Chapter 50: Verbal Dispute

Because one hand was carrying a food box, Ling Yu occasionally diverted his gaze from his book to glance at it.

The lid had not come loose.

The box was not tilting.

Suddenly, a cold snort came from ahead.

Ling Yu frowned slightly and reluctantly shifted his gaze to look at the newcomer.

"Wei Jiao," he barked, "what are you doing here at this time?"

Wei Jiao looked at him. Instead of the usual insults, threats, or mockery, his eyes scanned him up and down, his gaze lingering on the food box in his hand.

"I am asking you," Ling Yu asked again.

Wei Jiao spat and gave a cold laugh. "A beast in human skin, merely putting on an act."

With that, he shoved past Ling Yu's shoulder as he stumbled forward.

Fortunately, Ling Yu was on guard; he steadied himself, and the food box was not knocked out of his hands.

What madness was this lunatic possessed by?

Ling Yu looked back and saw Wei Jiao heading toward the Library Pavilion.

His madness was not a new development.

"Dr. Ling!"

"Third Senior Brother—"

Shouts came from ahead.

Ling Yu withdrew his gaze and looked over to see seven or eight students standing at the entrance of his study, looking indignant.

What happened? Ling Yu hurried over. Before he could ask, the students began chattering all at once: "Wei Jiao kicked the door open!" "Wei Jiao went inside!" "Quick, see if he destroyed Senior Brother's books!" "This is truly too much!" "Entering without permission!"

Wei Jiao had entered his study? Then A-Sheng... Ling Yu hurriedly looked inside. There was no sign of the boy. Had he hidden?

He rushed into the room. The students stood outside, asking with concern, "Did you lose anything?" "Were the books destroyed?"

There was no one behind the screen doors. Ling Yu raised his head to look out again and saw the boy appearing from nowhere, standing behind the students and peering inside with a curious expression.

"What's wrong?" "What happened?"

He even joined in the questioning.

Ling Yu breathed a sigh of relief and reassured the students, "It's fine, nothing was lost or broken. Wei Jiao is just like that, don't mind him." Only then did the students disperse.

Ling Yu signaled Mo Zheng to enter the room and closed the door again.

"You..." he began to ask.

"I wasn't quite at ease just now, so I went to check on my young mistress," Mo Zheng said, then asked, "What happened?"

Ling Yu relaxed. "So you weren't here." He shook his head. "It's nothing, Wei Jiao was just acting out..." Thinking of this, he asked, "Do you know about Wei Jiao?"

Mo Zheng nodded. "I've heard about him." He asked curiously, "Isn't he an Embroidered Guard? Why is he at the Imperial Academy? I heard everyone saying he came to study? Is that true or false?"

Ling Yu nodded. "Before the Imperial Academy was established, because of His Majesty's request, my teacher took him as a disciple. However, he only comes once or twice a month." He couldn't hide his disdain as he continued, "To say he is studying is an insult to books; he is only here for amusement."

A mistake. He hadn't checked this beforehand; he had thought he wouldn't run into an Embroidered Guard in a place like the Imperial Academy. He hadn't expected that being at the Academy would actually be more dangerous than being on the streets. Mo Zheng grew thoughtful; it seemed he would have to prepare in advance.

Ling Yu said, "This man is quite deranged. Just now, he called me a beast in human skin putting on an act. It was completely nonsensical."

Mo Zheng looked sympathetic. "To insult someone like you, Senior Brother, is indeed nonsensical."

But having one's character tarnished was better than being suspected of colluding with a criminal.

Ling Yu smiled. "Let him curse. For someone like him to insult me only makes him more loathsome. He is harmless to me. Let's not mention him; don't bother with him if you see him in the future." Having said that, he cleared a space on the desk and set the food box down. "Come, try some pastries. The imperial chef was here today; it's imperial cuisine."

Mo Zheng agreed and cleared a space to sit down.

...

...

"Move aside, move aside! Let me through!"

Yang Hui hurried toward the front from the back.

The lessons for the Princess and her companions were quite simple. Only one essay was lectured on in the morning, followed by a wait for the afternoon calligraphy instructor to teach two pieces of writing.

