Chapter 59: Father Liu's Visit

After the break, classes resumed, and the companions were much more familiar and intimate with one another than before.

Except for Yang Luo.

Yang Luo, who had previously engaged in simple exchanges despite not being particularly enthusiastic in conversation, had ceased all communication in class.

No one spoke to her; whenever their eyes met, the other party would immediately look away, as if avoiding a contagion.

Jiang Rui did not come to argue with her, Yang Luo did not go to apologize, and the others did not mention what had happened that day. However, during the breaks, some young ladies would deliberately bring up Zhu Yunxiao.

"This was hand-embroidered by the Fourth Miss Zhu, wasn't it? I saw her working on it even while she was out for pleasure."

"The Marchioness of Yongwu asked my mother last time which temple offers blessings for safety, saying she wanted to take you there."

"The Marchioness of Yongwu rarely goes out; even the Heir is seldom seen with her."

In short, their words implied that the Yongwu family treated Jiang Rui differently, serving as a subtle warning for certain people to know their place.

Yang Luo found it amusing, but she no longer sought to explain herself.

In this life, she would have no further entanglements with Zhu Yunxiao; Jiang Rui's fate had nothing to do with her.

Princess Pingcheng's expression remained unchanged, but Yang Hui, who had entered alongside the Princess, returned to her seat and said loudly to her companions on both sides, "The Princess told me I don't need to give her notes every lesson. She said I should organize them after the four days of classes are over and give them to her all at once, so that I can focus on listening to the lecture."

As she spoke, she looked at Yang Luo.

Yang Luo understood that this was the Princess's way of cutting off any excuse for her to approach by offering notes.

This also meant that Princess Pingcheng had developed a negative impression of her. One could provoke Yang Hui, but one could not truly anger Princess Pingcheng—at least, one could not give the Princess an opportunity to reprimand her.

Yang Luo did not argue with Yang Hui. She listened to the lectures quietly and spent her breaks eating and drinking alone. Yang Hui provoked her two or three times but received no response; instead of feeling satisfied, she felt a belly full of rage.

"She is just cunning, pretending to be honest so she doesn't give the Princess a chance to punish her."

"If she dares to act arrogant in front of the Princess today, the Princess will surely scold her and drive her away."

Upon returning home, the more Yang Hui thought about it, the angrier she became, complaining to the household servants and maids while washing up.

The head maid was already very familiar with Liu Chan's name and hurried to soothe Yang Hui: "Pretending won't last forever. The Princess is young and difficult to talk to, but once the Empress finds out, she certainly won't allow such a person to stay by the Princess's side."

Yang Hui's eyes instantly lit up. "Yes, exactly! Let Mother and Father go and speak to the Empress."

Previously, the conflict with her had been under the pretext of her violating rules to join, making it difficult to involve the Empress. But now, Liu Chan had bullied Jiang Rui and was coveting the Heir of the Yongwu family. For a woman of such poor character, it was perfectly reasonable for the Empress to step in and reprimand her, while also protecting Miss Jiang.

"Quickly, go find Mother and Father!"

Yang Hui hurriedly finished her bath and changed, not even bothering to wear her hair ornaments, and rushed toward the courtyard of the Duchess of Ding'an. Just as she was about to enter the gate, a young maid rushed out and nearly knocked her over.

Yang Hui kicked the maid. "What are you running around for!"

The young maid knelt down in terror. "It's bad, Miss! Someone is making a scene at the gate, claiming our family captured his daughter. The Lord wants the Duchess to come at once!"

Yang Hui blinked. "Has my brother kidnapped a commoner's daughter?"

The Duchess of Ding'an rushed out from the inner chambers just then, nearly tripping upon hearing the news.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" she barked, looking at her daughter. "It's the Liu family who has come!"

Yang Hui was puzzled. "Which Liu family?"

The Duchess said irritably, "Which one else? The Liu family from Fuzhou!"

Yang Hui's eyes widened. Liu Chan's family had come?

"They actually dare to make a scene?!" she shouted. "This is utterly preposterous!"

...

...

As dusk fell, the street where the Duke of Ding'an's residence was located was even more bustling than during the day. More and more people gathered, pointing and whispering at the gates of the estate.

Many servants stood before the ancient, heavy gates, surrounding two men dressed in green robes.

