The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Chapter 156 Cen Jiexiao meets Chai Ling

"Your Majesty, I am terrified. There are undercurrents in the government right now. Please put state affairs first." Cen Jiexiao knelt down hurriedly and explained hurriedly, trying to hide her inner panic and the slight throbbing that should not have existed.

Chai Zhen looked at Cen Jiexiao kneeling in front of him, and a trace of hurt flashed in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"Cen Jiexiao, I..." He wanted to say something, but didn't know where to start. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly, "Oh, forget it, you can go back. There have been a lot of things going on lately, and some people are distracted. Don't let anyone else know what happened just now."

He turned around, his back facing Cen Jiexiao, and there was a hint of loneliness in his tone that he himself was not aware of.

Cen Jiexiao looked at Chai Zhen, who had his back to her, feeling mixed emotions. She slowly replied, "As you wish!"

Then, Cen Jiexiao ran out of the palace as fast as a kitten that had escaped from the hand. On the way, Cen Jiexiao looked back at Chai Zhen, but Chai Zhen still had his back to her. Cen Jiexiao thought that maybe it was best for them not to see each other at this time, so as to avoid the embarrassment after looking at each other.

By the time Cen Jiexiao returned to Zhaoyin Academy, the setting sun had already dyed half the sky red. All the way, she kept thinking about the look Chai Zhen had given her. That burning gaze had made her panic-stricken, like a frightened deer, wanting to escape but having nowhere to go.

She walked quickly into her room, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down. "No, Cen Jiexiao, you can't think about this anymore! Chai Zhen is the emperor, and you are just a subject. There is no possibility between you two!"

She shook her head vigorously, trying to put aside those messy thoughts, but she couldn't help but think of the feeling when Shai Zhen held her wrist. The strong masculine scent made her cheeks hot.

Forget it, I can’t let my imagination run wild. I have to find Xiaozhi and Yulan as soon as possible to discuss how to deal with Princess Jueling. This is the top priority right now!

Cen Jiexiao immediately called her two good friends and told them everything about her experience in the palace and Chai Zhen's promise.

After hearing this, Xiaozhi smiled and comforted him, "I told you so. The Emperor cares deeply about me. With the Emperor protecting us, why should we be afraid of Princess Jue Ling? How could she possibly go against the Emperor?"

Yu Lan, however, wasn't as optimistic as Xiao Zhi. She frowned slightly and analyzed, "Princess Jue Ling wants to investigate us. I'm afraid someone in the court is gossiping and deliberately slandering our academy. In my opinion, we can't just sit there and wait for death. We have to take the initiative."

Cen Jiexiao nodded and asked, "Yu Lan, what do you think?"

"Why don't we visit Princess Jue Ling and tell her the true situation of the academy? Seeing is believing, hearing is not. Once she sees with her own eyes the new education of our academy and the measures we take for the country and the people, she will naturally no longer believe in slander." Yu Lan suggested.

Cen Jiexiao pondered for a moment and decided that Yu Lan's suggestion was a good idea. Rather than passively waiting for Princess Jue Ling to send someone to investigate, it would be better to take the initiative and resolve the misunderstanding.

"Okay! I'll follow your plan! Let's get ready and visit Princess Jue Ling tomorrow!"

The next day, Cen Jiexiao brought carefully prepared gifts and went to Princess Jue Ling's residence with Yu Lan and Xiao Zhi.

It can only be said that the difference between royal treatment and that of ordinary people is not a world of difference; it is simply the difference between earth and outer space. Princess Jue Ling's residence is magnificent, with carved beams and painted buildings, and every detail shows the royal style. Led by the maid, Cen Jiexiao and the other two walked through the winding corridor and arrived at a beautiful courtyard.

As soon as you step into the courtyard, you will hear a clear and pleasant sound of the piano, like the sound of flowing water in the mountains, sometimes soft and gentle, sometimes passionate and unrestrained, which is refreshing.

"What great piano skills!" Cen Jiexiao couldn't help but admire.

