Take notes with a brush?

Lin Shu sneered disdainfully. “You speak, I’ll listen. Let’s see what exactly isn’t in the texts.”

He was waiting to hear a joke!

Ji Yinshu’s crimson thin lips parted slightly, speaking from her mouth: “In ancient military records, during the late Emperor’s reign, in the third year of Sacred Grace, during the northern expedition’s winter solstice campaign against Yue’s army, thirteen cities were annihilated. Eight flags were captured and hung on city towers for nine full days, standing against the wind. The fierce general Liao Wei received an official title and was granted the rank of commander, becoming the general in Dalin’s history who conquered the most cities. It wasn’t because he was brave and strategic, but because the camp had a female Zhuge Liang, surnamed Zhao, given name Ye. At three years old she could read and count. At five she had read countless military texts. At ten she followed the army on campaigns, devising strategies that caused Nanliang’s forces to retreat a thousand li, returning home victorious. At twelve, under the pseudonym Bai Zi, she wrote Dalin’s framework’s first military text, *The Luzhou Art of War*. From accompanying the army to breaking cities, various strategies were recorded within. The original copy of this book remains perfectly preserved in the palace’s library pavilion. Zhao Ye spent her life accompanying the army, with distinguished military achievements. In the thirtieth year of Sacred Grace, at the age of sixty-five, she died suddenly.”

The words fell!

Everyone was astonished!

Pairs of eyes gradually widened as she spoke.

Ji Yinshu had no intention of stopping there. She continued passionately: “Going further back, Dalin’s founding ancestor Emperor Pingsheng established the nation of Lin at twenty-four. Less than a year later, he died of illness in bed. Empress Xiaozhuang supported the young Crown Prince’s ascension. In March that year, Dongju invaded. To prevent internal war and chaos, Empress Xiaozhuang had no choice but to rule from behind the curtain. She dispatched thirty thousand soldiers to attack south and defend north, with a hundred thousand soldiers from the western Hongchuan region executing a pincer encirclement. Within half a year, Dongju surrendered and laid down their arms, dissolving their nation into a province. The following July, court ministers rioted. Several marquises successively instigated two rounds of impeachment memorials, plotting rebellion. Empress Xiaozhuang was forced to flee with the young new Emperor to Tanan Temple. She secretly sent a letter to the four border regions—east, south, west, and north. With her own strength alone, she engaged in verbal combat while surrounded, buying time for several hundred generals to gather and return to the capital. Only then did we have today’s prosperous Dalin realm.”

The entire lecture hall was silent as death.

Lin Shu felt like he’d received ten thousand critical hits. His steps unsteady, he staggered back several paces.

His lips trembled, stammering for a long while without saying a single word.

Ji Yinshu’s expression was cold and resolute, her eyes filled with determination. “In ancient times there was Xi Nu who leveled fields for war, later there was Zi Jun who wore jade at court, Princess Ming’an married far away and assisted her husband to lead the people, Xizi had strategy to be a general, Jiazi had scrolls to be a teacher. As long as one has ability, whether male or female, what does it matter? How about it, do you still want to continue listening? If you want to hear more, I can continue telling you.”

Bang!

She stepped forward pressing him. Lin Shu retreated even more urgently, his spine colliding directly with the door frame, producing a loud sound.

It was also like a bell and drum, jolting everyone awake from their daze!

Looking at Lin Shu’s deathly pale lips, Ji Yinshu felt secretly delighted.

Little punk, can’t I handle you?

Since transmigrating five years ago, she had thoroughly read through the books in the magistrate’s office. She remembered clearly the matters concerning women throughout history from ancient times to now. What she had just said was merely the tip of the iceberg. After all, she was also half an archaeologist. When it came to history, she could show off a bit.

Plus, when Ji Li and Ji Huan returned home, they would also talk about matters concerning military campaigns. She kept her ears open and heard it all.

Lin Shu wanted to make a dying struggle. He moved his lips with effort. “You… you’re talking nonsense. How come I don’t know about this?”

“I just said—what I’ve told you isn’t in the poems and songs you’ve read.”

“Since it’s not there, you must have fabricated it.”

Kid, do you have delusions?

Ji Yinshu was about to refute when Shang Zhuo emerged from the crowd. Though he hadn’t participated in Lin Shu’s farce, he had still listened with his ears perked. He had to admit, that speech Ji Yinshu just gave made even him feel inferior.

He said, “Scholar Ji isn’t talking nonsense, nor has she fabricated anything. The matters she mentioned about Empress Xiaozhuang and Princess Ming’an assisting her husband—I’ve read about them in *The Hundred Records*. Though not written in detail, they are indeed true.”

“*The Hundred Records*?”

Lin Shu rapidly searched through his mind. It seemed it was indeed mentioned. For a moment, he was left speechless.

Meanwhile, Ji Yinshu smiled back at Shang Zhuo. The two made eye contact and courteously nodded to each other.

Then she said to Lin Shu, “What should be said, I’ve said. The scholarly matters you wanted to discuss, they’ve been discussed. I hope Young Master Lin will find time to flip through the engraved edition of *The Luzhou Art of War* and *The Hundred Records*.”

She bowed in courtesy.

“I take my leave.”

Too lazy to stay any longer, she cupped her hands slightly toward everyone in courtesy.

“I take my leave.”

She pulled the dazed Tang Si away.

Tang Si clung to her side with an adoring expression. “A’Ji, though I didn’t understand what you just said, I got the general meaning. You’re simply too amazing. I really like you so much. Starting today, no matter what, I’m holding onto you and not letting go. You’re mine.”

Peach-colored hearts seemed to sparkle in her eyes!

She expressionlessly curved her lips.

No response.

Behind them, another voice called out, “Wait.”

Lin Shu was unwilling to accept this. Having been truly humiliated like this by an outsider in front of his classmates, he had lost all face. He had to win it back somehow.

He rushed forward quickly and grabbed Ji Yinshu, his face stubborn. “What you just said—even if it’s true, you were just reciting from texts. It can’t be considered real knowledge.”

Ji Yinshu: “Then what else do you want?”

“In our academy, every three months we hold a competition season. Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs, or scholarly debate. You pick one, setting aside textual matters. Compete in any one thing. How about it? Do you dare?”

“Why should I agree?”

“Whether you agree or not doesn’t matter, but if you want to be a cowardly turtle, I won’t stop you.” Lin Shu sneered, feeling he had gained the upper hand.

This insufferable pest was truly annoying!

Ji Yinshu’s initial helplessness evolved into some irritation.

She had seen many shameless people, but she had never seen a man this shameless—so thick-skinned, insisting on competing with her to determine superiority.

At this moment, Tang Si stepped forward, pointing at that Lin Shu fellow. “A’Ji, just compete with him. I don’t believe this stinking brat can pull any tricks. If the lesson just now wasn’t enough for him to digest, then give him something harsher.”

Lin Shu snorted. “Women—lacking wisdom, opening their mouths for laughter.”

“You dare insult me?”

“What? You don’t understand ‘only women and petty people are difficult to raise,’ but you understand this sentence?”

Didn’t understand!

Tang Si fumed with anger.

Ji Yinshu knew that if she didn’t lose once, she would probably be tormented to death tonight.

So she nodded. “Fine, you choose. Whatever you choose, I’ll compete in.”

You’d better choose any project except painting, because except for painting, she could definitely lose at everything else—and lose miserably.

But instead—

“Then I choose painting!”

Painting?

Ji Yinshu confirmed she hadn’t heard wrong. This kid wanted to compete with her in painting?