Chapter 152 Making You the Class Monitor
Everyone's expressions were extremely grim; now, even if they wanted to refute, they had no opportunity.
The matter of the Imperial Academy, it seems, is unstoppable.
The two old men, Wang Shushi and Li Deguang, felt as if their worldviews were being repeatedly trampled on.
They had painstakingly prepared a seven-day impeachment drama, and what was the result?
It became a red carpet for Shen Yulou's performance!
This kid is simply a fiend!
Emperor Ren secretly smiled, watching the bitter expressions on the faces of those old scholars.
To make these old fellows suffer, Shen Yulou really has some tricks up his sleeve.
He cursed the Junior Tutor, saying, "What are you pretending for?", and called the Grand Tutor a "stupid donkey."
He absolutely lambasted them!
He cleared his throat and said,
"Since that is the case, the matter of the Imperial Academy will be fully handled by Minister Shen.
The Imperial Heirs Residence will also be merged into the Imperial Academy. The empty courtyard next to the Ministry of War office is large enough and quiet; that area will be given to Minister Shen."
"With a little renovation, it should be a good place for studying."
After speaking, he looked at Shen Yulou.
"Minister Shen, do you have any other requests? Please state them all."
Shen Yulou understood that the Old Emperor was giving him the green light.
He must seize this opportunity to ask for a lot.
He took a step forward and bowed, saying,
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Your humble servant indeed has three requests."
"First, to ensure the safety of the Imperial Heirs and princesses, Your humble servant humbly requests that Your Majesty extend the imperial guards' defense perimeter to cover the Imperial Academy."
After all, he would still be dealing with Li Hui in the future. If this place was also under Li Hui's jurisdiction, he could arrange for some mansion guards to be on alert inside.
Li Hui could help with training and also turn a blind eye.
To put it bluntly, if there were dozens of masters, it wouldn't be particularly easy for the Old Emperor to kill him; at least he would have a chance to escape.
Emperor Ren pondered for a moment. This request was reasonable, as the safety of the Imperial Heirs was paramount.
"Granted."
Shen Yulou continued,
"Second, Your humble servant needs some funds. Your humble servant will provide a detailed list of expenses."
Emperor Ren nodded, "Alright, write it down and report it to the Minister of Revenue."
Establishing the Imperial Academy would certainly require money, and Shen Yulou and Minister Hu were already 'old acquaintances.'
This trip to Minister Hu's place would surely be a fruitful one again.
"Third, to allow the Imperial Heirs and princesses to focus wholeheartedly on their studies, Your humble servant requests that the Imperial Academy implement closed-off management."
"All Imperial Heirs and princesses will only be permitted to leave the residence one day each month. For the rest of the time, they must remain within the Imperial Academy.
If any imperial concubines or relatives wish to visit, they must apply to Your humble servant one day in advance. Only after Your humble servant's approval may they enter to visit."
"In other words, apart from Your Majesty, anyone who wishes to enter the Imperial Academy must have Your humble servant's consent!"
Everyone immediately frowned.
This was even more explosive than the three kingdoms kill just now.
Although they had heard Shen Yulou mention closed-off teaching before.
They hadn't expected it to be this kind of closed-off management.
Not allowing Imperial Heirs and princesses to enter or exit, how was that different from house arrest?
Shen Yulou's words were like stirring up a hornet's nest.
"Absurd! Simply absurd!"
"You want all Imperial Heirs and princesses handed over to one person? Are you trying to isolate them from the world?"
"Shen Yulou, what are your intentions? What if you hold the Imperial Heirs hostage inside and commit evil deeds? Who can control you?"
Wang Shushi was so angry that his beard flew up, and he pointed at Shen Yulou's nose and cursed.
"Your Majesty! Absolutely not! This act is tantamount to confining all the dragon sons and grandsons of our dynasty into one person's hands! This is a path to chaos!"
Shen Yulou faced the accusations of a thousand people without changing his expression.
He said calmly,
"Please calm down, esteemed sirs.
The reason for this is precisely to ensure the absolute safety of the Imperial Heirs and princesses, allowing them to study without distractions.
Esteemed sirs, think about it, how many accidents have occurred in the Imperial Heirs Residence over the years?
If not for this, why would Your Majesty need Your humble servant to wade into these troubled waters?"
"Your humble servant will sign a military pledge: if any Imperial Heir or princess encounters a problem within the Imperial Academy, Your humble servant will offer his head!"
