(Just a reminder, "changing clothes" means going to the outhouse. I once secretly guessed that the reason why going to the toilet was called "changing clothes" in ancient times was perhaps because there was no toilet paper in ancient times, and you needed to change your underwear afterwards, so it was called "changing clothes"...)
While Gongzi Yi was taking a bath, Hua Wuduo stood to the side, his gaze fixed on a corner, ignoring the alluring scenery before him.
Gongzi Yi deliberately splashed his bathwater high in the pool, but Hua Wuduo remained expressionless, not even bothering to wipe the water from his hair. Gongzi Yi sighed softly, "Boring."
Upon hearing this, a hint of smugness flashed in Hua Wuduo's eyes, but it disappeared in an instant.
Young Master Yi went out and, while walking down the street, suddenly exclaimed that he couldn't walk anymore. He ignored his numerous servants and insisted that Hua Wuduo carry him. Hua Wuduo, suppressing his anger, stood in front of him expressionlessly. Just as he grabbed the two arms that Young Master Yi had draped over his shoulders, he suddenly realized that Young Master Yi's legs were already wrapped around his waist. If it weren't for the mask, Hua Wuduo's bright red face would surely have made Young Master Yi smug. Unfortunately, Hua Wuduo's face was so ordinary and unchanging that Young Master Yi found it uninteresting. He couldn't help but wonder to himself, "That flower bud was so easily excited that day, how come she's become so dull ever since?"
On a star-studded night, a night breeze blew by. Hua Wuduo stood guard by the outhouse, her nose catching an unusual odor. Her patience was almost at its limit. She vented her frustration by throwing a set of punches outside the outhouse, finally calming the turbulent energy coursing through her body due to her unstable emotions. She silently swore to the heavens that she would never let anyone here know her true identity! Never! Two months later, she would definitely… After thinking for a long time, she suddenly heard Gongzi Yi stretch and sigh lazily from inside the outhouse, “Ah…so comfortable!”
Hua Wuduo's breath became slightly disordered again.
Nanshu Academy
The days seemed to pass extremely slowly; it was a struggle to get through three days.
Hua Wuduo's patience finally reached its limit, and she made a painful decision: if she couldn't bear it anymore, she wouldn't have to. So she began to openly and secretly oppose Gongzi Yi. Gongzi Yi seemed to notice her change and actually toned it down a bit, making her life much easier.
Two days later, at dawn, around 5 a.m.
Young Master Yi, accompanied by his bodyguard Hua Wuduo and page Du Xiaoxi, set off for Nanshu Academy.
Nanshu Academy is located on the top of Qifeng Mountain, south of Daming Prefecture.
Nanshu Academy is famous throughout the country, not only because it is home to the renowned Master Xu, but also because Yang Yixin, the most beautiful woman in the world, is the wife of the academy's dean. Her daughter, Qi Xin, who is likely to inherit her mother's fame and become the most beautiful woman in the world in the future, naturally becomes the junior sister of all the students at Nanshu Academy. Just mentioning this point alone makes the students from Nanshu Academy stand out from those from other academies.
Nanshu Academy has a long history and close ties with the imperial court. Many aristocratic families of the time came from Nanshu Academy, and the young men who studied there were all of extraordinary status, with illustrious family backgrounds, including princes and nobles.
Therefore, Nanshu Academy has the most complete and best facilities in the country.
The academy stands atop Qifeng Mountain, a place of breathtaking scenery, fresh air, birdsong, and fragrant flowers. On rainy days, mist rises from the foot of the mountain, making the Nanshu Academy appear as if it were floating in the clouds, a scene straight out of a fairyland.
Therefore, people often say: Qifeng Mountain's academy gathers scholars and is a treasure land of outstanding people and beautiful scenery.
At the foot of Qifeng Mountain, students were heading to the summit in the morning light, and Gongzi Yi and his companions were among them.
The academy allows each student to bring a pageboy for daily service, but the pageboy cannot protect Gongzi Yi at all times. Therefore, under the arrangement of Daming Prefecture, Hua Wuduo disguised himself as a man and went to study at Nanshu Academy with Gongzi Yi as Gongzi Yi's cousin.
The three rode their horses to the entrance of the academy, dismounted, and Gongzi Yi entered first, followed by Hua Wuduo. The page handed the horse reins to the academy's servants, and the three entered the gate one after another, climbing the steps along the way. The morning sunlight shone through the trees, and the tall pines on both sides were lush and green, making them feel refreshed.
Just then, a rapid and chaotic sound of horses' hooves came from behind.
Gongzi Yi turned around and couldn't help but whisper, "Liu Xiu."
Hua Wuduo also turned around and saw a group of people coming to the gate. They were all arrogant and surrounded a young master dressed in rich clothes. The young master was riding a horse with a cold expression, as if he was keeping people at a distance. He was tall and straight, with a white feathered bow and arrow on his back. What was most eye-catching was his white brocade robe with a belt. On the white robe from his shoulders to his waist, there was an eagle with outstretched wings embroidered in ink-like strokes. At first glance, you could tell that this person must be of extraordinary status.
