Zhao Rong knew it would turn out this way.
There he stood in front of the grand hall, his foot that a second ago was ready to step back to avoid attention, slowly returned to its original position.
Zhao Rong silently tugged at the corner of his mouth, his gaze sweeping over the Shuaixing Hall students who were all eyes on him.
Truly a group of good students who respect and honor their teachers.
They had never disappointed him in this regard.
Zhao Rong nodded lightly, facing the varied gazes of everyone inside the Academy, stepped forward nonchalantly into Shuaixing Hall.
At the same time, he met the eyes of this suddenly appearing but currently indifferent unfamiliar woman.
This was a middle-aged woman of about forty years old.
She had a decent appearance, with slight laughter lines by her nose, and one could tell she must have been quite beautiful in her youth.
It was just a pity that her expression was too stern, too serious, which gave off an unapproachable vibe.
Her stern face was even more old-fashioned than Yu Huaijin.
This serious woman’s attire was neat and precise, adhering to the Confucian scholar’s system.
Even the small ritual items on her person were something Zhao Rong had vaguely seen in some leisure book about etiquette attire.
So, at this moment, the serious woman stood there, just as Zhao Rong first perceived her.
She resembled a meticulously rule-abiding holy image from a Confucian temple.
One couldn’t help but feel a deep respect upon seeing her.
Zhao Rong examined her carefully.
Who is this, a larger version of Yu Huaijin?
Or Yu Huaijin’s mother?
At that time, in front of Yu Huaijin’s desk.
Two women with similar demeanors, the older and the younger, neither looked at Zhao Rong.
The former was looking down at Yu Huaijin, waiting for her response.
Yu Huaijin, who was earnestly copying the character ’justice’ stroke by stroke, paused slightly in her movements and did not reply.
She stood up, bowed with her hands clasped, and respectfully saluted, "I’ve seen Teacher Meng."
Zhao Rong’s eyelid twitched as he watched this stranger who also returned the salute seriously.
Was she the head of Mochi Academy and the Teacher of Ritual Skills at Shuaixing Hall, the one who had been out and not back for some days?
Teacher Meng Zhengjun extended her hand in a mock gesture of assistance, "Xuanji, please rise. Who punished you, for what reason were you punished, and isn’t this supposed to be your calligraphy class now?"
Yu Huaijin remained silent, her gaze lowered.
"Where is Zhu Yourong? Forgot about writing again?"
Teacher Meng Zhengjun looked around, her gaze skipping over everyone including Zhao Rong, searching for the figure of a certain Confucian scholar woman inside and outside the Academy.
Finding no trace, she huffed displeasingly, the lines on her face deepening.
Afterward, this stern woman who managed the discipline of the Six Halls and could also handle Academy affairs, waved her sleeves and sharply reprimanded:
"Hmph, if you don’t wish to teach, then don’t teach. I will speak to the Mountain Master and suggest we remove this playful calligraphy class, no need to waste the resources of the Academy, indulging her whims!"
With these words, the entire Academy went silent as a cold cicada.
No one dared to speak up, all pretending to be mute.
But there were exceptions.
Yu Huaijin stepped back, made a courtesy bow, raised her head, and spoke very seriously, "Teacher Meng, the teacher she..."
Someone suddenly interjected:
"She was indeed writing, mm, Teacher Zhu is probably still in Yilan Pavilion writing. But she hasn’t missed a class because I was the one teaching it."
Zhao Rong stepped forward and spoke calmly.
Teacher Meng Zhengjun looked directly at him, "You? Who are you?"
Zhao Rong thought for a moment, then seriously performed a courtesy bow.
"I am Zhao Ziyu, a new student of Shuaixing Hall and appointed as an assistant teacher for Shuaixing Hall and Justice Hall by Teacher Zhu’s kind favor. I have been substituting her classes recently, so Teacher Zhu hasn’t missed a class. I hope Teacher Meng won’t misunderstand."
Teacher Meng Zhengjun listened, remained silent for a while.
Only her face lines deepened.
Her expression was like that of a carving on a cliff, enduring thousands of years of wind and rain yet unchanged.
She looked intently at Zhao Rong and softly said:
"Zhao Ziyu, assistant teacher for calligraphy, Zhu Yourong left both Academies in your care."
Zhao Rong responded neither too humbly nor haughtily, nodding, "Exactly."
Teacher Meng Zhengjun scrutinized him, then suddenly asked, "Xuanji was copying characters, was it you who punished her?"
Zhao Rong nodded again, "It was I."
He glanced at the reserved young girl beside him, "If you do something wrong, you should be punished."
Teacher Meng Zhengjun’s eyes slightly narrowed, she nodded lightly, "Well said, if you do something wrong, you should be punished."
Hearing her agreeing reply, Zhao Rong’s eyelid lifted.
Sure enough, before he could think further, Teacher Meng Zhengjun had already turned away.
This strictly postured woman, with her hands properly behind her, asked the similarly standing stoic young girl with her hands tucked into her sleeves:
"Xuanji, your assistant teacher here says if you do something wrong you should be punished, do you have anything to say?"
Yu Huaijin, upon hearing this, maintained her calm demeanor.
At one moment, she turned her head towards Zhao Rong.
She didn’t speak immediately.
The whole Shuaixing Hall fell silent along with her.
The students inside the hall, eager for the drama, exchanged glances.
Teacher Meng was evidently standing up for Yu Huaijin.
Was there a change coming?
But it was not unexpected.
Within Shuaixing Hall, who didn’t know Teacher Meng Xuezhen was very fond of Yu Huaijin.
Was it because Yu Huaijin’s style suited her taste, or was it Yu Huaijin’s outstanding performance as the top student among the Six Halls that she valued?
This Teacher Meng who taught their Ritual Skills class was not only the head of Mochi Academy, but rumor had it that she could control even lesser scholars within the Academy.
Part of the high command within the Academy, she was one of those in charge.
It was said that among the scholar brothers, she was a name to be feared.
And Teacher Meng held Yu Huaijin in high esteem, treating her almost like a Closed-door Disciple.