These words directly hit Emperor Ren's soft spot.
Yes, how many of his children had died over the years?
He knew all the dirty dealings in the palace better than anyone.
After Shen Yulou arrived, the Imperial Heirs Residence had indeed become peaceful. Now even the two troublesome ones, Eighth Brother and Ninth Prince, had been set straight.
What harm was there in letting him try?
"Enough!"
Emperor Ren's voice swept coldly over everyone.
"This Official's mind is made up! It will be done as Minister Shen says!"
Wang Shushi and the others immediately wilted, gnashing their teeth, wishing they could tear Shen Yulou to shreds with their eyes.
Just then, Li Deguang suddenly remembered something and spoke up.
"Your Majesty, what about the Seventh Princess? Does she also have to return to the Imperial Academy?"
Seventh Princess?
Shen Yulou was puzzled. How had he never heard of her?
He quietly nudged the Ninth Prince beside him.
Ninth Imperial Prince lowered his voice and quickly explained in his ear.
"My seventh sister, three years ago, Father Emperor bestowed a marriage upon her. The groom was the only son of General Xu Gang, the old general who defended the nation, a young general, brave and skilled in battle.
However, heaven was jealous of talent, and on the eve of the wedding, that fellow was poisoned to death."
Shen Yulou was stunned and blurted out,
"A widow?"
"What are you saying?!"
Ninth Imperial Prince rolled his eyes, "What widow! They weren't even married!
My seventh sister has a terribly stubborn personality. She didn't want to marry at the time, but Father Emperor didn't even discuss it with her and directly issued an imperial edict.
As a result, her fiancé died, and to defy Father Emperor, she directly moved into the old general's mansion and insisted on acting as their daughter-in-law, living as a 'living widow'!"
"The old general only had that one son, and Father Emperor couldn't be too ruthless, so the matter has been dragging on.
My seventh sister is already twenty this year. If this continues, she'll really become an old maid."
Shen Yulou understood.
Goodness, she was still a rebellious young woman.
At the mention of this daughter, Emperor Ren's face instantly darkened, and he snorted.
"Of course she has to enter!"
"As long as they are This Official's children, not one can be missing. All of them must enter the Imperial Academy for This Official!
Eighth Brother and Ninth Prince have both returned for This Official, why should she not return? This is an imperial edict!"
Previously, Emperor Ren had never found a suitable reason to force his daughter back to the palace, fearing gossip.
Now it was good; the establishment of the Imperial Academy was simply a godsend opportunity!
Shen Yulou wasn't particularly interested in this Seventh Princess, as long as the emperor supported his actions.
His little abacus was already clattering loudly.
If he confined these noble children, wouldn't he be able to manipulate them however he pleased?
To make sure their children had a comfortable life inside, wouldn't those imperial concubines line up to give him red envelopes?
Furthermore, once these Imperial Heirs and princesses grew up, each of them would be his student. This network, these resources... tsk tsk, whether it was for long-term investment or offering short-term VIP value-added services, it was a business that would yield enormous profits!
...Leaving the yamen, Shen Yulou directly dragged the Ninth Prince to the empty courtyard next to the Ministry of War office.
"Ninth Prince, this place will be your domain from now on."
Shen Yulou pointed at the somewhat dilapidated palace walls and began to paint a grand picture.
"From today onwards, you are the Chief Commander of Imperial Academy Construction!
Remember this for This Official: the walls must be heightened, as high and as sturdy as the imperial palace walls!
The main gate must be cast iron, the kind that can't be broken no matter how much you ram it!"
Ninth Imperial Prince listened, dumbfounded, and scratched his head.
"Sir, this... this will cost a lot of money, won't it? Can Father Emperor approve so much silver?"
Shen Yulou smiled mysteriously and put his arm around his shoulder.
"As for the money, you pay for it first. When you enter the Imperial Academy later, I'll make you class monitor!"
"Class monitor?!"
Ninth Imperial Prince's eyes instantly lit up, and he became excited.
"If I'm class monitor, then my Eighth Brother, he'll have to listen to me too?"
Shen Yulou patted his shoulder, smiling like a child trafficker.
"That is natural."
"Once you enter the Imperial Academy, it's my domain. If I say who listens to whom, they have to listen to them!"
Ninth Imperial Prince thumped his chest, "Got it! Sir, you don't have to worry about the money; I have quite a fortune."
"I'll trouble Sir with the class monitor position!"