Chapter 129 Extra (15) The Story of Da Taohe
Changshan Academy was nestled among the mountain peaks and had been established for over a hundred years.
Its main structures included the Lecture Hall building, the Scripture Debate Platform, the Library Pavilion, and the Dormitory building.
There were also some smaller pavilions and towers, along with a painting hall.
The area it occupied was far more spacious than the glimpse visible from the foot of the mountain.
In earlier years, when the academy was first built, times were indeed hard, with only a single lecture hall.
However, as students achieved success and did not forget their teachers and the academy, many contributed funds and efforts to help with its construction.
Over the years, the facilities for studying at the academy had become very comprehensive, truly making it an excellent place prepared for scholars.
Except for its location on the mountain, it was in no way inferior to the academies within the prefectural city.
In fact, the geographical location was advantageous, encircling scholars within the mountains for their studies, preventing the many distractions and amusements of the city from diverting their attention.
In the third lunar month, the prefectural city, with its larger population and lower terrain, was already warm with blooming flowers.
But atop Changshan's peak, even on sunny days, it remained chilly. The high altitude was naturally colder, and surrounded by towering trees that blocked out the sun, when the wind blew, rustling through them, it chilled one to the bone, making people hunch their shoulders.
"You likely worked up a sweat climbing from the foot of the mountain. Seeing you dressed so lightly, remember it's cold at the summit. Be careful not to catch a chill from the wind."
Upon entering the academy, a conspicuous signpost stood in the center, directing people to the administration office.
The administration office had staff specifically assigned to receive scholars. They would first check the letter of introduction, record the place of origin, and handle a series of matters.
Huo Anding wasn't sure where his brother Zhao Pan had obtained his letter of introduction. He had glanced at it earlier, it wasn't signed in his own name, but was apparently written by a local gentleman from the prefectural city.
It was said this gentleman had also studied at Changshan Academy in the past.
Changshan Academy did not exclude scholars from poor families without background. But no matter the place, connections inevitably mattered, human relationships were everywhere.
Moreover, in recent years, the imperial court had placed increasing importance on Changshan Academy, and the internal dynamics were naturally not as simple as before.
Having a letter of introduction was better than having none. However, his family's intention was not for him to make a prominent entrance, as that would not be conducive to focusing wholeheartedly on his studies. Therefore, they had arranged for it to be written by someone else.
After going through the procedures, the staff at the administration office briefly explained the locations of the dormitories and dining area, then urged him to head over promptly.
They were quite friendly.
After thanking them, Huo Anding took the processed documents and, carrying his large and small packs, went to the dormitory building.
The dormitory building was constructed like a "Four Waters Return to Hall" style residence found in Tongzhou. However, presumably because there were many scholars, it was three stories high on all sides.
[The Four Waters Return to Hall style (四水歸堂): a traditional Chinese architectural design where four inward-sloping roofs channel rainwater into a central courtyard, symbolizing the accumulation of wealth and family unity.
Entering the main gate, he paused slightly.
His eyes first fell upon a very thick and tall pear tree right in the center of the courtyard, a snow-white expanse. Even if not a hundred years old, it must have been several decades old.
It was colder on the mountain than below, and the pear tree hadn't fully bloomed yet. Only the higher, sun-facing branches had some blossoms, with most still being buds.
But the branches were extremely dense, stretching out from the courtyard, blocking out the sun and sky. Under the spring sunlight, they cast a pattern of flower shadows on the ground, gently swaying in the breeze.
After observing the flower shadows, Huo Anding couldn't help but look up to admire the tree's profuse blooms. As he raised his head, his gaze suddenly landed on the third-floor railing to the left.
Their eyes met, and he couldn't help but be startled.
"Qingyue?!"
Huo Anding looked at the young man standing by the upstairs railing. His jet-black hair was tied with a jade clasp, his brows and eyes like those finely depicted by a painter. He wore a jade-white long robe that complemented and blended with the pure white pear blossoms.
Bathed in the gentle spring light, his entire person seemed surrounded by a hazy glow, appearing as if an immortal had descended to earth.
Shen Qingyue, though aloof, had been willing to give him a ride upon learning he was a scholar, upholding propriety and self-restraint.
Why hadn't he considered that Shen Qingyue might also be a scholar coming to study at Changshan Academy?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but curve his lips into a smile.
Shen Qingyue watched the person in the courtyard below, chin raised, smiling at him, and heard the surprised and delighted call. His cool eyes flickered slightly.
He had actually spotted Huo Anding as soon as he entered the courtyard, laden with large and small packs like a porter, but hadn't called out.
He gave a soft "Hmm," slowly withdrew his gaze, and faced the pear blossom branches that had climbed to the railing, turning the pages of the book in his hands.
Huo Anding had considered they might possibly meet again in the prefectural city if fate allowed, but he never expected to encounter him here. He felt the joy of meeting an old friend in a distant land.
A moment later, the sound of hurried footsteps pounding up the stairs came from the corridor.
Hearing this commotion, Shen Qingyue knew the person was coming up. He closed his book and intended to go inside, but his movements were still a step slower than Huo Anding.
"Why didn't you say earlier you were coming to study at Changshan Academy? We could have come directly to the academy together!"
"Weren't you going to the prefectural city to rely on relatives?"
"Just went there briefly, then rushed straight here."
Shen Qingyue looked at the person burdened with large luggage, paused, and said, "Go get yourself settled."
With these words, he entered his room.
Huo Anding watched the door shut with a creak. He clicked his tongue in frustration. After all their time together and growing familiarity, why did the other still maintain such a distant demeanor?
He took out the dormitory number plate given by the administration staff. Seeing the number 57 engraved on it, he looked up and saw that Shen Qingyue's door plate actually said 56!
"Qingyue, I'm right next to you!"
Shen Qingyue, sitting by the windowsill reading, reached out, pressed his finger against Huo Anding's forehead, and pushed the intruding head back out: "I know."
"Since you're free anyway, come help me clean and make the bed."
Hearing this, Shen Qingyue's hand stilled. He couldn't help but raise his head and give Huo Anding a deep look, then uttered two words: "I won't go."
"In the future, we'll not only be fellow students but also next-door neighbors. Harmony, friendship, and mutual help!"
"I climbed up from the foot of the mountain, I'm so tired my legs feel weak, my arms ache, my legs hurt. If you don't help me, when will I ever finish?"
"And I still want to look around the academy, I'm not familiar with any of it."
"I don't know anyone here, you're my only old acquaintance..."
It was as if ten flies and mosquitoes were buzzing incessantly around Shen Qingyue's ears. He turned a deaf ear, letting the person chatter noisily by the window.
Until a drawn-out, sticky, and coquettish sound emerged: "Young master~"
Shen Qingyue's chest rose and fell deeply, astonished that a person as splendid as spring blossoms and pine trees could make such a sound. Finally unable to bear it, he snapped his book shut: "Shut up."
Huo Anding, seeing the great beauty who seemed angered, immediately pressed his lips into a tight line as requested.
He looked at Shen Qingyue, blinking pitifully: "Alright then, I'll... I'll go over now, I won't disturb your reading..."
A moment later, the aloof and distant Young Master Shen—born with a silver spoon in his mouth, who typically avoided social interactions—knit his cool brows in concentration.
With both hands, unaccustomed to such mundane tasks, he gripped the corners of the quilt, wrestling valiantly with the bedding that had been tangled into an unwieldy lump.
When the page boy returned with the meal, he saw his young master actually making someone else's bed.
The food in his hands nearly dropped to the floor. He rushed in: "Young master, let me do it, I'll do it!"
Thank you for the update!!
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