When Xie Wei walked in from outside, this was the scene he witnessed: For some unknown reason, the entire Fengchen Hall was oddly quiet, with everyone’s gaze directed toward one corner—the rightmost corner of the third row. Grand Princess Leyang was not seated in her own place, but instead stood in that corner with reddened eyes, on the verge of tears. Whether moved or aggrieved, she was tightly grasping the slender hand of the young lady in the corner.

And that young lady…

Was Jiang Xuening.

At this moment, Jiang Xuening’s mind was completely preoccupied with weighing the gains and losses of receiving such preferential treatment from Shen Zhiyi. She hadn’t expected Xie Wei’s voice to ring out from outside at all. It wasn’t until she saw his figure appear at the hall’s entrance that she belatedly realized what was happening.

Xie Wei looked at her hand being held by Shen Zhiyi.

In that calm gaze, a hint of contemplation faintly emerged.

Somehow, the back of Jiang Xuening’s head suddenly felt cold. The palm being watched by his gaze felt as if pierced by a sharp arrow. All at once, the hairs on her back stood on end, and she instinctively and quietly withdrew her hand.

Heaven knows what Xie Wei would think seeing them so close!

What if he suspected her of trying to cause trouble again?

Fortunately, Shen Zhiyi’s attention had also been drawn away by Xie Wei at this moment. She didn’t notice this small detail, and only after a brief daze did she raise a smile, taking the initiative to bow respectfully toward Xie Wei: “Greetings, Sir. My respects to the teachers.”

Only then did the others belatedly follow suit with their salutations.

Jiang Xuening also immediately rose from her seat and bowed toward Xie Wei: “Greetings, Teacher Xie.”

Only then did Xie Wei withdraw his gaze, though he glanced once more at Jiang Xuening, who had her head bowed low, before walking in from outside the hall. As he passed by her side and stood at the center front of the great hall, he said flatly: “No one is late. Very good. No need for excessive courtesy. Please be seated.”

Everyone rose as instructed, and only then dared to look at him.

Still dressed in his pale blue-green Daoist robe, his hair bound with a jade hairpin, his wide-sleeved robe still carried traces of the slightly crisp misty air from the deep autumn turning to early winter outside, giving him an otherworldly appearance, like a hermit from the mountains.

But he hadn’t come alone.

At this moment, four teachers selected from the Hanlin Academy had also entered the hall with him.

Three of them were the elderly teachers who had previously supervised the examination of learning in Fengchen Hall alongside Xie Wei. The other was someone they were seeing for the first time—a man in his forties with a stern countenance who never smiled. He must have been selected later to teach coursework.

Jiang Xuening recognized the first three at a glance.

After all, only a few days had passed.

She still vividly remembered the perfunctory attitude of these three teachers during that day’s examination and the words they had spoken.

Her brows furrowed slightly at this moment.

Jiang Xuening recalled that she had said she would report these teachers’ behavior, but hadn’t had the chance yet.

Xie Wei said: “Today is the first day. I expect that Her Highness and all the study companions are not yet familiar with the teachers, nor have you prepared your lessons in advance. Therefore, after consultation with the teachers, we’ve decided not to hold classes today. Instead, let everyone become acquainted with the teachers, and have each teacher explain what will be taught over the next six months and what their respective requirements are.”

Having said this, he looked toward the other four.

These four teachers then came forward to identify themselves and state what subjects they would be teaching.

The books needed for this imperial study companionship had already been placed on their desks: one copy of the “Book of Rites” to be taught by Teacher Zhang Chong, Chief Compiler from the National History Institute; one copy of the “Book of Songs” to be taught by Teacher Zhao Yanchang, Lecturer from the Hanlin Academy; one copy of “Eighteen Calligraphic Models” for calligraphy to be taught by Teacher Wang Jiu, Academician Reader from the Hanlin Academy, who would also teach painting; and one copy of “Ten Computational Classics” for mathematics to be taught by Teacher Sun Shu, Doctor of Mathematics from the Imperial Academy, who had only arrived today.

Four teachers, four books.

There seemed to be nothing amiss.

However, after Teacher Sun, who taught mathematics, finished speaking, everyone noticed something was off: each person’s desk indeed had the required books placed in advance, but there were only four books in total, all taught by the four teachers.

Then…

What about Xie Wei?

Jiang Xuening was still pondering what scheme Xie Wei had up his sleeve when Shen Zhiyi, seated in front, opened her mouth curiously: “But Teacher Xie, there are only four books and four subjects. Didn’t they say you would also teach us one subject besides the qin?”

Xie Wei replied: “I teach ‘literature.'”

Shen Zhiyi was puzzled: “There’s no book?”

Xie Wei then raised his eyes to glance outside the hall and said: “I’ve already sent someone to fetch it. It should arrive shortly.”

Fetch it?

With all the books available in the palace, shouldn’t they have been prepared long ago? Why send someone to fetch it now?

Everyone found this rather strange.

