Chapter 3: Imperial Academy

Three days later, on the fifteenth day of the month, a horse passed by the window.

The Imperial Academy faced south and was arranged in a north-south rectangular shape, consisting of three courtyard complexes. With the Biyong Hall as the center, the architectural layout was symmetrical on the left and right.

The main gate of the Imperial Academy was called the Jixian Gate, and across from it was Jixian Street, lined with various shops on both sides. It just so happened that on this day, the students of the Imperial Academy were on holiday and could go out to the streets.

Lu Yuner originally came by carriage, but seeing the large number of students on Jixian Street, she got off halfway and instructed Qiu Yi to wait there while she walked the rest of the way.

At this moment, Lu Yuner was standing under a thousand-year-old locust tree outside the Jixian Gate, waiting for the Judicial Officer, not knowing that she had attracted the quiet discussions of quite a few male and female students.

Today, Lu Yuner was dressed in pure white, making her skin appear even fairer. A red sash around her waist accentuated her slender curves. Her entire being exuded a refined and otherworldly aura.

Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, shining on her gentle side profile, displaying the tranquility of time.

“Judicial Officer, has she not arrived yet?” Liu Lan approached Lu Yuner with a harmless smile, but her gaze kept surveying the young students on Jixian Street.

Lu Yuner looked up at Liu Lan and smiled, “Maybe something delayed her.”

Liu Lan’s lips curled into an interested smile as she slowly said, “Perhaps her little husband at home is clinging tightly to her!”

“Lieutenant Liu, stop talking nonsense!” Han Ranzhi came running over with a serious expression. “This is the Imperial Academy, you need to be proper!”

As expected of the principled Han Ranzhi, she never let matters of principle slide.

Liu Lan immediately apologized, “Yes, Judicial Officer.”

Han Ranzhi said to Lu Yuner, “Something came up at home earlier, so I’m a bit late. I’ve kept Sister Yuner waiting.”

Lu Yuner smiled politely, “It’s alright.”

“You two, follow me.”

Inside the Jing Yi Pavilion[1].

“Crack—” A crisp sound rang out.

Immediately after, a pained exclamation was heard from the Libationer, “Oh no! My blue and white porcelain…”

The white-haired Libationer, Hu Lanzhen, over fifty years old, sat sprawled on the ground, her eyes filled with heartache as she looked at the blue and white porcelain shattered into numerous pieces on the floor. Her heart nearly bled.

This was her little darling that she had collected for many years, accompanying her for half her life!

A tall and elegant figure was seen leaving Hu Lanzhen’s side, turning to come to the pear blossom wood desk. That fair hand placed the stack of white paper from the desk into its palm, then unceremoniously crumpled it into a ball and tossed it away.

Hu Lanzhen immediately ran over again, bending down to pick up the crumpled paper ball from the ground, her face full of despair, “The rice paper I specially sent someone to buy from Huizhou…”

This rice paper was tough and smooth as jade, allowing for clear ink strokes when writing or painting. It was also resistant to bookworms and had a long lifespan.

Since ancient times, it had been known as the “king of papers” and “thousand-year paper.”

Hu Lanzhen’s heart was likely shattering into pieces again, but faced with such willful actions from the person before her, she could only endure in silence.

Seeing that person walking towards the cloisonné, Hu Lanzhen quickly pleaded, “Young Master, if you have any orders, just tell me directly and I will carry them out!”

The person in front of her was none other than the esteemed Young Master of Yun Qinwang Mansion. With his noble identity, how could she dare to offend him!

Su Qingwan grinned slyly, his tone light, “This Young Master is used to being free and unrestrained, and cannot tolerate the slightest restraint.”

Hu Lanzhen humbly coaxed, “Rest assured, Young Master, the Imperial Academy is just like Yun Qinwang Mansion for you. Do as you please.”

Su Qingwan glanced at her and said indifferently, “What else?”

The low voice carried an indescribable oppressiveness, making Hu Lanzhen instantly straighten her back.

She turned her eyes and had no choice but to say with difficulty, “Young Master, don’t worry about Yun Qinwang. I know what to do.”

“You know what’s good for you! Xiao Yuan, let’s go.” Su Qingwan smiled in satisfaction.

Hu Lanzhen watched the departing figure and finally breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead and muttering, “This little ancestor has finally left.”

But when she turned around and saw her precious treasures shattered on the ground, the Libationer felt her heart and liver shatter again.

“Oh, my dear precious babies!”

Xiao Yuan followed behind Young Master and softly reminded, “Young Master, although you’ve already spoken to the Libationer, you still need to show some restraint… Otherwise, if the Mistress finds out, I may truly no longer be able to accompany you by your side.”

Just last night, Yun Qinwang had already spoken to him.

Su Qingwan frowned and stopped, looking at Xiao Yuan, “What did she say to you?”

Seeing Xiao Yuan remain silent, Su Qingwan understood. Knowing her resolute nature, he suppressed the anger in his heart and softened his tone, “Alright, I’ll try my best.”

However, as soon as Su Qingwan turned around, he collided head-on with Lu Yuner and her group at the corner of the corridor.

Due to the suddenness of the incident, neither party noticed. Su Qingwan collided with Liu Lan, who was walking backwards in front. Liu Lan didn’t notice the person behind her, and with the disparity in strength between men and women, Su Qingwan was inevitably the one to fall.

At the critical moment, Lu Yuner reacted swiftly, immediately reaching out past Liu Lan and grabbing Su Qingwan’s arm with one hand while supporting his waist with the other, helping him regain his balance and preventing him from falling to the ground.

Upon seeing the person in front of her, Lu Yuner was slightly startled. Wasn’t this the young gentleman she had rescued that day at the Liusu River?

