Вдовствующая императрица Сяосюань

Глава 12

Through their conversation, Ru Feng learned that the young man in black and the beautiful woman were strangers. They had encountered bandits together on the road, and after fighting off the enemies, the young man in black was injured, while the beautiful woman was frightened and caught a cold. In addition, all the guards the beautiful woman brought had died in the line of duty.

Later, because I needed to help the beauty get better, I had to take a shortcut, so I passed through here. I didn't expect to encounter bandits again, but luckily I met Rufeng.

Originally it was a trio, but now there's another one, Ru Feng.

Of course, these were all said by the pageboy Xiaoqing. The young man in black, Rong Yiying, had been silently driving the carriage, while the beautiful Yun Tianze was fast asleep.

After leaving the woods, they traveled for about half an hour before arriving at a small town.

Upon arriving in the town, Ru Feng immediately removed the black cloth from her face, leaving everyone stunned and amazed.

Ru Feng smiled smugly: "How about it? Don't I look handsome? Hehe, I think so too. I wore the black veil just now because I didn't want anyone to rob me." Actually, he had forgotten to take it off.

The three immediately looked away, not wanting to see this boastful guy.

So, naturally, they found an inn to stay at and even hired a doctor to treat the beauty.

"Ru Feng, where are you planning to go?" Xiao Qing went to arrange accommodations, and Rong Yiying remained silent, so Yun Tianze had to deal with Ru Feng's endless questions as well.

"Hehe, I'm going to Xiangzhou City to study." Ru Feng answered casually, her eyes fixed on the door, hoping the waiter would bring her food soon; she was starving.

"Really? Us too." Yun Tianze said with great surprise, his voice clear and melodious, indescribably moving.

After a moment of blissful reverie, Ru Feng said, "Haha, then we can travel together." The thought of being with a beautiful woman made Ru Feng happy. The thought of having someone to talk to made him even happier.

Soon, another group of guards from Yun Tianze's family arrived, each with a solemn expression and moving with utmost stealth. Their tongues practically spitting out the wind—and even these guards couldn't defeat the bandits? That meant the bandits must be incredibly powerful!

Moreover, this was the first time Ru Feng had witnessed such extravagance. Everything Yun Tianze used was extremely precious. His teacup was made of mutton-fat jade, warm and translucent. He used ivory chopsticks. He stayed in the most luxurious inn, but he didn't want anything from the inn. He brought his own bedding, which was also the best. At least Ru Feng thought the feel of it was excellent.

Seeing that Yun Tianze was frowning while eating, Ru Feng guessed that he didn't like the food here. But then she thought about it and realized that this was just a small town, so what good food could there be?

“Your family must be very rich,” Ru Feng concluded.

Seeing that Ru Feng showed no envy or jealousy, and remained calm, Yun Tianze felt happy. A faint smile appeared on his face, instantly brightening the room. This smile was indeed like a hundred flowers blooming, spring light breaking through the snow, truly radiant.

Ru Feng was stunned for a moment, then said, "So beautiful!"

Yun Tianze paused for a moment, then smiled again.

Ru Feng chuckled along for a while, completely unaware of the shock felt by the guards and Xiao Qing.

In contrast to Yun Tianze's extravagance, Rong Yiying appeared very low-key, spoke little, wore the cheapest clothes, and stayed in the cheapest inn. The only valuable thing he owned was probably his sword.

Moreover, he even drank the bland cabbage soup noodles with relish, but he looked as if he were a newly appointed top scholar enjoying a grand feast in the palace, elegant and noble.

Although the three traveled together, they did not stay together because their spending habits were different.

Therefore, although it was the same inn and the same dining table, the food and accommodations were different. One was a super-rich man, the other was a well-off man, and the other was a poor man. It was a strange combination, but they got along well.

After traveling for several days, the group finally arrived at their destination—Xiangzhou City.

I'd like to recommend another of my works, "Peach Blossom Barrier." Thank you all for your support.

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Chapter 24 Academy

Xiangzhou City is located in the south and is the most famous city in Zilu Kingdom besides the capital. It is full of academies and has a scholarly atmosphere all year round. Many officials in the court studied in Xiangzhou City, and many famous people from all over the country also studied here.

