Looking again, Young Master Qi had an ordinary expression, the petite young lady tilted her head slightly to look at her but showed no intention of helping, and He Zi remained unmoved, not even glancing at her.
She knew there wasn’t a single good person at this table.
She didn’t have that feeling of being tested and thus needing to be cautious. She did go pour tea, but only gave some to He Zi. That man wasn’t angry either, saying to He Zi: “Old sir, you see, this is what non-academy students are like—they lack proper bearing.”
Tie Ci sneered at this behavior of taking advantage to apply eye drops, laughing: “Academy students? Academy students have this kind of bearing? Ordering around and being imperious toward the old sir’s honored guests?”
“What kind of honored guest are you? Just a servant who used schemes and shameless tactics to stay.”
“What about you then? A bribery guest who came crawling to offer money but still couldn’t stay—do you think you’re somehow noble?”
That man just laughed without retorting, giving Tie Ci a meaningful look before slapping down a tile with a snap.
Young Master Qi rolled his eyes and whispered: “You should shut up quickly. Haven’t you noticed he’s trying to lure you into a trap? The old sir most detests sharp-tongued people.”
“Since he detests it, then I won’t be polite.” Tie Ci stepped forward and with one motion pushed that man into the water. “Trash like you doesn’t deserve to sit at the old sir’s tile table—it would only disgrace our Da Qian Confucian Saint’s reputation.”
Caught completely off guard, the man fell in with a splash that sent water half a zhang high. Even Miss Wei, who had been focused on the tile game, stopped and slowly gave Tie Ci a thorough up-and-down examination.
The man climbed out of the water dripping wet, grabbed the boat’s edge to flip back on, and lifted his leg to kick: “Kneel and apologize to me!”
Tie Ci also raised her leg, ready to meet his attack head-on. But suddenly she heard someone say: “What makes you worthy of her apology?”
The man froze, turned to curse: “What stray cat or dog… uh, Brother Rong.”
Tie Ci also turned in surprise—wasn’t this Rong Pu?
Rong Pu wore a scholar’s white robe with wide sleeves and flowing sash. As he walked calmly forward, he naturally carried an elegant bearing. When he drew near under the intense afternoon sunlight, his complexion and lips appeared pale, adding a touch of fragile beauty.
How did he suddenly appear here?
Tie Ci suddenly remembered that the Rong family had a noble scholarly lineage spanning three generations of third-place imperial examination graduates. Chief Minister Rong had started as a county instructor, later supervised educational administration in multiple provinces, and also served as Imperial Academy Supervisor, holding considerable status among scholars nationwide.
He had also spent time in Haiyou, and Yueli Academy had originally been just a private school. It was expanded and rebuilt under his administration to attract students from all corners. Thus the Rong family had considerable influence at Yueli Academy, with branch family members still serving as faculty and administrators there.
It seemed Rong Pu had come to Yueli Academy for training and happened to encounter her again.
Rong Pu glanced at Tie Ci, also not expecting her to appear here. After returning to his home county, he had received a family letter from Chief Minister Rong. The Chief Minister was displeased with his unauthorized interference in the Crown Princess’s training, and after reprimanding him, ordered that he need not continue as a county clerk. The family arranged for him to spend some time at Yueli Academy, as He Zi was about to take on a final disciple—how could the Rong family not make an effort?
Rong Pu had been at the academy for several days. Chief Minister Rong’s letter to Master He had also been delivered. He Zi remained noncommittal, only allowing him to audit classes temporarily. Today Rong Pu came to deliver a meal to the old sir. On the way, he had just received news that the Crown Princess had disappeared again from Ziyang County office. He was wondering whether this was another voluntary or involuntary disappearance when he suddenly saw Tie Ci here.
For a moment he didn’t know whether to feel glad about the coincidence or sigh about bumping into her again.
That tall man greeted Rong Pu with great delight, but suddenly remembering what Rong Pu had just said, he stopped uncertainly: “Brother Rong, this person is…”
Before Rong Pu could answer, Tie Ci had already said: “I’m Young Master Rong’s distant cousin!”
Rong Pu’s expression was strange as he looked at his convenient cousin.
The man’s lips moved, probably wanting to say that even a distant cousin acting so arrogant showed how domineering the Rong family was, but being of a sinister nature, he only sneered coldly: “I indeed don’t deserve to speak of the Rong family’s thousand-li distant branches! I need to change these wet clothes, so I’ll take my leave!” But as he left, he shot Rong Pu a fierce glare, clearly adding this to his mental ledger.
Before Rong Pu could speak, Tie Ci had already repaid kindness with ingratitude and trapped him. He just smiled and simply filled the fourth seat, sitting down to play tiles.
After that came: “Cousin, I’m thirsty. Please, tea.”
“Cousin, I’m hungry, are there any pastries?”
“Cousin, it’s windy on the boat. Please go outside the valley and have my servant fetch me a cloak.”
The way of emperors lies in controlling subordinates through balance. Since she had made Rong Pu bear the hatred, having him run errands was fair compensation. Tie Ci didn’t mind doing tasks for him, but after a few summons, Rong Pu knew when to stop. He gave her a handful of melon seeds and had her sit down to help watch tiles.
