First Cry, Then Make a Scene, Then Threaten to Hang Yourself
She had barely finished speaking when Zhao Muyuan walked in, looked at her, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble subject pays his respects."
Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly at him and said, "Minister Zhao, you may rise and dismount."
Zhao Muyuan looked at her and said, "You are becoming more and more like an emperor."
Zhou Wanwan rolled her eyes inwardly. If she didn't do this, she was afraid she would have to memorize a lot more tomorrow.
Zhou Wanwan looked at Zhao Muyuan, "I plan to go to the White Deer Academy tomorrow."
Zhao Muyuan looked at Zhou Wanwan and said earnestly:
"This is what I think: if you go to the White Deer Academy, you must study diligently and show your talents."
You must find a way to get Dean Zhu to take notice of you and accept you as his last disciple.
This Dean Zhu is no ordinary person; he is highly respected and admired by officials of all ranks in the court.
The faction of upright officials in the imperial court, in particular, followed his lead without question.
If you can receive his personal guidance and mentorship, it will greatly benefit your future.
With his support and assistance, your future career path, and even your ascension to the throne, will be much smoother.
However, without his approval, it would be difficult to gain the support of the upright officials, and the road ahead would be exceptionally difficult, with obstacles at every turn.
Zhou Wanwan now understood Zhao Muyuan's painstaking efforts.
She sighed helplessly and said:
"I always felt that you were daydreaming. Someone like me would be perfectly fine as the chief of Black Wind Stronghold."
Why does it have to be an emperor? I always feel that being an emperor is too tiring.
Zhao Muyuan stared at Zhou Wanwan, then tears streamed down his face.
"If you weren't the emperor, what would be the point of our lives as ministers?"
It would be better if they all just ran over and died; then who would help the people of the world?
Take Dongshan Prefecture for example. The outside world is in complete chaos, but who can save them from this dire situation?
There is no one else who has the ability to save them but you.
"Can you really bear to see us, your old ministers, suffer like this...?"
Zhou Wanwan coughed and said, "I can't bear it, Grand Tutor Zhao. I understand what you mean. Don't worry! Even if I have to crawl, I'll crawl to that throne."
Grand Tutor Zhao wiped away his tears and said, "With your words, we old folks are willing to give our lives for you."
Zhou Wanwan:...
These old ministers' favorite tactics are crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide. The problem is, Zhou Wanwan really doesn't know how to deal with them.
She sighed and said, "Do you think Old Master Zhu would even look at me?"
Zhao Muyuan said:
"What's wrong with you? I've never seen a greater emperor than you."
You will surely become the greatest empress in the world, and you will definitely lead us to a new golden age.
Zhou Wanwan looked at him helplessly; these old ministers were becoming more and more adept at brainwashing him.
If these people were to come to modern times, they would definitely make a fortune if they started a pyramid scheme.
She nodded, utterly dejected.
The next day, she took a horse-drawn carriage with more than 30 people from Black Mountain Stronghold and went to the White Deer Academy in a grand procession.
Shen Congrong's lips twitched, and she looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:
Are you sure you want to bring them all to the White Deer Academy?
Do you think White Deer Academy is like cabbage, accepting just anyone?
White Deer Academy only accepts those with exceptional talent and a solid foundation in their studies.
Zhou Wanwan looked at the people from Black Wind Stronghold and said, "I think they're all quite amazing! Every one of us from Black Wind Stronghold is a dragon among men."
Shen Congrong's lips twitched as she said:
"You think these are cabbages? And that each one is a dragon among men? You're making me laugh to death."
Let me put it this way! Do you know how many people showed up when White Deer Academy registered last year?
Zhou Wanwan looked at him and asked, "How much?"
"2600 people."
"So how many people were ultimately admitted?"
Shen Congrong sighed and said, "96 people."
Zhou Wanwan raised an eyebrow and said, "Wow, only 96 people?"
Shen Congrong said helplessly, "Otherwise, what do you think? I advise you not to bring them along and embarrass yourself."
She was about to speak when she heard Shen Wanjun and Cheng Chao's voices coming from outside.
Shen Wanjun and Cheng Chao called out in unison from outside, "Master, we plan to follow you into the White Deer Academy and serve as your pages."
Zhou Wanwan lifted the sedan curtain and looked at them, saying, "Hey! What brings you two here?"
Shen Wanjun scratched his head and said:
"Didn't we hear you were going to the White Deer Academy?"
I was planning to go with you, but I was worried you might get bullied there.
Cheng Chao quickly nodded and said:
"I'm also scared. The competition at the White Deer Academy is actually very fierce."
Moreover, many of them are from prominent families or are sons of officials.
Then Chen Ankang, who was standing outside, said, "Master, I've arrived too."
Zhou Wanwan looked at Chen Ankang and said, "Hey! Chen Ankang, weren't you doing just fine as a fourth-rank official? What brings you here?"
Chen Ankang sighed and said, "I'm temporarily on temporary assignment."
Zhou Wanwan looked at Chen Ankang and smiled, "Chen Ankang, not bad! Then you all come with me!"
Chen Ankang took over the job of coachman and started driving the carriage.
Shen Congrong's lips twitched. He walked out of the carriage and looked at Chen Ankang, saying, "Have you lost your mind? You're a fourth-rank official, and you're driving a carriage for a little girl?"
Chen Ankang said calmly, "I'm just honoring my bet."
Shen Congrong rolled her eyes and said:
"You'll regret it someday, but your family probably won't even know it yet."
"If my family finds out, they'll have a huge fight!"
Chen Ankang drove the car attentively without saying a word.
Shen Congrong looked at Zhou Wanwan helplessly and said, "Don't you feel a lot of pressure?"
Zhou Wanwan looked at him and asked, "Pressure? What kind of pressure?"
Shen Congrong pointed at Cheng Chao and said, "This is the county magistrate's son."
He then pointed at Shen Wanjun and said, "This is the son of the richest man in Jiangnan. His uncle, that is, me, is a fourth-rank official."
He then pointed to Chen Ankang outside and said, "Do you think it's appropriate to have a fourth-rank official drive your carriage?"
Zhou Wanwan thought for a moment and said, "That's really not appropriate! Why don't you go drive it? Do you know how to drive a horse-drawn carriage?"
Shen Congrong was so angry that she didn't want to talk to her.
Chen Ankang outside couldn't help but laugh; Zhou Wanwan was truly a freak.
Zhou Wanwan finished eating and drinking in the carriage, she lay down and went to sleep. Shen Congrong said helplessly, "She doesn't act like a girl at all! Oh well, I can't control her."
The carriage took several hours to reach the academy. Zhou Wanwan woke up and stretched.
A carriage is no match for a big tree; if the Old Scholar Tree had brought her here late at night, it would have only taken half an hour.
However, even in broad daylight, she still had to ride in a carriage, which made her appear more normal.
The area in front of the White Deer Academy was already crowded with carriages and scholars, with young students coming to take the exams and pursue their studies.
Zhou Wanwan spotted Nie Feng in the crowd at a glance and immediately called out with a smile:
Hey, Nie Feng! Isn't this Nie Feng?
I didn't expect you to come to the White Deer Academy too.
To everyone's surprise, Nie Feng caught sight of her, his expression froze, and he turned and walked straight into the depths of the crowd.
Zhou Wanwan watched his departing figure, and couldn't help but frown and speak:
"Hey, how can you be so rude?"
Why didn't you even greet me when you saw me?