CHAPTER 115: CHAPTER 115: PEOPLE WILL SAY YOU’RE CLOSE TO ME

Although being refused, Tang Xiaobai didn’t panic and asked, "Why not?"

Her brother had one good quality: he was reasonable.

"Although there are no taboos in student recruitment at Hunyuan Academy, there is one rule: students must be free individuals—" Tang Ziqian glanced outside, "The three you mentioned can’t accompany you!"

"That’s easy!" Tang Xiaobai said happily, "Just release them from servitude, right?"

Tang Ziqian furrowed his brows: "Why are you following Mr. Zhang? Mr. Sun’s teaching is good too."

"Then why did you burn his beard?"

Tang Ziqian’s brows furrowed again, not pleased: "Who told you that?" How dare they speak ill of him!

"Big Sister said it. She thought your stance when you burned Mr. Sun’s beard was particularly heroic!"

Tang Ziqian was silent for a moment, then said, "I can’t manage the matter of releasing from servitude. You should ask your Big Sister!"

...

Asking Tang Jiaojiao was appropriate, as the household matters of the Duke Yan Mansion were managed by Miss Tang.

But—

"Is servitude status something that can be removed at will? What do you take our Duke Yan Mansion for?" Unlike Tang Ziqian, who was gentle and smiling even in refusal, Miss Tang’s attitude was so arrogant that even her own sister wanted to rebel.

Tang Xiaobai suppressed her emotions and sincerely said, "Wouldn’t this demonstrate the Duke Yan Mansion’s generosity towards loyal servants? Look, Ah Xiao saved my life, and usually works tirelessly and without complaint. He’s a model servant. We need to make our servants understand that with loyalty, the Duke Yan Mansion won’t mistreat them!"

"He works tirelessly?" Tang Jiaojiao sneered, "You almost worship him like a god. What hard work or complaints does he have?"

Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment and leaned in to whisper to her sister, "Big Sister, don’t you think Ah Xiao’s origins are somewhat extraordinary?"

Her little ancestor was obviously exceptional, yet throughout the whole book, the Miss hadn’t properly treated the little ancestor.

Who knows what blinded her beautiful eyes, was it the hand of the author?

Even with such clear hints, Miss Tang remained indifferent: "So what if his origins are extraordinary? Even if he were a prince or crown prince, ending up at our Duke Yan Mansion, he’d still only be deserving of a humble servant’s role!"

Tang Xiaobai gave her a thumbs-up and sighed, "Just say yes or no!"

Tang Jiaojiao snorted softly, just about to reply when a maid came in to report, "Zhang Yin, Mr. Zhang has come visiting, and the Eldest Young Master requests the Second Miss to meet him in the main hall."

...

Once a teacher, forever a father.

Although Tang Xiaobai didn’t consider Zhang Yin a father, and even secretly complained about him, she still respected this teacher in her heart, so she hurriedly left the matter of Ah Xiao and rushed to the front hall to pay her respects to the teacher.

Even though they’d only been apart for less than a month, meeting Mr. Zhang again made her feel quite nostalgic. She looked at him eagerly and asked, "Sir, what brings you to the Duke Yan Mansion today? Are you here to take Ah Xiao as your apprentice?"

Zhang Yin smiled gently and said, "I am about to start teaching at Hunyuan Academy, and I couldn’t bear the thought of a student with the Second Miss’s talent, so I took the liberty of coming to ask if the Second Miss would like to join the academy with me?"

Tang Xiaobai was unexpectedly startled.

Couldn’t bear her talent? She didn’t even know what remarkable talent she had, that it was worth her teacher personally coming to enroll her?

Seeing her silent, Zhang Yin added, "If the Second Miss is willing, I can personally provide a letter for exempt admission."

Tang Xiaobai: ...

Exempt admission to higher classes? I didn’t even know I was a hidden academic prodigy?

No matter how surprising, she had to respond first. Tang Xiaobai promptly said, "I am honored by your confidence in me, sir. I will seek the approval of my elders before giving you an answer."

Zhang Yin nodded approvingly, "As it should be." After leaving his residence address, he got up to take his leave.

When Tang Xiaobai accompanied her brother to see him off at the door, Zhang Yin paused and turned back, glancing beside her: "Ah Xiao also has exceptional talent. If your mansion allows him to enroll, I can provide him a recommendation letter as well."

Tang Xiaobai: ......

I really am just a cover!

...

With Zhang Yin’s statement, as soon as Tang Xiaobai mentioned it, the Gu Family agreed to let Ah Xiao enroll with her.

"Brother said enrolling requires freedom; shouldn’t Ah Xiao be released from servitude?" Tang Xiaobai tentatively asked.

The Gu Family, smiling broadly, nodded: "Sure."

The nod was so quick that Tang Jiaojiao didn’t have time to object.

Taking advantage of this, Tang Xiaobai pressed further: "Also, Tao Zi and Cheng Zi—"

"No way!" This time Tang Jiaojiao was prepared and immediately denied it, "The two of them were personally selected by Mother to serve you and will accompany you when you marry. If you release even your close servant girls, do you plan on releasing all your household servants?"

Tang Xiaobai was at a loss for words.

"Once you’re married, do as you like. Right now, it’s absolutely not happening!" After speaking, Tang Jiaojiao glanced at the Gu Family, "Even if Mother says it, it’s not happening!"

The Gu Family continued to nod with a smile: "Jiaojiao is right. Xiaobai, listen to your Big Sister."

Tang Xiaobai was silent.

She couldn’t possibly release all the servants around her.

But Tao Zi and Cheng Zi had studied with her for a year. To just drop out like this seemed such a waste.

After leaving the Gu Family, Tang Xiaobai wasn’t exactly dejected but couldn’t help feeling a bit off.

In the eyes of the Miss, it seemed like an uncomfortable sight, and she impatiently said, "Our Duke Yan Mansion doesn’t keep servants to go to school. Since they’ve studied for a year, if they can score a Third Class in the entrance exam, I’ll decide to release their bonds so they can enroll!"

Tang Xiaobai wrapped her arms around her: "Big Sister, you are a good person!"

Tang Jiaojiao shook free forcefully: "Get lost!"

...

Although Hunyuan Academy’s student admission requirements were relatively low, there was an entrance exam set for the first of August, only a few days away.

Tang Xiaobai hurried to gather the two girls together for a pre-exam study session.

The academy’s entrance exam did not set a threshold but categorized students into First, Second, Third, and Fourth classes based on their level, the last of which was equivalent to the beginner level.

Having studied for a year, being set the target of a Third Class by Tang Jiaojiao was indeed quite lenient.

But the problem was, there was no exam syllabus! No one provided key points!

Relying on her extensive exam experience, Tang Xiaobai guessed and tipped them off: "A Third Class should not involve the Four Books and Five Classics. Focus on memorizing Er Ya and Shuo Wen; I guess there will be definition-based questions... Also, make sure your handwriting is neat when answering. No ink smudges! Presentation marks are crucial!"

After instructing the two girls, Tang Xiaobai took Ah Xiao and left.

They walked through corridors and winding paths, heading east all the way to the Duke Yan Mansion’s Book Collection Pavilion.

Tang Xiaobai pointed inside and said to Li Mu, "Pick your own books to read, and get me a First Class score!"

Li Mu was startled: "Didn’t Mr. Zhang say he’d recommend us directly to the First Class?"

Tang Xiaobai said seriously, "With your kind of background, getting in through connections would make you look down upon by others. They’ll say you only got into the First Class by flattering me and being close to me!" Clearly, it was she who relied on her little ancestor to get into the First Class!

Li Mu paused for a moment and said, "I... don’t really mind..."