When Yuan Jia excitedly carried a chest of money to the boat together with Zhuzong, Shen Gonghai and Yao Si also hurriedly ran over. Having lived in the same room as brothers for three years, there was no reason not to come see such a major event.

“Oh my, Young Master Yuan is truly devoted and honorable. Mother has no reason to prevent my daughter from marrying. By rights, redeeming Xiao Yuanbao requires eighty strings of cash—this is clearly written in the contract. Ai, who told your mother to be born with a Bodhisattva’s heart? I most cannot bear to see lovers struggle to achieve their dreams. Never mind then, seventy strings is seventy strings. Take all the clothes bought for Yuanbao over these years too—consider it mother’s dowry for my daughter.”

Yuan Jia was about to say some words of thanks when he heard Shen Gonghai’s leisurely voice behind him: “Old bawd, you’re nothing but a bloodsucker. Stop playing Bodhisattva before us now. Academy disciples never owe anyone favors. Ten strings of cash doesn’t count as a hair to us. An academy gentleman doesn’t need a madam currying favor. Here’s twenty strings of cash—the extra is your reward. Quickly get the deed and write a termination document. From now on we’re unrelated. From today on, if I hear my sister-in-law’s name from your mouths again, I’ll smash your Yanlai Tower to smithereens.”

Yaoniang never disdained money. No matter how harshly Shen Gonghai spoke, those two large silver ingots were dazzlingly bright. She snatched them and clutched them to her bosom, saying with an ingratiating smile: “Yes, yes, this young master is absolutely right. Yuanbao is about to become an official’s wife. This old woman promises from now on not to mention a single word. If there’s any mistake, you can tear my mouth apart.”

Yuanbao, wearing a bright red outfit, was pushed out from the cabin by the other courtesans, shyly lowering her head. Yuan Jia watched with a heart full of joy. Just as he was about to step forward to take Xiao Yuanbao’s hand, Shen Gonghai forcefully held him back. Taking a small bundle from Yao Si’s hands, he tossed it to Xiao Yuanbao and said to her: “Sister-in-law, if you want to consider Yuan Jia’s interests, change into these clothes. Remember, you cannot take a single thing from Yanlai Tower, cannot bring a single item. Your good sisters from now on can only be strangers. If you can do these things, your brother will take charge for you two today and marry you immediately. Otherwise, let’s drop this matter.”

Yuan Jia looked at Shen Gonghai in confusion: “Haizi, people have feelings. Yuanbao has spent many years with her sisters. Isn’t being so heartless a bit calculating and snobbish?”

Shen Gonghai grabbed Zhuzong and pointed at him and Yao Si, saying to Yuan Jia: “What kind of people are they? And what kind are we? Look clearly—we four are the same kind of people. Sister-in-law has shown you great kindness. However you repay her isn’t excessive. Marrying such a loyal and filial wife is originally a fine story. Though she lacks chastity, our academy cares least about precisely this thing.”

“Think about it—we’ve worn through iron inkstones studying by cold windows for ten years. What for? Isn’t it to display our abilities, earn our names in the historical records, and create an eternally prosperous age for our Great Tang’s common people?”

“In another month and a half, it will be time for us to display our skills and compete with all the scholars under heaven. Our academy will certainly become everyone’s target. Although ‘the noble and base do not marry’ isn’t written into law, do you think this thing doesn’t exist? No one cares about taking concubines, but marrying a principal wife requires proper matchmakers and certificates—these things will be written into your official credentials. If they learn sister-in-law came from a brothel, what future will you have? The academy will also be criticized over this. Your years of hard work will flow away like water, so this matter must be handled carefully.”

“Haizi, you’re wrong. A true man acts rightly and walks straight. What do others’ slanders have to do with me? A gentleman cultivating virtue must reveal his nature even in small matters. Doing things sneakily and covertly is actually not beautiful. Yuanbao was originally my wife. We didn’t steal or rob. Forced by circumstances into a brothel isn’t a shameful thing. Marrying her should naturally be open and aboveboard. I’ll even ask the old Mountain Dean to bless us as a couple. These clothes are very suitable. If one must become an official just to be an official, then I’d rather not do it. I can stay at the academy teaching and educating—that’s also meritorious. Haizi, we’ve been brothers all along. I appreciate your good intentions, but I don’t plan to have Yuanbao marry me feeling wronged. Otherwise, my parents in the underworld won’t forgive me.”

Shen Gonghai sighed deeply and could only let him be. Watching Yuan Jia happily hold Yuanbao’s hand as they returned to the academy. After walking two steps, he discovered Zhuzong and Yao Si hadn’t moved. Irritably he said: “You two bastards, why aren’t you leaving? What are you waiting for?”

Zhuzong sleazily grabbed Shen Gonghai: “Obviously, we three have nowhere to sleep tonight. We can’t very well sleep in the same room as sister-in-law, right? How about…”

Shen Gonghai looked at Yanlai Tower’s flower boat, then at the drooling Yao Si, stamped his foot and said: “No problem. Food and drink are covered, overnight fees you handle yourselves.” Having said this, he very politely walked toward Yaoniang who was grinning like an old hen.

