苏州哪里有站小巷的

“Understood, understood!”

“Why are you stuttering? Affairs of the heart are the very nature of man. Now that you’ve got a head start into the Li Mansion, you must seize the opportunity. Otherwise, if some other vixen comes along, how could a little girl like you compete against that? Oh, if only I’d had your sisters instruct you more!”

“Father!!”

Three months later, outside the county town, a new academy opened.

“Is this the Guo Bei Academy?”

“Li Jie Yuan truly has a mind that wanders beyond the skies, as elusive as an antelope hanging by its horns. Impossible to fathom!”

“Exactly, at a time like this, instead of rushing to the capital to take the exams, he opened an academy. What is he thinking? Does he not want his fame and status anymore?”

“Could it be that he is not confident about this imperial examination, so he’s delaying it for now and will take the exams in the next session?”

“Get real, he’s just scared. Having earned the title of Jie Yuan, he’s been distracted by other matters, even tinkering with writing novels and storytelling books, wasting his talents for nothing. Afraid that he won’t achieve high ranking if he goes to the capital, he’s simply chosen not to go.”

“Keep your voice down, we’re outside the city, and there’s no rotten cabbage or stinky eggs here, but those people will throw stones!”

“Whether he ranks high or not, for him, it’s all the same. You wouldn’t know, but a few days ago when the academy started, people with status from Guo Bei County, Jinhua Mansion, even from Jiangzhe, came one after the other. Those who couldn’t attend sent representatives with gifts.”

“His influence in Jiangzhe’s scholarly forests, the sea of learning, the political scene, and literary circles is simply terrifying!”

“That’s not all. I’ve heard that even cultivators from remote places and esteemed individuals from Buddha’s Way have close ties with him. Not to mention several Taoist Temples and monasteries nearby, the Taoist leader from Mount Jilei’s Mingxiao Taoist Temple at Peach Blossom Mountain even sent a grand gift to congratulate him.”

“Mount Jilei’s Mingxiao Taoist Temple? I heard that the Taoist there is a fierce practitioner of Thunder Skills. Just half a month ago, he personally eliminated a gang of demons disguised as bandits. The commotion could be heard thundering a hundred li away!”

“Is Young Master Liuxian’s network really so terrifying?”

Outside the academy, onlookers of all stripes were discussing heatedly.

Inside the academy, each classroom was bustling with activity.

In one corner of the classroom, Miss Xin Shisi sat upright, waiting for the teacher to call roll.

Today, she had changed into a green gown, dressing as a man. A beauty like jade, just as a gentleman should be. Though exceedingly handsome, she didn’t stand out in the current classroom.

Because…

“Zhu Yingtai!”

“Present!”

“Li Yingtai!”

“Present!”

“Liang Yingtai!”

“Present!”

“Zhou Wenjun!”

“Meng Wenjun!”

“Zhuo Wenjun!”

“Feng Suzhen!”

“Lu Suzhen!”

“Zhang Suzhen!”

“Bai Suzhen!”

Watching the students below, who were very handsome and as splendid as a multitude of flowers, the teacher calling roll couldn’t help but put down the register and said, “The academy doesn’t forbid women from studying, what are all of you doing?”

“Hehe!”

“Teacher, what are you talking about? I… we disciples don’t quite understand what you mean!”

“Where’s Li Jieyuan? Isn’t he supposed to be teaching this class?”

“I’ll die if I don’t see Sword Minister!”

“Haven’t you seen the syllabus? Young Master Liuxian only teaches music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and the martial arts of archery and horsemanship. He is not teaching this class.”

“Anyone wanna trade books? I’ve got a new copy of Peony Pavilion, willing to trade for Romance of the Western Chamber…”

“Silence, silence!”

Looking at the giggling young ladies below, the teacher stood firm, tapping the desk with a ruler, and said, “Since you’ve entered the academy, you must follow its rules. If anyone is stubborn and refuses to be taught, they will be expelled from the academy, never to be admitted again.”

Upon hearing this, the noisy crowd instantly quieted down, sitting properly like obedient children.

“Alas!”

The teacher shook his head, unsure whether this was a blessing or a curse, but continued with the roll call.

Soon, the class ended, and the students were set free, instantly forming several groups.

“Auction! Auction! An authentic portrait of Li Jieyuan, lifelike and vivid, for just ten silver taels each.”

“Ten taels? Why don’t you go rob someone? Don’t buy from this fraudster; my portraits are even better, and they’re only eight taels!”

“To capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach. I have a relative who serves as a maid in the Li Mansion; I couldn’t be clearer about Sword Minister’s dietary preferences. Five silver taels for each piece of information!”

“You swindlers! I’m already studying at the academy; I don’t need these Side-Path Left Way tricks. With my natural beauty, the position of Madam of Li Mansion will definitely fall into my lap.”

“Mirrors for sale! Mirrors for sale! One coin each, take a good look at yourselves!”

Watching the boisterous young female scholars, Miss Xin Shisi sat quietly in the corner, not saying a word, but feeling a sense of superiority in her heart.

These people are too lowly, not even through the gate of Li Mansion and already dreaming big dreams. Among the thousands of students at the academy, how many noblewomen and charmers are there? How could the young master possibly notice them all? Not like her, who was already near water and could first enjoy the moon’s reflection…

“Xin Yun?”

“You’re the little fox from the Xin Family!”

Her thoughts were still unsettled when a group of handsome young masters surrounded her table, eyeing her with eager intensity.

Miss Xin Shisi was startled and looked up, only to be even more frightened: “You, you all…”

“What ‘you’?”

A group of them promptly cut her off.

“Let’s cut to the chase and speak plainly!”

“This one’s from the Shui Family’s small serpent, this one’s the rabbit from the Bai Family, this one’s the pheasant from Peach Mountain…”

“We are the Guo Bei Academy Evil Spirit Alliance!”

“Now we’re setting some ground rules with you. First, you’re not allowed to casually approach Young Master Liuxian; second, you’re not allowed to absorb Young Master Liuxian’s Cultural Qi; third, you’re not allowed to absorb Young Master Liuxian’s yang energy; fourth, you’re not allowed to tempt Young Master Liuxian with demon arts; fifth, you’re not allowed to be alone with Young Master Liuxian…”

“Wait, wasn’t it supposed to be three rules?”

“Mind your own business, I’ll dictate as many as I want!”

“In short, you’re not allowed to seduce Young Master Liuxian, and most certainly not allowed to absorb his Cultural Qi or yang energy to harm his health. Especially you, little vixen. You fox spirits are best at seducing men. If we catch you having any improper designs on the young master, get ready to be made into a fur coat!”