That petite young lady seemed somewhat distracted today, glancing at Rong Pu from time to time while chatting about Qingyang Mountain’s scenery, the academy’s food, major and minor examinations, and new auditing students. Rong Pu mostly smiled faintly, occasionally adding a sentence—neither overly cold nor particularly warm.
This attitude would be fine for ordinary people’s interactions, but among nobility, it was cold treatment. However, the young lady’s sweet face remained constantly smiling without any embarrassment. As Tie Ci listened to her persistent efforts to build relationships while also gaining deeper understanding of the academy’s origins, personnel, relationships, and various rules, she couldn’t help but admire her.
Not rejoicing in external things nor grieving for personal losses, but advancing relentlessly toward any goal—appearing weak but actually very resilient.
This time everyone learned their lesson and no longer held their bladders refusing to leave the table. After three rounds, Young Master Qi went to relieve himself.
The petite young lady then said: “Young Master Rong hasn’t been at the academy these past days. Have you heard about yesterday’s dormitory fight?”
“I haven’t.”
Rong Pu didn’t ask why they fought, but the young lady continued on her own: “Yesterday a group of capital students were chatting during break and somehow started teasing Qi Yuansi, saying he was favored by the Crown Princess but still refused the imperial glory and that peerless beauty. I don’t know what Qi Yuansi said, but then he was beaten by a new auditing student.”
Rong Pu smiled: “Well beaten.”
The young lady looked at him in surprise: “Young Master Rong also dislikes Qi Yuansi? Actually I don’t like him either. Though his temperament seems gentle and refined with an excellent reputation and good academic performance—quite popular at the academy—I feel his true nature doesn’t match his appearance… But the interesting part isn’t that Qi Yuansi was beaten, but that the auditing student was later punished. When the dormitory supervisor asked why he hit someone, he refused to say. Even more interesting—he was sentenced to sweep for seven days, but after just one day, Huyin dragged him away by the ear, saying he was her nephew and others had no right to discipline him. Then she personally gave her nephew another beating.”
Only now did Rong Pu look up, this time glancing at Tie Ci, who felt confused by his look.
She knew Qi Yuansi—the legitimate son of the Grand Commander of the Central Military Governor’s Office, eleventh on the capital’s young master rankings, known as “Spring Breeze for Ten Li.”
He had been on her marriage selection list. She had chosen him; he had refused. But too many people had refused her—who could remember all those random cats and dogs?
As for the fight, surely it wasn’t for her sake?
“…The story isn’t over yet. Apparently all those who mocked the Crown Princess and got into fights broke out in red rashes last night—red patches all over their faces. Now rumors are spreading throughout the academy that they visited prostitutes and caught syphilis. That group is going crazy trying to find the culprit. Some are saying the Crown Princess must have planted spies in the academy to poison anyone who speaks ill of her. A group is planning to petition the court to impeach the Crown Princess for planting private agents and spying on national treasures.”
Tie Ci bit down on a melon seed with a loud crack.
What was this?
Sitting innocently at home while disasters fall from the sky?
And what treasures? What treasures were these guys? Heavy-duty chamber pots maybe?
He Zi listened with smiles, occasionally reaching for melon seeds but never commenting. Tie Ci observed his reactions from the corner of her eye but couldn’t detect any bias.
Rong Pu glanced at her and smiled at the young lady: “That group always likes mob tactics. Surely they’ll want co-signers for their petition. Has Miss Wei signed on?”
The young lady smiled slightly: “What kind of prestigious person am I? They’ve always looked down on me. But if Young Master Rong returns to the academy, they’ll surely want to add your name.”
Meeting her probing gaze, Rong Pu smiled noncommittally.
Impeaching the Crown Princess was just pretense—it was really about showing loyalty and flattering the Xiao family. How could the Rong family wade into such muddy waters?
“I heard the Rong family also refused the Crown Princess’s marriage selection.” Miss Wei casually played a tile: “The Crown Princess’s former fiancé from the Qi family also requested to break the engagement, along with Qi Yuansi, Wang Ran… It seems that Crown Princess must be truly unbearable, otherwise why would every family refuse marriage…”
“Miss Wei is mistaken.” Rong Pu, who had been somewhat casual, suddenly put down his tiles and spoke seriously: “First, it wasn’t every family refusing marriage—it was every family’s sons measuring themselves and feeling deeply unworthy, so they petitioned to withdraw. Second, the Rong family didn’t refuse marriage. On the contrary, feeling somewhat more presentable than those others, I personally proposed to the Crown Princess. Unfortunately, the Crown Princess saw through my base nature and sternly refused. I feel deeply ashamed and regretful, with this weighing on my heart for many days. Please don’t provoke me further with such words, Miss Wei, or I fear I might cough up blood all over your face.”
Miss Wei: “…”
Tie Ci: “…”
Author’s Note: The lottery activity is still ongoing. Collecting, subscribing, voting, and tipping all provide lottery chances. Participating in the lottery gives you opportunities to win physical prizes like Estée Lauder gift sets, Mao Geping lipsticks, Pinko bags, Dior sunscreen, plus beautiful merchandise like umbrellas, keychains, standees, pillows, and cups.