☆, Chapter 69: Apologize to Young Master Chen, and you will get what you want.
"You, surnamed Zhao, don't even dream about it! There's no way you'll get into the county school!"
"Yes, yes, yes! The county school isn't a place just anyone can get into; our Shanglin Academy is very selective!"
“Shanglin Academy is an official school. Official schools in other places only accept the children of officials. Although Taohua County is relatively lenient, it still does not accept academies like yours!”
"That's right! But it's not like you're guaranteed to get in. As long as you apologize to our young master Chen, he'll go back and ask the county magistrate to put in a good word with the headmaster of the academy, and you'll be able to get in!"
A group of students followed behind Young Master Chen, chattering away and making a racket that gave everyone a headache.
Young Master Chen couldn't stand it any longer: "You all keep babbling on and on, you're all so talkative! The academy is a place where the imperial court cultivates talents, and it adheres to the principle of education for all. As long as someone surnamed Zhao can pass the county school's entrance exam, he can become our classmate!"
"...How could a country bumpkin like him, who barely knows any characters, possibly get into Shanglin Academy? Even if he did, it would definitely be by chance. Don't be upset, Brother Chen. You'll definitely be number one in this year's annual examination!"
Young Master Chen turned around and glared at Young Master Liu: "They went to Huilan Academy, what does that have to do with Shanglin Academy? Don't get too excited. Even if Zhao Yunjing came to Shanglin Academy, he might still be number one."
I, Chen Liangjin, know my own worth perfectly well. I'm also fully aware of how insincere your usual flattery is. I don't need to spell out why you're befriending me, do I?
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yunjing turned his head and thought to himself that although Young Master Chen was a playboy, he wasn't entirely useless. On the contrary, Young Master Liu and his group of scholars, despite reading the classics, were engaging in sycophantic behavior, which was a complete waste of their knowledge.
Young Master Chen raised his chin: "Anyway, I've already told you everything. If you really care about Miss Zhou, then come to Shanglin Academy. That's the best choice for you!"
They had now reached the fork in the road between Shanglin Academy and Huilan Academy. Zhao Yunjing stopped and said, "Thank you all for escorting me. Farewell. I wish you all success in your annual examinations and a bright future!"
Young Master Chen stomped his foot in anger: "Who escorted you? Who escorted you?!"
"Exactly! Shameless!"
Zhao Yunjing dismissed their accusations as nonsense, strode up the stairs, and walked a short distance. When he heard footsteps behind him, he turned around and was surprised to see that Young Master Chen, who had been so angry earlier, was still following him. Did this man have some kind of masochistic fetish?
He sighed helplessly, "I have taken your words to heart, but everyone has their own ambitions. I prefer to return to Lan Academy, so please don't waste your breath."
"Heh, while Huilan Academy may not be as prestigious as our Shanglin Academy, it's not a place you can just get into casually! You came to take the exam, did you not tell Miss Zhou? I guarantee that even if you fail, I'll only laugh at you on the spot, I will never go to Miss Zhou to expose your past. I, Chen Liangjin, may be absurd, but I'm not the kind of person who stabs others in the back!"
Zhao Yunjing smiled slightly: "If you want to follow, then follow. But if you want to laugh at me, you won't have the chance."
"Oh!"
The two walked up the steps one after the other without saying another word. A quarter of an hour later, they arrived at the entrance of Huilan Academy.
An old man sat in front of the academy. It was hot, and he was half-huddled in the shade, snoring. You could faintly hear the sound of recitation coming from inside the academy.
Just as Zhao Yunjing was about to step forward, Young Master Chen went over and shook the old man guarding the gate: "Hey! Gatekeeper! Someone's here to take the exam! Go in and inform your headmaster!"
The old man was sleeping soundly when he was suddenly woken up. He was very annoyed and cursed a string of swear words as soon as he opened his eyes. After cursing, he noticed that one of the two people was dressed in rich clothes and had an arrogant expression between his brows. He looked like a young master from a wealthy family. The other person was dressed neatly and had a humble appearance. He looked like a scholar.
