Chapter 197: Chapter 197: The Top Scholar of Both Civil and Martial Arts Turns Out to Be Her Teacher
Shen Ningning shut her eyes tightly. A moment later, she heard Mr. Guo say, "Huangzi Class."
The little one’s hands fell, disappointed. "Huh? Aww..."
She silently shook her head, like a deflated white bun.
Mr. Guo said with a smile, "Commandery Princess, you needn’t worry. What is taught in each class is actually the same."
Shen Ningning stepped to the side, waiting for an Attendant Student to give her the token engraved with her name.
Meanwhile, Lu Shaoyuan rolled up his sleeves, walked up, and said to the little one, "Watch me draw the same class as you."
He reached his hand in and decisively grabbed one, pulling it out.
Lu Shaoyuan carefully unfolded a corner of the paper, waiting for the word on it to be slowly revealed.
His spirits instantly sank. "Dizi Class."
Mr. Guo said, "Isn’t that very good?"
"It’s not good at all." Lu Shaoyuan shot Shen Ningning a resentful glance.
He had wanted to remain classmates with the little one.
Xie Yuanjiu also drew, and like Lu Shaoyuan, she was assigned to Dizi Class.
Lu Shaoyuan wished more than anything that he could have Shen Ningning trade places with her.
But the hour was late, and Mr. Guo urged them, "Now that you’ve drawn your classes, go and report to them as soon as possible. The teachers are waiting for you in the classrooms."
Shen Ningning had no choice but to wave her small hand. "I’m going now."
Xie Yuanjiu looked at Cai Ying. "Stay close to the Commandery Princess and take good care of her in all matters, understand?"
Cai Ying pressed her lips together knowingly. "This servant understands."
She lowered her head, a venomous smile flashing in her eyes.
The National Academy was truly vast. Shen Ningning parted ways with Lu Shaoyuan and Xie Yuanjiu at the Nine-Bend Corridor.
Cai Ying led the little one south. The Huangzi Class was in that direction.
Along the way, she suddenly took the initiative to speak to Shen Ningning. "Commandery Princess, do you happen to know the personality of the head teacher for the Huangzi Class?"
Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes. "I dunno."
Cai Ying smiled. "How can you not know anything? The other students all spend days beforehand finding out each teacher’s preferences and personality. That’s the only way to curry favor and avoid being given a hard time in class."
Shen Ningning pouted. "Everyone is here to attend class and study. Why would the teachers give people a hard time?"
Cai Ying paused. She hadn’t expected the child’s question to be so tricky.
She thought for a moment before answering, "That’s because every teacher has a different temperament. For example, this Huangzi Class’s Mr. Han has the strangest personality of all."
"He doesn’t like well-behaved children; he only likes good students with personality. So, even if you’re a bit rude, Commandery Princess, he won’t get angry. After all, you placed first in the entrance exam for the National Academy, didn’t you?"
Shen Ningning was taken aback, her big eyes blinking again and again. She found it hard to believe Cai Ying’s words.
"Really? There are people who don’t like good kids?"
"Yes. There’s no need to be afraid, Commandery Princess. You are a princess, and you ranked first in the top tier. When you enter in a moment, you have to let Mr. Han know how special you are."
Shen Ningning puffed up her rosy cheeks in thought.
Seeing her trying to figure out a plan, Cai Ying snickered inwardly.
’Just wait until Mr. Han punishes you!’
’Mr. Han is the type who actually hits people on the palm of their hands!’
Shen Ningning arrived at the door of the Huangzi Class with a nervous heart.
Just then, she heard a rough, bellowing curse from inside—
"Crying and sniveling on the very first day! If you haven’t been weaned yet, then you’d better get the hell back home! Don’t come to the National Academy for class and waste my time!"
Shen Ningning peeked her head in and saw two little girls huddled together, trembling, their faces streaked with tears.
The man standing on the platform was tall, over thirty years old, and though he was a teacher, he had the face of a man who could lead soldiers into battle.
A beard and mustache, tiger-like eyes, wheat-colored skin, and a voice as powerful and resonant as a lion’s roar.
Shen Ningning had arrived too late. The classroom was almost full; it seemed she was the only one missing.
Her small body trembled slightly as she said in a soft, timid voice, "Tea... Teacher... I’m Shen Ningning. I’m here to report..."
The burly teacher on the platform immediately snapped his head around, his gaze like a torch, landing fiercely on Shen Ningning.
