The Resolute Cannon Fodder Teaching In Ancient Time

Chapter 45: Forty-Five Treasures

However, the governor did not catch up to Xu Zhen.

Xu Zhen ran without any particular pattern, darting east for a while, then west, circling around aimlessly. Along the way, she encountered people rebuilding their homes who recognized her from her earlier efforts to save lives and greeted her warmly, offering her plenty of food.

Xu Zhen cheerfully accepted everything they gave her.

After walking a few more steps, someone called out to her from a distance. When she turned to look, it was the head of the academy. She approached him to greet him, asking, “Why aren’t you at the academy?”

The head replied with a smile, “Naturally, it’s related to the autumn exams.”

With the autumn exams nearing, the academy was preparing to go on break, and the head had come out to buy supplies and candles for the students who were staying at the academy for night reading.

Upon seeing Xu Zhen, the head was very warm, first congratulating her on her recent promotion and then inquiring about her younger sister, asking why he hadn’t seen her in several days.

Xu Zhen was about to mention that Xu Qianchun had been by her side all along, but just as she began to say the first word, she suddenly closed her mouth. She realized that Xu Qianchun no longer had her disguise, and even her shrinking technique had become ineffective. Explaining her situation to an ordinary person would be tricky.

Moreover, revealing this could potentially bring disaster upon them!

Xu Zhen had no choice but to respond vaguely, “My younger sister has gone home.”

The head nodded, “So, who is that Hu woman who has been staying beside the Minister?”

Xu Zhen quickly explained, “She’s another younger sister of mine.”

The head looked surprised. “You actually have more than one younger sister?”

Xu Zhen forced a smile, saying, “Of course! The previous one is from my father’s side, and this one is from my mother’s side.”

The head nodded in understanding but still felt that something was amiss.

The two of them walked to a tea house, where the head continued to chat with Xu Zhen. The tea house was crowded with many young scholars dressed in soft robes and wrapped their hair in cloths, sitting in groups of three or five, happily cracking sunflower seeds.

Looking at the dense crowd, the head remarked, “I wonder how many graduates we’ll have from this year’s autumn exams and how many will come from Hongdu Academy.”

Xu Zhen replied, “It should definitely be quite a few.”

“Not necessarily,” the head countered. “After all, this year’s exam questions were set by the Emperor himself. Even if the academy’s teachers try to guess the topics, it will be difficult to analyze anything from previous questions.”

Xu Zhen nodded in agreement.

The head continued discussing matters regarding the autumn exams.

However, Xu Zhen wasn’t too interested and shifted the conversation, asking, “By the way, do you know about the situation with the Xu family?”

The head replied, “Yes, I do.”

His expression remained calm, not displaying any signs of fear, which was quite different from what Xu Zhen had expected. She had thought that discussing this subject was forbidden in Chang’an.

The head’s knowledge of the incident was a good sign for Xu Zhen.

Curious for more details, Xu Zhen pressed him for specifics.