CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: THEN I’LL CALL YOU XIAO HEI

The Imperial College is really not necessary. Tang Xiaobai does acknowledge this. With her basic elementary level education, what is there to play at Qingbei?

Besides, such a place as the Imperial College, even if she could get in, Qin Xiao couldn’t. It’s better to find a civilian academy, much easier to handle.

"Who told you the academy is for studying?" Tang Jiaojiao rolled up the booklet in her hand and tapped her on the head.

Isn’t it?

Tang Xiaobai rubbed her head awkwardly and said, "I was just guessing...So where can one study in civilian places?"

Tang Jiaojiao lazily got up, "What business is it of yours where studies are held in civilian places? If you refuse to hire a tutor at home, you’ll have to go to the Gu Family Academy——"

...

"The Gu Family is your maternal family, there’s no reason to go study elsewhere——" Gu Family said while casually flipping through the items bestowed by the Palace earlier this morning.

You wonder if the Eldest Princess of Ji Country made a fuss yesterday afternoon, as the reward from the Palace arrived quickly and abundantly.

But after browsing through a few times, Gu Family tossed them aside, looked up at Tang Xiaobai for a moment, and gave a gentle smile, "Your brother and sister both studied at the Gu Family Academy when they were young, and now it’s finally Xiaobai’s turn." The words carried much comfort.

Tang Xiaobai actually didn’t want to go to the Gu Family Academy.

This kind of noble private school is inconvenient for Little Qin to enter as a formal student.

She truly yearns for those civilian academies with great scholars stationed, places where perhaps some famous teacher might spot Little Qin’s talent, disregard his background, take him as a disciple, and maybe even marry an only daughter to him.

But what Gu Family and Tang Jiaojiao said wasn’t wrong either; her maternal family has an academy. If she went outside to study, wouldn’t it be like slapping her maternal family’s face?

Moreover, this book’s academy specifically refers to the Jixian Hall Academy, which is meant for the emperor’s writings. There’s no such studying academy among civilians.

So Qin Xiao would have to find another way.

"When do I start school?" Tang Xiaobai asked.

Gu Family smiled gently: "It might take a while, things are unstable outside recently."

Why?

Tang Xiaobai curiously inquired with her eyes.

"A notice was posted early today," Tang Jiaojiao answered on behalf, "An assassin entered the Crown Prince Mansion, and now the Imperial Guard will search the entire city!"

Tang Xiaobai responded with an "Oh."

The assassin had already escaped for several days, and only now did they publicly start capturing; who knows what the reason is.

Gu Family cleared her throat lightly, and said: "Mr. Zhou just sent in a message that there are especially many Imperial Guards in Changxing Village. As we are close, you two sisters should avoid going out to prevent any accidents."

The two sisters agreed obediently.

Gu Family stroked Tang Xiaobai’s face with a smile, saying, "Over the next few days, let’s find Xiaobai some good pens and ink, make some new clothes—and also make a set for those who serve you, so you won’t disgrace our Second Miss when you go out."

Tang Xiaobai’s heart moved, and she asked, "Can I bring an Attendant Student?" First, have Qin Xiao follow!

Gu Family nodded with a smile: "Of course, remember to bring a few more."

"Bring the ones I picked for you," Tang Jiaojiao added, "Don’t look shabby when you go out!"

Tang Xiaobai nonchalantly nodded.

"Bring them along tomorrow!" Tang Jiaojiao reminded again.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes—" Tang Jiaojiao gave her a surprised look, "You didn’t forget, did you?"

Tang Xiaobai nodded: "I did! I already forgot!"

Tang Jiaojiao couldn’t help tapping her on the head, "Where’s your brain? We’re going to the Pingyang Princess Mansion tomorrow!"

"Ping, Pingyang Princess?" Tang Xiaobai held her head, a little confused.

"Yes! Pingyang Princess’s new mansion is completed, and she sent us an invite ten days ago! How’s your memory so poor?"

Tang Xiaobai didn’t care about poor memory, but Pingyang Princess—

"But Mother said we shouldn’t go out?" When it came to this future woman, who would forcibly seize Little Qin, Tang Xiaobai’s soul refused!

Tang Jiaojiao gave her a sideways glance: "Pingyang Princess Mansion is right next to us——"

...

Who would have thought the Pingyang Princess lived next door? The book didn’t write in such detail!

The joy of a new neighbor moving in next door, coupled with an early invitation, even if it wasn’t a princess, there’s no reason not to go.

But that’s the Pingyang Princess!

Tang Xiaobai thought of the tyrant princess who snatched away the young men, and couldn’t help but feel a little apprehensive when she saw the gentle and beautiful young boy walking towards her.

"Second Miss." The young boy neatly saluted, then stood quietly aside, eyelashes drooping slightly, his face serene and delicate.

Tang Xiaobai looked at him, a bit entranced.

How old was Qin Xiao when taken by Pingyang Princess? Fourteen? Fifteen?

And how old is Pingyang Princess...?

"Second Miss?" The young boy, seeing her silent for a long time, raised his eyes to inquire, "Does Second Miss have any orders calling this servant here?"

Tang Xiaobai came back to her senses, hesitated for a moment, then said: "Since you’ve come to my side, you should change your name——"

This renaming matter was also brought up by Tang Jiaojiao.

The servants of the Duke Yan Mansion were divided into hereditary servants and newly purchased ones, the rough servants mostly bought after the mansion was established.

The bought servants had extremely straightforward and crude names, like Ding Shiqi, who was from the fourth batch bought into the mansion, named according to the comprehensive entrance assessment ranking as Ding Shiqi.

Bing Shish is similar, from the third batch bought into the mansion, ranked sixteenth.

With one being sixteenth and one seventeenth, both ranked quite at the back, no wonder Tang Jiaojiao despised her poor taste.

Generally, these types of servants would change their original crude name once they received heavy responsibility.

Especially since Tang Xiaobai planned to train Qin Xiao as an Attendant Student, a more decent name was certainly needed.

In Tang Jiaojiao’s words—"Such a vulgar name, do you really want to call it out in front of others? Do we not care about the face of Duke Yan Mansion anymore?"

So, for the honor of Duke Yan Mansion, the name had to change too.

Although this renaming for servants isn’t exactly renaming but an act of bestowal of name, an act of grace from the master.

Yet Tang Xiaobai always felt something was off and still wanted to ask for Qin Xiao’s opinion.

The young boy, upon hearing her words, didn’t even lift his eyelids, replying neatly, "Whatever Second Miss decides."

Hey! This kid!

Tang Xiaobai looked at his obedient yet distant demeanor and suddenly got bold: "Then I’ll call you Xiao Hei, how about that?"

"Cough, cough, cough, cough..." The young boy seemingly choked on his saliva, coughing violently.

Tang Xiaobai hurriedly helped pat his back, trying to soothe him.

The young boy jolted back avoiding the touch, still coughing uncontrollably.

Tang Xiaobai awkwardly withdrew her hand, her enthusiasm dampened by his cold demeanor: "Don’t worry, I was just joking!"

Though she indeed was joking, but—

What’s wrong with Xiao Hei? What did Xiao Bai say?

The young boy coughed two more times, glanced up at her lightly: "The name...is actually quite good."

Eh?

Tang Xiaobai blinked in surprise: "I was honestly joking!"

"Whatever Second Miss decides." The young boy stuck to his words.

Honestly, whatever name doesn’t matter much to him, just that—"Xiao Hei" was indeed quite unexpected.