The little one was so scared she instantly took half a step back.
’Mr. Han looks even more likely to eat people than her Langlang!’
Cai Ying coughed lightly behind her.
Only then did Shen Ningning remember that Cai Ying had said Mr. Han disliked meek and timid students.
She summoned her courage, lifted her fair, rosy face, and though she was clearly a little scared, she still issued a warning in her soft, quavering voice—
"Mr. Han, you were mean to them, so you’re not allowed to be mean to me!"
The entire room fell silent.
Mr. Han: ...
Behind Shen Ningning, Cai Ying’s eyes went wide.
’What is Princess Funing doing?’
Then, Shen Ningning swaggered inside.
She was panicking inside, but she absolutely refused to let it show on her face.
She pressed her rosy lips together, her chubby face full of seriousness, and swept her gaze across the classroom.
"Where do I sit?" she asked loudly.
Mr. Han was just about to point to the only empty seat.
But Shen Ningning huffed in her high, childish voice, "Forget it. I’ll choose my own."
She didn’t dare look at Mr. Han’s expression. Head down, she scurried on her little feet—TAP, TAP, TAP, TAP—and quickly sat down in the third empty seat from the far right.
To her left was Xu Jingxi. His calm, handsome face showed a hint of suspicion as he looked at her.
Mr. Han walked step by step until he was in front of Shen Ningning, staring down at her. He stood before her like a great mountain.
The little one silently lifted her gaze. "What are you looking at? You... Why haven’t you started class yet?"
Mr. Han’s tiger-like eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable.
The two female classmates who had been scared to tears earlier were now huddled together again, sobbing quietly.
It looked as if Mr. Han was about to eat Princess Funing.
One had to know, Mr. Han was not some weak scholar who lacked the strength to even truss a chicken.
Rather, he was the grand champion scholar from five years ago, accomplished in both literature and martial arts!
He was best at dealing with arrogant, disdainful, and unruly dandies and ladies.
Regardless of whether they were male or female, no one who provoked him ever met a good end.
Mr. Han had even once beaten a disobedient young dandy until he was severely injured.
Known as the most brutal teacher in the National Academy, no one wanted to study under him for fear the pressure would be too great.
At this moment, Shen Ningning didn’t dare to meet his gaze, feeling only his profound, oppressive aura.
Mr. Han let out a short laugh. "Little girl, you’ve got quite a temper."
Hearing this, Shen Ningning’s little feet immediately crossed together nervously under the desk.
Just as everyone thought that Princess Funing had managed to anger the most brutal teacher on her very first day at the National Academy...
Mr. Han suddenly did a complete one-eighty. His face broke into a broad smile, and his voice became gentle.
"You ought to have a temper. After all, you’re the first-place student in the top tier. Good students with no temper will only get bullied out in the world."
"Little girl, I am your teacher. My name is Han Shuo. From now on, you’ll be studying with me. I will cultivate your talents well."
The entire room fell silent once more as everyone stared with their mouths agape in astonishment.
Not only had Cai Ying’s plan failed, but she was also startled by Mr. Han’s abrupt change in attitude.
Mr. Han crouched down, worried that Shen Ningning would get tired from always having to look up at him.
"If you have any questions about your studies, come find me anytime." After saying this, his smile deepened.
’Princess Funing is so adorable,’ he thought. ’Like a little white, chubby kitten. And her eyes are just like a pair of black glass beads, carrying a timid sort of bravery and fearlessness.’
After he finished speaking, Mr. Han returned to the platform, his fierce demeanor restored.
"Take out your paper and brushes! First, write out a piece of classical literature that you like the most from memory. Let me see what your skill level is!"
Everyone hurriedly began to take out paper and arrange their brushes, while the maids and attendants from their various households quickly started to grind the ink.
Cai Ying also knelt beside Shen Ningning and took out an inkstone.
Shen Ningning whispered to her, "Cai Ying, your reminder was so timely. Mr. Han’s temperament really is strange."
’I was so fierce to him, but he didn’t even get angry. He seems pretty easy to get along with!’
The corner of Cai Ying’s mouth twitched slightly. "Commandery Princess, it is your good fortune."
’I’m so angry I could vomit blood!’ she fumed internally.
’I originally wanted to harm Shen Ningning, to have her punished by the most brutal teacher on the very first day. Her reputation would have surely been damaged.’
’But who would have thought that I’d actually end up helping her instead!’
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