"Thank you for your guidance, sirs. I will remember it well." Magistrate Li stood up and bowed deeply to express his gratitude.

  "Theres no outsider now, no need to be so polite. Is everything settled at home? Has Shan Geer started school in the county?" Luo Shuai asked casually, having heard it from County Magistrate Li once before.

  "Shan Geer is about to report to the commander about his studies." Li County Magistrate was worried about how to bring up Shan Geers admission to Wan Song Academy, and seeing Luo Shuai asking, he hastily replied.

  "Huh?" Luo Shuais tone was unclear, and he regretted bringing up the topic of studying earlier. One after another, people had been coming to him seeking to enter Wansong Academy.

  "...its about Shan Ge wanting to take the entrance exam for Wan Song Academy."

  Luo Shuai listened to Li Xianling and indeed said that he had arrived at Wansong Academy, and couldnt help but frown.

  Magistrate Wang looked at Magistrate Li with a smile in his eyes, no wonder he came from a noble family and became the magistrate of a small county like Hengshan at the age of over 30, indeed too unaware of the weight of advancement and retreat.

  Guan Fu furrowed his brow and, without waiting for Luo Shuai to speak, said: "Wan Song Academy hasnt been recruiting students for a long time. Moreover, your son must take the imperial examination path, and Wan Song Academy is not suitable for him now."

  "Governors words are extremely right." Luo Shuai hastily added, "If the county school is not suitable, let Shan Geer attend the prefectural school as a supplementary student."

  "I originally planned to let Shan Geer attend the prefectural school as well, but a few days ago, Wang Ye made a statement, letting Shan Geer take the exam for Wan Song Academy, saying that he wanted to study with Shan Geer together. Wang Ye and Shizi Ye are not planning to take the imperial examination, the books they read and the articles they write are different from Shan Geers. I also think its not suitable for Shan Geer to study with them... or should we tell Wang Ye about this..."

  Magistrate Li furrowed his brow with a worried expression, he really thought so and was truly anxious that accompanying the prince to read books would delay his precious sons imperial examination career.

  Lu Shuais eyes widened in shock, staring at County Magistrate Li, unsure of what to say. Guan Deputy Envoy burst out laughing, also unclear why he was laughing.

  "Magistrate Li, you really are... really something! What can I say about you?" Wang Tongzhi stood up, using his folded fan to tap Magistrate Lis shoulder, with a casual and intimate tone. "The king has chosen your familys son as a study companion, and yet you dare to complain that the king is hindering your sons imperial examination? Whats going on here? Are you trying to make Luo Shuai do evil deeds, go tell the king: let him not hinder your son?"

  The King of Qin actually values his son so much! It seems that for him, just taking care of one or two is not enough... But this person looks dull and awkward, how can he be so narrow-minded?

  "His Excellency is surrounded by scholars, and to be able to study alongside him is a great fortune for the young master. How could it possibly be a hindrance?" Guan Deputy Commander hastily interjected, seemingly worried that Li County Magistrate would say something inappropriate again.

  "Your elder brother said youre stubborn, and he wasnt wrong!" Luo Shuai scolded Li Xianling with a mixture of anger and helplessness, as if an older brother was reprimanding his younger brother. "Since the prince has spoken, we cant delay any further! Besides, its not like we can delay anyway. You should put your mind at ease, later Ill have a word with Mountain Zhang, and hell add some extra imperial examination questions for Mountain Brother."

  Magistrate Li heard Luo Shuais words and put his heart back in his stomach, thanking him repeatedly.

  Lu Shuais eyes swept over Li County Magistrates boots, and Li County Magistrates official uniform was new, but his boots were old. Lu Shuai grew up in the capital city and had a long-standing relationship with Li Zuo since childhood, so he knew a lot about the old scandals of Yongning Bos mansion. He naturally knew that this third master of Yongning Bos mansion was living a very difficult life. After hesitating for a moment, Lu Shuai looked at Guan Deputy Envoy and Wang Tongzhi with a smile: "Mountain son enters Wansong Academy to accompany reading, this matter is both private and public, and the expenses are not good for Li County Magistrate to pay privately. I think, lets allocate some money from the official funds to Hengshan County, what do you two think?"

