Chapter 18: Big Brother Ming, Let’s Go to School
Another four seasons passed.
Before they knew it, Xu Ming was already five years old.
Xu Ming didn’t know how much strength he currently had; mainly because there was nothing suitable in the Xu Mansion to compare himself against.
Xu Ming tried to move the thousand-jin stone lion at the entrance of the Xu Mansion but failed.
In Xu Ming’s dantian, the sapling had grown another two centimeters compared to a year ago.
As for what level his spiritual root was now, Xu Ming also didn’t know.
But Xu Ming felt that his talent should still be quite poor.
Though this was just a small matter, those who could see clearly understood that the two secondary wives, having risen in status due to their sons, were already challenging the authority of the main wife.
Not long after, Qingwan pulled her mother to the Xiao Chun Courtyard, talking about letting Xu Ming go to the Zhi Xing Academy to study.
However, Xu Ming heard from Chun Yan that during a family banquet, Lady Qian sat in the main wife’s seat. When Wang Feng arrived, Lady Qian only then “ya” stood up and said, “Look at me being so muddled, sitting in my sister’s place.”
Xuenuo had already been removed from the family register and had no relation to the Xu Mansion anymore, focusing solely on the pursuit of the sword.
Every day, Xu Ming worked hard to develop himself, practicing both physical and cultivation methods.
The status of the children of concubines was only slightly higher than servants.
“Madam, recently this poor Taoist has observed the celestial phenomena at night. There will be some opportunities appearing within the territory of the Heavenly Profound Gate, which will aid Qingwan’s cultivation. We might not be able to wait until she is nine; next year, I may have to take Qingwan away early.”
When Mother wasn’t around, Xu Ming started doing push-ups, sit-ups, and moving stones within the courtyard.
Among the officials, there were many children, and the forty-five spots simply weren’t enough. Many officials tried to pull strings to get their children into the “Zhi Xing Academy” but couldn’t.
They were completely unworried.
As for whether they would fear Xuenuo returning after completing her studies,
Xu Ming didn’t want to bother with that.
As for what exactly happened one hundred fifty years ago, and why the previous emperor established such a system of etiquette, Xu Ming wasn’t clear either.
The tutor, responsible for teaching the children of high-ranking officials, didn’t say much about it and never asked questions, as if he really was just there to teach books and didn’t care who the students were.
But it was all useless anyway.
And even if she comes back, what use is that?
This tutor was the sixth person.
Qingwan’s little hand held Xu Ming’s, and for the little girl, “school” was a very novel thing.
Xu Ming, who was doing push-ups, got up from the ground, clapped his hands, and picked a small leaf from Qingwan’s hair.
“Of course, of course! Qingwan told Mother, and Mother said she already talked to Master Guoshi. Big Brother Ming can go,” Qingwan tightly held Xu Ming’s little hand. “Big Brother Ming, please go to school with Qingwan.”
The White Deer Academy seemed to have a very big reputation. In over two hundred years since the founding of the Wu Kingdom, only five people had been admitted to the White Deer Academy, all of them important ministers of the court.
Although the little girl was only five years old, her chin was already slightly pointed, her peach blossom eyes looking more and more like her mother’s, and clearer too. She was a real beauty in the making, the kind who would find it hard to grow ugly.
“Yes, yes~” Qingwan nodded vigorously. “Yesterday, Mother told Qingwan that she had reached the right age to go to school. Just in time, His Majesty opened a certain academy, where noble children from the imperial city could all attend. It seems the teacher is a very powerful teacher oh~”
This teacher merely said, “An academy, some children, I’ll be a teacher.”
“Big Brother Ming, let’s go to school together, it must be fun.”
Suyan thought her child was healthy and had never been sick. She figured if he liked to move around, let him move around.
“Big Brother Ming, let’s go to school~~~”
Xu Ming heard that when the Wu Kingdom was founded, it wasn’t like this. This system was established by the previous emperor one hundred fifty years ago and has continued to this day.
Am I supposed to cut you down just because you “accidentally” sat in your mother’s seat?
However, Ladies Qian and Lin could only mildly annoy Wang Feng. They wouldn’t dare to do anything overly extreme.
The status of the children of secondary wives was equivalent to that of the main wife.
“This matter…”
One day, Qingwan happily ran in, stopping immediately in front of Xu Ming and staring at him with wide eyes saying “Wow cool wow cool.”
Then Emperor Wu gave a total of forty-five spots to the officials. Children aged five to seven could enter the academy to study.
It seemed like a scholar from the White Deer Academy had returned.
After much discussion between Lady Qin and Suyan, Suyan ultimately couldn’t compete, and three days later, Xu Ming went to the Zhi Xing Academy to study with Qingwan.
After Xuenuo left, Xu Ming never saw the first lady of the Xu Mansion, Wang Feng, again.
Suyan suspected her son might have ADHD and invited a doctor to examine Xu Ming. The doctor said Xu Ming had abundant blood energy with nowhere to release it, prescribing a remedy like cooling tea, drinking one cup every day.
Emperor Wu laughed and asked him what position he wanted.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Wu actually agreed and established the Zhi Xing Academy.
Xu Ming also heard Mother and some aunties chatting about this matter.
Regardless of whether or not he would eventually go to the Zhi Xing Academy, he remembered in his heart what Lady Qin and Qingwan did for him.
Looking at Qingwan’s expectant little face, her peach blossom eyes seemed to say “If Big Brother Ming refuses, I’ll cry for him to see,” leaving Xu Ming momentarily unsure of how to respond.
“Yay~” Qingwan happily jumped up. “Qingwan will go tell Mother.”
Hearing that Big Brother Ming could go to school with her made Qingwan even happier. She pulled Xu Ming around in circles in the courtyard, and soon the Heavenly Black Goose joined in.
Seeing the happy scene of the two children playing with a swan in the yard, Lady Qin smiled gently.
Every day, Qingwan would come to read the Heavenly Profound Heart Method with Xu Ming for half an hour. The rest of the time, whenever Xu Ming had free time, he would start exercising. When Mother was around, Xu Ming would walk around and jump around.
But it’s not a big problem, we’ll take it slow. After all, I’m only five years old.
How could someone like me, a illegitimate son, possibly qualify to enter?
To be honest, Xu Ming thought the system of the Wu Kingdom was quite bizarre.
“I’ll go if Mother wants me to.” Xu Ming finally kicked the ball back to his mom.
“School?”
Being able to try something new with Big Brother Ming would make it even more fun~
Xu Ming smiled and shook his head: “I probably won’t be able to go.”
But gradually, Lady Qin’s brows furrowed, worry clouding her mind.
Recalling what the State Preceptor had told her, Lady Qin looked at her daughter with increasing reluctance.
When Qingwan and Xu Ming part ways, how sorrowful will she be?
