Her guards

Chapter 90 First Lesson
As dawn broke, the bells for the grand lectures at the Academy of Chinese Studies gradually fell silent.

All the students entered the largest school.

Ling Yu sat on the stage with a somewhat helpless expression.

As Wang Zaitian's personal disciples, they are required to be present when their teacher gives lessons.

So he and his two other disciples were sitting behind Wang Zaitian.

Of course, it's not that he didn't want to come; attending the large lecture wouldn't affect his reading. He could simply slip the book he wanted to read into the book the teacher was lecturing on.

The teacher's lectures were different from when he debated with others; his voice was calm and unchanging from beginning to end, like the gentle murmur of a stream... and it didn't disturb his reading.

But this time, for some reason, the teacher spoke eloquently, quoting classical texts and frequently quizzing the students, creating an unprecedentedly lively atmosphere in the classroom.

Ling Yu felt as if he were sitting in front of a rushing river... with the churning waves splashing on his face from time to time.

"...Ling Yu, tell me how to interpret this sentence?"

"...Ling Yu, do you think his answer is correct?"

Of course, the noise or being asked questions won't affect his reading; what will affect him is the teacher's performance.

I knew something was strange.

Look at how this is done in class!

Because of the princesses?
Ling Yu looked towards the seats facing the stage.

The three princesses sat upright.

Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong looked very serious, but one had a restless look in her eyes and the other had a timid look in her eyes; their minds were not on their studies.

Princess Heisei was somewhat better, but her eyes betrayed her arrogance. To her, reading was merely an ornament, like the jewels she wore.

Ling Yu quickly shifted her gaze to the dozen or so companion girls sitting behind the princesses.

He knew that the teacher wouldn't be acting like this because of the princess's status. Could it be that she had really discovered a promising student?
Ling Yu's gaze swept over them one by one. The young ladies had different postures, most of them similar to the three princesses. Occasionally, some had serious eyes, but none of them were particularly outstanding...

His gaze fell on the last seat of the women, not even glancing at a lady who was wide awake and almost asleep. He then swept his eyes over a lady who was awake but had a calm but absent-minded look, briefly scrutinized a lady who was focused and muttering to herself as if reciting a poem, and finally looked at a lady with a smile on her lips, resting her chin on her hand and looking at the stage...

Her complexion was slightly dark, and her eyebrows were delicately arched. She didn't stare at Wang Zaitian all the time; she would glance down at the book and even frown slightly...

This shows that they are not only listening, but also thinking; indeed, it resembles the act of reading a book.

Moreover, Ling Yu paused slightly, as if she had seen this somewhere before...

"Ling Yu, tell me, what does this sentence mean?"

Wang Zaitian, who was standing in front, suddenly spoke, and as soon as he spoke, countless eyes in the classroom focused on Ling Yu.

Ling Yu's gaze was as if submerged by the tide, and he lowered his eyes and replied, "Yes."

Mo Zheng sat up straight, amidst countless gazes, and looked at the young man lecturing with his eyes lowered on the stage, letting out a soft sigh in her heart.

She hasn't found an opportunity to reveal her identity to Ling Yu yet.

Wait a minute.

She's not exactly from a privileged background either; knowing this will only bring more trouble and annoyance.

……

.......
After Ling Yu finished answering the questions, the first half of the class ended. He didn't look at the classroom again, but left with his book in hand and eyes downcast.

Wang Zaitian did not leave; the first half of the lesson was about lecturing, and the second half was about explaining.

The students all gathered around the front, asking questions if they had any, and listening to other students ask questions and the teacher answer them, which was very beneficial.

What's more, the princess and her companions were also present this time.

Young students also want to show their style.

Because Princess Heisei was sitting in front of the chief priest, and now that she can move around, the ladies-in-waiting have all gone to the princess's side, and can get closer to the chief priest.

Yang Hui wanted to be in the limelight by the princess's side, while Liu Chan had questions to ask, so the two of them went forward.

Only Yang Luo and Mo Zheng remained in the last seat of the companion girls.
"My father still wants us to move back in. We'll move out after school today," Yang Luo whispered to Mo Zheng. "Do you think that's okay?"

