flstandardbreds Chapter 135 The Scholar Following the County Master
Chapter 135 The Scholar Following the County Master
Yan Wanwan seemed unaware of the burning gazes of the two people on the street. She took Xiaotao with her and walked straight towards the bustling commercial district.
After walking for a while, she saw a crowd of people in front of the bookstore. Many people were holding piles of books, rice paper, and sets of four treasures of the study, and they were walking back and forth hurriedly.
She couldn't help but frown slightly, a look of surprise on her face, and asked softly, "What's going on? Is there a promotion going on here?"
You know, in ancient times, the four treasures of the study were always precious. Ordinary people rarely bought them on a daily basis, let alone bought them in such large quantities.
She wondered if the school she had opened was about to enroll students again. But after careful reflection, she was certain there was no such plan. Besides, the school always provided free books and the four treasures of the study to all students, so there was no need to purchase any additional supplies.
Seeing her young lady's puzzled expression, Xiao Tao quickly reminded her softly, "Young lady, the Autumn Examination is almost here, and they are all preparing for the imperial examination."
"Have they all passed the imperial examination?"
Yan Wanwan raised her eyes and looked at the team that was winding like a long dragon. Her eyes were full of surprise and she was secretly amazed in her heart. There were at least several hundred people here. When did a scholar appear out of thin air?
Xiao Tao's face was filled with pride, and her tone was filled with unconcealed pride. "Of course! Ever since you opened the school, many students from our Nanping Prefecture have made their mark and successfully passed the examinations to become scholars, which has brought great honor to our Nanping Prefecture. In the future, if they can pass the Juren examinations, they will have to participate in the Spring Examination and the Palace Examination. Perhaps our Nanping Prefecture will produce a top three scorer, or even the top scorer!"
Seeing Xiao Tao's growing excitement, her eyes sparkling, Yan Wanwan couldn't help but chuckle and said gently, "That's a great idea. I wish all the students in Nanping Prefecture will be able to pass the imperial examinations and win the first place."
Yan Wanwan paused slightly, thought for a moment, and then ordered in an orderly manner: "Go and organize and compile the examination papers of previous years. Also, find out who the examiners and judges of this imperial examination are, and give me an excerpt of their essays." Although Xiao Tao was full of doubts, she did not dare to ask more questions. She just nodded in agreement and hurried to prepare.
Yan Wanwan looked at the bustling crowd in front of the bookstore, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously rose, revealing a sincere smile.
She truly hoped that these students would rise to prominence in the imperial court in the future. Even if they weren't doing it for her personally, out of their attachment to their hometown, they would definitely work for the well-being of their homeland.
In this way, the court will not be arbitrarily manipulated and monopolized by certain people.
With these thoughts in mind, Yan Wanwan walked calmly towards the Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Nanping Prefecture.
As she walked, she keenly noticed that someone seemed to be following her.
She pretended to be indifferent, her eyes casually falling on the potted plants placed on the street. She seemed to be admiring them leisurely, but in fact, she had inadvertently seen the person following her clearly - he was a scholar in shabby clothes.
Yan Wanwan remained calm and continued walking forward, deliberately choosing an increasingly remote path.
When they reached a dead end, the scholar followed in.
But in the blink of an eye, Yan Wanwan disappeared without a trace.
"Where are the people?" The scholar muttered to himself with a confused look on his face.
"Are you looking for me?" A crisp voice suddenly came from above his head.
The scholar subconsciously looked up and saw a black shadow flash by.
In the blink of an eye, Yan Wanwan was standing steadily in front of him, with a scrutinizing look in her eyes, quietly sizing up the sneaky person in front of her.
"Who are you? Why are you following me?" Yan Wanwan asked in a stern and cold voice.
Upon hearing this, the scholar was so frightened that his legs went weak and he fell to the ground with a plop. He stammered, "I...I didn't."
Yan Wanwan said nothing, and the sword in his hand fell like lightning, firmly resting on the scholar's neck.
Her eyes were like ice, locking onto the other person tightly, and she pressed him word by word, "You won't tell me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the sword tip exerted a little force and instantly cut through the skin on the scholar's neck.
The bright red blood gushed out like a flood, and the shadow of death instantly enveloped the scholar completely.
"Please spare me, County Lady! I saw you were all alone and was truly worried about you. I was afraid something might happen to you, so I followed you. This was purely a coincidence, and I had no ill intentions at all!"
The scholar fell to his knees with a thud, begging desperately with a trembling voice and tears.
Yan Wanwan remained unmoved and just snorted coldly. The coldness in her beautiful eyes was like frost in December, and did not melt at all because of the scholar's plea for mercy.
"Whether it's a coincidence or a malicious act, you know best."
Her eyebrows were raised, her red lips parted slightly, and before she finished speaking, she moved the sword in her hand forward a little further.
The sharp sword blade cut through the skin, and the wound on the scholar's neck spread rapidly, with bright red blood oozing out.
He was so frightened that his face turned pale as paper, his legs trembling, and he dared not hide anything anymore. "I'll tell you! I'll tell you!"
He waved his hands in panic, speaking rapidly, "My family is poor. I finally passed the imperial examination a few days ago. I wanted to continue taking the exam, but I don't have the money. I've heard that you, the county lady, are kind and helpful, so I wanted to borrow some money from you for travel expenses. When I pass the imperial examination in the future, I will definitely repay you double. I won't lie!"
Yan Wanwan had a cold expression, her beautiful eyes expressionless as she stared quietly at the scholar in front of her.
After a long moment, she slowly retracted the sword in her hand and asked in a cold voice, "How much do you want to borrow?"
The scholar shuddered slightly, hesitated for a moment, and stammered, "Fifty... fifty taels, no, one hundred taels."
After saying that, his face was full of nervousness, and he looked at Yan Wanwan cautiously, his eyes full of uneasiness.
Yan Wanwan didn't comment, but nodded slightly. Then she took out a silver note from her sleeve and handed it directly to the scholar. Her tone was calm but unquestionable: "Here, don't follow women anymore in the future."
The scholar hurriedly took the banknote with both hands and thanked him repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I will never do such a rude thing again in the future."
Without waiting for the scholar to introduce himself, Yan Wanwan turned around and walked away with a light and decisive posture.
Seeing this, the scholar subconsciously wanted to chase after her, but in the blink of an eye, Yan Wanwan's figure had disappeared without a trace, leaving him standing there blankly, looking at the empty street, feeling lost.
Yan Wanwan walked through the crowd and soon arrived at the Chamber of Commerce. From a distance, she saw Yan Xiaorui busy inside.
"sister!"
She stood at the door and called out. Yan Xiaorui's eyes lit up when she saw her, and she ran over happily, "You're here!"
Yan Wanwan was slightly stunned. Is he so enthusiastic?
The next second, there was something in her arms, a thick booklet.