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

After learning that Gu Xiao had gone to study at the academy, the Nie family was in a low mood for several days. Finally, Old Mrs. Nie couldn't stand it anymore and sent Nie Daqiang and his wife to the county to find Wenye and ask him for clarification.

Nie Wenye hurriedly walked out of the academy, glancing left and right as he went, afraid of being seen. After leaving the academy, he went around to the alley behind it and found Nie Daqiang and Liu Chunhua waiting there anxiously.

"Father, Mother, didn't I tell you not to come to the academy to find me unless it's important? Why are you here again?"

"Nothing's wrong? Something terrible has happened!"

Liu Chunhua shouted at the top of her lungs, but when she saw Nie Wenye glance at her, she immediately lowered her voice.

"whats the matter?"

Liu Chunhua grabbed Nie Wenye's sleeve, "Did you know that Gu Xiao, that sickly boy from Qianqian's family, also went to study at your academy?"

How could Nie Wenye not know? He had known about it since the very first day Gu Xiao enrolled in the hospital. He recalled the day when Vice Dean Li came to see him.

Dean Qiu, being very thorough, did not inform the students in the college about Gu Xiao's "abnormal" perfect score on the exam paper.

First, they were afraid that this matter would bring too much attention to Gu Xiao, causing unnecessary pressure and affecting his studies; second, they were afraid that it would upset the students who had been studying hard for many years. If they knew that a poor scholar who had not yet entered the academy had scored full marks, it would affect the students' mentality and be detrimental to everyone.

However, Dean Qiu told Vice Dean Li about this matter immediately and praised Vice Dean Li for her sharp eyes, saying that she could see Gu Xiao's extraordinary nature at a glance and directly used this exam paper to test his knowledge.

Vice Dean Li's feelings were complex and hard to describe. He had originally intended to use this exam to put that kid's arrogance to rest, but he never expected the kid to get a perfect score, which was a slap in the face for him. Although others didn't understand that he had been humiliated, he still felt extremely frustrated.

He had previously heard people mention the kinship between Gu Xiao and Nie Wenye, and since he was Nie Wenye's teacher, he called Nie Wenye over for questioning.

Vice Dean Li: "I heard that Gu Xiao is your brother-in-law, is that true?"

Nie Wenye was taken aback when he heard that Vice Dean Li had asked him about Gu Xiao in private. He nodded respectfully and replied, "In response to your question, Master, Gu Xiao is indeed the husband of my second uncle's younger sister, Nie Qianqian."

Upon hearing Nie Qianqian's name, Vice Dean Li snorted coldly. That girl truly lacked manners. She and Nie Wenye both grew up in the Nie family, yet their etiquette and upbringing were so vastly different.

Vice Dean Li: "If that's the case, you must know him very well. Did he really never study before entering the academy? Did you hire a teacher to instruct him?"

Nie Wenye was puzzled as to why Vice Dean Li would ask such a question, and answered truthfully, "No, I only know a few characters and copy books in the library."

Vice Dean Li suddenly raised her voice, "How is that possible! This boy got a perfect score on the test that Dean Qiu personally set, how could he have never studied!"

If knowledge could be acquired simply by copying books in a library, then people wouldn't need to read books at all; they could just go to the library and copy books!

His thinking differed from Dean Qiu's. Dean Qiu believed that people are vastly different and that education should be tailored to individual needs, while acknowledging the existence of geniuses.

He, however, thought differently. He believed that although people differed in their understanding and memory, whether one could pass the imperial examinations ultimately depended on diligent study and hard work. He was not a genius, nor did he believe in the existence of geniuses in this field. Any innate differences could be bridged through hard work.

Nie Wenye was a thousand times more shocked than Vice Dean Shang Li.

A perfect score?!

He had studied this exam paper for many years, and Dean Qiu had given him full marks in his comments on the exams he had taken. Gu Xiao was only taking the exam for the first time, so how could he possibly get full marks?

Nie Wenye remained silent for a long time, repeatedly thinking, "How could this be! There must be something wrong! There must be something wrong!"

Seeing him standing there in a daze, Vice Dean Li called out to him, "Wenye??"

Nie Wenye snapped out of his daze; he still couldn't believe that Gu Xiao could get a perfect score.

He carefully chose his words before slowly beginning, "Gu Xiao has indeed never hired a teacher. For the past few years, he's been copying books at the academy, and he knows many students there. He's quite familiar with Jiang Wenxuan, so perhaps he already..."

