Chapter 7: The Emotional Storyline Begins

The next day, at the break of dawn when the official road was still quiet, Lu Yuner was riding in a carriage on her way to the Imperial Academy.

Qiu Yi, who had been accompanying her all the way, knew that her mistress now had the habit of having breakfast. In the past, her mistress had a mild eating disorder since childhood. No matter how much she tried to persuade her, she just wouldn’t have breakfast, and her meals were irregular and small. Her whole body was as thin as a stick, completely lacking in spirit and energy.

Perhaps it was because of that stomach pain. Qiu Yi felt terrified every time she thought about it now. It was simply frightening to death!

At that time, her mistress’ face was pale without any color. She was drenched in cold sweat, her clothes completely soaked. Clutching her stomach, she rolled back and forth on the bed in unbearable pain, even fainting directly from the pain and losing consciousness. Fortunately, she was fine in the end.

Since then, her mistress had changed a bit and her appetite had improved. She began various ways of keeping healthy and occasionally said some things that Qiu Yi couldn’t understand. Her mistress’ health gradually improved and her complexion became rosy. Now, every time her mistress had breakfast, she would also instruct all the servants in the mansion to eat together.

Qiu Yi opened the purple sandalwood food box carved with bamboo leaf patterns and took out the white and tender steamed buns from the compartments. At this moment, they were still steaming hot, emitting an enticing aroma.

This was her mistress’ favorite vegetarian filling. The skin was thin and there was plenty of filling. Through the steamed skin, one could see a piece of emerald green inside, like jade.

After her mistress had a brush with death, Qiu Yi had spent money to hire one of the best chefs in the capital. She instructed him to go to the East Market to buy the most chewy flour, and to make the dough and wrap the buns fresh in the morning.

Qiu Yi: “Mistress, come and have a taste!”

Lu Yuner took the food with one hand and then turned her gaze to the food box. Seeing that there seemed to be several compartments, she smiled bitterly and said, “Qiu Yi, I can’t eat this much for breakfast. Didn’t I tell you? Breakfast should be eaten well, lunch should be eaten until full, and dinner should be eaten less. With so much breakfast, you’re going to fatten me up into a fatty!”

Qiu Yi said worriedly, “The doctor said that your stomach needs to be well taken care of and must not have any more problems. I’m afraid that you won’t be used to the food at the Imperial Academy. Besides, you won’t let me bring you lunch. I thought that you could ask the chef at the Imperial Academy to heat it up for you later. At least it’s made by our own chef at home and it’s what you like to eat, so it should be fine.”

Lu Yuner’s long black eyelashes trembled slightly as she came back to her senses. Qiu Yi was right. The original host’s stomach was indeed a bit problematic due to her mild eating disorder. It was also at that time that she had transmigrated over. She didn’t expect Qiu Yi to be so considerate of her, taking care of every aspect for her so thoughtfully.

A warm feeling arose in her heart and she said softly, “These past few days, I’ll let you arrange the meals, but it won’t be possible after I move into the Imperial Academy. Everything has to be done according to the rules. Don’t worry, I’m an adult. I can take care of myself. I remember what the doctor said!”

“Mm.”

After two quarters of an hour, the day had become clear and the carriage had arrived at the Jixian Gate. Lu Yuner picked up the food box, waved goodbye to Qiu Yi, turned around and walked towards the Scholars’ Hall.

Yun Prince Mansion, Qinghua Courtyard.

“Young Master? Young Master? Please get up and wash quickly! You’re already late.” Xiao Yuan anxiously knocked on the door. He wanted to push the door open, but found that it had been bolted from the inside by the young master.

“Young Master? Young Master? Please don’t sleep anymore!”

Inside the room, Su Qingwan was lying on the bed in a white inner garment, his silky black hair scattered behind him, half covered by the smooth soft quilt, revealing his body curves. After a night’s rest, the inner garment had become loose and slipped down to his shoulders. Messy strands of hair fell on his fair and beautifully curved neck, making his skin appear as white as snow, enchanting and gentle.

Su Qingwan’s face was rosy. He said unhappily, “I’m not going. I haven’t slept enough yet! I’m the noble young master. Why should I suffer this hardship?” He yawned and continued, “Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph! They’re not worthy!”

“Since the young master insists on this, then I, Xiao Yuan, can only apologize to Prince Yun and then pack my things and leave the prince’s mansion.” Xiao Yuan’s tone was low and his voice was a bit choked. He had no choice but to use some tricks, otherwise he would really leave.

Xiao Yuan listened with his ear and heard no movement inside the room. He thought that the young master had probably fallen asleep again. Shaking his head and sighing, he turned around and was about to leave.

Suddenly, with a creak, the door behind him opened and the young master’s soft, slightly hoarse voice after waking up came, “Come in and help me wash up and get dressed.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yuan’s face instantly lit up with a smile. He quickly instructed the servants to bring in the washing utensils.

In the morning, the air was particularly fresh and fragrant, still carrying the scent of dewdrops and herbs.

On the way, Lu Yuner also saw quite a few students who had gotten up early to recite books. Although Lu Yuner and these students didn’t know each other yet, when the students saw her wearing scholar’s robes, they all politely bowed to her, and Lu Yuner smiled and nodded in return.

After walking for a while, she arrived at the Scholars’ Hall. Lu Yuner found that the main door was wide open, so someone must have already arrived. Carrying the food box, she walked in and happily greeted, “Good morning!”

