Chapter 197 Transfer Student
After entering the city, Zongyuan saluted Xiyuan in a quiet corner.
Knowing that Zongyuan would be an emperor, how could Xiyuan accept his salute?
Hurriedly, Xiyuan turned away from Zongyuan. "No worries. It's a trifle."
Zongyuan asked, "Whose residence should I visit first?"
Xiyuan looked Zongyuan up and down before saying, "I think you'd better find a place and wash up first, or I'm afraid you won't be allowed to enter any residence."
Zongyuan also knew that he looked untidy after a long journey. Having thought for a while, he nodded and gave Xiyuan puppy-dog eyes.
Although Xiyuan was in a hurry to head for the academy, he saw Xiyuan's pitiful eyes and could only ask, "What's wrong?"
"I... I have no money with me. Could you lend me some money? I'll double it back to you."
For sure, Xiyuan was willing to lend money to Zongyuan. After all, it was greatly beneficial to do the future emperor a favor in his worst time.
However, lending money was a science. If one had a thousand taels of silver, then it was nothing to lend two taels. But if one had only a hundred coppers and lent all to the borrower, then they would form the most tremendous bonds.
Carefully, Xiyuan pulled out from his chest the purse that his wife had embroidered for him. On the purse was a vivid pattern of green bamboos. Quite a few fellows asked him about it, which made him very proud.
He took out eighty coppers from the purse and gave them to Zongyuan. "This is the money that my wife gave me before I left. There are only one hundred and fifty coppers in total. You can take these."
Holding a handful of coppers, Zongyuan felt his heart thumping. This was perhaps the most awful time in his life.
After thinking for a moment, he took off the jade pendant from his neck and handed it to Xiyuan. "Take it. When we meet next time, you can exchange it for money."
Some time ago, Jiuyue lost Zongyuan's pendant, which caused much trouble for the whole family. Even now, there were people peeping at their door! Zongyuan's objects were all hot potatoes which were valuable but dangerous.
Therefore, Xiyuan waved his hands immediately. "We once lived under the same roof, so I trust you. Besides, these are just eighty coppers. You don't necessarily return them to me."
Zongyuan frowned. How could he not return the money?
He said in a deep voice, "Even if you don't want them back, I'll return them to you!"
Zongyuan's voice was firm, and Xiyuan also believed his words.
Even if Zongyuan did not repay the money, he would be grateful to Xiyuan, which was a good thing for Xiyuan.
"Go down this alley, and there is an inn at the intersection. After you wash up and come out of the inn, you can visit General Su's residence first. Although he's on close terms with Prince Yan, he's relatively neutral, and his people don't act like snobs. You can ask General Su to get Eastern Depot, Princess Royal, and Prince Yan to send you back to the capital with their people."
Xiyuan's idea was simple, but it had never occurred to Zongyuan. Zongyuan did not know if Xiyuan was smart, or if he himself had worried too much.
Once again, Zongyuan bowed to Xiyuan. "Brother Xiyuan, thank you for your advice."
Being called Brother Xiyuan by the future emperor, Xiyuan felt what he had done was worthwhile.
Although he got up early this day, he was late when he arrived at the academy, from which already came the voices of reading.
He handed the reference written by Lixing to the concierge, who had already learned from Lixing that a new student would report here on this day.
The concierge read the reference, gave Xiyuan a uniform, and asked a boy to take him to the dormitory.
In the academy, four students lived in a room. Because Xiyuan was late, three beds had been occupied. At this moment, the room was empty; he guessed that his roommates were having lessons.
After Xiyuan put down his luggage, the boy took him to the classroom.
There were only two months to go before the Provincial Examination. All the students in the academy were learning hard to prepare for it.
When Xiyuan walked to the classroom door, he saw the teacher holding a book and shaking his head as he read, "What is the meaning of golden mean? The answer lies in mediocrity."
"One should grasp it as a whole since it is a hard-to-explain miracle."
Xiyuan knew these verses, which were from the poem Golden Mean.
The teacher asked two students to recite the whole poem.
Those admitted to Haoyuan Academy were all smart people. When the two students finished reciting, the teacher nodded in satisfaction.
"Good! I can feel your hard work after lessons. But studying is not only about 'what', but also about 'why'. Only this way can you quote and argue properly when you write a political essay."
After commenting, the teacher finally noticed Xiyuan and the boy at the door. He put down the book and stroked the beard on his chin.
"Who is this?"
The boy hastily bowed with Xiyuan and replied, "This is the new student who will learn in our academy. Mr. Kong wants to place him in class A."
Class A was the best and fastest-paced class in the whole academy, and everyone here was admitted in their own rights.
Facing Xiyuan's sudden appearance, some students were dissatisfied.
Xiyuan knew what Lixing thought. If Xiyuan, as Lixing's student, could not learn in class A, then Lixing's prestige would be disgraded.
Xiyuan was very grateful to Lixing for placing him in this class, but it all depended on his own ability whether he could maintain the honor.
He bowed to the teacher. "My name is Wu Xiyuan. I'll learn from you from now on."
Zhao Zeyi had no idea why Lixing helped Xiyuan, but now that it was Lixing's arrangement, he would not turn it down.
Reluctant as he was, he said, "You can sit next to Zhang Mingqian."
Xiyuan looked around the classroom and found only one man sitting alone, who was supposed to be Mingqian.
Xiyuan walked up to Mingqian and gave him a slight nod of friendliness.
However, Mingqian snorted and looked away with disdain.
Xiyuan did not care what other people thought of him and placed his stationery on the desk.
Then, he opened the book and listened carefully.
Seeing that Xiyuan no longer looked at him but took notes with a writing brush, Mingqian sneaked a look at Xiyuan's book and was amazed at his excellent handwriting.