Midday was the rest period, during which palace women brought tea and snacks prepared by the accompanying imperial chef.

The young ladies gathered around the princesses, eating, drinking, and chatting.

For many women, this was a more important part of being selected as a companion than the actual studying and classes.

Because Yang Hui was sitting at the very back, she was a step slow in walking over, and Princess Pingcheng was already surrounded by people.

She stamped her feet in anger. "I am the Princess's study companion!"

The young ladies already sitting beside the Princess acted as if they hadn't heard her; after all, the Princess had not spoken.

Of course, there were also two or three people like Jiang Rui who were only there to study, quietly eating snacks on the side.

Hearing Yang Hui's commotion, Princess Pingcheng felt she was losing face and could only ask, "Have you finished writing the notes for me?"

Once Princess Pingcheng spoke, the young ladies surrounding her immediately made way.

Yang Hui gave them a triumphant glare. "Yes—"

But just as she stepped forward, someone bypassed her.

Caught off guard, Yang Hui nearly stumbled from the impact.

Who!

She looked back angrily and saw the figure she had been watching all morning standing in front of Princess Pingcheng.

Seeing Yang Luo, Princess Pingcheng didn't react immediately.

"Princess," Yang Luo bowed, holding several sheets of paper in both hands, "these are the classical interpretations I have organized from the teacher's lecture."

Princess Pingcheng was stunned. This was...

"The Princess needs a study companion; I am sufficient. There is no need to specifically select Miss Yang," Yang Luo said. "My academic performance is better than Miss Yang's."

Everyone present was stunned.

They could not believe what they were hearing.

Yes, everyone wanted to curry favor with Princess Pingcheng, but to say it so bluntly was unprecedented.

Even Princess Pingcheng, who was used to being fawned over, was stunned. She had never seen such blatant... sycophancy.

Yang Hui, standing behind, was also stunned—with rage.

How dare this person!

"Liu! You, woman named Liu!"

Yang Hui stamped her foot. This person wasn't even worthy of having her name remembered, yet she dared to humiliate her so.

"You... you are truly shameless!"

Witnessing this scene, Princess Wuyang—who had been pulling Princess Nangong toward a private resting area because she disliked being with Princess Pingcheng—let out a laugh. She stopped and turned around.

Though she was used to seeing others fawn over Princess Pingcheng, this was the first time she had seen the young ladies drop their masks and clash so openly.

Interesting. Let them fight.

Jiang Rui, on the side, could no longer focus on her book. Her expression was complex. She knew this young lady had claimed she came to make connections with the Princess, but to do this in public exceeded her imagination.

Unaware of the surrounding stares, Yang Luo turned her head to look at Yang Hui.

"Miss Yang, I am the Princess's companion. I am here to accompany the Princess in her studies; it is only natural that I serve her. How is that shameless?" She said this, then looked Yang Hui up and down. "If we are talking about shamelessness, it is you. You clearly failed the selection, which proves your scholarship is lacking, yet you still dare to come and try to be the Princess's study companion."

Yang Hui's face turned white with rage.

She had grown up in the capital, and in all these years, no one had ever dared to speak to her like this.

She had failed the selection, but even if she had, anyone with half a brain would know how high her status was. People should be flattering and pleasing her, yet this person dared to humiliate her!

"You... you!" Yang Hui stamped her foot. "How dare you! The Empress ordered Marquis Yichun to invite me. You are insulting the Empress! This is defiance!"

Princess Pingcheng's expression changed instantly. She slammed the table. "Silence!"

Yang Hui's face flushed red, and she froze, not daring to speak again.

The others in the hall were silent, their expressions varying.

Yang Luo lowered her eyes slightly.

When people flaunt their status from a position of superiority, they might still exercise some restraint; they don't say everything.

That was why, in her previous life, Yang Hui had never mentioned who held her in high regard. Yang Luo had never thought about it, assuming Yang Hui had earned her position on her own.

But when a person is consumed by rage, they wish to use every weapon they have to crush their opponent.

So, it was the Empress and Marquis Yichun who were the ones providing support to Yang Hui and the House of Duke Ding'an.

(End of Chapter)