CHAPTER 005
Sheng Qingzi's cheeks were burning, and he dared not meet her gaze. Instinctively, he lowered his eyes, his mind in turmoil. The thought of his recent rude behavior made him wish he could find a hole to crawl into.
He was a handsome man, but spending all day with the three dull women in this academic hall had long become tiresome.
One was as cold as ice, another talked too much and was irritating, and the last one, who was slightly better, was unfortunately already married.
This academic hall had finally gained a breath of fresh air with a new arrival, and not just any arrival, but a woman of elegant demeanor and extraordinary beauty.
If it weren't for that wretched Zhu Miaomiao speaking ill of her, which she overheard, he wouldn't have acted so impulsively. It was all Zhu Miaomiao's fault. Now, his image as a "fierce tiger" was cemented.
Lu Yun'er quietly observed, a trace of thoughtfulness flashing in her eyes. After all, in a matriarchal world, Sheng Qingzi was still a man, and his skin must be quite thin.
The three obediences and four virtues imposed on men—virtue, speech, appearance, and conduct—were too restrictive, but this was the social rule in a matriarchal society.
Although the Empress had issued some legal protections for men, these were few and far between, and most women did not genuinely agree with them in their hearts.
But Lu Yun'er was not from this place. Although she had lived here for a year, witnessing the various aspects of life and the warmth and coldness of human relationships, she sincerely hoped that every man could follow his heart's desires and be as free as the wind.
Seeing Sheng Qingzi's current state of self-restraint, she wanted to ease his discomfort, but since this was their first meeting, she wasn't sure how to start the conversation.
Suddenly, Lu Yun'er thought of something, and with a clear and pure smile, she said, "Dr. Sheng, that blue robe you're wearing looks really good on you!"
Yes, a compliment! Even in an unfamiliar environment, facing a group of strangers, a well-timed compliment can quickly bridge the gap between people and alleviate awkwardness.
"What...?"
Sheng Qingzi's eyes widened slightly, his gaze falling on Lu Yun'er's beautiful face. His already chaotic mind completely exploded with her words, and his fair face turned utterly red.
Sheng Qingzi never expected to receive such a sincere, simple compliment for only the second time in his life.
He came from a humble background. His mother was an Assistant Director in the Bureau of Weights and Measures under the Ministry of Works, a fifth-rank official. She used her slight power to covet his father's beauty, forcing him to marry her as a concubine. Meanwhile, Sheng Qingzi and his father often suffered from the deliberate bullying, mockery, and contempt of the main wife.
Those years left his father in constant sorrow, and he eventually passed away in bed.
From a young age, Sheng Qingzi decided to be independent and strong. He didn't care whether they were women or men—only by being strong could he protect those he loved. Every step he took to become a scholar at the National Academy was through his own efforts, spending time and energy to get there.
Everyone knew him as fiery-tempered, without any trace of manly virtue, but no one knew that this was just his protective color. Because of his appearance, he was often harassed by women with impure intentions. He'd heard all sorts of frivolous and exaggerated compliments, teasing, and suggestive remarks.
Sheng Qingzi knew that these women were no different from his mother; none of them were good people.
But Lu Yun'er was different. Her clear eyes and the gentle demeanor that radiated from her every move fell right into his heart.
He slowly reached out and lightly pinched his clothes, his voice low and tinged with a bit of shyness, "This... is the academic gown of the National Academy. You'll have one too when you become a scholar here."
The academic gown for scholars was primarily blue, embroidered with orchids symbolizing integrity and righteousness, a compliment to teachers.
In contrast, students' gowns were mainly white, embroidered with the Dianthus flower, which, when in bloom, shone like a ribbon, symbolizing a promising future for students.
"Brother Qingzi, are you blushing?" Zhu Miaomiao, who had been watching in amazement, walked over, rubbing her ears. To be honest, since working together, it was the first time she'd seen him act so shy, as if he'd forgotten the pain after the wound had healed. Fearlessly, she moved closer, teasing with a laugh, "Brother Qingzi, could it be that you have feelings for our Dr. Lu?"
As soon as Zhu Miaomiao said this, everyone’s expression froze slightly, including Lu Yun'er. She hadn't expected Zhu Miaomiao to misunderstand and speak so bluntly.
Sheng Qingzi glanced at Lu Yun'er in embarrassment and quickly averted his gaze in a panic.
Since Lu Yun'er had already witnessed it, he no longer cared about maintaining his gentlemanly image. He gritted his teeth and said to Zhu Miaomiao, "I see you've forgotten the lesson you learned. Let me help you remember it well!"
Zhu Miaomiao looked at his eyes, which seemed to shoot sparks, and felt a sudden unease rising within her.
She quickly stepped back and turned to run, but was stopped by Wenqing. Startled, she exclaimed, "Wenqing, what are you doing? I'm trying to escape!"
In the past, no matter how much she and Sheng Qingzi fought, Wenqing never got involved.
Wenqing, like an elder, responded seriously, "Miaomiao, the joke you made at Dr. Lu's expense was inappropriate and disrespectful. You deserve to be punished."
Zhu Miaomiao: "..." It's really over this time.
"Let's see where you run now!" Sheng Qingzi's lips curved into a sinister smile as he approached her step by step.
Zhu Miaomiao's eyes darted around, and she shouted towards the door, "Director [2] is here!"
At the mention of the Director's arrival, both Wenqing and Sheng Qingzi froze and quickly stepped aside, only to find the doorway empty. By then, Zhu Miaomiao had already slipped away.
"You dare to trick me!" Sheng Qingzi angrily ran outside, the hem of his blue robe fluttering in the wind.
Seeing this, Lu Yun'er grew concerned and asked, "Should we go help?"
