Chapter 5: The Scholars’ Hall, Hiding Dragons and Crouching Tigers

Sheng Qingzi’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. He didn’t dare look her in the eye, instinctively lowering his gaze. His mind was in a jumble. Thinking of his rude behavior just now, he really wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

As a man of exquisite beauty, he had long grown tired of spending day after day with the three dull women in this Scholars’ Hall.

One was as cold and silent as an ice cube, another was talkative and loose-tongued, and only the remaining one was slightly better, but alas, she was already married.

It was a rare breath of fresh air to have a newcomer in the Scholars’ Hall, especially such an elegant and ethereally beautiful woman.

If it weren’t for that wretched Zhu Miaomiao speaking ill of her, and her overhearing it, he wouldn’t have acted so presumptuously. It was all Zhu Miaomiao’s fault. Now the image of a “tigress” was solidified.

Lu Yuner quietly observed, a trace of contemplation flashing in her eyes. After all, in this female-dominant world, Sheng Qingzi was still a man, and his face should be quite thin-skinned.

The Three Obediences and Four Virtues placed too many constraints on men’s virtue, speech, appearance, and abilities, including their behavior and conduct. But there was no way around it, these were the social rules of a female-dominant society.

Although the empress had enacted laws regarding men’s rights, these were only a minority, and most women did not approve from the bottom of their hearts.

However, Lu Yuner was not from here after all. Although she had lived here for a year and witnessed all kinds of worldly affairs, as well as the coldness and warmth of human emotions, she sincerely hoped that every man could follow his heart’s desires and be as free as the wind.

Seeing Sheng Qingzi’s current self-restrained appearance, she intended to ease his unease. But since it was their first meeting, she wasn’t sure how to start the conversation.

Suddenly, Lu Yuner thought of something. Her beautiful eyes carried a smile as clear as clouds and wind, pure and clean. “Scholar Sheng, that blue robe looks great on you!”

That’s right, a compliment! Even in an unfamiliar environment, facing a group of strangers, an appropriate compliment can quickly close the distance between two parties and alleviate awkwardness.

“Wh-what?”

Sheng Qingzi’s eyes widened slightly. His gaze fell on Lu Yuner’s beautiful face, and his already chaotic mind completely exploded at her words. His fair face turned completely red.

Sheng Qingzi never expected to receive such a proper compliment with simple wording for the second time in his life.

He was of humble birth. His mother was an official in the Yuheng Qingli Department under the Ministry of Works, a fifth-rank official. Using the little official power she had, she coveted his father’s beauty and forced him to marry her as a concubine. At the same time, he and his father were often deliberately bullied, mocked, and despised by the principal wife.

During those years, his father was always depressed and eventually passed away in bed.

So from a young age, he decided to be independent and strong. Regardless of whether one was a woman or a man, only by becoming powerful could one protect the people one loved. He had reached his current position as a scholar in the Imperial Academy entirely through his own efforts, spending time and energy bit by bit.

Others knew him as having a fiery temper, not at all like a proper man. But no one knew that this was just his protective coloring. Because of his appearance, he was often harassed by women with ulterior motives. He had heard all kinds of frivolous compliments, flirtatious and explicit remarks.

Sheng Qingzi knew they were all bad women, just like his mother.

But this Lu Yuner was different. Her bright eyes were pure, and the tenderness slowly emanating from her every move fell right on his heart.

He slowly reached out and lightly touched his clothes, his voice soft and shy, “This… is the scholar’s robe… of the Imperial Academy. Scholar Lu will have one too in time.”

The scholars’ robe was mainly blue, embroidered with a sword-shaped gentian, symbolizing integrity and justice, and implying praise for the teacher.

The students’ robes were mainly white, embroidered with balsam flowers. Because the branches and buds were dazzling when the flowers bloomed, like a brocade belt, it symbolized a bright future for the students.

“Little brother Qingzi, are you blushing?” Zhu Miaomiao, who had been watching from the side, walked over while rubbing her ear. To be honest, it was the first time she had seen him blush like this since working with him. Forgetting the pain after recovering from an injury, she fearlessly approached him and teased with a smile, “Little brother Qingzi, don’t tell me you have feelings for our Scholar Lu?”

As soon as Zhu Miaomiao said this, everyone’s expressions froze slightly, including Lu Yuner’s. She didn’t expect Zhu Miaomiao to misunderstand and speak so bluntly.

Sheng Qingzi glanced at Lu Yuner in embarrassment, then quickly averted his gaze in a fluster.

Anyway, since Lu Yuner had already seen it, he ignored his gentlemanly image and said to Zhu Miaomiao through gritted teeth, “I see you’ve forgotten the pain after recovering from an injury. Let me help you remember it well!”

Zhu Miaomiao looked at those eyes that seemed to be shooting out sparks, and suddenly felt a sense of unease rising in her heart.

She quickly retreated and turned to run, but was stopped by Wen Qing. She reacted and said in surprise, “Wen Qing, what are you doing? I’m running for my life!”

Usually, no matter how much she and Sheng Qingzi fought, Wen Qing never got involved.

Wen Qing, like an elder, said solemnly and seriously, “Miaomiao! Making that joke about Scholar Lu clearly shows you don’t know proper etiquette. You should be punished.”

Zhu Miaomiao: “…” Now she was really done for.

“See where you can run!” Sheng Qingzi’s mouth curled into an eerie smile as he walked toward her step by step.

Zhu Miaomiao’s eyes darted around and she shouted toward the door, “Supervisor, why are you here?”

Hearing that the supervisor had arrived, Wen Qing and Sheng Qingzi were stunned for a moment and quickly stood to the side. But looking at the empty doorway, they realized they had been tricked, and Zhu Miaomiao had already made her escape.

