Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 318

Chapter 318: Chapter 315: A Fortuitous Encounter (Part 1)

All around fell silent. The scholars holding sheep-skin lanterns gathered in the direction of Mr. Guan Yongchong, their expressions earnest and reverent, as if they were listening to Mr. Guan Yongchong’s teachings on Confucianism.

Mr. Guan Yongchong, dressed in a long robe with wide sleeves, looked at the young faces of the scholars and spoke warmly and slowly, "By eliminating Xiliang’s main force, Xiliang will be unable to invade our Jin border for at least five years. Ensuring at least five years of peace for our Jin Kingdom’s border people was something the King of Zhen’s southern expedition could not achieve. Bai Qingyan inherited her grandfather’s will and achieved this with fifty thousand Jin Army soldiers and ten thousand Bai family soldiers. Though there was killing, who can say this wasn’t a great deed for the peace of the Jin Kingdom’s border people?"

The scholars of the Imperial College remained silent, looking at the literary giant with graying temples and a slightly hunched back. They nodded almost imperceptibly.

"I still remember the first time Bai Qingyan returned from the battlefield. I asked her what she had seen and heard during the war. She answered that the frontier battlefield was filled with white bones exposed to the wild, graves everywhere with no place to bury the dead, thousands of acres of farmland left uncultivated, corpses lying for miles with birds having disappeared. It was a horrific scene that could never be seen in this prosperous Capital. She was willing to dedicate her life to bring peace and stability to the people. She was only thirteen, with such broad-mindedness and compassion. As her teacher, I felt ashamed."

Seeing Mr. Guan shaking his head and waving his hand, the scholars standing at the palace gate with lanterns had tears in their eyes. They had never thought a woman could have such broad-mindedness.

To dedicate her life and bring peace and stability to the people.

A thirteen-year-old girl had such lofty ambitions. How could these scholarly men stand it? How could the men who criticized Bai Qingyan maintain their dignity?

Bai Qingyan stood a distance away, holding her horse, watching her venerable teacher, who stood at the palace gate at dawn to defend her. Her heart was tumultuous, and her eyes ached and burned.

Bai Jinzhi too felt moved, stepping forward two steps and whispering, "Eldest Young Lady, Mr. Guan is so kind."

The surroundings were silent except for the sound of the wind.

Mr. Guan fell into a nostalgic mood, choking back sobs, "That year, the King of Zhen brought his young granddaughter to me for teaching. I asked, ’A woman’s virtue lies in her lack of talent, why bother with studies?’"

"The King of Zhen replied, ’To learn is to understand propriety, virtue, righteousness, and shame! I do not expect my granddaughter to be famous but only hope she knows propriety, virtue, righteousness, and shame, to be a person who has a clear conscience before heaven and earth. Bai Qingyan, my eldest granddaughter, did not disappoint the King of Zhen. Though she is a woman, she can govern the country with literature and secure the nation with military skills. She is a model that you all should follow. Why are you here denigrating a meritorious person of our Jin Kingdom?’"

Mr. Guan’s gaze swept over the students who lowered their eyes out of shame or unease. "In my life, I have had forty-three direct disciples, only Bai Qingyan being a woman. Yet, I take pride in this female disciple!"

The cold wind swept over Bai Qingyan’s burning eyelashes. The emotions she tried to suppress in her heart seemed about to burst. _{freёwebnovel.com}

If her teacher knew she was no longer that thirteen-year-old student with a pure heart and an open mind, would he still be proud of her?

She looked towards her teacher, knelt down, and solemnly bowed. Then she mounted her horse, "Let’s go."

Bai Jinzhi also bowed deeply towards Mr. Guan and then followed Bai Qingyan onto her horse.

Steward Liu, along with the guards accompanying Bai Qingyan back to Shuoyang, mounted their horses, and the group galloped out of the city.

On April 7th at Sishi, the examination scandal case concluded.