Chapter 28 Poetry Party
Zhao Mei pursed her lips, but still didn't say anything.
After Zheng Yanling finished giving her instructions, she realized that Xiao Yuxuan had only been to the girls' school for the first time, but the annotations in the book were already quite old and obviously not hers. Feeling embarrassed, she looked up at Zhao Mei, whose face was flushed.
"Young lady, is this your book? I'm sorry, I had a preconceived notion."
She apologized quickly, and Zhao Mei, realizing what was happening, waved her hands repeatedly.
"It's alright, it's alright. I should be thanking you for your criticism and correction. I'm rather slow, and I mixed up what the teacher taught in class..."
After this misunderstanding, the three girls exchanged names and ages again and became acquainted.
After class, Mr. Zhuo, leisurely returning to the Confucius Building, bumped into Mr. Nie from Class A and the Princess. The previously carefree old man immediately became extremely attentive in front of his superiors:
"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Highness the Eldest Princess."
Today, the eldest princess was dressed in simple everyday clothes, her black hair adorned only with two jade hairpins, making her look like a gentle and demure woman next door.
"Master Zhuo, how did today's lesson go?"
Master Zhuo knew perfectly well who the Princess wanted to ask about. Given that Master Nie was also present, and being a seasoned official, he was cautious and said:
"Although I am not very learned, I do have some insights into teaching and imparting knowledge. Today, Class Ding is full of new vitality, and the students are very diligent. Your Highness, please rest assured."
The eldest princess smiled upon hearing this, pointed at the old man, and looked at Master Nie:
"Look at you, always spouting these bureaucratic platitudes to me. Do you really think I'm some kind of respectable high priest?"
After she finished complaining, she looked at the sweat-drenched Master Zhuo and said in a good-natured tone:
"Master Zhuo, just answer whatever I ask you. There's no need to beat around the bush like this in the future."
Master Zhuo wiped his sweat and repeatedly agreed, finally returning to rest at the Princess's instruction.
Master Nie watched the old man's hasty departure and said helplessly:
"A-Mian, Master Zhuo is already so old, why are you still teasing him?"
"I met Xiao Yuxuan this morning. She is a good girl with aspirations that are beyond those of ordinary young ladies. I just wonder if she will still have such a pure heart after spending so much time in the homes of nobles."
In the past, there were students who said similar things, but as they grew older, their families arranged marriages, and after they married and had children, those girls became content with their status quo, working hard and dutifully as ladies of leisure, no longer mentioning the lofty ambitions of their youth, and spending their days busy with family matters, worrying about their husbands and children.
It's not that this is bad, but when Master Nie recalls those vibrant girls from the past, he always feels a little regretful.
The eldest princess nodded.
"Master Zhuo is not the kind of traditional, rigid old scholar; you'll understand later."
"That child didn't complain about anything, did she? Class D has its advantages too. If she can learn even a little bit from Master Zhuo, that would be her good fortune."
Master Nie: "Speaking of which, I'm curious why you care so much about a young girl? She only recently returned to the Xiao family and hasn't shown her face in over a month. How do you seem to know her so well?"
The eldest princess thought about it very seriously and said:
"I don't know, maybe it's fate. The first time I saw her, I felt that she looked kind."
"Yuanyuan, what do you think about me taking her in as my goddaughter?"
Master Nie grasped her hand, trying to rouse her from her sanity:
"A-Mian, Princess, Your Highness, please wake up! This girl's biological father is Minister Xiao, and her biological mother is a woman from the Lin family. Neither of them are easy to manipulate. Besides, their daughter has just been found. How could we possibly hand her over again?"
The princess pouted, her confidence dampened by her friend's words.
"Okay, okay, forget I said anything."
In the morning, the girls studied classics, history, philosophy, and literature. In the afternoon, they studied the Six Arts of a Gentleman. The three girls had lunch together, and after the midday rest, they studied the Five Etiquettes and the Nine Numbers.
Etiquette and etiquette were things Xiao Yuxuan had learned in her previous life; she was simply picking them up again in this life, so they weren't difficult to understand.
However, this math teacher, Shi Fuzi, clearly had some issues with her.
Master Shi was a young male teacher who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. So his family arranged for him to become the teacher at the girls' school. However, due to the strict separation of men and women, he taught very few classes, and most of the time another female teacher taught mathematics.
Before class even started, he called on Xiao Yuxuan to answer questions. After hearing that Xiao Yuxuan answered correctly, he then commented on her writing posture during class.
Now, he doesn't believe Xiao Yuxuan can solve this example problem, and he's mocking her:
"Miss Xiao, your parents went through so much trouble to get you into the girls' school, and this is how you listen to the lessons? What is this written? It's a complete mess!"
His voice was so loud that Zhao Mei, standing next to him, trembled in fright. She then looked worriedly at Xiao Yuxuan, only to see Xiao Yuxuan simply stand up calmly, her gaze fixed on the teacher whose face clearly showed displeasure, and say:
"If Master Shi wants to criticize me, he should at least look at my answer before he can justify his criticism, right?"
Master Shi was surprised that the other party dared to refute him, and glanced at him sideways:
"Your handwriting is worse than a dog's paddle, and you expect me to critique it? I don't even need to look at it to know that everything you write is wrong; it's riddled with errors!"
A low murmur of laughter rose from the surroundings, equally mocking Master Shi and Xiao Yuxuan.
Everyone at the girls' school knows that Master Shi greatly admires Xiao Yuyao. The news of Xiao Yuyao being bullied by her found younger sister has spread far and wide. Master Shi is definitely taking this opportunity to "stand up for Xiao Yuyao."
Seeing that Xiao Yuxuan still looked calm yet determined, Shi Fuzi reached out and picked up the answer sheet on Xiao Yuxuan's desk as if possessed. However, the more he looked at it, the more his brows furrowed.
"This Xiao Yuxuan is truly ignorant of her own limitations. The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art is so difficult, does she think she can be better than Master Shi after listening to just one lesson?"
"It's not about whether the examples are right or wrong. This is clearly Master Shi settling a personal score. Everyone knows he likes Xiao Yuyao."
The voices of her classmates were not loud, but they all reached Xiao Yuxuan's ears.
"You got it by chance, that doesn't count!"
Mr. Shi threw the thin piece of paper back onto the table and angrily turned to leave.
The surroundings fell silent for a moment.
Zhao Mei's eyes lit up again, looking at Xiao Yuxuan like two lamps, her eyes seeming to say, "Sister Xiao, you are so amazing."
The first day of the girls' school passed without incident. Xiao Yuxuan returned home, and Xiao Min suddenly sent Qinghong over to deliver a message.
Tomorrow is a day off, and the Qingyang Poetry Society of Qinglan Academy is holding a poetry gathering, inviting her to attend.
"The second young master said that many young men and women have been invited to this poetry gathering, and it is said that even His Highness the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince will be attending."
Since the day the Second Young Master saw the Fifth Young Master's calligraphy, although he still felt a little awkward, he was no longer so resistant to this younger sister. That's why he asked him to come and invite her to the poetry gathering today.
"Okay, tell Second Brother I'll be there that day."
Xiao Yuxuan hadn't forgotten that, besides her uncle, she also had to ensure the Crown Prince's safety during the plague.
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