CHAPTER 007
The next day, at the break of dawn, the official road was as quiet as ever. Lu Yun'er was on her way to the National Academy, traveling by carriage.
Accompanying her was Qiu Yi, who was well aware that her mistress had recently developed the habit of eating breakfast. In the past, due to a mild eating disorder since childhood, her mistress had always refused breakfast, no matter how much she was persuaded. Her meals were irregular, and she ate very little, resulting in a frail and weak appearance, with little energy.
Qiu Yi still shuddered when she recalled that one time her mistress had severe abdominal pain—it had nearly scared her to death!
At that time, her mistress was pale, her face drained of color, drenched in sweat as she clutched her stomach, rolling in agony on the bed. She was in such pain that she eventually fainted, losing consciousness. Thankfully, she recovered in the end.
Since that incident, her mistress had changed. Her appetite improved, and she began to focus on health and wellness. Occasionally, she would say things that Qiu Yi couldn’t understand. Her health gradually improved, her complexion became rosier, and now her mistress even insisted that all the servants in the household join her for breakfast.
Qiu Yi opened a rosewood food box, intricately carved with bamboo leaf patterns, and took out the freshly steamed buns inside. The buns were steaming hot, exuding an enticing aroma.
These were her mistress’s favorite vegetarian dumplings, with thin skins and generous fillings. Through the translucent, steamed dough, one could even see the vibrant green filling inside, like a piece of jade.
Ever since her mistress’s brush with death, Qiu Yi had spared no expense in hiring one of the finest chefs in the capital, instructing him to buy the best flour from the East Market and prepare the dumplings fresh every morning.
“Madam, please try this!” Qiu Yi offered.
Lu Yun'er took one of the buns and then glanced at the food box. Noticing it was packed with several compartments, she smiled wryly.
“Qiu Yi, I can’t possibly eat all this for breakfast. Haven’t I told you before? Breakfast should be hearty, lunch should be filling, and dinner should be light. With such a large breakfast, are you trying to make me fat?”
Qiu Yi expressed her concern, “The doctor said you need to take good care of your stomach and avoid any more problems. I’m worried you won’t like the food at the National Academy, and since you won’t let me bring you lunch, I thought you could have the academy’s chef reheat this. At least it’s something from home that you enjoy, so it should be fine.”
Lu Yun'er’s long, dark eyelashes fluttered as she processed Qiu Yi’s words.
The original owner of this body did indeed have some stomach issues due to the mild eating disorder. That’s when she had first transmigrated into this body.
She hadn’t realized how much thought and care Qiu Yi had put into ensuring her well-being, considering every detail so meticulously.
A warm feeling spread in her heart as she gently replied, “I’ll follow your meal plans for the next few days, but once I move into the National Academy, everything must be done according to the rules. Don’t worry, I’m a grown woman; I can take care of myself. I remember everything the doctor said.”
“Alright,” Qiu Yi nodded.
Two moments later, the sky had cleared, and the carriage arrived at the Jixian Gate.
Lu Yun'er waved goodbye to Qiu Yi, carrying the food box as she headed toward the Scholars’ Hall.
Meanwhile, at Prince Yun's residence, in the Qinghua Garden...
"Young Master? Young Master? Please get up and wash up; you're already late." Xiaoyuan anxiously knocked on the door. He had intended to enter the room but found that the young master had locked it from the inside.
"Young Master? Young Master? Please, don’t keep sleeping!"
Inside the room, Su Qingwan lay on the bed, dressed in white inner garments.
Her long black hair was draped behind her, with her body partially covered by a soft silk quilt, accentuating her graceful curves.
After a night's rest, her inner garments had become loose, slipping down her shoulder. Strands of messy hair fell onto her fair, delicate neck, making her skin appear as white as snow, exuding a soft and alluring charm.
With a flushed face, Su Qingwan grumbled, “I’m not going. I haven’t had enough sleep yet! I’m the dignified heir to a noble house—why should I have to suffer like this?” She yawned, adding, “Besides, all this learning is just to impress women, isn’t it? Hmph! They aren’t worth it!”