But Xie Wei didn’t elaborate further. After speaking, he sat to one side, merely listening as Zhang Chong, the Chief Compiler from the National History Institute who would be teaching the “Book of Rites,” stood in the hall citing classics and using history as a mirror to explain to everyone the importance of scholarly learning.

Zhang Chong was already sixty years old with graying temples. He was precisely the one who had sat in the hall earlier saying that young ladies should only read texts like “Admonitions for Women” and didn’t need to know too much. Though knowledgeable about a thousand years of history, when he stood in the hall and began lecturing, he was not at all interesting—rigid and tedious.

Everyone listened until their heads were spinning.

Though Jiang Xuening warned herself internally that Xie Wei was still nearby, she truly couldn’t control her mind from wandering. Her eyelids kept fighting each other. Fortunately, she didn’t knock her head against the desk, which startled her somewhat awake. When she lifted her eyes, she saw Xie Wei sitting there holding a cup of tea, staring fixedly at her.

In that instant, she nearly fell to the ground in fright.

Whatever drowsiness she had flew off to Java!

Jiang Xuening became completely alert. The scene of Xie Wei saying “Don’t make me angry again” suddenly surfaced in her mind. She quietly pressed down on her twitching eyelids and forced herself to concentrate on listening to Zhang Chong’s lecture above, which sounded like an old monk chanting scriptures.

After enduring a full half hour, Zhang Chong finally said: “Because I study history, today’s first lecture for Her Highness the Grand Princess and all the study companions falls to me, precisely to establish the fundamental principles and let you know how important this word ‘learning’ is. As the saying goes, ‘In books there are houses of gold,’ and also ‘An inch of time is worth an inch of gold.’ The opportunity to listen to lectures from the realm’s great scholars gathered together is rare. You should treasure it. I hope you will guard against arrogance and rashness in the future. Let me say this ugly truth first—if you bring the willful temperament you had as young ladies in your own households here, I will absolutely not tolerate it.”

Jiang Xuening sighed deeply in her heart: Finally finished!

In her previous life, she didn’t like sitting here listening to lectures. She really couldn’t be blamed solely for not being progressive or studious. The truth was that these old pedants put on such airs. When they lectured, they didn’t speak in human language, nor did they care whether their students understood or were willing to listen, making it very difficult to have patience.

If Xie Wei hadn’t been sitting here today, she would probably have flipped the table and left long ago.

And what was even more terrifying…

Right now it had only been half an hour, but such purgatory-like days would continue for another six months!

Jiang Xuening truly felt somewhat desperate.

Xiao Shu and Chen Shuyi seated in front also slightly furrowed their brows.

In the middle, Shen Zhiyi, after Zhang Chong finished speaking, quietly covered her lips with her hand and let out a big yawn.

The teachers, however, remained expressionless, either sitting quietly in contemplation or closing their eyes to rest. They didn’t feel there was anything wrong with Zhang Chong’s lecture at all.

Only Xie Wei looked at these nine female students in the hall who were drowsy and listless.

But before he could say anything, hurried footsteps were already heard from outside the hall.

A young eunuch rushed in from outside. Despite the bitter cold weather, he had actually broken out in a thin sweat on his forehead. He held a stack of books in his arms and said to Xie Wei: “Lord Xie, the books you requested have all been printed and bound as you previously instructed. All ten volumes are here.”

The other teachers all looked toward him.

Shen Zhiyi and the many study companions seated in the hall also looked toward him.

Xie Wei took one book from the stack and flipped through a few pages, apparently confirming that the printing and binding were correct. Only then did he wave his hand, having the palace servants distribute these books to everyone.

Each person received one copy in hand.

The most common blue book cover with not a single character on it. Compared to other books, it seemed somewhat thicker.

Jiang Xuening vaguely remembered that in her previous life, Xie Wei had also distributed such a book, but at that time she had already slipped out when Zhang Chong’s lecture made everyone drowsy. Later, she never listened attentively, and didn’t even really open this book.

So at this moment, she actually felt somewhat curious—

What exactly was inside a book that Xie Wei had prepared for teaching?

With the book in hand, she opened it.

However, upon carefully examining the book’s contents, her eyes immediately widened in astonishment—

“Wu Yi,” “Lord Zheng Defeats Duan at Yan,” “Goujian Destroys Wu,” “Su Qin Persuades Qin with the Vertical Alliance Strategy,” “On the Marquis of Liu,” “On the Six States,” “Gong Shu,” “Fish Is What I Desire,” “Free and Easy Wandering,” “Planning Attacks,” “Bian Que Meets Duke Huan of Cai,” “The Faults of Qin,” “Inscription at Sword Gate,” “Memorial on Ten Gradual Inadmissibilities,” “Record of Viewing the Moon in Chang’an Snow”…

There was actually everything.

Some came from the “Book of Documents” and “Zuo Tradition,” some from the “Discourses of the States” and “Strategies of the Warring States,” some from “Mozi” and “Mencius.” From pre-Qin to Han to Wei-Jin periods, from political treatises to travel records—every single piece was an extracted gem, a selected masterwork, all compiled into one book!

