The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1081 - 1060 Activity

Chapter 1081: Chapter 1060 Activity

Bai Shan couldn’t really muster a smile either, but seeing Bai Erlang suddenly quiet down, she couldn’t help but smile with her eyes curved.

Manbao explained with a smile, "Because I was the first to become an apprentice, so I’m the eldest."

Bai Shan nodded.

Bai Erlang said: "That’s not true, I was the first to read with the teacher."

"We are talking about becoming apprentices." Manbao said bluntly: "The first to become an apprentice was me."

"Hmph, don’t try to deceive me, I’ve known for a long time, at that time the teacher hadn’t established our seniority, it was you two fighting for the first place, then you beat up Bai Shan, and you two ganged up on me, only then was the seniority decided."

Yin Huo looked at them in astonishment, "Was your seniority determined through a fight?"

Manbao and Bai Shan shook their heads together, only Bai Erlang was nodding vehemently.

Although it was two against one, Yin Huo still subconsciously believed Bai Erlang, feeling that he was the least likely to lie.

Yin Huo smiled with pursed lips, and asked softly, "Will you come to see me tomorrow?"

Bai Shan said: "It depends, if there isn’t a lot of schoolwork, and nothing else."

Yin Huo frowned and asked: "Is it about the State Duke Pi’s residence?"

Bai Shan shook his head, "That’s in the past, what about it?"

"Don’t associate too much with them now that it’s past," Yin Huo leaned on the bed and said, "You don’t know, but State Duke Pi’s residence is allied with the Crown Prince, and the current court situation is unstable, it’s best not to get involved in these matters."

After a pause, Yin Huo continued: "Zhang Jinghao has been getting close to Wang Ju from the Imperial Academy, if you get too close to State Duke Pi’s residence, you’re going to have to be careful."

Manbao and Bai Erlang asked, "Who is Wang Ju?"

Bai Shan tilted his head and pondered, then asked, "Is it the son of State Duke Lu, Wang Ju?"

Yin Huo nodded, "He is also the brother of the Third Prince’s consort."

The three of them understood then.

Yin Huo said: "Originally, Zhang Jinghao couldn’t have his way in front of Wang Ju, and Wang Ju wouldn’t look for trouble with you for his sake, but if you’re too close to State Duke Pi’s residence, that’s another story."

Bai Shan said: "You know quite a lot."

Yin Huo chuckled: "My sisters love to talk about these things, and in the academy, nobody really avoids speaking around me, so I always hear a lot."

He found Bai Shan somewhat strange.

In his perception, Bai Shan was not someone who sought fame or profit. When he first entered the Imperial Academy, he was very proud. Unless classmates spoke to him first, he would definitely not initiate any relationship.

But lately, he seemed to have changed, and yet it didn’t seem for fame or profit.

Yin Huo was curious, but he knew everybody had their secrets, like him.

So if they didn’t speak, neither would he ask. He just reminded: "The Crown Prince has no children and his position is unstable, yet he has many enemies, so if you are looking for a patron, better not choose him."

"Then who should we choose?" Manbao asked casually, "Can we choose you?"

Yin Huo shook his head slightly, "I can’t even depend on myself, let alone offer support to you. And my father is an unaffiliated official; he probably can’t help you."

It was the first time Manbao heard this, "Your father is an unaffiliated official?"

Yin Huo nodded, "My father once said, our family doesn’t follow anyone but His Majesty. There are reasons for this, and all three of my older sisters married beneath them."

He said, "I have three more sisters, they are only a few months older than me. They were supposed to be married off, but since I’ve been unwell these past two years, my aunts have been wanting them to stay and take a husband into the family. They’ve been dragging their feet and not willing to arrange marriages. My father didn’t force the issue, but from the invitations we received this year, it’s very likely they are to marry beneath them as well."

Manbao rolled her eyes and asked, "What about State Duke Zhao? Is he an unaffiliated official too?"

"No, he has always supported the Crown Prince."

"Eh, isn’t the Third Prince also his nephew? Why does he only support the Crown Prince?" Manbao was puzzled.

"Perhaps because the Crown Prince is the legitimate heir," said Yin Huo, "Anyway, I know that when there were hints in the court of deposing the Crown Prince, State Duke Zhao was vehemently against it."

Bai Shan asked: "What about your father, does he oppose it, support it, or not express any opinion?"

Yin Huo thought for a moment and said: "My father also disagrees with deposing the Crown Prince, but he only seconded the motion, he didn’t specially petition."

Bai Shan exchanged a glance with Manbao, since Yin Li, an unaffiliated official, opposed deposing the Crown Prince, it meant the Emperor himself opposed it as well.

As they were speaking, Imperial Doctor Tan arrived.

He came over last night to make up for his son’s mistake; after all, he diagnosed a problem but did not tell the host family, instead colluding with the patient to conceal it from the family, which is a great taboo in the medical community.

But today he came because early this morning, Old Madam Yin personally visited and asked him to come out of retirement and discuss Yin Huo’s condition with Zhou Man, to ascertain how many years he had left due to his illness.

Imperial Doctor Tan, in truth, had seen Yin Huo grow up and had treated him as he grew. As an Imperial Doctor, he saw Yin Huo more often than any princes in the palace.

Thus his feelings were out of the ordinary.

Now that there was a turning point in his condition, speaking the truth, he was quite happy.

Plus, with Zhou Man as a major incentive, his heart itched, so he couldn’t help but agree.

However, he still went to Imperial Doctor Ji’s house to see him first before coming here.

Manbao then went to discuss the illness with Imperial Doctor Tan, while Old Madam Yin sat on the side listening, regardless of whether she understood or not. In any case, she was all ears trying to remember their conversation.

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang felt they didn’t quite understand, so they refrained from joining in and continued talking to Yin Huo in the room.

Bai Shan said: "We won’t have holidays this period, we will only have them on the first day of September, since the whole academy is going out, so we have to prepare in advance. Each student has to pay one silver for travel expenses, are you going?"

Yin Huo nodded, "Of course, I’m going."

"Then give me the money, and I will submit it for you tomorrow." Bai Shan stretched out his hand to him.

Yin Huo was slightly stunned and then called Changshou in, asking him to weigh one silver for him.

Yin Huo found the whole thing quite amusing and said solemnly to Bai Shan: "Please, take care of it."

Bai Shan: "Sure, sure."

Yin Huo turned to ask Bai Erlang, "Are you also going to climb high?"

"Our Highest Institute has too many people, and each grade has many as well, it’s still chaotic without a consensus. But it’s said that we will split up, with each grade deciding for themselves. We’re guessing we won’t be climbing high, but probably swimming."

Bai Shan and Yin Huo were surprised, "Swim? Are there places for swimming in the capital?"

"How would I know? They say they want to emulate the elegance of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, but the water in the capital is so swift, won’t the wine cups and pastries be overturned in the water?"

Not only Bai Shan but also Yin Huo couldn’t help but laugh out loud, which then aggravated his wound and caused him pain again.

It was the first time Old Madam Yin had ever heard Yin Huo laugh like that, and she froze for a moment, sitting outside on the chair.