After a long and sowhat heated discussion, the researchers finally concluded. Anji, whose legs had started aching after standing so long, was just about to sit when they turned back to her. Quickly, she snapped to attention, trying to hide the fact that her feet were hurting.
"Ahem! We decided that you have sufficient knowledge of spells and arrays and do not need to be taught from the basics. However, as we are not specialised in your area of interest, it is better for you to rotate through teachers during your orientation month. Apart from two days in a week when you will rest and spend ti with your guardian residing in the outer court, the other five days will be spent with a different teacher each day. You will help with one chore, and in return, your teacher of the day will impart one new knowledge. What do you think of this arrangent?"
Nodding happily, Anji quickly agreed to the arrangent. She thought she would be expected only to do chores during the orientation month. However, hearing there was soone to teach her sothing new, Anji could not ask for more. It was better than learning from her shifu’s books alone after she was bone tired from doing chores. Not to ntion, she was banned from getting into libraries and could only rely on herself or ask others for help in her studies.
"Your teacher of the day tomorrow will be ," a man from the back spoke up, raising his hand as he stepped forward from the crowd. "I’m Researcher Yang. You will be reporting to my research lab after breakfast. Although I will not be there for most of the day due to a conference with the east district, my assistants will be there to guide you. I’ll be back before dinner to teach you what I know for about an hour. Please co to with any questions that you have if you require clarification. We were told you were self-studying for most parts without proper tutors. It’s faster with soone experienced."
Greeting Researcher Yang, Anji thanked him for the offer and bead. Consultation! For the past three years, Anji wished there was soone she could consult in person and not through letters. Although her shifu did respond with detailed examples and explanation recorded replies, it was not the sa as a real-ti interaction.
Concluding the interview, the researchers dismissed Anji and told her to head for dinner with the guide she ca with today. The interview was ant to last only thirty minutes, but they got carried away, and it lasted nearly two hours. The poor child must be hungry and exhausted.
"See you tomorrow, Researcher Yang!" Anji waved goodbye as she approached the door again. This ti, she was more cautious and carefully stuck her hand through the door before walking out instead of pushing at it.
The mont Anji reappeared, she saw Pearl, who had been pacing around and biting her nails. When the senior librarian saw Anji, she quickly rushed over to check on the child.
"What did they say? Why did it take so long? Were you in trouble? Did they mistreat you?"
Her concern made Anji feel warm on the inside. Although Pearl was not Lizi, her fussing was very similar to Anji’s personal maid. A sense of nostalgia hit the young princess as she laughed and cried a little.
Hugging Pearl, Anji shook her head. Her legs were aching a little, but she wouldn’t ask to be carried. She was now six and as heavy as a sack of rice. Unlike Lizi and Gu Ying, who were used to carrying Anji for most of her life, Pearl was not a servant.
"They did not mistreat . However, I had to answer many questions. In the end, they decided that I need not start learning from the basics and agreed that during my orientation, I would learn from a different teacher each day. There will be two rest days. I will not do chores on those days. Instead, I can spend my ti with Gu Ying in the outer court. Tomorrow, I report to Researcher Yang’s research residence. But for now, can we go to the cafeteria? I’m hungry."
Hearing how Anji was tired and hungry after what sounded like a gruelling interview, Pearl quickly agreed and led the way. There was another hour before the cafeteria closed. They should hurry if she wants to get Anji back to the little cottage before it becos dark.
"Let’s go then," the senior librarian smiled, holding onto Anji’s hand. "We shouldn’t keep Aunt Wine waiting. Use the token the sa way we arrived here. You might want to close your eyes to be less dizzy when the teleportation spell activates."
Rembering the horrible nausea she experienced, Anji screwed her eyes shut and held up her token. Beside her, Pearl chuckled and held onto Anji’s hand tightly before holding up her own token, bracing themselves for the teleportation spell to take them to the ground floor again.
Surprisingly, Anji only felt a little dizzy this ti. It was bad enough that she had to cling to Pearl for balance. However, she was not nauseous this ti.
After resting for a while, they headed back to the cafeteria, but not before stopping once for Anji to rest her legs when Pearl noticed her limping.
"I should really invent the vertical mobility platform," she frowned. "It would be easier for you to go up and down the observation tower without dizziness. Also, they should have prepared chairs for an interview that was long. What were they thinking? Are you sure you don’t want to see Doctor Yun?"
Shaking her head, Anji thanked Pearl for the concern as she circulated energy into her legs to ease the pain and speed up her natural recovery. Due to her nervousness earlier, she forgot she could circulate energy to her legs while standing.
From inside her head, Grandpa Jin scoffed, startling Anji so much that she started hiccuping.
"This is why I told you to start practising the constant circulation thod so that your body will continuously circulate energy even when you’re asleep!"
Unable to argue with the golden dragon’s spirit harboured inside her, Anji bitterly covered her mouth to suppress the hiccups that slowly beca louder. Today was a day full of embarrassing experiences, and hiccuping in front of Pearl was another added to her list.
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