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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]
O R A N G E S T A R
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[Hlau V.] [Ine O.] [Kiiayame] [kuroneko_chan] [Liznel M.] [Michelle K.] [onepiece] [Oushna]
[Quae] [Ray] [Scorpion Princess] [Victoria]
After the banquet, the Crown Princess also returned to the East Palace.
The Crown Prince looked a little sullen.
"Your Highness." The Crown Princess stepped forward. "What’s bothering your mind?"
The Crown Prince sighed, "Old Third has been getting more limelight recently."
Actually, it wasn’t Old Third who was getting more limelight, it was himself who was getting less attention. Rui Wang himself wasn’t someone to be feared of, as he had no big ambitions and only devoted himself to following Ning Wang.
But the more favored Old Third was, the more Ning Wang would get the attention of the Emperor.
He was the eldest son, making him already more special compared to other imperial princes.
The Emperor took Ning Wang along to Jiangnan while keeping him, the Crown Prince, in court to oversee the country while they were gone. It might seem that the Crown Prince had benefited from it, but their whole journey could increase the affection between father and son. In the end, who could say that the Emperor's heart would not be more favorable to the eldest son?
The Crown Princess looked at him sincerely and said, "Your Highness need not worry. The envoys of the State of Liang have arrived. This is a good opportunity for Your Highness to shine in front of Imperial Father. Your Highness will certainly win the favor of Imperial Father more than anyone else. I will help your Highness to make that happen."
……
Meanwhile, Rui Wangfei had originally planned to go to Gu Jiao's place after she left the palace, but it was already so late that she thought Gu Jiao should have gone back, so she decided to look for her again during the day.
Gu Jiao didn’t know what transpired during the banquet, but she was indeed not in the medical hall anymore. Right now, she was standing under the locust tree at the gate of the Imperial Academy, waiting quietly for Xiao Liulang to finish his class.
The evening class was mainly about the teachers answering questions or students studying by themselves. If they wanted to ask any questions, they would go to the podium and ask the teacher. Otherwise, they would just answer the questions on their seats by themselves.
At this time, the evening class was over, and students came out of the Imperial Academy one after another.
Many of them were not unfamiliar with Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao was not shy about her appearance and often sent Little Jing Kong and Xiao Liulang to school. Likewise, Little Jing Kong and Xiao Liulang were also not embarrassed of her appearance, and generously let people know that she was their big sister and wife.
When they saw Gu Jiao at first, they were just curious about her appearance and occasionally threw her a second look, but they didn't take the initiative to say hello to her.
However, as Xiao Liulang became famous within the Imperial Academy, more and more people nodded at Gu Jiao in greeting.
Gu Jiao obviously felt that her status had changed a bit.
This kind of change wasn’t brought about by her own medical skills, but by Xiao Liulang's academic reputation. His achievements was what made this group of proud noble sons of the Imperial Academy willing to look her, a little peasant woman from the countryside, in the eye.
Although it was just a simple greeting, it transcended social class.
Just how many people couldn’t break through the social class barriers above their heads all their lives?
That was why, in ancient times, studying was really the easiest way to change a person's fate.
Not that farming and businesses were bad, but for a carp to really become a dragon, it depended on one’s education.
"Shuaixing Hall has finished their classes, but several students are still asking Huiyuan Xiao for advice. You may have to wait a little longer." An Imperial Academy student saw Gu Jiao waiting for a long time and kindly said to Gu Jiao, "Why don't I inform Huiyuan Xiao?"
Gu Jiao said politely, "Thank you. I'm in no hurry."
"Then, I'll be going first!" The Imperial Academy student said and left.
Gu Jiao continued to wait for Xiao Liulang.
Xiao Liulang had no idea that Gu Jiao was waiting for him outside. He was explaining to some students what they didn't understand in today's class. Even students who were not from Shuaixing Hall also came over to listen to him.
The progress of each grade was different, but they could understand everything Xiao Liulang was saying. Senior students didn’t think it was too easy, junior students didn’t think it was too advanced; everyone could gain something from his teaching.
Xiao Liulang wasn’t this good at teaching at the beginning.
But he not only had to help Little Jing Kong, who knew everything and had excellent grades, but also Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun, who knew nothing and had poor grades. Thus, he gradually developed the powerful skills to deepen simple topics and simplify complex topics.
When the palace exam was near at hand, not to mention everybody didn’t have enough time for themselves, all the participants in the palace exam were technically rivals. At this juncture, few people were willing to help their classmates improve their grades.
At first, Xiao Liulang only taught Lin Chengye and Feng Lin. Then, by chance, his classmates sitting next to him on either side asked him questions, and Xiao Liulang answered them patiently. Gradually, more and more people came to find Xiao Liulang for advice, even the old students of Shuaixing Hall.
