Fifteen minutes later.
Fan Jian, carrying the marked blueprints, didn't leave. Zhen Wanwan asked, "Brother Fan, is there anything else?"
Fan Jian hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "Your Highness, while I was working today, I overheard the students nearby discussing..."
He didn't elaborate on the second half of his sentence, as if he was worried about something. Zhen Wanwan was a little curious about what the students had said that made Fan Jian hesitate like this.
"Brother Fan, just say it! We're the only ones here, so there's no need to worry about anything else."
Seeing this, Fan Jian pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Some students are talking behind your back, saying... saying that you are... a mere village girl, illiterate, and that if Your Highness ascends the throne in the future, you will be unfit to be Empress."
Zhen Wanwan paused, looked up at Fan Jian, who was sweating profusely. He would never dare to mention these words in front of Zhu Yuan.
But since Zhenniangzi had helped him, he felt it necessary to remind her.
"Oh? Saying I'm unfit to be queen? Hah...that's ridiculous. I'd like to ask them, who founded the academy they live in, and who sponsored their books!"
Zhen Wanwan was so angry she laughed. Was it because she was too approachable that everyone dared to gossip about her behind her back?
Fan Jian nervously wiped his sweat. The students' words were really harsh. He originally thought he would just warn them a few times and that would be the end of it, but who knew they would say something even more outrageous.
To actually... to actually drag his relationship with Zhen Niangzi into this is absolutely outrageous!
Fan Jian was too lazy to protect those arrogant and ignorant students!
Of course, he didn't say those unpleasant things about him and Zhenniang to Zhenniang, so as not to offend her ears.
"My lady! Why don't I go and teach these brats a lesson, so they'll shut their stinking mouths!"
Ah Yue clenched her fists angrily, making a cracking sound; she was clearly very angry.
She had always been by Zhen Wanwan's side, so she naturally knew how hard Zhen's wife had worked for the development of Guangling County.
These people curse after finishing their meal; they are utterly despicable!
Zhen Wanwan was also furious. These people who gossip about her behind her back, no matter how well they are educated, are still a cancer on society!
"Since they look down on me so much, then let them see if I'm worthy or not!"
"Ah Yue! Prepare the carriage! We're going to the academy!"
Fan Jian remained silent, but inwardly he was overjoyed; the academy's rules should have been established long ago.
Those people look down on women while enjoying the benefits they bring them. Now they even dare to gossip behind their backs, thinking they're something special!
Ah Yue was overjoyed and ran out to arrange the trip, also picking out some highly skilled guards from the manor to accompany her.
Tianbao and Guaibao were idly wandering around the yard when they noticed A-Yue's actions. Curious, they grabbed her and asked, "Aunt Yue, where are you going?"
Ah Yue hesitated for a moment. Going out to beat someone up was ultimately dishonorable, and the two young masters were still young; she couldn't set a bad example for them.
"Young Princess, Young Master, this servant is out on an errand ordered by Madam."
"Oh~ okay~" Sweetie was simple-minded and didn't think too much about it.
Guai Bao's eyes darkened, guessing that something must have happened!
They're actually keeping this from them; it must be very important!
After A-Yue left, Guai Bao took Tian Bao's hand and quietly followed behind them.
And when A-Yue wasn't paying attention, she quickly slipped into the cargo box of the carriage.
At Zhen Wanwan's insistence, an adult-sized cargo box was installed inside the carriage.
Because Guaibao and Tianbao are young, there was still room for them to squeeze in.
Sweetie didn't understand, but she still followed her brother's actions and quickly lay down in the cargo box.
She whispered in her son's ear, "Brother, are we going out with Mommy? Will Mommy spank us if she finds out?"
Sweetie was a little worried, and secretly touched her bottom with her hand. She had been spanked by her mother when she was naughty before, and she still remembered it vividly.
Guai Bao's lips twitched, recalling how her younger sister had been playing in the water alone and almost fell into the lake, only to be severely beaten by her mother.
He patted his sister's soft hair reassuringly and said, "Sweetie, don't be afraid. If we find out, just push it on your brother, and you won't get beaten!"
Sweetie smiled faintly, took Goody's hand, and regardless of whether she would get a beating, she was also very curious about what her mother was going to do.
"My lady! The carriage is ready."
Zhen Wanwan's voice came from outside, and Guaibao and Tianbao silently shut their mouths.
"Did Guabao and Tianbao ask you?"
A-Yue told her the truth, and Zhen Wanwan nodded and got into the carriage.
Inside the cargo box, Guabao and Tianbao exchanged a glance, both reading from each other's eyes that their mother was indeed hiding something from them!
"Lady Zhen, sit tight! I'm riding now!"
The carriage gradually pulled away, heading towards the academy.
The academy is not far from the county town, but it takes Zhen Wanwan half an hour to get there from her home.
Although the carriage had been equipped with shock absorbers, the road surface was uneven, and the carriage would jolt from time to time, making the little ones lying in the cargo box very uncomfortable.
The two of them comforted each other and finally reached their destination.
Zhen Wanwan lifted the carriage curtain, and an ancient-style academy came into view, with the plaque on the gate reading "Rende Academy".
This calligraphy was written by Master Guiyi, intended to show that the academy emphasizes cultivating students' virtues and moral character.
After observing for a while, Zhen Wanwan saw Headmaster Chu leading a teacher who was not teaching to come out and greet her.
"Your Highness, I am deeply sorry for not being able to greet you properly. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
Zhen Wanwan accepted the bow from Headmaster Chu without hesitation, and then said, "Headmaster, there's no need for such formalities. I've come here to ask the students of the academy something, and I hope you will grant my request."
Headmaster Chu was surprised by this. Although he didn't know what it was about, he still welcomed Zhen Wanwan and the others in and talked to them.
Inside the cargo box, Guai Bao heard the people walking away and quickly shook Tian Bao awake: "Little sister, wake up, we've arrived!"
Sweetie rubbed her eyes, tried to open them, and pouted, "Brother~ my legs are numb~"
Helpless, Guai Bao went out first, then carried Tian Bao out. Once Tian Bao regained feeling in her legs, the two of them helped each other jump off the carriage.
Taking advantage of the gatekeeper's inattention, they sneaked in. It wasn't their first time at the academy, so they knew the layout inside very well.
Having overheard her mother's conversation, Guaibao immediately led Tianbao towards Master Chu's courtyard.
The two had just crouched down in the corner when they heard a furious roar coming from inside.
That voice belonged to Headmaster Chu!
inside the house.
Headmaster Chu's face was red and white in patches, as were the other teachers.
The crowd angrily denounced, "These scoundrels are not fit to study at Rende Academy. We will drag them out and expel them from the academy!"
"I am ashamed. I have devoted myself to educating students, yet I never imagined that I would produce such a degenerate and a cancer. I am deeply ashamed."
His Confucian-like beard stood on end, and he patted his chest in shame, blaming himself.
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