nucmednet Chapter 200 Beaten
Chapter 200 Beaten
Zisu shook her head: "Grandma, I'm not doing these things for her to repay me in the future. I'm doing this because I care about you, Grandma, and Uncle. Of course, it's also because I care about the two children. In the future, as long as Han'er and Zhen'er grow up healthy, live a good life, and take good care of Grandma and Uncle, that will be the best way to repay me!"
Grandma was deeply moved: "You are such a kind and filial child. It is such a blessing for Grandma to have a granddaughter like you!"
If it weren't for Zisu, what would her life have been like? Leaving aside her, what about Zisu's mother and younger brother Yi'er? Even if they were lucky enough to survive, they would surely have lived very miserable lives.
Now, this child has married Prince Duan. Prince Duan is a good and capable man. With Prince Duan around, the Li family was able to be driven out of the capital; otherwise, her son would have been tormented beyond recognition by the Li family long ago! Fortunately, Zisu didn't choose Fang Heng back then; otherwise, how could she have suppressed the Li family?
It's not that Fang Heng is a bad person, but the Marquis of Zhongxin's mansion is inherently a place of trouble and intrigue. Fang Heng has far too many difficulties to face. If Zisu marries him, she'll be exhausted and overwhelmed just dealing with those petty people in the Marquis of Zhongxin's mansion every day. Where will she find the strength and ability to share the burdens and worries of the Yu family?
Sigh, I hope Zisu and Prince Duan can live happily ever after. I also hope that Fang Heng can find his own happiness.
Zisu: "Grandma, don't say that. You are my grandma. If I'm not good to you, who will I be good to? Having such a loving and considerate grandma is a great blessing for Zisu! In the future, no matter what difficulties you encounter, you must tell me and don't make things difficult for yourself!"
Madam Yu: "Yes, I understand."
Zisu: "Grandma, Madam Li and Li Yunge have stayed in the capital. I'm worried there might be something fishy going on. From now on, don't let anyone come to our house unless they're very close, know us well, or are of good character! Zhen'er needs someone by her side every single hour of the day!"
Madam Yu: "Okay, I understand. Don't worry. With so many guards and maids in the house, even if Madam Li and her daughter break in, you don't need to worry about Zhen'er being taken away!"
******
After the height of summer, Yu Han and Shangguan Yi went to the new academy.
Before the establishment of Wuliping Academy, Hanshan Academy was arguably the best academy in the Western Liang Kingdom, located ten miles south of the capital. It took about an hour by carriage from the General's Mansion. Most students at Hanshan Academy lived on campus and were entitled to two days off every ten days.
Shangguan Yi and Yu Han also stayed at the academy and returned to the capital on their days off.
The tuition and fees at Hanshan Academy were very expensive, and most of the students there came from relatively well-off families. In their eyes, Shangguan Yi and Yu Han were just people from the countryside.
This was Shangguan Yi and Yu Han's first day off. Zisu made a special trip home to visit her younger brothers. Upon arriving at the General's Mansion, Zisu noticed that Shangguan Yi had a wound on his forehead, clearly caused by a sharp weapon.
Zisu asked anxiously, "Yi'er, what happened?"
Before Shangguan Yi could answer, Yu Han explained, "He was shot at with a slingshot by a classmate from Hanshan Academy!"
Zisu: "What, did you get into a fight with someone?"
Yu Han: "No, it's just that those people didn't like us and called us country bumpkins! My brother and I only argued back a few times, and those people actually hit my brother with a slingshot."
Zisu: "So, how did your teacher and headmaster resolve this matter?"
Yu Han: "Anyone who hits their younger brother with a slingshot will be punished by the teacher to copy the Rules for Students ten times!"
Zisu: "That's it? No corporal punishment?" What's the point of arguing about the Rules for Students if you hurt a classmate?
Yu Han: "No!"
Zisu was furious: "Is this all? Getting hit on the forehead with a slingshot is a small matter, but what if it hurts the eye? No, we can't let this go. The day after tomorrow, I'll go to the academy with you and have a good talk with the headmaster!"
Yu Han was shocked and exclaimed, "Big sister, isn't this inappropriate?"
Shangguan Yi said, "Cousin, I don't think there's anything wrong with this! You know, it almost hit my eye! If it had hit my eye, I would have gone blind, which would be a serious matter!"
Becoming blind is no joke! My life will be ruined. I'll never see the sunshine and flowers again, and I'll never see my parents, older sister, and younger brother again!
Just thinking about it filled Shangguan Yi with dread.
Before they knew it, it was time for Shangguan Yi and Yu Han to go to the academy.
Every time I go to the academy, I have to get up very early and set off before dawn. Otherwise, I'll be late and miss the academy's morning run.
Regarding morning runs, Hanshan Academy learned from Wuliping Academy.
Before dawn, Zisu and Prince Duan's carriage stopped at the General's Mansion. Just as the gatekeeper went in to report, Shangguan Yi and Yu Han finished washing up.
Last night, Yu Han arrived at the General's Mansion, and today the two of them will go to the academy together.
Zisu and Prince Duan were sitting in their carriage, waiting for Shangguan Yi and Yu Han to come out, when another carriage arrived. Even more strangely, that carriage also stopped in front of the General's Mansion.
The eldest son of the Left Prime Minister, Xie Jue, alighted from the carriage and addressed the Prince's carriage in a loud voice: "This humble official, Xie Jue, pays his respects to the Prince and Princess!"
Xie Jue? The Empress's father?! The Emperor's brother-in-law?!
Zisu and Prince Duan got off the carriage and exchanged pleasantries with Xie Jue.