“How dare you trick me!” Sheng Qingzi angrily ran out, the hem of his blue robe fluttering in the wind.

Seeing this, Lu Yuner asked with concern, “Should we go help?”

Wen Qing shook her head with a smile, “Qingzi is the youngest in our Scholars’ Hall, and he’s a man. Although Miaomiao sometimes speaks without thinking, she has always treated Qingzi as a younger brother. He has to take the punishment he deserves. Of course, when it’s time to protect him, she will never be ambiguous.”

Lu Yuner thought for a moment and indeed, when the two fought, Zhu Miaomiao never fought back, allowing Sheng Qingzi to retaliate. However, Wen Qing’s last sentence was clearly concise but profound, with deep meaning.

Suddenly.

“This flustered little gentleman is so handsome!” Liu Lan’s improper voice came from outside.

“General Liu is here!” Wen Qing spoke first.

“Let’s go out and see.” Lu Yuner frowned and walked outside.

As soon as Lu Yuner came out, she saw Sheng Qingzi lying sideways in Liu Lan’s arms. It looked like Sheng Qingzi was about to fall and Liu Lan grabbed his waist. But why did this scene look so familiar?

Suddenly, a certain scene flashed through Lu Yuner’s mind, and she instantly understood. She stepped forward and asked, “General Liu, why are you here?”

Zhu Miaomiao walked up, taking two steps at a time, and pulled the still dazed Sheng Qingzi behind her. She frowned and cautiously looked at Liu Lan, her calm gaze carrying a hint of piercing sharpness. She had heard of this General Liu.

In the blink of an eye, the person in her arms disappeared.

The speed was nimble and swift, the movements clean and crisp, advancing with skill and retreating with technique. Not bad!

Liu Lan habitually hooked the corner of her mouth, her gaze slowly falling on Zhu Miaomiao with an obscure yet excited meaning, as if she had encountered a talented person.

Over the years of commanding troops on the battlefield, she had ridden through battlefields and knew a truth: if a general was incompetent, thousands of soldiers would die of exhaustion; if a commander-in-chief lacked strategy, tens of thousands of troops would be demoralized.

Blood flowed like a river, burying dried bones; a million corpses were buried in the yellow soil.

Therefore, what she wanted were people with superb martial arts and extensive knowledge. Moreover, in recent years, the enemy troops had been making constant small movements on the northern border of Huabei, so she had to be on guard.

Liu Lan was obviously not concerned at all. She raised her hand to tidy her somewhat disheveled clothes and instead looked up at Lu Yuner with a smile, “Since my business is done, I just went to the neighboring Martial Hall to show my face. Thinking that it was quite close to your Scholars’ Hall, I wanted to come and take a look.”

As she spoke, Liu Lan’s burning gaze passed over Zhu Miaomiao and fell on Sheng Qingzi. Staring straight at him, she continued, “As soon as I arrived, I even rescued a beautiful young gentleman. Although it was a small favor, shouldn’t you at least say thank you?”

Sheng Qingzi sensed Liu Lan’s ill intentions. He also knew a little about the rumors surrounding this General Liu. Although she had an outstanding appearance, her mind was not upright. She had just said she went to the Martial Hall, so it seemed that they would inevitably run into each other in the future. Moreover, from her conversation with Scholar Lu, it could be seen that the two had a close relationship.

But how could the gentle and elegant Scholar Lu be on good terms with such a person?

Sheng Qingzi pondered for a moment and stepped forward, saying, “Thank you, General Liu.”

Liu Lan pursed her lips without speaking, a hint of a satisfied smile appearing on her lips.

At this moment.

“Dong, dong, dong!” Suddenly, an exceptionally heavy and melodious bell sound kept ringing.

Wen Qing looked into the distance and spoke, “Originally, this was the sacrificial vegetable ceremony[6] held at the Confucian Temple on the first day of each month’s holiday. But because something delayed it, it was postponed to today. Everyone in the Imperial Academy must dress up and attend. Since you and General Liu just arrived today, you don’t need to go. Miaomiao and I will return to the Eastern Courtyard first to change into our scholars’ robes. Sheng Qingzi will take you two to the Confucian Temple first.”

Lu Yuner responded, “Mm.”

Hearing Wen Qing’s words, Liu Lan, who was standing to the side, suddenly raised her beautiful eyebrows and once again cast her gaze on the two, the smile on the corner of her mouth deepening.

The Imperial Academy and the Confucian Temple were very close. Following the architectural principle of “temple on the left, school on the right,” it was located to the east of the Imperial Academy.

Zhu Miaomiao was a little uneasy. She walked with one step doing the work of two. In the end, she rarely looked at Lu Yuner with a serious face, like a kind old mother who was not at ease with her own child.

Lu Yuner gave a faint smile. This Zhu Miaomiao was indeed protective of her cubs. What Lu Yuner didn’t expect was that Zhu Miaomiao was also a hidden master. However, it seemed that General Liu’s reputation for being a romantic was deeply rooted in people’s hearts!

To be honest, this Liu Lan was indeed a woman worth savoring. Although she was romantic, she had extreme principles and did not do anything illegal or disorderly. She had a sense of balance and moderation, never using the strong to bully the weak or the many to violently oppress the few[7].

Facing the enemy troops, she never dared to relax for a moment, shouldering the heavy responsibility of defending the country and protecting the thousands and thousands of common people behind her.

Having seen her calm composure in the face of emergencies in the military camp and her resolute attitude of being impartial, she was indeed a talented commander who could lead thousands and thousands of troops.

Lu Yuner watched as Liu Lan hooked the corner of her mouth, a habit she was all too familiar with. This was her usual little habit when she was interested and excited, so she knew what Liu Lan had in mind.