As soon as Lu Yuner entered, she noticed that there was only one person in the Scholars’ Hall, and it was the icy one, staring at her expressionlessly.

Lu Yuner suddenly felt a little awkward, but still remained polite and continued, “Scholar Liu, good morning!”

The air seemed to freeze instantly. After a few seconds of stillness, Liu Bing finally said lightly, “Mm.”

Lu Yuner was quite happy to hear her answer. After all, they would be under the same roof from now on, and this was the first time they spoke. It could be considered as having a beginning and an end.

She came to her office and had just put the food box on the desk when she heard the voices of people coming.

“Oh! Our Scholar Lu is here quite early! This… why are you bringing your own food box to teach?” Zhu Miaomiao walked over with a smile, looking at the food box on her desk with interest. “Hahaha! I wouldn’t have thought that Scholar Lu looks so slender, but unexpectedly has quite an appetite!”

Lu Yuner turned around and saw the three of them walking over together.

Wen Qing looked at the food box on her desk and said, “Scholar Lu, we have a dining hall for teachers and students at the Imperial Academy. You don’t need to bring your own food box.”

Lu Yuner smiled and said, “I know, but my Qiu Yi was worried that I wouldn’t be used to the food here, so she prepared it for me.”

Sheng Qingzi raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Not used to it? Scholar Lu, you can rest assured about this. The students at the Imperial Academy come from all over the country. According to the emperor’s decree, in order to accommodate the students’ eating habits, the dining hall has chefs who can make all kinds of dishes.” He looked Lu Yuner up and down and continued, “Or perhaps you have some health issues that require dietary restrictions?”

As a man, Sheng Qingzi’s mind was obviously more delicate.

Lu Yuner told the truth, “Nothing serious, it’s just that my stomach is more delicate and prone to some problems. As long as I don’t eat carelessly, it’s fine.”

After all, it was Lu Yuner’s first time teaching, and she was about to ask them for some experience when she was interrupted by someone’s cough.

“Ahem! ——”

Seeing the person coming, they immediately bowed and said in unison, “Greetings, Supervisor.”

The middle-aged woman with shoulders like a kite and eyes like a jackal, and a fat body, walked over with a big belly. Her name was Du Hongying, and she was the Supervisor of the Imperial Academy.

Lu Yuner had seen her before when presenting the vegetable offering, and Sister Ranzhi had specifically reminded her that this person’s youngest son had recently become a favored concubine, so she was very arrogant.

Although Sister Ranzhi had only been in the position of Director of Studies for half a year, she knew all the ins and outs of the Imperial Academy.

However, Du Hongying seemed to have some disdain for her. This time, she probably had another purpose in coming.

Supervisor Du glanced at Lu Yuner and said arrogantly, “The Libationer said that it has been decided that the newly arrived Scholar Lu will teach at the Lexin Hall in the male academy. If there is anything unclear, you should always consult Scholar Sheng. You must not do anything that would damage the reputation of the Imperial Academy, otherwise you will be severely punished. Does Scholar Lu understand?”

Lu Yuner responded, “Understood.”

Of course she “understood”.

The male academy had a simple grading system, and these male students were all young gentlemen from aristocratic and wealthy families in the capital who had not yet married. Naturally, they had also been educated at home. Because they were not taking the imperial examinations, they mainly focused on advanced studies, learning knowledge, and improving their quality and cultivation. They were only divided into Qianyun Hall and Lexin Hall.

Another purpose was to serve as a favorable condition for finding a good match in the future. After all, the Imperial Academy was a golden signboard. Considering the marriageable age, the time spent studying here was at most half a year.

The Supervisor’s tone was a bit impatient, “It’s good that you understand.”

With that, she left.

Zhu Miaomiao said indignantly, “They originally let you teach in the female academy, but now they suddenly let you go to the male academy. Moreover, the male and female academies have always had separate classes. Letting you, a woman, go to the male academy, isn’t this deliberately bullying you?”

Sheng Qingzi’s eyes curved and he said, “But I think it’s quite good. Although there are some differences in the teaching content and management system between the male academy and your female academy, and the number of people is not as high as your female academy, and there are not as many teaching assistants as you have, but I am the only scholar in this male academy, and I am so busy that I can’t handle it all.” He looked at Lu Yuner with a slightly shy expression and said happily, “If Scholar Lu comes, it will be much easier for me. Besides, don’t forget, there was once a male scholar who went to your female academy to teach.”

After all, when a man and a woman work together, it’s not tiring! Of course, he secretly said this in his heart.

Lu Yuner was slightly stunned. It turned out that there was also a male scholar who had gone to the female academy to teach. It piqued her curiosity. Just as she was about to ask for details, her eyes met those of Liu Bing behind Sheng Qingzi. Although still cold and unchanged, it inexplicably made her feel a sadness and desolation welling up from the bottom of her heart. After a few seconds of eye contact, Liu Bing was the first to look away.

Lu Yuner came back to her senses and pondered for a moment before speaking, “Teaching, nurturing, and enlightening, educating people, there is no distinction between male and female. Moreover, this is the arrangement of the Libationer. As a subordinate, one should obey.”

In any case, it was all about teaching. To her, it was the same wherever she taught. However, it was somewhat different from the original purpose agreed upon with Sister Ranzhi. Sister Ranzhi probably didn’t know about this yet.

Suddenly, a bell rang.

“Alright, alright, alright! It’s time to go teach.” Zhu Miaomiao picked up the textbook and urged.