The scale of the academy is quite large, surrounded by green trees, and in addition to flowers and trees, you can see the landscape pavilions.

Mei Xiaoren followed the little servant who led the way through the corridor.

Corridors and stone staircases connect the entire part of the academy, and many courtyards are scattered among the mountains, dotted with stars, hidden in the green mountains and green waters, and a waterfall cascades down from the top of the mountain, which is magnificent.

In front of the waterfall, there is a long bridge lying wave, spanning east and west.

Mei Xiaoren walked across the wooden bridge with the little girl, and the mist was dispersed all around, as if he was in a fairyland. She had only been walking for less than half an hour before she was overwhelmed by the scenery.

Although the scenery is beautiful, there are only a few figures in the court, most of them are small people who perform their duties, and there is not a single person who reads.

Mei Xiaoren was puzzled, so he asked: "Dare to ask the little brother, how many students are there in the academy now?"

"Not much, a hundred." The little guy replied as he walked.

"Why" Mei Xiaoren looked around again, becoming more and more confused, "Why haven't you seen any of them?"

"Now is the time for the teacher to teach, and they are not allowed to leave the Shangxue Hall without reason. Childe also needs to remember the rules of the academy in the future, but anyone who abandons any class will be expelled from the academy. ”

The little guy said calmly, and Mei Xiaoren inevitably felt nervous when he listened. If you miss a class, you will be expelled, and the first academy in the world really lives up to its reputation, and even the rules are unusually strict.

Mei Xiaoren pretended to be relaxed and said with a smile: "I came here to study here, it's too late to cherish it, how can I waste my studies." ”

"This is just one of them, there are many rules in the academy, and the son needs to be familiar with it as soon as possible in the future." The little guy made a gesture of please, "Childe, please." ”

Xiao Ren followed the little servant up the stone staircase, and at the top of the stone staircase was a courtyard called "Jingdao Temple".

The little servant stopped in front of the door and told sideways: "This is where the gentlemen live, gentlemen like to be quiet, if the son has nothing to do in the future, try not to come." ”

Mei Xiaoren nodded, indicating that he understood.

The little guy said: "What I said to Childe before was the afterword, and whether Childe can stay or not has to be decided by the gentlemen." ”

"Isn't it enough to have a letter of recommendation, why do you have to let Mr. decide whether to stay or not" Mei Xiaoren couldn't help frowning.

"What the prefect recommends is not necessarily a material that can be made, and whether to accept it depends on whether the gentlemen are willing to teach." The little guy smiled in surprise.

Mei Xiaoren was silent. She thought that the condition that a state government could only recommend one person a year was harsh, but she didn't expect that even if the prefect recommended someone, people would not necessarily accept it

She followed the little maid into the courtyard, and all she could see was a main hall and two side halls on the left and right, but when she looked up, she could vaguely see several floors of houses behind, which showed that this courtyard was not small.

"In the past, it was up to the mountain elders to decide whether to accept or not, but now the mountain elders are not in good health, so it will be decided by the gentlemen after discussion."

The little maid led Mei Xiaoren into the main hall, put her letter of recommendation on the desk in front of her, and said to her, "Childe is here for a while, I'll go and invite the gentlemen over." ”

Mei Xiaoren waited in the hall, only to see that it was spacious and clean, with a couch in front of it, and a dozen chairs on the left and right, and the vases and porcelain and other furnishings in the hall were extraordinary, which was also not comparable to the small yamen she had before.

After waiting for about half a cup of tea, there was finally the sound of footsteps behind her, and when she looked back, she was stunned.

She's just here to report the truth, and she needs to be so excited

When Mei Xiaoren was stunned, those gentlemen had already strode in, and soon dozens of chairs were filled, there was not a single seat left, and some gentlemen in Tsing Yi had to stand.

