Chapter 9: A Thorn in the Eye

Lu Yuner noticed this subtle movement and thought he had a resistant attitude. She planned to wait for a moment and turned her gaze to the lotus pond.

At this time, the lotus pond was a rippling green with slender lotus leaves swaying in the spring light, looking like crystal-clear emerald green, lush and beautiful, charming and moving.

If it were summer, it would be intoxicating to see the blooming lotuses.

Lu Yuner stared without moving her eyes, and slowly began to speak, patiently guiding: “I am currently a doctoral scholar in the Lexin Hall of the Male Academy. In principle, Young Prince, you should address me as Dr. Lu. Today, you skipped my class for no reason, which is already a violation of the academy’s rules. In principle, rewards and punishments are clear, and you should be punished by copying…”

“What? Does Dr. Lu want to punish me?” Su Qingwan glanced at her coldly, his icy gaze containing a hint of disdain.

Lu Yuner seemed to have anticipated what would happen. After weighing the pros and cons, she met his displeased gaze and replied truthfully, “Yes, according to the rules of the Imperial College, Young Prince, you should be punished.”

As for the rules, if there is a first time, there will be countless times. It is unfair to the other students. Secondly, if the other students follow suit, the Lexin Hall will be in chaos, so the rules must be upheld no matter what.

As for how to persuade this noble and slightly arrogant young prince, it was indeed a tricky problem.

“You dare!”

Su Qingwan’s ink-like eyelashes trembled slightly, and a trace of shock flashed in his eyes. He didn’t expect that she would actually want to punish him. From childhood to adulthood, no one had dared to confront him like this.

Suddenly, a solemn and low female voice came, “Su Qingwan, don’t be rude!”

Lu Yuner raised her eyes to look at the person who spoke, and the corners of her eyes twitched slightly. She immediately knelt on one knee and saluted respectfully, “I, Lu Yuner, pay my respects to Prince Yun.”

This Prince Yun had never participated in court affairs and had always lived in seclusion. However, she had met Prince Yun once, during that competition with Junior General Liu. It was also that time when Junior General Liu became a follower of Prince Yun. If Junior General Liu knew that Prince Yun came to the Imperial College, she should be extremely happy.

“Dr. Lu, please rise.”

Su Bai’s always stern face actually showed a trace of joy. The three arrows shot simultaneously that time left a deep impression on her until now. She didn’t expect Lu Yuner to be a doctoral scholar at the Imperial College now.

Then she narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze as sharp as a blade, staring coldly at Hu Lanzhen, “Chief Sacrificer, the current situation is not the same as what you told me!”

Hu Lanzhen looked at Young Prince Su in panic and immediately knelt down, “I know my mistake.”

Su Bai’s eyes were deep as she glanced at Su Qingwan, then said to Lu Yuner, “Today, my child was rude and caused trouble for Dr. Lu. The Imperial College has always respected teachers and followed the rules. If such a situation occurs in the future, please handle it impartially, Dr. Lu, without any reservations.”

Although Su Qingwan’s face was expressionless, his fingers in his sleeves were tightly clenched.

Lu Yuner noticed that the relationship between this mother and son seemed a bit subtle, and the young prince had been staring at her too calmly. Well, this look meant that he held a grudge against her. But since Prince Yun had spoken, this matter would be easier to handle.

“Yes.”

Su Bai’s expression was indifferent, “Chief Sacrificer, let’s go to Jing Yi Pavilion to have a good chat.”

Hu Lanzhen felt a chill down her spine, and goosebumps rose on her arms. Her voice trembled, “Yes, yes.”

After seeing off Prince Yun, Lu Yuner turned around and happened to meet Su Qingwan’s undisguised contempt, glaring at her fiercely.

It was just like a parent-teacher meeting, and the teacher and the parent were in the same trench. Lu Yuner didn’t care, smiling faintly, “Young Prince, let’s go back now!”

Su Qingwan curled his lips and laughed lightly, “What if I don’t go back?”

He stepped towards the center of the lotus pond.

Lu Yuner shook her head helplessly. He was indeed an arrogant and willful noble son. Anyway, the class was skipped, but the punishment still had to be there. She followed behind him.

The two unknowingly walked to the center of the lotus pond. Su Qingwan had no intention of admiring the scenery, but instead was lost in thought. The person behind him no longer spoke to persuade him to go back, but quietly followed him, which was really inscrutable.

Su Qingwan finally couldn’t help turning around to look at her, only to find that she was leisurely admiring the scenery, stretching out her slender white hands from time to time to gently touch the tender green lotus leaves. That absolutely beautiful side face was sprinkled with sunlight, emitting a golden glow.

Lu Yuner noticed his gaze, stopped what she was doing, and asked with a smile, “What’s wrong?”

In an instant, those narrow, peach blossom eyes flashed with a charming light, silently and gently falling on his heart.

Su Qingwan didn’t know what was wrong with him. Obviously, he really disliked this person, but his heart was stirred with countless ripples, rising and falling endlessly. He suppressed the strange emotions in his heart, immediately shifted his gaze, and lowered his eyes, revealing no expression.

Lu Yuner walked in front of Su Qingwan and joked, “Have you had enough fun now?” Seeing that he didn’t speak, she continued, “Since you’ve had enough fun, then write an 800-word reflection on what you saw, heard, and felt along the way in the lotus pond. This is your punishment for skipping class today. Give it to me within three days at the latest. Remember to write with genuine feelings, clear handwriting, clean and tidy. Otherwise, it is very likely that I will reject it and have you rewrite it. Later, don’t be late for the next class.”

She finished speaking in one breath, turned around and left, not caring about his expression. Anyway, he must hate her to death.

After walking a few steps, she looked back and smiled, “Oh! By the way, if you don’t want to write, I can always pay a visit to Prince Yun’s residence!”

Su Qingwan secretly gritted his teeth, frowning and looking up at Lu Yuner. Sure enough, this person was still hateful.

Lu Yuner returned to Lexin Hall and saw that there wasn’t much time left. She didn’t plan to teach a new lesson and simply waited until the afternoon to start so that everyone’s learning progress would be the same.

After class, Lu Yuner returned to the Doctoral Hall and met Sheng Qingzi alone. She curiously asked, “Dr. Sheng, why are you alone? Where are the others?”

“Oh, after they finished teaching, they went directly to the dining hall.” Sheng Qingzi was a little embarrassed. The others were going to wait for her, but he ended up sending them away.

“So that’s how it is.” Lu Yuner put down the textbook and was about to pick up the food box. She continued to ask, “Then why aren’t you going to eat?”

Sheng Qingzi said shyly, “I’m waiting for you!”

“Waiting for me?” Lu Yuner was slightly stunned and raised her eyes to look at him.

Sheng Qingzi concealed his own thoughts and immediately said, “I was afraid you weren’t familiar with the dining hall, so I wanted to take you there. By the way, how was your first teaching experience today?”

Thinking of all that happened this morning, Lu Yuner laughed, “Let’s talk as we walk.”

“Okay.” Sheng Qingzi didn’t understand why she suddenly laughed, but he still replied shyly.