Chapter 48

After just two hours of sleep, Fang Yun naturally woke up, feeling not at all tired but rather full of energy.

"Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng is truly remarkable. I must thank the Empress when I have the chance. Her giving me the Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng is more important than granting me a title. I will study for twenty hours a day; I don’t believe I can’t become a Scholar this year!"

After washing up, Fang Yun quickly had his meal and began his morning reading, just like yesterday, reading various books on classics and guidance. He decided to thoroughly understand all the examination methods before writing the classics.

Before long, someone knocked on the door, and Yang Yuhuan went to open it. Fang Yun recognized the voice as He Yutang, who had attended the poetry meeting with him yesterday, so he put down his book and went to greet him.

He Yutang had a cheerful look on his face and handed some paper bags and a brick of tea to Yang Yuhuan.

"Brother He," Fang Yun said.

He Yutang blushed and said, "I don’t have class this morning and happened to pass by, so I bought some food to visit."

"Please come in and sit down," Fang Yun said, guessing He Yutang’s intentions and inviting him inside while deliberately sending others away.

In the quiet room, the two scholars in green robes talked softly.

They first discussed some topics related to teaching. Seeing that He Yutang was hesitant to speak, Fang Yun smiled and said, "Brother He, you came today for something else, didn’t you? Why not just say it?"

He Yutang smiled awkwardly and said, "As you know, I passed the Scholar exam ten years ago but have never passed the Provincial exam. My courage has gradually been worn down by time. Yesterday, after seeing you write 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode,' I couldn’t sleep for a long time because it rekindled my courage. Don’t worry, I’m not asking for the original manuscript of 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode.' I just want you to write a copy for me so I can understand its essence and strive to pass the Provincial exam in one go."

Fang Yun immediately stood up and walked to the desk, saying, "Brother He, it’s just a few words."

Fang Yun picked up the Demon-Exorcising Pen, prepared for a moment, and then carefully wrote 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode.'

Since it wasn’t the original manuscript, there were no unusual phenomena.

"Let it dry for a bit before we talk about it."

"Alright."

After a short while, when the ink was dry, He Yutang approached to take the paper, unable to suppress a smile.

He Yutang praised, "Your handwriting is getting better and better. I really want to be your disciple and learn calligraphy and poetry. I will hang this calligraphy in my study and ponder it every day. My residence is humble, and my Literary Palace is also humble. With this inscription, my Literary Palace will surely be strengthened, and it will be able to bear more talent. Then, when I take the Provincial exam, my chances of passing will be much greater."

Fang Yun suddenly understood. No one had mentioned it yesterday, and he hadn’t noticed, but now he realized that 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' was so popular because it could perfectly combine with the Literary Palace.

'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' is also an inscription for the Literary Palace, which is why it can form a moment of literary courage and why the great scholar Li Wenying was moved to come in person.

He Yutang treated Fang Yun’s handwritten 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' as a treasure, carefully rolling it up and placing it in his chest.

After everything was done, He Yutang said, "Fang Yun, your 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' is extraordinary. Such a great favor, if I have the chance, I will definitely repay it."

"It’s just a piece of paper, Brother He, don’t take it to heart. I’m about to go to the clan school. Would you like to come with me?"

"Sure."

Fang Yun walked out of the courtyard, and Nunu suddenly darted out, standing on Fang Yun’s shoe, standing upright, and holding Fang Yun’s leg with her paws, looking up with a pitiful expression.

"Is there something you want?" Fang Yun asked.

"Nunu! Nunu!" the little fox called.

"I don’t understand," Fang Yun said helplessly.

Nunu’s eyes darted around, and she suddenly jumped onto the carriage, sitting in the spot where Fang Yun usually sat. She tried to imitate Fang Yun, sitting in the carriage seat, stretching her legs, and leaning back. But she was too small, and her back didn’t touch the back of the seat, so she fell onto the seat, looking confused, as if to say, "It shouldn’t be like this?"

Fang Yun laughed and said, "Do you want to go out with me?"

The little fox immediately sat up properly and nodded at Fang Yun.

"You have to be well-behaved and not cause trouble, understand?"

Nunu quickly nodded and sat obediently on the seat.

He Yutang said, "Your little fox is very smart. It must be a hybrid of a demon and a regular fox, right?"

Nunu suddenly got angry, stood on the seat, placed her front paws on her waist, and glared at He Yutang, shouting, "Ya! Ya!" Her face turned red with anger.

Fang Yun had never heard Nunu make such a sound before, realizing she was very angry. He got into the carriage and held her in his arms, gently stroking her head.

Nunu made a low, mournful sound and stopped being angry.

He Yutang also got into the carriage and sat next to Fang Yun. To his surprise, Nunu jumped between Fang Yun and He Yutang, extending her little paws to push He Yutang, trying to push him out of the carriage, looking very angry.

Both of them laughed, and He Yutang bowed to Nunu and said, "Brother Fox, I shouldn’t have said that. I apologize to you. You are much nobler than the demons."

Nunu immediately turned from angry to happy, standing straight, facing He Yutang, pointing at herself with her little paws, and lifting her head high.

"What does she want to say?" He Yutang asked Fang Yun.

Fang Yun laughed and said, "She wants you to keep calling her Brother Fox."

"Is that so? Please forgive me, Brother Fox," He Yutang joked.

Nunu immediately showed a forgiving attitude, proudly jumping onto Fang Yun’s lap and lying down.

Fang Yun stroked her head and then tried to take his hand away, but she quickly grabbed his hand and pulled it to her head, then let out a comfortable sound and closed her eyes to doze off.