Liu Xiu… Hua Wuduo secretly wondered, is he the youngest brother of the current Empress Liu, Gongzi Xiu?
Gongzi Yi said in a low voice, "It's best to avoid provoking this person."
Upon hearing this, Hua Wuduo looked at Gongzi Yi, whose expression remained indifferent, revealing no hidden meaning. He then turned to her and said, "However, you are an exception." His expression was mischievous.
Hua Wuduo was confused at the time, and thought he was just teasing her again, so she didn't pay any attention.
The three continued climbing the steps until they reached the flat front yard. The front yard was very spacious, paved with bluestone, and surrounded by evergreen pines and cypresses on both sides. In the middle, several teachers were registering the students who had come to register.
After receiving their admission notices, Hua Wuduo and Gongzi Yi each paid ten taels of gold as tuition to the academy, and together they successfully became new students of the Nanshu Academy.
The academy assigned two people to a room, and Hua Wuduo naturally shared a room with Gongzi Yi as Gongzi Yi's cousin.
On the first day of the new semester, all the new students were notified to gather in the front courtyard at Chenshi (7-9 AM). When Hua Wuduo and Gongzi Yi arrived, Dean Qi Ran was already standing under the corridor. The front courtyard was neatly filled with students. The one at the top left was the young master that Hua Wuduo had met when he first entered Daming Prefecture. The second one was Gongzi Liu Xiu.
When the young master saw Gongzi Yi, he smiled and nodded. When his gaze swept over her, a knowing look flashed across his face, and he smiled as well.
Taking the opportunity, Hua Wuduo asked Gongzi Yi, "Who is that person?"
Gongzi Yi glanced at her but did not answer.
Hua Wuduo said in a low voice, "I'm asking you a question!"
Gongzi Yi glanced at her again, but still did not answer.
Hua Wuduo also glanced at him in the same way.
He suddenly glared back and said, "Faceless Woman."
Hua Wuduo replied, "Please watch your words, Young Master Yi. I am currently your cousin."
Upon hearing this, Gongzi Yi's gaze shifted, and suddenly he raised his arm, put it on her shoulder, and pulled her closer to him. He whispered in her ear with a forced smile, "Cousin, I'll take good care of you these next two months."
Hua Wuduo suddenly reached out and put his arm around Gongzi Yi's waist from behind, replying in a very gratified tone, "Thank you, cousin."
Gongzi Yi's body stiffened, his eyes flickered, but the corners of his mouth curled up.
Seeing the two of them arm in arm in full view of everyone, the academy's steward, Master Ji, coughed heavily and said, "Are the visitors Wu Yi and Hua Wuduo?"
Gongzi Yi calmly released his arm from Hua Wuduo's shoulder, bowed to Master Ji, and said, "It is indeed your student."
Hua Wuduo bowed in the same manner and replied, "Student Hua Wuduo greets Master."
Master Ji nodded and said, "Wu Yi is in third place, and Hua Wuduo is in twenty-fourth place."
The two answered simultaneously, "Yes." They each found their own place and stood still.
Hua Wuduo had just stood up straight when his gaze swept over the boy standing at the head of the line. The boy stood straight, his figure tall and slender. A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling his hair and carrying a faint floral fragrance. Hua Wuduo suddenly felt a little hot.
Just as Hua Wuduo was about to look away, Liu Xiu, who was standing next to the boy, suddenly turned around and glanced at her. She looked back at him. Liu Xiu raised an eyebrow, a hint of disdain flashing in his cold gaze, before turning his head away.
Dean Qi Ran publicly announced the eighteen rules and regulations of Nan Shu Academy, one of which stated: Anyone with habits that are intolerable to the world will be expelled from the academy. As he spoke of this rule, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally swept over Hua Wuduo and Gongzi Yi.
Hua Wuduo stood tall and proud, expressionless, calm and without a trace of shame.
Gongzi Yi raised his gaze slightly to a corner, his expression focused, seemingly oblivious to Dean Qi Ran's pointed remark.
Hua Wuduo followed Gongzi Yi's gaze and saw two squirrels pecking at a pine branch...
Hua Wuduo felt even hotter right now.
Although Dean Qi Ran was over forty, he remained handsome and elegant, no wonder he could win the heart of the most beautiful woman in the world. Hua Wuduo was lost in thought, wondering what the current most beautiful woman in the world, and the future most beautiful woman in the world, would look like. Her sister, Fang Ruowei, was determined to win the title of most beautiful woman in the world, and if given the chance, she would like to witness for her sister who was more beautiful. Lost in her thoughts, Hua Wuduo completely ignored the reprimands given by Dean Qi Ran and Steward Ji, and time passed quickly.
When Master Ji said, "Classes will officially begin tomorrow. Today, everyone pack your bags, familiarize yourselves with the place, and then everyone can leave."
The crowd responded in unison and gradually dispersed.
