Chapter 30: Recruiting Soldiers (Part 1)

Master Song asked him to investigate this academy some time ago. All the noble families and dignitaries who wanted to take it over were still watching secretly. Only she acted quickly and took it over. When the spy was caught, they thought she would be affected too, but they didn't expect that the eldest princess had such a strong support behind her.

Ye Shian looked at the graceful girl in front of him, wearing a blue Cuiyan shirt and a pleated skirt with scattered flowers and mist. Her skin was as white as cream and her breath was as quiet as orchid. Her eyes were full of spring water and her black hair was piled into a bun, decorated with a light blue embroidered beaded ribbon. Such a unique ribbon could not be found in the whole capital.

The Xia Dynasty was open-minded, with a female general Gu Jiaxing, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice Feng Yi, and women as coroners in the Inspection Department and the Dali Temple. But he felt that Master Song's teaching and educating people, with students all over the world, was very majestic.

Ye Shian nodded belatedly, "It's okay."

Song Yanjin smiled, then went to his seat, picked up a book from the pile of school rules and handed it to Ye Shiran, "Lishan Academy is different from Qingyun Academy. There are many rules and regulations here, and you also need to have a strong ability to withstand pressure. After all, the students who graduate from here will be the backbone of the court in the future."

"Brother Shi Ran, please read the school rules carefully. Once you enter Qingyun, there is no turning back. There is no such thing as transferring schools. You can transfer if you want, but the tuition fee will not be refunded. So you must think carefully before entering school whether you can accept such strict conditions."

The tuition fee was determined based on the student's family financial situation: 100 taels per year for students from wealthy families and 20 taels per year for students from poor families.

Ye Shiran felt goosebumps on his back after hearing this. Isn't this a trick on his brother? He flipped through the school rules in his hand and found nothing except the few rules that the prince had mentioned before, "Go to bed at midnight and recite at dawn?"

He just couldn't accept this one thing!

The many devilish clauses in the school rules made him almost faint. Ye Shiran hugged his elder brother and cried, "Brother, Lishan Academy is really good. I will study hard in the future and not skip classes."

A bunch of bad habits are guaranteed.

Ye Shian was unmoved. This was his ideal academy. "If Prince Yun Heng can accept it, why can't you?"

Xia Yunheng next to him just smiled and said nothing.

"Brother, the prince doesn't need to take the imperial examination!"

Ye Shiran continued to wail.

He was relieved that the academy was so strict. Ye Shian kicked the man away and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Master Song."

Song Yanjin nodded, "Yeah."

She had read Shi Ran's brother's homework book when he was in Lishan Academy, and it would really take some effort to pass the exam.

After seeing Ye Shian off, Xia Yunheng put his hand on Ye Shiran's shoulder naturally and familiarly, "Come on, brother Shiran, come with me to the academy. I'll introduce some brothers to you."

Ye Shiran: "."

The Ye family was not a family of aristocrats. After the retirement of the Tongzhengshisi during the reign of Emperor Ye's father and daughter, the family began to decline. The most promising of the younger generation was Ye Shi'an, who held the third-rank position as Shaoqing of the Dali Temple.

He had heard of the name of Prince Yun Heng a long time ago, but because of his family background, he could not be on close terms with him. Now it was not easy to stand out in the academy. Ye Shiran, who did not like dealing with young masters from aristocratic families, looked as if he had eaten bitter herbs.

It's hard work!

Song Yanjin didn't follow him to the school, and sat down to continue compiling the list of imperial examination questions. The current emperor is diligent in his work and loves the people. No matter how things change, the essence remains the same. The articles he writes will all score points based on the interests of the people.

Bai Zhu, who was making tea outside the courtyard, saw Qing Mu running over breathlessly, so she poured him a cup of cold tea and said, "Can't you walk in such a hot day? Come on, drink it quickly to cool down."

Qingmu wiped off the sweat, did not take the tea, and handed her the letter in his hand, "Sister Baizhu, someone is delivering a letter at the door."

