Chapter 1690 - 1596: Writing Books? Coincidentally, I Can Too.

Chapter 1690: Chapter 1596: Writing Books? Coincidentally, I Can Too.

(Makeup Chapter for Yesterday)

Jane felt a surge of immense happiness rushing to her head.

She quickly took a few deep breaths, barely holding back tears of excitement.

Because from this moment on, her fate would be completely rewritten!

Yes, although there was still an interview to go through, according to the Ministry of Education of France, it was basically just a formality. As long as she didn’t insult the examiners in public, she could easily pass.

Just a few months ago, she was being pestered by a nearly illiterate nobleman proposing to her, and her family really needed his wealth.

When she was almost out of options, a friend from a publishing house informed her that the French university had reformed its scholarship system, allowing anyone to apply for high scholarships regardless of their background or nationality, as long as they had excellent grades.

The top scholarship could reach 1,500 francs per year.

Most importantly, French universities accepted female students.

She came to Paris alone with the idea of taking a gamble, originally thinking that getting the first-class scholarship — about 700 francs per year, sufficient to cover her tuition and living expenses — would already be great, considering her French history was not that solid and she only crammed for about three months after leaving Bath.

Unexpectedly, she won the special scholarship, which was enough for her to rent a place in the Latin Quarter and even hire a maid.

After this, that nobleman named Charlie could no longer harass her, and what made her even happier was the opportunity to stay forever in the dream city of Paris!

She pinched the remaining 37 francs in her pocket and decided to take that smoking iron carriage back to her place later.

Just then, a voice filled with anger suddenly came from the front: "There must be something wrong with this year’s result review, I am going to find the principal and complain!"

Someone immediately advised, "Marie, don’t do this, it’s too unseemly..."

The enraged young man pointed at the public list and said loudly, "Look, a British woman actually received the special scholarship. This is simply impossible!

"Charles, that spot should have been yours, your grades are not inferior to hers, yet you only got the first-class scholarship."

"Marie, the review committee must have their considerations, let’s go."

But Marie turned to other students, waving his hand saying, "Everyone come with me to see the principal, this woman must have used some means. You should know how high the requirements are for the special scholarship."

Someone immediately nodded in agreement, "That’s right, how could a woman have such great knowledge?"

"And a British one at that, I doubt she could even answer in French."

"You see, Mr. Charles Nodier’s assessment results are the same as hers, yet he was pushed to first class."

"I’ll go with you to see the principal..."

Jane, though somewhat unhappy with the doubts of others, didn’t want to cause trouble, and immediately backed away slowly, even considering if the principal found her, she could give up the special scholarship spot and settle for the first class.

However, a student wearing a high-grade silk jacket suddenly pointed at her: "You wouldn’t happen to be that British lady, would you?"

It was only then Jane noticed that she was the only female in front of the grand hall.

Yes, there were very few female students at the University of Paris, even fewer applying for scholarships.

She turned to leave, but Marie rushed over a few steps to block her: "Are you Miss Austin?"

Jane reluctantly nodded: "Yes, sir."

Marie brashly placed his hands on his hips: "Please tell everyone, what means did you use so that the review committee didn’t cross off your name."

"I swear, I only did my best in answering the questions."

Marie sneered and spoke in Latin: "Very well, please tell us the role of the ’fiction’ technique in La Fontaine’s fable poetry."

This was a question from rhetoric exams, and Latin was the core content of classical literature.

Jane looked at the students who were coldly staring at her, clenched her fists, and answered in Latin: "The so-called ’fiction’ refers to the anthropomorphizing of animals, nonexistent plots, and content that is not historical records. Its core function is metaphor and indirect criticism, avoiding the offense of reality..."

Her father was a Priest, her mother was also quite learned, and she loved reading from an early age. Over the past decade, she had almost reached university graduation level knowledge, making the university entrance exam a cinch for her.

Before she finished speaking, the voices of doubt around her had already disappeared.

Here there were sophomore and junior students, who could tell from a few sentences that her level was definitely not low.

Marie also reddened and argued, "But Charles’s grades are also all excellent, if you didn’t use any means, why did you take his spot?"

He turned to the crowd again: "Everyone has probably heard of Mr. Charles Nodier, right? He even published ’Stella, or The Outcast’ earlier this year, which you can buy in nearby bookstores.

"But even with that, he still only got a first-class scholarship."

Jane paused for a moment, interrupted him saying: "Are you saying that publishing books helps in applying for scholarships?"

"Of course, it’s at least equivalent to half an excellent,"

Jane’s eyes flashed with a smile and nodded: "Then I think I can answer your question, sir. I wonder if France has access to the book ’First Impressions’? And ’Northanger Abbey’."

Marie blinked and nodded: "I’ve read ’First Impressions’, the latter one I haven’t, what do you want to say?"

Jane pointed to herself: "I am the author of those two books. The review committee probably considered this factor, which is why my application was approved."

"How is that possible?" Marie only said half before suddenly remembering, the author of ’First Impressions’ was "a lady."

He couldn’t help but widen his eyes, this book was very well written, no, it should be said at the level of a masterpiece, actually the work of this Miss Austin!

Yes, ’First Impressions’ was republished by Jane Austin as ’Pride and Prejudice’ more than a decade later.

While the dispute at Lycée Louis le Grand was still unresolved, in the hall of Plessy College at the University of Paris, Tener stared at Archbishop Beaumont, who had just announced this year’s doctoral candidates, muttering: "This can’t be, most of my grades are excellent, how could I not be..."

Girard, who came with him, was indignant: "Surely those people went against the wishes of the Regent, favoring the nobles!"