Chapter 7: The Emotional Storyline Is About to Begin

The next day, at the crack of dawn, the official road was as quiet as could be. Lu Yuner was riding in a carriage on her way to the Imperial Academy.

Qiu Yi, who was accompanying her on the journey, knew that the master now had the habit of eating breakfast. In the past, due to mild anorexia since childhood, no matter how much Qiu Yi persuaded, the master just wouldn’t eat breakfast. Moreover, her regular meals were irregular and she ate little, making her entire body as thin as a rail and lacking in spirit.

Perhaps it was that time when she had abdominal pain, Qiu Yi still felt terrified thinking about it now. It was simply frightening!

At that time, the master’s face was pale and bloodless, her clothes were soaked through with cold sweat, and she was rolling back and forth on the bed, clutching her stomach in unbearable pain. She even fainted from the pain, losing consciousness, but fortunately, nothing serious happened in the end.

Since then, the master had changed somewhat. Her appetite improved, she started all kinds of health regimens, and occasionally said things Qiu Yi couldn’t understand. Moreover, the master’s health gradually improved, her complexion became rosy, and now she even ordered all the servants in the mansion to eat together every time she had breakfast.

She opened the purple sandalwood food box carved with bamboo leaf patterns and took out the small, white and tender steamed buns from the compartments. They were steaming hot now, emitting an enticing aroma.

This was the master’s favorite vegetable filling, with thin skin and ample filling. Through the steamed skin, one could carefully see a piece of emerald green inside, like jade.

Since the master’s brush with death, Qiu Yi had hired one of the best chefs in the capital city, instructing him to buy the most elastic flour from the east market. The dough was freshly kneaded early in the morning and the buns were freshly wrapped.

Qiu Yi: “Master, come and taste it!”

Lu Yuner took the food with one hand and immediately turned her gaze to the food box. Seeing this setup, it seemed there were several compartments. She smiled wryly and said, “Qiu Yi, I can’t eat this much for breakfast. Haven’t I told you before? Breakfast should be good, lunch should be filling, and dinner should be light. With so much for breakfast, are you trying to fatten me up?”

Qiu Yi said worriedly, “The doctor said that the master’s stomach needs to be well taken care of, and we must not allow any mistakes. Qiu Yi is afraid that the master might not be used to the food at the Imperial Academy. Besides, you won’t let me bring you lunch, so I thought you could ask the cooks at the Imperial Academy to heat it up for you later. At least it’s made by our own chef at home, and it’s what you like to eat, master. It’ll be fine.”

Lu Yuner’s long black eyelashes trembled lightly as she came back to her senses. Qiu Yi was right. The original owner had mild anorexia, which indeed caused some problems with her stomach. It was from that time that she had transmigrated here. She hadn’t expected Qiu Yi to be so considerate of her, thinking of every aspect for her so thoroughly.

A wave of warmth spread through her heart, and she said softly, “You can arrange the meals for these few days, but after moving into the Imperial Academy, we can’t do this anymore. Everything must be done according to the rules. Don’t worry, I’m a grown person now, I can take care of myself. I remember everything the doctor said!”

“Mm.”

Two hours later, the sky was clear, and the carriage had arrived at the Jixian Gate. Lu Yuner picked up the food box, waved goodbye to Qiu Yi, and turned to walk towards the Professors’ Hall.

At the Yun Prince’s mansion, Qinghua Garden.

“Young Master? Young Master? Please get up and wash quickly! You’re already late.” Xiao Yuan anxiously knocked on the door. He wanted to push the door open, but found that the Young Master had latched it from the inside.

“Young Master? Young Master? Please don’t sleep anymore!”

Inside the room, Su Qingwan lay on his side on the bed, wearing a white undergarment. His three thousand strands of ink-black hair were spread out behind him, half-covered by the smooth soft quilt, revealing his body curves. After a night’s rest, the undergarment had become loose and slipped to his shoulders. Messy, fine strands of hair fell on his fair and beautifully contoured neck, making his skin appear as white as snow, charming and tender.

Su Qingwan’s face was rosy, and he said discontentedly, “I’m not going. I haven’t slept enough! I, the honorable Young Master, with such a noble identity, why should I suffer this hardship?” He yawned, “Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph! They’re not worthy!”

“Since the Young Master insists on this, then I, Xiao Yuan, will have to beg forgiveness from the Yun Prince and then pack my things to leave the Prince’s mansion.” Xiao Yuan’s tone was low, his voice a bit choked. He had no choice but to use a bit of emotional blackmail, otherwise he would really have to leave.

Xiao Yuan listened carefully and heard no movement from inside the room. He thought the Young Master might have fallen asleep again. Shaking his head and sighing, he turned to leave.

Suddenly, there was a “creak” sound, and the door behind him opened. The Young Master’s soft, slightly hoarse voice after waking up came through, “Come in! Help me wash and dress.”

As soon as Xiao Yuan heard this, his face broke into a smile. He quickly ordered the servants to bring in the washing utensils.

In the early morning, the air was exceptionally fresh and fragrant, still carrying the scent of dewy herbs.

Along the way, Lu Yuner saw many students who had risen early to recite their lessons. Although Lu Yuner and these students didn’t know each other yet, when the students saw her wearing the professor’s robes, they all politely bowed to her, and Lu Yuner smiled and nodded in return.

After walking for a while, she arrived at the Professors’ Hall. Lu Yuner found that the main door was open, presumably someone had already arrived. She entered with the food box and happily greeted, “Good morning!”

