Sophia's appearance caused an uproar in the Sorbonne's oral examination hall!
In this era, universities in France, especially in Paris, and particularly academic centers like the Sorbonne, were purely male territories.
Students were all male, professors and lecturers were exclusively male, and even among the auditors, there was no female presence.
Sophia's sudden intrusion into the solemn venue where the annual grand examination was underway, and her loud questioning of the examination itself, not only overstepped the strict academic order but also challenged the conservative traditions of the Sorbonne.
In the back row, several young lecturers immediately flushed crimson.
Dean Doune stood up, his voice filled with both disdain and anger:
"Miss! This is the Sorbonne University, and ladies are not welcome, especially such an offensive and rude lady. Please leave immediately..."
"Professor Durang!"
Sophia completely ignored the assistant lecturer, her gaze sweeping past everyone and locking onto Professor Gustave Durang's face.
Immediately after, her voice suddenly carried a hint of a young girl's playful complaint:
"Are you still going to pretend you don't know me?"
Professor Durang's previously tense face suddenly relaxed, and he sighed helplessly:
"Sophia, why are you here?"
The classroom was once again filled with a buzzing of whispers.
The highly respected Professor Durang seemed very familiar with this noblewoman.
Sophia walked down the steps and approached the judges' panel; Professor Durang stood up and, in the manner and posture of an elder, exchanged a cheek kiss greeting with her.
Immediately, Professor Durang explained to everyone:
"Sophia is my student; I served as her family's French tutor for a period."
"Hiss..."
The murmuring turned into gasps of envy and surprise; Dean Doune also froze in place.
In 19th-century Russian high society, especially in court and aristocratic circles, the adoration for French culture was almost fanatical.
French was not only the common social language, but even French etiquette, art, literature, fashion... were all objects they strenuously imitated.
Hiring French elites as private tutors to educate their children was a standard for every respectable noble, and the salaries offered were often more than three times those in France.
This trend had flourished since Peter the Great's reforms, reached its peak during the era of Catherine the Great, and continued throughout the 19th century.
Young Russian nobles' proficiency in French often far exceeded their Russian, and Tsar Alexander II himself was extremely fluent in French.
So, the fact that Professor Durang had once been Sophia's teacher, while seemingly unexpected, was actually quite understandable.
Sophia lifted her chin slightly, like a proud swan:
"Teacher, the question you just posed to Mr. Lionel Sorel doesn't even compare to the challenging thought problems you used to give me, a fourteen-year-old girl, back then!
Is it because he is the renowned 'Conscience of the Sorbonne'?"
This remark was almost an accusation; the air in the room seemed to freeze, and even Professor Durang's face fell.
Sophia turned to face all the faculty and students on the steps, her expression as cold as her tone:
"My mother, the generous Baroness Alexeyevna, donated 300,000 francs to the Sorbonne out of recognition and reverence for its academic standing.
What she hopes to see is a rigorous academic tradition, noble standards unswayed by any external factors, the purest temple of knowledge! Not..."
Her gaze swept over Lionel:
"Relaxing requirements just because a certain student is famous!
On the contrary, the more renowned a student, the more the Sorbonne should raise its assessment standards, using an impeccable examination to prove the Sorbonne's authority!
To show everyone whether the talents cultivated by the Sorbonne are true gold or mere foam!"
These words were spoken grandiosely and powerfully, yet they made everyone, including the judging professors, feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles.
Sophia gracefully walked to the first row of the auditors' section and sat down:
"Professor Durang, professors, please continue.
I have no intention of interfering with the Sorbonne's examination procedures.
You can certainly announce immediately that Mr. Sorel has passed this... oh, 'existing standard' examination.
I am merely an insignificant auditor.
However, as someone with some connections in Russian high society, someone who loves French culture and yearns to see the Sorbonne maintain its highest standards—
I believe it is my responsibility and duty to truthfully convey the 'actual situation' of today's examination to my Russian compatriots whom I know, and to my friends in court and social circles who are equally concerned about the quality of education at Europe's top institutions."
Dead silence!
The "actual situation" conveyed?
Widely publicized in Russian high society?
The young lecturers and students immediately felt a surge of panic.
To go to Russia as a private tutor! This was a dream job opportunity for many young talents in Paris—especially those who temporarily couldn't establish themselves in the crowded Parisian academic circles!
The Russian imperial court and the aristocracy, both great and small, were not only generous but could also provide them with a path to ascend into high society.
Even the highly respected Professor Durang had once benefited from this path.
If, because of Lionel alone, the overall evaluation of the Sorbonne by Russian high society were to decline, it would undoubtedly be a disaster!
Anxiety spread like a plague through the auditors' section, and an immense, invisible pressure instantly shifted onto the shoulders of the three examiners.
Dean Henri Patin immediately became anxious:
"Sophia, you just said you were only here to observe..."
Sophia ignored the Dean, instead turning her head to look at the auditors' section behind her:
"I hear that reporters from Le Figaro, Le Petit Journal, and La République are all here?
I hope you still possess the independent spirit that French journalists pride themselves on!"
Dean Henri Patin immediately fell silent.
Now, facing the three oral examination judges, was a choice between the Sorbonne's reputation and Lionel's reputation.
The answer, then, was very clear...
"Wait!"
another woman's voice appeared at the entrance of the oral examination classroom.
Everyone looked, discovering a lady dressed in a magnificent long gown, with a noble demeanor.
Dean Doune's eyebrows twitched with anger; in his heart, this was simply a day of disgrace for the Sorbonne.
The lady's voice was utterly calm, yet it resonated clearly throughout the hall:
"I am Lia. Madame Rothschild has entrusted me to convey her consistent trust in the academic integrity of the Sorbonne."
Upon hearing the name "Rothschild," Mr. Doune, who had just stood up ready to reprimand, sat back down.
Lia's voice remained steady:
"Madame Rothschild believes that the Sorbonne's true academic reputation crisis has never been about the difficulty of a student's examination questions.
Rather, it lies in whether it can uphold existing procedures and standards under any pressure, unswayed by any external interference.
To overturn existing judgment results simply because of a so-called 'donor's wishes' – that is the greatest harm to the Sorbonne's academic soul!
If such a thing were to happen, Madame Rothschild would then consider the Sorbonne to have fallen below standard, and years of donations... perhaps a mistake.
Although 300,000 francs is generous, in the long history of the Sorbonne, it is not an extraordinary sum."
"Hiss..."
Another collective gasp filled the room.
Although Baroness Alexeyevna donated 300,000 francs this year, everyone knows the context, and it's highly probable there will be no donation next year.
Madame Rothschild, on the other hand, is different.
She has donated to the Sorbonne for many consecutive years, with the total amount long exceeding 300,000 francs.
Once her trust is lost, the consequences could be even more severe.
Moreover, behind her stands the most influential and generous group of noblewomen in all of Paris.
Dean Henri Patin and the three judges felt their scalps tingle; the Sorbonne's faculty and students had certainly never witnessed such a scene.
Sophia was clearly provoked by the phrase "although 300,000 francs was donated," and stood up, about to say something.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you're discussing so animatedly, but aren't you going to ask for my opinion?"
Lionel's clear voice echoed through the hall.
Everyone finally remembered that there was still a living person standing there!
(End of chapter)
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