Yoon Shik arrived at Sungkyunkwan before the evening. He was panting heavily and sat on the stairs which were made to reach the entrance. His throat was dried up as he came running there. Do Yeong too arrived there with Hwang Shin and saw Yoon Shik was sitting on the stairs there. "Yoon Shik," called Do Yeong and walked to him.
"Yeong-aa," Yoon Shik called and got up.
"Why are you sweating so much?" Do Yeong questioned.
"I came running here. I thought I would get late," replied Yoon Shik. Do Yeong saw the wound on Yoon Shik's left hand. He took out a clean cloth wipe from inside his pocket and grabbed his gently. "You got a wound on your hand. Did something happen?" Yeong inquired.
"I fell and did not pay attention it. I will treat it later," said Yoon Shik with a tiny smile. Yeong wrapped the handkerchief around his hand. "It will get infection if you won't treat it soon," said Do Yeong.
"You seem upset," Yoon Shik declared.
"Really," Do Yeong questioned. Yoon Shik nodded when they heard the voice of the guard who told them that go in as doors were going to close soon. Do Yeong turned to Hwang Shin and told him to hand him his bag. "Young master, I will go in as this nag is heavy," asserted Hwang Shin.
"No need," said Do Yeong and took the bag from his hand. He then turned to Yoon Shik and they both climbed the remaining stairs. "Hwang Shin, you should leave," said Do Yeong in a commanding tone. Yoon turned to look and saw Hwang Shin was standing with a bowed head. "I will miss you, young master," said Hwang Shin in a sad tone. Yoon Shik looked at Do Yeong whose expressions were neutral. He did not speak anything and entered inside the entrance.
"Do not worry. I will take care of young master," said Yoon Shik with a warm smile to Hwang Shin who looked at him upon hearing his words. Yoon Shik then turned and walked in. "Wonderful," Yoon Shik said as he never seen such a place ever in his life. The huge door was closed and he took a breath of relief.
"Yoon Shik, let's go inside," said Do Yeong. Yoon Shik nodded and they went to the huge ground where many students were talking with each other. A smile carved on his lips seeing all of them when Sunwo came there. "Welcome to Sungkyunkwan," said Sunwo with a smile, looking at Yoon Shik.
"In a while we will be allocated our rooms. I wish to get a well furnished dorm," asserted Sunwo.
"Is this not decided for us Yangbans what kind of dorms we are going to get especially the ones whose fathers are at the king's court," stated Sung Tae. He then looked at Yoon Shik and said, "What about you, Yoon Shik? This kind of pleasure is first time for you. Do you know here also hierarchy matters?"
"Sung Tae, why are you behind him? Let's stay together with brotherhood," asserted Sunwo and fanned himself from his folding fan.
"I am sorry. I cannot tolerate this person," declared Sung Tae, looking with a glare at Yoon Shik who chuckled upon hearing his words.
"But you have to tolerate me. I will be studying with you for a year," proclaimed Yoon Shik.
"Stop, you both," said Do Yeong who was getting irritated by all this. This was the first time Do Yeong got angry at someone. "Forgive me" Both Yoon Shik and Sung Tae said at the same time. They glared at each other when Do Yeong left the ground.
Sunwo stepped forward, in mid of Yoon Shik and Sung Tae and said, "what has happened to Yeong-aa? He seems so pissed off today."
Sung Tae huffed. "Do you not know?" Sung Tae questioned.
"What?" Sung Tae asked.
"I got to know from his elder brother that his marriage was fixed with his majesty's daughter," pronounced Sung Tae.
"This early?" Yoon Shik said with a startled expression.
"Hey Sangmin, being noble is not good every time especially when you have a father like Do Yeong. He was not only offered court position which he never wanted but also this marriage," muttered Sung Tae.
"Sung Tae is saying absolutely right. Yoon Shik, the world of upper class is not that good as it seems. Everyone fights for the power. Many of the scholars here in a few years will be fighting with you for power. Alliances are made among the families to strengthen their position in the court or you can say for the bureaucracy everyone wants to be at top. In a few years we will be doing this. Ahh, I hate this," asserted Sunwo.
"This is not good. Should we not work for our Joseon Kingdom rather than doing this?" Yoon Shik proclaimed.