“If the young master insists, then I’ll have no choice but to plead guilty before Prince Yun and pack my things to leave the manor.” Xiaoyuan’s voice was low and choked with emotion, resorting to a bit of reverse psychology to persuade the young master.
Hearing no movement from inside the room, Xiaoyuan thought the young master had fallen asleep again. He sighed, shaking his head, and was about to leave when suddenly, with a creak, the door opened.
A soft, slightly hoarse voice, still drowsy from sleep, came from within, “Come in and help me wash and dress.”
Xiaoyuan’s face lit up instantly, and he quickly instructed the servants to bring in the washing utensils.
The morning air was particularly fresh, carrying the scent of dew-covered herbs and plants.
Along the way, Lu Yun'er saw many students up early, reciting their lessons.
Although she didn’t recognize any of them yet, the students, seeing her dressed in the scholar’s robe, all greeted her politely, to which she responded with a smile and a nod.
After a short walk, she arrived at the Scholars’ Hall. She noticed that the door was open, indicating that someone had already arrived. Carrying her food box, she entered and cheerfully greeted, “Good morning!”
As soon as she entered, Lu Yun'er realized there was only one person in the hall—and it was that cold, icy one, staring at her expressionlessly.
Feeling a bit awkward, Lu Yun'er maintained her politeness and continued, “Good morning, Scholar Liu!”
The air seemed to freeze momentarily. After a few seconds, Liu Bing finally responded, “Mm.”
Lu Yun'er was pleased to hear her response, knowing that this was their first conversation and it was at least civil.
She had just placed the food box on her desk when she heard someone speak.
“Well, well! Our Scholar Lu arrived quite early today! And... why are you bringing your own food box to teach?” Zhu Miaomiao walked over with a smile, eyeing the food box on Lu Yun'er’s desk with interest. “Hahaha! I didn’t expect Scholar Lu, who looks so delicate, to have such a good appetite!”
Lu Yun'er turned to see three people approaching together.
Wen Qing glanced at the food box on her desk. “Scholar Lu, we have a dining hall for teachers and students at the National Academy. You don’t need to bring your own food box.”
Lu Yun'er smiled, “I know, but my maid Qiu Yi was worried I might not be accustomed to the food here, so she prepared this for me.”
Sheng Qingzi raised an eyebrow slightly. “Not accustomed? You can rest assured, Scholar Lu. Most of the students here come from all over the country, and according to His Majesty’s decree, the dining hall has a master chef who can cook all kinds of dishes to accommodate different tastes.” He looked her over and added, “Or perhaps you have some health issue that requires a special diet?”
As a man, Sheng Qingzi’s thoughts were evidently more meticulous.
Lu Yun'er explained truthfully, “It’s nothing serious, just that my stomach is a bit delicate and prone to issues. As long as I’m careful with what I eat, it’s fine.”
Since it was her first time teaching, Lu Yun'er was planning to ask them for some advice, but before she could say anything, they were interrupted by a cough.
“Ahem!—”
Seeing who had arrived, they immediately bowed and greeted in unison, “Master Supervisor.”
The woman who approached was middle-aged, with sloping shoulders, sharp eyes, and a stout figure. She was Du Hongying, the supervisor of the National Academy.
Lu Yun'er had seen her before during the sacrificial ceremony, and her sister Ran Zhi had specifically warned her about Du Hongying, whose youngest son had recently been promoted to a nobleman, making her quite proud.
Although Ran Zhi had only been serving as the academic director for half a year, she was well aware of the complexities within the National Academy.
However, Du Hongying seemed to look down on Lu Yun'er, and her visit today likely had another purpose.
Supervisor Du cast a sidelong glance at Lu Yun'er and arrogantly said, “The principal has decided that this newly arrived Scholar Lu will teach in the Lexiong Hall of the male academy. If there is anything you are unsure of, you must consult Scholar Sheng. Do not do anything that would damage the reputation of the National Academy, or you will be severely punished. Do you understand, Scholar Lu?”
Lu Yun'er replied, “I understand.”
She certainly "understood."
