Chapter 23: A Date with Mei

  Time flies like an arrow, and before he knew it, Du He had arrived in the Great Tang Dynasty for more than four months.

  After these few months, Du He has blended into this era. Nowadays he also feels that he has become a thorough and unadulterated ancient person, whether it is the tone of speech or actions are identical to theirs, only in his heart's deepest place, still hiding some unspeakable secrets.

  Ever since that conversation with the mysterious person, Du Ruhui's affairs suddenly became more frequent, often going out early and returning late. But on his face, there was an inexpressible smile, as if he had gained new momentum.

  Du He couldn't care less about all that, after all he was still young and unmarried, national affairs had nothing to do with him. Moreover, the world was at peace now, it wasn't his turn as a young whippersnapper to intervene.

  After two months of getting along, Du He and Luo Tong's friendship deepened further. Since that incident, the two often practiced martial arts together and had become close friends who could talk about anything.

  Everything seems so dull, but every day is filled with teasing Li Xueyan and Linglong, these two girls, and arguing with them.

  As for Princess Changle, Du He's relationship with her has also improved slightly. However, there is always a barrier between them, an invisible barrier.

  Duhua is none of his business, after all, the relationship between Princess Chang Le and the original Duhua has nothing to do with him, but Princess Chang Le can't let go.

  Today, the classroom was filled with a different kind of happiness, a stark contrast to its usual dullness.

  The reason is simple, today is the last day of this semester, just like summer vacation in later generations, only the month is different.

  The Hongwen Academy, as the highest institution of learning in the Great Tang Dynasty, naturally has its own rules.

  Students have a day off every ten days, and three long holidays are given each year. The one in May is called "Tian Jia" (busy farming), the one in September is called "Shou Yi Jia" (changing winter clothes), and finally there is the Spring Festival holiday.

  Tomorrow is May 1st, and today they came to school not for class, but to await the arrival of their fate.

  Like later generations, there was a big exam before each long vacation, and then scored according to the answers.

  There is no presidential score here, just let you silently write the interpretation of one hundred pairs of scriptures, 80% correct is excellent, 60% correct is medium, and below 50% is poor.

  Those who fail will have a tragic ending. It means you have to say goodbye to the long vacation, and what you will face is compulsory supplementary lessons.

  So some people are happy and some people worry, but most people still respond with an optimistic attitude.

  After all, this is the highest institution of learning in the Tang Dynasty. Which student is not a high-ranking official's son born into a prestigious family with a rich cultural heritage? A few interpretations of ancient meanings are hardly enough to stump them.

  Du He is also ordinary, perhaps the previous Du He would have seen this exam as a flood beast, but now Du He is a top-notch university student, majoring in liberal arts, and those famous phrases from "Shang Shu" and "Li Ji" are really not threatening to him.

  As expected, Du He's final score was excellent, and he also received praise from Old Man Kong, saying: "Mr. has made great progress, worthy of everyone's study." Some are not in the same category.

  Most people in the hall couldn't help but secretly laugh.

  Since Du He taught him "Du's script", no matter when, Old Kong would replace his name with "Mr." whenever he mentioned Du He, as if he were a good student who respected his teacher and valued the way.

  It's even more ridiculous that Du He once again "exchanged flirtatious glances" with Li Xueyan in class, and was caught red-handed by Old Man Kong.

  Mr. Kong first respectfully called out "sir", then suddenly scolded him harshly, it was quite comical.

  There has been progress, and naturally there have also been criticisms.

  It was unexpected that this time Grandpa Kong criticized Long Sunzhong.

  Chang Sun Chong got a mediocre score in this test.

  Changsun Chong is eighteen this year, and he should have already come of age to serve as an official. However, Changsun Chong has not yet come of age, clearly with the intention of getting close to the imperial family first, all for the sake of Princess Yongle.

  He has been in Hongwen Academy for four years and has always achieved excellent results in every test.

  Unexpectedly got a medium, really shocking.

  Even Du He was quite surprised.

  Ever since he smashed Chang Sun-chung's jade pendant, Chang Sun-chung has been glaring at him with anger. He thought Chang Sun-chung would come to settle the score, but unexpectedly there was no movement. Especially in the past two months, Chang Sun-chung seems to have changed into a different person, being somewhat muddle-headed and unclear what happened to him.

  Thanks to him, Du He's recent days have been spent in comfort and tranquility.

  "Hey!" A low voice suddenly came from beside him.

  Du He does not care about it.

  "Hey! Hey!" The other side called out twice more.

  "Where did this little dog come from!" Du He muttered to himself, looking up and down.

  "You're the little dog!" Li Xueyan really had no way with Du He, every time they quarreled, she almost always lost, but she seemed to enjoy it too, losing again and again yet fighting again and again. But today she had important business to attend to and wasn't in the mood for arguing.

  "Alright, let's get down to business!"

  Du He finally turned his head to look at her, smiling: "My name is Du He, you can call me Qinglian or Du He, or even Du Er Lang. Of course, if you like, you can also call me husband, but don't dare to call me 'hey'!"

  "Husband, what does it mean?" Li Xueyan furrowed her brow. The term "husband" originated in the Tang Dynasty, but it didn't exist during the early Tang period.

  Du He's eyes rolled around and he chuckled, saying: "It's Xiao Ming, isn't everyone has a nickname? For example, Cao Cao's nickname is Ah Man, and Jin Cheng Gong's nickname is 'Hei Tong', which means black buttocks. My nickname is Lao Gong, it's a bit strange, but what can I do, my old man gave it to me! Since I haven't had the coming-of-age ceremony yet, using nicknames makes us sound more intimate, if you don't mind, just call me by my nickname!"

  "Who kissed you?" Li Xueyan gave him a white eye, but her mouth called out: "Husband!"

  "Ah!" Du He responded with a chuckle, "What's up? Wife..." Of course, only he himself heard this term of endearment. Otherwise, given Li Xueyan's intelligence, even if she didn't know the true meaning of "husband", she would never call him that again next time.

  "In a few days, I'll be returning to Lingzhou. Before that, I want to buy some gifts for my father... um... can you accompany me on this trip?" Li Xueyan said with some shyness, speaking in a stealthy manner.

  Du He's eyes widened, and she thought to herself: "Could this be a date?!"

  "You, don't think too much, it's just that Chang'an has been quite chaotic recently. Your martial arts skills are impressive, so I'm just being cautious." Li Xueyan said with a forced calmness.

  Looking at Li Xueyan's pretty face, he muttered to himself: The peace of Chang'an is in chaos, who can blame!

  "So you want me to be your escort? Alright, since Snow Goose Miss personally invited me, I, Du He, will risk my life to accompany the beauty. Not just strolling around, even if it's climbing a mountain of knives and descending into a pot of oil, I'll still accompany you for a lifetime." Du He also had Chu Liu Xiang's romantic blood in his bones, making it hard for him to refuse the beauty's invitation.

  "Who wants you to go up the knife mountain and down the oil pot? It's just buying some things!" She said so, but in her heart, she was delighted. She looked at the Long Le Gongzhu in front of her with erect ears, and a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes.

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