she should be expelled from the academy immediately."

"Yes, girl."

Although Lu Jinshi disdained He Jiayi's words that her premarital pregnancy damaged the reputation of the He family women, it was still quite important within the academy.

Students lived and ate within the girls' school. If they did anything out of line, it would certainly damage the reputation of the entire girls' school.

Lu Jinshi said, "I'll have to trouble you these next few years. If the Chang'an Girls' Academy succeeds, we can promote this academy model throughout the entire Great Sheng Dynasty in the future."

"Yes." After making the arrangements at the academy, Lu Jinshi went to teach in the Tianxuan Class.

Teaching female students is much better than teaching male students; at least they are both treated with respect.

The seven girls in Tianxuan Class are all fourteen or fifteen years old. They usually love reading. They originally wanted to find a good husband like the cousin of the Xu family. They stayed here because they genuinely wanted to study.

The books taught by Lu Jinshi were refreshing and easier to understand than what their teachers usually taught.

Outside Chang'an City.

He Jinlan, bound to a carriage with a strip of cloth tied to her mouth, was filled with resentment.

As He Jinlan recalled Lu Jinshi's refusal to help her, her hatred for Lu Jinshi deepened. However, she hated Old Madam He and Liu Xiuxiu even more.

Her mother, who loved her dearly, sold her to a businessman from out of town for the sake of her twin brother…

He Jinlan clenched her fists. If she ever returned to Chang'an City, she would not let Lu Jinshi, Old Madam He, or He Jiayi go.
-
The autumn air is crisp and clear, and the weather gets colder day by day after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

September arrived quickly.

In the Zichen Palace.

Emperor Huiyuan summoned the Prince of Yan.

When the Prince of Yan arrived, he did not bring any medicine. However, upon seeing Emperor Huiyuan's unbearable headache, the Prince of Yan handed over the medicine he had in his hand.

Emperor Huiyuan opened the porcelain bottle and saw that there was only one pill inside. He frowned and said, "Why is there only one pill?"

Prince Yan knelt down and said, "Father, I don't have much of this medicine left. Consort Rong also needs it..."

Emperor Huiyuan frowned and said, "Bring me Consort Rong's medicine as well!"

Prince Yan said, "Father, Consort Rong is heartbroken and has a terrible headache because of me. If I give you the medicine, what will happen to Consort Rong's headache?"

Emperor Huiyuan said, "I can restore your title of Prince."

The Prince of Yan couldn't suppress the smug smile on his face.

Emperor Huiyuan swallowed a pill and said, "Now, taking one or two pills won't make much difference. Quickly give me the medicine!"

Prince Yan said, "Your Majesty, there is one more matter... Minister Shen was suspended from his post because of my daughter's involvement. I hope Your Majesty can reinstate him..."

Emperor Huiyuan looked coldly at Prince Yan and said, "Give me the medicine first, and I will find an opportunity to reinstate him to his original position."

Prince Yan said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will go back to the palace to fetch the medicine right away!"

After speaking, the Prince of Yan got up and left. When he saw Rong Yi and Lu Jin coming out of the Zichen Palace, his face was full of disdain for them.

However, due to his current status and etiquette, Prince Yan still obediently bowed to Rong Yi and Lu Jinshi, saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Princess."

"Third Brother, there's no need for such formalities," Rong Yi said, raising his hand. "Father said your medicine is quite effective. May I ask where you obtained it from, Third Brother?"

The Prince of Yan said, "I obtained this medicine by chance, and only I know about it."

Rong Yi gave the Prince of Yan a deep look and said, "Then I can only trouble Third Brother to get more medicine for Father Emperor so that he will not suffer more."