Fang Yun slowly took his hand away, but Nunu reacted quickly, extending her little paws to hold his hand and wrapping her fluffy tail around his wrist to prevent him from moving.

"Ying ying..." Nunu pleaded softly.

Fang Yun smiled and placed his hand on her head.

Nunu’s face lit up again, and she closed her eyes contentedly under Fang Yun’s hand.

He Yutang asked, "Is it a male fox?"

"Probably a female," Fang Yun said.

"Then why does she like being called Brother Fox?"

"I call you Brother He, and she likes it, but she doesn’t really understand anything."

"Ying ying! Ying ying!" Nunu immediately protested, as if to say, "Don’t say bad things about me!"

Fang Yun and He Yutang burst out laughing.

The two of them arrived at the clan school by carriage.

Entering the classroom, the teachers greeted Fang Yun with smiles, but none of them seemed very natural, as if they wanted to say something but were embarrassed to speak, hoping someone else would say it.

He Yutang lightly coughed and said, "Fang Yun’s words are worth at least ten taels of silver each. You should be careful."

The teachers of the students could only return to their seats, feeling unhappy.

At 8:15, Fang Yun entered the classroom as usual, but Nunu stood shyly at the door, looking curiously inside.

"Is it a puppy?"

"Maybe a kitten."

"Clearly a fox!"

"Shh, be quiet during class!"

The students glanced at the little fox a few times but then focused on more important matters.

One child couldn’t help but call out, "Mr. Fang, teach us poetry!"

"Yes, we want to write beautiful parallel prose like 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode.'"

"Sure!" Many children nodded vigorously, their eyes full of anticipation.

Fang Yun was surprised and said, "Even you know about it?"

A child immediately said, "This morning, a high official visited my home! He said I should try to get first place in the next small exam and ask you for your handwritten 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode.' Don’t worry, Mr. Fang, I won’t ask for it. Such a good thing shouldn’t be given to just anyone."

"Right! My father said, it’s fine to ask for poetry, but asking for your 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' will shorten one’s life. One must know one’s limits."

The children all agreed.

"Very good, it seems I haven’t taught you 'The Three-Character Classic' in vain. So today, we will continue with 'The Three-Character Classic.'"

"Ahh..." The children sighed in unison.

"Mr. Fang, teach us poetry."

"Yes, teaching 'The Three-Character Classic' can wait a day."

The little fox turned her eyes and, instead of jumping onto Fang Yun, sat obediently at the door, looking up at him like the other students.

Fang Yun smiled and said, "Do you really want to learn poetry from me?"

Before the students could answer, Nunu suddenly raised her front paw and called out in a clear voice, "Ying ying! Ying ying!"

The students burst into laughter.

"Even the little fox wants to hear you teach poetry, so please agree."

"Yes, Mr. Fang."

Fang Yun said to Nunu, "No talking during class!"

The little fox immediately covered her mouth with her paws and blinked her eyes, making many children secretly laugh.

Fang Yun thought for a moment and realized that although there were books on prosody in this era, none of them were suitable for teaching these children. He then recalled启蒙读物 like 'The Primer of Prosody,' 'Training in Parallel Prose,' and 'Lishu’s Rhyming Couplets.' After comparing them, he found that 'Lishu’s Rhyming Couplets' was more straightforward and easy to understand, so he made his choice.

Fang Yun said, "To write poetry, couplets, and parallel prose, one must first learn prosody and antithesis. It can’t be achieved overnight. I have compiled 'Rhyming Couplets' at home, so I will teach you a bit. If you like it, I will continue teaching the rest."

"Thank you, Mr. Fang!" the students said in unison.

Nunu couldn’t help but wag her tail.

Fang Yun said, "Let’s start with the 'Dong' rhyme. Listen carefully: Heaven to Earth, Rain to Wind, Mainland to Sky. Mountain flowers to sea trees, Red sun to blue sky. Thunder rumbles, Misty fog. Below to above."

After reciting, Fang Yun asked, "Who remembers? Raise your hand."

Five children raised their hands, and the rest looked at them enviously.

Fang Yun said, "Yue Yunpeng, stand up and recite it."

The little boy named Yue Yunpeng immediately stood up and recited loudly, "Heaven to Earth, Rain to Wind, Mainland to Sky. Mountain flowers to sea trees, Red sun to blue sky. Thunder rumbles, Misty fog. Below to above."

"Good. Now, I will recite a line, and you will repeat it after me. Heaven to Earth."

"Heaven to Earth."

"Ying ying ying!" The little fox’s voice mixed in, not hindering the children’s memory but adding a unique rhythm.

Fang Yun smiled at the little fox and continued, "Rain to Wind."

"Rain to Wind."

"Ying ying ying!" Encouraged, Nunu was even happier and continued to join in with the children.

"Mainland to Sky..."

Fang Yun’s, Nunu’s, and the children’s voices echoed in the classroom.

All the children were attracted by the catchy rhyming couplets, similar to 'The Three-Character Classic,' and imagined the day they could create national-level poetry. Therefore, they recited loudly, more diligently than when they studied 'The Three-Character Classic.'

Before long, the headmaster of the clan school, Fang Jingtang, and other teachers were attracted by the unfamiliar sounds and came to the door.

Fang Jingtang stroked his beard and sighed, "Fang Yun teaching, the fox reciting rhymes, this will surely become a legendary tale."

The other teachers nodded in agreement, and He Yutang, with a serious expression, said quietly, "Fang Yun’s method of teaching prosody will likely revolutionize the entire educational system, potentially increasing the number of battle poets in our human race by several times."

...

...

Recommend a friend’s book: 'The Invincible Space Pirate,' book number 3175918.

[bookid=3175918, bookname='The Invincible Space Pirate']

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