"Of course, this is the song 'No Tributaries' played by our Princess!" said the maid proudly.

Cen Jiexiao looked in the direction of the sound of the piano and saw a woman in gorgeous clothes sitting in the pavilion, plucking the strings of the piano with her slender fingers. She had an elegant posture and noble temperament.

The woman was in her early twenties, with fair skin, picturesque features, and a pair of phoenix eyes that sparkled with such brilliance that one dared not look directly at them. She was the current emperor's younger sister, Princess Jue Ling.

After the song, Princess Jue Ling gracefully put down the guqin in her hand. Her eyes fell on Cen Jiexiao and the other two, and a playful smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "Cen Jiexiao, you are quite courageous. You actually dare to come to me on your own initiative."

Cen Jiexiao bowed with neither arrogance nor servility, and said respectfully, "Your humble servant pays respects to Her Royal Highness the Princess."

Princess Jue Ling snorted lightly and said nonchalantly, "No need to be polite. Tell me, what brings you here today?"

"Reporting to Her Royal Highness, I came here today, firstly to pay a visit to Her Royal Highness, and secondly to clarify some rumors about Zhaoyin Academy." Cen Jiexiao answered calmly.

"Rumors?" Princess Jue Ling raised her eyebrows and looked at Cen Jiexiao with a smile, thinking that Cen Jiexiao really had her own people and forces, and her intelligence work was extremely thorough.

"I heard that Her Royal Highness the Princess heard some false statements and was quite dissatisfied with my Zhaoyin Academy, so I came here specially to explain to Her Royal Highness the Princess." Cen Jiexiao answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Oh? Tell me about it." Princess Jue Ling asked with interest.

"I heard that Her Royal Highness the Princess thought that my founding of the academy and enrolling commoner girls was misleading the people and damaging the reputation of the royal family." Cen Jiexiao said bluntly.

Princess Jue Ling sneered upon hearing this, "Isn't that so? You're a woman, and instead of staying home to learn needlework and take care of your husband and children, you're out in the open, flaunting yourself in public. How can that be considered unbecoming?"

Cen Jiexiao had anticipated what Princess Jue Ling would say. She calmly retorted, "Your Highness, you are wrong. Women are not confined to the harem, caring for their husbands and raising children. Women can also learn to read and write, build careers, and serve their country!"

"How dare you! You are just a little girl, and you dare to discuss state affairs!" Princess Jue Ling slammed the table and stood up, glaring at Cen Jiexiao.

"I dare not. I am only speaking the truth. Moreover, I am now the Imperial Scholar of Yuyang Province, appointed by the Emperor himself. The education of millions of people in the province, including their knowledge, etiquette, and skills, is my responsibility." Cen Jiexiao met Princess Jue Ling's gaze fearlessly and continued, "Your Highness, do you know that the Great Zhou Dynasty is currently plagued by internal and external troubles, and the people are living in extreme hardship? One of the root causes of this is that some women are unable to read and write, unable to participate in politics, and unable to contribute their strength to the country!"

"You..." Princess Jue Ling was so angry at Cen Jiexiao's bold remarks that her face turned pale, but she couldn't find the words to refute for a moment.

Seeing Princess Jue Ling was speechless, Cen Jiexiao pressed the issue, "I founded Zhaoyin Academy not to attract attention or gain fame, but out of a sincere desire to change the status quo. I want to cultivate more talented women for the Great Zhou Dynasty, allowing them to step out of the harem and contribute to the country!"

"Who do you think you are? Do you think you can change the status quo?" Princess Jue Ling sneered disdainfully.

"Though my influence is insignificant, I wish to do my part," Cen Jiexiao said firmly. "I believe that as long as we work together, united as one, we can change the status quo and create a future where women can have a bright future too, a future they can rely on themselves!"

Princess Jue Ling looked at the confident and determined woman in front of her, and her heart couldn't help but waver. Especially the sentence that a woman can rely on her own future inevitably touched Princess Jue Ling's heart.