Lu Yuner had just entered when she realized there was only one person in the Professors’ Hall, and it was the cold one, staring at her expressionlessly.

Lu Yuner suddenly felt a bit awkward, but still maintained her politeness and continued, “Professor Liu, good morning!”

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. After a few seconds of silence, Liu Bing finally said flatly, “Mm.”

Lu Yuner was quite happy to hear her response. After all, they would be under the same roof from now on, and this was the first time they had spoken, which could be considered a complete conversation.

She went to her own work area, and just as she put the food box on the desk, she heard someone coming.

“Oh! Our Professor Lu has come quite early! And… you’ve even brought your own food box to teach?” Zhu Miaomiao walked in smiling, looking at the food box on her desk with interest. “Haha! I didn’t expect Professor Lu to look so slender, but your appetite is quite good!”

Lu Yuner turned around and saw the three of them walking in together.

Wen Qing looked at the food box on her desk, “Professor Lu, we have a dining hall for teachers and students at the Imperial Academy. You don’t need to bring your own food box.”

Lu Yuner smiled, “I know, but my Qiu Yi was worried that I might not be used to the food, so she prepared this for me.”

Sheng Qingzi raised an eyebrow slightly, “Not used to it? Professor Lu, you can rest assured about that. The students at the Imperial Academy come from all over the country. According to the Emperor’s decree, to accommodate the students’ dietary habits, the dining hall has all-round chefs who can cook any dish.” He looked Lu Yuner up and down, and continued, “Or is there something wrong with your body that requires a special diet?”

As a man, Sheng Qingzi’s thoughts were obviously more delicate.

Lu Yuner told the truth: “There’s nothing wrong, it’s just that my stomach is quite delicate and prone to minor issues. As long as I don’t eat recklessly, it’s fine.”

Lu Yuner was about to ask them for some experience, as it was her first time teaching, but before she could speak, she was interrupted by someone’s cough.

“Ahem! —”

Seeing the newcomer, they immediately bowed and said in unison, “Madam Director.”

This middle-aged woman, with sloping shoulders, jackal-like eyes, and a plump figure, was walking over with her big belly. Her name was Du Hongying, and she was the Director of the Imperial Academy.

Lu Yuner had met her at the previous vegetable offering ceremony. Sister Ranzhi had specifically reminded her that this person’s youngest son had just recently become a Guiren, so she was quite arrogant.

Although Sister Ranzhi had only held the position of Siye for half a year, she knew all the ins and outs of the Imperial Academy.

However, Du Hongying seemed to have some disdain for her, and her coming here this time was probably for another purpose.

The Director glanced sideways at Lu Yuner and said haughtily, “The Chancellor said that it has been decided that the newly arrived Professor Lu will teach in the Lexin Hall of the Men’s College. If there’s anything unclear, you should consult Professor Sheng at any time. Don’t do anything that might damage the reputation of the Imperial Academy, or you’ll be severely punished. Do you understand, Professor Lu?”

Lu Yuner responded, “I understand.”

Of course, she “understood”.

The Men’s College had a simple level system. These male students were all unmarried young men from noble and wealthy families in the capital. Naturally, they had been cultured at home. Since they weren’t aiming for official careers, they mainly focused on further studies, learning knowledge and improving their quality and cultivation. They were only divided into Qianyun Hall and Lexin Hall.

Another purpose was to serve as a favorable condition for finding a good match in the future. After all, the Imperial Academy was a golden signboard. Considering the suitable age for marriage, the study time here was at most half a year.

The Director’s tone was a bit impatient: “Good that you understand.”

After saying this, she left.

Zhu Miaomiao spoke up for Lu Yuner, “Previously, they let you teach in the Women’s College, but now they suddenly ask you to teach in the Men’s College. Besides, the Women’s and Men’s Colleges have always had separate classes. Asking you, a woman, to go to the Men’s College, isn’t this intentional bullying?”

Sheng Qingzi’s eyes curved in a smile, “But I think it’s quite good. Although the Men’s College differs from your Women’s College in terms of course content and management system, and can’t compare in terms of number of students, and there aren’t as many teaching assistants as you have, I’m the only professor in the Men’s College, and I’m overwhelmed with work.” He looked at Lu Yuner somewhat shyly and said happily, “If Professor Lu comes, I’ll be much more relaxed. Besides, don’t forget, there was once a male professor who taught at your Women’s College.”

After all, men and women working together makes the work less tiring! Of course, he kept this sentence secretly in his heart.

Lu Yuner was slightly startled. So there had been a male professor who taught at the Women’s College before. This aroused her curiosity, and she was about to ask for more details when her eyes met Liu Bing’s behind Sheng Qingzi. Although still cold and unchanging, it made her inexplicably feel a surge of sadness and desolation from the bottom of her heart. After a few seconds of eye contact, Liu Bing was the first to look away.

Lu Yuner came back to her senses, pondered for a moment, and then said, “Teaching and educating, imparting knowledge and solving doubts, doesn’t differentiate between men and women. Moreover, this is the Chancellor’s arrangement, and as subordinates, we should obey.”

Anyway, it’s all about teaching, and for her, it’s the same wherever she teaches. However, it does deviate somewhat from the original purpose agreed upon with Sister Ranzhi. Sister Ranzhi probably doesn’t know about this yet.

Suddenly, a bell rang.

“Let’s go! It’s time for class.” Zhu Miaomiao picked up her textbook and urged.