They were all dressed in official uniforms

Mei Xiaoren realized at this time, no wonder the atmosphere of the academy was weird, it turned out to be here

The gentlemen are all a group of court officials, and judging from the clothes, there are few people with lower grades than her, and the middle-aged man sitting on the couch in front of him is even wearing a dark green official uniform of more than four grades.

She felt that she was afraid that even the Futai Yamen in Xuanzhou did not have such pomp.

Waiting for the gentlemen to sit down, Mei Xiaoren hurriedly leaned over and saluted: "In Xia Mei Xiaoren, I have seen all the gentlemen." ”

The green-clothed official sitting on the couch said lightly: "You are not a disciple of the academy yet, according to the rules, you can't call us sir, you have to call us adults." ”

Mei Xiaoren felt a little embarrassed and had to change his words: "I've seen all of you." ”

The green-clothed official seemed to be satisfied, and took his eyes off her, looked at the recommendation letter on the table, and picked it up to look at it.

He looked at it and asked: "You are from Xuanzhou"

Mei Xiaoren replied: "Exactly." ”

"What is your relationship with Governor Li?"

Mei Xiaoren didn't rush to answer, she knew that although the imperial court gave the prefect the right to recommend talents, the most taboo thing was that the prefect used this power for personal gain and promoted his own people, so she couldn't admit that she was familiar with Lao Li, let alone that she had the title of lifting people and had served as a county magistrate in Qiushui County.

If she finds out in the future, she can only insist that it is a person with the same name and surname, not her.

"Lord Hui, I have nothing to do with Lord Li, but I have admired the name of Jinshan Academy for a long time, and I want to come to study, so I went to visit Lord Li, and thanks to Lord Li's refusal to give up this letter of recommendation."

"Then tell me, why do you want to come to the academy to study?"

"In order to become an official." Mei Xiaoren said bluntly.

What enriches one's knowledge and benefits the common people is false, these old men have been officials for decades, and they can't see the thoughts of these young people

As for why they want to be officials, they have their own understanding in their hearts, and they shouldn't ask her again.

"You're being honest." The green-clothed official looked at the letter of recommendation again with heavy eyes, and said, "But the academy has never confiscated students from Xuanzhou. ”

Mei Xiaoren was stunned for a moment, and was really surprised: "Why"

The young official in Tsing Yi standing by the hall sneered: "A small place supported by low-end businessmen can have any materials to make." ”

It is true that these words are very uncomfortable to hear, but Mei Xiaoren still has to beg this group of people to accept her, just like people under the eaves, she has to listen to any ugly words.

Mei Xiaoren was puzzled: "The people who were recommended by Lord Li before, they are all "

"Li Daoyuan has never nominated anyone before, you are the first." The green-clothed officer said.

Mei Xiaoren was taken aback, she was the first to say this, Lao Li had wasted all the places in Xuanzhou before

If this is the case, then she guesses that Lao Li does not recommend students not because there are no talents in Xuanzhou, but because Lao Li knows in his heart that even if Xuanzhou is known as a famous mansion in Jiangnan because of its wealth, it relies on businessmen to do business, and has always been looked down upon by a state government like Jinzhou that relies on official learning and the support of the imperial court.

Lao Li was cautious as an official, he should have expected that the gentlemen of the academy would not be optimistic about the students of Xuanzhou, so he would rather give up the right to be elected than come to touch this wall.

But Lao Li has now written a letter of recommendation to her

Is he anxious to let her make up for her knowledge to help him, or finally can't help it, and wants her to take the lead, breaking the precedent of Jinshan Academy without Xuanzhou students

Whatever the reason, staying here and studying was her only option.

Mei Xiaoren solemnly bowed his hand: "My lord, there was no before, but now there is." ”

The green-clothed official raised his eyes to look at her and said, "Let's not talk about whether you really have learned and excelled, just say that you are late for March, and no gentleman has the time to help you make up for the previous lessons." He put down the letter of recommendation and waved his sleeve, "You go back." ”