Actually, according to the Academy's schedule, there was a Calligraphy class this morning at Shuaixing Hall.

So last night's evening self-study session at Shuaixing Hall was overseen by Zhu Yourong.

However, despite multiple classes in the morning, Zhu Yourong didn't go.

She had an assistant to do the grunt work, allowing her to happily goof off.

Zhu Yourong planned to change her battleground and go to Jingchen Hall to grade papers.

She hadn't walked far from the flower garden when a small head popped out from the flowers by the roadside.

"Teacher, where are you going? Is it to the city? Ah, wait for me..."

The girl wearing a straw hat tossed aside her watering can, ready to follow along, but Zhu Yourong's words almost made her trip.

"No, I'm going to Jingchen Hall to grade exams."

The girl was so taken aback she didn't have time to feel disappointed; she looked over her neatly dressed teacher, her face full of suspicion: "To Jingchen Hall?" After a pause, she asked again, "And going so early?"

Zhu Yourong nodded calmly.

The girl: "How long has it been since you clocked in? The last time you went there was two months ago, right?"

Zhu Yourong nodded without a hint of shame.

The little girl spread her arms to block the way, her face stern: "Teacher, you're acting strange."

Zhu Yourong remained composed: "What's strange? You little girl just overthink. It's better for me to go out for a walk than stay cooped up in the study. Xuanji often nags about this as do you. Now, move aside, I'm leaving."

The female teacher sidestepped the skeptical blue-clothed girl, stopping halfway.

"Oh, by the way."

She turned back to the girl, "The pastries we bought last time from Jixiang Zhai, are there any left? I saw you eating them yesterday."

The girl immediately perked up, shaking her head like a rattle: "Gone, all gone, not a crumb left!"

Zhu Yourong silently watched her and blinked.

The girl slumped her shoulders and whispered, "Really, almost gone, only a little left, not even enough to fill a gap in my teeth..."

The female teacher approached the girl who looked like she had a strong survival instinct, bent down, and gently patted her little head: "Good girl, share a little, I'll take it to Jingchen Hall for the other teachers to try. It's been too long since I visited there, it's not appropriate to go empty-handed, bringing some snacks is just a gesture."

The girl clung to Zhu Yourong's sleeve as if it were her last straw.

She solemnly declared, "Teacher, you can't treat me like this!"

Zhu Yourong sighed and patted the girl's small shoulder, "Girl, you wouldn't want to see your teacher being ostracized at the Academy, would you?"

"...…"

The girl wanted to nod seriously and ask: Would it make a difference if a lazy teacher like you who doesn't even want to go to the office is ostracized or not...

But her strong survival instinct told her it was best to keep quiet.

The girl thought for a moment and meekly said, "Teacher, who would dare ostracize you, they'd probably be delighted if you paid them any attention."

Zhu Yourong glared at her, "Girl, is that how you talk?"

"But they can't take my snacks!"

"It's not taking, it's your teacher borrowing a bit."

The girl complained, "And then 'I'll pay you back next time'?"

Zhu Yourong appreciated her quick response, nodding, "Definitely."

The girl: ....

Not long after, the reprehensible female teacher left Yilan Pavilion with the coaxed snacks.

Leaving behind only the girl's wounded world...

...

Jingchen Hall is located by Mochi Lake, between the Six Halls of the Academy and the back mountain.

It is the usual place where the Academy's teachers stay when not giving classes.

But most of the time, not everyone is present.

After all, most of these teachers are part-time at the Academy, having their own primary roles outside.

Some are Great Scholars taking students and spreading teachings among the Academy's students, some serve as advisors entrusted by the City Lord of Du You City for intellectual guidance, and others manage Academy powers and industries at the foot of the mountain.

Moreover, the Academy's Art Studies teachers rotate, and every time new students enroll, a new batch of teachers is selected to teach at the Academy.

Today was the first day after the mid-month big exam, which had been busy for a long time, and the weather was nice.

Also, due to the exam paper grading, more Art Studies teachers showed up than usual, perhaps because Meng Xuezhen had someone notify them, emphasizing the importance.

Inside Jingchen Hall.

Meng Zhengjun arrived first, as usual.

Upon arrival, she began her daily work, and according to the plan, all of the mid-month exam papers would be graded today, and if things went quickly, the results could be published today.

Gradually, a few teachers arrived at Jingchen Hall and greeted Meng Zhengjun, whose desk was closest to the door.

"Good morning, Mr. Meng."

"Good morning, Mr. Shen... Good morning, Mr. Zeng."

Both Mr. Shen and Mr. Zeng were teachers who taught the Classics at the Academy.

The Classics were a major art, requiring a lot of effort, so the Academy assigned two teachers to handle the Classics courses in three of the halls.

For comparatively easier Art Studies, such as Calligraphy or Monthly Studies, one teacher would handle all six halls, though there were exceptions.

Mr. Shen was a middle-aged man, friendly and approachable, dressed the same as when Zhao Rong first saw him at the Academy's gate, with long black hair draped behind him, in a wide-sleeved robe, wearing wooden clogs, looking scholarly.

As for Mr. Zeng, he dressed more like a wealthy elder, in a dark green brocade robe, with a Confucian cap worn neatly, never smiling, somewhat stern, standing with hands behind his back, with a white beard curling up.

Mr. Zeng glanced at Meng Zhengjun and called, "Little Meng," before going further inside to find a seat.

Mr. Shen followed a step behind and turned back with a genial smile to Meng Zhengjun, "Only the exam papers from Xin, Ren, and Gui exam rooms remain, we can finish grading them in the morning, Mr. Meng, just wait a bit."

Meng Zhengjun shook her head, "No rush, as long as it's done by today."

Mr. Shen chuckled and agreed, then returned to his desk.

At this moment, two male figures appeared at the door one after another, their voices heard before they entered.

"Brother Duan, when you walk with me, can you control your eyes from wandering all over? Anyone who doesn't know better would think I'm just as inappropriate as you."

"What do you mean by wandering? I'm a painter, heaven gave me eyes to discover beauty, so what's wrong with using them to seek beauty around?"

"But you can't stare at a beautiful woman all the time as if you're some kind of lascivious person or a lustful ghost, making people mistakenly think I'm with you." The second man, with a more refined voice, sounded somewhat disdainful.

The other voice was a bit rough but cheerful:

"Hahaha, what's wrong with being a lascivious person or a lustful ghost? I think these kinds of people are better at loving and appreciating beauty, truly understanding it. I love the beauty of people, but also that of mountains, water, even the colors of mist and clouds..."

After a pause, he continued, "Recently, I've been reading a fascinating book called 'Yuerong Collection,' its discourse on the beauty of women is awesome, and now I'm even more interested in the beauty of women, hey, Brother Su, you're into Poetry, you must know many fairies and beauties from above and below the mountains, why not recommend some for me to admire..."

"What nonsense, keep your distance from me in the future."

"Alright Brother Su, you're remarkable, you're so lofty."

Inside the hall, Meng Zhengjun didn't even lift her eyelids, easily recognizing the voices, as she was already used to it.

Predictably, two young men in teacher's garb soon entered Jingchen Hall, one leading and the other following.

...

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