Wen Qing smiled and shook her head. "Qingzi is the youngest in our academic hall and also a man. Although Miaomiao can sometimes speak without thinking, she has always treated Qingzi like a younger brother. What he deserves, he should take, but when it’s time to protect him, she won’t hesitate."
Lu Yun'er thought back and realized that indeed, Zhu Miaomiao had never fought back during their playful quarrels, always letting Sheng Qingzi retaliate. However, Wen Qing's last sentence was short but meaningful, hinting at something deeper.
Suddenly, a voice came from outside, full of mischief: "What a noisy little young man, and so handsome too!"
"It’s General Liu!" Wen Qing spoke first.
"Let’s go see," Lu Yun'er furrowed her brows and headed outside.
Just as she stepped out, Lu Yun'er saw Sheng Qingzi leaning in Liu Lan's arms, seemingly on the verge of falling but caught by Liu Lan at the waist. The scene looked oddly familiar.
A sudden memory flashed through Lu Yun'er's mind, and she instantly understood. She walked forward and asked, "General Liu, what brings you here?"
Zhu Miaomiao quickly stepped up, pulling the still-dazed Sheng Qingzi behind her. Her brows furrowed as she cautiously eyed Liu Lan, her mild gaze carrying a hint of sharpness. Zhu Miaomiao had heard of this General Liu.
In the blink of an eye, the person in her arms disappeared.
Quick and agile, with clean and crisp movements, skilled in both offense and defense—impressive!
Liu Lan habitually curved her lips into a smirk, letting her ambiguous yet excited gaze slowly settle on Zhu Miaomiao, savoring the feeling of meeting a worthy opponent.
Over the years, on the battlefield, she had learned a crucial lesson: an incompetent general exhausts the troops, and a clueless leader weakens the army.
Blood flows like rivers and the bones of the dead lie buried beneath the yellow earth.
So what she needed were highly skilled and knowledgeable individuals. With enemy forces making small moves at the northern border in recent years, she had to be on guard.
Liu Lan didn’t seem to mind at all, adjusting her slightly disheveled clothes and looking up at Lu Yun'er with a smile. "I just finished handling some matters and went to the neighboring martial arts hall to make myself known. Since your academic hall is so close, I thought I’d drop by."
As Liu Lan spoke, her intense gaze passed over Zhu Miaomiao and landed on Sheng Qingzi. She stared directly at him and continued, "And here I am, saving a beautiful young man. Though it was no trouble at all, a thank you would be nice!"
Sheng Qingzi could sense Liu Lan's ill intentions. He had heard rumors about this General Liu—though she was beautiful, her mind was not pure. Hearing her mention visiting the martial arts hall, he realized that they would likely be seeing a lot of each other. Moreover, judging by her conversation with Dr. Lu, it was clear that the two had a close relationship.
But how could someone as refined as Dr. Lu befriend a person like this?
After a moment's thought, Sheng Qingzi stepped forward and said, "Thank you, General Liu."
Liu Lan didn’t say anything, but a satisfied smile played on her lips.
At that moment.
DONG, DONG, DONG!
Suddenly, a heavy and resonant bell rang out.
Wen Qing looked into the distance and explained, "This is usually for the first day of each month when we hold the vegetable sacrifice ceremony at the Confucius Temple, but it was delayed until today due to some issues. Everyone from the National Academy must attend in proper attire. Since you and General Liu just arrived today, you’re exempt. Miaomiao and I will return to the Eastern Court to change into our academic robes. Sheng Qingzi will take you both to the Confucius Temple."
Lu Yun'er nodded in agreement, "Alright."
Liu Lan, standing nearby, listened to Wen Qing’s words. Her handsome eyebrows arched as her gaze again fell on Sheng Qingzi and Zhu Miaomiao, a smile growing on her lips.
The National Academy was close to the Confucius Temple, following the architectural principle of "Temple on the left, school on the right," with the temple located to the east of the academy.
Zhu Miaomiao, still worried, quickly stepped forward, her face unusually serious. She glanced meaningfully at Lu Yun'er, much like a concerned mother reluctant to leave her child.
Lu Yun'er gave a gentle smile. Zhu Miaomiao was indeed protective. What surprised Lu Yun'er even more was that Zhu Miaomiao was a hidden master. However, it seemed that General Liu's reputation for being a flirt was deeply ingrained in people’s minds!
To be honest, Liu Lan was indeed a woman worth understanding. Although flirtatious, she had strong principles. She never engaged in illegal or immoral acts, always maintaining a balanced approach, never bullying the weak, or using numbers to oppress the few.
When facing the enemy, she never let her guard down, bearing the heavy responsibility of defending the country and protecting millions of citizens.
Having seen her remain calm and steady in the military camp, handling matters with courage and impartiality, it was clear she had the talent to lead a mighty army.
Seeing the familiar smirk on Liu Lan's face, Lu Yun'er knew exactly what was on her mind—it was her usual habit when something piqued her interest.
Author's Note:
[1] Bureau of Weights and Measures: Responsible for the production, collection, and distribution of various official items, managing measurements and minting.
[2] Director: An official responsible for managing school regulations.
[3] Marshaling troops in autumn: From the Song dynasty poet Xin Qiji's "Song of Breaking the Formation."
[4] An incompetent general exhausts the troops: From The Story of Yue Fei.
[5] A clueless leader weakens the army: From one of the sequels to The Three Heroes and Five Gallants, Little Five Gallants.
[6] Vegetable sacrifice ceremony: A ritual using vegetables to pay respects to the sages and teachers as a sign of respect.
[7] Bullying the weak and using numbers to oppress the few: From the Warring States period, Zhuangzi - Thief Zhi.
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