Chapter 2083: Warming Up for the Academy
However, Meng Yunzheng was left to handle all of this. The Lu family simply invited their family members and Granny Fang to a reunion dinner at their residence the next day.
Some people even jokingly asked the old lady why she didn't invite anyone over, to which she simply replied that she wasn't in a hurry.
The guests knew this was after next year's spring imperial examinations, and like the old lady, none of them thought Meng Yunzheng would fail. He wasn't just any ordinary scholar; he had passed the county, prefectural, and provincial examinations, and even topped the list in the provincial examinations.
Having achieved the highest rank in four consecutive examinations, even if he doesn't become the top scholar, he should at least be a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). Otherwise, if he, a top scholar from Changjin Prefecture, can't even pass the provincial examination, wouldn't the others from Changjin Prefecture have even less hope?
However, the spring imperial examination will be held in early February next year. It is already mid-October. Those candidates who are a little nervous have already gone to the capital to take the exam. Firstly, they want to familiarize themselves with the environment and get used to the atmosphere of the capital, find a place to stay, and secondly, they can also make friends with some scholars and visit the great Confucian scholars of the time to improve their knowledge, so that they can be more confident in the exam and have a chance to show their faces.
Putting aside everything else, the top scholar from Dong'an Prefecture this year packed his bags and went to the capital a month after the results were announced.
This Scholar Meng is quite something; even in such a short time, he still made the trip from Changjin Prefecture to Jiangyuan County to visit County Princess Lu. It seems the rumors were true; these two are indeed very close, and good news is on the horizon.
Everyone thought so, but they still took advantage of Meng Yunzheng's return and quickly went to visit him.
Most of them were scholars who had heard of his reputation, and both acquaintances and strangers wanted to learn from him.
In just a few days, not only students from Jiangyuan County, but also many students from nearby counties and the prefectural city came to visit.
Originally, no one had high hopes. The other party was a top scholar in the provincial examination, and most people wouldn't pay much attention to unfamiliar students, at most politely declining. Just like the top scholar from their Dong'an Prefecture, when he passed the provincial examination, his door was always crowded with people coming to visit every day.
However, apart from a few people he knew or had met with who were famous, that scholar declined all other offers.
Meng Yunzheng was different from other top scholars; he was the fiancé of the county princess, and everyone assumed he was too. But they still came to him with a try-it-out mentality.
To everyone's surprise, Meng Yunzheng not only did not refuse, but also sent word that he would be holding a poetry gathering in a few days, inviting students from all over the country and even interested friends to participate and exchange ideas.
The address was the villa that served as the academy.
Upon hearing the address, Shu Yu suddenly realized what was going on. She thought to herself, "I knew it! Meng Yunzheng isn't usually a sociable person. Why is he suddenly acting like he's changed his personality and accepting everyone who comes his way?"
"So you're promoting your future academy, huh?"
Meng Yunzheng smiled and said, "After the palace examination, I will come back to formally recruit students. Before that, let's do... what you call a warm-up?"
After he returned, he went with Shu Yu to see the villa. With the help of Shu Yu and Lu Erbai, the villa had been completely transformed. Its original magnificent and luxurious appearance had been transformed into an elegant and quiet place, showing a cool yet vibrant atmosphere.
Unfortunately, the sunflower field is only half-grown and the flowers haven't bloomed yet. Otherwise, the view from the top of the academy would be truly breathtaking.
Fortunately, the academy was planted with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums, which represent the Four Gentlemen. This time of year is the perfect time for chrysanthemums to bloom, and it is an elegant affair for everyone to appreciate chrysanthemums and compose poems.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
