My Wife Is A Sword Immortal-Chapter 169 - 150 Strange Girl and Strange Couplet

Chapter 169: Chapter 150: Strange Girl and Strange Couplet

Chapter 169: Chapter 150: Strange Girl and Strange Couplet

“Alright, this move is not only useless; it’s actually self-defeating. If you could write a qualified poem, would you not have passed the assessment when the Academy was recruiting disciples a few days ago?”

“All you had to do back then was compose one on the spot. Why wait until now?”

Zhao Rong turned and returned to the side gate of the Academy.

Just now, Teacher Chen had left, taking only a portion of the scholars he saw potential in, yet many still remained by the side gate waiting.

Zhao Rong waited again with them, but this time he did not linger in the back. Instead, he pushed forward, seeking a better spot to seize an opportunity.

He frowned slightly, looking at the open wooden door.

In this life, although previously a bookish scholar, his talent was not lacking, even considered excellent; he had a photographic memory but was not versatile. However, having been immersed in the teachings of the Saintly Books of the Confucian order from an early age, taught by the esteemed Teacher Fang, his foundation was exceedingly solid.

Now with the memories of his previous life awakened, his understanding of ancient literature from the past life enhanced his mastery in the poetic arts, allowing him to joyously be a scribe…

Hmm.

Not to mention, he retained a face so handsome from his previous life to this one.

He had thought that with these, he could easily enter the Academy, especially since he knew Lin Wenruo, a scholar of the academy. Zhao Rong looked at him and thought that even Wenruo’s dog only slightly surpassed him in looks, so he felt quite confident about gaining admission early on.

Yet, here he still was, stuck outside the gate. Though it wasn’t entirely his fault—as he had missed an opportunity to legitimately enter during the assessments—the situation left Zhao Rong, who usually had things go his way, somewhat disheartened.

Zhao Rong stared blankly at the wooden gate that had barred so many Confucian scholars of Wangque Continent. The gate was unguarded, yet no one dared to barge inside, not even daring to step onto the few short steps in front of the door.

Being Confucian scholars, deeply familiar with the sayings of the Saint, they all adhered to the strict order of traditional propriety. Though the atmosphere at Linlu Academy seemed relatively relaxed as compared to the rigid hierarchies of the secular dynasties below the mountains, certain rules and unbreakable laws were still unmistakably in place.

Zhao Rong lightly exhaled a breath, his gaze sweeping over the varied expressions of the surrounding scholars, who were now his potential rivals. He pursed his lips tightly, putting away the initial unconscious disdain in his heart, his eyes gradually becoming more serious.

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This Linlu Academy, I, Zhao Ziyu, must enter.

Although initially telling Su Xiaoxiao that he was going to study at Linlu Academy was an excuse, the thought of that silly girl’s dumb smile made Zhao Rong feel guilty.

Having been compelled to keep secrets from her regarding Qing Jun, all the more he felt obliged to fulfill the other promises he had made her. He had vowed to meet her grandmother as a scholar of the Academy, and he was determined to do so.

Additionally, although Qing Jun indirectly suggested he should wait for her at the Qinglian Inn on East City’s Wutong Street, Zhao Rong felt that Qing Jun might give him the “cold treatment” for a while. However, he couldn’t wait another moment.

“Aren’t you telling your husband not to bother you in Taiching Prefecture?”

“Well, I will!”

Zhao Rong had never been to the Taiching Four Mansions, but he didn’t need to guess to know that, just like Linlu Academy, they wouldn’t allow “unrelated persons” to enter.

However, if he were a scholar of the Academy, he likely would not be considered ‘unrelated.’

Hehe, if he suddenly appeared before Qing Jun, he wondered how she would react and where she would hide then.

“Dear, just wait for me to ‘come and get you.’

I must get back that piece of ink jade token, hmm, and make my dear give it willingly…”

Moreover, what consistently weighed on Zhao Rong’s mind was the task Teacher Fang had entrusted to him to deliver a letter.

Zhao Rong did not know what the Great Li State Preceptor had written to his master in that letter, nor how important it was.

He hadn’t received any payment from the Great Li State Preceptor either.

However, since it was a matter entrusted by Teacher Fang, he had to deliver it diligently and avoid any mistakes!

Every day at the gates of Linlu Academy, countless scholars fought tooth and nail to enter.

