Shen Liang disclosed and reiterated some details before leaving Wang Qingfeng's home. By the time he met up with Qi Yue and rushed to the Tianmen Academy, it was already a quarter after the time of Chen. This year, because of the excessive rain, Tianmen Academy's spring break had been extended and prolonged week after week. The professors usually started their classes a quarter after the Time of Si *11:15*. Hence, at this time, most of the students were still gathered at the roads leading up to the Academy.
I have returned!
Shen Liang raised the curtains of the carriage and was greeted by the sight of the Qin Empire's number one Academy. A cold light emerged in his eyes. In his previous life, he didn't study at the Academy for long. After he married Qin Yunshen, he never returned, but this place had engraved very vivid memories in his mind. It was one of the most deplorable times of his life. From the very first day he reported to the Academy, he didn't have a single good day since.
"Look, it's the Marquis Donglin Manor's carriage. There's only one of them. Say, do you think it's Shen Liang?"
"En, that's highly possible. Shen Qiang and the others always arrive together."
"That Marquis Donglin Manor is quite hilarious. The dignified sons of the legitimate wife can't even compare to the b*stard children of concubines in their eyes. Shen Qiang and the others act as though they're goddesses normally, but sure do reveal their true faces when met with Shen Liang."
"Isn't that so? Shen Qiao was even one of Imperial City's most talented young ladies, but she even dared to conspire and attempt to harm her cousin and the heir of their manor. We should be more careful and avoid her in the future."
"I wonder what the person who the Duke of Qingping favored looks like. He must be really beautiful?"
"It's more than that..."
The carriage pulled to a stop at the front gate of the Tianmen Academy. Chattering discussions enveloped them, but most of the students' discussions were aimed at Shen Qiang and the others and had nothing to do with Shen Liang. The only discussion mentioning him were those who had never seen him before and were curious about him. In the short days that had passed, the Duke of Qingping's public proposal had already spread amongst the Imperial City's most affluent families as well as the common people. It was unknown whether Pei Yuanxian had a hand in it, but most people talked about the matter in a positive light. Shen Liang's name and reputation did not suffer the least bit. Rather, he soon became the number on Ger of the Imperial City, making him more renowned than even some heirs and sons of distant relatives of the Imeprial Family.
"Fifth young master," only Qi Yue accompanied Shen Liang to report to Tianmen Academy. When he raised the curtains to the carriage, Shen Liang stepped out with his vibrant red attire. He stepped down from the carriage with Qi Yue's hand.
"How gorgeous!"
"How could a Ger be that beautiful? He's simply a being banished from the Heavens."
"No wonder the Duke of Qingping couldn't restrain himself. Shen Liang is simply too beautiful."
"Is he truly a man? A Ger? From today on, the number one beauty of the Imperial City will have to change ownership."
Since the moment Shen Liang was in view, exclamations and appraisals sounded. Many who were known for their beauty couldn't help but feel ashamed as they slowly drifted away. Shen Liang's beauty was indeed astonishing.
Shen Liang had always had a self-concept of how he looked and his beauty. He was not surprised the least bit. He only looked up at the front doorframe of the gates to Tianmen Academy. Tianmen Academy was founded at the beginning of the Qin Dynasty. Their founders were actually the Ancestral Holy Emperor and the Wei Family couples themselves. The words Tianmen was gifted in hopes that the Academy could cultivate their students to be the sons and daughters of Heavens. The Wei Family couple originally intended the Academy to be place where the common people could learn to read and write. But now, Tianmen Academy had become a school for children of the rich and powerful. One didn't have to consider the other branches of Tianmen Academy. Their main branch, the academy located in the Imperial City had a frightening number of children of affluent families, even Imperial Princes. As for actual civilians, they didn't even comprise a tenth of the school population. Those who did comprise of the population were those who were well-educated, talented, and promising individuals, such as Fu Yunxi before the civil exams incident.
"Liangliang!" a lively greeting suddenly sounded. Shen Liang, who was gazing at the front gates startled and turned around. He immediately saw Xiang Zhuo and the others heading towards him and waving.
"Don't be in such a hurry. It's not like I'll run off," laughing, Shen Liang nodded to Xie Yan and the others as what could be considered a greeting.
