After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

In the bustling city of Chang'an, a group of high-spirited students from the Imperial College paraded through the streets, leading dozens of scantily clad, sallow-faced beggars. They made their way through West Street, drawing the attention of passersby. When they reached East Street, they encountered a patrolling city guard.

The city guards, heavily armored and armed with spears, blocked the crowd's path with a commanding presence. The leader of the patrol squad declared sternly, "No one in rags is allowed in! That's the rule of East Street!" East Street was Chang'an's most prosperous district, a hive of wealthy merchants and high-ranking officials. Naturally, there was no place for these disheveled beggars. It was no wonder these beggars had never ventured into this area to earn a living.

At this moment, the students around Tang Qi couldn't help but look troubled, and they all cast their eyes towards him. One of them anxiously asked, "Brother Qi, what should we do?" Tang Qi frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and before he could answer, someone else eagerly interrupted, "How about I ask my eldest brother for help! He's the commander of the Imperial Guards, and he can easily capture a few city guards!"

Another person also quickly agreed, "My father is the magistrate of Chang'an County. Although this place is not under his jurisdiction, he should be able to say a few words." However, after this person said this, he felt uneasy in his heart. After all, he knew very well that Tang Qi was born in the Duke of Tang's Mansion. With his family's influence, the city guards should give him some face.

But to everyone's surprise, no matter what background and connections they brought up, the guards remained unmoved and resolutely blocked their way. The guard leader declared righteously, "It's useless for anyone to come! Rules are rules. Don't you, the well-educated scholars, even understand the saying 'Without rules, there is no order?'" For a moment, the two sides were deadlocked, and the atmosphere became tense.

The numerous beggars who had just stepped onto West Street all hung their heads, appearing extremely humble and cowardly. The dazzling bustling scene of West Street was like a mirror, mercilessly reflecting their ragged clothes and poverty, making them feel that they had no place to stand here, and they were too ashamed to raise their heads.

However, a group of kindhearted brothers appeared like a beacon of light in the darkness. They not only provided them with shelter and a place to live, but also generously offered to impart knowledge and learning to them. For these beggars, who had long lived at the bottom of society, enduring discrimination and suffering, this was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn their lives around. Thus, hope ignited in the hearts of each beggar, and they resolved to seize this opportunity to change their fate, never to retreat, no matter what difficulties or obstacles they encountered.

Among those beggars, Ango was their leader. He glared fiercely at the city guards blocking their path, then suddenly raised his arms high and shouted, "Brothers, charge! We must break through this obstacle and find our future!" Hearing Ango's command, the beggars behind him responded one after another, excitedly preparing to rush forward, even if it meant knocking over the city guards, to force their way through West Street and reach the legendary ideal place that would not despise their humble backgrounds - the Imperial College.

Seeing that a fierce conflict was about to break out, the situation became extremely tense. At this critical moment, Tang Qi, who was in the crowd, quickly reached into his arms and fumbled for a moment before pulling out a badge. Looking closely, the badge looked more like an identity card than a token.

The front bears the striking inscription "Representative of the Imperial College," while the back features a vivid illustration: a tiny carp leaps with all its might, attempting to leap over the towering Dragon Gate. Its scales gleam, and a pair of powerful wings have sprouted from its back, while its tail has gradually evolved into sharp claws. The entire scene is vivid, as if conveying an indomitable spirit and the courage to forge ahead.

This mysterious and precious token was only awarded to five individuals throughout the Zhao Dynasty. The city guards, constantly on patrol, naturally didn't recognize it. However, when they saw that these individuals were all students of the Imperial College, they were moved. They had heard that someone from the Duke of Tang's mansion had received the supreme honor of representing the Imperial College, and they were certain this person possessed this special status.

The leader of the city guards bowed respectfully and said, "Since you are going to the Imperial College to study, you will naturally be allowed through." With a wave of his hand, he signaled the other guards to clear the way. An Ge, the beggar, watched all this unfold, and a wave of emotion welled up in his heart. He realized how important studying was. Even these usually awe-inspiring city guards were so polite and courteous to the Imperial College representatives. Furthermore, it seemed as if the Imperial College representatives held a much higher status than the dignitaries.

Soon, they arrived at the gate of the Imperial College. Surprisingly, the gatekeeper didn't stop them either, but let them in. Once inside, Tang Qi thoughtfully arranged accommodations for these beggars—rooms for the servants. While these were merely living quarters for servants, they were far superior to their previous lives of sleeping rough on the streets.

When the beggars entered the room, they were immediately captivated by the soft bedding on the bed. They had never seen such a soft and comfortable bed before, and for a moment they were overwhelmed. Some even wanted to roll around on it, just to soak up the warmth and comfort. But the thought of soiling this clean, tidy bed forced them to resist the urge.

Fortunately, a kindhearted soul took them to a bath and dressed them in new clothes. These clothes were generously donated by students, most of them hand-me-downs from childhood. But for these beggars, they were like treasures. After all, they had never worn such beautiful and comfortable clothes before. After donning their new clothes, the beggars were refreshed, their faces filled with joyful smiles. Meanwhile, the students who donated the clothes earned a reputation for philanthropy.

These poor beggars were carefully washed, their hair combed neatly, and their faces cleansed of dirt, revealing their original delicate features. Then, they were dressed in stunningly gorgeous clothes. These clothes were made of the finest silk, embroidered with exquisite patterns, and shimmered with dazzling light, as if the prosperity of the entire world had been gathered together.

Yet, despite their splendid attire, their demeanor was far from that of those born into aristocratic families, who had received a fine education and nurturing upbringing. Each of these beggars was thin and frail, like willow branches swaying in the wind, as if a gentle breeze could easily blow them to the ground. Their steps were slightly unsteady, and their every gesture lacked grace and confidence.

But no matter what, at this moment, they have bravely embarked on a new path. Looking back, they were once homeless beggars living on the streets, struggling for food every day, enduring hunger and cold. Those days were a nightmare, filled with endless pain and despair. But now, they have finally escaped that painful past and embraced a new life.

Although they still appear somewhat immature and green, who can say with such fresh eyes that they won't gradually grow up? Perhaps in the near future, through continuous learning and hard work, they will be able to truly integrate into this new environment and show their unique style.