As he was about to enter, the instructor grabbed Yun Jinhe and whispered, "Dean Qian is in a bad mood today. It's your first time meeting him, so it's best to flatter him a bit..."
Yun Jinhe paused for two seconds after hearing this, then smiled and cupped his hands towards the instructor, "Thank you for the reminder, instructor. I will be careful!~"
The instructor grunted, knocked on Dean Qian's door for Yun Jinhe, and then turned to leave...
"Enter!" Dean Qian's old, hoarse voice boomed out.
A moment later, Yun Jinhe walked into the office. Seeing Dean Qian's dark, gloomy expression, as black as the bottom of a pot, he respectfully bowed, "Your student greets Dean Qian!~"
Who had upset him?
"Do you know why I called you here?" Dean Qian asked.
Yun Jinhe shook his head, "Your student does not know..."
Upon hearing this, Dean Qian slammed the two documents in his hand onto the desk, "Do you know Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu?"
Yun Jinhe's face paled in surprise, and he quickly walked to the desk to look at the documents...
Why were their enrollment applications with Dean Qian?
Didn't Minister Feng say that only students who ranked in the top three were eligible to study at the Imperial Academy?
Could it be... Old Master Yao was pulling strings behind the scenes?
"Hmph, this fellow surnamed Yao is truly despicable. He even bribed my old woman. He's simply audacious..." Dean Qian cursed.
Yun Jinhe: "???"
What was he even talking about?
He couldn't understand a single word.
Seeing Yun Jinhe's confused expression, Dean Qian sighed and sat down. "To tell you the truth, Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu will be coming to the Imperial Academy in a few days. However, it's not that I'm keeping them here. I will issue a set of questions later, and only if they pass will they become official students of the Imperial Academy..."
Speaking of which, Dean Qian looked at Yun Jinhe, "I heard you are their friend. You can tutor them privately. If they can truly pass the exam, then you will also have contributed greatly!~"
After all, Yun Jinhe was a student highly recommended by Dean Fan of Bocai Academy, so Dean Qian had a good impression of him...
Moreover, he had also shared a drink with Old Man Yun. He who accepts favors must reciprocate, Dean Qian understood this very well.
"If your student can contribute even a little, I will not hesitate!~" Yun Jinhe cupped his hands.
He was quite puzzled why those two fellows had tracked him all the way here...
The reason was actually quite simple. Old Master Yao, seeing that Dean Qian was a stubborn old man who was impervious to reason, resorted to showering his wife with gifts.
Gold and silver jewelry, silks and satins, delicacies, and fine meats were all sent to Dean Qian's mansion by the carriage-load.
Madam Qian, being from the countryside, had lived with Dean Qian for many years. While not living in great wealth, relying solely on his meager salary, their standard of living was indeed not very high...
Upon seeing these good things, Madam Qian immediately lost control and accepted them all. She also promised Old Master Yao many things, including the enrollment of Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu.
Dean Qian was struck by lightning and wanted to return all the gifts, but Madam Qian staged a scene of crying, making a fuss, and threatening to hang herself, completely subduing him...
With a nagging wife threatening him, what could Dean Qian do? He could only temporarily allow Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu to attend the Imperial Academy as auditors. Once they failed the exam, he would send them back to Bocai Academy.
"Jinhe!" Dean Qian took a sip of tea and softened his tone, "Why haven't you worn the jade pendant I gave you?"
Yun Jinhe was slightly taken aback. He then remembered the jade pendant his grandfather had given him, which Dean Qian had gifted.
Jinhe was not the type to show off. Wearing Dean Qian's jade pendant would inevitably lead to gossip from other students, so he had kept it at home.
"Do you dislike that jade pendant because it's too old?" Dean Qian asked again.
Yun Jinhe waved his hands repeatedly, "No... no, the jade pendant is very exquisite. Your student just, just..."
"Never mind, never mind. Young people nowadays don't really like old things. If you don't want to wear it, then don't!~" Dean Qian said with a smile.
He actually wanted Yun Jinhe to overshadow Yang Jingrui. That young man's popularity had soared since he arrived at the Imperial Academy, and even the instructors were fawning over him...
Dean Qian was displeased and wanted Yun Jinhe to wear his jade pendant to school, which would indirectly indicate that Jinhe was outstanding in character and scholarship and was Dean Qian's man.
Hmph, was the Prime Minister's son so great?
"Jinhe, you may leave. I'll have another drink with your grandfather when I have time..." Dean Qian smacked his lips.
Why were the food and sorghum wine from the Yun family so delicious?
Yun Jinhe bowed again, "Your student takes his leave!~"
At the same time, outside the gates of Pingyang Marquis Manor.
"Is everything packed?" Gu Mingyan was instructing servants to load items onto the carriages.
Today, he planned to send Princess Yan'er back to the grasslands, so he had bought a lot of local specialties and fabrics early in the morning...
The two carriages for the goods were packed to the brim. Helplessly, Gu Mingyan asked Steward Zhou to find another carriage.
Han Chiyan smiled and said, "I've never met a man as meticulous as the Marquis!~"
He truly thought of everything, down to the smallest detail.
He had even prepared half a bag of cotton strips, specifically for dealing with menstrual issues...
Upon hearing this, Gu Mingyan gently pulled Han Chiyan into his arms, his face full of tenderness, "My goodness, you'll only understand if you experience it slowly. We'll take things one step at a time from now on!~"
Han Chiyan's cheeks instantly flushed red, and she pushed Gu Mingyan away, "It's broad daylight, and you're talking nonsense again!"
Chu Jiangtun and Hugu Shuang'er, standing nearby: "......"
Showing affection again?
Is there no end to it?
Knowing that Shuang'er was leaving today, Chu Jiangtun came to see her off, bringing no other gifts but roujiamo...
"Shuang'er, stay. Didn't Princess Yan'er say that she would return to the capital after persuading the Khan to cease hostilities!" Chu Jiangtun held Hugu Shuang'er's hand, reluctant to let go.
Hugu Shuang'er pinched Chu Jiangtun's face, finding it both amusing and exasperating, "It's not like I'm not coming back. Why are you sobbing like this?"
"Then, then what if you fall for another man? Wouldn't I become a green-hatted turtle king?" Chu Jiangtun said worriedly.
Hugu Shuang'er: "......"
Your thought process is so peculiar!
Before the princess married, her maidservant was not allowed to marry.
Besides, Chu Jiangtun was so good to her; why would she look for another man?
Was she bored enough to do that?
"If you don't trust me, you can come to the grasslands with me. You're always so suspicious..." Hugu Shuang'er gave him a sideways glance.
Chu Jiangtun was about to say he couldn't leave when the old Marquis suddenly came running out.