Free Web NovelChapter 196: Chapter 196: Xu Jingxi
With that, Xie Mingxu took out a long box.
He opened it to reveal a Yingluo Silver Circle Longevity Lock.
Delicate gold threads were strung with small, round pearl beads and pearls. Hanging in the middle was the longevity lock itself, which Shen Ningning instantly recognized as the Ruyi she had returned before.
Except now, holes had been drilled on either side of the Ruyi, and it had been strung together with the beads and two small gold locks to become a longevity lock.
Xie Mingxu crouched down and personally fastened it around Shen Ningning’s neck.
"Ningning, this is a longevity lock that belongs only to you. May you always be happy. Father and I will protect you."
As he spoke, his deep gaze swept over the little one’s round, rosy cheeks.
Shen Ningning held the longevity lock in her small hands. When she saw the Ruyi, a flicker of sadness still crossed her face.
But she was far too sensible, and the feeling passed in an instant.
"Thank you, Brother. I’ll be sure to wear it."
"Good. The government officials in the Capital City and the city patrols all recognize it. From now on, the Xie Mansion is your support."
Shen Ningning immediately stroked the longevity lock several times, treasuring it.
Then, she blinked her big eyes and asked, "Is Father feeling any better today?"
The little one still remembered how Xie Suzhi had vomited blood at the banquet.
A hint of warmth appeared in Xie Mingxu’s otherwise cool gaze. "Don’t you worry, Father is much better. He already went to the Imperial Court today."
"Otherwise, he would have insisted on bringing you to the academy himself. All right, it’s getting late. You should go into the academy. I’ll watch you go in."
Shen Ningning bid farewell to Xie Mingxu. He watched until her small figure disappeared into the National Academy.
But then, Xie Mingxu’s brows furrowed.
He had just noticed that the book basket on the little one’s back seemed very heavy.
’She’s so little. What if the weight harms her?’
Lost in thought, Xie Mingxu mounted his horse and led a column of solemn soldiers away.
He failed to notice, however, Xie Yuanjiu, who had been standing by the gate the entire time.
"Fourth Sister Xie, why didn’t your brother come say hello to you?" a young lady beside her asked.
Xie Yuanjiu looked embarrassed. "My brother is very busy. He must have been in a hurry to attend to his duties."
’She had to save face. Of course she couldn’t admit that Xie Mingxu only had eyes for Shen Ningning!’
The young ladies began to whisper amongst themselves.
"Even though General Xie is busy, he still came in person to give Princess Funing a gift. He really spoils her."
"Fourth Sister Xie, didn’t you say your brother was very serious and never smiled? But he just smiled at Princess Funing several times."
"That yingluo longevity lock Princess Funing is wearing... how come we’ve never seen Fourth Sister Xie with one?"
The words were spoken carelessly, but heard with intent.
Xie Yuanjiu appeared calm, but beneath her sleeves, her fingernails were digging deep into her palms.
’This bunch... they’re usually so busy flattering me and saying nice things.’
’Now that the main branch of the Xie family has taken in an adopted daughter, they dare to say things to offend me!’
Xie Yuanjiu gave a faint smile. "Of course my brother has to be a little nicer to her. She’s an adopted daughter, after all. We can’t have Princess Funing getting upset—that would turn a good deed sour, wouldn’t it?"
With that, she turned and walked into the National Academy ahead of them.
The academy courtyard was filled with people. There were at least a hundred new students starting at the National Academy this year.
Only the top three had earned their places through their own abilities. The other ninety-something students were all from wealthy and noble families.
Their ability to enter the National Academy was all thanks to their families’ powerful connections, and they had to pay one thousand taels of silver every year.
So, here, one studied the finest classic texts and ate the most delicious food.
Even during the most severe drought, the National Academy could ensure that the students had ample fresh water to drink every day.
Shen Ningning stood in the courtyard, carrying her small book basket on her back.
Her bright, limpid eyes darted about, taking in her surroundings from the corners of her vision.
Almost everyone was accompanied by one or two maids or pageboys.
Their task was to carry things for their young masters and mistresses.
In the entire crowd, only two people were carrying their own book baskets without any servants.
One was Shen Ningning. The other was a boy in neat, clean clothes, though the cuffs of his sleeves were washed so much they had faded to white.
Lu Shaoyuan squeezed over to the little one’s side and asked, "Why didn’t you bring a maid?"
Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes, looking at him innocently, not knowing how to answer.
Seeing her reaction, Lu Shaoyuan was astonished. He lowered his voice. "Don’t tell me you didn’t know."
Shen Ningning scratched her cheek with a small hand, looking a little awkward. "I really didn’t know..."
’No one told me!’
