Chapter 10: Saving Someone Again

The two walked side by side, with Sheng Qingzi next to Lu Yuner. He secretly glanced sideways, meeting her exquisitely beautiful profile. Instantly, a blush spread from his neck to his ears. He didn’t linger long, casually averting his gaze.

The next moment, Lu Yuner’s clear and gentle voice sounded in his ears.

“Doctor Sheng, I have a question I’d like to ask you. The students in the male academy are all from wealthy gentry and noble families, either rich or noble, and most are well-educated and mannered. If there happens to be a lively and active male student who violates the academy’s rules, then…” Lu Yuner turned her head to look at him and asked seriously.

She naturally knew that the punishment for the young prince was not inappropriate. After all, she was new to teaching and lacked experience. Moreover, she didn’t quite understand the thoughts of young men, especially during their rebellious period, so she wanted to consult with him.

Sheng Qingzi, upon hearing her words, felt momentarily surprised. Then, the admiration hidden in his heart grew stronger. Looking into her clear and bright eyes, he couldn’t help but feel moved again.

Over the years, he had seen many proud and boastful women, but never one as gentle and humble as her without being self-satisfied.

He admitted that from the first time he saw Lu Yuner, he was completely attracted to her. He intentionally went to learn about her, knowing that she had previously served as the Minister of Revenue, with outstanding political achievements and a reputation for integrity. Most importantly, she had remained single and virtuous to this day.

Such a rare and excellent woman in the world, he naturally wouldn’t miss the chance, taking the initiative to seize the opportunity.

Sheng Qingzi said with a smile in his eyes, “Regarding punishments, the male academy doesn’t need to be as strict as the female academy. But since they are male students, we should be appropriately lenient. The main form of punishment is copying books, which both reviews the textbooks and achieves the effect of punishment, killing two birds with one stone.”

He continued, “What’s the matter? Did Doctor Lu encounter such a situation on her first day?”

Lu Yuner couldn’t help but sigh lightly, “Yes.”

He hadn’t expected that the person he saved at Liusu River would be a willful and arrogant young prince.

Sheng Qingzi thought for a moment, “Is it Young Prince Su?”

“That’s right. He was absent from class without reason today. I wanted to report this to the Director, but on my way to Jingyi Pavilion, I encountered him playing at the lotus pond. When I persuaded him to return, he was unwilling, causing me to stay there for the entire morning,” Lu Yuner said helplessly.

Sheng Qingzi was startled and frowned, “You stayed with Young Prince Su for the whole morning?”

Lu Yuner spoke calmly and unhurriedly, “That’s right. The lotus pond is so large, if something were to happen to Young Prince Su, it wouldn’t be good.”

After the incident at Liusu River, she knew that the young prince couldn’t swim. After all, he was a prince with such a noble status, and he was also the only child of Princess Yun. If an accident were to occur during her class, she would certainly be held responsible.

“I see,” Sheng Qingzi visibly relaxed and said in a low voice.

As they conversed, they unknowingly arrived at the dining hall. The dining hall had two large doors, separately established for the female and male academies.

Although Lu Yuner was a woman teaching in the male academy, her dining area was still on the female side. Sheng Qingzi briefly explained the general situation to Lu Yuner, and they parted ways, entering through different doors.

Lu Yuner, carrying her food box, entered unhurriedly, surveying her surroundings. It was her first time in this dining hall, which was very spacious with tables and chairs neatly arranged on both sides.

It was mealtime, and many female students were dining. Upon seeing a strikingly beautiful woman with an otherworldly aura suddenly enter, they began to whisper among themselves.

Lu Yuner found an empty seat and was about to ask the kitchen staff to reheat her meal when someone called out to her.

“Doctor Lu, are you unsatisfied with the dining hall’s food?”

Lu Yuner looked towards the speaker, an elderly woman over sixty, whose slightly sunken eyes were sharp and piercing.

It was the Head of Catering, Zhang Yun, whom she had met at the Sacrifice to Vegetables ceremony. To be honest, she had met many people that day, but since Zhang Yun called her by name, it seemed she already knew about her.

Sheng Qingzi had told her that the Head of Catering had the longest tenure at the Imperial Academy, was known for being strict, and not very approachable.