"I have said that I am Liu Changqing of the Zhiyong Academy in Fuzhou, Liu Chan's father," the middle-aged man said solemnly. "I am here now; why won't the Duke of Ding'an come to see me!"

The young scholar standing beside him looked furious. "I am Liu Chan's senior brother, Cheng Yuan. If you have an issue, take it out on me, but do not bully my junior sister!"

The once-arrogant steward was now both irritated and somewhat disheveled.

"I have told you, please come inside to see the Lord," he said, his voice rising and then dropping. "The Lord is waiting to see you."

Liu Changqing remained motionless, his expression cold. "Did you not say you wanted to question me on the principles of the Sages? The principles of the Sages should be debated in public. What, is the Duke afraid to question me in front of others?"

Cheng Yuan sneered, "We wouldn't dare step foot in your house. We don't know where our junior sister has been captured to. If we go in, will we be locked up as well?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" The Duke of Ding'an, who had been listening from under the eaves in the corner, could no longer contain his anger and stepped forward.

Although he had never met Liu Changqing, seeing the reaction of the servants and the man's magnificent attire, Liu Changqing recognized him.

Though Liu Changqing held no official rank or title, he showed no fear and shouted, "You called my daughter ill-mannered and arrogant, and threatened to teach her a lesson! I am here now—release my daughter at once!"

"Who said I captured your daughter!" the Duke barked irritably. "What madness are you spewing!"

Liu Changqing looked at him. "Then where is my daughter?"

At this thought, his tense face began to tremble.

He had originally traveled to the capital with great enthusiasm. First, to see a long-lost classmate and discuss the classics late into the night; second, to visit his daughter, who was leaving home for the first time, and to convey the joy of the family upon hearing she had been selected as a companion to the Princess by the Imperial Academy.

He never expected that upon meeting his classmate, he would be harshly rebuked, told that his daughter had angered the Duke of Ding'an in the capital, and that the Duke had sent word to the local officials in Fuzhou to shut down the Zhiyong Academy.

The academy was his life's work and his pride; if it were truly shut down, it would be the death of him.

Losing all interest in discussing the classics, Liu Changqing had left his classmate's house in a state of anger and disbelief to find out what was happening with his daughter. He went to their rented residence, but when he knocked, a stranger answered. He hurried to ask the landlord, who said his daughter had moved out long ago, and as for where she had gone, no one knew.

His daughter was also his life.

Liu Changqing had only this daughter, and he had never looked down on her for being female. He had taught her meticulously, hoping she would one day inherit his legacy. He never expected that just as he received good news, his daughter would vanish.

It was late, and the city gates were closed; he could not leave.

Liu Changqing was not without a plan. Thinking that if the Duke of Ding'an threatened to close his academy, his daughter in the capital would be even more threatened, he immediately brought his disciple and charged here to demand her return.

While Liu Changqing was speaking, Yang Hui rushed out from the house, ignoring the Duchess's attempts to stop her. Hearing these words, she felt both angry and bewildered.

"What? Liu Chan was even at school today!"

*She was at school today?* Liu Changqing frowned slightly.

"Then why did my junior sister change her residence?" Cheng Yuan shouted, not backing down. "Did you force her out!"

The Duke of Ding'an looked at this pair of stubborn, irrational master and disciple. Previously, he had thought Yang Hui was exaggerating, but now it seemed these fellows from Fuzhou were truly crude and rude—the whole family was exactly the same!

"And then?"

Wei Jiao of the Embroidered Uniform Guard also immediately heard the news.

After all, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had been monitoring the Duke of Ding'an's residence.

This scene was the first anomaly in a long time, and it was reported to Wei Jiao immediately.

"And then, Liu Changqing and his disciple refuse to believe it and refuse to enter the Duke's residence. They intend to guard the gates and will only leave tomorrow after they go to the Imperial Academy and see Miss Liu," the guard reported. "The Duke has declared that tomorrow he will report the father and daughter to the Ministry of Education for questioning and will simply close the gates and ignore them."

That Miss Liu was indeed attending school, and Miss Liu had indeed caused trouble; even Princess Pingcheng had frowned because of it.

However, Wei Jiao tapped the table lightly. It was indeed strange that Miss Liu had changed her residence without informing her family.