The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1275 - 1275 620 Tianqiong Academy (second update)_2

Chapter 1275: 620 Tianqiong Academy (second update)_2 Chapter 1275: 620 Tianqiong Academy (second update)_2 The next day dawned clear and sunny.

Gu Jiao hoisted Gu Yan onto the carriage.

Gu Xiaoshun drove the carriage, while Master Lu drove another.

Gu Jiao didn’t pay much attention to the Su siblings’ movements; she lowered the curtains and told Gu Xiaoshun to set off.

The journey was smooth, and in roughly half an hour, they entered Yan Country’s imperial city, Shengdu.

Even someone like Gu Jiao, who was not particularly impressed with cultural landscapes, could distinctly feel the powerful atmosphere of a capital city assault her senses—shops lined the streets in an orderly fashion, the roads were bustling with people and overflowing with carts and horses in a continuous stream.

Gu Xiaoshun’s mouth hung open in shock: “Wow, sis, the streets of Shengdu are so broad! How many carriages can fit side by side here?”

Mrs. Nan’s carriage was running parallel to theirs, and upon hearing Gu Xiaoshun’s words, she lifted her curtains and said with a smile, “This is only the outer city. Once you enter the inner city, the streets get even wider.”

“What’s the inner city? What’s the outer city?” Gu Xiaoshun asked, puzzled.

Mrs. Nan patiently explained, “Shengdu of Yan Country is divided into an inner and outer city. The outer city is mainly inhabited by merchants and commoners, while the inner city houses court officials and nobility.”

Gu Xiaoshun followed up, “So is the Academy we’re going to in the inner city or the outer city?”

“The outer city,” Mrs. Nan said.

Gu Xiaoshun was confused again: “But aren’t many of the students who come to the Academy ‘Young Masters’ from noble families? Why isn’t the Academy built in the inner city?”

“Land is cheaper in the outer city,” Gu Jiao stated.

Mrs. Nan chuckled, “Exactly.”

Gu Xiaoshun gaped, “Ah. Then I hope we get a chance to look around the inner city.”

What Mrs. Nan didn’t mention was that the inner city wasn’t so easily accessible—not even with documents from Tianqiong Academy.

Shengdu of Yan Country was fortified with three incredibly strong walls: the first was the outer city wall, the second, the inner city wall, and the third, the Imperial Palace walls.

Yan Country was decidedly a place with a much stricter class hierarchy than Zhan Country: it was easy for those in the inner city to come out, but much harder for those from the outer city to go in.

Mrs. Nan had lived in Yan Country for many years without ever having entered the inner city.

Although Tianqiong Academy was located in the outer city, it was not far from the inner city and was situated in a prime area of the outer city.

After another half an hour plus of traveling, they finally arrived at the rear gate of Tianqiong Academy.

Mrs. Nan said apologetically, “It’s been so many years, I almost forgot the way.”

She had intended to lead them to the front gate but got it wrong.

Gu Jiao jumped down from the carriage: “No matter, we’ll pass through from the back gate.”

Mrs. Nan said, “We’ll take Yanyan to find a mansion first, and then come back here to pick you up.”

Gu Jiao nodded, “Okay.”

There were servants at Tianqiong Academy specifically assigned to mind the carriages, so Gu Jiao went over, presented the enrollment documents for herself and Gu Xiaoshun, and also brought out the Zhan Country household registrations for Xiao Liulang and Gu Xiaoshun. After verifying their identities, a servant handed Gu Jiao a token.

“You’ll use this to retrieve your carriage later.”

While he spoke, he appraised Gu Jiao, mainly inspecting the birthmark on her face.

Gu Jiao was unconcerned and inquired about where to report for registration.

The servant replied, “At Qingzheng Hall, go straight in, and at the intersection turn east, and you’ll see it.”

Gu Jiao took Gu Xiaoshun with her to report to Qingzheng Hall.

There were quite a few people reporting today, from various countries—so this Tianqiong Academy really was an International Academy.

After waiting in line for a while, it was Gu Jiao’s turn; she handed over the registration papers and household registrations for herself and Gu Xiaoshun.

Those coming to Yan Country to study needed to understand the language of Yan Country—teachers in Yan Country were not required to know the language of Zhan Country.

As a result, the registration papers were in two sets. The teacher, upon seeing that they were Zhan Country people, regarded them with slightly more contempt. When he looked at Gu Jiao’s face, his patience visibly wore thin.

He had just warmly received several students from Jin Country and Liang Country, and Gu Xiaoshun had thought him to be genuinely nice. Seeing his rapid change in demeanor, Gu Xiaoshun’s disappointment was evident as he pursed his lips.

However, the teacher hesitated slightly when he saw the names on the registration: “Which one of you is Xiao Liulang?”

“I am,” Gu Jiao said.

“How old are you?”

“Nineteen.”

“You appear to be only fifteen or sixteen.”

Indeed, the sixteen-year-old Gu Jiao: “…I have a youthful face.”

The teacher: “…”

The teacher gave Gu Jiao a long look and mumbled something, his lips moving silently. He then briskly stamped the documents and registrations, filed away the papers, returned the household registrations to Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun, and took out another set of documents for them to fill out, sign, and affix their seals.

This process oddly gave Gu Jiao a déjà vu of registering for university in her previous life.