Xiao Liulang’s strong point was that he wasn’t stingy in his lectures, and he never worried about getting starved after feeding his students full.
He also had no attitude.
Of course, there was also his good looks, which was pleasing to the eye, as well as his pleasant voice.
In short, more and more people came to listen to Xiao Liulang lectures.
There were fewer and fewer people who thought that he only got to where he was today by sheer luck. His knowledge, personality and character were very admirable.
Of course, he didn’t talk to everyone.
Some students from the women's academy came to him for advice too, but were refused to their faces ungraciously. Many of them cried on the spot and vowed never to come to him again.
"Humph, what is a poor boy from the countryside being proud of? I originally thought highly of you so I came to you for advice! You really think of yourself as something else huh!"
"That’s right! Even An Junwang is not as arrogant as you!"
An Junwang had appeared in the medical hall many times recently, and had run into the young misses of the women's academy several times. Some of them ask him for advice in their lessons, and he always tried to answer what he could. Otherwise, he would politely apologize to them for inconvenience.
The two of them ranked first in the metropolitan exam, so they couldn’t help being compared by the world.
"Look, that is the kind of self-cultivation that a noble son should have!
Xiao Liulang's reputation in the capital was polarized. Imperial Academy students believed him to be approachable and selfless, while the women's academy students thought of him as a little cripple who had never seen the world before and let his achievements go into his head.
"That's it for today. It's time for me to go home. We should all go home to rest." Xiao Liulang finished discussing another key topic and closed the book.
Everyone knew that there was a little wife in his family, and he was afraid that she would be anxious waiting for him.
Everyone here wasn’t selfish and inconsiderate. Xiao Liulang's willingness to take the time to give them a lecture was already giving them face. There was no reason to keep Xiao Liulang here all the time.
"Brother Xiao, thank you very much."
"Thanks a lot, Brother Xiao."
Everyone expressed their thanks to him.
He was the youngest and calling him brother was a courtesy.
Xiao Liulang nodded, took his crutch and went out of the Imperial Academy.
When he saw Gu Jiao, his eyes moved. He quickly walked up to her and said, "Why are you here? Have you been waiting long?"
"No, I just arrived." Gu Jiao shook her head.
Xiao Liulang looked at a few small pits on the ground that she had stepped out of and pretended to believe her.
He took over her little back basket and carried it on his back.
This was equivalent to carrying your girlfriend’s backpack in her previous life, right? He didn’t seem worried that someone would laugh at him at all.
Gu Jiao felt happy thinking about it.
"Here."
Suddenly Xiao Liulang handed over something wrapped in brown paper.
"What is it?" Gu Jiao took it, unfolded the layers of brown paper, and found a piece of jerky covered in syrup inside.
Gu Jiao looked at him blankly.
"It's for you." Xiao Liulang looked straight ahead. "Don't you like eating it?"
This jerky was given by his classmate in Shuaixing Hall. This kind of jerky coated with syrup was the exclusive secret recipe of their family. There were two versions of it, real meat and vegetarian meat. It wasn’t for sale, but for several children at home to eat.
A few days ago, Xiao Liulang helped this student in some subjects, and to express his gratitude, he gave Xiao Liulang two pieces of jerky with syrup, one piece of real meat and one piece of vegetarian meat.
Xiao Liulang took it and gave it to Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao divided it between Grandaunt and her three younger brothers, taking only a small taste of the syrup and minced meat glued to the brown paper.
En, how could it be so delicious?
Gu Jiao, who wasn’t much interested in food, was amazed by the taste.
Gu Jiao didn't tell him her preference. She didn't expect him to find out.
"Where did you buy it?" Gu Jiao asked.
"From my classmate." He answered.
Actually, he asked his classmates for it.
This kind of jerky wasn’t easy to cook. He asked for it last time, and it was only made today.
To think the grand Huiyuan Xiao would crave for food, asking his own classmate for meat to eat, truly not afraid of getting laughed at by people if the words got out.
Since it was given by people and not something you could just buy anytime you want, Gu Jiao wasn’t willing to eat it for herself.
Xiao Liulang knew this would happen and said to her, "I actually left it for them, this one is yours."
Gu Jiao glanced at him, suddenly grabbed the brown paper with both hands, broke the jerky into two pieces, and handed him the big piece, "You should eat too."
Xiao Liulang didn't refuse, holding brown paper and taking the jerky.
Gu Jiao began to enjoy the delicious snack.
The jerky itself was spicy, but the syrup on the surface was very sweet and greasy. It was more like honey than ordinary white sugar, so it had a slightly sour taste.
It was very delicious.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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