With a beautiful face, red lips and white teeth, without any makeup, his entire being was as flawless and exquisite as a piece of jade.

Now dressed in fine ice-blue brocade with light green willow leaf patterns embroidered on the edges, his dark hair was tied up with a fine mutton-fat jade hairpin. Under the loose strands of hair on his forehead, his eyes sparkled brilliantly, clearly an extraordinary and refined young nobleman.

Su Qingwan, having just regained his senses, realized he was being held by someone and showed displeasure on his face.

He raised his eyes to look at the person in front of him and paused, stunned by her appearance. She had a pure and flawless countenance, a pair of amorous peach blossom eyes, her gaze gentle and clear, without any impurities.

These were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen, but why did those enchanting peach blossom eyes always seem to be lacking something?

Suddenly, Su Qingwan’s nose inadvertently caught a rich, cold fragrance. His eyes instantly filled with confusion. This scent? Just as he wanted to delve deeper, Xiao Yuan’s voice interrupted him.

“How bold! Quickly release the Young Master!” Xiao Yuan, seeing Lu Yuner still holding the Young Master, immediately reprimanded her.

Han Ranzhi, assessing the situation, was the first to step aside and make way, bowing with her hands clasped, “I am Han Ranzhi, greetings to the Young Master.”

Lu Yuner immediately retracted her hands, “I am Lu Yuner, greetings to the Young Master.”

Liu Lan: “I am Liu Lan, greetings to the Young Master.”

However, upon hearing the words “Young Master,” Lu Yuner’s eyes rippled slightly. To be honest, it had been a year since her soul transmigration, and with the lack of entertainment activities here, her life basically revolved around two points. She truly did not know that the person she had rescued was a young master.

Fortunately, judging by his rosy complexion, his body seemed to be in good condition.

Su Qingwan’s delicate and fair chin lifted slightly as he swept his gaze over the three people in front of him. Without uttering a word of blame, his eyes lingered briefly on Lu Yuner before he left.

“Luckily, this Young Master didn’t punish us.” Han Ranzhi looked at Liu Lan in surprise, “Strange! It’s rare to see Lieutenant Liu being so well-mannered.”

“Who else could it be but the Young Master’s mother, Yun Qinwang! I am a loyal supporter of Yun Qinwang.” Liu Lan’s lips curled into a smile, “But from the looks of it, this Young Master is probably studying at the Imperial Academy. If I can get close to him then, who knows, I might even be able to spar with Yun Qinwang a few times and get a thrill out of it. But seeing how arrogant this Young Master is, it might be a bit difficult!”

After all, having been a supporter of Yun Qinwang for so many years, if she really had the chance to spar with her, she would consider it a wish fulfilled.

At this point, Han Ranzhi noticed that Lu Yuner had been silent the whole time, “What’s wrong, Lady Lu?”

Liu Lan came back to her senses and also looked at Lu Yuner.

Lu Yuner smiled faintly, “It’s nothing, let’s hurry and go see the Libationer! Otherwise, it will be too late.”

She took the lead, and Han Ranzhi followed, while Liu Lan walked leisurely, seemingly thinking about something.

Seeing the Libationer’s door wide open with her back to them, sprawled on the ground, Han Ranzhi knocked on the door, “Libationer, Lady Lu and Lieutenant Liu are here.”

Upon hearing someone call from behind, the Libationer immediately stood up. Instead of responding to Han Ranzhi, she greeted Liu Lan with an apologetic smile, “Lieutenant Liu, why have you come!”

Han Ranzhi helplessly glanced at Lu Yuner, indicating for her not to take it to heart.

Lu Yuner smiled lightly without a word, naturally understanding the Libationer’s attitude.

The position of Minister of Revenue was in charge of the country’s finances, including land, taxes, household registration, military supplies, and salaries throughout the country.

During her tenure as Minister of Revenue, there was once a fund allocation from the Imperial Academy that she did not approve due to its unspecified purpose and non-compliance with conditions.

Later, even when someone tried to pass a message on her behalf, she stuck to her principles and still ignored it, thus making quite a few enemies.

But no one knew that she was originally a wandering soul from another world, with little attachment to this world, having already put life and death aside.

Even less did she want to form deep ties with anyone.

The Libationer must have taken it to heart, and now that she was no longer serving as the Minister of Revenue and working under her instead, she certainly wouldn’t give her any good treatment.

Liu Lan also saw through it and said coldly, “Oh! Libationer, you’re not that old, how come your eyes aren’t working well! Didn’t you see Lady Lu beside me?”

Hu Lanzhen thought to herself, now that she’s working under me, where is the “lady” in that!

At the moment, for the sake of Liu Lan’s face, she finally put on a fake smile and said to Lu Yuner, “Lady Lu.”

Lu Yuner understood perfectly well and went along with it, “Libationer, you’re too kind. I am no longer a lady, now that I am serving as a scholar under you, I must listen to your guidance.”

Seeing Lu Yuner’s humbler attitude, Hu Lanzhen thought to herself that at least she knew her place. She then put on a superior air and ordered, “Judicial Officer, take Scholar Lu to familiarize herself with the environment and understand the situation first. As for the curriculum arrangement, that will be up to you to decide.”

“Yes, Libationer.” Han Ranzhi said to Lu Yuner, “Scholar Lu, follow me.”

After they left, Hu Lanzhen immediately changed her expression to a fawning one and came to Liu Lan’s side, “Lieutenant Liu, what brings you here in person today?”

There was no choice, this was also a difficult little ancestor to serve!

[1] Jing Yi Pavilion: The office of the Libationer, the highest official of the Imperial Academy, and the Judicial Officer, the deputy.

The romance plot will be a slow burn.