Chapter 172: The dean said, the dean had said, the dean also said……

The old general Han looked at his grandson with gratification, then sighed, "Jun'er, from now on at the academy study well; whether you take the civil exams, military exams, go into business, or farm, as long you act righteously and stand upright, the Han manor will always be behind you."

He did not demand that his grandson die on the battlefield; the Han family's elders have already done enough.

But……

He hoped his grandson would become a useful person, an upright person.

To be an honorable person!

"Grandfather, I remember."

"Our dean said that those who leave Chun Hua Xue Yuan can be full of tricks, can use any means, can appear and disappear mysteriously, but they cannot betray their conscience."

"Family, country, all under heaven—forever keep benevolence and righteousness in your heart."

The dean said, the dean had said, the dean also said……

From the moment he entered the gate, this child's mouth has always been talking about the dean……

And there's Ning Lao Da and Lao Yao.

Old General Han nodded, burst out laughing, "This step, we got it right."

"Great!"

"Good!"

That hearty laugh—since Lao Er died on the battlefield, he hasn't had it again.

Although he shows no expression each day, Old Lady Han knows the old man feels anguish inside.

He personally sent his two children to the battlefield, but they never came back……

"Eldest daughter-in-law, second daughter-in-law, have the kitchen prepare a few small dishes and warm two jugs of wine; we'll have a family meal." Old Lady Han smiled and gave the order.

Grand Madam Han and Second Madame Han exchanged a glance, both smiling in agreement.

"Mother, we'll go right away."

The two walked out, their faces also bearing smiles; their earlier anxiety had vanished.

Looking at Han Wen Jun's vigor and spirit, everything was different from before, and he had become much more courteous.

They were delighted in their hearts.

Although Han Wen Jun was not Second Madame Han's child, she would never have a child of her own; in her eyes, Han Wen Jun was her child, and her affection for him was no less than Grand Madam Han's.

The Han household flourished.

The Jia household, meanwhile, was filled with wails……

Jia Chuan returned home elated, only to see his mother constantly wiping tears, and his father softly consoling her.

"Son, you've grown thin and dark—how much hardship have you endured?"

Not only Jia Chuan, but even Master Jia's lips twitched.

He looked and saw that he had clearly gained a bit of weight.

His wife's eyes—had she cried too much, making them somewhat unusable?

Jia Chuan watched, one crying, one soothing, the two working together well—just don't treat him as a raft!

He silently returned to his room, then took out his books and began to study.

Yong Bo Marquis Manor.

"You're back?" Yong Bo Marquis Lady looked at her son—his arms and legs were sound, he bore no obvious wounds, and his spirits seemed fine.

Then……

And then there was no 'then'.

Filial piety, parental love overflowing—such things simply do not exist in their household.

As long as no one dies, as long as they live, as long as they aren't wronged, then they should just do what they need to do—there's a whole family's worth of affairs; who has time to nitpick?

Zhang Cunwen and Jia Chuan made a choice; they used to go out to play, but now they can actually sit down and read carefully.

Following along, they obviously struggled a lot.

Previous students could quickly get into the groove, but they couldn't; they lacked half a year's time, lacking the foundation, the basics.

On the first night, each manor's condition varied, yet every child's lights-out time was unusually the same.

While at the academy, they had already formed a habit: they would read until the appointed time, then extinguish the lights and sleep.

Early the next morning, as Old General Han practiced his spear, he spotted a figure in the distance at the training field; he narrowed his eyes and walked over, only to see Han Wen Jun holding a horse stance, a thin sheen of sweat already on his brow, yet his stance was exceptionally standard.

He felt a bit surprised, but he knew that right now he was just holding his breath; if he spoke, his breath would leak and he couldn't keep it up.

The old general said nothing; instead, he stood beside him and performed a set of punches.

Just like that, old and young, the two silently kept each other company.

"Ah!" Suddenly, Han Wen Jun plopped onto the ground, gasping heavily, beads of sweat large as pearls rolling down his forehead.

The shout for the old master to throw punches paused, then he finished his form, sat down on the ground, and patted Han Wen Jun's shoulder, "Good lad, your stamina is not bad!"

His eyes were full of admiration, nothing concealed.

Before, this brat wouldn't get up until late morning, and I couldn't drag him out; but now I wanted to train, yet I couldn't stand the old woman's nagging, and with the two daughters-in-law crying, I simply gave up.

Now it seems, Chun Hua Xue Yuan is not bad!

Han Wen Jun smiled, wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Our dean said that training must be done in the coldest three nines of winter and the hottest three fu of summer—no day may be wasted."

"Especially for us few, having finally formed a bodily habit, if we break training, returning means we have to start over from scratch."

The dean said……

Old General Han became somewhat curious about Jiang Yun Chu; the Jiang family's young lady, she really had something about her.

His own grandson has high standards; if it weren't for someone he truly admired, he wouldn't be constantly mentioning them.

How long has it been?

"Good, you're right, what the dean said."

Old General Han nodded in satisfaction, and the grandfather and grandson resumed their training.

At the Regent Prince's Manor, a figure slipped into the Wang Fu silently; when the person entered the Rhyme Courtyard, a short sword thrust straight from the side.

That figure, like a swimming fish, shifted its position, and the short sword thrust into empty air.

"Who goes there?" An San narrowed his eyes, his whole body on alert, and he did not shout loudly.

In the Regent Prince's Manor, anyone who can reach the Rhyme Courtyard is either one of our own or a master.

The person said in a low voice, "One of our own; I want to see Jiang Yun Chu."

An San eyed him warily, then shook his head, "Give your name, or I'll call for help."

Last time, the Princess Consort returned covered in wounds; he went to the Punishment Hall on his own to accept punishment, thereafter regarding the Princess Consort as his master. Whenever the Regent Prince's Manor and Jiang Yun Chu's appearance caused a disagreement, he would unhesitatingly side with Jiang Yun Chu—this was his own choice.

Including now…

He would not allow anyone to harm the Princess Consort.

"Are you a dark guard?" the low voice said, tinged with doubt.

Dark guard…

If his memory serves him right, it shouldn't be like that; dark guards have no feelings, they only protect the target's safety, without any personal emotions.

But this dark guard obviously already has emotions.

This is a major taboo for dark guards.

An San felt the pressure mount; the person before him actually knew about dark guards, and even knew that there were dark guards around Jiang Yun Chu.

Then just who is this person?