The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Chapter 69: The identity of modern people is exposed?

Cen Jiexiao calmly picked up the wine glass and took a sip. A sour taste spread across her tongue. This wine from the Western Regions really has a unique flavor.

"Dean Cen, this wine is made from grapes unique to the Western Regions. It is a rare treasure in the Great Zhou." When Xia Chenghao saw her drink it, the smile on his face became even more intense.

"It's indeed good." Cen Jiexiao responded lightly, but in her heart she was even more puzzled by Xia Chenghao's warm hospitality. If someone is too attentive without any reason, he is either a traitor or a thief. What is Xia Chenghao up to?

After three rounds of drinks, Xia Chenghao saw that the time was right, so he put down his glass, looked at Cen Jiexiao, and said sincerely, "To be honest with you, Dean Cen, I actually want to discuss a cooperation with you today."

Cen Jiexiao sneered inwardly. As expected, Xia Chenghao would not come to the temple for no reason. However, she remained calm and asked, "I wonder what cooperation Master Xia wants to discuss?"

"It's like this. I came to Da Zhou this time to promote Da Zhou's products to the countries in the Western Regions. The Zhaoyin Academy founded by President Cen is very famous in Da Zhou. I think that if I can cooperate with Zhaoyin Academy, I will be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort." Xia Chenghao stated his purpose.

Upon hearing this, Cen Jiexiao was secretly surprised. This Xia Chenghao had such a big appetite! If he succeeded, his position in the Western Regions would be even more solid. By then, he would probably form an invisible constraint on them.

"Mr. Xia, you're joking. Zhaoyin Academy is just an academy. How can it have such capabilities?" Sister Cen Xiao politely declined.

"President Cen is too modest. The new policy reforms of Zhaoyin Academy are not just spread by word of mouth in Da Zhou. We in Xixiang have also heard about it. If President Cen is willing to cooperate, I guarantee that President Cen's Zhaoyin Academy will benefit in every way and will not cause any harm." Xia Chenghao naturally would not give up easily and continued to persuade.

Cen Jiexiao sneered in her heart, benefits?

"Mr. Xia, this matter is of great importance. I need to think about it carefully before I can give you an answer." Cen Jiexiao did not refuse directly, but she did not agree either.

"Of course, of course. There's no rush for this matter. Dean Cen can take your time to consider it." Xia Chenghao was secretly happy when he saw that she didn't refuse outright. As long as Sister Cen was willing to consider it, there would be hope.

Next, Xia Chenghao did not mention the cooperation again. Instead, he took Cen Jiexiao and Yu Lan to visit the other goods of the caravan and introduced them to the customs and habits of the countries in the Western Regions, trying to dispel Cen Jiexiao's concerns.

Like most women, Yu Lan grew up in the place where she was born and had never been to other enemy areas. She had never seen these strange things. Her usual image of a steady chivalrous woman was gone, and now she was extremely excited.

"Yu Lan, please restrain yourself." Cen Jiexiao couldn't help but remind her in a low voice.

"Dean, look at this, what is this? It's so beautiful!" Yu Lan didn't hear what Cen Jiexiao said at all. She pointed at a small silver-white ball on a stall and asked excitedly.

Cen Jiexiao followed her gaze and saw that the small ball was silver-white all over, with a surface as smooth as a mirror, and she could vaguely see something flowing inside.

"This is..." Cen Jiexiao was also a little curious. What on earth was this thing?

"These are the seeds of Tianshan Snow Lotus." At this time, an old voice came from the side.

Cen Jiexiao and Yu Lan turned around and saw an old man dressed in Western clothing looking at them with a smile.

"Tien Shan Snow Lotus seeds?" Yu Lan asked in surprise, "Can this thing still be grown?"

"Of course you can." The old man stroked his beard and said with a smile, "As long as you plant it on the snowy mountains, it will bloom into a beautiful Tianshan Snow Lotus."

"Really?" Yu Lan's eyes lit up even brighter. "Then I'm going to grow it!"

"Yu Lan..." Cen Jiexiao wanted to stop her, but Yu Lan had already paid the money and ran to the next stall happily with the Tianshan Snow Lotus seeds.

