So It Was Her?

"Yes, everyone needs to have some aspirations. I don't aspire to be a high-ranking official, but if I could achieve some recognition and earn a living, I could stand tall with my head held high. Even after I get married, I wouldn't have to live at the mercy of others."

As more and more people entered the classroom, Xu Xi didn't want to say much, lest Madam Cui and the others think she had come to show off and act arrogantly. She quickly forced a bowl of chicken soup down their throats, winked at Xu Xue, and turned to leave.

Back in the North Academy, she saw that the other five people had already arrived and were listening to Madam Cui say something. To her surprise, among these five people, besides Mu Qingqiang, there was another person she knew well, namely He Yuqi.

Without saying much, she walked over, bowed to Madam Cui, and sat back down in her seat.

"... Our Beining Women's Academy is different from other places because of its advantageous location, which allows us to invite many great scholars to teach us. But if everyone's level is too low and they can't even understand what we're saying, how can they be worthy of being taught by such great scholars? Therefore, I hope everyone will work hard and strive to achieve a Grade B in the monthly exams as soon as possible. Once you're in Grade B, you'll be taught by great scholars."

Madam Cui hung a carrot in front of everyone before saying, "But don't be discouraged. Now that you're in the North Academy, even if your instructors aren't great Confucian scholars, they are all Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) or Tongjinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), Youyu of teaching you."

As she spoke, she introduced the identities of the gentlemen. Sure enough, they were all Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) or Tongjinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and all served as officials in the imperial court.

Many students from impoverished families passed the imperial examinations and became Jinshi or Tongjinshi, and stayed in the capital to serve as officials. However, living in the capital was not easy, and some of them did not have the ability to earn money. Since they held sinecure positions, they would use their spare time to teach at these academies to earn some money to supplement their family income.

Because of its geographical advantage, the academies in Beining became beneficiaries.

After Madam Cui left, an elderly man in his fifties came in and began lecturing on the Analects. It seems that many scholars had been recruited, and Madam Cui had chosen the best among them. This old man's lectures were logically clear, profound yet easy to understand, and of high quality, which greatly pleased Xu Xi.

Her only complaint was the progress. In her opinion, the progress was a bit slow.

"Master." As soon as class ended, seeing the old teacher packing up to leave, she hurried up to him and asked, "I wanted to ask if there are any good commentaries on the Four Books and Five Classics that you could recommend? With these books, I can study them more on my own after class."

Every teacher loves a studious student. Upon hearing Xu Xi's words, the old teacher was Gao Xing. He took out paper and pen and wrote down a reading list for Xu Xi, saying, "These are the best commentaries in the Great Jin. As long as you thoroughly understand and memorize them, passing the imperial examination will be no problem."

"Thank you, sir." Xu Xi bowed respectfully to him.

After the old gentleman left, the other classmates all rushed over to copy down the book list.

That afternoon, it was chess class in Class Ding. Xu Xi and Xu Xue had some snacks but didn't go back to the North Academy. Instead, they went back to Class Ding's classroom for their class.

She had never learned Go in her previous life, so she had to start from scratch. Fortunately, most of the students in Class Ding had never learned Go either, and some who had only learned it only knew the basics. So Madam Chen was teaching the class, started teaching them from the beginning.

Just as Xu Xi was listening to the chess lesson with great interest, Fu Yunlang and his group, who had gone to the manor for hunting and leisure, finally returned and appeared at the city gate of Beining County.

Huang Xing had already sent men to guard the area.

Upon seeing Fu Yunlang and his entourage, the others hurriedly went up to them and said, "Shopkeeper Huang has already booked a table at the First-Rank Pavilion. Would you gentlemen like to come in and rest for a while before continuing your journey?"

"Second Master, Fifth Master, why don't we go inside and rest? The chefs at the First-Rank Pavilion are quite skilled." Fu Yunlang looked at the Second Master and Fifth Master expectantly.

The reason his elder brother, Fu Yunkai, was appointed as a senior official in the Ministry of War upon his return was because he had been the study companion of the Second Prince, Xiao Lingpu, in their childhood, and the two had maintained a close personal relationship ever since.

Having finally managed to get on a trip with the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince, Fu Yunlang did everything he could to befriend them.

Xiao Lingpu and his brother were on good terms, so he didn't expect anything from him. But if he could win the favor of the Fifth Prince Fifth Prince, Xiao Lingyan, and become close friends with him, then he wouldn't be lacking anything compared to his brother, would he?

Having learned that Xiao Lingyan's hobby was business, he catered to this interest by leading them to his silver shop. Sure enough, the Fifth Prince was quite interested in it.

Upon hearing Fu Yunlang's words, Xiao Lingyan exchanged a glance with his second elder brother. Seeing him nod slightly, he turned to Fu Yunlang and said, "Since Fu Er has so kindly invited us, why not go? We have nothing to do back in the capital anyway, as long as we get there before dark."

Fu Yunlang was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately ordered his men to clear the way ahead.

After entering Beining, the group skipped the jewelry store and went straight to the First-Rank Pavilion.

Huang Xing had been waiting at the First-Rank Pavilion since he knew they were coming. After they had almost finished eating, he sent someone in to deliver a message to Fu Yunlang.

"What is it?" Fu Yunlang asked impatiently when he came out.

He was having a very pleasant conversation with the Fifth Prince when Huang Xing sent someone to fetch him. It was such a small business; couldn't Huang Xing make decisions on anything? Why did he have to bother him at this time?

Huang Xing explained the matter to Fu Yunlang, then bowed deeply and said, "I know that it is important for you to accompany the two gentlemen. However, this matter was inquired about by Fifth Master, and I was worried that if I did not explain it clearly to you, you would not be able to answer if Fifth Master asked later. That is why I have disturbed you. I hope you will forgive me."

"What did you say? She said I'm arranging a marriage with her sister? She's a young lady from the Marquis of Huanping's Residence? Her surname is Xu?" Fu Yunlang asked hurriedly, forgetting to blame Huang Xing.

"Exactly," Huang Xing said.

Fu Yunlang frowned.

He now knew who Xu Xi was.

Some time ago, the Marquis of Huanping's Residence of the Capital for having their children switched at birth, and the news spread throughout the aristocratic circles. After all, such a thing was too bizarre. Although there are many bizarre things depicted in dramas, this was the first time that such a thing had actually happened and been exposed in real life.

Because of Zhao Ruyu, he knew the most about this matter.

He knew that Xu Xi was the real young lady of the Marquis's mansion who had been switched with Zhao Ruyu.

Originally, because Zhao Ruyu was the legitimate daughter of a concubine, and the Marquis of Huanping's Residence was declining day by day, her status was not good enough for him, so her mother was very dissatisfied with this marriage. It was only because he insisted, and her mother had also inquired about Zhao Ruyu's character and felt that he was alright, that she relented.

But when his true parentage was revealed, his mother changed her mind, feeling that Zhao Ruyu was not good enough for him.

Because of the unsuccessful marriage proposal, Zhao Ruyu was distant and aloof towards him. However, she had also been admitted to the Capital Women's Academy, which elevated her status and ensured she wouldn't have to worry about marriage in the future, so she didn't necessarily need him. Fu Yunlang was very distressed about this during this period.