Xie Jue then said, "Starting today, my three children will also transfer from Wuliping Academy to Hanshan Academy. That's why I got up early to wait here for the General's son and Lord Yu's son. In the future, I will have to ask Lord Yu's children to take good care of them!"
Yu Han is almost nine years old this year. She is a very sensible and good child, and she is also very good at her studies. She can be described as a well-rounded student who excels in morality, intelligence, and physical fitness.
Zisu humbly replied, "Not at all. Han-ge'er is only nine years old, while your youngest is eleven and your oldest is thirteen. In fact, we should ask your three children to help take care of my two younger brothers in the future! My brother was shot in the forehead with a slingshot at the academy, but the academy is just making a fuss about it. I'm going to go and reason with the headmaster right now!"
Xie Jue was taken aback: "What? The headmaster is so muddle-headed? He dares to be so indifferent to the son of the Protector General?"
Zisu: "The people at the academy don't know the identities of my two younger brothers. They only know that they are students from Wuliping Academy."
"Oh, I see!" Xie Jue suddenly realized, and then said, "Hanshan Academy is a bit resentful of Wuliping Academy, especially the headmaster of Hanshan Academy and the headmaster of Wuliping Academy. They have a little grudge against each other in private. So, I guess they don't like your brother. If you ask me, it's better to reveal your identity, so that the children won't be bullied too much!"
Zisu nodded: "Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking too. That's why we brought the Prince along." Actually, it was Prince Duan who wanted to come; she didn't ask him for anything.
Xie Jue: "That's good. With the titles of Protector General, Princess of Yulin, and Prince Duan, the headmaster, teachers, and students should not dare to bully your younger brothers anymore!"
Zisu: "Using a slingshot to shoot someone, especially hitting them on the forehead, so close to the eye. A little more off and it would have hit the eye. This kind of thing can't be let off lightly, otherwise, once it happens, it will inevitably happen again and again. If one day, unfortunately, it happens to hit the eye, that would be terrible!"
Xie Jue: "The princess is right. This kind of thing cannot be easily forgiven. Otherwise, it will cause a big disaster one day! Alas, how could the headmaster of Hanshan Academy do this? If you ask me, if Wuliping Academy weren't so far away, it would be perfect to send the children to school there! It's a pity that it's just too far!"
Zisu: "Once the children pass the imperial examination, they can return to Wuliping to study. It only takes half a day to ride a fast horse from Wuliping to the capital. Also, I will revise the academy's rules and regulations, changing it to a one-day rest period every seven days and a three-day rest period every two weeks. That is to say, four days off every two weeks and eight days off every month. This way, even if the students whose homes are in the capital want to return, they won't need to ask for leave!"
Xie Jue then said, "Your Highness, why didn't you make such an adjustment before? That way, Yi and the others wouldn't have had to transfer schools!"
Zisu: "I hadn't thought of this question at the moment, and I also felt that the children were still too young, and it didn't seem appropriate for them to be away from their parents for so long. They can go back to Wuliping Academy to study after they pass the imperial examination. Let's consider their study at Hanshan Academy as a kind of study tour!"
If the children really don't adapt well here, then they should go back to Wuliping for the next semester! We don't expect them to make much progress here, but even if they learn some interpersonal skills and make a few more like-minded classmates, that would be a gain in itself!
Xie Jue nodded: "Yes, your idea is very good. After hearing what you said, the last bit of hesitation in my heart has disappeared. Let's just consider the children coming here to study as a kind of experience! If all else fails, they can go back to Wuliping Academy next semester! If the headmaster doesn't accept them then, I hope Your Highness will put in a good word for them!"
Zisu smiled and nodded: "Okay, no problem!"
As they spoke, the carriage carrying Shangguan Yi and Yu Han emerged, followed by Shen Lihui and Pan Yu on horseback. After exchanging greetings with Zisu, the Prince, and Xie Jue, the group boarded their carriages and mounted their horses, setting off out of the city.
As the group arrived at Hanshan Academy, the first rays of golden sunlight pierced through the treetops and fell to the ground.
The headmaster of Hanshan Academy was having breakfast when he heard that Prince Duan, his wife, and the emperor's brother-in-law were coming to visit. He was immediately stunned.
Why did three important figures arrive all at once?
He quickly finished the bowl of lean meat porridge in a few gulps, tidied his clothes and hair, and went to the reception room to meet the guests. Unexpectedly, there were not only three important figures in the reception room, but also five children. Two of the children were even wearing the uniforms of Hanshan Academy, and the child with a bandage on his forehead looked so familiar…
Oh right, isn't that the child who got his forehead injured by the Minister of Rites' nephew? That child, isn't his name Shangguan Yi? Wait, Shangguan Yi? He, he shares the same surname as Princess Yulin, could he be a relative of hers?
A cold sweat broke out on the headmaster's back. He quickly and respectfully bowed to Zisu and Prince Duan: "This old man, Li Donglai, greets Your Highness and Your Highness's wife, and also greets the Imperial Brother-in-law!"
Zisu sneered, "I dare not accept such praise. My younger brother was beaten innocently at the academy and almost went blind. I heard that you are very biased towards the son and nephew of the Minister of Rites, very protective of the former students of Hanshan Academy, and look down on the students who once studied at Wuliping Academy? If it weren't for the money, you certainly wouldn't have accepted the students from Wuliping Academy, would you?"
Oh dear, what kind of talk is that?
Cold sweat dripped down Li Donglai's forehead: "The princess's younger brother is studying here?"
Zisu shoved Shangguan Yi in front of Li Donglai: "He, Shangguan Yi, is my own younger brother!" She then pushed Yu Han forward: "This is my cousin, and also the eldest son of the Minister of Personnel. Headmaster, please take a good look! Did you insult these two children before? Did you excessively indulge and protect the student who hurt my brother?!"