Zhao Rong walked with Qing Jun towards Huaijin, stopping three steps in front of her.
He glanced at Huaijin’s expression and saw that she still wore her usual stern, impassive face.
Aside from a sleeve soaked with sweet wine, she seemed unchanged, as if the brief confrontation with Qing Jun had never happened, nor had she been at a disadvantage.
However, Zhao Rong, after his previous conversation with Gui, was also aware of the whole incident and understood it like the back of his hand.
At this moment, he met Huaijin’s calm gaze.
Zhao Rong suddenly said, "Senior Huaijin, I’m sorry!"
His words caused a shock among those present in the courtyard.
Zhao Rong straightened his face and turned to look at Zhao Lingfei standing behind him, saying in a deep voice:
"Aren’t you going to apologize to Senior Huaijin? She came to East Fence Small House today to tutor Yushu and me. My zither skill is somewhat lacking, and Senior Huaijin, worried about the upcoming mid-month exam at Shuaixing Hall, came specifically to help. She even sacrificed her own vacation."
In everyone’s eyes, Zhao Lingfei’s slightly curved lips gradually relaxed, she bowed her head and averted her gaze, staring at the food box she was holding, her voice soft.
"Husband, why should Lingfei apologize when I have done nothing wrong? It’s just tutoring, and Lingfei would not complain, even grateful; but why did she have to use the Ritual Formation to trap you and Mr. Fan? Though Lingfei is poorly educated, I understand some simple truths. Imposing a formation to trap my husband is bullying and disrespect. I will not agree to such treatment by Senior Huaijin towards you."
"You!" Zhao Rong seemed taken aback by Zhao Lingfei’s defiant words, "What do you know of principles, woman? You won’t listen when spoken to, and now you even dare talk back!"
Despite his rebuke, Zhao Lingfei ignored him and continued:
"Moreover, tutoring my husband is acceptable, but practicing the zither should not exhaust him. I do not agree to this either."
"Ah!" Zhao Rong, as if choked, sighed heavily and turned to Huaijin, his face a mixture of frustration and capitulation:
"Senior, it’s my fault for not managing my household strictly. She even dared to talk back to me. Senior, you had good intentions, but my wife..."
Huaijin suddenly turned away, ignoring him, and looked at Zhao Lingfei, speaking earnestly:
"The purpose of this Ritual Formation wasn’t to imprison Brother Zhao and Brother Fan. I have stayed at East Fence Small House, so why would I set up a formation without reason? It was to block external noises from disturbing the courtyard.
Moreover, Brother Zhao’s zither playing was quite loud and might disturb other students in Nanxuan Academy.
And when I asked Brother Fan and Brother Zhao for tutoring, I explained the stakes and reason, it wasn’t an unreasonable demand."
Zhao Rong glanced at Qing Jun.
Zhao Lingfei, hands clasped around the food box, lowered her head in silence for a while, then suddenly looked up at Huaijin:
"Senior Huaijin, I will trust what you said. I was impulsive this time and misunderstood you. Lingfei apologizes to you, but you must never again use the Ritual Formation to contain my husband while he studies. If we need sound isolation, there are other ways. Using the Ritual Formation is too offensive; is that agreeable?"
Huaijin looked at her, thought for a moment, and nodded.
Zhao Lingfei, holding the food box, smiled gently and bowed slightly.
Huaijin returned the gesture with a bow of her own.
Seeing this, Zhao Rong guessed there would likely be no further problems, his smile bright, "Isn’t that settled then? It’s good to talk it out, everything was just a misunderstanding. My wife was just concerned about me, perhaps a bit too hastily. Senior Huaijin, please don’t hold it against her."
Huaijin looked at him but said nothing.
Zhao Rong coughed lightly, "By the way, Senior, how much is this bowl? Do you need..."
"No need," Huaijin interrupted.
"That’s good, that’s good."
Zhao Rong glanced at Zhao Lingfei.
Out of Huaijin’s sight, he winked at Qing Jun.
Zhao Lingfei bit her lip as she looked at Brother Rong, a slight smile curving her lips.
Zhao Rong continued, taking advantage of the situation:
"Speaking of which, my wife has hardly had the chance to visit me. I was thinking of showing her around the Academy, and also take the opportunity to explain some principles to her, so she won’t act so rashly next time. It’s a relief that Senior Huaijin is so magnanimous this time, but if we offend someone else next time, we might not be so lucky, ahem, so, how about we pause the zither lesson for today and continue another day?"
Huaijin considered for a moment, glancing at Zhao Lingfei.
"That’s fine, Brother Zhao, but not another day. You can have this morning to wander, but you must return this afternoon. We will cut the required characters by half, no less. Both of us are students of Shuaixing Hall, and we need to contribute to our community," she stated.
Zhao Rong nodded eagerly—indeed, starting high in negotiations often worked in one’s favor. He originally hoped for half a day, so when she countered with exactly that, it worked perfectly as he’d planned.
This was likely also because Huaijin considered Qing Jun’s concession, deciding to reciprocate.
Afterward, without a backwards glance at an eager Fan Yushu, Zhao Rong turned and walked away with Qing Jun.