The male academy was relatively simple in its hierarchy, with most of the male students being young nobles or gentry from the capital who had yet to enter society. They had been nurtured at home and, since they weren’t pursuing official careers, were mainly focused on furthering their education to enhance their knowledge and personal development. The academy only had two divisions: Qianyun Hall and Lexiong Hall.
Another purpose of attending the academy was to improve their prospects for finding a suitable match. After all, the National Academy was a prestigious institution, and considering the students’ marriageable age, they generally studied here for no more than six months.
The supervisor's tone grew impatient, “Good. As long as you understand.”
With that, she left.
Zhu Miaomiao spoke up indignantly, “They originally assigned you to teach in the female academy, but now they suddenly want you to teach in the male academy. The male and female academies have always had separate classes. Isn’t this just a way to bully you?”
Sheng Qingzi’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “But I think it’s great. Although there are differences in the curriculum and management between the male and female academies, and the male academy has fewer students and teaching assistants, I’m the only scholar in the male academy, and I can barely keep up with the workload.” He glanced at Lu Yun'er shyly, clearly pleased, “If Scholar Lu joins us, it will lighten my load considerably. Besides, don’t forget, there was once a male scholar who taught in the female academy.”
After all, pairing a male with a female makes work less tiring! Of course, he kept this thought to himself.
Lu Yun'er was momentarily surprised.
So, a male scholar had taught in the female academy before.
This piqued her curiosity, and she was about to ask for more details when her gaze met Liu Bing's, who was standing behind Sheng Qingzi.
Although Liu Bing's cold expression remained unchanged, Lu Yun'er inexplicably sensed a deep sorrow and melancholy from her. After a few seconds, Liu Bing was the first to look away.
Lu Yun'er snapped back to reality, thought for a moment, and said, “Teaching and passing on knowledge is not divided by gender. Moreover, this is the principal’s arrangement, and as subordinates, we should comply.”
To her, it made no difference where she taught. However, this arrangement did deviate from the purpose she and her sister Ran Zhi had initially agreed upon, a matter that her sister likely hadn’t heard about yet.
Suddenly, a bell rang.
“Hurry! It’s time for class,” Zhu Miaomiao said, grabbing her textbook and urging the others.
CHAPTER 007
The next day, at the break of dawn, the official road was as quiet as ever. Lu Yun'er was on her way to the National Academy, traveling by carriage.
Accompanying her was Qiu Yi, who was well aware that her mistress had recently developed the habit of eating breakfast. In the past, due to a mild eating disorder since childhood, her mistress had always refused breakfast, no matter how much she was persuaded. Her meals were irregular, and she ate very little, resulting in a frail and weak appearance, with little energy.
Qiu Yi still shuddered when she recalled that one time her mistress had severe abdominal pain—it had nearly scared her to death!
At that time, her mistress was pale, her face drained of color, drenched in sweat as she clutched her stomach, rolling in agony on the bed. She was in such pain that she eventually fainted, losing consciousness. Thankfully, she recovered in the end.
Since that incident, her mistress had changed. Her appetite improved, and she began to focus on health and wellness. Occasionally, she would say things that Qiu Yi couldn’t understand. Her health gradually improved, her complexion became rosier, and now her mistress even insisted that all the servants in the household join her for breakfast.
Qiu Yi opened a rosewood food box, intricately carved with bamboo leaf patterns, and took out the freshly steamed buns inside. The buns were steaming hot, exuding an enticing aroma.
These were her mistress’s favorite vegetarian dumplings, with thin skins and generous fillings. Through the translucent, steamed dough, one could even see the vibrant green filling inside, like a piece of jade.
Ever since her mistress’s brush with death, Qiu Yi had spared no expense in hiring one of the finest chefs in the capital, instructing him to buy the best flour from the East Market and prepare the dumplings fresh every morning.
“Madam, please try this!” Qiu Yi offered.
Lu Yun'er took one of the buns and then glanced at the food box. Noticing it was packed with several compartments, she smiled wryly.
“Qiu Yi, I can’t possibly eat all this for breakfast. Haven’t I told you before? Breakfast should be hearty, lunch should be filling, and dinner should be light. With such a large breakfast, are you trying to make me fat?”
