Chapter 314 Shengning Residence
The heat of midsummer was getting hotter day by day. When Tang Ning went to the academy early in the morning, there were already many people standing in front of the academy gate. Tang Ning walked along the side corridor and headed towards the backyard. On the way, he met many young people with happy faces.
Those people were holding the academy student shirts in their hands. When they saw her, they were stunned at first. When they realized who the beautiful girl in front of them was, they quickly moved away and saluted.
"Meet the Princess of Yiyang County."
"No need to be polite in the academy."
After Tang Ning asked everyone to stand up, he looked at them and asked, "Have you finished the academy's assessment?"
The student being questioned was filled with joy. "My Lord, the examination is over. The teacher has granted me a few days off. I'm going home to spend some time with my parents and pack my bags. Classes will officially begin on the ninth day of the first lunar month. After the academy opens, we'll only have one day off per month."
Seeing Tang Ning frown, the person next to him quickly said, "Although it's only a one-day holiday, the teacher said that there will be some activities on the 30th day of every month, and there will also be farm leave and clothing leave."
Tang Ning felt relieved after hearing this. The rules of Rongsheng Academy were similar to those of the Imperial College, but because there were more subjects to study and they were worried that outsiders would disturb the students, everyone who entered the academy, regardless of whether they were from the capital or not, had to stay in the academy and was not allowed to leave without reason.
Strictness is intended to discipline students to study well, but being too strict is not good either.
Seeing many people looking over here, Tang Ning said gently, "You guys should go and do your work first. Once you enter the academy, study hard and build a good future for yourself."
"Yes, County Lady."
After Tang Ning took Yue Jian away, the students were still excited.
"The Princess of Yiyang County is truly unparalleled in beauty."
"But she looks so young..."
"What's wrong with being young? Ambition transcends age. Besides, if she hadn't profited from the aristocratic families for us students, where would Rongsheng Academy exist?"
On the covered bridge, several people spoke of this matter with a sense of empathy.
Their families were not wealthy, and although they could barely scrape together enough money to allow them to enter the previous academy, the aristocratic families monopolized the court, and most of the good books were hidden in the aristocratic families' mansions. All they could access were things from the lower levels.
Although they were reluctant to admit it, their innate conditions were inferior to others. There was a huge gap between them, the children of commoners, and those young men from aristocratic families. It was almost impossible for them to compete in knowledge or to enter officialdom. However, Rongsheng Academy gave them this opportunity.
"You've seen the Wende Stele outside, haven't you? It was bestowed by His Majesty himself. Even the plaque over the academy was written by His Majesty himself. And yesterday I had the pleasure of taking a look inside the library. The books inside are things we've never seen before."
"I heard that most of those books were stolen by the Yiyang County Lady from the aristocratic families, and that she was almost killed by them because of the academy. Although the County Lady is young, she is our benefactor. If she ever succeeds, we will repay her."
The student who spoke had a serious expression on his face.
The others nodded as they heard this. No one could deny the achievements of Princess Yi Yang, nor could they deny the path to success she had brought to these children from poor families.
Not to mention anything else, if anyone dares to slander the county lady, they will be the first to fight to the death.
Tang Ning had already walked far away and was unaware of what the students behind him were talking about. Yue Jian, however, had excellent hearing and heard a few words. When he looked at the girl beside him, there was a bit more admiration in his eyes.
They have all followed their master from times of danger to the present. The governor has killed countless people in exchange for tremendous power, but this has also brought him notoriety. Everyone is afraid of the governor and hates him, but the girl is also famous and respected by the students.
These reputations may seem to be of little use, but if the master really comes forward and reveals his true identity, these supports will be enough to change many things.
"What's wrong?" Tang Ning felt the gazes beside her and looked at her puzzledly.
Yue Jian whispered, "When we came here just now, there were several groups of people following the girl."
Tang Ning had anticipated this: "Just follow me. As long as you don't do anything, I won't bother you."
Tang Ning did not go to the place where students were tested in front, but walked around the corridor bridge to the back of the academy. The courtyard left for her in the back mountain was named Shengningju.
The two courtyards, big and small, are adjacent to each other. The outer courtyard is formed by diverting water from the suburbs to form an inner lake, which circles the entire courtyard. Across the lake, the front of the courtyard is planted with black bamboo and crabapple trees, separating the entire courtyard from the front. There is only a small square bridge and a stone path leading to the courtyard.
When the name was first chosen, Xue Ru was quite curious and asked her why it was called Shengningju. She just said that she liked it, but in fact she wanted the shadow of her brother to be everywhere in the academy. She still remembered that when Xiao Yan knew the name of the academy, he looked like an iceberg melting and his eyes were filled with smiles.
Tang Ning stared at the plaque in a daze, not knowing when his brother would be able to reach the northwest.
"County Lady."
When Tang Ning came back to his senses, he saw an old man with a solemn expression on the small bridge.
"Mr. Tong."
Mr. Tong is the oldest teacher in the academy and was introduced by Cao Dejiang.
He studied under a great scholar in the south and was well-read. He had served as an official in the court earlier, but later he became tired of the intrigues in the court and resigned on his own initiative. This time, it was thanks to Cao Dejiang that he was willing to come out of retirement.
Tang Ning respected him very much. He quickly invited him into Shengning Residence and asked, "Why are you here?"
Mr. Tong's face was serious, but a closer look revealed a gentle look in his eyes. "I heard from the people in the front yard that the county lady had arrived. Why didn't she go to the examination hall?"
"The matters concerning the academy's examinations are decided by you and the other gentlemen. The students who catch your eye must be the best of the best. Tang Ning is not very talented and well-educated, so I won't go over and cause trouble."
The little girl is modest, and her dimples are slightly sunken when she smiles.
Mr. Tong's eyes softened. "It seems to me that you are just trying to shirk your responsibilities. Don't I know how talented you are?"
When Cao Dejiang first came to find him, he was reluctant to come to this academy. Although the academy was for students from poor families, he was not necessarily selfless. He was tired of the people in the capital and naturally did not want to be involved in the vortex of power struggle. Later, the little girl came to his house in person and accompanied him to play chess for a long time before he agreed to "come out of retirement."
The little girl is young, but she is extremely intelligent and has a clear mind. Although she is scheming, she is not disgusting.
During those days, she would go there every day to play chess and chat with him. She would be a little cunning and ask him for advice on matters of the court, the capital, and even the world. She would also act like an ordinary child, acting coquettishly and making trouble with him, ignoring her status as a county lady, and pestering him to agree.
Mr. Tong lost his wife and son in his early years and has been alone ever since. The little girl begged him softly, and after a while, he pretended to be impatient and agreed.
But he knew very well that if it wasn't the little girl in front of him, if it was anyone else, he would not be willing to do it even if he acted like a spoiled child and talked until his mouth was broken.
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