History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 83 plus another joint exam

Without needing to think, Wei Yao knew the other party's intention in asking the question and replied, "Yes, we have."

Yuan Heng sneered deliberately: "Hit you? You're as skinny as a tree branch, can you take a beating?"

Wei Yaoshun explained, "He beat up my fellow disciple, Wei Mao."

Oh no. Yuan Heng and Hai Yeren exchanged glances. The Bear-Subduing Warrior was indeed unafraid of provoking powerful figures; if he dared to fight Wei Mao, he dared to fight the two of them.

"Look, they've let Black Whirlwind out to graze," Guo Yun said, pointing to the distance in the dense forest.

Cui Xueguan assigned eight animal servants to the forest bear, allowing it to roam freely three times a day—morning, noon, and evening. Black Whirlwind was particularly cooperative; after circling the area, it would automatically crawl back into its cage without waiting for orders. When it saw students in the distance, it would not only stop but also throw stones to amuse them.

After watching Black Whirlwind, Guo Yun suggested, "Shall we go check out the Poetry Society?"

Cui Shang thought the same thing: "Let's go. I heard that a lot of laborers have been added, so it should be finished soon."

Cui Ying: "I also heard that they're recruiting dozens of pageboys."

"Dozens?" Guo Yun's face was full of disbelief. "What do pageboys do? How are they any different from palace slaves?"

Kong Mi, who knew the inside story, explained: "The servants are illiterate. After we join the poetry club, someone needs to write the poems in advance and give each person a copy. The task of copying the poems will be done by the pageboys. Also, before the female teacher teaches the members to sing the poems, the pageboys must learn them first. For example, if someone sings the poems off-key or always sings the wrong words, the pageboys must supervise and teach them one by one."

As they spoke, they saw the choir, where an arched wall rose around the trees, white mud and red tiles were embedded in the lush branches, and a stream flowed through two pre-reserved gates, carrying the fragrant flowers and reflecting the image of kingfishers.

It seemed the courtyard wall was mostly finished. The person in charge of the construction was a member of the Cui clan, who led Wei Yao and the others in through a side gate. The stone paths inside and outside the gate were paved, and there were more than a dozen oxcarts planted with various green plants, with laborers carrying them into the courtyard.

As the foreman led the way, he explained, "The houses are all built. Some are currently having their interior walls painted, and others are being aired out."

"The space between the waterside pavilion and the courtyard wall was deliberately left open, and soon an artificial hill will be built and water will be introduced to raise fish. The wooden pavilion on the other side will be specially used to hang rare birds so that students can easily observe them up close."

"Young master, young lady, look ahead. This is the Buddhist hall, which also serves as a storeroom for books. Watch your step. This courtyard behind is for storing miscellaneous items, and all the servants we recruit in the future will live here. The kitchen is also built here to ensure that the students can have hot soup at any time. Don't worry, young master and young lady, the servants will not eat with the students; they will have their own separate kitchens."

Liu Zhenzhu was concerned about something else: "The swarm of bees that caused trouble last time hasn't returned to Qinlin, has it?"

"We checked everywhere, leaving only the small beehives and removing all the larger ones."

"That's good."

Guo Yun asked, "Are all the teachers who teach hymns female?"

This steward was truly astute, answering every question with clarity and logic: "There are two female teachers in total. One is Master Cui from the university, but she has to teach and can't come every day. The other is surnamed Zhang, named Zhang Wenzhi, who was the female servant who taught singing before. She has now left the old palace, and she will continue to be the main teacher of singing from now on."

Wei Yao understood that the management of the poetry club was in the hands of the Cui clan members, and the rest was all handled by Zhang Wenzhi, who had to teach poetry, manage the miscellaneous affairs in the courtyard, and take care of the servants.

After taking a quick look around, there wasn't much to see, so the group followed the manager out through the side door they had just exited.

Zhang Wenzhi emerged from the Buddhist hall, her gaze fixed on Wei Yao, her words dripping with indignation: "You want to join the choir too? Where do you get the nerve and the guts!"