"We've been waiting for quite a while and even thought you wouldn't show up," after that day, Xiang Zhuo and the others couldn't rid their minds of Shen Liang. If it wasn't because their families were strict with them and supervised their actions, they might've already paid the Marquis Donglin Manor a visit themselves.
"Only you would do that. Don't drag us all down with you," before Shen Liang could respond, Yang Tianyu, the second son of the Minister from the Ministry of Justice sold Xiang Zhuo old mercilessly. Xie Yan and the others covered their mouths and chuckled unanimously.
Xiang Zhuo flustered: "Do you even want to continue being friends?"
"Haha..." the group of youths laughed without scruples. The students who came and passed couldn't help but peer over curiously. No one noticed when two more carriages of the Marquis Donglin Manor pulled to a stop before the school gate. Shen Qiang and Shen Jing, who many people who gossip over not long before, exited their carriage one after the other. But today... the two of them looked at Shen Liang who wasn't far away and conversing with Xie Yan and others. Envy and jealousy coursed through their hearts but before public view, they didn't reveal it. The two of them still carried pleasant smiles on their faces.
"Fifth brother!" with a single call, the entire road fell into dead silence. Xie Yan and some of the others were fine, but Xiang Zhuo couldn't even bother to hide his naked disdain. Shen Liang only revealed a faint smile. And Shen Qiang and Shen Jing who took the initiative to call out to him headed towards him with a wide smile.
"Fifth brother, it's your first day reporting to Tianmen Academy. Why didn't you wait for us? Grandmother and the others were worried," when only a few meters separated them, Shen Qiang stopped to say. She still had on her smile and her voice had also been deliberately softened, but it was no longer as pleasing to the eyes and ears of the surrounding audience anymore. Rather, it felt fake. Her goddess-like facade and persona could be said to have completely collapsed.
"I am no longer a three- to five-year-old child. I have already told Grandmother yesterday that I would head here by myself. Where does seventh sister's concern stem from?" even now, she was still pretending. Shen Liang felt too lazy to bother with them. After perfunctorily throwing her a response, he was prepared to leave.
"Fifth brother, Grandmother is only concerned for you." but Shen Qiang wouldn't let him leave just like that. However, she was cleverer this time and brought out Grandmother with every sentence she spieled. It didn't seem unnatural, but anyone with intelligence could see that she was alluding Shen Liang was an unfilial person. That he had made his Grandmother worried and didn't care at all.
But with Shen Liang's current reputation, it would prove difficult to use this tactic to pour dirty water on him and tarnish his name. Besides....
"Guys, look! It's the Duke of Qingping and the Young Master Jing!"
The sound of horses sounded. No one knew who was the one who called out the sentence, but everyone looked over, whether subconsciously or consciously. They immediately spotted the excessively handsome figure donned in mauve Pei Yuanxian, and another equally attractive figure donned in white, Jing Xiran, approach on horseback. Many cries and shrieks sounded while other revealed an obsessed expression, including Shen Qiang, who was originally secretly annoyed. Shen Jing, who stood behind her without a sound the entire time, couldn't help but scold her for her foolishness in her mind.
Shen Liang and the others also peered over with everyone else. His gaze followed Pei Yuanxian's figure as his lips unconsciously formed a smile.
"Blessings to my lord!"
It was only when Pei Yuanxian pulled on the reins and pulled to a stop that the crowd remembered themselves and respectively paid their greetings. Pei Yuanxian didn't bother with them. He headed towards Shen Liang with his riding crop: "What are you doing at the front gate bright and early in the morning? Waiting for this lord?"
"My lord thought too much. I was only stopped by seventh sister," whilst speaking, Shen Liang pointedly peered over at Shen Liang who was standing behind him. Pei Yuanxian followed his gaze and looked back but his gaze didn't linger the slightest bit. He simply looked back at Shen Liang and spoke bluntly: "Why bother with any cat and dog there are out in the streets. It's your first day reporting to Tianmen Academy. Let's go, this lord will take you to find the dean, that old man."
Afterwards, Pei Yuanxian strode forward, Shen Liang didn't immediately trail along. Rather, he gave Xie Yan and the others an apologetic look for he didn't think they'd be able to properly gather and talk today.
"What are you still standing there foolishly for. Follow along," subtly sensing that Shen Liang hadn't followed along, Pei Yuanxian, who had already walked some distance along, turned his head and urged Shen Liang with displeasure.
