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Chapter 133: Bed Press
Chapter 133: Bed Press
In the Governor's Mansion.
Lu Yuan sat in his study, quietly flipping through a book.
Across from him stood Zheng Siye, respectful and attentive.
But beneath his respectful facade, he held a different opinion.
Who didn't know that this great governor was neither scholarly nor martial? Clearly not an academic, yet he always put on a show of being an avid reader.
If he truly loved books so much, why didn't he enter the Imperial College in his younger years? Why didn't he strive to become a zhuangyuan (top scorer in the imperial examinations)?
Zheng Siye was a jinshi (a successful candidate) from the third year of Chong'an. He had always looked down on Lu Yuan, who had risen through unconventional means, and now, Lu Yuan had risen to dominate the entire court.
Later, Zheng Siye threw in his lot with Lu Yuan, climbing from a minor position as a nine-pin scholar to his current position as a fourth-pin director—a truly meteoric rise.
In the Imperial College, the only position higher than his was that of the jijiu (chief instructor).
"Great Governor, I have discovered that Master Lin, the jijiu, has close associations with many officials and is suspected of bribery, most likely related to the enrollment quotas for the Imperial College. If we can seize this opportunity to find incriminating evidence against Master Lin, we can bring him down! Then, the Imperial College will naturally fall under your control!"
Zheng Siye spoke excitedly, but when he saw no reaction from Lu Yuan, he tentatively called out, "Great Governor?"
Lu Yuan turned a page of his book and said indifferently, "Have I given you too many tasks?"
Zheng Siye was taken aback. "Great Governor, Master Lin is obstinate and has repeatedly refused your offers. As long as he remains in his position, the Imperial College will not heed your commands!"
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "Isn't there still you, Zheng Siye?"
Zheng Siye hesitated and forced a smile. "Er... of course, I am absolutely loyal to the Great Governor, willing to devote my life to your service! However, I am just a director, and my authority is not as great as Master Lin's. I only wish to help you remove this obstacle."
Lu Yuan looked up from his book and said casually, "Is it to help me remove an obstacle, or is it to help yourself become the jijiu?"
Zheng Siye's thoughts were laid bare, and his face turned pale. He quickly bowed and said, "I dare not!"
Lu Yuan said indifferently, "Go back to your duties as the director."
"Yes!"
Zheng Siye broke out in a cold sweat.
After Zheng Siye left, Lu Yuan finished the book in his hand and found it uninteresting. He put the book down on the table and said, "Yu Zichuan."
Yu Zichuan, who had been sitting on the roof polishing his bow, heard the call and leaped down, entering the study to ask, "What is it?"
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. "I just wanted to call you."
Without another word, Lu Yuan turned and left.
Yu Zichuan, his bow-polishing interrupted, scowled and returned to the roof, his mood soured as he started the polishing process all over again.
Soon, Lu Yuan returned and looked up at him, asking, "You also have the surname Yu. Are you related to the Yu family from Youzhou?"
"No," replied Yu Zichuan.
Once again, his bow-polishing process had been interrupted!
He would have to start the whole process over!
A smile played at Lu Yuan's lips, and he strolled out of the courtyard with an air of nonchalant arrogance.
This time, he truly left.
Tinglan Garden was Bao Shu's courtyard, and the bridal chamber was in the neighboring courtyard. After a whole day of fuss, the bridal bed was finally installed in the bridal chamber.
The maids cleaned the entire room and wiped every corner of the bed several times, ensuring that not a speck of dust remained.
But what was truly astonishing wasn't how thoroughly the bed had been cleaned, but rather its exquisite craftsmanship. Every carving was a masterpiece, blending elegance, antiquity, grandeur, and a hint of mystery and elegance.
The people present could almost envision the bride, dressed in her wedding gown, sitting on the magnificent bed, her face veiled in a fiery red cloth, her heart filled with joy and a hint of shyness as she awaited her husband.
The people of the Governor's Mansion were left speechless.
