RNP Chapter 100 Dad Doesn't Want to Learn a Foreign Language
Chapter 100 Dad Doesn't Want to Learn a Foreign Language
Li Yuanke had already come to a deep understanding of this.
The yield per acre of sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes caught his attention, making him realize that besides wheat and rice, there were other crops that could feed people and were not picky about where they were grown.
The glass produced by Li Yuanyin is much better than the "imported goods." He is currently working on flat glass, which is what Shen Shixi wants.
Previously, they had no idea that different types of glass were made using various traditional recipes.
In the past, it was incredibly expensive to buy even a single glass bead from a foreign merchant.
There's also stone ash, which they used to think was a poison, but if you understand how it's used, you'll find that, as Shen Shixi said, it's a combustible material.
Only by understanding the nature of things in this world can one know how to utilize them.
This is indeed a subject of study.
This field of study is only just beginning.
"Let's do as Xi'er says," Li Yuanke said. "Does Minister Shen really have to resign? I won't allow it! Even if Minister Shen is running the academy, it's for the court and for me. Besides, how can a commoner like him support an academy?"
You retain the rank of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, a third-rank official. I hereby appoint you as the headmaster of Yongxi Academy, to cultivate talent for the court.
Yongxi was the reign title of Li Yuanke. The fact that "Yongxi" was used as the name of the academy represented the emperor's high regard for it, which made it much easier for Shen Xianzhang to run the school.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor! On behalf of all the poor scholars in the land, I express my deepest gratitude for Your Majesty's kindness. I will certainly devote myself wholeheartedly to serving Your Majesty, even unto death!"
"As for the location of the academy, there's no need to choose a new site. I'm granting you Zaoyuan Garden; you can set it up there."
Zaoyuan was originally the villa of the Prince of Yidu, bestowed upon him by the late emperor. With white walls, green tiles, and red pillars, surrounded by lush vegetation and small hills, it had a very good environment. Located in the northwest corner of the capital, at the foot of Xiaotong Mountain, it was a prime location.
Shen Xianzhang was so moved that he burst into tears.
Shen Shixi couldn't bear to look.
My dad got swindled by Li Yuanke and became crippled!
This is not counting.
Shen Xianzhang said, "When Consort Jieyu returned to the Shen family last time, she gave me 50,000 taels of silver notes, saying it was a gift from His Majesty, and asked me to use it to start a school. Your Majesty, rest assured, I will use it all for the school and will never embezzle a single penny."
[My father's temper is really something! Luckily, I made my relationship with Li Yuanke official early on, otherwise, he would have sold me out of everything. Speaking of which, that silver was originally earned from Li Yuanke, it was mine. Now it's being attributed to Li Yuanke, what's going on?]
The emperor smiled and helped him up. "Minister Shen, my money is also considered Xi'er's. I trust you to handle the affairs with it."
Shen Shixi reminded him, "Father, that money is mine. You are my father, but even brothers keep clear accounts. Don't take my money to pay my brother and his family; I definitely won't allow that. You should find an accountant to keep accurate records, because I'm going to check the accounts later!"
Shen Xianzhang nearly choked on his breath, utterly enraged. "You, you, you...you're going to kill me! When have I ever used your money to subsidize your brothers? When have your brothers ever asked you for even the slightest thing? You, you, you, you don't trust me, yet you ask me to open an academy for you?"
He frantically searched for a feather duster, clearly furious. "You're like a cat that's been on the roof for three days straight! I, I, I..."
He found a jade ruyi (a type of scepter), and was about to hit someone with it when Shen Shixi hid behind Li Yuanke. "Father, this is Qian Yuan Palace. If you make a scene, the Emperor will send me back, and I'll never be able to marry again. You'll have to support me for the rest of my life!"
Shen Xianzhang snapped back to his senses, then knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, spare me! I was so angry I lost my mind. I have been disrespectful before Your Majesty. Please punish me!"
Li Yuanke smiled and said, "Please rise!"
He turned to Shen Shixi and scolded, "How dare you make your own father so angry? You're naughty!"
Shen Shixi said, "Father, if you want to open a math class, I have another idea. I met an Arab before and learned Arabic numerals from him. They are very useful for math and also convenient for bookkeeping and making tables. I will compile them into a textbook for you to use in the academy."
Shen Xianzhang was taken aback. He was already quite old. Did he really need to learn a foreign language?
Dad doesn't want to learn a foreign language.
"I'm so old, can I even learn it?"
"Dad, it's very simple, just a basic conversion. Even a pig could learn it in a few days."
Li Yuanke looked at Shen Xianzhang's dark face and tried to suppress his laughter until his stomach hurt.
It was getting late, so Shen Xianzhang took his leave of the palace. He hadn't managed to resign, but instead received a commendation from the emperor, which would make things go more smoothly for him in the future. He should be very happy.
But he couldn't be happy; he was so angry with his daughter that he almost vomited blood.
However, he quickly realized the meaning behind his daughter's words. After all, he was working for the emperor, so the accounts had to be clear.
Inside Qianyuan Palace, Li Yuanke pinched Shen Shixi's nose. "Don't try to play tricks on me. Do you think I don't know why you're trying to anger your father? The 50,000 taels of silver came from my private treasury, specifically for you. You gave it to your father, and now you have nothing left to spend. Aren't you heartbroken?"
Shen Shixi leaned against him like she had no bones, yawned, and her peach blossom eyes were misty with moisture. It was time; she was sleepy.
"What's yours is mine, and what's mine is still mine. If I run out of money, I'll ask you for it. You're my man, it's your duty to support me. I want the best food, the best clothes, the best accessories—the very best!"
Li Yuanke looked at the person in his arms and said, "How about I put my dragon robe on you?"
"Okay!" She smiled slightly.
[You bastard, are you setting a trap? Why don't you just execute my entire family!]
Li Yuanke smiled, picked her up, and the two entered the bedroom. Having already eaten lunch together, they naturally decided to take a nap together.
Having learned her lesson from being scared last time, Shen Shixi dared not cause trouble with Li Yuanke during the day, much less in his bedchamber. It would be a real shame if he held a grudge.
In addition, on regular working days, he spends a long time each time. Does he expect his ministers to wait outside until their tyrannical emperor has finished with his concubines before he can receive them?
After taking a nap, Shen Shixi quickly slipped away, leaving Li Yuanke only able to sigh in vain.
However, he wouldn't treat himself badly, so he came over that evening.
He looked very unhappy.
Shen Shixi was directing people to clear the courtyard, filling in soil where needed, laying bricks where needed, planting flowers where needed, and placing bonsai where needed.
Seeing Li Yuanke alight from his carriage at the door, Shen Shixi rushed over, exclaiming, "The Emperor is back!"
She gave Li Yuanke a kiss on the cheek, then looked him up and down. "Who's so annoying, making our Emperor unhappy again?"
She whispered in Li Yuanke's ear, "Such a handsome older brother, who would bear to make him angry? Tell me, and I'll help you get revenge!"
Li Yuanke's mood instantly brightened, and he carried her inside, asking, "How could you tell I was unhappy?"
He wasn't one to show his emotions easily, and almost no one could discern his feelings. But she always knew precisely whether he was unhappy, irritable, sad, or anxious.
Li Yuanke couldn't resist and leaned down to kiss her.