CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 104: THE BEAUTY FORMULA HAS PROBLEMS

Zheng Yuanfeng calmly confronted Teacher Li, "There is a distinction between men and women, but there is no distinction in knowledge based on gender.

There is a difference in the breadth of knowledge, but if one were to label gender, saying men’s knowledge is inherently broader, and women’s is inherently limited, wouldn’t that be absurd?"

Teacher Li was furious, his eyes bulging with rage as he shouted, "Since ancient times, it has been male superiority and female inferiority; what’s so absurd about that?"

Zheng Yuanfeng further mocked, "Nowadays, some women, though discriminated against because of their gender, possess knowledge that would make men feel ashamed and lower their heads, not daring to speak.

Take, for example, Great Meng Country’s female top scholar Cao Chengtong and women like Teacher Wan; they’re talents you couldn’t find even if you searched the world with a lantern.

If any rough farmer claimed to be better than them, then wouldn’t all the women in the world die of grievance?

Or does Teacher Li think, grieving has nothing to do with anyone, it’s just the observers who fear being embarrassed?"

Zheng Yuanfeng implied that grievance doesn’t actually concern women themselves; the ones blushing, the ones embarrassed, should be these prejudiced grand gentlemen.

Whether you discriminate or not, some women’s exceptional wisdom and vision are right there, and they won’t be diminished one bit by your discrimination.

Teacher Li’s face turned pale with anger, his lips quivered a few times, wanting to curse yet feeling it’s not appropriate.

No, his status wouldn’t allow him to curse openly.

He had to hold back!

No one had ever counterargued against this topic before, because the notion of male superiority was almost universally accepted.

"Zheng Yuanfeng, do you know, you’re speaking on behalf of women’s rights, your remarks are shocking, I see you don’t want to take the imperial exams anymore!"

Compared to Teacher Li’s furious disposition, Zheng Yuanfeng was much calmer, "Why does Teacher Li say this? Since it’s a debate topic, there should logically be arguments and counterarguments. Can’t Teacher Li provide an impartial opinion?"

Teacher Li had accidentally noticed that Yu Wanying’s recent exam papers had all been graded as a lower B-grade, and he was ready to confront Zheng Yuanfeng.

But unexpectedly, Zheng Yuanfeng’s sharp retort left him speechless.

Yu Wanying’s money he had already received, failing to get things done wouldn’t do.

Teacher Li’s face turned green, "This topic is controversial, let’s discuss it again another day. But from now on, you don’t need to grade papers and assignments from the Women’s Virtue Academy."

Teacher Li reached for Yu Wanying’s papers as he spoke, but Zheng Yuanfeng held them down.

"The papers from the Women’s Virtue Academy were entrusted to me by Teacher Wan, Teacher Li, if you want to take them, you’ll have to ask Teacher Wan."

To make things difficult for Yu Wanying, he had been helping Teacher Wan to compile tests and assign problems lately, was that easy for him!

When Teacher Li heard Zheng Yuanfeng mention Teacher Wan, his head immediately ached.

To ask who Teacher Wan was, she was the wife of the Academy Director Bai Shixi!

Teacher Wan is not only Yangcheng’s sole female teacher, she has a high reputation at Qingquan Academy and Women’s Virtue Academy, and when she loses her temper, even the Dean, Old Bai, fears her.

Someone feared by the dean, as a teacher hired by Bai Shixi, he dared not provoke her.

Usually, Teacher Wan often opposed him over the teaching matters at the Women’s Virtue Academy.

Zheng Yuanfeng is very liked by Teacher Wan, and if it really reaches her, it would be a huge embarrassment.

Seeing that no one was around now, Teacher Li decided to make a quick exit and deal with Zheng Yuanfeng another day.

Zheng Yuanfeng looked at Teacher Li’s disheartened back, filled with disdain.

Such a person deserves to be called a teacher?

As soon as Teacher Li returned to the Women’s Virtue Academy, he saw Teacher Wan rushing towards him, just as Teacher Li was about to vent his grievances to Teacher Wan.

He saw Teacher Wan ignoring him, her face flustered as she rushed past him.

Something’s not right, it’s supposed to be Teacher Wan’s time to teach female students how to mix incense.

The girl beside Teacher Wan just now seems to be Yu Wanying’s maid, could something have happened to Yu Wanying? Teacher Li quickly followed.

Teacher Wan had noticed Yu Wanying looking unwell a few days ago, and had specifically advised her to rest more and not stay up late.

Yu Wanying didn’t feel anything was amiss with herself and disregarded Teacher Wan’s advice.

Her maid Xiaocui only diligently took care of Yu Wanying’s daily needs, refraining from speaking out of turn in front of her.

Even as Yu Wanying visibly grew pale, Xiaocui didn’t dare to ask a question.

She knew the Eight Whites Powder Yu Wanying used daily to wash her face was specially sent from the Capital by Qin Concubine for her young miss.

Qin Concubine also said the Eight Whites Powder is a palace secret formula, using it daily would make the skin smoother and as pure as jade.

She claimed she had specially requested it from Princess Consort Huainan, only then got the fine beauty formula.

After using Eight Whites Powder for some time, Xiaocui noticed her miss’s skin seemed to have yellowed a bit, but she didn’t dare speak up, afraid Yu Wanying would scold her for lacking insight.

Maybe this stuff starts yellow and then turns white, Xiaocui thought.

Until last night, Yu Wanying felt irritation and unbearable itching on her face, neck, and arms.

This morning, looking in the brass mirror, she found signs of ulcers on her face.

Yu Wanying was so scared she threw the brass mirror to the ground, shouting for Xiaocui to quickly get a doctor.

The Women’s Virtue Academy was closed to outside access; to bring a doctor in, it naturally needed Teacher Wan’s approval.

Teacher Wan was also frightened upon seeing Yu Wanying.

Yu Wanying’s skin was a ghastly greenish yellow interspersed with blood red, her veins pulsing under the skin were vaguely visible, and several blisters had burst, oozing yellow pus, looking like someone suffering from a plague, extremely disgusting.

Teacher Wan covered her nose and took a step back, fearing Yu Wanying had a contagious disease. Just then, she heard Teacher Li’s exclamation and quickly turned to him, "You’ve come just in time, hurry, send her to her uncle’s for treatment, don’t let her return for classes until she’s well."

Teacher Li took special care of Yu Wanying not only because Yu Wanying gave him money, but also because he once shared a classroom with Yu Wanying’s uncle, Yu Zhenwen.

Seeing Yu Wanying in this state, he immediately instructed Xiaocui to gather her miss’s belongings.

Teacher Wan stood outside and dared not enter, averting her gaze, suppressing her nausea, she asked, "How did this happen? Did she eat something she shouldn’t have?"

The meals at the academy were standardized, but these young ladies weren’t lacking in funds.

They would dispatch their maids to prepare other foods separately,

like bird’s nests and desserts.

Yu Wanying’s pain and itchiness made her teeth chatter uncontrollably, producing a grating sound.

She struggled to resist the urge to scratch her face, "The Eight Whites Powder my mother sent me has a problem."

Her mother wouldn’t harm her; surely it’s the recipe from Princess Consort Huainan that’s problematic.

Her mother is so naive; Princess Consort Huainan is Yu Yanran’s future mother-in-law, definitely in cahoots with Yu Yanran, how could she sincerely give them a good formula?

Her mother thought herself so clever, yet now she’s put her in a terrible position; who knows if her mother has used this stuff?

If her mother harms her own appearance, losing father’s favor, Yu Wanying couldn’t bear imagining their future lives.