Li Xueyou, Xiao Hongyu and other female scholars followed along. Upon entering, they were assigned tasks by Meng Zhengjun, serving as temporary clerks, holding name lists and brushes, to carefully register the scores of completed exam papers next to the teachers grading.

Li Xueyou and Xiao Hongyu were assigned close to Su Changfeng and Duan Jiuling, or rather Xiao Hongyu pulled Li Xueyou along to rush over.

In one corner of the great hall, Su Changfeng was leaning over the papers, embodying the demeanor of a gentle and elegant gentleman, uncertain of his origins, yet naturally exuding an air of wealth, often well-received within the Six Halls.

Especially now, placed next to some bald brutish man who carried an ominous aura, it made the contrast between the green leaves and the red flowers instantly conspicuous.

"Mr. Su, Mr. Duan."

The two girls greeted them, Mr. Su raised his head and smiled politely, and then continued to work diligently. Xiao Hongyu stepped forward to register the finished test papers, Li Xueyou didn't compete, and went over to Mr. Duan. However, upon seeing Duan Jiuling's gleaming bald head, the girl couldn't help but stifle a giggle, despite having seen it many times.

Duan Jiuling put down his pen, touched his bald head, and shook his own head with a smile, "You silly girl."

Li Xueyou straightened her face, restrained herself, nodding her little head seriously: "Hmm, no, Mr. Duan, I'm not laughing anymore."

Duan Jiuling helplessly lowered his head, "Come then, you all laugh all the time, so curious, I'll let you touch it."

Li Xueyou and Xiao Hongyu burst into giggles yet immediately waved their hands in polite refusal.

The atmosphere was quite familiar. Duan Jiuling looked at the two girls, his expression serious: "Little Xueyou, as your teacher, I've been researching how to paint beauties lately. Seeing you at such a young age, already a beauty in the making, this is incredible! In the future, wouldn't you be capable of causing a national disaster? No way! I have to paint you a picture of a little beauty. Who knows, it might accidentally become eternally famous, beauty matching hero, maybe even your impressive future husband would have to come to me for the painting, haha, I'll paint after finishing the rest of the exam papers!"

Li Xueyou waved her arms vigorously, "No, no, Mr. Duan, my father is strict, he instructed me from a young age not to engage with these. Any face reading or hand reading, fortune telling, none of it is allowed, even paintings are not!"

Duan Jiuling was puzzled, "Eh, what kind of rule is this, does your father not believe in fate or believe too much in it? Quite an interesting man."

He sighed, "Ah, well, it's a pity that the world is missing another timeless beauty painting."

Li Xueyou blushed a bit.

Xiao Hongyu with a big mouth said, "Mr. Duan always tricks us into painting by saying these things, by this time, all the famous paintings in the world would have been taken by you."

Next to them, Su Changfeng silently shook his head while maintaining his teacherly virtue and diligence, wondering what kind of colleague he's dealing with.

Duan Jiuling turned his head, eyes wide open, and asked, "Exactly, don't believe me? Want to try, should I paint you?"

Even knowing that Mr. Duan was frightening with his bald head, but loved joking and had kind nature, Xiao Hongyu was unafraid, crossed arms and pouted:

"Hm, not painting. Before at the palace, my father also asked the court painters to paint me, but who could sit still, half an hour without moving..."

Unexpectedly, Duan Jiuling nodded immediately, "Exactly, I'm the one painting beauty pictures, why would I paint you, after it's finished, it'll not be beautiful then say my painting skill is bad, ah, I almost fell for your trick."

Xiao Hongyu:......

The teachers grading papers and the scholars joked around for a while, but it was only a small interlude. Today's main task in the great hall was still reviewing the test papers and registering the scores. The jokes aside, quickly, both Duan Jiuling and Li Xueyou, Xiao Hongyu focused back on their work.

Duan Jiuling idled by crossing his legs, flipping through several students' paintings, glancing at them, then shaking his head while casually grading without saying much, at first muttering 'little punk' but later stopped talking, just speeding through.

Within Jingchen Hall, other teachers were mostly similar.

For a moment, it quieted down, not completely silent, the rustling of papers flipping and the whispering sound of brushes sliding on rice paper were unending.

For most teachers, grading these Mochi students' test papers was relatively easy, unlike higher grade scholars' papers, neither tiring, with naturally fewer movements from this.

Sometimes, opening a paper needing only glancing, experienced reviewing teachers would have a rough score in mind, seeing it multiple times makes little difference, even simpler skill papers, quick-witted and quick-handed teachers could unravel several papers at once with scores gleaming in red already written down, including certain busty female teacher...

The desk closest to the entrance, Meng Zhengjun rose, glanced around the hall, seeing teachers and scholars all go about their duties, even certain troublemaking female teacher in her eyes working seriously, Meng Zhengjun nodded softly.

"Done." Zhu Yourong pushed all the exam papers aside towards the two female scholars registering scores, clapping her hands.

The two female scholars from Guangye Hall were a bit surprised, this speed was too fast, they hadn't been there for long.

Zhu Yourong relaxed, chatted with the two female scholars for a bit, turned around attempting to check on other teachers' progress, looking for a chance to accomplish her intended task.

Just in the great hall, she was the first one finished grading the papers, given the calligraphy test papers unlike the classics papers with lengthy policy arguments to read carefully, simpler for her.

Just as Zhu Yourong quietly surveyed for her beloved little disciple plan.

A sudden dull thump sounded from the southeast corner of the great hall.

Zhu Yourong along with Meng Zhengjun and other teachers were startled, turned their heads, seeing Duan Jiuling who had been watching with crossed legs slap the desk to rise up, the sound resonating, even the adjoining two teachers' desks shook.

"What a picture of Three Beauties of Qi Family! The use of this perspective... used... to even be applied to portrait, moreover these three beauties, phew, ought to drink big white wine!"

Duan Jiuling couldn't sit still, picked up this unknown student's painting walked to the window, under sunlight squinted, studying closely, muttering some art terms incomprehensible to hall's teachers.

Zhu Yourong, Li Xueyou and other teachers and students looked at each other, Duan Jiuling didn't mind them, suddenly realized something, promptly flipped to the first page searching for a name.

"It's... Ren Character Field Number Thirteen?"

...

The southeast corner of the great hall resounded with a sudden heavy thud.

Zhu Yourong along with Meng Zhengjun and other teachers were startled, turned their heads, seeing Duan Jiuling who had been watching with crossed legs slap the desk to rise up, the sound resonating, even the adjoining two teachers' desks shook.

"What a picture of Three Beauties of Qi Family! The use of this perspective... used... to even be applied to portrait, moreover these three beauties, phew, ought to drink big white wine!"

Duan Jiuling couldn't sit still

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