These past few days have been the admissions season for various academies in the city, making it exceptionally lively. Outside the city gates, pedestrians and carriages come and go in a constant stream, and groups of young people dressed in scholar's robes can be seen from time to time, talking animatedly about something.

Ru Feng had no time to think about that; she walked back and forth in front of the various academies, unable to decide which one to choose.

It turns out that although there are more than a dozen academies in Xiangzhou City, only two are the most famous.

One school taught both literature and martial arts, but with a focus on literature, and produced many civil officials; it was called Fengxian Academy.

Another school also taught both literature and martial arts, but with a focus on martial arts, and produced many military generals; it was called Lorraine Academy.

The two colleges are the most famous in the country and naturally attract many students, but the entrance exams are very strict.

The strangest thing is that the two academies are located on two opposite hilltops, separated only by a wide square. At this moment, both academies are busy recruiting students.

"Ru Feng, what's troubling you?" Yun Tianze, who accompanied him, asked curiously. He was dressed in fine clothes and wore a white jade crown, which accentuated his slender figure and gave him an elegant air. Although his stunning face might lead people to mistake him for a woman, his clothes and physique made it clear that he was a man.

Even though they knew he was a man, many people were still secretly glancing at him, and Ru Feng noticed that some people were already blushing.

Yun Tianze appeared completely unfazed by the stares.

Ru Feng didn't have the energy to think about this right now. She frowned in annoyance: "I'm wondering which academy I should apply to? You know, it's a four-year program. What if I choose the wrong one? Wouldn't I be in a lot of pain later?" Her eyes darted back and forth.

"Who do you think you are? The academy is choosing you now, not the other way around," Rong Yiying sneered.

Ru Feng straightened her chest and said proudly, "I'm confident in myself. Getting into any academy won't be difficult." She then glanced at Rong Yiying, "And you? Which one are you planning to go to?"

“I’ll try Lorraine Academy,” Rong Yiying said after a moment’s thought, but her expression was firm.

"I am from Fengxian Academy." Yun Tianze unfolded his feather fan and waved it leisurely.

The three individuals—one aloof, one stunningly beautiful, and one handsome—each possessed a distinct style and aura, attracting considerable attention.

"Huh? You've all decided?" Ru Feng shook her head, still hesitant. Her grandfather wanted her to attend Luo Lin Academy, while her father wanted Feng Xian Academy. Luo Lin Academy had a more free atmosphere and less strict rules and regulations. In contrast, Feng Xian Academy was much more disciplined and required adherence to many rules. However, it had one advantage: if you completed all the courses taught by the teachers and passed an exam, you could graduate early.

Ru Feng was unsure whether he would join the army, or whether he would desert halfway through, so he hesitated.

As Ru Feng looked around, a man passed by. His age was indiscernible; you could say he was eighteen or nineteen, or twenty-five or twenty-six. He wore a simple white robe, a simple garment that, on him, outshone even the finest finest clothes. His long black hair was tied back with a crown. His features were perfectly proportioned, flawless, and his demeanor was aloof yet exceptional. In Ru Feng's eyes, he was a first-rate handsome man—no, he was the most beautiful man Ru Feng had ever seen, an absolute gem!

He walked through the crowd unimpeded, and many bowed to him, which he returned with a nod. Almost everyone in the square was watching him.

That temperament, that posture, that beauty, like the wind, I clutched my left chest, feeling the powerful beating of my heart.

It's so wonderful to be alive, to see such beautiful people.

So, in order to live a better life in the future, she rushed up to the handsome man in a flash, and to everyone's surprise, she smiled, cupped her hands, and politely asked, "Brother, may I ask which academy you belong to?"

The man paused for a moment, then quickly recovered and replied, "Fengxian Academy." His voice was deep and resonant, with a captivating magnetism.

“Very good, brother, I will soon be a student of Fengxian Academy. Until we meet again.” Ru Feng smiled happily and then ran back to Yun Tianze and the others.

"You like him a lot?" Yun Tianze closed his fan and frowned slightly.

Ru Feng clenched his fist and instead of answering, said, "I must get into Fengxian Academy."

As soon as he finished speaking, he disappeared into the crowd.

As Ru Feng weaved through the crowd, he said, "I need to register, make way!"

Many people had already seen what happened, so those who wanted to watch the spectacle quickly made way for others.

