Chapter 15: The Returning Student
In the afternoon, the blazing sun scorched fiercely.
An ordinary old horse carriage, dragging a creaking sound, slowly entered Jiaoshi City.
Several minutes later, the horse carriage stopped in front of a quiet mansion in the West City District, then a chubby boy jumped down from the carriage. He looked about 17 years old, wearing a simple and durable brown robe, with a thick book in a copper shell hanging from the leather belt at his waist, and a strap-bound wooden crate with worn and whitened edges on his back.
Arriving in front of the mansion, he tiptoed and looked at the mansion courtyard inside the iron fence, then picked up the latch on the iron gate and knocked.
Soon, an old servant came over upon hearing the sound and saw this chubby boy.
“So it’s Yeluo. Why have you come back?” He recognized this young man as Scholar Heide’s student from the past.
“I heard that Mr. Heide is preparing to give lessons again, so I hurried back immediately.”
“I didn’t expect you, who usually doesn’t like socializing, to have such quick news this time.” This old servant opened the iron gate fence and let Yeluo in.
“Lord Heide is taking a nap right now. You’ll probably have to wait a bit to see him. Go rest in the side hall first.”
“Alright, thank you, Grandfather Manson.” He familiarly walked into the small courtyard in front of the mansion, then entered a small room in the side hall and sat down.
About an hour later, a light and slow footsteps came from inside the house, then a long-bearded old man wearing a sleep robe came to the side hall. Shortly after he sat down, a maid brought him fresh cold tea.
“I just got up and heard from Manson that you came back.” He lifted the reading glasses on his nose bridge and carefully examined the young man opposite him.
“Sorry, Teacher Heide.” Yeluo first stood up and bowed in apology, then straightened up to explain.
“These two years, I was in Gully City… but it didn’t feel good. Perhaps I just couldn’t adapt to the environment there, so I beg to return to your side to continue my studies.” Yeluo felt somewhat ashamed, his voice low.
“Good child, tell me if there’s any problem. Why are you so reserved today? Hehe.” Scholar Heide’s laugh eased Yeluo’s tense heart considerably.
For this white-bearded old man over eighty years old, Yeluo felt deep respect. The other was not only his mentor but had also taken care of him a lot in life. Otherwise, as a commoner, it would have been hard for him to pursue knowledge and become a scholar.
“After bidding you farewell, I took your letter of recommendation and went to Gully City to study under Scholar Halwin there…” He began recounting his experiences over the past two years.
“The environment in Gully City is different from Jiaoshi City. It’s very flashy there, and everyone is enthusiastic about various arts and fashions. I don’t know those things at all and can’t join the conversations.” In the new environment, this student from the countryside found it hard to fit in with his classmates.
“Besides, most of them are noble descendants, or at least from good families. I…” His voice trailed off hesitantly. Even without saying it, Scholar Heide could guess the situation he faced at the time.
“It seems it was my mistake. I shouldn’t have recommended you to go to Gully City back then.” Heide shook his head slightly, stroking his beard as he spoke.
“No, it’s my own lack of ability. But Fitz got along well with the local classmates.” Fitz was also a student who had studied under Scholar Heide with Yeluo two years ago.
“Everyone’s personality and traits are different. No need to compare yourself to others.” Heide raised his hand slightly, gesturing for Yeluo to sit.
“I roughly understand your situation now.”
“Don’t dwell on the past. For the time being from now on, you can continue to study and advance here with me.”
Hearing this, Yeluo’s eyes lit up. He suppressed his inner joy and nodded gratefully.
“Thank you, Teacher!”
“Hehe, you’re also lucky.” Stroking his beard, Heide thought of something.
“Actually, I wasn’t planning to give lessons anymore. You know I’m very old.” He took a small sip from the teacup in front of him.
“But this time, Viscount Xue Feng specially asked me to take one student. I thought teaching just one person alone wouldn’t be good.”
“Interacting with peers involves mutual comparison, competition, socializing, friendship, and so on, which are essential in the process of personal growth.”
“‘Without a mirror, how can one know one’s own appearance?’ That’s the necessity of interacting with peers.”
“By observing peers of the same age, one can understand one’s strengths and talents—perhaps eloquence, perhaps quick thinking, or perhaps relative mediocrity, and so on.”
“Only by truly understanding oneself can one begin life.”
“So, I had someone spread the word that I would recruit young people for lessons again.” He set down the cup.
“In that case, doesn’t my return interfere with your original intention?” Yeluo felt ashamed again.
“Hehe, no need to be so cautious.” Scholar Heide leaned back on the sofa, slightly closing his eyes to rest.
“The student Viscount Xue Feng asked me to specially look after is also exactly 17 years old. She came from a very far place and is the daughter of the previous Viscount Karen.”
“Viscount Karen?” Yeluo recalled something, his voice puzzled.
“Your guess is correct—it’s the Viscount Karen who was stripped of his nobility title last year.” Heide explained slowly.
“In the ‘Battle of the Windmill’ two years ago, Regas Kingdom suffered a great defeat. The summoned knights and soldiers suffered heavy losses, which enraged the Grand Duke. As the commanding officer, Viscount Karen could not escape blame. After the battle, he was dismissed and stripped of his title, and he’s still imprisoned in the water dungeon in White Cliff City.”
“If not for the fact that Viscount Karen was previously a favorite in the Royal Capital and had accumulated many connections to plead for him, he probably would have lost his life long ago.”
“He himself is unlikely to ever leave prison in this lifetime, but he still has a daughter outside—that’s the student I’m going to teach this time.”
“Why not study in White Cliff City? Naturally, because too many knights died in the ‘Battle of the Windmill,’ offending many nobles. Jiaoshi City is in the remote southern region of Regas Kingdom, with less traffic from the central areas, so the implications are minimal.”
“Two generations ago, Viscount Xue Feng had a daughter who married into Viscount Karen’s family—she’s the current Viscount Karen’s grandmother—so the two sides have a layer of kinship.”
“So, you understand why Viscount Xue Feng would specially plead with me to give lessons.” Scholar Heide opened his eyes.
“I understand.” Though he understood, another kind of anxiety rose in Yeluo’s heart. He didn’t understand why the teacher was telling him so many secrets.
“Hehe, you’ll inevitably come into contact with nobles and their strange circle sooner or later. This time is just early training for you.” Heide directly dispelled Yeluo’s doubts.
“That girl is named Iona. It’s said she was previously a famous socialite young lady in White Cliff City, adored by many. But now her situation has plummeted. I heard from colleagues in White Cliff City that this child is not easy to get along with.” At this point, Scholar Heide paused.
“From now on, she will be your classmate. How do you plan to get along with her?”
“You don’t need to give me the answer now. I just want you to start thinking and gradually find a way that suits you.”
“If your goal is to join the ‘Candle Fort School,’ you should also know that the best path for a scholar is to assist great nobles in managing affairs, developing territories, solving various problems, verifying one’s learning in the process, achieving balance in the Threefold Law, and then advancing.”
“The path of hardship cannot be avoided.” — An ancient sage’s precept.
“Just consider this the test I’ve set for you, Yeluo.”
“Yes, Teacher.” He bowed solemnly once more, his small and sturdy face filled with determination.