  "Sounds good!" replied Guan Yuanshuai readily.

  "It should be so!" Wang Tongzhi clapped his hands in agreement.

  "We, the two Zhejiang provinces officials, are still quite wealthy," Luo Shuai turned to Li County Magistrate. "Ill have someone calculate it later, from this month on, well allocate a sum of official money to Hengshan County every month. The child is still young, and cant be too indulgent with money, but also cant be too tight-fisted."

  Magistrate Li was taken aback, this official money he knew about. In the beginning at Taiyuan Prefecture, because of the official money, who used more and who used less, the three courts and yamen had not been short of trouble. He saw the excitement and heard the gossip a lot. At least in Taiyuan Prefecture, this official money had never been allocated to the county magistrates head before. Who would have thought that Liangzhe Road was so prosperous!

  "Our two Zhejiang roads are rich, but there are also many places to spend money. Lets not mention other things, the empress dowager lives in Hangzhou, and those officials and nobles who travel north and south nowadays almost all have to take a detour via Hangzhou to pay their respects before leaving. In one year, just entertaining these dignitaries, our official silver is spent by ten percent! The official silver for each prefecture and county has always been given as a nominal figure, and when actual silver is needed, a memorial is submitted for current disbursement. Now that Xiangshan County is actually receiving silver, Magistrate Li can thank the governors office properly!"

  When Magistrate Li saw him, he only nodded and murmured in agreement. Wang Tongzhi suddenly thought of this honest and simple-minded man, fearing that he might not understand the magnitude of Commander Luos kindness, so he carefully explained it to Magistrate Li.

  Magistrate Li finally understood that the two wealthy provinces of Zhejiang were not within their reach, these small county magistrates who were only eighth-grade officials. The reason why he was specially allocated silver was because his son had to spend a lot of money accompanying the prince to study, and secondly, it was also because of his elder brothers face...

  Magistrate Li was momentarily overcome with emotion, hastily rose to his feet and bowed deeply to express his sincere gratitude.

  Luo Shuais servant left, Luo Shuai and Guan Deputy Envoy went straight out of the side gate, while Wang Tongzhi walked outside with Li County Magistrate.

  "Is Magistrate Li leaving right away?"

  "Its getting late, my two sons and daughters admire the prosperity of Hangzhou, so I brought them along. Well have to let them take a stroll before heading back." County Magistrate Li was extremely respectful.

  "I see, I originally wanted to invite County Magistrate Li to my place for a simple meal, but it seems that wont be necessary now." A few words later, they had already arrived at the gate of the yamen, and Wang Tongzhi and County Magistrate Li bid each other farewell with a bow.

  The gatehouse was left with only Wu Tong, who had been waiting for a long time. When he saw County Magistrate Li come out, he hastily went forward to greet him, exited the yamen, mounted his horse, and headed towards the agreed-upon teahouse to look for the four siblings of the Li family, including Wen Shan.

  In the tea house, there were only Li Dong, Li Wenshan and Li Wenlan, but Li Xia was not there.

  ………………

  After parting with Li County Magistrate, Li Wenshan wanted to take a look at Wan Song Academy. Since hearing that his brother was going to attend Wan Song Academy, Sixth Brother Li Wenlan had been extremely admiring and yearning for it. When Li Wenshan mentioned the four words "Wan Song Academy", he immediately lit up with excitement and insisted on following him there. Li Xia also wanted to take a look at Wan Song Academy; firstly because it was where Fifth Brother would be studying, and secondly, in her past life she had been deeply admiring of Wen Zhenggong from the Gu family, who was like a god. Being able to see Wan Song Academy with her own eyes would also fulfill her wishes from the previous life.

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