Cen Jiexiao shook her head helplessly. This girl was really spoiled and had no sense of defense at all.

"Miss, is this your first time visiting the Western Region Market?" the old man asked with a smile.

Cen Jiexiao nodded slightly without saying anything.

"Haha, I can tell at a glance that the aura of the girl is different from that of the people of the Great Zhou." The old man said with a smile.

Cen Jiexiao was shocked. Who is this old man?

"Miss, don't be nervous. I mean no harm." The old man seemed to see through Cen Jiexiao's worries and said with a smile, "I just want to tell you, young lady, that some things, even if you see them, may not be yours. Some things, even if you know them, may not necessarily be a good thing."

After saying this, the old man looked at Cen Jiexiao meaningfully, then turned and left.

Cen Jiexiao looked at the old man's back, her heart full of doubts. What exactly did he mean by this?

Cen Jiexiao remained silent the entire way, her mind replaying the old man's meaningful look as he left. Alarm bells rang in her heart. Had her identity been exposed? No, it couldn't be. She considered herself cautious, never revealing a single word about "modernity" in any public setting.

"Dean, what are you thinking about? Have you set your eyes on some treasure?" Yu Lan happily returned to Cen Jiexiao, still holding the Tianshan Snow Lotus seed in her hand, unable to let it go.

Cen Jiexiao glanced at the seed calmly, sneering in her heart. How could a living Tianshan Snow Lotus be grown in the bitter cold of the Western Regions? This was clearly a hoax! It seemed that this Xixiang caravan was indeed not simple.

"Yu Lan, come here." Cen Jiexiao pulled Yu Lan to a secluded corner and said in a low voice, "What happened today must not be made public. Especially what that old man said, not a single word can be said to anyone, understand?"

"Ah? Why?" Yu Lan looked bewildered, completely confused as to why Cen Jiexiao was so nervous. "Dean, are you overthinking it? I think that old man is very kind and amiable, not a bad person!"

"You can't judge a person by their appearance." Cen Jiexiao shook her head helplessly. Yu Lan was good in every way, except that she was too loyal and straightforward, making her easily exploited. "Anyway, just remember what I'm saying. Don't mention what happened today to anyone, including Xiaozhi and Senior Brother. Do you understand?"

"Dean, don't worry!" Although Yu Lan didn't understand, she still nodded obediently.

After returning to the academy, Cen Jiexiao declined Xia Chenghao's invitation again on the grounds of poor health, and secretly arranged for the Intelligence Department's Qiming Group to investigate the old man's identity and background, as well as the details of the Xixiang caravan.

Late at night, in the stillness of the room, Cen Jiexiao paced alone in her study, her brow furrowed. Her intuition told her that the old man was no ordinary person, and his last words seemed more like a warning to her.

"Some things, even if you see them, may not be yours. Some things, even if you know them, may not be good things..."

Cen Jiexiao muttered to herself, what on earth was this thing? What was going on? Could it be that there were some secrets of the Great Zhou Dynasty that she didn't know about?

A few days later, Cen Jiexiao's confidant brought back the investigation results.

"Dean, that old man's name is Baixu Weng. He's a famous wandering sorcerer in the Western Regions. He's proficient in divination and astrology, and is said to be able to predict the future. He's quite prestigious in the Western Regions."

"Predicting the future?" Cen Jiexiao sneered, "There's no such thing as the ability to predict the future in this world. It's just a trick played by some charlatan."

"I find this strange too. This old man with white beard has lived in seclusion in the snowy mountains for many years and rarely appears in public. Why he suddenly appeared in the Xixiang caravan this time is really puzzling."

"What else? How's the investigation going with the Xixiang Caravan?"

"Dean, this Xixiang caravan is ostensibly dealing in spices, but secretly they're reselling weapons. Furthermore, they seem to have the support of the Xixiang royal family. However, the student union will investigate this as quickly as possible and find evidence."

"As expected!" Cen Jiexiao slammed the table and stood up, a cold glint in her eyes. "It seems that Xia Chenghao has other intentions than drinking!"