Later, local gentlemen Yang Qingshen and Shen Baozhen jointly wrote to the Fujian general Ying Gua, requesting that the bookstore be converted into an academy to specialize in educating candidates and tribute students from ten counties. Yingzhu, who was also the governor at the time, accepted their suggestions and decided to purchase a private house in Luo Shepu (now the former site of the East Street Provincial Library) and convert it into an academy. The academy was completed in 1870, the ninth year of Tongzhi reign of Emperor Mu Zong of the Qing Dynasty. Taking the meaning of the words of Dong Zhongshu, a Han Confucian, "to correct one's friendship without seeking benefits, and to clarify one's principles without considering merit", and because the academy evolved from Zhengyi Bookstore, the academy was named "Zhengyi Academy". In addition to the original funds of Zhengyi Bookstore, the academy's funds will be supplemented by an additional amount of government funds.
The architecture of Zhengyi Academy is simple and elegant. On the gate of the courtyard, there is a horizontal plaque carved in bluestone with a diameter of more than a foot, and the four characters "Zhengyi Academy" are engraved on it. It was written by Zheng Shigong, a Fujian calligrapher at that time. This plaque is still embedded in the main entrance at the back of the Fujian Provincial Library, and another copy of the original large bluestone plaque is embedded in the stele gallery on the campus of Fuzhou No. 1 Middle School. The academy has a large lecture hall but no study rooms. The five rooms at the back are the Shanzhang's residence, and there is a large living room on the right. In the middle hangs a couplet written and written by Lin Hongnian, the first Shanzhang: "The guests are all important people of the contemporary era. "I only talk about romance here"; "I have said in the past that I hope all living beings will be free from the clouds and thunders" with the Book of Changes "Yunlei Tun gentleman with economics". The Academy of Talented Jingshiren starts recruiting exams in early February every year. , the qualifications to apply for the examination are limited to Juren and Wugong, no paper fee is collected, and no impersonation is allowed. About four to five hundred people apply for the examination every year. Before February 15th every year, the governor and governor would personally visit the academy (initially in Gongyuan) to preside over the Yuan Dynasty Examination. After the assessment of Class A and Class B, fifteen students will be admitted to internal classes (super class), each of whom will receive a tuition fee of four taels; eighty-five students of external classes (special class) will receive a tuition fee of three taels each; and additional classes (first class) will be admitted. One hundred students, no tuition fee (the original quota for internal and external courses is only one hundred students.) The academy stipulates that classes will start every year after admission to the Yuan Kao, and classes will end on the second day of December. When classes are over, the governor and governor will attend the ceremony in person, and students must wear uniforms and salute with the class.