A shifty-looking man was lurking by the wall. After exchanging glances with Mr. Hugh, he quietly slipped away.
Xiao Zetian took everything in with a calm gaze, then turned and glanced at Luoluo.
Luoluo immediately understood, using the cover of the carriage to stealthily follow the shifty man without anyone noticing...
On the other side, Mr. Hugh regained his composure but didn’t dare speak disrespectfully to Princess Lily Hayes so openly anymore. Instead, he began to wheedle and argue: "Princess of Qin, you see, since ancient times, men farm and women weave, men rule outside, women rule inside—that’s the way of yin and yang, the way of the world. Now you insist on overturning this, throwing yin and yang into chaos and breaking all the rules. It’s truly inappropriate. If you hand over the position of Dean now, everyone will praise your wisdom and virtue and make you a model for women’s learning. Of course, if you wish to teach, it’s not impossible. You can start a 'Ladies’ Virtue Class,' teaching books like 'The Book of Women's Conduct' and 'The Women's Admonitions,' so women can truly uphold the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, be good wives and mothers, and understand male superiority and female inferiority. This way, you can fulfill your wish to teach as Dean, and everyone will praise your virtue and goodness."
Lily Evans smiled, completely unfazed. "Mr. Hugh, are you suggesting that the glory of Phoenix Academy depends on a man sitting in this chair?"
Mr. Hugh’s face turned red. "It’s tradition! Women should abide by the Book of Women's Conduct, the Women's Admonitions, and never meddle in academy affairs!"
Lily Evans tapped the table, her smile unwavering. "So, if a woman can outperform every man in the academy, she should still be sent home to embroider handkerchiefs?"
"You—your words are nonsense, they defy the teachings of the sages! Outrageous, utterly against the rules!" Mr. Hugh, seeing Princess Lily Hayes unmoved by threats or persuasion, grew so angry his beard bristled. He craned his neck to look into the distance, as if waiting for something, then suddenly raised his voice: "Princess of Qin, your words are truly rebellious. I cannot stand by and watch, nor can the scholars of the realm! If you refuse to hand over the academy, I will kneel outside the palace gate, representing all scholars, and will not rise until His Majesty delivers justice! I refuse to believe that, if the Emperor commands you to relinquish your post, you would dare defy the imperial edict!"
With that, Mr. Hugh straightened his robe, strode to the palace gate, and knelt down, shouting: "For the sake of upholding the teachings of the sages and the rules of the world, I hereby petition His Majesty on behalf of all scholars! I beg the Emperor to issue a decree, dismiss the Princess of Qin from her posts as Dean of Phoenix Academy and Dean of the Royal Mathematics Academy, and order her to return to the inner chambers to do what a woman ought to do!"
Lily Evans leaned forward. "And yet, the Prince of Qin entrusted me with the Prince's Seal of Authority. Does tradition outweigh royal decree?"
The hall fell silent. Even the staunchest conservatives hesitated, glancing nervously at the Prince's Seal displayed on the table.
Mr. Hugh opened his mouth, but no words came out. Lily Evans’s authority was, for the moment, unshakable.
Outside, the petitioners waited, clutching their scrolls and whispering about the fate of Phoenix Academy.