Ru Feng finally made his way to the front desk. There was an open space there, and a few people were sitting in front of it. They had also seen the scene. One of them, a refined man in his thirties dressed in brocade, smiled and said, "Little brother, you have to pass an exam to enter our academy. One is for literature, and the other is for martial arts. As long as you pass, you'll be fine."

"No problem, let's take the test now." Ru Feng glanced in the direction where the handsome man had disappeared, and patted his chest confidently.

"Let's begin then." The man winked at the old man beside him, who nodded.

And so, an exam was about to begin.

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Chapter 25 Exam

The old man was short and wore a large gray crane cloak, a long robe with a seam down the back that ran all the way down. It had a diagonal collar and a cross-legged skirt, with black cloth trim around the edges. It was made of tea brown fabric in the style of a robe and tied at the waist with a silk sash. Ru Feng thought he looked just like a Taoist priest.

He seemed listless and impatient, with narrow eyes that made it almost impossible to tell whether he was asleep or awake unless you looked closely.

He sat in the large chair, making him appear even shorter. He glanced up at Ru Feng, who was standing there, and said lazily, "Then I'll start with the written test. The so-called written test is just me giving you a random question, and you just need to answer it within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Ru Feng stood very seriously and bowed respectfully to the old man: "Please give me the question, sir." She didn't want anyone to have a bad impression of her and then secretly trip her up. Her determination to enter this academy was very strong, and she couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

The old man didn't look at her again and said directly, "Three parts water, two parts bamboo, and one part bright moon. A matching couplet."

A student-looking person was about to light incense when Ru Feng waved his hand and said, "No need to light it, I already have the answer. 'From the Five-Step Tower, the Ten-Step Pavilion, one can gaze upon the Hundred-Step River.'"

Everyone was astonished by Ru Feng's speed, and the person who was about to light incense also stopped.

The old man snorted and said, "Looking at the sky, gazing at the sky in vain, every day there's free time to gaze at the empty sky."

"It's hard to ask for help, it's so hard to ask for help, everyone encounters difficulties and it's hard to ask for help." Ru Feng answered without hesitation.

A glint flashed in the old man's eyes, but it quickly disappeared, unnoticed by most. Meanwhile, the refined-looking middle-aged man watched Ru Feng with great interest.

The old man snorted again, looked towards the street, and said, "The last pair: 'White Pagoda Street, Yellow Blacksmith, Red Furnace, Burning Black Charcoal, Emits Green Smoke, Flashes Blue Light, Quenches Purple Iron, Facing South, Forging East and West.'"

The person lighting the incense looked at Ru Feng, who had his hands behind his back and was also looking in the direction of the street. He recited: "Danshui Bay, poor farmers, wearing straw hats, bending over with sore backs, enduring the scorching sun, sweating profusely, cutting sweet sugarcane, raising wives, educating children and raising grandchildren."

The crowd erupted in uproar.

"Kid, you're not bad. What's your name?" The voice was still lazy, but it successfully silenced the whispering crowd.

Ru Feng respectfully handed over what was equivalent to an ID card in this era, which the student who had lit incense earlier took and then passed directly to the old man.

The old man glanced at him and said casually, "Yuchi Rufeng from Yuezhou City? It's said that Yuchi Rufeng from Yuezhou City could walk at eight months old, speak clearly at one year old, and compose poems and paint at three years old. Are you that Yuchi Rufeng?"

"Sir, it is indeed I. That is undeserved praise from the common people. I am ashamed to accept it." Ru Feng was secretly pleased that his reputation had spread so far, but on the surface he remained serious and humble.

Someone nearby exclaimed "Ah!"

“I’ll soon find out if it’s untrue. You know, many people are promising as children, but don’t necessarily grow up to be outstanding.” He glanced sideways at Ru Feng. “Compose a poem or lyric in public. Our Fengxian Academy is covered with maple leaves; you can use ‘Maple Leaves’ as the theme.”

"Yes, sir." While performing the proper etiquette, Ru Feng's mind was racing, searching for poems about maple leaves.

The crowd waited quietly, with a few pairs of eyes staring intently at each other.

"I'm ready," Ru Feng replied immediately after a short while. Since Ru Feng was not yet a student of the academy, he had to refer to himself as "this humble one."

The crowd stirred slightly.