Chapter 512: Participating in the Imperial Examination

Mom!

Dean!

……

Voices one after another, in this quiet Wang Fu, finally became lively.

Jiang Yunchu put down the book in her hands, then watched a group of children run over; rarely, her face bore a long‑absent smile, with no concealment, each of their eyes shining.

Promoted?

Jiang Yunchu looked at them and gave a light smile; perhaps they forgot to hide their emotions because they were overly excited.

Ning Hanmo rubbed the back of his head and lightly nodded, "Mom, everyone has been promoted."

They had trained inner strength before, and now they also cultivated spiritual power, clearly feeling its strength.

Their bodies seemed filled with power.

They felt as if they could destroy heaven and earth.

"What are your plans after this?" She didn't let them stay happy for long; time was pressing, and she felt that her remaining time was short.

She couldn't say why; it was just an inexplicable feeling.

"Dean, many official posts in the court are vacant after this turmoil; we have discussed it and, no matter what direction we take, we all want to take the civil service exam together." Kang Wu's expression quickly steadied, his face showing an inexplicable emotion.

If they were to enter officialdom, now is the best time.

Jiang Yunchu raised an eyebrow, "You all want to take the exam?"

Everyone taking the exam—she hadn't taught them their studies in a long time, but as her own children, she knew them.

Each seemed like a book‑obsessed fool; even Ning Hanmo, Kang Wu, and Kang Nai Xin among them worried about not finding any unread books.

Several of them even came to her here, rummaging through some travel notes.

They called it "broadening their horizons."

"Dean, I want to tell the emperor that this exam should have no age or gender limits."

"They don't necessarily want to become officials, but they want to know how far the myriad scholars can go." Ning Qiancheng looked at his companions; they said nothing, yet he knew.

Jiang Yunchu nodded, "When you return to the imperial palace, please deliver this letter for me."

Ning Qiancheng took the letter with both hands, looked at the dean, and suddenly knelt on the ground; the young boy, his body had been nourished back to health, no longer as frail as when he first arrived.

"What is this for?" Jiang Yunchu knew this child had something to say.

She simply didn't get up to help him, but waited quietly for him to speak when he was ready.

Ning Qiancheng kowtowed three times, each thud audible.

"Dean, you have cared for us growing up like a mother."

"In the palace, when I thought I couldn't go on, you brought me out of the sea of suffering, letting me feel an emotion I had never known."

He lifted his head; that always aloof boy's eyes showed reliance and longing.

"Qiancheng will always remember your words; no matter where he goes in the future, he will never forget a single thing you taught him."

When he was covered in frost and snow, someone stepped forward to hold up an umbrella for him.

And he will uphold all of Da Ning, sheltering a pure land for her, forever giving her a home.

"Today, before the dean, I, Ning Qiancheng, swear that as long as my companions do not betray me, my blade will never be turned against them, never doubting, never betraying."

"If I break this oath, may thunder strike from heaven."

Jiang Yunchu sighed, this thoughtful, sensitive boy.

He was using his own way to reassure her, the dean, and also to put those companions at ease.

"Have you finished? Can you get up now?" Jiang Yunchu asked gently.

Then she looked toward Ning Hanmo; Ning Hanmo stepped forward and helped Ning Qiancheng up.

"Why must you say these things in this way?"

"I raised these children; how could I not trust them?"

"Ning Qiancheng, lead them along a path true to their hearts, a path that, though full of obstacles, they will not shrink from."

She smiled, her eyes gazing at each child.

It turned out time had flown so fast; in the blink of an eye, each of them had grown up.

"Farewell, dean."

Everyone, one by one, clasped their fists.

Jiang Yunchu waved her hand, "Let's go."

One by one, the children marched out in neat ranks; as everyone left the room, there was a feeling of wistful loss.

The sounds of training, the clear voices of reading, seemed as if from just yesterday.

Mom.

Ning Hanmo brought Jia Chuan and Zhang Cunwen, "We're back."

Jiang Yunchu smiled, "Are you afraid I'll be sad? Actually, I won't be."

"Watching you each grow up, watching you each become independent, I am far happier than you imagine."

"From now on, you must truly walk your own paths."

She could accompany them only this far.

The two younger ones still need her care, but these twelve older ones no longer do.

"At any time, you are our dean." Jia Chuan said respectfully.

He felt fortunate that, at that time, kneeling on the ground, he chose to enter the Spring Flower Academy.

That made him not be alone.

"Go on; that dormitory has always been kept for you, no matter when you wish to return, you can come back anytime."

"Will our academy stop recruiting people in the future?" Ning Hanmo stared wide-eyed; he knew how many mansions outside were discussing the Spring Flower Academy.

One by one, they were thinking of ways, wanting to send their disobedient children to the academy.

I never expected…

Jiang Yunchu glanced at him, "Why did I open the academy? Others don't know—do you three not know either?"

One by one, they're asking for death.

All the academies in Ning Jing refused them; unable to find any academy, she had no choice but to open the Spring Flower Academy.

"Now you have already graduated; only Yue Yue and Zhi Dong remain. Once they two graduate, the Spring Flower Academy will be completely closed."

"There are only fourteen of you children, and there will only ever be the fourteen of you."

"Your rooms have always been kept for you; whenever you want to come back, you can return at any time."

Ning Hanmo looked at his mother's appearance, looked at the smile appearing at the corner of her mouth, his gaze very deep, very deep.

Mother, how hard must I strive to keep up with your steps?

No matter what happens, he will steady his steps and move forward step by step.

"Alright, go back." She looked at the three of them and lightly waved her hand.

The three of them clasped their fists, bowed, and then retreated step by step.

"Elder Ning, why does the Dean feel off?"

Zhang Cunwen thought of the Dean's appearance and felt something was off.

After years of wandering outside, they are no longer clueless.

"As for the matters of Zhongzhou, you all know a bit; my mother should already be making preparations." He lifted his head, sunlight falling on his face.

"I used to think Da Ning was so big."

"But only now do I realize that Da Ning is merely a starting point; our future may lie in Zhongzhou, or perhaps in an even greater place."

"I'll go study first; you all work hard too." He patted Jia Chuan and Zhang Cunwen on the shoulders, not returning to his own courtyard but heading straight to the academy.

Over there, the classroom remained the same, twelve desks neatly arranged, yet the environment had grown quiet.

In the palace, Emperor Ning looked at the letter.