The former was someone the Huilan Academy couldn't afford to offend, while the latter was a rare find within the academy. The gatekeeper nodded and quickly went inside to report.
A short while later, a man over fifty years old with half-gray hair walked out of the academy, his steps hurried, his expression excited and full of anticipation.
It is Liang Shanhai, the current headmaster of Huilan Academy.
Liang Shanhai was a distant relative of Lord Liang. He was of average literary talent and only passed the imperial examination as a Xiucai (a lower-level scholar). The Liang family was full of talented people, and those with some ability all went to the capital. Even when Lord Liang was still alive, his relatives would only come back to visit occasionally.
Everyone else left, but Liang Shanhai, who had no ambition, stayed in Taohua County. In the last few years of his life, Lord Liang suddenly took him under his wing and taught him. Later, he even entrusted Huilan to Liang Shanhai's management. Liang Shanhai had no choice but to take on this responsibility and try to become more mature.
However, his abilities were truly limited. After Lord Liang left, all the renowned scholars who came from various places also departed, and Huilan Academy declined year by year. After taking over for ten years, the number of students enrolled in Huilan Academy each year had dropped from a peak of two hundred to ten this spring. He even planned to personally go down the mountain to recruit students next year. Even if it resulted in losses, he couldn't let Huilan Academy fail.
But now that it's not the usual time for exams, and Zhongbo said that the visitor is a man of great literary talent, how could he not be excited?
From afar, Liang Shanhai saw two young men standing at the entrance of the academy. He only needed one glance to identify the one on the right who was taller and had a more outstanding temperament. As he got closer, he could see him more clearly. This man who came to take the exam had an outstanding temperament from afar, and he was even more remarkable up close!
Although his skin was a bit dark and he was dressed plainly, his features were handsome and his demeanor was clearly that of someone extraordinary!
Liang Shanhai rubbed his hands together excitedly and rushed out in three strides: "Is it because you're going to take the exam?"
Zhao Yunjing stepped forward, cupped his hands and touched his forehead, saying, "This junior, Zhao Yunjing, greets the headmaster."
Liang Shanhai asked in surprise, "You recognize me?"
"Many years ago, I met the headmaster outside Peach Blossom Village." Zhao Yunjing bowed again. "I have come here today to take the exam. Please make arrangements, headmaster."
Many years ago, I did visit Peach Blossom Village more often for a period of time because an old friend of mine was ill. I brought him medicine several times and visited him twice a month. However, my friend did not make it through the illness and passed away in less than two years.
Liang Shanhai didn't want to think about these sad things, so he looked Zhao Yunjing over more closely and asked, "Are you taking the exam alone, or are you both taking it?"
Just as Zhao Yunjing was about to say that he would take the exam alone, Young Master Chen next to him suddenly blurted out, "This young master wants to take the exam too!"
Liang Shanhai didn't mind Young Master Chen's attitude. Huilan Academy was almost out of students, so it was fine as long as Young Master Chen was willing to come and study, even if he was just there to make up the numbers.
Young Master Chen was unaware that he and Zhao Yunjing had already been ranked by Liang Shanhai. If he knew that he was just there to make up the numbers, he would probably be so angry that he would flatten the mountain.
Today must be an auspicious day. While Chen Shanhai was arranging the examinations, about ten more people went up the mountain to take the exams. Some of them even came from other places. When asked why they wanted to come to Huilan Academy, none of them could give a clear answer.
One of the young men from Yuzhou, named Ren Changzhi, said, “I’m not afraid to tell you this, but I had a dream. I dreamt that an old man with a white beard grabbed my neck and told me to come to Huilan Academy, or he wouldn’t let me sleep. At first, I didn’t believe it, but then I had the same dream for half a month in a row and couldn’t sleep. That’s when I finally decided to come.”
The others nodded in agreement, all saying they had dreamt of an old man with a white beard.
This idea sounded absurd, but with so many people coming to take the exams all at once, Liang Shanhai was so moved that he almost cried.
If it weren't for the fact that everyone had to take an entrance exam, he would have given them their college uniforms right now.
Soon, Zhao Yunjing and the dozen or so young people entered the academy's examination hall.
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