Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Cici, can you guess who wrote it?

The White Deer Academy is located in the White Deer Mountain Range.

The mountain range consists of ten peaks and a White Deer town below the academy, all belonging to the territory of the White Deer Academy.

As for the White Deer Academy, it resides in the Wei Kingdom.

The Wei Kingdom, as a human dynasty, has an area roughly one-tenth that of the Wu Kingdom, with military strength also less than one-tenth of the Wu Kingdom’s.

The Wei Kingdom cannot even compare to the ten major human dynasties; seventy percent of the human dynasties are more powerful than the Wei Kingdom.

Moreover, the Wei Kingdom shares borders with three major human dynasties.

However, the Wei Kingdom has managed to survive surrounded by these three major human dynasties without being annexed.

For a thousand years, the Wei Kingdom has remained neutral and uninvolved, which is one reason.

The most important reason, however, is due to the existence of the White Deer Academy.

Although the Wei Kingdom is a small country with a rather average national defense and military force, the surrounding three major human dynasties could easily annex the Wei Kingdom.

The White Deer Academy is the dream destination for scholars from all over the world.

Not to mention, the principal of the White Deer Academy is also one of the top ten figures in today’s world.

Within the academy, many royal nobles from various dynasties are captivated by this young lady, born with literary courage and exuding scholarly charm.

As time passed, the little girl from four years ago gradually grew up.

After a certain period, these royal heirs had to leave the mountain.

In no time, the once eleven or twelve-year-old little girl had become senior in rank to most people at the White Deer Academy.

These great scholars would establish academies, and retired ministers would also teach.

Even many dynasties would propose marriage with the etiquette reserved for a crown princess.

But these human dynasties must give face to the White Deer Academy.

It is not uncommon for the White Deer Academy to have female students, as many human dynasties send a few royal heirs to study there.

The history of the White Deer Academy predates all current human dynasties.

Scholars who graduated from the White Deer Academy either became renowned scholars or key ministers in their respective courts.

However, the little girl from four years ago was different.

When the young lady reached her teenage years, she blossomed into a graceful and refined presence.

These royal heirs were not considered formal students of the White Deer Academy; they were there more for enlightenment, cultural refinement, and understanding right from wrong.

Therefore, as long as the Wei Kingdom didn’t cause trouble, the White Deer Academy could ensure its peace.

Dynastic families all proposed marriage to this young lady with exceptional ceremony.

The White Deer Academy does not belong to the Wei Kingdom nor any other power. The White Deer Academy stands alone.

The disciples of the White Deer Academy can be found all over the world.

She was truly admitted as a student of the White Deer Academy and was also the principal’s closed-door disciple.

Four years ago, a little girl came to the White Deer Academy.

But all proposals were rejected by this young lady.

No one knew what she truly thought.

When the young lady reached marriageable age, she gave her own reasons.

Once, envoys from the Wei Kingdom and Liang Kingdom came to the White Deer Academy, both proposing marriage with the courtesy of a crown princess.

The young lady did not appear.

When everyone arrived at her courtyard, they only saw the ground covered with fragrant tea leaves, dotted with jasmine petals.

Jasmine symbolizes loyalty.

Her loyal heart remains on the tea leaves.

And the “tea” phonetically resembles “Ming.”

Everyone immediately understood the young lady’s thoughts.

The young lady had already fallen for someone.

Although she did not explicitly say so, most people had already guessed.

That “Ming” phonetically resembles “Ming,” likely referring to Xu Ming, who had gifted her the poem “Zhu Yan Ci Jing Hua Ci Shu.”

Many were surprised that the young lady favored Xu Ming, but it made sense.

After all, how could one not be enchanted by such a poem?

Afterward, the number of kingdoms proposing marriage to the young lady decreased.

However, they did not give up entirely, still hoping their heirs could get close to Zhu Cici.

In the eyes of many, Zhu Cici and Xu Ming were impossible together.

Zhu Cici could not possibly marry outside her kingdom.

Xu Ming, having achieved consecutive top scholar status, had a bright future in the Wu Dynasty and could never enter the Qi Kingdom as a son-in-law.

The three princes of Qi within the academy frequently sent gifts to Zhu Cici. Even when the gifts were returned, they acted as if nothing happened, continuing to send gifts and trying their best to please Zhu Cici.

The position of Crown Prince in Qi has yet to be determined, and these three princes all aim to compete for it.

Zhu Cici is not only beautiful and born with literary courage, but her father is the Yunyi Marquis, the first Confucian general of Qi.

Marrying Zhu Cici would mean gaining the support of the Yunyi Marquis, how could these three princes not be tempted?

As for Xu Ming?

They paid him no heed.

Though the poem was indeed excellent, it was from so many years ago.

Not to mention, Xu Ming and Zhu Cici were simply impossible together.

With time, the influence of that poem in Zhu Cici’s heart would fade, and she would mature, realizing that she and Xu Ming could only be friends, thus letting go.

Then, it would be their chance.

“Cici… Cici”

Outside a courtyard of the White Deer Academy, a girl kept calling out to the inside.

Soon, a young lady holding a book appeared from the courtyard.

Dressed in a black-and-white brocade gown, the young lady’s skirt was embroidered with white plum blossoms, tied with a white silk sash around her slender waist. Her jet-black hair was styled into a如意髻 (Ru Yi bun), adorned with only a plum blossom jade hairpin, simple yet elegant.

Her face lightly powdered, she wore a light blue palace gown embroidered with double-cloud cranes, a freshly picked plum blossom pinned askew on her head, complemented by a delicate jade hairpin with silver bead tassels.

As she walked step by step, the hairpin gently swayed.

Compared to her childishness from four or five years ago, the now marriageable young lady had fully grown, revealing graceful curves beneath her black gown, embodying the beauty of youth, her oval face carrying the purity unique to this age.

Well-versed, gentle, and refined, these qualities naturally emanated from her.

The young lady resembled a black lotus flower, clean and elegant.

“Weiwei, what’s wrong?” Zhu Cici smiled as she stepped out of the courtyard.

“Cici, Master called us for class,” said the girl named Xia Wei, pulling the young lady’s tender and smooth hand.

“Class? Didn’t we have a day off today? Why do we need to attend class?” Zhu Cici blinked her eyes.

“I heard the academy received a masterpiece. Master couldn’t wait and is eager to explain it to us.”

As Xia Wei spoke, she seemed to recall something, a mischievous smile forming as she looked at Zhu Cici.

“Cici, can you guess who wrote that masterpiece?”