The academy was always awakened by melodious bell chimes. Even if the heavens were falling, it would not alter its inherent rhythm. Those who were supposed to do morning runs did their runs, those who were supposed to study did their studying. When His Majesty the Emperor visited, those gluttonous young men didn’t even remove the buns from their mouths. They had steamed buns skewered on their chopsticks, their bowls filled with porridge, and pickled radish strips soaking right in the congee. They’d use their mouths to fish out a strip and chew it with crunching sounds, then spit the remaining half back into the bowl rather than finish it, and continue gnawing on their steamed buns.
This was the consequence of gambling away one’s meal allowance. The academy never prohibited competitive wagers. You could bet that someone else’s academic performance wouldn’t surpass yours, you could bet that you ran the fastest, you could even bet that you could urinate farther than others—none of that was a problem. However, pure gambling implements like mahjong, dice, and playing cards absolutely must not appear. Once caught, building a rock garden would be the lightest punishment.
Watching others eat eggs, drink eight-treasure porridge, and buy meat buns while you yourself gnawed on pickled vegetables—you had to accept it wholeheartedly. Willingly accepting the outcome of a wager was another rule of the academy. This was a playground for clever people. If you believed you couldn’t be a clever person, then being an honest person was fine too. After being deceived long enough, you’d eventually gain some wisdom.
Today’s atmosphere was somewhat different. Students holding their food bowls were all looking toward the main gate, some continuously glancing at the great bell hanging in the bell tower, where a servant stood ready to strike it at any moment.
A foreign beauty was challenging the academy’s main gate. It was said she had already passed through the maze and was now deciphering the final combination lock. Although it had taken her a day and a half—still far from the academy’s record—just the fact that she was a curvaceous beauty was enough to attract these energetic young men. Not to mention this beauty was also challenging the academy’s number one difficulty.
When meeting a beauty, one couldn’t leave their hair uncombed, face unwashed, or wear dirty clothes. So today’s students all had refreshed appearances. Some show-offs had even stuck a folding fan in the back of their collars while squatting on the ground shoveling down their porridge.
Watching as the connecting rod rose high, just one final step away from disengaging, Professor Li Gang sat in his wheelchair with a beaming smile, preparing to witness the birth of a new record—the women’s record. He believed this would be a tremendous encouragement to the academy’s lazy students.
Li Tai wore a disdainful expression. In his view, the only purpose of women was to bear offspring. A good woman met just one standard: being beautiful and fertile. Everything else was nonsense. A blind cat stumbling upon a dead rat was the only reason she’d opened the academy gate—it proved nothing at all. He himself hadn’t taken this long back in the day. As for Master Gongshu’s assistance, he glossed over it with clever wordplay.
The cow tendon was still tied to the door frame. He wondered whether the flour in the paper package had gotten damp. The instant the door opened, flour would immediately be hurled at her. Li Tai had come specifically to see a weak woman cry her heart out, not to see some mathematical prodigy. Where did all these prodigies come from in the world? Li Tai already felt Yun Ye alone was one too many. Even less could he accept that a foolish woman would become his teacher. A prodigy Yun Ye had found in a brothel? Which was stronger—her skill at servicing men or her mathematical foundation? These all required time to verify.
When Li Gang saw the final node also being unlocked, he waved his hand. Immediately, resonant, melodious bell chimes rang out. One stroke, two strokes, three strokes…
The academy’s students had to show due respect to the wise. They composed their expressions and clasped their hands, preparing to welcome their new teacher.
The proud Hypatia’s face had already appeared in the door crack. Looking at that exquisite face, Li Tai’s smile grew increasingly wicked. As the gate gradually opened, his smile became ever more sinister.
The gate opened. Hypatia had just taken one step with her head held high when a white shadow struck her chest. White smoke exploded, and in an instant, she had become a true white person.
Li Tai curled his lip, inserted his hands into his sleeves behind his back, and walked with a swagger toward the academy’s back mountain in a cheerful mood to look at his precious machinery. The matter of spinning wool had finally been put on the agenda.
No one could have anticipated such an incident would occur. Li Gang was furious and wanted to find trouble with Li Tai, but in the blink of an eye couldn’t locate him. Just as he was about to step forward to console Hypatia, he heard the flour-covered Hypatia say slowly and deliberately: “The academy’s welcoming ceremony is truly unique. How could I have forgotten that this is a place of free and unrestrained spirit, a place where all kinds of ingenious ideas emerge endlessly? A person’s most dangerous moment is when they stand at the peak. After we’ve experienced various trials and tribulations and finally achieved success, we don’t realize that this is actually the dangerous moment. The pride of success makes us forget we’re still in a perilous situation. I’m grateful that the academy has taught me an unforgettable lesson the moment I entered. I will remember it for life and follow the principles of humility and caution throughout my life, walking my life’s path one footstep at a time to the very end. To this end, I am willing to encourage all of you gentlemen with these words.”