Hua Wuduo walked towards Gongzi Yi.
Young Master Yi had not left; he was talking to the young man.
Hua Wuduo heard the young man say, "Yi, how did you manage to get the Marquis to agree to let you study here?"
Gongzi Yi laughed nonchalantly and said, "I have my own way."
The boy laughed and said, "You came here for Qi Xin, didn't you?"
Gongzi Yi nodded without any attempt to hide his feelings, saying, "I must see the future number one beauty in the world first. If she suits my taste, I will make a move first to avoid being overtaken by you."
The young man laughed and said, "Yi, you know I've never liked women who are more beautiful than me. Besides, you're probably going to be disappointed this time."
Gongzi Yi frowned and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
The boy said, "I heard that Qi Xin went to study at Beiyu Academy yesterday."
Upon hearing this, Gongzi Yi said regretfully, "Alas... what a pity."
Hua Wuduo sighed softly, it was indeed a pity, they missed each other by just one day. Then Gongzi Yi said with great emotion, "She missed out on a handsome young man like me, she was really unlucky."
At this moment, the boy beside her sighed, "She really wasn't lucky. Even I missed out."
Hua Wuduo almost choked on her own saliva, but then she thought to herself: Qi Xin was indeed unlucky, even she missed out.
*****************
The three of them sighed in unison, and upon hearing the sound, they looked at each other and then smiled at one another.
At this moment, the young man smiled at Hua Wuduo, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "My name is Wu Qi."
Hua Wuduo returned the greeting and said, "My name is Hua Wuduo."
"Nice to meet you," the young man said, his expression remaining unchanged despite knowing she was a woman.
"Nice to meet you," Hua Wuduo said, showing no sign of panic despite knowing he knew she was a woman.
Gongzi Yi scrutinized the two of them for a moment, then smiled dismissively and said, "Don't tell me this is the first time you've met."
The two men only smiled and did not answer. Young Master Yi immediately understood and sighed, "Alas, birds of a feather flock together."
That spring, amidst the green pines and cypresses, several young men stood tall and graceful, their demeanor elegant and refined.
Master Ji, who had not yet left, watched their figures from afar and, together with the Dean, exclaimed with deep emotion, "Youth is truly wonderful."
Apart from the Dean's wife and her maid, everyone else in Nanshu Academy was a man, and there was also a fake man mixed in: Hua Wuduo, the female knight.
After two days at the academy, Gongzi Yi's complaints of boredom increased daily. Hua Wuduo, who shared his room, felt the same way. Every time Gongzi Yi complained of being bored, she felt the urge to do a few sets of boxing.
The courses taught at Nanshu Academy were quite complex, divided into two classes: literature and martial arts.
Students in the literature class mainly study: music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and etiquette.
Students in the martial arts class mainly learn: horsemanship and archery, military formations, and the art of divination.
In their spare time, the teachers would also teach students skills such as observing celestial phenomena at night and studying the I Ching.
The Nanshu Academy has a total of fifteen teachers, who teach in various fields: qin (a seven-stringed zither), chess, calligraphy, painting, pharmacology, astrology, etiquette, poetry, horsemanship, archery, martial arts, military strategy, and divination. All of them are top figures in their respective fields.
Due to health reasons, Gongzi Yi reluctantly chose the literature class, and Hua Wuduo naturally followed suit. Gongzi Qi was also in the literature class, while Gongzi Xiu was in the martial arts class. Gongzi Qi and Gongzi Xiu shared a room, so Gongzi Yi never visited Gongzi Qi. If he needed anything, he would only send his page, Xiao Xi, to fetch Gongzi Qi. Over time, Hua Wuduo couldn't help but become curious about Gongzi Xiu. Just what kind of person was he that Gongzi Yi dared not offend?
Perhaps the heavens sensed her slight curiosity and kindly arranged for her to have a chance encounter with Gongzi Xiu.
The sky was clear and the grass was lush and green. Gongzi Xiu emerged from the thatched hut and saw Hua Wuduo obediently guarding the outhouse on the other side. He sneered disdainfully, "You two not only eat and live together, but you're even inseparable when you go to the outhouse?"
Hua Wuduo looked at himself dressed in men's clothing and was speechless.
Young Master Xiu looked her up and down, and then said something shocking: "Your looks are average, but you have a great figure. Why don't you dump Young Master Yi and take me instead?"
What?!
For the first time, Hua Wuduo, who was usually very good at controlling his emotions, showed a huge, silly surprise!
At this moment, Gongzi Yi pushed open the door to the outhouse and said coldly, "Xiu, you even want to lay a finger on my cousin?"
Gongzi Xiu glanced at Gongzi Yi with a cold expression, and Gongzi Yi stared back coldly, refusing to back down.
Hua Wuduo sensed the tension between the two and suddenly said, "Yi, you've finally come out. You've been occupying the outhouse for so long, I was about to burst." Hua Wuduo hurriedly pulled up his waistband and went into the outhouse.