"If you have nothing more pressing, you should attend. As long as your scores aren’t too bad, you’ll just get a lecture at worst."
Before Chen Yi could speak, Xiao Wuge lifted his head and said, "If you take the Annual Examination, Brother-in-law, you’re sure to take first place."
Pei Guanli, who was beside them, chimed in, "Brother-in-law will have no problem, of course."
"First place? He’s qualified enough to be the head examiner."
Chen Yi let out a helpless laugh. "I haven’t touched those classics in a long time. I’m not confident I can pass the Annual Examination."
But when he saw the eager look in Xiao Wan’er’s eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse outright. He just said,
"There are still two months left, anyway. I’ll think about it."
A smile bloomed on Xiao Wan’er’s face, her bright eyes reflecting his image. "That’s more like it," she said, her voice tinged with delight.
"You aren’t just an Instructor at Guiyun Academy anymore. You’re also Mr. Qingzhou, whose fame has spread throughout the Great Wei Nine State and Three Prefectures. If you don’t have an official rank, you’re bound to become the subject of gossip among the world’s scholars."
’Let them talk.’
Chen Yi wanted to say as much.
But on second thought, he realized Xiao Wan’er had a point.
’It’s true that I don’t care for fame and fortune, but the world is full of mediocre, vulgar people.’
’If I don’t have an official rank, some people will undoubtedly show up just to cause me trouble.’
’Officials would demand I bow, scholars with ranks would look down on me, and members of Noble Families would mock me with scorn.’
The mere thought of such situations was a nuisance.
"I’ll go to the academy in a few days and look over some of the classics."
"Okay, good..."
A short while later, they finished dinner.
Xiao Wan’er escorted him, Xiao Wuge, and Pei Guanli out of the wooden building. Gazing at the rain falling outside, she asked hesitantly,
"I’m planning to visit my fief in a couple of days. I was wondering if you would have time, Brother-in-law?"
She had spent the last while making all the necessary preparations for the Medical Dao Academy and now wanted to visit her fief to find a suitable location for its construction.
But since this was her first time undertaking such a project, she couldn’t help but feel a little unsure of herself.
Chen Yi guessed what she was thinking and nodded with a smile. "If you’re not in a hurry, Sister-in-law, let’s plan for three days from now."
"Tomorrow, I have to go to Hundred Herbs Hall to discuss the matter of those one hundred and twenty-seven Celestial Sect disciples with Wang Ji."
"The day after tomorrow, I have two Calligraphy Dao classes at the academy."
Xiao Wan’er started to nod, then froze. Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared at him.
"One hundred and twenty-seven?"
"That many disciples from the Celestial Sect came?"
"It was Fairy Tingyun’s decision. I have no idea how she managed to persuade the Celestial Sect elders."
"Then Huatang... she doesn’t know about this yet, does she?"
Chen Yi spread his hands. "I’m guessing Fairy Tingyun is in for a rough night."
Xiao Wan’er smiled. "Huatang does have a rather cold personality."
"But I’m sure it will be fine. Hundred Herbs Hall and Boss Chen can certainly find a place for the Celestial Sect disciples."
"True..."
As it turned out,
Xiao Wan’er had underestimated Shen Huatang.
No matter how cold and aloof she normally was, in the face of this situation, she was like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
After Shen Huatang and Xie Tingyun left the Xiao Mansion in their carriage,
Shen Huatang had initially assumed Xie Tingyun was hiding a dozen or so fellow disciples at most.
But the carriage took a long, winding route, going from North City to West City, then from West City to South City, before finally stopping in the West Market.
It made frequent stops along the way, with Xie Tingyun keeping her head down as she notified their Celestial Sect junior brothers and sisters one by one.
By the end of it all, Shen Huatang’s expression was completely numb.
"Just tell me. Exactly how many are there?"
"Fifty?"
Xie Tingyun shook her head. "Nope."
"Eighty?"
"A little more."
"A hundred?!"
"More... It’s one hundred and twenty-seven..."