"Women are not allowed to take the imperial examinations, but that doesn't mean they can't study. Is studying only for the purpose of becoming the top scholar and becoming an official? Can't it be done simply for self-cultivation and broadening one's horizons?"

Like a hedgehog that had been provoked, Doctor Jiang spoke with sharp wit, "You men all go to school with ulterior motives, how worldly! How utterly vulgar!"

"Madam is right!" Murong Jin was deeply ashamed after being rebuked.

Doctor Jiang continued, "She's a woman, so you don't want to take her as your apprentice? Come to think of it, you don't even have a single female student. We came to Jian'an City to find students for you. Since you haven't found one after so long, why not just take this girl as your student?"

“I will teach her medicine, and you will teach her academics. Regardless of whether she becomes successful or not, we have both done a good deed!”

Murong Jin sat outside the carriage, lost in thought for a long time. Over the years, he had been teaching and nurturing students, watching them pass the imperial examinations and become officials. He thought this was his achievement.

But a teacher's role is to impart knowledge, skills, and wisdom. Education itself should be about guiding people through difficulties and imparting knowledge, rather than solely pursuing whether students can become successful.

Does education have no meaning if women cannot become pillars of the nation?

Murong Jin examined his conscience and felt only shame.

He turned and lifted the carriage curtain, saying to Shen Yuan, "I wish to take you as my first female student!"

"teacher!"

Shen Yuan stood up excitedly, her forehead hitting the roof of the car with a thud, as if she had coughed loudly at Murong Jin.

Her trip to Nanlu Mountain was so worthwhile! She gained two masters for free, and they were incredibly powerful masters that others couldn't even dream of becoming her disciples!

On one side, Shen Yuan returned to the pharmacy in the carriage belonging to Old Master Murong with a smile on her face, while on the other side, Aunt Zhao waited for a long time in the mansion but Chu Yuning did not return. She had no choice but to go and find Master Wang.

Because of Chu Yuning's matter, Master Wang also looked very unlucky.

Upon hearing Aunt Zhao ask where Chu Yuning had gone, Master Wang sneered, "You told me he was incredibly talented, a potential top scholar, so I invited him into my mansion and treated him to a good meal. But today I've discovered he's nothing but a good-for-nothing!"

Aunt Zhao looked bewildered. "What makes you say that, sir?"

Master Wang proudly raised his chin, "Today we had a poetry contest. Old Master Murong said mine was pretty good, but his was just so-so! He's not even as good as me, yet he boasts that he's got the talent to be the top scholar. Bah!"

Aunt Zhao frowned, somewhat disbelieving Master Wang's words. "Master, isn't there some misunderstanding?"

Her nephew passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve and was the most outstanding child in the surrounding villages and the best student in Ziyun Academy. How could his writing be mediocre?

Could it be that this old Mr. Murong is getting senile?

Seeing that Aunt Zhao didn't believe him, Master Wang said coldly, "Old Master Murong said that your nephew is neither kind nor wise, not a talent, but a woodcutter, a connoisseur of dried fruit, duck blood, chicken hearts, and braised dishes. He is utterly despicable and extremely wicked!"

"..." Aunt Zhao frowned. "Master, what are you talking about!"

"These are Old Master Murong's exact words! I'm not going to waste my breath on you! I'm going to see my precious son!" Master Wang waved his hand and went to the Liu family's courtyard.

Aunt Zhao stamped her foot. She waited alone until late at night before Chu Yuning, who was drunk, finally returned.

Master Wang had specifically instructed that Chu Yuning was not to enter the mansion, so when Chu Yuning staggered to the gate, she was stopped by the gatekeeper before she could even step inside.

Aunt Zhao didn't dare to let Chu Yuning in on her own, so she could only ask Chu Yuning through the door what had happened at Nanlu Mountain that day.

After hearing the whole story, Aunt Zhao twisted her handkerchief tightly, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.

She really underestimated that brat Shen Yuan!

"Does drinking help? Does getting drunk make you Master Murong's apprentice and allow you to return to Ziyun Academy?" Aunt Zhao said, pulling Chu Yuning up from the ground with exasperation. "Wake up! How can you face your deceased mother? How can you face your grandmother and me with all the hard work we've put in?"

"What good is it to apologize?" Chu Yuning let out a bitter laugh. "She has ruined my entire life. What else can I do?"

"She caused you to miss school and have no teachers, but can she prevent you from participating in the autumn imperial examination?"

Aunt Zhao pulled Chu Yuning aside, thought for a moment, and said, "Zuichunlou is my property. Go there and find Mama Hua, and ask her to book you a private room for now. During this time, you should stay in your room and study until the autumn examination next year."

After saying that, she added worriedly, "Remember, don't get involved with those shady girls in the building."

Aunt Zhao's words successfully reignited Chu Yuning's fighting spirit, and his eyes lit up instantly. Yes! So what if he has a bad reputation? As long as he becomes the top scholar in next year's autumn imperial examination, people will naturally flatter and fawn over him!

Chu Yuning thanked Aunt Zhao and went to Zuichunlou.

Seeing Chu Yuning leave obediently, Aunt Zhao narrowed her eyes. That brat almost ruined one of her good cards. She would never let it go so easily!

Your name is Shen Yuan, right?

How dare a mere girl challenge her!

This time, she made sure she didn't even know how she died!

Suddenly having two teachers, one of whom was the renowned Physician Jiang, Shen Yuan was so excited that she couldn't sleep well all night. The next day, she got out of bed very early and decided to go to Nanlu Mountain again.

Before formally becoming an apprentice, Shen Yuan decided to find a special gift as a formal apprenticeship present: the Crane Blood Flower from Nanlu Mountain.

The two pots of Crane Blood Flower she kept in her shop had somewhat wilted leaves. Although she nourished them with water mist every day, the petals still drooped listlessly, making them unsuitable for giving away as gifts.

Therefore, Shen Yuan wanted to go to Nanlu Mountain again to dig up a few fresh Crane Blood Flowers and give them to Doctor Jiang as a gift for her apprenticeship.

This time, Shen Yuan was well prepared. She not only lengthened her specially made leather rope, but also went to the blacksmith shop to buy two shovels that were more suitable for digging up the Crane Blood Flower.

Shen Yuan handed the pharmacy over to the helper and Granny Liu, and went into the mountains herself.

She stayed at Nanlu Mountain for two days and one night, and finally returned to Jian'an City with three Crane Blood Flowers.

Having learned from her previous experience, Shen Yuan's herb-gathering went much more smoothly this time. She planted the Crane Blood Flower she brought back into a newly bought flowerpot and decided to take the flower to Doctor Jiang's house the next day to formally become his apprentice.

Before becoming an apprentice, Shen Yuan took a bath and perfumed herself to make sure she was clean before going to sleep.

Perhaps because she hadn't slept well in the mountains, Shen Yuan fell asleep on the bed in no time.

She was fast asleep when she suddenly felt someone shaking her arm.

"Yuanyuan, Yuanyuan, why are you asleep? Wake up!"

It was Chu Yuning's voice.

Shen Yuan shuddered and woke up from her dream. She opened her eyes and saw Chu Yuning.