Early in the morning, Yun Ye was busy in his office. The accumulated documents were numerous. The Lingnan Navy had actually discovered an island at the mouth of the Yangtze River and planned to build a transfer port there, making resupply more convenient. The navy’s large ships carried enough supplies to make a round trip between Mingzhou and Lingnan. Why build a transfer port there for no reason? This matter needed consideration—set it aside for now.

After handling official business, he finally took out private correspondence to review. Strangely, the Water Transport Shipping Company also planned to build a transfer port. Taking out both maps to look, he understood—wasn’t this the future Chongming Island? How was it so small? Only a hundred zhang east to west, thirty zhang north to south. What use was such a small place? Moreover, this small island had just formed and was covered in sand everywhere. How to build a port? No, this matter needed thorough inquiry. Wait until they returned to discuss it.

Hypatia had already swayed her hips past the office twice. Yun Ye pretended not to see. When she passed by the third time, she couldn’t hold back anymore and walked right in, plopping down on Yun Ye’s desk: “Yesterday I bathed in the hot springs with Gao Shanyang. Don’t you want to know what happened?”

Yun Ye carefully moved the inkstone over a bit, rubbing his temples: “Let me first observe a moment of silence for that Wa woman. I must say, since you arrived, the academy’s standards have dropped more than one level. If this continues, how can it be acceptable? Every woman sits on men’s desks—what joy is left in this world?”

Hypatia embarrassedly got down from the desk, rolling her eyes: “Those corpses in the maze forest—looks like she sent them. Don’t you have any desire to ask about it?”

“Master Sun is currently researching human bones and muscles, and also likes examining dead people’s organs. There are never enough corpses. What’s wrong with sending more corpses?”

“I think you’re harboring ill intentions, setting up traps for people to fall into. Tell me—I won’t tell others. I just want to know how you designed this trap to harm people.”

“Keep secrets? Have you ever had that concept? I actually really don’t understand you. With your conditions, find a good man to marry, then have children, and study on the side—what a good thing. Why drag women into hot spring pools with you all day? Several masters at the academy have already complained about you.”

“I don’t fancy those foolish men. I just like women—soft and comfortable to hold. As for men, having them or not is all the same. My body has been dedicated to the goddess of wisdom. Don’t let earthly men have delusions.”

Yun Ye nodded understandingly. Hypatia’s goddess of wisdom was also female. This person was basically beyond saving.

“Li Tai is going to conduct a large-scale scientific experiment. Why don’t you go help him too? Knowledge must eventually be known and understood by the world, not just locked in the academy. Such exhibition activities will likewise be part of the academy’s work from now on.”

“Master Zhao Yanling is also systematically inviting stargazing enthusiasts from Chang’an to visit his observatory. Can that huge telescope made of distilled water from last time be made again this year? Even His Majesty the Emperor wants to see what’s actually on the moon. Make it more refined this time. If you want people to pay money, you need to invest. Let people see at a glance it’s high-grade goods that require lots of silver to make. There are many wealthy people in Chang’an now. Just slap on any name and you can trick—I mean fundraise—lots of money.”

“Look at the academy these years constantly building walls. Soon we’ll enclose all of Yushan. The expenses are huge. Xu Jingzong is exhausted like a donkey every day. You people don’t know how to feel sorry for him. Getting him more money won’t kill you, will it?”

Hypatia was made dizzy by Yun Ye’s rapid-fire speech. Hearing about silver, she immediately interjected: “I still haven’t secured the refined gold and mithril. You just keep your eyes on my bit of money all day. Two thousand strings isn’t even enough to buy these two spiritual metals. When I ask you, you won’t give.”

“Hehe, blame me? Refined gold, mithril—haven’t seen them. But you seem to have bought lots of new jewelry. That half-jin gold armlet from the Western Regions caravan auction—you bought it without blinking. Don’t tell me that was your own money. Two thousand strings—do you even have one thousand left now? Let me tell you, that’s your research funding for the year. Not one more coin.”

Hypatia hurriedly grabbed Yun Ye’s sleeve and begged, promising not to spend recklessly anymore, making meowing sounds like a cat. Just as Yun Ye was getting annoyed, Xu Jingzong walked in. Hypatia pretentiously straightened her clothes, thrust out her chest, and walked out.

“Old Xu, don’t misunderstand what just happened.”

“I won’t misunderstand. I listened outside the door for a while. This woman is a vixen. We shouldn’t lower ourselves to her level. If it were any other master carrying on like this, it would be enough to go to the Court of Judicial Review. From now on, whether it’s masters or students, all fundraised money must be recorded in the accounts, then uniformly allocated. Those who contributed greatly can get more. We absolutely cannot continue like now where whoever fundraises gets to keep it. Things will become chaotic this way.”

“Old Xu, you’re absolutely right. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Then let’s start with me. I just fundraised one thousand strings from the Ministry of Revenue specifically for designing new account books. Let’s put this money in the academy accounts first.”