Stealing Your Man
Set up literacy classes, select and compile textbooks, train teachers, and establish new-style schools...
In the days that followed, Princess Jade Hayes was so busy she barely touched the ground. With Lola, Martin Wu, and the students from the Foreign Language Academy, she rolled up her sleeves and dove into the work with fiery enthusiasm.
At first, Princess Jade Hayes would tease Martin Wu and Lola, calling them 'Grand Academicians.' But seeing how things were shaping up, she stopped joking and formally petitioned as Chancellor, asking Alexander Hayes to officially appoint Professor Lola and Professor Wu as the Grand Academicians of Qin, responsible for education nationwide—essentially, the Ministers of Education overseeing all matters of learning.
When the news reached Martin Wu's hometown, her parents were overjoyed. They never expected that their carefully nurtured youngest son hadn't even sat for the imperial exams, yet their eldest daughter had become a Grand Academician.
With Princess Jade Hayes leading the way and now two female Grand Academicians emerging, people gradually grew accustomed to women holding official positions at court. There was even a running joke among the common folk: 'Having daughters used to be useless, but now it turns out daughters can be quite valuable.'
With the Lady Chancellor and the female Grand Academicians at the helm, a trend of women studying and entering officialdom began to spread across Qin. But that's another story for later.
Meanwhile, Princess Jade Hayes was so busy that even Alexander Hayes's son, Xiao Chang'an, only had a modest first birthday celebration, and she saw her husband even less often.
Both husband and wife were swamped, barely exchanging more than a few words on most days.
This constant busyness and lack of time together was seen by some as the perfect opportunity to slip in and stir things up!
Mia Qian had been cooped up in her room for days, rarely leaving the courtyard. Even her sisters, Chloe Qian and Vivian Qian, seldom got the chance to speak with her.
"Grandpa!" Mia Qian, finally feeling ready, rushed off to find Quentin Qian.
"Mia, what brings you to Grandpa?" Quentin Qian looked at his eldest granddaughter, seeing her spirits lifted, and was quite pleased.
Mia Qian took her grandfather's arm and said, "Grandpa, I've come up with a new plan that will definitely win the King's heart. But given my status, if you don't help me, I'm afraid it'll be hard to even see His Majesty."
Quentin Qian chuckled and stroked his beard, "Good child—"
Mia Qian smiled, "Don't worry, Grandpa. This time, I'm sure I'll catch the King's eye. Before, I was stubbornly trying to compete with that country girl at her strengths, but now I've decided to play to my own. As a woman, I should stick to my proper role—managing the household, supporting my husband, doing needlework, being gentle and obedient. That Queen of Qin is far too domineering, so I'll show the King my gentle, caring side and let him see how special I am!"
"Oh! Good Mia, you really have put some thought into this. Tell me, how do you want Grandpa to help you?" Quentin Qian asked.
Mia Qian leaned in and whispered in Quentin Qian's ear, "Grandpa, when you go to see His Majesty, just say..."
After Mia Qian finished her whispered instructions, Quentin Qian's eyes lit up with approval. "Mia, your plan is clever, and this time you've really put in the effort. Grandpa believes no man can resist your gentle approach. I'll take care of it—soon, the King of Qin will be our family's prized son-in-law!"
Quentin Qian immediately went to find Alexander Hayes, while Mia Qian was positively smug, humming to herself, "Su Li, you country bumpkin, it's your own fault for being so domineering and making the King forget what a gentle woman feels like! So don't blame me if I steal your man!"