Lin Shu hadn’t reacted for a long time!

He’d been reprimanded?

He stood there foolishly, a question settling in his heart.

He could only watch helplessly as that group of people entered the academy in a grand procession.

Among the students accompanying Lin Shu, someone asked, “Lin Shu, who are those people? Why was our master so polite to them just now?”

Because of the incident of sheltering from rain in the pavilion, Lin Shu still had considerable anger that hadn’t been vented.

He clenched his fist and pounded it heavily on the gate.

A dull thud!

Then, he went dejectedly to copy the Book of Poetry and Rhapsodies.

Master Yu led Jingrong and the others into the inner room, then dismissed the young attendants around him. He stood in the center of the room and performed a salute.

“Master Yu need not stand on ceremony.”

But Master Yu said, “Although Your Highness is traveling abroad, proper etiquette cannot be disordered. As the ancient saying goes, one’s body cannot be humbled without propriety, and when in position, humble courtesy must have its measure.”

This old eccentric was truly worthy of being a teacher.

Jingrong smiled faintly.

“Master Yu, please sit.”

He bent at the waist, hesitantly lifting his robe as he sat down on the other side. He gently stroked his grizzled beard, squinted his eyes, and asked, “Why has Your Highness come?”

“This prince is traveling on business. Who could have predicted the June rainy season—it’s been raining the entire journey. Knowing that Mingshan Academy is in Bingjing and happening to pass by, I came to lodge for one night. Surely Master Yu won’t mind?”

“Although academy rules have been established forbidding outsiders to linger and not accepting travelers, naturally, rules cannot be broken. However, since Your Highness has presented the late Emperor’s ‘Zhaochao Youxi,’ if this old man did not receive you, it would be disrespecting the late Emperor.”

Jingrong said, “Before Mingshan Academy was named, the late Emperor bestowed ‘Zhaochao’ and ‘Youxi’ for Master to choose from. But Master said the two characters ‘Zhaochao’ were fleeting like an epiphyllum and inauspicious, and that the two characters ‘Youxi’ were ostentatious and unusable. Afterward, you chose the two characters ‘Mingshan’ yourself, which made the late Emperor quite displeased. Now this prince brings out the four characters ‘Zhaochao Youxi’ again, merely hoping that Master will do us the favor of allowing us to stay here one night.”

“Deep in the mountain forest, those who come from afar are guests. When Your Highness arrives, I dare not refuse to welcome you. After all, being old, I still wish to pass my twilight years in peace and stability.”

“You need not speak these high-sounding words to this prince.”

Actually, this little old man was quite endearing.

The two discussed some inconsequential matters.

“These paintings are truly excellent.” Ji Yunshu suddenly spoke.

Hearing this, they looked over and saw that from the moment she entered the room, she had been standing before that framed painting on the wall, head slightly raised, admiring it.

On that wall hung a painting titled “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix.” The painting was one and a half meters long and one meter wide. On it were ninety-nine different species of spiritual birds—some nestled together, some perched on branches, and some landed directly on the ground. Each bird was lifelike, with full and lustrous colors and clear lines.

In a word, the artistry was masterful!

Master Yu responded, “This is merely a reproduction.”

Ji Yunshu smiled and nodded. “Indeed it’s a reproduction, because the real ‘Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix’ is not here.”

The authentic piece was treasured by her wolf-like father.

She continued, “However, this reproduction is even more detailed than the genuine article. Not only that, the colors are much richer than the original painting. Although it’s not Ouyang Ye’s authentic work, it surpasses the authentic work.”

“Does this young master understand painting?”

“I understand a bit.” She responded modestly, then asked, “I just don’t know—whose hand produced this painting?”

At this question, Master Yu stroked his beard and responded with considerable pride, “It was painted by my student Shang Zhuo. His copying skills can be called first-rate. Whether calligraphy or paintings, he can reproduce them identically, not differing by even a single stroke.”

Shang Zhuo?

So it was that refined and courteous student!

Ji Yunshu’s curiosity about him increased further.

Master Yu spoke more about Shang Zhuo, saying that he was born with a natural talent for copying. The bird species that came from his brush numbered over two hundred and three types. As for other landscape paintings, if not sixty, then at least fifty works—most of which Master Yu had collected. Although they were copies, they still had collection value. And Shang Zhuo used this to offset his tuition fees.

Tang Si leaned beside that painting, staring at it closely for a few moments, then tilted her head and asked, “Is this painting good? What’s good about it?”

As she spoke, she reached out to touch it.

Ji Yunshu slapped her hand down.

She clutched her hand and glared!

This drew a suppressed laugh from Muruo nearby.

Afterward, Master Yu summoned Zhang Bo, who usually managed the academy, and instructed him, “Immediately go arrange several superior rooms for these distinguished guests. Do not neglect them.”

“Very well.”

Actually, Zhang Bo had never seen Master Yu agree to let anyone stay here overnight. He also knew his temperament was eccentric and that he gave face to no one. How could he agree to let them stay overnight?

He pondered this in his heart but didn’t ask further questions.

He led everyone to the guest rooms.

Called guest rooms, they were actually reading rooms for students. Inside, they were kept very clean. The furnishings were simple, yet the scholarly atmosphere was strong. The bookshelves inside were piled full of all kinds of books.

Ji Yunshu had traveled for quite some time and was truly somewhat tired. She rested in the room for a while. When she opened her eyes, it was already dark outside.

She had just gotten up when a young attendant from the academy knocked and entered.

Carrying food!

“Master, you’ve just awakened. Please eat something.”

She nodded and sat down, asking, “Where is Young Master Jing?”

“Young Master Jing is in the rear courtyard with Master, tasting tea and chatting leisurely. He said that when you awoke, you needn’t look for him. He told you to walk around the academy, and you can also go look at the study hall in the front courtyard. Classes are being held there. If you’re interested, go listen.”

“All right, thank you.”

“It’s no trouble. Then I won’t disturb Master’s meal.”

The young attendant withdrew.

Ji Yunshu’s stomach had long been rumbling. She was indeed hungry. Just as she picked up her chopsticks, the window was suddenly pushed open from outside to inside, and a cold breeze rushed in.

She saw Tang Si with her elbow propped on the window sill, her body leaning in from outside, grinning cheekily at Ji Yunshu and saying, “Ah Ji, you’ve been sleeping for several hours already. Come on, let’s go out and move our muscles and bones. You have no idea—this Mingshan Academy is huge, with lanterns lit everywhere. It’s even more beautiful than the nights in our Houliao.”

“Go by yourself.”

“Don’t be such a killjoy.”

Ji Yunshu ate her meal and ignored her.

But Tang Si was one who wouldn’t give up. After a long time without getting a response, she jumped directly through the window and plopped down beside the table.

“Ah Ji, come on! How boring to stay in the room alone—wouldn’t it be better to walk around with me? Please?”

She was actually acting coquettish!