"I never thought I'd set foot here in my lifetime..."
After passing the gilded stone pillars and looking up at the solemn statue of Emperor Gaozu, Shi Huaifeng almost burst into tears.
Le Yu reminded him as he adjusted his "temporary visitor pass": "You're standing in the pond."
"This is the Royal Academy's pond!"
"Then... please don't worry about me. I won't delay your meal."
Seeing Shi Huaifeng's face flushed red, as if he truly intended to kneel down and lick the place, Le Yu could understand him. After all, the land they had stepped onto was none other than the Yan Jing Royal Academy.
The Royal Academy held a far more important place in the hearts of the Radiant People than Tsinghua and Peking University did for the Chinese. If he had to put it another way, it was Tsinghua plus Peking University plus Minzu University plus China University of Political Science and Law plus the National Defense University. Its history stretched back ages and was as old as the nation itself. A thousand years ago, it had been the Imperial Academy; a thousand years later, it was the Royal Academy. It had nurtured countless famous ministers and generals, witnessed countless feuds and romances, and seen through countless historical truths.
If "Radiance" was the totem in their hearts, then the Royal Academy was the totem's sole spokesperson. Through countless coups and changes of dynasty, the academy had continued to stand. Quite a few rebellions had even begun within its walls.
Every student had dreamed of attending the Royal Academy, and Qin Leyin and Shi Huaifeng were no exceptions. Qin Leyin had not taken the entrance examination because his main quest was in Dongyang, so taking it would have been pointless. Shi Huaifeng had taken it, but failed.
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