Lu Yuner responded politely, “No, it’s just that I have a minor stomach issue. My Qiu Yi was worried and prepared a meal for me. If I don’t eat it, it would go to waste. Please don’t misunder—”

Before she could finish, several urgent cries for help interrupted her.

“Someone come quickly! A person is in trouble, save her……”

Lu Yuner looked towards the sound and saw a crowd gathering in the center-right of the dining hall, creating a commotion. She frowned and immediately ran over, with Zhang Yun following with a serious expression.

Lu Yuner pushed her way through the crowd, shouting, “Make way, make way.”

The observing students all looked at this unfamiliar woman, and seeing her wearing a doctor’s robe, they all made way.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd called out to her, “Doctor Lu.”

“It’s you?” Lu Yuner looked at the speaker, realizing it was the female student who had greeted her the other day.

“Doctor Lu, she was fine just a moment ago while eating, but suddenly she choked! What should we do?” The female student’s forehead was covered in cold sweat as she anxiously asked.

Lu Yuner looked at the female student whose face was flushed red, eyes bulging like eggs, in extreme pain and continuously pounding her chest. She focused her gaze on the food on the table beside the female student.

Zhang Yun’s expression tensed as she urgently said, “Quickly, help her to the infirmary.”

“There’s no time!”

The female student’s airway was blocked by food, causing difficulty breathing and oxygen deprivation to the brain. The longer it took, the more dangerous it became. Lu Yuner quickly stepped forward, but Zhang Yun grabbed her arm, saying sternly, “What are you doing! Don’t act recklessly!”

“I’m saving her!” Lu Yuner suddenly turned back, her face as cold as ice, a stark contrast to her usual gentle demeanor. “I’ll take responsibility for the consequences, Head of Catering.”

Her gaze was stern, and Zhang Yun was clearly taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor.

Lu Yuner pulled her arm free and applied the Heimlich maneuver she had learned. Standing behind the female student, she softly comforted her, “Don’t be afraid, trust me.”

She stood with her feet in a bow stance, one foot placed between the female student’s legs. She wrapped her arms around the student’s waist, locating the spot two fingers above the navel. She made a fist with her right hand, placing the thumb side against that spot, and grasped her right hand with her left. She then thrust both hands upward and inward into the abdomen, repeating the motion.

The surrounding students, including Zhang Yun, wore worried expressions mixed with a hint of doubt.

After a moment, the foreign object was expelled from the female student’s mouth. The female students gasped in disbelief, while Zhang Yun narrowed her eyes slightly, looking Lu Yuner up and down with a barely noticeable look of astonishment in her eyes.

Zhang Yun spoke up, “Quickly, take her to the infirmary.” She gave Lu Yuner another meaningful look before turning to leave.

Lu Yuner, who hadn’t eaten all morning, felt a bit tired and leaned on a table for support. The surrounding female students all approached her, looking at her with great admiration, saying, “Doctor Lu, you’re amazing!”

“It’s nothing,” Lu Yuner smiled slightly.

“How did you know to use such a method to save her? And the method was so strange, we’ve never seen it before.”

Lu Yuner looked at these students with their strong desire for knowledge and patiently explained, “This method is called the abdominal thrust technique, specifically for situations like just now when someone is choking.”

She deliberately used a more easily understandable name to help them comprehend.

“By the way, how come we’ve never seen you in the female academy?”

Lu Yuner: “Well… I’m currently teaching in the male academy.” Of course they wouldn’t see her in the female academy!

The female students looked at each other, suddenly confused and perplexed…

Suddenly, a voice as resonant as a bell interrupted their conversation.

“Alright, everyone disperse!” Zhang Yun appeared again, this time holding Lu Yuner’s food box.

Seeing the Head of Catering appear, the female students, each wearing a look of reverence, dispersed.

Zhang Yun looked at Lu Yuner with a neutral expression and said calmly, “Here, I had the kitchen staff reheat it for you.”

“Thank you, Head of Catering.” Lu Yuner’s eyes flashed with surprise as she quickly reached out to take it, not expecting the Head of Catering to have someone reheat her meal.

Zhang Yun said indifferently, “In the future, if you need anything, you can directly instruct the kitchen staff.”

After saying this, she walked away with a cold face, leaving behind one last sentence, “Cold food is not good for the stomach.”

Lu Yuner chuckled softly, looking at the food box in her hand, her smile deepening.

Author’s note: