CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: MR. ZHANG HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL

The Gu Family’s clan school is not located within the Gu Mansion.

The Gu Family bought a neighboring residential house for the clan disciples’ elementary learning, also accepting children from family friends and in-laws, such as the three siblings from the Duke Yan Mansion.

"Did brother study well before?" Tang Xiaobai asked casually.

The aunts smiled without speaking.

"Of course, brother was good!" Tang Jiaojiao immediately replied, even casting a look that said "My brother is nothing less than excellent."

Heh! Didn’t expect that sister is such a brother-sentiment!

Gu laughed softly and said gently, "Your brother was too mischievous. Even after Mr. Sun hit his palms a couple of times, he went on to burn Mr. Sun’s beard, and after that, he never went back."

Tang Xiaobai frowned: "Why did brother do that! So dangerous! Truly a naughty child!

"What about it?" Tang Jiaojiao glared, "Brother even set fire to the Turkic people’s supplies last year. He got the training from a young age!"

The elders laughed at these words.

Tang Xiaobai didn’t see any connection in it, pouted, and asked again, "And what about sister?"

Gu laughed and said, "Jiaojiao is even more unwilling to suffer losses, as soon as Mr. Sun raised the ruler, she snatched it away, and Mr. Sun took a tumble trying to chase her."

Tang Xiaobai frowned, the old man falling was too dangerous.

"Sister is mischievous too!" I really feel for that Mr. Sun.

Leaving so quickly this time must have to do with having heard the youngest of the Tang Family is enrolling.

Tang Jiaojiao was indignant: "If you don’t be mischievous, don’t come crying back when you get your palms hit by the teacher!"

Tang Xiaobai pondered: "Now the teacher has changed."

Tang Jiaojiao snorted coldly: "Is there any teacher in the world who doesn’t hit palms?"

Tang Xiaobai recalled the figure she saw outside the Gu Mansion not long ago.

When they arrived at the Gu Mansion’s entrance, Mr. Zhang was being led out by the central envoy, like a refreshing breeze and bright moon, passing before her eyes, leaving her heart longing with just one glance.

At that moment, she’d almost believed the person’s identity.

Such elegance, such extraordinary presence, all found someone to embody it.

Someone like this shouldn’t punish students physically, especially——

"I’m so diligent and studious, why would the teacher hit my palms?" Tang Xiaobai said confidently; she was no brat without sense.

Surrounding people burst into laughter, the room was filled with lively air.

Tang Jiaojiao, both annoyed and amused, glanced at her askance, then turned with slight worry, asking: "Mr. Zhang’s been in the Palace for almost an hour, what’s Your Majesty want to see him for?"

The laughter halted among the crowd.

Only the Eldest Aunt Gu chuckled and said: "Mr. Ximeng is famous in the court, Your Majesty has summoned him thrice as Grandmaster, yet Mr. Ximeng resolutely declined. Now Mr. Ximeng’s legitimate grandson has come to Capital City, it’s no surprise Your Majesty wants to meet him."

To put it bluntly, it’s about retrieving face lost by the grandfather from the grandson.

How will this be done?

Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment, asking: "Why did Mr. Zhang choose to teach suddenly while originally he was traveling and studying? This should be an inevitable question before the court, right?"

...

"Since you study widely, why linger at Gu Family’s elementary school?" The emperor’s warm laughter asked from the throne, yet due to the elevated position, the warmth penetrated the central of the hall, adding a chill.

The young man in white, kneeling at the center of the hall, smiled slightly and replied with composure: "I began studying at three, traveled afar at twelve, observed mountains and rivers, bowed to the wise, and grew perplexed, realizing my inadequacies..."

...

"...Thus it is to return to simplicity, seeking mutual growth in teaching!" The Eldest Aunt Gu recited with full admiration.

Tang Xiaobai nodded repeatedly while listening, indeed a learned person, can truly expound!

"Did you understand? Just nodding here?" Tang Jiaojiao mocked.

"Understood." Tang Xiaobai replied.

Isn’t it just "mutual growth in teaching"? A necessary topic of nine-year compulsory education, isn’t it? At least she took the college entrance exam, what is there not to comprehend?

"If you understand, explain it to me?" Tang Jiaojiao didn’t believe.

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t be bothered with such a juvenile tease, shrugged her off, and continued to inquire the Eldest Aunt Gu: "Might Your Majesty take our teacher away? ’Mutual growth in teaching’, teaching princes and princesses is also teaching."

The Eldest Aunt Gu gently shook her head, smiling: "Men of integrity value promises, Mr. Zhang has his own resolve." Her expression appeared very determined amidst her words.

Tang Xiaobai suddenly recalled that time when Zhao Jingwei was at Zhenzhou Imperial Court, clearly suspecting deeply, yet the emperor refused to issue even one decree.

She contemplated, with such a face-valuing emperor, as long Mr. Zhang handles himself adequately, he should be able to leave.

While thinking, a servant ran hurriedly to report: "Mr. Zhang has returned!"

Tang Xiaobai calculated the time; about an hour, quicker than her occasion.

It seems this Mr. Zhang indeed has some skills!

...

The originally scheduled apprenticeship ceremony for this morning was postponed due to Mr. Zhang’s sudden call to the palace.

"Since the ceremony ran late, why not reschedule?" Second Uncle Gu suggested.

Mr. Zhang laughed heartily: "No need to adhere strictly to timing, as I see it, today is just right!"

Tang Xiaobai, squeezed behind the adults and couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the teacher’s robe, nodded repeatedly. With night lasting long, this Mr. Zhang seemed quite insightful!

Moreover, the phrase "not bound by rigidity" struck a chord with her, such an open-minded teacher would surely regard a child of humble origin but exceptional talent differently!

...

In the afternoon, Tang Xiaobai finally met the Mr. Zhang.

Mr. Zhang truly was a youthful teacher, appearing only around twenty, with a face that was clearly distinguished, behavior upright as a green mountain, making even the adults show admiration unconsciously, let alone the children.

Is this the legendary charisma?

Tang Xiaobai thought while performing the apprenticeship ceremony along with other children.

After the ceremony, she looked up to find Mr. Zhang gazing down at her, with a smile on his lips, eyes... hard to discern.

"This is Gu’s niece, Duke Yan’s second daughter, nine years old this year," Second Uncle Gu introduced with a smile, "This child has always been close with the Gu Family’s children, thus arranged to study together."

Mr. Zhang nodded with a smile and shifted his gaze.

Second Uncle Gu continued introducing other children.

Tang Xiaobai involuntarily observed Mr. Zhang’s gaze on other children, wondering whether she was being overly imaginative, but felt Mr. Zhang’s gaze on her seemed different from on others.

After introducing all the pupils, Second Uncle Gu gravely bowed: "Thus, these children are entrusted to you, Teacher!"

Mr. Zhang equally returned the courtesy with serious demeanor: "Won’t fail the Gu Family’s trust!"

Thus, the apprenticeship ceremony ended, leaving the parents to retreat while the newly apprenticed children remained to hear the teacher’s admonition.

Mr. Zhang stood before the desk, picked up a pen, and asked: "Have you read the ’Thousand Character Classic’ and ’Rapid Composition’?"

A majority responded.

Tang Xiaobai was bewildered.

"’Er Ya’, ’Shuo Wen’?"

About half responded.

Tang Xiaobai continued to be bewildered.

"’Analects’, ’Mencius’?"

Five or six responded.

Mr. Zhang set down the pen, lifted his gaze accurately landing on her.