Zhulan signaled the carriage to pull over. When the carriage stopped, Zhulan opened the window and saw Zoya standing under the window.
Zoya was dressed in plain clothes, with her hair in a bun and only a jade hairpin on. She no longer looked as lively as before. Zhulan felt sad when she saw this. Zoya enjoyed the wealth of the Duke's Mansion, but in the end, she ruined her marriage because of the Duke's Mansion. It would be difficult for her to remarry in the future.
The woman was so demanding for her dowry that she even sued the man. In ancient times, people cared most about reputation. Zoya's divorce could not be erased by time.
Zoya bowed and said, "Meet the Madam."
Zhulan knew that Zoya's life in the Duke's Mansion was not easy. Rumors could kill people, and women who were of no value to the family would be abandoned. It was obvious that Zoya was no longer useful. "Are you waiting for me at the city gate?"
Zoya admitted generously, "Yes."
Zhulan also said bluntly, "Why are you waiting for me?"
Zoya bowed again, "I originally wanted to spend the rest of my life in seclusion, but the last two issues of the newspaper gave me hope. Today I went to see the dowry farm, and I will spend the rest of my life in the dowry farm."
After a pause, he continued, "Madam, it is a great deed for you to set up a women's college. I also want to contribute, so I want to sponsor women to study."
Zhulan looked at Zoya carefully, and Zoya's eyes were clear. "How do you want to help, young lady?"
Zoya's dark eyes lit up. "I only have a generous dowry, so I am willing to donate half of it to help poor girls study."
Zhulan did not reply, but looked quietly at the woman in front of her. She had not met Zoya many times, and Zoya was always arrogant when they met each other, unlike the indifferent Zoya now.
Zoya looked calm on the outside but was anxious on the inside. She got married and divorced, and the only one she could rely on was herself.
After a while, Zhulan finally spoke, "You can go to the academy and find the academy's female official. She will tell you how to do it."
As she spoke, Zhulan closed the carriage window. The coachman heard the noise and drove the carriages to continue the queue into the city.
Zoya stood there without moving until she could no longer see the carriage of Marquis Zhou's mansion. Then she smiled and said to her maid, "Okay, I can live on my own in the future. You don't have to live in fear with me."
She divorced and returned home. At first, her grandparents felt guilty. But as time went on, her divorce was not decent. Not only did her family members outside complain about her, especially her sisters at home. She saw no hope in life and became more and more depressed every day. She just wanted to escape from the Duke's Mansion.
Moreover, the Duke's Mansion is not a lifelong support. The Duke's Mansion is having a hard time, and the declining Duke's Mansion is facing many crises.
The girl also smiled, "Miss, when are we going to the academy?"
Zoya said briskly, "No hurry, let's move the dowry to the farm first."
At Zhou Hou Mansion, Zhu Lan got off the carriage and saw Yu Die and the others, "Are you guys going shopping?"
Yudie said, "Princess Jingxuan left the palace today. Linxi brought the princess here. We just sent the princess away."
Zhulan, "It's much easier for the princess to leave the palace."
Yu Wen replied, "It is indeed much more convenient. Princess Jingxuan has lost a lot of weight."
Zhulan came to her senses and said, "Linxi must have taken the princess out of the palace."
Yudie smiled and said, "Yes, Linxi brought the princess out to relax."
Zhulan took her granddaughter back to the main courtyard and told her about Zoya.
Yuwen, "She is quite smart."
The first person to sponsor has a different meaning. Now the emperor attaches great importance to the academy, and this is considered to have caught the emperor's eye. If the Duke's Mansion is really defeated in the future, Zoya can also rely on this bond to live well.
Yudie asked, "Grandma, do you agree?"
Zhulan motioned the maid to take the basin away, and said as she wiped her hands, "I have no reason to refuse."
This is a good thing. She will not refuse because of personal emotions. This money will change the fate of many women. The fate of women will change the fate of their future offspring as well.
Yuwen stood up to help her grandmother comb her hair again, took the comb from Qingxue and said, "Zhuoya's dowry is quite a lot, half of it is tens of thousands of taels."
Zhulan: "Yeah."
In the evening, Zhulan and Shuren said, "With the first sponsor, there will be more sponsors in the future."
Zhou Shuren was in charge of the money, and he knew the amount after doing the math. "It will be a considerable amount of money."
Everyone wants a good reputation, and then women's colleges will develop rapidly.
Zhulan also knew, "I originally intended to go to the women's academy for studying, so I'll have to wait a while. It seems that I have to prepare."
Zhou Shuren curled his lips, "By then, I will be proud to marry a girl from the academy. With the subtle influence, the status of women will be improved faster."
"The first female orphans we took in have all applied for the job. These orphans have no parents, and the female officers of the academy have met with many matchmakers recently."
Zhou Shuren stroked his beard and said, "It has become a hot commodity."
"Yes, there are also shameless relatives who have come to the two colleges to claim the children. There have been all kinds of evil spirits recently, and the female officials have been annoyed and have come to me to complain."
Zhou Shuren asked, "Is anyone going back with their relatives?"
Zhulan pointed to her head and said, "They can read and understand things. They have been abandoned since childhood and have experienced the ups and downs of life. How can they be fooled into going back?"
"That's good, so that we won't be tricked and exploited."
"They are all very smart!"
In Chuanzhou, Changzhi drank some porridge, listened to the voice of the servant outside the door, and asked Ding Jue, "Who is the next one to show his courtesy?"
Ding Jue stretched out a palm and said, "Five."
Chang Zhi was speechless, "You don't think that my illness is a good opportunity to take advantage of me, do you?"
“They do think so.”
"Tsk tsk, how fragile do you think I am?"
Ding Jue asked curiously, "Sir, are you really not tempted?"
"Money? Ha, I've seen a lot of good things from your master."
Ding Jue coughed unnaturally, "I'm talking about a beauty."
He thought he was determined enough, but he couldn't help but take a few more glances.
Chang Zhi frowned and said, "It would be better to bribe me with a few rare copies."
There are many beautiful women in the capital, and there is a constant stream of them throwing themselves at him. Since he has a powerful father, those who want to break into the mansion have never given up. He doesn't care about women and has long been immune to beautiful women.
Ding Jue lowered his voice, "I heard people say that you are henpecked."
Chang-Chi, “When did you hear about it?”
"Just now when I was getting porridge for the adults."
Chang Zhi curled his lips. He said this on purpose for him to hear. Facing Ding Jue's curious gaze, he lowered his voice and said, "My wife controls my finances. Of course, I also love my wife."
Ding Jue was confused, "Economy?"
Chang Zhi was amused, "Do you know how people in the capital call my daughter?"
Ding Jue shook his head. He had been to the largest place, Chuanzhou City, and he had no idea about the capital. "Please enlighten me, sir."
Changzhi couldn't help laughing, "Golden baby, my daughter has silver. Where did she get the silver? It was all given by my wife."
Everyone in Beijing knows that his wife is good at making money. How many people envy him for bringing home a mountain of gold. Well, it was his wife who set her eyes on him first!