In the current political climate, the only person who would dare to discuss a dead person so boldly—and the Crown Prince at that—was probably Master Yu!

This old fellow appeared to be a carefree wanderer, but his ears were quite keen.

Jingrong also said directly, “Isn’t Master afraid I might let my tongue slip and spread what you just said? After all, this could bring trouble upon yourself. If it reached the Emperor’s ears, your Mingshan Academy would have to close.”

But Master Yu was precisely the type of person who didn’t fear death. After all, he had plenty of students in the court. Would the Emperor dare to make an example of him? Wasn’t he afraid of the ministers rebelling, afraid of mass resignations? The result would be systemic collapse, and wouldn’t the one suffering be the Emperor himself? So, execute loyal ministers, force reckless ministers, but never offend treacherous ministers—especially treacherous ministers like Master Yu who weren’t in court positions but still had influence over the structure.

He spread his hands: “Heaven is high and the Emperor is far away. I say what I say, you hear what you hear—it doesn’t interfere with Old Eight’s business.”

Old Eight?

Of course he was referring to Emperor Qizhen!

And the only person who dared call him that, besides the late Emperor, was Master Yu.

Jingrong wanted to laugh but suppressed it. This little old man was simply too adorable, especially with that tuft of white beard blowing and moving, playful yet with a touch of cunning.

Just then, the young servant came running hurriedly from the lecture hall.

“Master, something’s wrong.”

He called out!

Master Yu was annoyed. With a sidelong glance, he scolded, “You’re usually impetuous enough, but now with someone present, you’re still so reckless. You deserve a beating.”

“That’s not it, Master. It’s…”

“It’s what? Speak clearly, stop stuttering.”

“It’s that… something happened in the lecture hall.”

Master Yu seemed like someone who spoke hesitantly, but at this moment he was also somewhat impatient. He slapped his palm-leaf fan forcefully on his thigh. “What exactly happened?”

The young servant glanced at Jingrong with some apprehension before saying, “It’s that Scholar Ji. She and Lin Shu are confronting each other in the lecture hall.”

Master Yu was puzzled. “Confronting each other?”

“Master Fang just finished his lecture and left. Lin Shu, under the pretext of seeking scholarly guidance, is now making things difficult for Scholar Ji. When I saw it, I came immediately.”

Seeking scholarly guidance?

Interesting!

Throughout the academy, everyone knew Lin Shu was impulsive. If this scholarly exchange didn’t go well and they ended up fighting, he would surely injure that frail Scholar Ji. Then where would Master Yu find another unharmed Scholar Ji to compensate the Prince?

Master Yu was troubled. He placed his hands on his knees, intending to stand and go over, but was held down by Jingrong.

“Master needn’t make such a fuss. Exchanging scholarly knowledge is a good thing. That Scholar Ji by my side simply hasn’t read enough books ordinarily. Now that your student is willing to exchange knowledge with her, she’s actually the one who benefits.”

“You don’t know—that boy Lin Shu is very impulsive. What if he breaks her arms or legs? That would be impossible to compensate…”

Jingrong smiled. “Don’t let that Scholar Ji’s small arms and legs fool you. Actually, in her nature, she also has a ruthless streak. Rest assured, if there really are broken arms or legs, you won’t have to compensate. You and I should just peacefully drink tea here and have a pleasant conversation—that’s better than anything.”

Since the Prince himself had said so, what could Master Yu dispute?

He propped up his head and said to the young servant, “Fine, go over there and say I don’t care. Let them make whatever fuss they want. Don’t disturb me.”

The young servant bowed at the waist and hurried off.

After the young servant’s front foot left, Master Yu seemed to suddenly realize something. His eyes, narrowed to mere slits, widened slightly. His mind pondered for a moment, then came to an understanding. “Some time ago, a student’s letter mentioned a scholar surnamed Ji. That person first solved a missing persons case in the capital, then took over the *Linjing Case* from fourteen years ago. When Prince Qujiang came to the capital and created a huge mess, she also resolved it. Could it be…”

He already had the answer in his heart.

After hearing this, Jingrong didn’t speak. A faint smile graced the corners of his lips as he picked up the tea in front of him and took a sip.

Opposite him, Master Yu nodded and began fanning with his palm-leaf fan again.

…

In the lecture hall!

Everyone was still mocking Tang Si, laughing at her about “for women, lack of talent is virtue.”

Ji Yinshu suppressed the furious Tang Si, then walked toward Lin Shu. Her slightly curved eyes were like a pool of spring water—clearly moist and captivating, yet like silvery cold light, radiating brilliance in all directions.

Sharp as a needle!

She met Lin Shu’s gaze. “This so-called ‘for women, lack of talent is virtue’ is fabricated nonsense created by you scholars who only know how to gnaw on books all day.”

“Fabricated nonsense?” Lin Shu laughed loudly.

“The women of this world are not all confined to their chambers, nor is every woman an embroidered pillow. Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, supporting husbands and teaching children—no one decreed these must be done by women. Galloping across battlefields, wielding weapons heroically—these aren’t things only you men must do. Women can do them too.”

As soon as these words were spoken, they instantly drew mocking laughter from everyone.

Simply ridiculous!

Women could do what men do?

How could these misogynistic scholars not laugh?

Lin Shu raised his arrogant head, directly facing Ji Yinshu with his nostrils, a manner exactly like Ji Yuanzhi when he smashed her courtyard back then.

He shrugged his shoulders and snorted. “So you’re just someone who knows how to flap your lips. Learning isn’t about lectures, isn’t about where or when. Since you can spout all this nonsense, why not open up and discuss scholarly matters? Come on, tell us—where exactly can women compare to men? Where can they do what men can do? From ancient times to now, in literary texts, from sages’ mouths, who has ever said women are like men!”

Constant provocation!

Everyone’s attention was focused on the two of them, and most wanted to see a joke. The halo of “Mingshan Academy” was their boasting capital. Being somewhat arrogant and confident was justified!

Looking again at that Scholar Ji, so thin and scrawny, just a tiny bit of flesh—her brain surely couldn’t hold much knowledge. If she really dared to stand up to Lin Shu, it would clearly be like an egg hitting a rock.

Ji Yinshu didn’t want to turn this sacred place into chaos. At this moment, she was still exercising extreme restraint.

Seeing that she couldn’t respond, the contemptuous smile on Lin Shu’s face grew thicker. He placed his hands on his hips and looked down at her without concealment. “Scholar Ji can’t answer? I thought you all were full of knowledge. Turns out you really are just flapping your lips.”

She was truly forced into a corner with no way out. She slightly raised her chin, straightened her back, and her sharp, profound eyes tightened bit by bit.

“Fine, you want to know? Then I’ll tell you. However, you’d better take notes with a brush, because what I’m about to say isn’t in your poems and songs, your rites and filial piety.”

Could it be fabricated out of thin air?