The official document from the prefectural government regarding the punishment of Chen Shushi and the other two female officials was not only reported to the imperial court but also distributed to surrounding county offices and aristocratic schools. The document clearly stated the reasons for and the outcome of the punishment. Zhang Wenzhi, as a female teacher of poetry, was naturally notified by the Cui Academy. This wasn't a major event; the academy could simply pay more attention to the new regulations from now on, without needing to announce it to the students. Zhang Wenzhi, however, felt that it was normal for other students not to know, but how could Wei Yao not know? Furthermore, even if Wei Yao didn't know, it was this young lady who first complained, which is why the prefectural government punished Chen Shushi and the other two with caning.

"I just didn't make you copy more books, can't I make it up to you later? You lost three lives in three days, ha, the history of books is right, the barbarians are barbarians, forever jackals! They've been inhuman since they were little!"

Zhang Wenzhi lost her family in her childhood. After entering the Xi government office, she was selected to attend the palace school because she could read. Her female tutor for several years was Chen Shushi. Yes, Zhang Wenzhi did not want Chen Shushi to be retained by the Cui Academy, but that doesn't mean she forgot their teacher-student relationship! It doesn't mean she forgot that she and Chen Shushi were both from Qi!

"Wei Yao, you will get your retribution. What goes around comes around."

As Wei Yao was returning to Tingxing Courtyard, she encountered Xi Jiao, who had just arrived at Cui Academy. He took out the string of grass beads he had picked up from Xi's residence, handed it to her, and asked, "Is this yours?"

"No," Wei Yao denied. "It looks a lot like the one I wore before. I have mine at home."

"It's not yours... why are you blushing?"

"I..." How could Wei Yao explain? "It's really not mine, I need to go study."

"Wei Tongmen".

Wei Yao turned around, her face burning even hotter! That damned Xi Jiao, who had placed the bracelet against his collar, let go... Ah! It fell into his clothes.

Xi Jiao kept looking until she could no longer see Wei Yao before taking the bracelet out of her collar. "You still say it's not yours? Humph, if you won't admit it, I'll show it to you every day. Let's see when you ask me for it back."

Time flies, and April is almost over.

During the break between classes on the 26th, all schools in Pingcheng received an urgent notice from the prefectural government that an additional monthly joint examination would be held the following afternoon.

"what?"

The gasps of countless elementary school students merged into a thunderclap, summoning a torrential downpour.

The sky was as dark as dusk, far less disorienting than the assessment and punishment the Master was about to describe.

"All those who achieve first place in this joint examination, whether in the new or old campus of the state academy, the private schools of the eight noble families, the private schools of the Lu family of Fanyang, the Cui family of Qinghe, the Zheng family of Xingyang, the Wang family of Taiyuan, or the Li family of Zhao County, are eligible to participate in the May Grand Hunt! Those whose scores do not reach the middle level are not allowed to participate in any hunting activities this year."

In the academy, Confucius further explained: "If the first place winner is already among the participants in this great hunt, the reward will be given to the next place winner, but this can only be extended up to the third place winner. The state government will not let the student who gives up the reward suffer a loss; in the hunt, the student will be rewarded with the title of ordinary warrior and a reward."

Boom—Lightning flashed and thunder roared outside.

Other dormitories were alright, but the noise at Wenyin Dormitory was louder than thunder.

Hai Yeren fainted from anger before he could finish listening. He had committed too many sins in the past, and everyone from his teacher to his fellow disciples thought he was faking it. Fortunately, Qiu Ruizhi, who was closest to him, noticed something was wrong and pinched Hai Yeren's philtrum while shouting for help.

When Master Cheng came to take over, he was furious. Qiu Ruizhi was also a bad disciple! He picked flower petals among the unconscious fellow disciples.

When Haiyeren woke up, he didn't care who he was hugging. He just hugged her tightly and cried, "I saved up all my good stuff for a year to exchange for a good horse, to prepare bows and arrows, and even bought camp felt with gold trim! Waaah... they won't let me go anymore, waaah... Master Cheng? I promise I won't cause any more trouble, really, I'll study hard now, is it too late?"

(End of this chapter)