’Back at the private school in Guangyang County, nobody had maids with them.’
"You’re supposed to bring a literate attendant because the teachers at the National Academy lecture very quickly. You need someone to take notes on everything they say for you."
"They also do common chores for you, like grinding ink and running errands."
Lu Shaoyuan frowned, looking troubled. "I only brought one attendant today, too. Never mind, you can borrow mine for now. I’ll bring two tomorrow."
Just then, a gentle voice inquired from nearby, "Did the Commandery Princess not bring an attendant? Please, feel free to use one of mine. I happened to bring two."
Shen Ningning looked back and saw Xie Yuanjiu standing beside her with a smile on her face.
"Fourth Sister Xie," the little one’s eyes lit up with joy. "Thank you so much! You don’t have to call me Commandery Princess, it feels so formal. Just call me Ningning!"
But Xie Yuanjiu just smiled. "How could I be disrespectful to a title personally granted by the Emperor? We can address each other as family when we’re in private, all right?"
Shen Ningning immediately nodded.
Then, Xie Yuanjiu turned around and said to the maid behind her, "Cai Ying, for today, you will temporarily stay by the Commandery Princess’s side. Be sure to serve her well."
Cai Ying stepped forward and assented. Seeing that the maid was well-mannered and proper, Lu Shaoyuan agreed to Xie Yuanjiu’s offer.
After all, the senior maids trained by the Xie Mansion were all literate and knew how to write, so there was no cause for concern.
Soon, Director Guo of the National Academy arrived with eight or nine teachers.
The previously noisy courtyard fell silent at once.
"I am Guo. I am both the Director of the National Academy and one of your teachers. You will surely see me in your classes from now on."
"If you encounter any trouble or have any questions within the National Academy, you may come to me. There’s a saying that getting into the National Academy is like having one foot in the Imperial Court."
"And as for all of you before me, whether you become pillars of Cangyun Country or brilliant generals, no matter what station you achieve, I hope that when you leave the National Academy three years from now, you will be true to your conscience, true to the world, and most of all, worthy of the Emperor’s boundless grace."
As soon as he finished speaking, the students burst into thunderous applause.
Director Guo raised a hand. His square-jawed face looked solemn and imposing.
"The roster for the Heavenly Class has already been set. The rest of you will be sorted into your classes by drawing lots. Go and find your seat in the classroom that matches the lot you draw."
Then, the National Academy’s Attendant Students came forward. Some led the Heavenly Class students away, while others guided the rest into a line.
Shen Ningning thought back to the study notes the mad scholar had written for her.
The notes mentioned that the National Academy had eight classes, named after the characters Tian, Di, Xuan, Huang, Yu, Zhou, Hong, and Huang.
The best class was the Xuan Character Class, because Director Guo himself was its primary teacher.
The second-best was the Heavenly Class, reserved exclusively for nobles, whose curriculum was different from everyone else’s.
Shen Ningning let out a small puff of air and rubbed her hands together, eager to try her luck.
’I have to draw a good one. Please let it be the Xuan Character Class!’
Lu Shaoyuan and Xie Yuanjiu were both lined up behind her.
Shen Ningning waited for what felt like an eternity. Finally, there was only one person left in front of her.
It was the same boy who hadn’t brought a servant. He looked to be about nine years old. His clothes were faded from washing, but they were immaculately clean and tidy.
He stepped forward with a serious expression and drew out a slip of paper.
Several young nobles who had already drawn their lots lingered nearby, staring at the boy as if they recognized him.
When he opened the paper and handed it to Director Guo, the Director had an Attendant Student write it down: "Xu Jingxi, Huangzi Class."
The young nobles immediately snorted with laughter.
"Useless, Xu Jingxi. What’s the point of placing second on the exam if you end up in the worst class?"
"Mr. Han in the Huangzi Class despises proud and arrogant types like you. You’re in for a world of hurt."
Mr. Guo’s face hardened. "No causing trouble here!"
The young nobles left immediately, but not before shooting a few mocking faces at Xu Jingxi as they passed him.
Shen Ningning watched Xu Jingxi with her big, blinking eyes.
His expression remained unchanged, as if he wasn’t the butt of their joke at all.
He took the plaque engraved with his name, thanked Mr. Guo, and left with his heavy book basket.
Shen Ningning looked away and took a small step forward.
Mr. Guo beamed. "Commandery Princess, please draw your lot."
Shen Ningning took a deep breath and reached her little hand into the box.
After she pulled one out, she said in a sweet, pleading voice, "I’m too scared to look! Mr. Guo, you read it."
The little one quickly held it out, covering her eyes with her small hands.
’Please, please, please be the Xuan Character Class!’
