The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Recommendation Letter

Ye Mingze turned around and scoffed as if he had just heard a joke. ”With those two? I’m going to the Imperial College to study! I don’t have time to babysit them!”

A smile played on Ye Chutang’s lips. ”Yes, as it happens, they’re planning to enroll in the Imperial College today. I was worried since they’ve never been there before and would surely get lost. But since you’ve recovered and are resuming your studies, it’s perfect timing. If you could show them around, I’d feel much more at ease.”

”What?”

Ye Mingze thought he must have misheard.

”Those two? Enrolling in the Imperial College?”

He scanned Ye Chutang from head to toe, his eyes filled with contempt. ”You have no idea what that place is, do you? Do you really think just anyone can get in?”

The Imperial College was fundamentally different from ordinary academies. The only ones qualified to enter were either exceptionally brilliant scholars or the children of high-ranking officials and aristocrats.

’Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng? Without my father’s help, it would be virtually impossible for them to get into the Imperial College!’

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached from behind.

Ye Chutang turned to see Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng, all ready to go, walking toward them.

Both were carrying book boxes on their backs.

Ye Jingyan’s was neatly packed with a full set of brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone, while Ye Yunfeng’s was clearly almost empty. If he walked a little faster, you could hear the pitifully few items inside clattering around.

Ye Chutang: ”...”

’I knew I couldn’t count on A Feng when it came to studying.’

”Sis!”

Although Ye Yunfeng had no interest in studying, he was curious about the Imperial College. He’d heard they had instructors who taught horsemanship and archery, so he had specifically changed into a set of practical riding clothes for the occasion.

Ye Chutang looked at Ye Jingyan.

She knew that Yan had longed for this day for a very long time. Yet now that the moment was here, his handsome, scholarly face remained calm. Only a faint glimmer deep in his eyes revealed that his heart was not as tranquil as his expression suggested.

’He was, after all, still a boy not yet fourteen years old.’

Ye Chutang waved them over. ”You’re just in time. Mingze is also returning to his classes today. You can all go together and keep each other company.”

Ye Yunfeng shot a glance at Ye Mingze, a peculiar, teasing smile on his face. ”Well now, recovered so quickly?”

”You!”

Ye Mingze loathed it when anyone brought that up. It always made him feel like a coward, utterly humiliated!

He was so furious he laughed. ”You don’t actually believe a bit of money is enough to get into the Imperial College, do you?”

He’d heard from the servants a couple of days ago that Ye Chutang had asked his father for two boxes of account ledgers. His father had also given her a good amount of Silver Taels, saying that with Ye Jingyan and his brother back in the Capital City, their education would certainly cost money.

Looking at the brand-new pear-wood book boxes on the brothers’ backs, Ye Mingze sneered. ”Nothing’s even settled yet, and you’re already using such expensive book boxes?”

Ye Jingyan seemed a little surprised by his words. He pursed his lips and said, ”You misunderstand, Cousin. Initially, A Feng and I planned on using our old book boxes. But on second thought, everyone in the capital knows we are now under Second Uncle’s care. If our belongings were too shabby, people might think Second Uncle is reluctant to spend money on us, and that would damage his reputation.”

A feeling of tightness constricted Ye Mingze’s chest.

Ye Yunfeng silently rolled his eyes.

’How dare he mock me and my brother like that? He should know I spent the last few days running all over half the Capital City just to find these two, the most expensive book boxes available!’

’It was exhausting carrying them back!’

Since the matter now involved his own father, Ye Mingze didn’t dare to speak recklessly. He frowned and said, ”Even so, you shouldn’t be so extravagant! Not everyone at the Imperial College uses such fine things, let alone at some ordinary academy, which is where you’re going!”

Ye Jingyan gave him a puzzled look. ”What do you mean, Cousin? A Feng and I are also going to the Imperial College.”

”You two?” Ye Mingze burst out laughing. ”Keep dreaming! How could you possibly get into the Imperial College? Are you even qualified—”

Ye Chutang gave a faint smile.

”I wonder, is a letter of recommendation from the Lord Sacrificial Officer qualification enough?”

Ye Mingze’s laughter died in his throat. A look of profound disbelief filled his eyes.

”What did you say!?”

...

The Imperial College.

The early morning sun spilled into the courtyards, casting dappled shadows from the trees. The melodious sound of students reading aloud filled the air.

An old man with a full head of white hair and a matching beard approached at a leisurely pace, a rare, amiable smile on his wrinkled face.

Several Assistant Teachers on their way to class happened to meet him and greeted him respectfully with a fist-and-palm salute.

”Greetings, Lord Sacrificial Officer.”

Tang Zhongli waved his hand with a smile. ”No need for such formalities.”

The Assistant Teachers exchanged glances.

’The Lord Sacrificial Officer is usually so stern and serious, never one to smile. What’s with him today...?’

One of them ventured to ask, ”Lord Sacrificial Officer, has something wonderful happened today?”

Tang Zhongli stroked his beard and replied with feigned modesty, ”Not exactly a wonderful event. It’s just that two new students are arriving today.”

Students?

’In previous years, the Imperial College’s official enrollment period was in January. It’s already May, so why the sudden—’

’Besides, even if new students were arriving, why would he be this happy?’

”New students are enrolling? Do we know which noble family’s sons they are?”

’We haven’t heard any rumors.’

Tang Zhongli shook his head. ”Not from a noble family, no. They are from an ordinary family, but their talent is what sets them apart. They only recently came to the Capital City to pursue their studies.”

The men secretly exchanged glances.

Tang Zhongli was one of the greatest scholars of his generation, with former students all over the realm. He was also exceedingly proud and had incredibly high standards.

’To receive such praise from him, they must be rare geniuses.’

Their curiosity was piqued.

Suddenly, one of them remembered something. ”Lord Sacrificial Officer, you couldn’t be talking about... that boy you met last year in Yanping County, could you?”

Tang Zhongli finally broke into a hearty laugh. ”That’s right! It’s him! His brother is around the same age, so they are enrolling together!”

Upon hearing this, looks of dawning realization appeared on the others’ faces.

Now that he mentioned it, they did recall something.

Last year, after Tang Zhongli’s mother passed away, he had returned to his hometown for the funeral. On the road, he had happened upon a boy of twelve or thirteen and had been full of praise for him.

They’d heard that he had even urged the boy to come to the Capital City to study, but unfortunately, the boy’s family was in difficult circumstances, so he had politely declined.

Tang Zhongli had regretted this for a long time, even mentioning it several times after returning to the Capital City.

’Who would have thought... after a year, that boy was actually coming?’

’Just how fond is the Lord Sacrificial Officer of that boy to let him and his brother enroll directly into the Imperial College together?’

Tang Zhongli sighed. ”With an elder brother that outstanding, the younger one surely won’t be far behind! Right, they should be arriving soon. Go to the gate and see if they’re here yet!”

...

The carriage stopped before the gates of the Imperial College.

Ye Mingze was the first to jump down from the carriage, still skeptical.

Ye Jingyan followed right after him.

Just as Ye Yunfeng was about to get down, Ye Chutang pulled him back.

”A Feng, once you’re in the Imperial College, you must read more, listen in class, and talk less. Understand?”

Ye Chutang held up one finger.

”For at least one month.”