Time to go study!

Upon hearing this, Yang Fei's already small eyes widened instantly, reaching two or three times their normal size. "Are you crazy?! Do you even know who those royal relatives are?! How could ordinary mortals like us possibly investigate them?"

Zhang Mobai reached under the table and pinched Yang Fei's thigh hard, but smiled and said to Tang Feng, "It's okay, little brother. If you want to investigate, we'll investigate with you." Then he turned to Yang Fei with a forced smile and gritted teeth and asked, "Yang Fei, is that right?"

"Yes, yes, we're with you, we're with you!" Yang Fei winced in pain as Zhang Mobai pinched her, twisting her body in an attempt to ease the pain. But Zhang Mobai wouldn't let go, so she had no choice but to agree.

Tang Feng didn't look up at Yang Fei's portrait. Instead, he propped his head up, staring at the corner of the tablecloth he was rubbing in his hand. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Right now, even if I wanted to investigate, I wouldn't have any ideas. I don't know where to start. There are so many royal relatives living in the palace; getting close to them is a problem."

“There’s no need to worry about that,” Zhang Mobai smiled and continued, “Next spring, we’ll be entering the academy to study, where getting to know the princes will be a piece of cake.”

"An academy?" Tang Feng never expected that, at over forty years old, he would still be unable to escape the fate of going to school.

"Yes! All children of officials of the fifth rank and above will enter the academy after they turn eighteen to study military strategy, tactics, formations, calligraphy, chess, horsemanship, music, tea ceremony, and Taoist arts. After you successfully graduate and reach adulthood, you can be assigned to work according to the Ministry of Personnel's arrangements." Zhang Mobai patted Tang Feng on the shoulder. "Ah! Right! The prince will also enter the academy with us."

After listening, Tang Feng thought for a moment, "Such a good thing? Not only can I investigate the assassination attempt by getting in touch with many princes, but I'll also be guaranteed a job assignment after graduation!" He then asked, "Is this easy to graduate from?"

"That's alright," Zhang Mobai nodded. "Of the subjects I mentioned earlier, you can choose any three to take the exam. If you pass, you can graduate."

Tang Feng's eyes widened. "This is supposed to be an exam?"

"How novel! No exams? How will you graduate then!" Yang Fei looked up at Tang Feng and said with a smile, "If you fail the exam, you'll have to repeat a year!"

Tang Feng was speechless. He was bad at every single one of the 360 ​​professions. If he had to repeat a grade, he would be stuck there forever. But if he didn't go, he might never have another chance to meet the people in the palace, and he would never have a chance to turn his life around. He would just have to hide in his mansion every day, living in fear. "When are we going to this academy?"

"Ah! We'll set off next April, and school will start in early May."

Tang Feng nodded, feeling that he could still cram for the exam during this last period.

When April arrived next year, spring came early once again. Ever since Yang Fei knocked off half of the mask, those people, just as Zhang Mobai and the others had said, had quieted down considerably. At least now, as long as Tang Feng didn't venture into deserted streets alone late at night, he was relatively safe, and he had a peaceful year.

By mid-March, Tang Feng had started counting down the days until his departure. Qin Jiujiu initially thought he was obsessed, but when she learned he was going to study at Lishan Academy for over three years, she locked herself in her room and cried on and off for days. Tang Feng seemed like a pampered young master to her; now he was going to be away from home for so long, with no one to take care of him. What if he got hungry, cold, or sick?

Liu Yiwan stood helplessly to the side, handing Qin Jiujiu a handkerchief and saying, "Miss Jiu, please don't cry. Young Master still has Young Master Zhang and the others by his side! The food at the academy is good, and the teachers are responsible. There's nothing to worry about. Look at our master, he's not worried at all, and is even quite happy."

"What do you know?" Qin Jiujiu rolled her eyes at Liu Yiwan. "Xiao Feng has never suffered any hardship outside. Look at his skinny body."

"Oh my, my dear Jiu Jiu," Liu Yiwan looked around and, seeing that Tang Feng wasn't nearby, whispered in Qin Jiu Jiu's ear, "The young master of the Zhou family is going this time too! Our master is very happy about this! Besides, the young master is highly skilled in martial arts, so you don't need to worry about our young master's safety."

