In the early summer morning, the sky was exceptionally clear, its blue deepening gradually from nearby to the horizon.
The weather was not as scorching as noon, and the carriage rolled slowly onward in the cool breeze.
Fang Daniu drove carefully, avoiding any mishap in the city.
Tan Yu and Nie Shi looked calm, but they were extremely vigilant inside. Madam Fang and the Fang Household steward had repeatedly warned them that if Fang Yun were harmed today, the bond between the two of them and the Fang Household would be over.
Fang Yun had no mind to read. He slowly contemplated this world, his future, and how he could gain a foothold in the Literary Academy.
Entering the Prefectural Academy and becoming an "academy student" was a new step in life.
Would what awaited me at the Prefectural Academy be a dazzling, colorful life, or a road of wind, rain, and mud?
Before long, Fang Daniu called from outside, "Young Master, we've arrived at the Prefectural Academy."
Fang Daniu's voice was somewhat tense.
Fang Yun smiled faintly, slung his bookcase onto his back, lifted the curtain, stepped down from the carriage, and looked ahead.
The Prefectural Academy was extremely similar to the County Academy and the state academy, with a huge square before its gates.
This Prefectural Academy was even larger than the state academy, because during the Prefectural Examination, it had to accommodate tens of thousands of Licentiates taking the Academy Student examination. The state academy only accepted Academy Students taking the Provincial Graduate examination. Academy Students were far fewer in number than Licentiates, so its grounds were actually smaller than those of the Prefectural Academy.
The Prefectural Academy had one main gate and no fewer than six side gates. The main gate was tightly shut, while only