292 Is she complimenting me?
Zhao Zhitong felt helpless. The adults in her family constantly worried about her. Even though she had demonstrated her 'brute strength,' her maternal grandfather, grandmother, and uncles still fretted, insisting someone accompany her whenever she traveled far.
"Uncle, you don't have to pick me up. I can go home by myself," Zhao Zhitong said.
Sun Youcai, of course, vehemently disagreed. "Absolutely not! How about this? I won't leave. I'll just wait for you at the foot of the mountain, and we can go down together."
Sun Youli glanced up the mountain path. The academy was a sacred place, and he held it in such awe that he dared not set foot inside. He, too, said he would wait at the foot of the mountain for Zhao Zhitong so they could return together.
At this, Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue spoke up, "Uncle Youli, please rest assured and go back. After Tongtong finishes with the patient, Zhao Yue and I will escort her home."
Zhao Zhitong quickly chimed in, "Yes, the medical clinic needs help, Uncle! Please hurry back, or Grandfather will be overwhelmed by himself."
With Young Master Qiao and Zhao Yue offering to escort her, Sun Youli was reassured. He nodded, gave a few more parting words, and then left.
After Sun Youli departed, the three of them chatted and laughed as they made their way up the mountain.
Then, Zhao Zhitong asked curiously, "By the way, since you two have been at the academy, do you happen to know who today's patient is?"
Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue both shook their heads. "We're not sure. Probably some dignitary from the Capital City."
Ever since Zhao Zhitong had treated Headmaster Yuan and Lord Zhang, Headmaster Yuan had become her most ardent supporter. He praised Zhao Zhitong's medical skills to everyone he met. Many teachers in the academy had been won over by Headmaster Yuan, their number one fan, and had now become her patients. For any minor ache or pain, they would seek out Zhao Zhitong.
This particular patient, however, was somewhat special. Headmaster Yuan had mentioned that this person had come all the way from the Capital City specifically seeking her out, based on Lord Zhang's recommendation.
Zhao Yue, ever nonchalant, remarked, "Well, you'll find out when you see them anyway."
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "True." Actually, she wasn't overly concerned about who it was. In the eyes of a physician, one should treat all patients equally, regardless of gender or social standing.
As they spoke, the three of them ascended the mountain and arrived at the entrance of the academy. A grand marble gate stood before them, flanked on either side by a large calligraphic couplet.
The first line read, "The sea of learning knows no bounds; diligence is the ferry." The second line read, "The mountain of books has a path; ambition paves the way to its peak."
Above hung a plaque: "Taiyi Academy."
It was said that both the couplet and the plaque were inscribed by the late Emperor himself, serving as the proud facade of Taiyi Academy.
The three of them chatted and laughed as they entered this hallowed place.
Within the academy, one could often see scholars in groups of two or three, some standing by the roadside engrossed in discussions of poetry and prose, others debating matters of state and the welfare of the populace, or contemplating philosophy.
Qiao Muchen was rather well-known within the academy, and many scholars greeted him as they walked.
After another scholar finished speaking with Qiao Muchen, Zhao Zhitong teased, "Well, well, Qiao Jiaojiao, I didn't realize you were so popular in the academy!"
Praised by Zhao Zhitong, Qiao Muchen couldn't help the smirk that tugged at his lips, his expression full of smug satisfaction. "Naturally. I am quite used to it."
If the scholars in the academy, who usually discussed poetry with Qiao Muchen, were to witness this smug and showy display, their jaws would surely drop.
Is this still the exceptionally talented, yet humble and courteous, Great Scholar Qiao they knew?
He seems more like an arrogant, pampered young master, doesn't he?
Just then, Zhao Yue began to undermine him. "Zhao Zhitong, don't listen to his boasting. Plenty of people in the academy can't stand him, you know. They secretly call him pretentious and aloof."
No sooner had his words faded than they ran headlong into a few unwelcome individuals.
"Well, well, well! Look who it is! Isn't this our academy's Great Scholar Qiao? Hanging out with little girls again, hahaha!"
The voice was strikingly familiar, and Zhao Zhitong instantly knew who it was.
Li Liangcai, son of the Prefect. Zhao Zhitong had encountered him a few times since coming to the academy. Almost every time she saw him, he was bullying someone. Consequently, Zhao Zhitong had a rather poor impression of this dissolute Young Master.
As Zhao Zhitong looked, she saw it was indeed the dissolute Young Master, Li Liangcai. He was currently waving a folding fan before his chest, roaring with laughter, bending back and forth.
Trailing beside him were several other academy students. Zhao Zhitong recognized one of them: Zhao Ji, the very same "grandson destined to be the top scholar" her cheap step-grandmother often spoke of.
Zhao Ji also studied at the academy. They had met before, but Zhao Ji had pretended not to know Zhao Zhitong and her companions, and they, in turn, couldn't be bothered to acknowledge him.
At this moment, they were all clutching their stomachs, mocking Qiao Muchen, deliberately harping on his sore spots.
"Oh, absolutely! Our great scholar Qiao has quite the lovely nickname in the academy, doesn't he? 'Qiao Beauty'! Hahaha."
"Just look at him! Qiao Beauty is so delicate and frail; of course, he has to play with equally delicate and frail little girls!"
"Hahaha!"
Hearing the words "Qiao Beauty," a chill entered Qiao Muchen's usually placid eyes.
Just then, Li Liangcai glanced at Zhao Zhitong again and said disdainfully, "Hey there, little sister. Tell me, why are you so misguided? Being Young Master Qiao's little maidservant—what kind of future is there in that?"
"Why not come with me instead, huh? I'm strong! As long as you're obedient and keep me happy, you can have anything you desire."
The lewdness in his tone was utterly repulsive.
Qiao Muchen's eyes narrowed. He moved to shield Zhao Zhitong behind him and said coldly, "Let me make this clear one more time: Tongtong is not my maidservant! She is a dear friend to Zhao Yue and me! If you dare look at her with such vulgar eyes again, don't blame me for being impolite!" His voice was heavy with menace.
Li Liangcai, however, was utterly unfazed. He scoffed, snapped his folding fan shut, and began tapping it against his palm as if he'd just heard the funniest joke, turning to his lackeys with a grin.
"Hey, did you hear what Qiao Beauty said? He said he's going to be 'impolite'? Hahaha, that's hilarious! I'd love to see just how Qiao Beauty plans to be 'impolite' to me. Oh, I'm so very scared!"
Li Liangcai's lackeys burst out laughing. "Hahaha, exactly! Truly overestimating his own abilities."
"That's right. Do you even know who our Young Master Li is? How dare you spout such arrogant nonsense!"
Li Liangcai glanced at his underling and snorted. "That's right! Such arrogant nonsense indeed!"
At this, Zhao Zhitong couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. "Hey, look at that. Truly birds of a feather."
Li Liangcai paused, then whispered to the person beside him, "'Birds of a feather'? Is she complimenting me? Saying this young master is as noble as a crane on a hill?"
His voice wasn't particularly quiet, and as luck would have it, Zhao Zhitong had excellent hearing. She caught every word and nearly snorted with laughter.
She had long since heard from Lv Wenhao, nicknamed 'Know-it-all,' that this esteemed son of the Prefect was an ignorant, good-for-nothing oaf. Rumor had it that he had only gained admission to the Official School because his father had paid for him to cheat on the exams.
Looking at him now, those rumors might very well be true. After all, how could someone who doesn't even know what 'birds of a feather' means possibly pass the entrance exam for the Official School?