Chapter 620.2: Tianqiong Academy
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
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O R A N G E S T A R
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G O L D S T A R
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R A I N B O W S T A R
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T H E S U N
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CELESTIAL CONQUEROR
[Ava C.] [Lily J.] [Manon]
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Tianqiong Academy was located in the outer city, even so, it wasn’t far from the inner city and was situated in a prime area of the outer city.
After traveling for more than an hour, the group finally arrived at the... back entrance of Tianqiong Academy.
Lady Nan said apologetically, "It's been so many years since I last came here. I mostly don’t remember the way."
She wanted to lead them to the front gate, but she led them to the back gate by mistake.
Gu Jiao jumped off the carriage, saying, "It's okay, we'll just go through the back gate."
Lady Nan said, "We’ll first take Yan'er to find the residence, then we'll come back here to meet you two later."
Gu Jiao nodded, "Alright."
Tianqiong Academy had servants specifically tasked with taking care of carriages. Gu Jiao walked over, first showing her and Gu Xiaoshun's admission letters, then presenting Xiao Liulang's and Gu Xiaoshun's household registrations from the State of Zhao. After verifying their identities, the servant handed Gu Jiao a token.
"You can use this to retrieve the carriage later."
As he spoke, he glanced up and down at Gu Jiao.
Mainly, he was looking at the birthmark on her face.
Gu Jiao paid no attention and asked where the registration place was.
The servant said, "At Qingzheng Hall. Go straight in and turn east at the intersection, and you'll see it."
Gu Jiao took Gu Xiaoshun to Qingzheng Hall for registration.
There were surprisingly quite a few people registering today, hailing from various countries, making Tianqiong Academy truly an international institution.
After waiting for a while in line, it was finally Gu Jiao's turn. She handed over her and Gu Xiaoshun's admission letters and household registrations.
Those who came to study in the State of Yan needed to understand the State of Yan's language, while the instructors teaching in the State of Yan didn't need to understand the State of Zhao's language.
Therefore, they had two sets of household registrations. When the instructor saw they were from the State of Zhao, there was a hint of disdain in his eyes, and when he looked at Gu Jiao's face, he became even more impatient..
He had just warmly received students from the State of Jin and the State of Liang, so Gu Xiaoshun thought he was particularly friendly. But now, seeing him change his attitude so quickly, he couldn't help but feel disappointed and pursed his lips.
But when the instructor saw the names on the household registrations, his gaze paused slightly, "Which one is Xiao Liulang?"
"I am." Gu Jiao said.
"How old are you?"
"Nineteen."
"You look only fifteen or sixteen."
Indeed, Gu Jiao, who was actually sixteen, replied, "I have a baby face."
The instructor: “...”
The instructor glanced deeply at Gu Jiao, his lips moved, murmuring something incomprehensible.
He picked up a seal and stamped it on the household registrations and admission letters several times. Then he took the admission letters, returned the household registrations to Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun, and took out another set of documents, asking Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun to fill in and sign.
This process inexplicably gave Gu Jiao the feeling of registering for college in her previous life.
Once they finished, it was time to pay the tuition fees.
"Twenty taels per person per month." The instructor said casually.
Gu Xiaoshun's eyes widened. Twenty taels! What a rip-off!
"Ten taels for accommodation for two," The instructor added, "per month."
Gu Xiaoshun was petrified on the spot.
In the State of Zhao, studying for a year wouldn’t even cost you thirty taels!
Additionally, they also brought along Gu Yan's admission letter and household registration, but since Gu Yan was sick, Gu Jiao had requested a sick leave for him.
The instructor said blandly, "Thirty taels."
Even taking sick leave required payment!
"What if we don't need accommodation?" Gu Jiao asked.
"You still have to pay." The instructor replied.
After checking the academy's rules and confirming that the instructor wasn't extorting them, Gu Jiao took out her purse and paid the fees.
