A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Gu Xiao was unaware that his exam paper had stirred up a storm in Teacher Jiang's heart. He and Nie Qianqian went with Xiao Liu to complete the admission procedures.

The admission procedures were not complicated. With a letter of recommendation from the county magistrate and Xiao Liuzi leading the way, the process was completed quickly.

Tuition was waived at the academy, but there were still expenses for clothing, tuition, meals, etc. Nie Qianqian paid a total of two taels of silver.

Two taels of silver wasn't much for Nie Qianqian; she could easily take it out. But Gu Xiao saw it and felt a little uneasy.

Although this era highly valued scholars, if a family could produce a promising student, they would sell everything they owned to support his education for the long-term benefit of the family.

But he was a man, and Nie Qianqian was a woman.

Influenced by his parents' way of getting along, he did not believe that women should not interfere in outside affairs and should only stay at home embroidering and chasing butterflies. He believed that women were meant to be loved and cherished, and that he should be the one to support his family. His wife should be carefree, happy, and enjoy life.

But now, Nie Qianqian is busy selling fish and lingzhi mushrooms in the county, and also working as a medicine boy, enduring wind and sun, constantly on the go...

Gu Xiao clenched his fists, suddenly realizing that a scholar is utterly useless.

Having decided to pursue the imperial examinations, he was determined to pass them as quickly as possible and go to the capital to participate in the metropolitan examination.

As for how to proceed after arriving in the capital, he already had some initial ideas. Times had changed, and he wondered how much loyalty his old friends in the capital still held for him.

Nie Qianqian could never have imagined that the two taels of silver she gave Gu Xiao would successfully ignite his fighting spirit and, in the future, create a scientific expedition legend since the founding of the Great Yu Dynasty.

After settling things at the academy, Gu Xiao said, "The class assignments haven't been finalized yet, so I'll go to Tiande Academy this afternoon to copy books."

Nie Qianqian actually wanted to tell him that he didn't need to work so hard, and since he was already going to the academy, he might as well go there in the afternoon to familiarize himself with the environment. But seeing Gu Xiao's serious expression, she changed her words to "Okay".

The two had just stepped out of the academy gate when they ran into someone they didn't want to see: Nie Wenye.

It wasn't a coincidence; Nie Wenye was waiting for the two of them there. After hearing Liu Ziang's words, he was absent-minded for the entire class. After class, he wanted to find Xiao Liu to find out the details, but unexpectedly, he saw Xiao Liu leading the two of them to complete the admission procedures. It was obvious that Gu Xiao was really going to study at the academy.

Whether Nie Qianqian and Gu Xiao left the Nie family or built a new house, he didn't care. But when he learned that Gu Xiao was coming to the academy to study, he felt inexplicably panicked.

He kept telling himself that he was just a disabled person who could only read a few words, so what was there to panic about? But when he thought about how many times he had seen Gu Xiao's calligraphy written with his left hand, flowing like clouds and smoke, a sense of unease would rise in his heart, and he would find himself waiting here as if possessed.

Nie Qianqian had not met Nie Wenye since she came into this world. She had no good feelings towards this pampered eldest grandson of the Nie family and ignored him, preparing to leave without looking at him.

Just as Nie Wenye was about to cough twice to speak, he saw the two of them walk straight past him as if they hadn't seen him, which made him a little angry.

He had always held a high position at home and had never been treated like this before. He coldly called out to the two of them, "Nie Qianqian!"

Nie Qianqian turned around, rolled her eyes, and asked, "What's up?"

Nie Wenye had heard from Old Madam Nie that Nie Qianqian had changed a lot and was no longer as timid as before, but he never expected her to act this way towards him.

Considering that this was at the entrance of the academy, he suppressed his anger, adopted the demeanor of an elder brother, and said in a deep voice, "I just heard at the academy that Gu Xiao was recommended by the county magistrate to study at the academy for free."

Nie Qianqian tilted her head and replied lightly, "And then?"

"Although your second aunt has divorced the Nie family, you still have Nie family blood in your veins. As your older brother, I should give you some advice."