"You dare mention him! Have you all forgotten how Xiaofeng almost committed suicide because of him last time?!" Qin Jiujiu pushed Liu Yiwan aside, got up, grabbed her sewing kit, and left.

These past few days, Tang Feng had been quite free, so he asked Qin Liuliu for leave, thinking he'd be leaving soon and wanted to spend a few more days playing with him. "Brother, I want to fly a kite!" Qin Liuliu had grown quite a bit taller since last winter, almost reaching Tang Feng's chest now, and had become much more sensible. The only thing that hadn't changed was that he still clung to Tang Feng's backside, wanting candied hawthorns.

Tang Feng thought for a moment, "Flying kites? That sounds good," and nodded in agreement, "Go to the Zhang residence and ask your brother Mo Bai to come along."

Qin Liuliu, having received her reward, happily went out. Seeing Qin Liuliu leave, Tang Feng called over Liu Yiwan, who was guarding the door, and said, "Liu Yiwan, go to the East City and buy me a kite."

"Alright, young master! What kind would you like?"

Liu Yiwan's question stumped Tang Feng. Although he had played with kites before, that was in modern society, where all sorts of kites existed. He really didn't know what kind of kites were available now. "Oh, whatever! Just make sure you have one."

Liu Yiwan took the silver and went out to the east of the city. He happened to run into Lu Changyuan's pageboy. Ever since his young master had been humiliated by Tang Feng, Lu Changyuan's pageboy had been giving Liu Yiwan the cold shoulder and looked like he was gritting his teeth. He stepped forward and nudged Liu Yiwan with his shoulder, saying, "Oh! Who do you think this is? It's Tang family young master's servant!"

Liu Yiwan cursed inwardly, then looked around as if he couldn't see anything. "Hiss~ Such a beautiful day, why do I feel something making a fuss! Could it be that Widow Wang's donkey is in heat?"

The pageboy frowned, clenched his fist, and grabbed Liu Yiwan. "Liu Yiwan, what do you mean by that! Making such sarcastic remarks over there!"

Since Tang Feng transmigrated, Liu Yiwan hasn't learned much else, but she's become incredibly adept at teasing people and playing dumb—she's even surpassed her master. Seeing Lu Changyuan's pageboy pull her away, Liu Yiwan rolled her eyes and muttered a curse under her breath, then turned around with a smile and bowed to the pageboy, "Oh! Isn't this...you're here too!"

"Lu Hai!"

"Ah! Yes, yes, Lu Hai, Brother Lu, my apologies!" Liu Yiwan chuckled at Liu Hai and turned to leave, but Lu Hai held him tightly.

"Liu Yiwan, your young master has been quite arrogant lately! Don't think that just because he wrote a poem, he can brag about it for the rest of his life. My young master was born into a second-rank official family and has been well-versed in the classics since childhood. He is exceptionally talented and learned, far superior to your crybaby young master."

Liu Yiwan was seething with anger inside, but on the surface, she remained calm and composed, showing no emotion. "Ha! Yes, yes, yes, your young master is well-versed in the classics, highly talented, and learned, yet he still can't write timeless, enduring poems." After a pause, Liu Yiwan added softly, "If he could, he wouldn't need to come to our mansion, sitting on the ground crying and begging my young master."

Lu Hai trembled with anger, the books on his shoulders shaking. "You...you, you, you! Your young master! Your young master and that young marquis will never grow old together in harmony! The young marquis has been guarding the border for so many years, all because your young master always had a long face and acted like a doormat, constantly bothering him. Now that the young marquis is guarding the border, I reckon he's already found a better match. Who would care about him anymore!"

After listening, Liu Yiwan suppressed the urge to punch him, gritting his teeth as he said, "How dare you, servants, discuss choosing a better match? Even so, this is my young master's family matter, none of your business!" He then turned and left, ignoring Lu Hai's sarcastic remarks. However, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He felt he hadn't handled the argument well, giving Lu Hai an opportunity to take advantage. But then he thought again, perhaps it was because his young master and the young marquis's love wasn't steadfast and unwavering, allowing Lu Hai to seize the opportunity. No, he had to do something for his young master's love. Thinking this, Liu Yiwan, who had already reached the kite shop, turned back to the custom kite shop next door. As he took out his money, Liu Yiwan clutched his wallet tightly, his heart bleeding, thinking, 'Young master! You must stand up for yourself, otherwise the half the money I paid for this custom kite will be gone!'

