In Zhang Shou's imagination, when the emperor comes to visit the Imperial College, the streets must be cleaned by sprinkling water, soldiers and horses must lead the way, the imperial procession must be in procession, and the people must burn incense... In any case, it must be a very tedious process, and it must be slow.
However, contrary to his expectations, just like when Concubine Yu and Princess Yongping arrived at Yuehua Tower, although there were hundreds of soldiers and horses surrounding them, the defense was far from strict. From the time Zhu Ying hurriedly delivered the message early in the morning, to the time when hundreds of cavalrymen as the emperor's vanguard arrived at Guozijian Street and Jixian Street ahead to set up defenses, and then the news of the emperor's departure came, it took only a little over an hour.
This also includes the court meeting when the emperor announced the news.
As for the Imperial College, from academic officials to students, there was no crowd of four or five thousand people coming out to greet him. It was not because they were being disrespectful, but simply because from the archway at the entrance to the Yilun Hall in the middle... there was simply no room for so many people!
There are too many people to fit these words. Zhang Shou heard these words with his own ears from Zhou Xun, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College.
Zhang Shou knew in his heart that in such a peaceful and prosperous era, there must be 4,000 to 5,000 students in the Imperial College, and maybe even more. However, there must be many students like Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang who are in the Imperial College but are just students in the Imperial College. Even if the emperor cannot count the number of people, it doesn't matter if there are a few dozen people missing, but if there are a few thousand or two thousand, it will be exposed!
As a member of the academic officials, Zhang Shou was standing together with a group of doctors from the Imperial College at this time. Zhang Chen and Zhu Er, who were likely to be higher than them in terms of family background and future official positions, fell behind with Lu Sanlang and a large group of noble children. Zhu Ying, Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai were even further behind. The academic officials, students and their families were clearly divided into three levels, until the sound of horse hooves broke the silence.
However, this time there was no huge escort team, only one person on horseback. As the person got closer, Zhang Shou quickly recognized that it was Chu Kuan, the secretary of the Imperial Household Department, whom he had met once in Yuehua Tower.
A man rode up alone, jumped off his horse, nodded with a fake smile, and said calmly, "The emperor has ordered that all students, be they school officials or students, should study and give lectures. The emperor wants to see the real scene of studying, not the empty ceremony of welcoming them."
After saying this, seeing Zhou Xun leading everyone to bow and salute, he smiled and said, "So, Grand Secretary, Junior Secretary, let's disperse now. The emperor didn't use a grand procession, nor a legal procession, he was just escorted by the Sharp Cavalry Battalion, so there's no need for everyone to wait here."
Chu Kuan's words were warm, but Zhou Xun and Luo Yi, the chief priest and secretary, knew that this eunuch seemed to be low-key and did not seem to have power, but he was extremely smart and capable, so he was regarded as the best candidate to succeed the Silijian as the chief. So, Luo, who always liked to step back and not take responsibility, took a step forward for the first time based on the principle of caution.
"Then may I ask, Eunuch Chu, when will the emperor arrive?"
"How would I know that?" Chu Kuan laughed, and swept his eyes through the crowd. He fell on Zhang Shou, who was wearing a doctor's cap and robes, but still stood out from the crowd. Then he said lightly, "Anyway, what the emperor wants to see is reading and teaching."