Chapter 334: You're alright? Great!

Jiang Yunchu was somewhat surprised, "Let me take a look."

When Zi Su handed over that piece of jade pendant, she knew the Zhuang clan had arrived.

But…

She had just left not long ago; at this speed, has something happened to the Zhuang clan?

"You study on your own; I'll teach the next class." She hurried away.

"It's rare to see the dean so anxious; has something happened?" Kang Wu rubbed his chin, frowning in thought.

Kang Zhi Chun chuckled, "I don't know if something happened, but I do know that if you don't review, you might still lose to Ning Hanmo in the next joint exam."

Upon hearing that, Kang Wu immediately snapped to attention, saw the person studying nearby, gritted his teeth, and thought, "Cunning!"

Inside the room, silence returned; if one listened closely, one could still hear someone reading quietly.

"Second Uncle, did something happen at the Zhuang mansion?"

Jiang Yunchu saw Zhuang Wei in a disheveled state and anxiously asked.

Zhuang Wei saw Jiang Yunchu and his first words were, "You're alright? Great!"

Then he fainted outright…

"Second Uncle!" Jiang Yunchu shouted, but the response she got was not Zhuang Wei's voice, but a snoring sound.

No one knew that Zhuang Wei had been rushing every day these past few days, fearing something would happen in the capital, without any rest.

If it weren't for fearing encountering bandits on the road, he would even have wanted to take a detour.

When he saw Jiang Yunchu safe and sound, the heart he had been holding finally let go, unable to resist long‑term fatigue, he fell asleep instantly.

"Zi Su, arrange a courtyard and a few attendants." Jiang Yunchu looked up and instructed Zi Su.

"Yes!"

Zi Su hurried off to make the arrangements.

Jiang Yunchu didn't know what had happened either, but judging by her second uncle's appearance, it seemed he was worried about her.

She returned to the Rhyme Courtyard and immediately sensed something different.

"Who?"

She drew the Crimson Sky Sword, and the blade trembled.

"It's me." The voice was icy cold—who else could it be but Han Bing?

Jiang Yunchu furrowed her brows, "How come you're also back in the capital?"

At this time, shouldn't he be in Zhuang City?

"Look at this."

Han Bing placed that letter directly in front of Jiang Yunchu; upon seeing the simple few words, all the mysteries were solved.

No wonder Han Bing returned to the capital, and no wonder the second uncle came to the capital.

"The matter is mostly settled; I only handle the opening, and afterwards someone will take care of the aftermath." Jiang Yunchu smiled lightly; in her female attire, she no longer wore a stiff expression, her face softened, and on her palm‑sized little face, her big eyes seemed to speak.

"I've been in the capital for two days; to avoid alerting the enemy, I've been hiding in the shadows, investigating."

Han Bing moved quickly, taking only short side roads, sprinting all the way without wasting any time; after reaching the capital, he went into hiding, contacting no one, but constantly monitoring every move of the Regent Prince's manor.

"Any findings?"

Jiang Yunchu raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit curious; although she had also set up things in the dark and uncovered some interesting information, the intel was limited.

"Many people are involved in this affair." Han Bing produced a sheet of paper—this was the result of his observations over the past few days.

He also covertly followed some people, but…

"Many are covering their tracks; how much genuine information there is needs to be discerned."

His time is insufficient; the help he can now offer her is only this much.

"Thanks."

After Jiang Yunchu looked over the paper, much of the information overlapped, but she also discovered some new ideas.

"I'm heading back to Jiangnan tomorrow; take care." Han Bing, who rarely spoke, added a word of caution.

One who usually speaks little today said several sentences.

The sixth joint exam arrived as scheduled.

The children were each full of fighting spirit, carrying their own book boxes like generals heading to battle.

The dean said, for this joint exam, anyone who moves forward can go to Jiangnan for study.

Jiangnan— they haven't even been there yet!

"Ready?"

Looking at each little radish head, Jiang Yunchu realized she had long since merged with this era.

"Ready."

"Then we… set off!"

Jiang Yunchu stepped onto the carriage first, and the children behind her each boarded their own carriages.

"Princess Consort."

Seeing Jiang Yunchu, Liu Yunfeng and Wang Xianshi hurriedly rose to salute.

"Lord Liu and Lord Wang, you're too courteous."

She gave a light smile, then took a seat to the side; since He Tang was gone, the four gentlemen sitting here also had less of a tense atmosphere.

"Princess Consort, may I ask how you conduct the children's lessons?"

Wang Xianshi wore an eager expression; mainly, the progress of those twelve children was so great—were they even children?

They were outright twelve little monsters.

That's right; nowadays outside rumors say, "What is Chun Hua Xue Yuan? It's a monster academy."

What twelve Ding-character classes? They're twelve little monsters.

Those in the Bing-character class also spoke up, saying that when they eventually reach the Bing-character class, these senior students will teach them how to be proper people.

……

Many rumors circulated, yet everyone at Chun Hua Xue Yuan remained unaware—whether dean or student, they all seemed perfectly fine.

"My course isn't suitable for your academy."

Jiang Yunchu gave a light laugh, "What's tested on the ranking list is only part of their studies; they also need to learn the arts, strategy, music, chess, and agriculture."

"Progress on the ranking list is merely an encouragement for them; what truly perfects them is when all the elements come together, not just any one of them."

It's not that she refuses to teach; her ideas are simply too avant‑garde for people of this era to understand.

Faced with the facts, Qing Feng Da Ru finally admitted that his former competitive edge, which he used to display every day, had disappeared at some point.

"Mr. Wang, just stop studying; her method only works for monsters."

"If not a monster, who could withstand such pressure?"

Wang Xian shi sighed, shook his head helplessly, "Monsters—where in the world are there so many monsters?"

"You're going on a study tour?" Just then, Qing Feng suddenly spoke up.

Jiang Yunchu's hand, holding the fan, paused slightly as she said, "Yes, let's go on a study tour. This time we'll look at their exam results, but next time the ranking list will be given to a few of your academies—twelve fewer slots, so you'll have it much easier."

"Princess Consort, you're joking—how could the children of my Royal Academy possibly allow that?"

"The children of my Tian Yun Academy have earned every step through their own effort."

"Just..."

"Well, their level has far surpassed what the Ding ranking list was meant for; its significance really isn't that great anymore."