Good Ending: She Swears She Will Not Let Him Die!

Chapter 94: Chapter 93: The Academy

The hour was still early, but the streets and alleys of the Capital were already bustling.

The carriage slowly rolled out of the alley entrance. Du Yunluo heard the bustling sounds of the people on the street and caught the aroma of buns and flatbread.

On this trip to Tong City, there were six carriages in total. Mrs. Zhen, worried that Du Yunluo might cause trouble without supervision, left Du Huaixi in the leading carriage, while she personally watched over things.

Seeing this, Du Yunluo settled down and, after placing a pillow behind her back, closed her eyes to rest against the carriage.

Once out of the city and on the official road, the carriage moved significantly faster than in the city.

Even though efforts were made to reduce vibrations, there was still some swaying. Du Yunluo, already drowsy, began to feel a bit fuzzy from the motion.

When was the last time she traveled far?

Frowning with thought, she recalled that she was either confined in Anhua Courtyard waiting to marry or stayed in the lonely Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, from waiting for Mu Lianxiao to return to him never returning alive...

The one who promised to take her out of the city for a spring outing the following year left her observing the same spring scenes at the Marquis Mansion for half a lifetime.

At this thought, Du Yunluo felt a sting in her heart, and her eyes reddened instantly.

Mrs. Zhen was quietly speaking with Jin Rui but looked up to see Du Yunluo’s red-rimmed eyes and softly said, ”Nannan, what’s wrong?”

Du Yunluo shivered slightly, opened her eyes to meet Mrs. Zhen’s concerned gaze, and quickly rubbed her eyes with her hand, saying, ”Just sleepy.”

She yawned deliberately as she spoke.

Mrs. Zhen gently pulled her in, patting her hand. ”Knowing you were leaving today, you must not have slept last night at all. Such a child.”

Du Yunluo mumbled a response, burying her head in Mrs. Zhen’s embrace.

That night, the family stayed at an inn.

Perhaps due to not being used to the bed, Du Yunluo tossed and turned all night without sleeping well, and the next day she was still listless.

Mrs. Zhen was distressed for her and worried that she would sleep too much during the day, making it hard to sleep at night, so she only allowed her to nap for an hour in the afternoon and forbade more sleep.

Despite this, Du Yunluo didn’t rest well these past few days on the road and looked utterly lethargic.

Not only Mrs. Zhen but Du Huaixi was also concerned, and when they passed by a town, he specially searched for a pharmacy and bought some soothing incense to help Du Yunluo sleep at night.

That night, she did sleep soundly but had long dreams.

Upon opening her eyes, she couldn’t recall anything from her dreams, only feeling utterly exhausted.

Du Yunluo dared not let Mrs. Zhen and Du Huaixi worry any more, so she washed her face with cold water, applied some powder carefully, and forced herself to appear spirited.

The carriage entered Taipu Town.

Taipu Town, located by the official road, is a must-pass place for those traveling to the Capital, making it quite lively.

The town is by water, and five miles upstream is Lishan Academy.

Han Shanzhang, a colleague of Du Gongfu, after retiring, did not return to his hometown but opened an academy in Taipu Town, at the foot of Mount Li, not far from his hometown.

Lishan Academy admitted students based on scholarship, not background. Because of Han Shanzhang’s exemplary learning and character, many official and scholarly families in the Capital sent their children there for education.

With many students, the academy had been continuously expanded, now lacking nothing from lecture halls, library buildings, to training grounds, dormitories, and a Confucian temple.

The carriage stopped outside the academy.

Mrs. Zhen stepped down from the carriage, holding Shui Yue, and glanced at the academy’s gate. The blue bricks, white walls, glazed tiles, and the architrave with scroll-shaped cloud patterns, built atop twelve steps, with the plaque reading ”Lishan Academy” in bold and vigorous characters, appeared grand and dignified at a glance.

The Du Family didn’t have many descendants, never even opening a family school, so it was Du Yunluo’s first time seeing an academy. Even wearing a veil hat, she couldn’t help but look around curiously.

Du Huaixi handed over his invitation, and someone led them inside.

It was class time, distant reading voices of the students could be heard from the lecture hall, the young voices clear and bright, making even the mouthful book classics pleasant to the ear.

Si Shui, having received the news, ran over quickly and asked, ”Should I summon Mr. Si?”

Mrs. Zhen waved her hand. ”Since he’s in class, let’s not disturb him. It’s almost noon anyway, we can talk then. For now, take me to his room to sit for a while.”

Han Shanzhang wasn’t teaching at the moment, so after a few words of advice from Du Huaixi to Mrs. Zhen, he went to pay a visit.

Si Shui led Mrs. Zhen and Du Yunluo to the dormitories, pointing out things along the way, saying this was the library, and that was the way to the training ground...

Mrs. Zhen took special interest in the place where Du Yundi studied, walking neither fast nor slow, asking Si Shui a few questions.

The dormitory had several long rows. Most students had gone to classes, leaving only a few attendants behind who curiously looked over as a group of women approached.

Si Shui quickly said, ”This is our madam and young lady, here to visit our master.”

The astute attendants quickly greeted them, calling out ”Mrs. Du,” ”Miss Du.”

Du Yundi’s room was the fourth one from the east in the first row. Si Shui opened the door, and Du Yunluo stepped in with Mrs. Zhen.

The furnishings were just as Du Yundi had described to Mrs. Zhen last time. As they looked now, every detail was exactly as he had said.

Although not as spacious and refined as at home, Du Yundi was here to study, not for ease, and since he wasn’t suffering, Mrs. Zhen was quite satisfied.

Du Yunluo also glanced around. Not seeing Chang An, she asked Si Shui.

Si Shui rubbed his hands, explaining, ”Chang An is at the lecture hall. He says sir teaches carefully and he can understand, so since there’s nothing else, and sir doesn’t oppose the Attendant Students listening, he went to listen.”

”Good of him to be so proactive.” Mrs. Zhen turned her eyes, smiling. ”Listening more is beneficial. If Yun Di acts up, it’ll help keep him in check.”

Si Shui agreed repeatedly.

Du Yunluo had come regarding Shi Lian’er and asked, ”Which room does Shi Shiren stay in?”

Si Shui shivered at the question. So that’s why they all came, it was for Shi Shiren. He recalled how he and Chang An had reported it all truthfully to Mrs. Zhen, so she must have been concerned.

Si Shui pointed west, ”Mr. Shi lives in the sixth room from the east next door.”

Du Yunluo grinned at Si Shui, ”Has Miss Shi come by recently?”

Forcing a smile, Si Shui replied awkwardly, ”What a coincidence, yesterday Mr. Shi mentioned that the jujube trees in their courtyard bore fruit, and Miss Shi will bring some today for everyone to try.”

Mrs. Zhen, sitting by the table, moistened her throat with a sip of tea that Shui Yue had poured her, ”Does Miss Shi come often?”

”Yes, she comes every ten days or so. She joins in when Mr. Shi talks with our master, but rest assured ma’am, Mr. Si is respectful and proper, it’s just Miss Shi who’s enthusiastic.” Si Shui explained repeatedly.

Mrs. Zhen frowned slightly, matters between men and women... A man being keen might not lead to results, but a woman being smitten could cause troubles. Even though she trusted Du Yundi, she feared reckless women ruining his reputation.

That must never happen.

Du Yunluo snorted softly; it was good that Shi Lian’er would be present today, making this trip worthwhile.

A troublemaker like her had to be kept as far away from Du Yundi as possible.