flstandardbreds Chapter 168 Rewards for Successful Students
Chapter 168 Rewards for Successful Students
This imperial edict was very strange. The emperor actually granted the title of Dongping Prefecture, which was only a hundred kilometers away from Nanping Prefecture, to an unknown prince of a different surname.
The entire court, both civil and military officials, had never heard of this man. It was rumored that he was the emperor's recently adopted brother. This sudden appointment caused a great deal of discussion throughout the court. Everyone was puzzled and bewildered. Something was about to change in the court.
Everyone carefully prepared gifts, looking forward to visiting the residence of the prince of a different surname to find out the truth about this mysterious figure.
However, the enthusiasm was met with ruthless cold water.
After they arrived at the Prince's Mansion, they were turned away. They heard that the housekeeper had never seen his master's face. It was as if the Prince had never appeared in the world and was extremely mysterious.
This situation not only failed to extinguish everyone's curiosity, but instead made the fire of curiosity burn even more vigorously.
Questions surged in everyone's mind: Who exactly was this prince? And was there any deeper meaning behind this for Nanping Prefecture?
Yan Wanwan's lips curled up in a sneer of contempt. "Oh, this guy is clearly targeting her, clearly trying to go against her and challenge her!" Since the other party has taken the initiative to provoke her, she will not back down. She wants to open her eyes and see who will have the last laugh and become the true winner in this contest.
Regardless of outside opinions, Yan Wanwan always welcomed everyone who came. Before long, the students who had passed the imperial examination in Nanping Prefecture returned home in triumph.
For a moment, the sound of firecrackers crackled non-stop, the enthusiastic sounds intertwined into one, setting off the lively atmosphere to the extreme. People poured into the streets, cheering, their eyes full of excitement and pride.
At this moment, the entire Nanping Prefecture was immersed in a sea of joy. This was a prosperous scene that Nanping Prefecture had rarely seen in a hundred years!
However, just as Nanping Prefecture was immersed in this festive atmosphere, an uninvited guest quietly appeared on the bustling street.
He was dressed in a black robe, with a tall and straight figure, and a silver mask on his face, revealing only a pair of deep eyes, making him stand out in the crowd.
As soon as he appeared, he quickly caught the attention of Yan Wanwan who was standing on a high building.
Her eyes inadvertently swept across the black-robed figure, and her heart suddenly tightened. An inexplicable uneasiness instantly overwhelmed her like a tide.
She intuitively felt that this mysterious man's appearance here was not accidental, and it was very likely that he had an intricate and complex connection with the mysterious prince. Not only that, she also felt an indescribable sense of familiarity in her heart.
Xiao Tao immediately noticed Yan Wanwan's gaze and whispered beside her, "Miss, I'll go bring the masked man over here."
"Need not!"
Yan Wanwan stopped him in a deep voice, her voice revealing unquestionable majesty. She said solemnly, "Don't worry about him. Lead the students to Zuibinlou to celebrate. Have you arranged the buffet outside the restaurant?"
Xiao Tao said, "Don't worry, Miss, everything is ready."
"Okay, let's go down!"
Yan Wanwan took Xiaotao down the building and walked towards Zuibinlou.
Along the way, she appeared calm on the surface, but her heart was restless. The figure of the man in black robe was like a thorn, deeply piercing her heart.
She immediately used her special powers to lock onto the surroundings of the man in black, determined to find out what that thing was.
The crowd was bustling and lively, but she felt that everything around her became blurred. Only the deep eyes of the man in black robe lingered in her mind.
Yan Wanwan gently pushed open the carved wooden door of Zuibinlou, and a faint sandalwood fragrance mixed with a hint of wine aroma wafted towards her face.
The house is elegantly decorated. Behind the carved screen, the sound of stringed instruments can be heard, intertwined with the aroma of exquisite dishes on the table, creating a warm and elegant atmosphere.
Although Yan Wanwan looked tired, she still forced herself to cheer up, with the corners of her mouth raised, revealing a gentle smile. She took light steps, raised her hand gracefully, and warmly invited all the students to take their seats.
Those dozens of students in blue robes were all tall and handsome, with their eyes sparkling with a thirst for knowledge and admiration for Yan Wanwan.
They stood in order, their movements in unison, their expressions solemn and serious, and then they all bowed deeply to Yan Wanwan, performing a standard salute.
Then, they shouted in unison, their voices loud and respectful, echoing in every corner of Zuibinlou: "Thank you, County Master Yan, for your careful cultivation over this period of time. We are so grateful that words cannot express it. We bow to you!"
Upon seeing this, Yan Wanwan hurried forward, holding her hands lightly, and said softly, "There's no need to be so polite, fellow students. It's truly a privilege for me to be able to discuss scholarship and talk about the past and present with you. I see your hard work and progress, and I'm deeply pleased."
Her voice was soft yet penetrating, like a spring breeze, blowing through everyone's hearts.
The students slowly stood up. One of them, a tall and distinguished young man, stepped forward, holding an exquisite brocade box in both hands. He respectfully handed it to Yan Wanwan and said, "County Master, this is a small gift from our students. I hope you can accept it."
Yan Wanwan was slightly startled, her eyes falling on the brocade box, her eyes full of confusion. She gently took the brocade box and carefully opened it, only to see a beautiful scroll inside, depicting Yan Wanwan giving a lecture.
In the painting, she has a graceful figure and a smile on her face, concentrating on imparting knowledge to the students. Every detail is depicted vividly, as if the beauty of that moment has been frozen forever.
Yan Wanwan raised her hands lightly and clapped them gracefully, and crisp applause echoed in the hall.
Almost instantly, a line of servants came out in an orderly manner, holding trays steadily and respectfully.
Only two items stood out on the tray. One was a book with a simple yet exquisite binding, a collection of workplace insights Yan Wanwan had painstakingly compiled, each line embodying her years of profound insights and valuable experience. The other was an exquisitely embroidered purse, the silk threads gleaming softly in the light. Inside, bulging with cash, lay five thousand taels of silver.
"No, my lady. You are wasting too much money."
"That's all right. I'm in high spirits today. I hope that more well-educated people in Nanping Prefecture will shine brightly in the imperial examinations. In the future, if any student succeeds, I will give him 5,000 taels of silver as a reward to show my appreciation."
As soon as these words were spoken, they instantly won warm cheers and applause from the people. From then on, the number of people signing up for the imperial examinations increased exponentially, setting off a wave of imperial examination enthusiasm.
For a moment, laughter and joyful chatter echoed in the building, and the tables were filled with wine and delicious food, but she had no intention of enjoying the lively atmosphere.
From time to time, she looked out the window and looked out at the street, trying to catch the trace of the man in black robe.
However, his people were gone.