"Haha," laughed Sung Tae. "You really do not have brain. Who thinks about kingdom? World is not as straight as you think. Well, why am I telling this to a Sangmin," stated Sung Tae and walked away from there. Yoon Shik wondered why Sung Tae said so.
Sunwo put his elbow over Yoon Shik's one of the shoulders. "Yoon Shik, higher the post, higher are the worries to keep it intact with you till generations. You are lucky that you are born out of this noble class. Indeed struggles are there but at least you do not have to fight for such things," declared Sunwo.
Yoon Shik did not speak anything after that. An announcement was made where all the students are told to align in the rows as they were going to be given the dorms. Sunwo and Yoon Shik went there. "They are wearing blue robes, why? Do we have to wear the same?" Yoon Shik asked.
"This is the dress code of the academy. Blue and white robes," answered Park Sunwo who was standing beside him. Some ten students came to the high platform. They had a different type of gat (a Korean hat) on their heads which was worn mainly by Sungkyunkwan Students. "Yoon Shik, some students study for than a year and becomes the seniors here. They gather knowledge in the respective subjects to become a scholar," asserted Sunwo in a low voice. Yoon Shik nodded and smiled.
"Welcome to Sungkyunkwan. This is 36th session of the academy where you all make it and entered this divine place. I am Sang Hoon, two years senior from you all. I am like a prefect of this academy. First of all I would like to tell you the rules of Sungkyunkwan which you all have to adhere to all the times." He then started narrating the basic rules.
-There will be drum beats to inform about the time to the students: One beat will be in the morning which will indicate that you all need to get up; Two beats will mean that you have to dress neatly and read; Three beats mean it is meal time.
-Classes will be held at the Lecture Hall after morning meals till the evening before the night's dinner.
-You will be divided in two classes based on your academic abilities.
-No one is allowed to go after the dinner outside. The one who will break this rule will be punished severely.
-The 8th and 23rd days of every month will be washing day when you have to wash the clothes.
-The clothes are blue coloured for all as it symbolize the knowledge.
-Alcohol consumption is banned in the campus and is allowed only for some special occasions.
-If you commit an offence against any instructor here then you will not be allowed to take the state exams ever again in your life which means you can never be a scholar.
"Please adhere to all these rules at all times if you do not want to get punished. Be respectful to all the students here. The rest thing will be explained to you in the classes related to the academy and the study. Now, the time is to allot the rooms to everyone here. A dorm will have 5 students. From this year no separate rooms will be given to Yangban," pronounced Snag Hoon.
"What? When did this new rule come?" Sung Tae muttered.
"It is decided by his majesty and the heads of Sungkyunkwan," replied Sang Hoon.
The other senior named Hyun Woo came forward and introduced himself. "I am Hyun Woo, the discipline head of Sungkyunkwan. A proper discipline is essential in everyone's life and for students like us it is mandatory. Now, the allotment for dorms will start now," declared Hyun Woo. Every student went towards the platform and took out a stick from the box on which a number was written.
"What did you get?" Sunwo asked excitedly.
"No. 7," replied Yoon. "Do not know with whom I have to share the dorm," murmured Yoon.
"What? I got same number," said Sunwo with a smile.
"Whoever got the same numbers gather at one place," announced the other senior Ji Hoon. The students did that. Sunwo and Yoon Shik looked for their roommates when Sung Tae and Do Yeong came there, asking them about the number. "7," answered Yoon Shik.
"What? Why on earth this happened? Oh no," Sung Tae muttered as he had same stick number while on the other hand Do Yeong was happy. Yoon Shik smiled and went near Sung Tae. "You will live with a Sangmin from today onward," asserted Yoon Shik with a smile.
"I do not agree with this," shouted Sung Tae when all eyes fell on him. He stomped his shoe at the floor and huffed. "Sung Tae, we will enjoy together," said Sunwo with a smile when Lee Eunshi came to them.
"You all have number 7?" he asked with a displeased look.
"Yes," Sunwo answered. He looked at all of them and sighed. Sunwo went to him and opened his fan. "Welcome Lee Eunshi!" he said with a smirk. "The guy about whom I want to know about the most," he thought.