He paused, then continued, “Although you are lucky and have done the magistrate a favor, you should not take advantage of that favor to ask the magistrate to recommend Gu Xiao to study at the academy. You are illiterate and do not understand that knowing a few characters does not make one a scholar. Sending Gu Xiao to study at the academy is just a waste of resources and money. If he makes no academic achievements, wouldn’t that bring shame to the magistrate and also bring disgrace to our Nie family?”

After speaking, he gave Gu Xiao a meaningful look, but Gu Xiao remained calm and composed, completely ignoring what he had said.

Anger flashed in Nie Wenye's eyes; he loathed Gu Xiao's appearance the most.

Nie Qianqian laughed in exasperation, her eyes widening as she looked at Nie Wenye as if he were an idiot.

This is the rising star that the Nie family cherishes? Is this all the brains a rising star has? He must have been kicked by a donkey.

After holding it in for a while, Nie Qianqian turned her head to look at Gu Xiao and asked seriously, "Is this guy an idiot?"

Gu Xiao was quite cooperative, glancing at Nie Wenye and replying seriously, "Indeed, his talent is limited."

When Nie Wenye saw Nie Qianqian standing there stunned after hearing his words, he assumed she had taken them to heart. However, he was shocked to find that the couple were humiliating him as if they were putting on a show. He had never been treated like this before, and his face immediately turned pale with anger. "Nie Qianqian! What are you saying!"

Nie Qianqian ignored him and shook her head at Gu Xiao again, "This person is not only not very bright, but also hard of hearing."

Nie Wenye angrily said, "You!!! No wonder Grandmother said she wanted to kick you out of the house. You are simply unreasonable."

Nie Qianqian was annoyed by these words. She looked at Nie Wenye with a cold gaze and said icily, "Who do you think you are, daring to talk nonsense in front of us? We have already left the Nie family and have nothing to do with you anymore. You have no right to point fingers at me! Besides, my mother and Nie Erzhuang's divorce was arranged by the county magistrate, not by my grandmother kicking them out of the house as you claim. You know the truth, yet you still dare to distort the facts like this. You are unworthy of being a scholar. Believe me, I'll drag you to the yamen right now and you'll repeat what you just said!"

Nie Qianqian is no pushover. When will the Nie family finally understand that she's a hedgehog, and anyone who tries to manipulate her will get their hands full of thorns.

Nie Wenye panicked. He had spoken recklessly in anger, and he absolutely could not repeat those words in front of the county magistrate.

Nie Qianqian continued her attack: "Whether someone is suited for studying is not for you to judge. The teachers at the academy are there to decide. What? Do you think you're so high-level that you can speak for the teachers?"

At this time, students were leaving school one after another. Seeing the commotion, they began to gather around.

"Isn't this Nie Wenye?"

"Who is this young lady? She's beautiful, but she has such a fiery temper."

Gu Xiao didn't want Nie Qianqian to be pointed at and gossiped about, so he took her hand and pulled her behind him. "Qianqian, don't take it to heart."

Nie Qianqian was initially furious, but the moment Gu Xiao unexpectedly grabbed her hand, her anger vanished instantly, leaving her only with the clear and soft touch on her hand.

Gu Xiao committed a foul! Why are they suddenly holding hands?

Although Nie Qianqian was over 30 years old in her previous life, she didn't have much experience in relationships. With her husband holding her hand like this, the little deer in her heart was jumping around uncontrollably.

Gu Xiao stared intently at Nie Wenye with his deep black eyes, his voice low and flat, "Brother Wenye, there's no need for such verbal sparring. A gentleman is slow to speak but quick to act. Let's see who proves the best in our studies."

Gu Xiaoyou's words were just as damaging to Nie Wenye as all of Nie Qianqian's words combined.

Nie Wenye felt both ashamed and embarrassed, but more than that, he felt a nameless anger towards Gu Xiao's aloof and gentlemanly demeanor and his confident attitude.

What right does a disabled person have to do this?!

With people watching, Nie Wenye suppressed his anger and forced a cold smile, "I'll wait and see what you've got to show for yourself."

He stormed off, filled with resentment.

Gu Xiao, who is disabled, came to the academy to study. He wanted Gu Xiao to fully understand the differences between people and to know his own worth.