ebookland Chapter 455 The Opening of the Qin Women's Academy
Chapter 455 The Opening of the Qin Women's Academy
On the second day after the start of the new semester at Daqin College, Daqin Women's College also ushered in its glorious moment.
At dawn, a newspaper boy shouted at the top of his lungs, "Daqin Women's College opens today! A once-in-a-century event!"
Li Yanran's carriage stopped about three zhang away. The moment the curtain was lifted, she was stunned by the sight before her. The once quiet street was now crowded with people: old women standing on tiptoe to look, young girls holding their younger brothers, and teachers with graying temples. Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the crowd. Several peasant girls dressed in coarse cloth and short jackets came running hand in hand from the street corner, newly picked winter plum blossoms tucked in their hair, laughing and joking as they pushed their way to the front: "Look! It's the female students who passed the exam!"
Su Yao's carriage followed closely behind. She lifted the gold-embroidered curtain and saw Liu Cui and Zhao Xiaoya gazing up at the academy's plaque. The two farm girls wore patched clothes, but their hair was meticulously combed. Liu Cui clutched a handkerchief stained with grass juice, her voice trembling: "This calligraphy...it's even more impressive than the plaque on the biggest ancestral hall in our village!"
Zhao Xiaoya suddenly pointed to the cloud-patterned relief on the lintel: "You think this can really teach us how to handle lawsuits?"
“Of course.” Li Yanran had appeared behind them unnoticed, her wide sleeves sweeping across the blue bricks. “I’ve heard that the academy offers courses in ‘Detailed Explanation of Qin Law’ and ‘Litigation Practice,’ with clerks and officials coming to teach.”
Before she could finish speaking, Su Yao landed lightly in her embroidered shoes, the jade bracelets on her wrists clinking together: "So you're the young lady from Lord Li Si's household? I saw your essay in the examination hall; your insights on the market regulation law were truly brilliant."
As the four were talking, they suddenly heard a chorus of drums and music. Thirty-six musicians, dressed in colorful clothes, filed out and played the "Shaole" music. The gate of the Great Qin Women's Academy slowly opened, revealing four gilded characters on the vermilion screen wall: "Heroines Inherit the Way".
"Go in, don't be shy." A woman in the crowd squeezed her daughter's hand tighter, looking at her daughter with relief and saying with a smile.
On the other side, a kind-looking man took out a paper package from his pocket, inside which were several golden-brown baked millet cakes. He said to his daughter, "Eat if you're hungry. Don't be shy like other girls."
Beside the carriage of the magistrate of Xianyang, the usually dignified official was clumsily adjusting his daughter's hair ribbon. The way he stroked behind her ear with his fingertips was even gentler than when he was reviewing memorials.
Li Yanran witnessed all of this, and a feeling of envy welled up in her heart. She had grown up in a wealthy family, never lacking food or clothing, and her father and mother doted on her. However, despite her privileged life, she had never experienced a moment of closeness with her father like this.
Su Yao noticed Li Yanran's gaze. Following Li Yanran's line of sight, she too witnessed the scene unfold. Su Yao saw the envy in Li Yanran's eyes and understood her inner longing.
Su Yao gently touched Li Yanran's arm and said softly, "Miss Li, we'll be classmates from now on, please take care of me!"
Li Yanran snapped out of her daze and forced a smile: "Okay."
At this moment, several dignified female teachers walked out of the academy, smiling and inviting the new students inside. Li Yanran, Su Yao, Liu Cui, Zhao Xiaoya, and others followed the group into the academy.
Passing through the moon gate, the lush bamboo rustled on both sides of the winding path, and a few early-blooming wintersweet branches peeked out from behind the wall, their subtle fragrance wafting in the air. Suddenly, the view opened up before us, revealing rows of grand, hipped-roof buildings with flying eaves and bracket sets, connected by a winding corridor. Ahead lay a lotus pond with shimmering blue water, and above a small pavilion in the center hung a plaque that read "Mingxin Pavilion," gleaming in the morning light.
"To the east is the Study of Literature and Ink, to the west is the Reading Building, and to the north, the Dining Hall is connected to the dormitories." The female teacher led the group on a stroll. "Every day, we have morning reading at dawn, lessons at noon, and in the late afternoon, we can choose to practice any skill."
"Li Yanran, student ID number 1 (Female), is granted residence in Room A of Lanxin Garden." The head female official pushed over a scroll of paper with a neatly written timetable on it. "Tomorrow at 3:45 AM, 'Essentials of Governance' will be taught by Doctor Fu Sheng." Li Yanran took the bronze key engraved with cloud patterns.
The group walked along the blue bricks, their steps punctuated by the shadows of fallen plum blossoms. Soon they arrived at Lanxin Garden. The moment Li Yanran pushed open the carved wooden door, everything came into view. Inside the three interconnected rooms, four sandalwood beds lined both sides, each draped with a gauze curtain. Books were neatly stacked on bamboo bookshelves, and the bronze goose-fish lamp on the desk was quite beautiful.
“Miss Li!” Liu Cui was tiptoeing, tidying the bed curtains, her coarse cloth skirt brushing against the ceramic chamber pot in the corner. “Xiao Ya and I just wiped the room again; the water in this copper basin is still warm.” A few soap suds clung to her sleeves, and she smiled, revealing two tiger teeth. Zhao Xiao Ya emerged from the inner room carrying a stack of newly issued cloths, the bamboo string of musical instruments at her waist swaying gently with her movements.
Su Yao leaned against the window and sighed, "This room is so elegant."
Li Yanran placed the brocade bundle beside her pillow and glanced at her roommates' belongings: Liu Cui had some worn books on her bedside table; Zhao Xiaoya had a small bundle on her bed; and Su Yao had half an abacus sticking out of her sandalwood box, with beads carved from agate.
After the four girls tidied their beds, they sat around a low table. Li Yanran broke the silence first, taking out a box of pastries from her bundle. "I brought these from home, have a taste." Everyone smiled and reached out, the sweet pastries melting in their mouths.
Liu Cui timidly pulled out an oil paper package from her bundle: "My mother's pickled plums are so fragrant!" Everyone reached out their hands, praising Liu Cui's mother's skill.
The conversation gradually opened up. Liu Cui talked about interesting things in the village, Zhao Xiaoya shared her aspirations for the law, and Su Yao mentioned the intricacies of accounting in her family business. Li Yanran listened quietly, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.
Just then, a light snow began to fall outside the window, the pure white snowflakes fluttering and scattering across the courtyard. Zhao Xiaoya excitedly ran to the window, reaching out to catch a snowflake. "Look, how beautiful!" Everyone got up and went to the window to admire the beautiful scene of the first snow.
Su Yao suggested, "Such a beautiful view, why don't we go out for a stroll?" Everyone readily agreed.
They dressed and stepped into the snow. The falling snowflakes made the academy look like a fairyland. Thin ice began to form on the lotus pond, and Mingxin Pavilion appeared even more serene in the snow.
As they walked, they heard a melodious zither tune. Following the sound, they saw a woman dressed in plain clothes sitting in a pavilion playing the zither, snowflakes falling on her hair, a scene of breathtaking beauty.
As Li Yanran and the others slowly approached, the woman's zither music abruptly stopped, as if disturbed by their footsteps. She stood up gracefully, a faint smile on her face, like a flower blooming in spring, exuding a captivating fragrance.