Zhou Huaijin’s willow-leaf eyes held a hint of a warm smile. She bowed and humbly said in a slow voice, “You are all great talents, I cannot compare. Since you ask for my humble opinion, if I may. The key to solving floods and droughts is, firstly, to focus on agriculture, reduce taxes, and increase storage to fill the granaries. Secondly, we should repair dikes and dams, clear ditches and canals, manage water flows, and secure water reserves, with prevention as the primary goal.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd pondered for a moment, their faces full of admiration.

They bowed one after another, expressing their admiration and praise.

“Zhou Shizi is truly talented, we are no match.”

“Zhou Jun’s plan is excellent!”

“Indeed, she is the number one talented woman under heaven. This plan should be presented to the court, and the people will surely be grateful to the lady!”

…

Amidst such flattery from the crowd, the smile on Zhou Huaijin’s face grew even more pronounced.

She raised her eyes, pretending to glance casually at the private rooms upstairs, her face full of pride and self-satisfaction.

However, unexpectedly, a scornful laugh suddenly erupted from the crowd. Everyone turned to look.

A lady emerged from the crowd, wearing a plain green Hangzhou silk cotton robe with a light yellow cloak draped over it.

She seemed to have just entered from outside the tea house, her body carrying the dampness of winter rain.

Her thick eyebrows raised as she looked past the gathered students, casting a frivolous glance at Zhou Huaijin before speaking as if renewing an old acquaintance, “It’s been two years, I hope the young lady has been well. I just heard people discussing floods and droughts, and the words spoken sounded quite familiar. I came over to see if it was my classmate Liu Cangyun, but I didn’t expect it to be you… I didn’t think you would have memorized word for word the methods for drought management from Cangyun’s book ‘Principles of Governing Mountains and Rivers Under Heaven’. You truly admire Cangyun deeply.”

There was a smile on her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Although her words were implicit and polite, her tone seemed mocking and contemptuous, her eyes full of disdain.

Using another’s views as one’s own to create a reputation for oneself to enter officialdom was a great taboo among scholars.

The surrounding students hesitated for a moment, and many involuntarily took a step back.

Among them were quite a few ladies who had read that book ‘Principles of Governing Mountains and Rivers Under Heaven’. Now that someone had pointed it out, upon careful reflection, they realized that Zhou Huaijin’s earlier discourse on managing droughts was not her own proposal at all, but clearly copied from the solutions in the book.

The looks they now cast at her carried a hint of estrangement.

Scholars value character above all else, but it turned out that the number one talent in Jinling City was of this… caliber, truly unworthy of her reputation.

Zhou Huaijin’s expression alternated between green and white. She stood tall in the center of the crowd, barely containing her anger.

If it had been an ordinary person making this rebuttal, she would have had ways to deal with them.

Unfortunately, this woman had a special status, being the eldest daughter of the highly respected Elder Statesman Jia, who had served three dynasties.

Elder Tutor Jia had retired to the countryside two years ago, but half of the civil and military officials in the court were his students, and his reputation in the court was extremely high.

If she were to use her power to suppress this person, not only would she face condemnation from the students of Jinling City, but the upright officials in the court would likely submit a memorial against her Dingyuan Marquis household the next morning.

Zhou Huaijin carefully weighed the pros and cons, and after a long while, she silently swallowed this bitter pill.

However, unexpectedly, Liu Dong, who had been following behind her all along, suddenly stepped forward. With a face full of displeasure, she raised her voice and scolded the newcomer, “Who are you? How dare you speak so impertinently to Zhou Jun?”

Having followed Zhou Huaijin for so long, Liu Dong had often used her borrowed power to bully students from humble backgrounds.

Seeing someone causing trouble this time, she unhesitatingly stood up, completely unaware of the gloomy expression on the young lady’s face behind her.

Jia Ziyun covered her mouth and laughed lightly. She looked over Liu Dong’s shoulder at Zhou Huaijin, sighing with disapproval, “Young lady, over these years, not only has your virtue been lacking, but your eye for choosing servants has also worsened. Such an ill-mannered slave, daring to come out and question others before the master has even spoken?”

“You…” Liu Dong trembled with anger. For years, she had been by Zhou Huaijin’s side, serving her diligently. But due to Zhou Shizi’s status, she had borrowed her power at the Yude Academy, being respectfully addressed as “Lady Liu”, and now, relying on her connection to the Dingyuan Marquis household, she had obtained the status of a Juren. In Jinling City, no commoner dared to speak ill of her or call her a slave.

When it came to her identity as a scholar, Liu Dong’s eyes widened in anger, and she was about to argue.

However, unexpectedly, a hand suddenly appeared before her eyes. A slap, quick and accurate, landed on her face, causing her head to turn to one side.

Liu Dong held her aching cheek and looked up, only to see the gloomy gaze of Zhou Shizi. The resentment that had been growing in her heart instantly disappeared.

Zhou Huaijin kicked her in the stomach and scolded angrily, “You dog, how dare you rebuke the eldest daughter of Tutor Jia?”

After saying this, she didn’t even look at her, but bowed to Jia Ziyun: “It’s been two years since we last met. Is everything well with Ziyun in Lingnan? Your elder sister has been quite concerned.”

Zhou Huaijin smiled as warmly as jade, and as she exchanged pleasantries with Jia Ziyun, she completely avoided mentioning the earlier incident of using someone else’s work as her own. Her thick skin could rival the city walls.

Jia Ziyun let out a cold snort. Considering the need to leave some face for the Dingyuan Marquis household, she turned away without further troubling her. The students present were not fools; at this moment, their gazes towards Zhou Huaijin, though not daring to be openly contemptuous, were all distant.

—

Due to her status as the eldest daughter of Elder Tutor Jia, Jia Ziyun was now the center of attention among the students. She was surrounded by a group of tribute students asking for guidance on their articles, and for the moment, she couldn’t break away.

She glanced from afar towards the window, and Liu Changning, as if she had eyes in the back of her head, turned and nodded to her in acknowledgment.

Having received approval, Jia Ziyun picked up the articles handed to her by the surrounding ladies and carefully read them.