The people in the city are alright; most of them co from decent backgrounds and understand the great opportunity of letting their children learn arts, both literary and martial. But this is not the case in the villages and towns.
In these towns and villages, not everyone is willing to send their children to academies. Studying, studying—what’s the use of wasting ti? Such big boys and girls, can’t they do sothing else?
Initially, the promotion was extrely challenging. The students from the Academy tried hard to convince people of the importance of education. There were grandmothers saying that if these students helped harvest the grain, she’d let her grandson attend public school.
Two students carried a scholar’s sword on their backs and worked hard for two days.
The grandmother said her grandson was long gone.
The students were stunned: "..."
Such occurrences happened many tis.
It is said that Prince Qin personally made the decision.
"Eggs, flour, oil in exchange for children attending school."
"als provided."
"If they don’t co, and force their children to work, they will be punished."
"What punishnt? Hmph, give them bad land when dividing it!"
The results were exceptional!
The once aloof Prince Qin displayed a kind of so-called ’crafty common man’ wisdom, easily dealing with those unwilling to comply.
The results were far better than all the words the students spent.
With the efforts of the old hens, children entered the classrooms.
In keeping with the style of the era, they only attended school for half a day, and did basic chores at ho the other half.
Over the broad expanse of a thousand li, with the ancestral accumulation of influential families over three hundred or even a thousand years, and the effort of these families described by Mr. Wen He as [tearful, sincere, fully cooperative], the policy advanced swiftly.
The food to support the children was perhaps just a feather out of the rich reserves of these families.
In the past, even this single feather wasn’t plucked.
Mr. Wen Qingyu had to get personally involved.
But during busy farming periods, an extra pair of hands was still necessary. Walking quietly along the road, Yu Junyue contemplated whether she should take a position with Prince Qin, whether she should et this Prince.
When she arrived at her student’s place, several adolescents saw that the teacher had arrived, and quickly stood up to salute. Yu Junyue smiled and handed them things, her voice gentle, and even tested them on their lessons.
The children’s expressions tensed.
But each answered earnestly.
In this era, learning, even just literacy, is extrely precious, and every child who has the opportunity to access it cherishes it dearly.
"Thank you, teacher."
They bowed respectfully.
Yu Junyue gently responded, then stood and watched the children leave happily. She pressed her lips together, mulling over whether to go to Prince Qin, as the musician slowly ford her own ideas.
"Miss Yu, what a good mood you’re in."
The zitherist Song Caiwen, from a nearby town, stood quietly waiting by the field’s edge in a blue robe, carrying a zither box. Yu Junyue was sowhat puzzled and asked, "Sir, are you..."
After a long silence, Song Caiwen said, "Mr. Yu’s zither sound has reached a state of perfection. Truly, you should be by the emperor’s side, playing for him. The world is changing dramatically, Prince Qin is expanding territories and establishing his na. Now is the ti for you to go."
Yu Junyue suddenly recalled her youthful experiences within the Ying Country’s royal family. Holding her belongings, she turned back to look into the fields where her students were, and she made her decision, whispering, "Perhaps, but..."
"I am now, already playing for Prince Qin."
Song Caiwen was stunned: "What?"
Yu Junyue rely smiled gently, bade farewell, and walked away. The passersby conversed with her casually, treating her with respect. Two children, only seven or eight years old, walked with her. Listening to the wind, Yu Junyue planned to write back to her teacher, saying she would not go.
People from the past, sotis are best left as people from the past.
One should not forget the matters of old acquaintances; however, there is no need to et them again.
As she thought this, the two children beside her chatted and humd tunes they learned today. The autumn wind rose, and though the winter was desolate, the smoke from cooking fires ascended. She thought of past experiences and the words of a young man—
’Then, go wherever you wish to go.’
’What’s your na?’
Back then, the musician answered, ’No na.’
Even a genius zither musician, under the prince’s command in this world, was just an object. Jiang Yuan’s appreciation and fondness were simply for a beautiful, delicate item he possessed.
An object doesn’t need a na.
The young man was warm: ’Then think of one you like.’
’And you say I won’t live long?’
Back then, the musician was caught off guard, and the young man smiled brightly like a ray of light, before saying:
’Alright, coincidentally, I feel the sa, but I can bet with you—death can be as light as a feather or as heavy as Mount Tai. Even if Li Guanyi has a short life, he will not be diocre.’
’Li Guanyi, even living only ten years, will sha those living a hundred.’
Yu Junyue paused, seeing new notices posted on the city wall, detailing Prince Qin’s new policies. People gathered around, reading and discussing, and there were rumors about the Divine General List.
At eighteen, third on the Divine General List, the world’s Prince Qin.
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