This was what Xie Wei was going to teach?

Jiang Xuening suddenly felt somewhat bitter.

No wonder she could never outmaneuver Xiao Shu.

Consider that Xie Wei excelled at strategy and possessed outstanding intelligence. Just looking at this book, one could tell his teaching was no perfunctory affair. If one could settle down and learn even a fraction of it, even just the superficial layer, the benefits would surely be immense.

In her previous life, Xiao Shu had listened attentively to all of this; while she herself…

For Jiang Xuening, who had been reborn and read quite a few books in the latter part of her previous life, the contents of this volume could be considered shocking. For other young ladies just emerging from their boudoirs, it was naturally even more earth-shattering.

Even Shen Zhiyi stared with wide eyes, unable to react for a long time.

Chen Shuyi’s family upbringing was very strict. Though she also read and wrote, she knew there were certain books and articles that young ladies shouldn’t read, and her family never let her see them.

At this moment, upon flipping through the book’s contents, her brows couldn’t help but furrow slightly.

She truly couldn’t restrain herself from speaking up: “Is Teacher Xie really going to teach these things?”

Xie Wei didn’t raise his head, replying: “That’s correct.”

Chen Shuyi’s fingers flipping through the pages gradually gripped tighter. She actually rose from her seat, bowing deeply toward Xie Wei, enunciating each word: “Since ancient times, heaven and earth have been clearly divided, with yin and yang in proper order. Men stand in the outer sphere, women preside over the inner realm—the distinction is clear and should not be altered. My father once said that political treatises are what men should study. If young ladies understand statecraft and practical application, it constitutes a disorder of yin and yang, an inversion of heaven and earth, violating natural principles. Shuyi originally respected the teacher as one whose learning crowns all under heaven, yet now you have compiled such a book to teach us women. Please forgive Shuyi’s presumptuousness—would this not be improper according to ritual propriety?”

“…”

Xie Wei had still been examining how well this particular volume was printed. Upon hearing this, his finger rested upon the final sentence of “The Faults of Qin”—”When benevolence and righteousness are not practiced, the positions of attack and defense differ”—and became motionless.

Only then did he raise his head to glance at Chen Shuyi.

He merely smiled faintly: “If you don’t wish to learn, you may leave.”

Everyone nearly died of fright: What difference was there between this statement and “Learn if you want, get lost if you don’t”?!

However, when Jiang Xuening heard this, she first froze, then like someone seeing light in darkness, Xie Wei’s earlier statement kept echoing in her head: If you don’t wish to learn, you may leave.

May leave?

She became excited for a moment, and with a trembling hand, dropped her book onto the floor.

“Thud.”

At this time, the entire Fengchen Hall was completely silent, making this small sound particularly jarring.

Xie Wei’s gaze immediately turned over. Seeing it was Jiang Xuening, his eyes deepened somewhat as he merely asked: “Does Second Miss Jiang have an objection?”

Jiang Xuening was scared out of her wits.

The thought of “If I don’t want to learn, I’ll leave” that had just emerged immediately shrank back. Without hesitation, she shook her head to show her loyalty: “Teacher Xie has carefully selected and extracted the essence to compile this volume—it demonstrates painstaking effort. We accompany Her Highness the Grand Princess in study. Her Highness, born of dragon and phoenix, naturally cannot be compared to ordinary boudoir women. To say it is ‘improper according to ritual’—that is truly judging others by one’s own measure, utterly absurd!”

Xie Wei’s eyebrow slightly raised, and the corners of his lips actually contained a hint of amusement as he looked at her.

Chen Shuyi’s cold gaze in front immediately turned over, pinning onto her!

Jiang Xuening’s back went completely cold. Only then did she realize—

Disaster!

It was all because Xie Wei was too frightening. In a moment of carelessness, while bootlicking, she had actually spoken her true thoughts!

What happened afterward, she had no recollection at all. Though she sat there seemingly composed, in her heart she cursed herself bloody, only vaguely knowing that Chen Shuyi eventually sat down without saying anything more.

After all, the opportunity to be a study companion was hard-won.

Xie Wei’s attitude was unexpectedly not so amiable. Even if she was dissatisfied, she had to weigh the consequences.

However, when the teachers had finished giving instructions about reviewing lessons and learning the qin tomorrow at the third quarter of the chen hour, and dismissed them, Chen Shuyi was the first to leave Fengchen Hall.

Xiao Shu and the others inevitably worried about her and all followed her out.

Jiang Xuening felt somewhat awkward and reluctantly fell behind. However, when she raised her head, she saw Xie Wei walking down from the hall. As he passed by her side, he paused slightly.

Her scalp went numb. She had no choice but to say awkwardly: “Teacher Xie.”

When Xie Wei stood, he was considerably taller than her.

At this moment, looking down at her with lowered eyes, his thin lips pulled into an inexplicable smile. With one hand holding that scroll of books and the other behind his back, he leisurely remarked to her: “Today you were fairly clever.”