CHAPTER 129: CHAPTER 128: THE TYRANT OF THE IMPERIAL COLLEGE

"Hey! What does she mean by this?"

The little son of General Changwei’s Mansion, who was always used to being flattered, found it hard to accept being ignored by a little village girl, and he was feeling quite agitated.

In contrast, Song Wei, who hadn’t said a word since Song Fang came in, watched Xu Shu scratching his head like a monkey. He picked up a teacup, took a sip, and uttered four words, "Continue with the class."

His deep and soothing voice reminded him of his inviolable status as a teacher at the moment.

Xu Shu furrowed his brows, wanted to argue but didn’t dare, sullenly asked, "Is she really your sister?"

Song Wei smiled, "Born of the same mother, genuinely true."

"Alright, let’s continue with the class!"

He won’t argue with an inexperienced little country girl!

——

Song Wei attends classes with Xu Shu during the day, but Xu Shu was always daydreaming and dozing off, not taking in a single word.

The lecturers at the Imperial College all hailed from the Hanlin Academy, and the older they were, the more serious they became. Their lectures were monotonous, which made it easy for someone like Xu Shu to fall asleep.

But little did he expect, Song Wei, a newcomer from a small place, could craftily retell what the lecturers taught, making it not only engaging but increasingly captivating.

Others could turn black into white, but Song Wei’s mouth could make even black bloom with flowers.

Caught up in the excitement, Xu Shu ended up studying until nightfall. He initially wanted to mooch a meal at Song Wei’s house, but seeing it was too late and fearing his father might send the steward out looking for him again, he packed up his things, said goodbye to Song Wei, and slipped away.

Song Wei entered the living room.

Wen Wan and Song Fang hadn’t eaten yet. Song Fang was starving and roasted two sweet potatoes over the small stove. The two of them were happily peeling and eating one each.

Seeing Song Wei enter, Wen Wan quickly got up and brought over the dinner that was kept warm on the kitchen stove.

Song Fang finished the last bite, wiped her hands, and looked at Song Wei, "Third Brother, what was that guy here for?"

Song Wei said, "He came to seek advice on some academic issues he didn’t understand."

"Another Hao Yun!"

The matter of Song Wei "teaching his apprentice until the master starves" still bothered Song Fang. Upon hearing that Xu Shu was also there to seek advice, she immediately categorized the two together, harboring even more resentment toward that boy who left a bad first impression, "You could tell right away he’s up to no good! Third Brother, stay away from him from now on. Before we left for Beijing, Mother did say that city folks have many tricks up their sleeves. Be careful not to let him take advantage of you someday."

——

The next afternoon, as usual, Xu Shu followed Song Wei home after school.

Upon realizing he had come again, Song Fang immediately declared she wouldn’t serve and did not take tea to the study, nor let Wen Wan go.

After sitting for a long time with a dry throat and no water, Xu Shu found an excuse to use the restroom, suggesting Song Wei take a break. As he opened the door and walked out, he saw Song Fang sweeping snow on the small courtyard. Taking a few steps forward, he called out enthusiastically, "Song, why haven’t you brought us tea or water today?"

"Who’s your sister?" Song Fang didn’t turn her head, but her sweeping became more forceful, scattering snow and venting her obvious annoyance targeted at someone.

"Hey, I’m saying, at your young age, you’ve already learned to hold grudges? Even overnight ones, doesn’t it bother you to keep them inside?"

Song Fang turned back, glaring at him, "I like it. Is it your business?"

"Alright, alright, just pretend I’m not here."

A good man doesn’t argue with a woman!

Xu Shu turned, ignoring the displeasure behind him, and headed towards the living room.

Having been to this place twice, he already knew that the Song family lady couldn’t speak, so when he encountered Wen Wan, he was very polite, courteously knocking on the door first, "Sister-in-law, can I come in to get a drink of water?"

Wen Wan was sitting in front of the small stove, on top of which she was brewing ginger soup for Song Wei to ward off the cold.

Hearing Xu Shu’s voice, Wen Wan smiled and pointed to the tea set on the table.

There had long been tea brewed in the tea set, but earlier her sister-in-law instructed not to serve it, so Wen Wan didn’t go.

Seeing Wen Wan so agreeable, Xu Shu felt relieved. After thanking her, he promptly took the tea set to the study, not forgetting to praise Song Wei’s wife as being demure, well-mannered, and dignified, saying that if one were to marry, one should marry someone like her...

Under Song Wei’s faint gaze, Xu Shu belatedly realized he was over-praising, scratched his nose, and awkwardly shifted the topic to academics.

——

After three days of studying with Song Wei, Xu Shu finally wrote an original essay. He took it to his Great General father for review. Although the quality wasn’t great, it was at least his own work. After reading it, his father didn’t immediately hit him as he usually would but remained silent for a while and asked him where he copied it from.

Xu Shu said he didn’t copy it, that he just came up with it himself.

The Great General father was furious, "With that brain of yours, you managed to come up with such an essay in three days? Even in three years, you’d still be spinning in circles!"

Is there such a disparaging parent towards his own child?!

Thinking about it, Xu Shu opted to avoid any physical punishment by volunteering the truth, saying that an Imperial College scholar from Ningzhou came, and he took three supplementary lessons with that scholar and improved.

His father’s frown finally eased, and he asked for that scholar’s name, suggesting inviting him over for a meal one day to thank him properly.

Xu Shu nodded repeatedly, feeling a huge relief, silently muttering Amitabha Buddha to himself.

Song Wei really helped him out big time this time.

——

On the morning of the entrance exam, Wen Wan personally escorted Song Wei to the main gate. Just as she was about to return to the house, she had a bad feeling. She rushed over, caught up, and pulled him back.

This scenario had occurred many times before, so Song Wei was accustomed to it. Once back in the study, he took the initiative to grind ink for her to write.

——Wen Wan’s implication was that once Song Wei entered the gate of the Imperial College, he would witness noble children bullying freshmen. Unable to tolerate it, he spoke up, offending a noble son.

Song Wei asked her, "Can you tell me his name?"

Wen Wan thought hard, picked up the pen, and wrote: Someone called him "Young Master Lu."

She felt the guy in the premonition, Young Master Lu, seemed familiar, although she couldn’t quite recall where she had seen him before.

In a hurry to get to class, Song Wei advised Wen Wan a few things before rushing out the door.

Xu Shu had bought breakfast and was waiting for him outside Great Success Gate.

Song Wei wasn’t in the mood to eat and directly asked him, "Do you know Young Master Lu?"

Hearing this, Xu Shu paused his action of eating a bun, his expression very complicated, "What are you asking about him for?"

"Pure curiosity."

Xu Shu swallowed the bun in his mouth, as if fearing someone might overhear, he specially lowered his voice, "He’s the little overlord of the Imperial College, acting imperiously everywhere."

Song Wei was somewhat surprised, "No one controls him?"

"Who could control him?" Xu Shu, mentioning that person, couldn’t even continue eating, "He’s the Empress Dowager’s beloved grandson, the sole son of Princess Changping. With the Empress Dowager backing him, even the Emperor has to give way to him a little. So think about it, in this Imperial College, who dares provoke him?

But speaking of it, we do have one thing in common, which is that we both despise being sent to the Imperial College to study.

However, I fear my father’s whip and dare not act recklessly. But he fears nothing, bullying one person after another, just trying to force Master Sacrificial Officer to expel him, but in the end, no one dares to expel him. Instead, he’s sent even higher on the ’Overlord of the Imperial College’ throne, which remains unchallenged; impressive, right?"