Chapter 13
Chapter 13
True to their word, every family had locked their scholars away in their rooms. There were even some new faces around-students from out of town who had rented rooms to prepare for the examinations.
I became a solitary soul.
With everyone hitting the books, even Xiao Yu and the others wouldn’t play with me. They actually told me to study hard, too. Being the only one left with nothing to do was incredibly dull.
After classes at the Academy ended, I took the initiative to bring some gifts and visit the Ye Manor.
By the time Ye Qing finished handling his official documents, Ye Lan and I had already been chatting and laughing the afternoon away.
*Thud-*
The door was pushed open. Ye Qing stood at the entrance.
With the light at his back, his entire figure was shrouded in a dark, heavy gloom, his face as stern and blackened as Judge Bao’s.
This imposing aura made Ye Lan, who had been laughing heartily just a moment ago, shrink back instantly.
“I told you to study. Is this how you do it? Ye Lan, copy the *Great Learning* five times.”
Ye Lan trembled. “B-Brother, five times is too-”
“Ten times.”
Ye Lan didn’t dare challenge his brother. Instead, he vented his frustration by giving me a sharp pinch. He then hunched his shoulders, grabbed his book, spread out some Xuan paper, and buried his head in his task.
Ye Qing’s gaze, as sharp as a hawk’s, fell upon me. “Commandant Zhou, would you like to stay and accompany my younger brother in his transcription?”
I scrambled to my feet and hurried toward the door, making sure to step on Ye Lan’s foot on the way out to avenge my pinched leg.
Ye Qing’s gaze was getting colder and colder; it was honestly a bit terrifying.
Still, considering he had helped me solve so many lantern riddles, I decided not to cross him.
As I approached him, I quickly offered a fawning smile. “Lord Ye, thank you for your hard work. Where shall we go for our lesson?”
Ye Qing led me to his study.
It was large, spacious, and bright. Four bookshelves were packed to the brim with books.
Just how many words were in all those? My head spun just looking at them.
We sat across from each other at the desk.
He tossed a copy of the *Thousand Character Classic* to me.
“How many of these characters do you recognize?”
“Most of them.”
“Can you write them?”
“Most of them.”
He nodded, then set out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
“Write your name for me.”
I obediently picked up the brush and wrote the three characters for Zhou Xuesheng.
“Xuesheng? What is the origin of that name?”
“My father said it was snowing heavily the day I was born.”
Ye Qing: “…”
Chapter 25
Ye Qing was indeed a good teacher.
He could explain the origin of a single character with perfect logic and cite various classics to back it up.
I was supposed to be learning how to recognize characters, but I ended up learning a vast amount of general knowledge as well.
He taught me how to recognize them and how to write them.
He sat behind me, guiding my hand as he taught.
What I didn’t understand was why he kept drinking water.
When he picked up his teacup yet again, I couldn’t help myself.
“Are you really that thirsty?”
Could he have some sort of ailment?
His movement paused as he took a sip, and he shot a sidelong glance at me. “Do you think you are easy to teach?”
I shut my mouth.
After studying for two hours, I had the gall to stay for dinner.
When Xiao Yu arrived with the carriage to pick me up, Ye Qing cupped his hands in a polite gesture. “It has been hard on you, brother. There is no need for such trouble tomorrow. I will pick up your young master from the Academy myself, and I shall see him back safely after dinner. Please inform the Princess and Consort.”
Since when did this man become so considerate?
However, his arrangement did save a lot of trouble.
I also liked the respect he showed to Xiao Yu.
When I went to the Ye Manor the next day, I didn’t see Ye Lan.
Ye Qing said Ye Lan had gone to the Villa to study so he wouldn’t be distracted.
Oh. He meant I was disturbing Ye Lan’s studies.
Fine then. I really was a solitary soul now.