Chapter 90: Chapter 92: Her Rival is the Examiner Chapter 90: Chapter 92: Her Rival is the Examiner On the horse carriage, Feng Bailing took out a book and started flipping through it.
“Accounting of Great Chu? Sister Bailing, do you understand this? I rember, your accounting skills are worse than a child’s.”
Princess Feng mocked upon seeing the title of the book.
Accounting here is ancient mathematics, primarily focused on addition and subtraction with less multiplication and division, which Feng Bailing understood after a few glances.
Feng Bailing did not answer, Princess Feng snorted, and Feng Bailing switched to another book, this ti picking up “Geography of Great Chu.”
Feng Xiangxue saw this and sneered internally; what use is cramming at the last minute, she is still bound to fail.
Especially with accounting, which cannot be learned overnight.
Unlike other won’s academies that only teach the arts, Yuxiu Academy believes that won should follow their father before marriage and their husband after marriage, managing both dostic and external affairs. Understanding accounting allows a woman to manage a household effectively.
Exiting the city and traveling half a mile further, they reached a large lake, with the Imperial Academy on one shore and Yuxiu Academy on the other.
At the Imperial Academy side, willows were planted densely along the shore, swaying gracefully in the spring breeze, a truly captivating sight.
On Yuxiu Academy’s side, however, the ground was covered with peach and apricot trees. In spring, pink peach blossoms and white apricot blossoms filled the air with a floral rain.
More than usual, today, due to Yuxiu Academy’s examinations, there were many carriages and people.
Those girls holding recomndation letters from official families, dressed extravagantly and accompanied by their families, ca to enroll.
Others dressed simply, their faces marked with anxiety, were commoner girls coming from various places to take the exams.
Passing the exams at Yuxiu Academy ant one had almost stepped into the upper echelons of Great Chu society.
Among the crowd, there were also nurous young n.
They were spectators of the female candidates; Yuxiu Academy gathered the most outstanding won of Great Chu who were usually kept secluded, and today was a rare opportunity to see them as the Academy opened its doors for the examination.
So noble ladies also crowded to watch; they were there to scout potential future daughters-in-law for their sons.
“Look quickly, it’s a carriage from the Princess’ Mansion.”
As soon as the carriage from the Princess’ Mansion ca to a halt, there was a stir in the crowd.
“Feng Mansion has two beauties, it’s a pity, Feng Xiangxue has already been betrothed to the Seventh Prince. Thankfully, the fifth lady is yet to be married, just being able to see her is a rare fortune for us.”
“The reason so many people are here today is because the Crown Princess Consort Nalan Yan’er is also coming; I heard she’s one of the examiners this year, I am a loyal supporter of hers.”
“Vulgar, you people only have eyes for won. Unlike you, I’m not here to see the so-called top beauties; I’m here for Feng Sanwu.”
“Feng Sanwu? Brother, your taste is quite sothing, what are you after, her ugliness, her illiteracy?”
“I’m betting on her to fail the exam; I’ve staked five ‘Silver’ on this at odds of one to one hundred twenty-five.”
“If I were Feng Bailing, I wouldn’t even co today, to avoid making a fool of myself.”
Laughter erupted from the crowd.
But suddenly, the laughter was abruptly cut off.
A horse carriage ca to a silent stop, and a man alighted.
Even though he was using a cane, his bearing, strong like a pine or cypress, still drew everyone’s attention.
His eyes swept over the crowd, and those n who had been speaking felt as though their throats were being strangled, unable to speak, their faces turning red.
“Sir, you aren’t here to avenge Princess Feng, are you?”
Feng Wan glanced at those young masters and felt his lord’s imposing presence growing more dominant.
“Before, on the battlefield, as soon as I took the field, I made the enemy soldiers limp in their hands and feet. Today, I’ve rendered soone dumbstruck!”
“They are too noisy.”
Dugu Wu, unhurriedly, headed towards Yuxiu Academy.
“It’s clear that he’s siding with Princess Feng, yet he’s also learned to say one thing and an another!”
Feng Wan muttered to himself, not daring to say these words out loud, hurriedly scurrying after Dugu Wu.
Feng Xiangxue approached the entrance of the courtyard, smiling and speaking to Feng Bailing.
“Sister Bailing, I heard that the examination at Yuxiu Academy will be at Wangyue Pavilion. Xiangxue and I are going to attend classes, and you can rest assured that the Crown Princess Consort has also beco an examiner this ti. I’ve already spoken to her; if she encounters you, she will definitely not make things difficult for you.”
“Then I really have to thank you.”
Feng Bailing smiled insincerely, and it seed her exam today wouldn’t be simple.
After parting with Feng Xiangxue and the others, she didn’t imdiately head to Wangyue Pavilion but instead wandered around the open space outside Yuxiu Academy where horse carriages were parked.
It wasn’t until she found an impressive-looking horse carriage that Feng Bailing, without any rush, approached it, casually slipped a piece of paper into the carriage, and then walked towards Yuxiu Academy.
“Bailing, we’ve finally waited for you.”
Feng Bailing had just reached the entrance of the courtyard when soone blocked her path.
Ouyang Chenchen looked a bit fatter than the day of registration.
“The delicacies from Chuyue Tower truly live up to their reputation. After eating there yesterday, I gained another seven pounds.”
Ouyang Chenchen looked around covertly to make sure no one was nearby, then lowered her voice.
“I tell you, I spent a lot of money to get the exam questions. Today’s first round examines accounting, the second round is a talent performance, and only for the third round, it’s said to be by drawing lots so we can’t know ahead of ti. I tell you, I have the answer for the first question on accounting; we will definitely pass the exam.”
Ouyang Chenchen reported the topics and answers.
The two walked together into Yuxiu Academy.
It had been only a few years since Feng Bailing was expelled from Yuxiu Academy, yet she still rembered the layout very clearly.
Yuxiu Academy, unlike the spacious and grandeur of the Imperial Academy, featured exquisitely delicate pavilions and lodges.
The area was divided into Spring Garden, Sumr Garden, Qiujju, and Winter Tower; Wangyue Pavilion was located between Sumr Garden and Qiujju.
The pavilion had seven floors, with colorful curtains on each floor, resembling a pagoda with a pointed spire.
Feng Bailing and Ouyang Chenchen were delayed on the road and when they arrived, the other civilian female students attending the examination had already gathered here.
Hundreds of desks were already properly arranged, each equipped with brush, ink, inkstone, and a stack of papers.
Feng Bailing imdiately noticed Nalan Yan’er standing at the foremost row of desks.
Nalan Yan’er was slimr than the average woman, dressed today in an elegant, pale yellow silk-gauze skirt, with a green chiffon scarf in hand, and light yellow Yulan Flowers embellishing her temples, creating an ethereal appearance.
The young girls who saw Nalan Yan’er were both envious and admiring.
Nalan Yan’er also saw Feng Bailing in the crowd. Strangely, Feng Bailing had undergone a transformation since returning from the Other Manor; in Nalan Yan’er’s eyes, her outfit today was just perfect.
“Ladies, I am Nalan Yan’er, once a student of Yuxiu Academy. Today, by the invitation of the dean, I am here to administer the first round of today’s assessnt, which involves accounting.”
As soon as Nalan Yan’er had announced it, many in the crowd showed expressions of joy.
“In the ti it takes one stick of incense to burn, those who can complete this accounting problem and get the correct answer will proceed to the second floor of Wangyue Pavilion for the second round of the exam.”
After Nalan Yan’er finished speaking, she had soone light a stick of incense and instructed another to read out the question.
Reviews
All reviews (0)