Qiu Yi expressed her concern, “The doctor said you need to take good care of your stomach and avoid any more problems. I’m worried you won’t like the food at the National Academy, and since you won’t let me bring you lunch, I thought you could have the academy’s chef reheat this. At least it’s something from home that you enjoy, so it should be fine.”
Lu Yun'er’s long, dark eyelashes fluttered as she processed Qiu Yi’s words.
The original owner of this body did indeed have some stomach issues due to the mild eating disorder. That’s when she had first transmigrated into this body.
She hadn’t realized how much thought and care Qiu Yi had put into ensuring her well-being, considering every detail so meticulously.
A warm feeling spread in her heart as she gently replied, “I’ll follow your meal plans for the next few days, but once I move into the National Academy, everything must be done according to the rules. Don’t worry, I’m a grown woman; I can take care of myself. I remember everything the doctor said.”
“Alright,” Qiu Yi nodded.
Two moments later, the sky had cleared, and the carriage arrived at the Jixian Gate.
Lu Yun'er waved goodbye to Qiu Yi, carrying the food box as she headed toward the Scholars’ Hall.
Meanwhile, at Prince Yun's residence, in the Qinghua Garden...
"Young Master? Young Master? Please get up and wash up; you're already late." Xiaoyuan anxiously knocked on the door. He had intended to enter the room but found that the young master had locked it from the inside.
"Young Master? Young Master? Please, don’t keep sleeping!"
Inside the room, Su Qingwan lay on the bed, dressed in white inner garments.
Her long black hair was draped behind her, with her body partially covered by a soft silk quilt, accentuating her graceful curves.
After a night's rest, her inner garments had become loose, slipping down her shoulder. Strands of messy hair fell onto her fair, delicate neck, making her skin appear as white as snow, exuding a soft and alluring charm.
With a flushed face, Su Qingwan grumbled, “I’m not going. I haven’t had enough sleep yet! I’m the dignified heir to a noble house—why should I have to suffer like this?” She yawned, adding, “Besides, all this learning is just to impress women, isn’t it? Hmph! They aren’t worth it!”
“If the young master insists, then I’ll have no choice but to plead guilty before Prince Yun and pack my things to leave the manor.” Xiaoyuan’s voice was low and choked with emotion, resorting to a bit of reverse psychology to persuade the young master.
Hearing no movement from inside the room, Xiaoyuan thought the young master had fallen asleep again. He sighed, shaking his head, and was about to leave when suddenly, with a creak, the door opened.
A soft, slightly hoarse voice, still drowsy from sleep, came from within, “Come in and help me wash and dress.”
Xiaoyuan’s face lit up instantly, and he quickly instructed the servants to bring in the washing utensils.
The morning air was particularly fresh, carrying the scent of dew-covered herbs and plants.
Along the way, Lu Yun'er saw many students up early, reciting their lessons.
Although she didn’t recognize any of them yet, the students, seeing her dressed in the scholar’s robe, all greeted her politely, to which she responded with a smile and a nod.
After a short walk, she arrived at the Scholars’ Hall. She noticed that the door was open, indicating that someone had already arrived. Carrying her food box, she entered and cheerfully greeted, “Good morning!”
As soon as she entered, Lu Yun'er realized there was only one person in the hall—and it was that cold, icy one, staring at her expressionlessly.
Feeling a bit awkward, Lu Yun'er maintained her politeness and continued, “Good morning, Scholar Liu!”
The air seemed to freeze momentarily. After a few seconds, Liu Bing finally responded, “Mm.”
Lu Yun'er was pleased to hear her response, knowing that this was their first conversation and it was at least civil.
She had just placed the food box on her desk when she heard someone speak.
“Well, well! Our Scholar Lu arrived quite early today! And... why are you bringing your own food box to teach?” Zhu Miaomiao walked over with a smile, eyeing the food box on Lu Yun'er’s desk with interest. “Hahaha! I didn’t expect Scholar Lu, who looks so delicate, to have such a good appetite!”
Lu Yun'er turned to see three people approaching together.
Wen Qing glanced at the food box on her desk. “Scholar Lu, we have a dining hall for teachers and students at the National Academy. You don’t need to bring your own food box.”
