293 Slapped in the Face
Li Liangcai's follower beside him looked rather embarrassed and whispered, "Young Master Li, no, she's cursing you. The 'háo' she used refers to a type of wild animal, a civet cat. She's calling you a bad person, just like a civet cat."
Li Liangcai couldn't be bothered to listen to the rest of the explanation; he only registered that Zhao Zhitong was cursing him. Seeing the mockery on the faces of those around him, his anger knew no bounds.
"You little wench, how dare you curse me!"
Enraged, Li Liangcai lunged to grab and hit Zhao Zhitong, but Qiao Muchen intercepted him, warning coldly, "Li Liangcai, have you finished copying the essay Teacher assigned you yesterday?"
Zhao Yue also crossed his arms, saying unpleasantly, "Hmph, I bet he's finished it, which is why he has so much idle time. We should tell Teacher to punish him even more severely."
At their mention of this, Li Liangcai's attitude immediately softened.
His father had gone to great lengths to get him into Taiyi Academy, hoping he would study diligently. Consequently, his father had informed the Teachers at the academy from the outset to discipline Li Liangcai strictly.
Furthermore, Taiyi Academy had been personally endorsed by the former emperor. Although the Teachers here had not become court officials, many of their disciples were high-ranking officials in Capital City.
Coupled with the prestige the Teachers held, granted by the former emperor, Li Liangcai simply couldn't act defiantly before them.
Just yesterday, he had tried to teach Qiao Muchen a lesson, but Qiao Muchen had outwitted him, leading him to make a mistake in front of the Teacher. As a result, the Teacher had punished him by making him copy an essay ten times.
Now, Li Liangcai was furious yet mindful of the Teachers, so he could only stew in his anger.
Just then, Zhao Ji, who was behind him, suddenly spoke up with a reminder, "Young Master Li, have you forgotten? The day before yesterday, the Vice Dean announced a new academy regulation: scholars are not allowed to bring women from outside into the academy. Violators will be caned."
Li Liangcai's eyes instantly lit up. "Oh, right! How could I have forgotten that?"
He immediately puffed out his chest, becoming self-righteous, and laughed heartily. "HA HA HA! Still trying to threaten your Young Master with the Teacher? You're overestimating yourselves! Right now, you can hardly protect yourselves!"
"To openly defy the academy rules right after the Vice Dean announced them! You are... uh... blatantly violating the academy rules!"
Zhao Ji, at his side, leaned in and whispered in Li Liangcai's ear, "Flagrantly."
"Ah, right." Li Liangcai nodded. "Flagrantly defying academy rules! Do you even respect our dean?"
"Hmph! I'm taking you to the dean right now. Just you wait for a good caning!"
After saying this, Li Liangcai felt a wave of triumph, puffing out his chest and swaggering with immense arrogance.
He had finally found leverage against Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue; he was utterly delighted.
Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue were clearly unfazed, shrugging as they said, "Alright then, go on and report us."
Their nonchalant expressions left Li Liangcai momentarily stunned.
He stammered, "You... you're not afraid?"
Qiao Muchen sighed. "Alas! If you don't even read the academy regulations carefully, how can you possibly study well?"
"You only saw that the dean prohibits women from entering the academy. Didn't you see the clause that followed? 'Except for distinguished guests specially invited by the dean.'"
Upon hearing this, Li Liangcai was taken aback. He turned to Zhao Ji and asked, "There's such a clause?"
Zhao Ji nodded and whispered, "Young Master Li, there is indeed such a clause. But think about it, how could a mere slip of a girl from a village possibly be a distinguished guest specially invited by the dean?"
Li Liangcai found this reasonable and nodded repeatedly. Then, his confidence returned. "Qiao Muchen, oh Qiao Muchen, you're not trying to tell me this little village girl is the dean's invited distinguished guest, are you?"
Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue nodded simultaneously.
Qiao Muchen stated, "Naturally, she is a distinguished guest invited by the dean."
Zhao Yue added, "We're not like certain people who rely on their family's influence, disrespect everyone, and openly defy academy regulations."
Hearing their audacious claims, Li Liangcai reacted as if he'd heard the most hilarious joke, clutching his stomach as he roared with laughter. "HA HA HA! Well, I must say, you two are quite good at flattering yourselves!"
"Distinguished guest? Bah! A mere village girl like her, a distinguished guest? On what grounds? Those few pathetic vegetable scraps in your basket? Wake up and stop dreaming!"
"AIYA! This is killing me! Today, both of you must come with me to see the dean. When we get there, we'll see how the dean handles you!"
With that, he moved to forcibly drag them to the dean.
Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue remained completely composed, shaking off his grasping hands.
"Young Master Li, stop all this pulling and shoving; it's unseemly. We were on our way to see the dean anyway. There's no need to drag us; we'll go on our own."
"HEH!" Li Liangcai found Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue rather amusing. "Go on, keep up your stubborn pretense for now. Let's see if you're still so bold when you're standing before the dean!"
And so, the group proceeded in a grand procession towards the dean's office.
A crowd of curious fellow students followed, eager for a spectacle, with Lv Wenhao, the notorious gossipmonger, pushing his way to the very front.
Along the way, they attracted many more scholars who stopped to watch. When anyone inquired, those in the know would quickly fill them in on the situation.
Consequently, many began to speculate whether Zhao Zhitong was truly a distinguished guest invited by the dean.
Some who relished the excitement even started placing bets, though most believed Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue were likely doomed this time.
Furthermore, some students on good terms with Qiao Muchen discreetly hurried off to find Master Yinlu Hua Zhengqing. Master Hua was the kindest of all the Teachers, and he was particularly fond of his student Qiao Muchen.
They were certain he would intercede on Qiao Muchen's behalf.
For a time, the academy was exceptionally abuzz with activity.
By the time their group had passed through the student residential area and just reached the entrance to the dean's courtyard, they saw the dean, Yuan Wenkang, and an elderly man of extraordinary presence emerging from the courtyard, one after the other.
They came face to face with the large crowd of scholars.
Both Yuan Wenkang and the elder were startled, asking in confusion, "What is all this?"
Spotting the dean, Li Liangcai immediately stepped forward, eager to make his accusation. "Dean, it's like this! Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue have openly violated academy regulations and stubbornly refuse to admit their wrongdoing..."
As Li Liangcai rattled on with his accusations, he failed to notice that the dean's entire demeanor had changed upon seeing Zhao Zhitong.
A smile had spread across his usually stern face.
He waved a hand at Li Liangcai, cutting off his tirade. "You, hold on a moment."
Then, taking a few quick steps, he approached Zhao Zhitong and her companions, his face wreathed in smiles as he spoke.
"AIYO, young girl, you've finally arrived! If you'd been any later, this old fellow here," he gestured to the man beside him, "was about to take my desk apart!"
The moment Headmaster Yuan spoke, everyone present was utterly stunned.
Is this still the Headmaster Yuan we know? they wondered. Where did that stern old man disappear to?
Then, with dawning comprehension, all eyes turned to Zhao Zhitong, astonishment etched on every face.
The dean called her 'young girl,' didn't he? And she's the only young girl here... so he must have been talking about Zhao Zhitong!
Could it be? Is Zhao Zhitong really the dean's distinguished guest?
But how is that possible?