The next day, Tang Feng invited Zhang Mobai and Qin Liuliu to go kite flying together. The group boarded a carriage and headed towards the outskirts of the city. When they arrived, they saw the sky filled with all sorts of kites. Tang Feng, helped down from the carriage by Liu Yiwan, looked up and saw people sitting on the grass chatting and toasting, and others flying kites with children. The scene was as lively as the market in the north of the city. Liu Yiwan took out the kite she had prepared the day before from the carriage, then took out the kite frame, tied the two together with straw rope, and stood in front of Tang Feng.

"Young Master, everything's ready! Shall we let you go or not?"

Tang Feng gave it a quick look. "Looking at it this way, the craftsmanship is quite good, but this kite is really long." The kite's tail trailed far away, almost reaching Zhang Mobai's feet, who was five or six meters away. "Liu Yiwan, you did a great job! I've never seen anyone as reliable as you." Tang Feng was extremely satisfied with the kite. If it flew up, wouldn't he become the brightest star in the entire Xiling City?

"This kite is quite big!" Zhang Mobai squatted on the ground for a while, then chuckled softly. As if trying to hide something, he bit his lip, cleared his throat, and said, "This kite is so big, it's probably difficult for one person to fly it alone. I'll go help Liu Yiwan!" He then rolled up the kite that was dragging on the ground and said to Liu Yiwan, "I see there aren't many people up ahead, so let's get the kite airborne first, and then raise it higher."

"I'll join too!" Tang Feng realized Zhang Mobai's words made sense; the kite was enormous, and even the two of them might have a hard time keeping it flying.

"No need, no need, you can just stand over there with Liu Liu and the others." After saying that, Zhang Mobai and Liu Yiwan walked towards the open space. Liu Yiwan finished winding the kite string and left a section out, holding it by hand. "Young Master Zhang, I'm all done here, are we ready now?"

Zhang Mobai, holding the back half of the kite, stood behind and nodded, then smiled. "Liu Yiwan, you're really brave to do something like this. Aren't you afraid your little brother will scold you?"

April is a windy month, and Zhang Mobai spoke clearly, but by the time it reached Liu Yiwan's ears, he couldn't hear what he was saying. Liu Yiwan just chuckled at Zhang Mobai, grabbed the kite, and ran off. Despite the strong wind, the kite, though long, quickly soared into the air. Liu Yiwan then reeled in and let out the kite string. "Young Master Zhang, would you please go and call my young master?"

After being called over by Zhang Mobai, Tang Feng shielded his eyes from the sunlight and looked up. His family's kite stood out majestically among the other small kites. He was about to praise Liu Yiwan when he looked closer and realized the kite didn't have any pattern printed on it, but rather several large characters: "Zhou Ziliang will always belong to Tang Feng!" No wonder the kite was so long! It turned out that little bastard Liu Yiwan had printed the words on it. Tang Feng was about to curse when he saw people gathering around, pointing and whispering at him.

"Oh dear! This young master Tang is acting crazy again."

"That's right! See? They were acting all high and mighty just a couple of days ago, and now they're back to their old ways."

"Mommy, Mommy! What does it say on this big kite?!"

"What are you, a mere child, asking about?"

Tang Feng grabbed Liu Yiwan's ear, gritted his teeth, and tried to keep his voice down, "Can you explain this to me properly?!"

"Young Master! I'm just defending your status as the Lady of the County!"

"Defend your grandma's legs! Get them off right now!" Tang Feng finally understood what it meant to be "deadly." He felt like half of Xiling City was watching him. "Hurry up! Did you hear me?!"

Liu Yiwan, rubbing her ear which Tang Feng had pinched red, said somewhat aggrievedly, "Young Master, I didn't protect my grandmother's leg. She passed away a long time ago. Also, this kite might need to be flown for a while longer; it might not be able to come down for a bit."