Even the experienced and treasure-savvy chief steward, Cen, was left speechless by the sight.
Li Mama proudly arched her eyebrows, finally feeling vindicated that it wasn't just her who lacked worldly experience.
"It's... it's beautiful."
Bao Shu scrambled onto the bed with her hands and feet.
"I want to try too!"
Tan'er also tried to climb onto the bed, but Shangguan Ling pulled her back.
Shangguan Ling pointed at Bao Zhuzhuwho was already on the bed and said, "She's doing the bed-pressing ritual. What are you doing there?"
In Dazhou, there was a custom of bed-pressing before the wedding. The day of the bed-pressing was not fixed, sometimes it was the day before the wedding, and sometimes it could be a few days earlier.
Tan'er insisted, "I want to press the bed too!"
Shangguan Ling laughed at her, "Only children around four or five years old do the bed-pressing. It has to be a young child, not an older one. How old are you?"
Tan'er replied defiantly, "Five years old!"
Shangguan Ling: "..."
In the end, Tan'er was not allowed to sleep on Meng Qianqian's bridal bed and could only watch as Bao Zhuzhu rolled around on the bed, doing somersault after somersault.
Tan'er envied her so much that her teeth itched, "Bao Zhuzhu!"
Bao Zhuzhu lay on the bed leisurely and, picking up a habit from who knows where, actually lounged with a nonchalant, upturned leg.
Everyone's mouths twitched.
Child, you really aren't afraid of getting beaten by your father, are you?
Cen, the chief steward, sincerely exclaimed, "This is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship! In my lifetime, I've never seen such exquisite and intricate work. I fear this wouldn't be available for even ten thousand taels of silver. No, not even money could buy this. Meng Qianqian, you truly went all out."
Lu Yuan, seeing his child lounging on his wedding bed with an upturned leg, coldly hmphed, "Next time, I'll beat you again."
The next day, Yu Li received his enrollment letter from the Imperial College.
Yu Li couldn't believe that he had actually been accepted to the Imperial College. It felt like a dream.
Meng Qianqian first accompanied him to the Imperial College to collect his books and clothing. Since Yu Li had been accepted into the Hall of Justice, one of the six halls within the Imperial College, he would be residing there from now on.
Unless he attended the external classes, but even then, the quality of education differed from that of the six halls.
Fortunately, the Imperial College granted a three-day leave every month, allowing the students to return home.
Yu Li shyly said, "Cousin, I... I don't know how to thank you."
Meng Qianqian smiled, "Cousin worked hard for it himself. Why thank me?"
When Meng Qianqian went to seek help from Lin Furen, she had already told her that her strict and traditional father was much stricter than the teachers at the Imperial College. His separate examination seemed like an opportunity, but it was actually much more difficult.
Yu Li scratched his head, "Still... I still have to thank you."
In the afternoon, Yu Li's mother arranged for someone to invite Yu Li to a teahouse.
Yu Li's mother brought up the topic of moving to the Marquis' mansion again, "The Marquis has personally promised to let Xie Yan teach you. He will also find the most prestigious academy for you. During the day, you can study with the teachers, and at night, you can learn from Xie Yan. This is a rare opportunity, so don't be ungrateful."
Yu Li said, "Aunt, thank you for your kind intentions, but thanks to Cousin, I already have a place to study."
Yu Li's mother frowned, "She found it for you? She can't even recognize a single character herself. What kind of decent place could she find for you to study? The academies in the capital are a mixed bag. Don't be fooled by those who boast and exaggerate. They might not have even taught a few students properly. It's probably some insignificant private school. I doubt they even have a few teachers!"
Yu Li: "It's the Imperial College."
"What does she know? Don't let her hold you back... Wait, did you just say... Imperial College?"
Yu Li's mother finally realized what he meant.
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Yu Li placed the enrollment letter with the official seal of the Imperial College on the table and looked at her firmly, "Hall of Justice. I start classes tomorrow."
Why are you here so early today?
(End of Chapter)
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