Baizhu took it, put the teacup in his hand, and brought the letter and the tea tray into the room, "Miss, Qingmu sent a letter."

Song Yanjin put down his pen with a smile, and one of the two old gentlemen replied.

The letter was as thick as the one she sent. Song Yanjin couldn't wait to open it and look at the signature first. It was from Mr. Su.

"I have long admired your beauty, but never seen her in person"

The writing is vigorous and powerful, and the ancient words are difficult to understand, worthy of being the top scholar Su.

Song Yanjin's system scanned and translated the content of the letter: I have never met you in person, but I have long admired your appearance and demeanor from your letters, and I am very pleased. Your talent far exceeds that of the contemporary great scholar Tai Shuheng. I am willing to join Qingyun Academy and discuss literature with Mr. Song in my spare time. I would also like to add that I am very satisfied with the monthly salary you open. There is a severe drought now, and you need food!

I can go to Beijing at any time and wait for your reply.

The remaining four or five pages are comments and opinions on the article she wrote.

Song Yanjin immediately sat down and wrote a reply, "I'll be waiting for you anytime tomorrow!"

People in the capital can only leave but not enter, so Su Lao wanted to reply to see how she would arrange it.

Just ask Xia Yunheng to pick you up at the city gate tomorrow.

There is the Teachers' Dormitory behind the academy, which is similar to the Lishan Academy in that it has male and female dormitories. In the future, more and more people will live in the academy, so Song Yanjin took Baizhu and Qingmu to clean up the mess, and the cafeteria was about to start cooking.

The academy was far from the West Market, so Song Yanjin planned to live in the Shanchang Courtyard, which was previously occupied by men. He and Baizhu cleaned the house from inside to outside, leaving all the belongings behind the canteen for burning. Qingmu drove back and forth three times to move all the daily necessities from the West Market.

All the grain, meat and vegetables, except those hidden under Song Yanjin's bed, were moved from the West Market to the academy cafeteria.

Everyone was exhausted after a whole afternoon of hard work. After school, the students went home except Xia Yunheng, who went to the cafeteria alone. Don't think he didn't know what his cousin was fiddling with.

Since his eldest cousin was not attending class, he was the only one in the school who could control his brothers, otherwise he would have come out to help long ago.

In the cafeteria, Song Yanjin instructed Qingmu to pick up Xiao Ruan to come to the academy for dinner. Now they had to start cooking, so they had to hire two cooks, as well as the maid who cleans the academy, and a servant would also do.

As long as there is food to eat, the last thing that is lacking is people. I have to go to class tomorrow, so I only have time at noon to go to the slave market. Song Yanjin plans to go there in person and take advantage of this opportunity to recruit more people.

"Cousin, I'm hungry!"

Song Yanjin was planning for the future when he was brought back to his senses by a sudden voice. He slapped him on the head without any hesitation, "You are a reincarnation of a starving ghost."

Xia Yunheng pouted in grievance, and pulled her sleeve and shook her left and right like when they were little, "I'm so hungry!"

Phew~ Song Yanjin was amused by his cute little appearance. He called Baizhu to help in the kitchen and went into the kitchen to cook.

After steaming the rice and cooking three dishes, Xiao Ruan walked into the kitchen and shouted, "Why is Sister Song going to live in the academy?"

Song Yanjin waved a wooden shovel and said, "Tomorrow a teacher will come to the academy, and we need to provide him with food. The West Market is too far from the academy, so it's more convenient to stay here. You can come to the academy to eat at mealtime in the future."

"Oh, I see." Xiao Ruan nodded and understood. Anyway, both the West Market and the Academy were very far away.

After the dishes were cooked, everyone sat around the table. Before eating, Song Yanjin arranged for Xia Yunheng to pick someone up at the city gate at noon the next day, while she and Xiao Ruan went to the slave market to pick people.

Xia Yunheng, who was concentrating on eating, nodded along with his bowl and head.

"Sister Song, you still want to buy people. Food is so precious now. Why don't you wait until later?" Xiao Ruan couldn't help but worry about her.