Vice Dean Li: "You mean he may have seen this exam paper a long time ago and has taken it countless times in private over the past few years?"

Nie Wenye guessed this, and seeing that he had successfully guided the student, he lowered his head and looked embarrassed. "I dare not think that way. A gentleman does not gossip about others behind their backs."

Vice Dean Li thought for a moment and didn't ask any further questions. He nodded and let him leave.

But Nie Wenye's words took root in Vice Dean Li's mind, and the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed!

He knew Jiang Wenxuan. This man was good at making friends, but sometimes he spoke without thinking. It was possible that he had taken the academy's confidential exam papers out and shown them to Gu Xiao.

Vice Dean Li snorted. He knew there was something fishy about this. He never believed that Gu Xiao could get a perfect score on the first try.

Even if Gu Xiao had seen the exam paper before and studied it repeatedly for several years, it was already difficult to get a perfect score. Why would he bother to hide it? He was just trying to attract attention and seek empty fame.

He snorted coldly, "His character is flawed, and he is beyond redemption. I want to see how far he can go on the path of the imperial examinations."

Nie Wenye was lost in thought, recalling his conversation with Vice Dean Li. Liu Chunhua tugged at his sleeve again, "Wenye, I'm asking you a question, do you know that?"

Nie Wenye said calmly, "I know."

Nie Daqiang's expression changed drastically. "How can Gu Xiao be worthy of studying at the academy? Who is he? Your Dean Qiu came to our village, talking about exams and perfect scores! What's going on here?!"

Liu Chunhua repeated anxiously, "Yes, what exactly happened?"

Nie Wenye glanced at the two of them and said calmly, "Qianqian knows the magistrate and was able to enter the academy to study because of the magistrate's recommendation of Gu Xiao."

Liu Chunhua said fiercely, "Isn't this just using connections? This Qianqian girl is really shameless. She's entangled with the county magistrate and even managed to get her good-for-nothing husband into the academy. Is that a place for someone like him? He'd be wasting his time there. He should just copy more books and earn more tuition fees for my brother."

Nie Wenye: "Mother, be careful what you say. Second Aunt and the others have already divorced."

"So what if she's getting a divorce? She married your second uncle, so she's his woman in life and in death. As long as she lives, she should contribute to the Nie family. Her affair with your second uncle has gone all the way to the county government. It was the county magistrate who forced her to get a divorce. Once this storm passes and they're no longer looked down upon as a widow and orphan, they'll have to come back to rely on your second uncle."

Seeing his wife rambling on and on, Nie Daqiang quickly interrupted her, "Why are you talking to Wenye about such unimportant things!"

Nie Daqiang: "Wenye, what's the deal with them saying the exam went perfectly?"

What kind of exam could make the dean take it so seriously that he went all the way to the village? Could it be that Gu Xiao is a promising student, even better than his family's scholar?

Seeing Nie Daqiang anxiously awaiting his answer, Nie Wenye felt incredibly embarrassed. Gu Xiao was someone the whole family looked down on; how could he possibly be above him?

"He said he got a perfect score on the entrance exam, but our vice dean said that Gu Xiao has been copying books in the library for many years and has probably seen this exam paper before!"

Liu Chunhua immediately beamed with joy and clapped her hands. "I knew it! He really cheated. A disabled person can get a perfect score. Only your hospital director is old and his eyesight is failing. You can only believe him!"

Nie Daqiang also visibly breathed a sigh of relief and gently scolded Liu Chunhua, "You're talking nonsense again. This is near the academy. Don't let anyone hear you gossiping and affecting your studies."

Liu Chunhua quickly covered her mouth, "Look at my mouth, I can't keep it shut! Let's go quickly, don't delay Wenye's studies."

Nie Daqiang instructed, "Wenye, you should focus on your studies. Don't worry about things at home. Gu Xiao is a good-for-nothing who got in by cheating. Everyone will find out eventually."

Nie Wenye nodded, said no more to the two, and watched their figures disappear into the distance, thinking to himself:

His guess must be right. Gu Xiao had never studied since entering his house, and his studies had been neglected for three years. It was impossible for him to have such profound knowledge by copying books.

He only learned to read and write when he was young, and his calligraphy is quite good. As long as he is in the academy, he will never let Gu Xiao surpass him.