Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Gao Zhao was a kind and honest man, and didn't hold a grudge. He certainly wouldn't make a move on their first meeting. He simply scoffed, "At your age, still living in the outer dormitory of the Imperial Academy, you have little ability but quite the airs of an official!"

Ignoring the ashen face of the dormitory head, he led the group toward their quarters!

Su Mian and Qin Hui were both dumbfounded. The headmaster had immense power, not only managing the daily affairs of the dormitory, but also recording and judging the students' daily conduct and academic performance, and even having the right to punish students for their mistakes!

I've already offended them on our first meeting! How am I supposed to face them after this?!

Seeing Gao Zhao leave, Su Mian hesitated for a moment, then quickly bowed to the headmaster and chased after him.

Qin Hui followed closely behind, also bowed, and then left.

Shi Qian and the other two all wore expressions that were hard to describe. The young master was really too much! What was the difference between such sarcasm and a direct slap in the face?

This is really stirring up hatred... tsk tsk... all I can say is that skill and daring go to great lengths!

Gao Zhao, however, did not find anything wrong with it!

He didn't retaliate even when others provoked him to his face, which is already a great show of respect!

A conflict was resolved peacefully!

When it comes to interpersonal relationships, I, the young master, have it all figured out perfectly!

"Brother Gao, this is our dormitory!" Su Mian led the group into a spacious room, and upon opening the door, they saw several small cubicles inside.

Gao Zhao casually opened one of the rooms, which contained only a bed and a desk, and nothing else!

"That's it? What's the difference between this and going to jail!" Gao Zhao said, somewhat dissatisfied.

Shi Qian's lips twitched, feeling offended. What kind of treatment is this when you're in jail!

I can say with certainty that no prison environment, from Gaotang Prefecture to Tokyo, can compare to this one. This statement is undoubtedly an exaggeration!

"This is much better than the state and county schools!" Su Mian chuckled, then added, "Our cell... I mean, our dormitory currently houses three people. You can choose any other students you like!"

Gao Zhao found a sunny cubicle by the window and let Gao Yi go in to tidy up. Then he asked Su Mian, "Besides you and Brother Qin, who is the other person here?"

Before Su Mian could answer, Qin Hui quickly waved his hand and said, "I don't live here!"

Su Mianqi asked, "You two came together, why don't you stay together?"

Qin Hui said somewhat awkwardly, "I am not a registered student of the Imperial Academy; I am here for sightseeing and will be staying at the Furnace Pavilion temporarily. I will move out once I find a suitable place nearby!"

"Oh, I see!" Gao Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. He almost thought he was going to be roommates with the greatest villain of all time. Wouldn't that ruin his upright and virtuous image?

Then he asked curiously, "There are so many empty rooms here, why stay in Luting? Just find a place anywhere, and move out when someone else moves in!"

Qin Hui shook his head with a wry smile: "No, that's the rule of the Imperial Academy."

Su Mian added, "The head of the dormitory also makes daily inspections!"

After some thought, Gao Zhao realized that many seemingly illogical rules often had even more outrageous reasons behind them!

He was too lazy to say more, and glanced at Qin Hui, saying, "Aren't you just asking for trouble? Isn't it better to study back home? Why do you have to come here to suffer!"

Qin Hui smiled bitterly and said, "Since the Chongning era, the three-tiered system of education has been implemented throughout the land. Those with profound knowledge mostly gather at the Imperial Academy. If we poor scholars wish to advance further, the Imperial Academy is the only path for us!"

Gao Zhao asked, puzzled, "Isn't it still possible to take the imperial examination?"

Su Mian smiled and continued, "In the Jiangnan region, there are many powerful families and numerous scholars, but the number of places available for the provincial examination is limited. How can we, from humble backgrounds, compete? It's better to try our luck at the Imperial Academy. Perhaps after completing the required courses, we can get a chance to take the provincial examination at the Imperial Academy. That's better than taking the examination in Jiangning, at least there are more places available!"

"Oh..." Gao Zhao suddenly realized that although students in the upper class of the Imperial Academy could be directly appointed to official positions and students in the middle class of the upper class could be exempted from the provincial examination, which was equivalent to having the title of Jinshi, there were only a few people like that each year. Most Imperial Academy students were still aiming for the imperial examination!

According to the information he had previously read in the tabloids, these students who were able to enter the outer dormitory of the Imperial Academy had already taken up the quotas previously allocated by Chongning, which was equivalent to having participated in the state examination.

Moreover, this place has a complete teaching system and excellent teachers. Studying here is definitely better than studying on your own!

Even if a student from a poor family cannot get into the Imperial Academy, being able to audit classes here is still very beneficial!

However, living in the capital is not easy. Everything from food and clothing to housing and transportation requires money. Judging from Qin Hui's shabby appearance, he probably has a hard time!

Suddenly, Gao Zhao had a flash of inspiration: he could help him out!

However, if you want people to be grateful, you have to offer help when they are in dire need, which means you have to make sure they are desperate!

If we wait, I don't know how long it will take, but it doesn't matter. If we don't have the conditions, we can create them!

The first step is to have Shi Qian steal his money!

The second step is to have the academy kick him out!

If I were to lend a helping hand in this way, how could he not be extremely grateful to me!

Almost instantly, Gao Zhao had an idea!

"Young Master, the bed is ready!" Gao Yi laid out the bedding and arranged all the items neatly before leaving.

"Alright, I'm done here, you can go back now!" Gao Zhao waved his hand, indicating that they could leave.

"Young Master, I have served you all these years, and now that we are suddenly separated, I am heartbroken..."

When Gao Yi heard that he was being asked to leave, his eyes reddened and he choked up. But before he could finish speaking, Gao Zhao tossed him a coin. Gao Yi immediately beamed with joy and thanked him profusely.

Gao Zhao smirked and said, "Don't thank me! Go back and tell your sister this is a reward for her!"

"Ah!" Gao Yi's smile froze instantly! He was now filled with regret for ever mentioning his sister that day; now she was on his mind...

How could I not know who he is!

Before Gao Yi could plead, Gao Zhao kicked the three of them out. During this time, Shi Qian forgot to come back to get his things and brushed past Qin Hui!

A short while later, Gao Zhao returned after seeing the person off and saw Qin Hui and Su Mian anxiously searching for something!

Gao Zhao asked with a puzzled look, "What are you two looking for?"

Su Mian hurriedly said, "Brother Gao, Brother Huizhi has lost his money!"

"Ah! How much is missing?" Gao Zhao exclaimed in surprise and rushed forward to ask!

Qin Hui, with a mournful face, said, "How much is one string of cash!"

"Oh, you scared me!" Gao Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, looking completely unconcerned.

Su Mian shook his head and said seriously, "Brother Gao, your family is wealthy and noble, so naturally you wouldn't care about this little bit of money. But this is all the money that Brother Huizhi painstakingly saved up while working as a tutor in the village! Unlike us, he doesn't get a monthly stipend from the Imperial Academy to help him make ends meet. Without this money, he'll go hungry!"

Qin Hui then looked at Gao Zhao, his expression stubborn, his eyes pleading!

This guy was clearly scheming. Gao Zhao sneered inwardly, thinking that if he gave him money now, this guy would probably laugh at him for being stupid and rich. He had managed to get the money with a little trick!

"Oh dear, this is so serious, what should we do?" Gao Zhao said anxiously, shaking his hands.

Qin Hui: "..."

The money you tipped the servant just now was more than what I lost! What are we going to do about it?

Just as Gao Zhao was engrossed in his performance, a shout came from outside the door: "Qin Changjiao, the headmaster wants you to go wash his clothes!"