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The Royal Kindergarten, despite its grand reputation for recruiting prodigies from all over, had very few actual enrollments. Sang Qingxiao found herself peeking through the door with the children, just as the admission time arrived. A group of little ones in identical scholar robes gathered together, their footsteps light and bouncy, each one cuter than the last. Yet, no matter how adorable they were, they couldn't compare to her own two little ones.
Sang Qingxiao looked down and saw the curiosity and longing in her children's eyes. "Do you want to play with them?" she asked.
"Yes!" Little Buddha exclaimed, always speaking his mind.
Little Raccoon was more cautious. "Can we? Will they want to play with me?"
"You can ask them yourself," Buddha Treasure replied. "But first, we need to secure admission."
If there were questions, they would have to consult the old vine at home, who loved to listen in on corners. The Royal Kindergarten had spots reserved for royal officials. While the royal family covered tuition fees, high-ranking officials had to pay fifty taels of silver per month for each child, which included a lunch served at the Imperial Academy. For lower-ranking officials wishing to enroll their children, not only did they have to pay tuition, but they also had to take an entrance exam.
Every April, there was an annual exam that children from noble families could participate in without paying tuition; those living far away could even stay for free. This policy sounded good on paper, and the Royal Kindergarten claimed to admit students based on merit. However, most spots ended up going to lower-ranking officials, with a small portion going to merchants.
In fact, those spots held by merchants could also be manipulated behind the scenes. During grading at midnight, if one were to make a few adjustments, merchants often ended up suffering in silence. Thus, some savvy merchants would negotiate donations with the Royal Kindergarten; if they paid enough and passed the exam, their spots were practically guaranteed.
Hearing this made Sang Qingxiao hesitate. Would such practices corrupt her children?
"No," came the reassurance. "Admission is one thing; teaching is another. With princes among them, who would dare teach anything inappropriate? I've even eavesdropped on a few classes; they're quite good—mostly in plain language that children can understand."
Sang Qingxiao pondered for a moment. It was already July; the exam date had passed. Was there any other way for her children to enroll this year?
"Have you forgotten? Li Cu is a first-class general," came the reminder.
Looking over at Xiao Hei, who was sunbathing and munching on smoked fish nearby, Sang Qingxiao chuckled sheepishly. "I actually forgot about that."
Li Cu received instructions and quickly set out to inquire about the enrollment process for the two little ones.
He returned swiftly. "I asked around; mid-year enrollment is possible but requires an exam. Normally, given my status, your children wouldn't need to take it. However, since other kids have already learned quite a bit, I'm worried your children might fall behind. We should gauge their knowledge first."
"What will they be tested on?"
"Just how many characters they recognize."
Upon hearing this, Sang Qingxiao felt relieved. "That's simple. The children have been following Misha and have already learned quite a few characters. When can they take the exam?"
"They can take it anytime," came the reply, "but there’s still one issue."
"What issue?"
"I’ve been negotiating for a long time, and the Headmaster, Xiao Wen, only agreed to give me one enrollment spot!"
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