"One room for both of you." The instructor said, tossing them two wooden plaques with their names written on them, each with a key attached.
Gu Xiaoshun initially thought they were saying he and Gu Jiao would share a room, but when he looked closer, he was in room seventeen while Gu Jiao was in room twenty-seven. How many rooms apart were they?!
Gu Xiaoshun was puzzled, "Can't we be assigned to the same room?"
The instructor gave Gu Xiaoshun a disdainful glance, "No."
Gu Jiao said, "Forget it, I wasn't planning on staying anyway."
"It's too expensive, big sis. I want to stay. Let's make the most of it." Gu Xiaoshun, who had experienced hardship, lamented. Paying ten taels per month for accommodation was really painful for him. He wished he could stay in the dormitory until it became a part of him!
Not only were they not in the same room, but they also realized they weren't even in the same courtyard.
Gu Jiao was in the southern courtyard while Gu Xiaoshun was in the eastern courtyard.
Gu Xiaoshun's heart was bleeding. He covered his chest and said, "Big sis, let's go take a look and see what kind of accommodation we get for those ten taels."
Gu Jiao accompanied Gu Xiaoshun to the eastern courtyard.
"The environment is pretty good, quite peaceful." Gu Jiao commented.
When Gu Xiaoshun lived in the county town of the State of Zhao, he had stayed at Tianxiang Academy for a while. At that time, he felt that it was much better than the houses in the village. Naturally, the dormitories at Tianqiong Academy were more high-end and classy than those at Tianxiang Academy. Not only must it be worth the five taels of silver accommodation fee, but it must also be worthy of the reputation of State of Yan’s Imperial Academy.
"Number seventeen is over there." Gu Jiao pointed to a room down the corridor.
The two headed towards Gu Xiaoshun's room and found the door was unlocked.
"Your roommate is inside." Gu Jiao said.
As she reached to push the door, it was pulled open from the inside.
A familiar face came into Gu Jiao's view, and upon seeing her, the person was momentarily stunned, then his eyes lit up, "Brother Xiao! It's you!"
He called him "brother" as a term of respect. In reality, he knew Xiao Liulang was definitely younger than him.
"Big si...Brother-in-law, do you know each other?" Gu Xiaoshun almost let it slip.
"We met at the post station." Gu Jiao answered.
This person was none other than Zhong Ding, who had spoken enthusiastically to her in the lobby of the post station.
"I'm Zhong Ding." Zhong Ding said as he looked at Gu Xiaoshun.
Gu Xiaoshun looked back at him, then glanced at Gu Jiao and said, "I'm Gu Xiaoshun, and she's my big sister's husband."
"Oh, then you two..." Zhong Ding gestured with his eyes towards the room behind him.
Gu Jiao nodded knowingly, "My little brother-in-law is your roommate."
Zhong Ding let out an "ah" and chuckled awkwardly, "I thought Brother Xiao was." Then he remembered, "By the way, the post station was robbed last night. Brother Xiao, are you both okay?"
Gu Xiaoshun was surprised, "The post station was robbed last night?"
Zhong Ding was even more surprised, "Were you sleeping so soundly?"
A few people chatted for a while, mainly because Zhong Ding was particularly talkative. While others were on the brink of boredom, he managed to revive the conversation each time.
From him, Gu Jiao learned that dormitories were generally assigned based on the origin of the students, whether they were from the upper or lower states. People from the lower states lived together, as did those from the upper states.
"In the eastern courtyard, everyone is from the lower states, and there are mostly people from the State of Qing." Zhong Ding said. "By the way, Brother Xiao, which room are you staying in?"
"I don't stay in the eastern courtyard." Gu Jiao said.
Without hesitation, Zhong Ding said, "Then you must be in the western courtyard."
Both the northern and southern courtyards were for people from the upper states.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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Description:
In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.
When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.
The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.
From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.
***
Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.
After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"
Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"
Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”
Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
He hasn't finished his lines yet though…