"Yes," Shen Liang deliberately dragged out his word to express his helplessness. Seeing that Xiang Zhuo attention and mind was no longer on him, Shen Liang only nodded at Xie Yan and the others before following after Pei Yuanxian. Jing Xiran, who had been forced to lead two horses could only resign himself to being used and forgotten by his friend.
Shen Qiang, who had been labeled as a stray animal by Pei Yuanxian paled and stood there stupidly like a statue.
"Seventh sister, let us head in as well," sincerely unable to stand the chatter and gossip around them anymore, Shen Jing finally couldn't bear it as she called out to Shen Qiang. The resentment she held for Shen Liang only increased as well.
Tianment Academy was located in the middle of the city and covered a vast expanse of the land. Most building had three floors with the ground floor mostly serving as sites of lectures. The second floor housed the libraries, and the third floors were study rooms. Their collection of books was astonishing as well, encompassing not only subjects of literature, but also talents such as qin, chess, calligraphy, and arts as well as martial rides, equestrianism, and archery. They also had an arena on campus for martial arts practice and training. Rather than saying it was an academy, perhaps it would be more accurate to deem the place as a reserve for Qin Empire's talents. Throughout history, most of the empire's military champions and top scholars have all came from here.
"Why are you here?" under Pei Yuanxian's active leadership, Shen Liang's admissions process was handled swiftly and without a hitch. Similar to Xiang Zhuo and the others, he was enrolled into the Chunzhu Class *Chunzu = autumn bamboo*. He originally didn't have anything planned for his chosen classic and it was only under the dean's worried and resentful gaze that Shen Liang filled in calligraphy.
"This lord is also a student of Tianmen Academy," Pei Yuanxian who was walking slightly ahead turned around to respond casually.
Shen Liang rolled his eyes speechlessly. If he remembered correctly, other than the students who had only returned to the Imperial City in their mid-teens such as Ling Yucheng who had unique circumstances and identities, no one over the age of eighteen could stay in the Academy? This was also why Shen Xiao and Shen Yang had enrolled into the Imperial College.
"Fine. You're the duke. Whatever you say goes. I will report to Chunzhu class now."
"Wait!"
Unwilling to waste time and words on this nonsensical matter with him, Shen Liang made a motion to leave but Pei Yuanxian stepped before him and blocked his road. He assessed Shen Liang up and down with his phoenix eyes before finally saying, "The beauty is undeniable, but your inexplicably missing a touch. I'll gift this to you."
After, he conjured up a blood jade hairpin and presented it to Shen Liang. Without waiting for Shen Liang's words, he directly tore off Shen Liang's original crown and replaced it with the blood jade.
"Don't move!"
Shen Liang subconsciously reached up but Pei Yuanxian hurriedly stopped him. He then took two steps back before nodding with satisfaction, "This looks more like this lord's future Wangfei. There's no need to thank me. This lord still has matters to handle and will leave first."
"....." Watching his retreating back, Shen Liang blinked with bewilderment. Exactly what did he come here for?
"Liangliang, is the lord shy?" Qi Yue, who had been trailing after them the entire time covered his mouth as he inquired. Who would've thought that the rumored unscrupulous Duke of Qingping would grow shy from simply gifting away a simple present.
"Do you think a man who dared to publicly propose would know what it means to be shy?" He had skin as thick as the city's wall, alright?
Shen Liang raised his hand as his fingers slid across the exposed parts of the hairpin. A smile lifted the corners of his lips. Such an awkward man. Wasn't it just a gift. Did he truly have to go through all of that?
"Haha... no one can say for sure!" It was rare for Qi Yue to be so mischievous. Afterwards, he even delivered Shen Liang an ambiguous wink.
Shen Liang shook his head, aggravated: "Why don't you say that before the duke himself?"
"I wouldn't dare. Not at all. The duke would kill me."
"As long as you're aware."
"Liangliang..."
The master and servant laughed amongst themselves and silently disappeared along the roads of the Academy. Pei Yuanxian, who should've been long gone, suddenly stepped out from behind their disappearing figures and watched as they two of them headed further and further away. Jing Xiran, who was only a few steps behind him, shrugged his shoulders. Seems like Pei Yuanxian had really fallen. He looked like a fool.