Li Gang laughed heartily. Yun Ye’s recommendation was correct—this was a naturally gifted teacher. The other teachers were also moved by these words. Not only was she unperturbed by the unexpected, she could also quickly resolve her own embarrassment, turning a prank into an educational example for the students. This woman was not simple.
The students gave Hypatia applause like a tidal wave. The prank just now hadn’t moved her, but this enthusiastic welcome struck the softest place in her heart. Tears gushed forth, carving two comical tracks across her face.
Li Gang stepped forward, extended both arms and said: “Welcome, clever child. Yushan Academy welcomes you. I hope you can leave your immortal name at Yushan.”
Hypatia took several steps forward, gently embraced the withered Li Gang, and said with a trembling voice while performing a courtesy: “Thank you, benevolent and wise elder. Hypatia is like a wandering child who has finally found her home.”
Li Gang took Hypatia’s hand and introduced her to each of the academy’s teachers one by one. Her appropriate language and etiquette earned the recognition of the academy’s teachers. The last person introduced was Yun Ye.
Taking advantage of Li Gang conversing with Professor Yuanzhang, Hypatia said: “Respected Marquis, if you don’t tell me who arranged this farce, I’ll be very interested in telling your wife about our experience spending the night together. It was a memorable night.”
Yun Ye knew he’d never meet any good people. The petty woman had just been speaking for appearances. A woman as proud as her—how could she not find a way to get back at someone after suffering such a great loss?
“Don’t be surprised. This mechanism wasn’t set up specifically for you. His Majesty the Emperor had the same treatment when he came, except that time it was lime. But I’ll still tell you—the fellow who set up this mechanism is also a genius, only seventeen years old this year, and he’s a prince. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to compete with each other in the future. Either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. In the end, what does it have to do with me? This isn’t Egypt. If you tell my wife our relationship is ambiguous, do you know what my wife will do? She’ll do everything possible to make you my concubine. Here, this behavior is considered a virtue. Don’t underestimate the influence of an imperially appointed lady. Perhaps one day when I return home, I’ll discover you lying in my bed.” After speaking, he laughed heartily and went to find Xu Jingzong to arrange Hypatia’s office. Obviously, she couldn’t share an office with the other teachers.
After washing up and changing clothes, Hypatia appeared radiant and captivating. Every movement, every smile, every frown seemed to carry a kind of magic, making the academy’s young male students completely entranced. They competed eagerly to show Hypatia around and tour the academy. Yun Ye didn’t need to make an appearance—these bastards would definitely tell their beautiful teacher everything they knew. If the teacher wanted to ask about their ancestors going back eight generations, there probably wouldn’t be any problem.
They had visited everywhere except one secluded room that no one had taken Hypatia to see. The curious Hypatia had just poked her head through the window when a gleaming knife stuck into the window frame right by her face. Whether from courage or feigned composure, Hypatia asked the tall man inside: “I’m a new teacher. Can you tell me what you’re doing?”
The room was occupied by a large geographical model with high mountains, plains, and a blue sea. A river ran through it all, with water actually flowing in the river channel. Some exquisite little boat models floated on the water’s surface. Another small youth kept adding sand to the water. Strangely, he always weighed the sand before adding it. Seeing Hypatia watching him, he smiled shyly and continued his work.
The tall man rudely pushed her away, then shut the window tightly and completely ignored her.
A nearby student quickly explained: “Teacher, please don’t be angry. That’s just how he is. He wants to excavate a canal between the ocean and the Yellow River. All other preparations are complete—only the sand is the greatest enemy. Because the river water carries sand, and the current in this section is gentle, sand always settles. In just a few years, the channel will be silted up. Also, the estuary keeps extending. We can’t keep building harbor docks endlessly, right? So he’s frustrated. Please don’t blame him.”
Hypatia said to the student: “Such a person is worthy of respect. He has devoted himself completely to his work and forgotten the outside world. I believe he will eventually find a solution. We shouldn’t have disturbed him.”
“Teacher, let us take you to see the dragon skull and the giant fish skeleton. Those are the academy’s most worth-seeing attractions.”
“Nonsense! The library is the essence of the academy. Our academy’s collection of books is the crown jewel of the realm. These past days, many rare editions and fine editions have been printed. Professor Li Gang said that’s the academy’s real treasure.”
“You’re all wrong! The butterfly pavilion is where the teacher should go. There are now butterfly specimens of over three hundred species there. I went back to my home in Yuezhou and specifically caught four types of colorful butterflies. The teacher should go see that place.”
“Complete nonsense! The teacher is a famous mathematician. She should definitely go see Li Tai’s architectural models at the back mountain. He claims to be a mathematical genius. The teacher should go deflate his arrogant attitude.”
“A genius? You mean a mathematical genius?” Hypatia raised her head and asked the excited student with a smile.