Chapter 678: Chapter 679: Lin Family

Li Hongyuan casually walked with both hands tucked into his wide sleeves, “Also, in front of Emperor Father, if you know something, say you know it; if you don’t know, admit you don’t. Don’t spout nonsense or make wild guesses to make a fool of yourself.”

“???”

“How can you mention Lin Shimo’s name and not know that the Spring Autumn Academy is not really an academy?”

“What?”

Jiang Ning was astonished, “If the Spring Autumn Academy isn’t an academy, then what is it?”

“It’s a family, or more precisely, a prestigious clan.” Li Hongyuan explained, “The Lin Family’s teachings have a thousand-year history and are unrivaled in Donglin.”

“A family? If it’s a family, why is it called the Spring Autumn Academy?”

“The so-called Spring Autumn Academy was originally the Lin Family’s clan school, teaching only their own clan members. However, as the Lin Family grew, their clan population expanded to thousands of people, producing countless masters in various fields. The reputation of the clan school spread, attracting talents from all over, so they renamed it the Spring Autumn Academy, signifying that the academy’s teachings were not limited to their own clan members and welcomed talented individuals. Up till now, the Lin Family’s clan school has developed into the most powerful and famous academy in the world, independent from the Lin Family. Yet the Spring Autumn Academy and the Lin Family still maintain a relationship of mutual dependence. The Deans have always been the most outstanding descendants of the Lin Family.”

Jiang Ning felt her heart surge with excitement.

It turns out that in this backward feudal era looked down upon and disdained by her, there was still such a magnificent and sacred place for learning.

From Li Hongyuan’s description, this academy seemed almost comparable to the best modern academies, if not more so.

There are more than one top-notch academies, but there is only one Spring Autumn Academy in this world.

Jiang Ning felt somewhat ashamed.

She had never heard of such a prestigious academy before.

If it were before entering the palace, she would have tried her best to witness the academy firsthand.

“No matter how formidable the Spring Autumn Academy is, it’s still just a group of scholars.” Jiang Ning said, “Why didn’t the Emperor object when I compared Lin Shimo to someone from the martial arts world in front of him?”

“A group of scholars?”

Li Hongyuan laughed, “The Spring Autumn Academy teaches more than just reading and writing. That’s something private schools do. If you knew who had graduated from the Spring Autumn Academy, you would understand Emperor Father’s reaction.”

“Who did?”

“Let’s not talk about the distant past, since you wouldn’t know them anyway. Let me mention two people you do know.”

“Who are they?”

“Your father and your uncle both studied at the Spring Autumn Academy.”

“What?” Jiang Ning was shocked, “They actually studied at the Spring Autumn Academy? So is my exposing Lin Shimo today equivalent to betraying my own family’s honor and heritage?”

“You’re overthinking it.” Li Hongyuan looked at her with a peculiar expression, “Although Lin Shimo is a genius, when he meets your father and uncle, he still has to call them senior brother.”

“Senior brother? How old is Lin Shimo?”

“Probably… around twenty years old.”

“He’s that young?!” Jiang Ning was shocked once again.

She had always thought that Lin Shimo was a serious, white-haired, white-bearded old scholar in his sixties or seventies.

Then, Jiang Ning thought about what she had said in front of the Emperor and couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

She had even said that the reason Lin Shimo disciplined Prince Xinhai was that Prince Xinhai had insulted Lin Shimo’s daughter or granddaughter…

The Emperor’s calm demeanor had almost convinced her that what she said was true.

She didn’t expect that the Emperor was just playing dumb, waiting to see her make a fool of herself.