Using the task of delivering a letter as a pretext to submit letters of recommendation to teachers of the Academy was a simple ruse, likely quite common.

Thus, if he were to casually entrust the letter to someone unfamiliar, like asking those Academy scholars to pass it in, it would not only be unsafe but also likely to be disregarded, treating his reason for sending the letter as a pretext to submit his own letter of recommendation.

Therefore, Zhao Rong thought of waiting until he entered Linlu Academy; then he would personally deliver it to the hands of the State Preceptor’s master, unless someone reliable appeared; otherwise, he would not allow it to pass through another’s hands.

“Finally.”

There were personal reasons as well.

As a Confucian Scholar raised on the teachings of the Saints, how could he not seize the opportunity to witness the Academy firsthand?

To see with his own eyes what this Academy, gathering the most erudite scholars of half of Wangque Continent, looked like.

Zhao Rong squinted, scrutinizing the ancient Academy that had stood for a thousand years, its literary spirit unbroken, momentarily lost in thought.

However, he was soon forced to snap back to reality, his spirits lifting.

Because the crowd around him began to stir once again.

Another teacher from the Academy had come out.

However, it wasn’t long before Zhao Rong joined the others in a disappointed sigh.

The second teacher to come out from the Academy paid no attention to anyone, too indifferent.

Zhao Rong looked at the expressions of the people around him who were familiar with this place and had a rough idea that there was little chance.

Despite this, Zhao Rong still gave it a try, but he too received only disregard and the teasing glances of other scholars.

Afterward.

Zhao Rong waited outside the side gate of the Academy for an entire day.

He saw quite a few teachers from the Academy, yet none brought any progress.

These Academy teachers, either had stern faces and no one dared to disturb them once they stepped out, or they liked to have people run errands for free, but as others said, this teacher never gave his word, unsure whether it was a test or some other reason, he had never been seen recommending scholars to enter the Academy.

Zhao Rong even encountered a teacher who was stern and very strict; he always carried a cane with him, and if he saw any scholar outside sitting or standing improperly, he would scold them harshly.

Although the first day had ended without finding any opportunity to enter Linlu Academy, or even a hint of one, Zhao Rong had learned quite a bit about the situation and considered that a gain.

Becoming anxious wouldn’t help; he could only proceed slowly.

In the evening, an exhausted Zhao Rong returned to rest at the inn he had booked beforehand, not far from Linlu Academy.

At night, Zhao Rong bathed in the remaining Qi Nan agarwood and meditated nonstop.

The next morning.

Zhao Rong, carrying a day’s provisions, set out early before dawn with his clothes damp with dew, and reached the side gate of the Academy.

Looking around, there were already quite a few people; he thought to himself that he would have to arrive even earlier in the future.

Zhao Rong quickly claimed a spot near the front, then took out his books and began his morning reading.

Many scholars nearby were doing the same, and some were also reading aloud; Zhao Rong even saw the scholar with the loud voice from yesterday take out a book, turn to a page, then stop.

Zhao Rong’s eyelid twitched, and he quickly covered his ears and turned his back.

Sure enough.

The next second, a deafening “loud reading voice” rang out outside the Academy side gate, yes, even the walls could certainly hear it.

This sudden shout.

Frightened many as their books dropped, some even choked on their dry food and hastily drank water.

Furious glances were cast, but that loud-voiced scholar remained immersed in his own world…

Zhao Rong nodded his head.

Good! Quite spirited.

At that moment.

Creak———

The wooden door was pushed open from the inside.

The reading voices outside paused, then quieted down.

Zhao Rong looked up to see the strange girl in blue from yesterday.

He watched curiously.

The girl in blue was dressed as she had been the day before, but now she held a pair of scrolls in her small hands.

With narrowed eyes and puffed cheeks, she glanced a few times at the people below the steps who quieted at her sight, turned her body, and pasted the scrolls on the empty wooden doors.

The girl in blue then took a few steps back, propped up her hands on her chubby chin, looked it over a few times, and nodded.

She suddenly turned around, glanced at the people below the steps who were quietly observing her and the scrolls on the doors, slightly lifted her chin, snorted, then turned and went back inside.

Bang!

The wooden door was forcefully shut.

Leaving behind a pair… of strange scrolls.

Blessings never come in pairs

Misfortunes never come singly