Lu Yun'er smiled, “I know, but my maid Qiu Yi was worried I might not be accustomed to the food here, so she prepared this for me.”
Sheng Qingzi raised an eyebrow slightly. “Not accustomed? You can rest assured, Scholar Lu. Most of the students here come from all over the country, and according to His Majesty’s decree, the dining hall has a master chef who can cook all kinds of dishes to accommodate different tastes.” He looked her over and added, “Or perhaps you have some health issue that requires a special diet?”
As a man, Sheng Qingzi’s thoughts were evidently more meticulous.
Lu Yun'er explained truthfully, “It’s nothing serious, just that my stomach is a bit delicate and prone to issues. As long as I’m careful with what I eat, it’s fine.”
Since it was her first time teaching, Lu Yun'er was planning to ask them for some advice, but before she could say anything, they were interrupted by a cough.
“Ahem!—”
Seeing who had arrived, they immediately bowed and greeted in unison, “Master Supervisor.”
The woman who approached was middle-aged, with sloping shoulders, sharp eyes, and a stout figure. She was Du Hongying, the supervisor of the National Academy.
Lu Yun'er had seen her before during the sacrificial ceremony, and her sister Ran Zhi had specifically warned her about Du Hongying, whose youngest son had recently been promoted to a nobleman, making her quite proud.
Although Ran Zhi had only been serving as the academic director for half a year, she was well aware of the complexities within the National Academy.
However, Du Hongying seemed to look down on Lu Yun'er, and her visit today likely had another purpose.
Supervisor Du cast a sidelong glance at Lu Yun'er and arrogantly said, “The principal has decided that this newly arrived Scholar Lu will teach in the Lexiong Hall of the male academy. If there is anything you are unsure of, you must consult Scholar Sheng. Do not do anything that would damage the reputation of the National Academy, or you will be severely punished. Do you understand, Scholar Lu?”
Lu Yun'er replied, “I understand.”
She certainly "understood."
The male academy was relatively simple in its hierarchy, with most of the male students being young nobles or gentry from the capital who had yet to enter society. They had been nurtured at home and, since they weren’t pursuing official careers, were mainly focused on furthering their education to enhance their knowledge and personal development. The academy only had two divisions: Qianyun Hall and Lexiong Hall.
Another purpose of attending the academy was to improve their prospects for finding a suitable match. After all, the National Academy was a prestigious institution, and considering the students’ marriageable age, they generally studied here for no more than six months.
The supervisor's tone grew impatient, “Good. As long as you understand.”
With that, she left.
Zhu Miaomiao spoke up indignantly, “They originally assigned you to teach in the female academy, but now they suddenly want you to teach in the male academy. The male and female academies have always had separate classes. Isn’t this just a way to bully you?”
Sheng Qingzi’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “But I think it’s great. Although there are differences in the curriculum and management between the male and female academies, and the male academy has fewer students and teaching assistants, I’m the only scholar in the male academy, and I can barely keep up with the workload.” He glanced at Lu Yun'er shyly, clearly pleased, “If Scholar Lu joins us, it will lighten my load considerably. Besides, don’t forget, there was once a male scholar who taught in the female academy.”
After all, pairing a male with a female makes work less tiring! Of course, he kept this thought to himself.
Lu Yun'er was momentarily surprised.
So, a male scholar had taught in the female academy before.
This piqued her curiosity, and she was about to ask for more details when her gaze met Liu Bing's, who was standing behind Sheng Qingzi.
Although Liu Bing's cold expression remained unchanged, Lu Yun'er inexplicably sensed a deep sorrow and melancholy from her. After a few seconds, Liu Bing was the first to look away.
Lu Yun'er snapped back to reality, thought for a moment, and said, “Teaching and passing on knowledge is not divided by gender. Moreover, this is the principal’s arrangement, and as subordinates, we should comply.”
To her, it made no difference where she taught. However, this arrangement did deviate from the purpose she and her sister Ran Zhi had initially agreed upon, a matter that her sister likely hadn’t heard about yet.
Suddenly, a bell rang.
“Hurry! It’s time for class,” Zhu Miaomiao said, grabbing her textbook and urging the others.
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