After that night's events, the Liu family master and apprentice, along with Yang Luo, were taken to the Ding'an Duke's Mansion. However, as the incident subsided, Liu's father insisted on leaving, determined not to live under someone else's roof.

“Okay,” Mo Zheng said softly. “The government is cracking down hard. It’s safe outside now. It’s actually not safe for us to stay in the Ding’an Duke’s Mansion.”

Yang Luo understood what she meant. Now A Sheng was taking her place and bearing the danger for her. There had already been one attack, and there would inevitably be a second and a third. A Sheng told her to stay away for safety.

"How can I help you..." she murmured softly.

Mo Zheng smiled and said, "If you take good care of yourself, you're helping me."

That's the literal meaning.

Miss Yang was even more moved and felt even more guilty. Before she could say anything, Mo Zheng coughed lightly and pointed to the book, "Did you understand this...?"

Yang Luo reacted quickly, shaking her head, rubbing her brow and sighing, "No..."

"Yang Luo!"

With the sound of footsteps, a young lady-in-waiting rushed over, "Hurry up, Princess Wuyang is calling you." Princess Wuyang? Mo Zheng looked ahead and saw Princess Wuyang standing among the young ladies-in-waiting, glaring at her with a sullen face and annoyed eyes.

.......
.......
Mo Zheng stood over with her head down and heard Princess Nangong's voice coming from beside the chief priest.

Princess Nangong held a scroll, her expression serious.

“…What you just said about the Dao being ineffable, and that it cannot be spoken of, is not true,” she said. “I don’t quite understand.”

Wang Zaitian nodded with a smile: "It's already very good that the princess didn't understand this sentence." He then explained it to her carefully.

The students around listened attentively, their eyes frequently glancing at Princess Nangong with expressions of admiration.

"...The princess is only fourteen or fifteen years old, it's quite remarkable that she can ask such a question."

"His Majesty truly values ​​reading."

A low murmur arose from the surroundings. Princess Nangong's serious eyes shone brightly, and she could barely suppress the smile on her lips.

Princess Heisei remained calm.

Princess Wuyang gripped her hands so tightly they were almost purple, and glared hatefully at Princess Nangong.

You don't understand a thing!

No, she doesn't know anything!
With her daydreaming in class, she didn't even know what to ask.

This was because her attendant had been pushing forward rudely, and she had taken the initiative to steal the spotlight from him, which became her problem, as she had shown off in front of the chief priest and everyone else.

Princess Wuyang was both angry and envious. She looked at her companion again with annoyance in her eyes.

He was so respectful and flattering to her in school before, how come he's so oblivious to everything today!

Mo Zheng had already realized what was happening and quickly whispered a question to Princess Wu Yang.

Princess Wuyang's brows relaxed as she heard Princess Nangong's voice coming from ahead.

"Thank you, sir. I understand now."

Wang Zaitian nodded with a smile: "Good that you understand."

"Try repeating it again if you dare," Princess Wuyang thought with a sneer. If she weren't busy adding to her own glory right now, she would definitely have made things difficult for Nangong!

“Sir,” she called out, raising her voice.

But before he could speak, Princess Heisei's voice rang out first.

"If there's anything you don't understand, let's discuss it together first, instead of all asking the sir."

She looked around at the students.

"This is a large class, not a class where the teacher only teaches us."

He gave Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong another cold look.

"We are all students here, so don't act based on your status."

Princess Wuyang froze, inwardly cursing Princess Heicheng to the core, but dared not refute her.

If Princess Heisei were to return and report her for using her princess status to pester the chief minister, the emperor would not forgive her.

Princess Nangong didn't care; on the contrary, she was even happier. She had already achieved her goal, and it would be better if she could go back and show it off to her father alone.

“Princess, Princess Wuyang and I wanted to ask everyone to discuss this.”

A slightly timid voice rang out.

Everyone's gaze turned to Princess Wuyang's side.

The girl looked a little nervous, but also poised and confident.

"In the notes I made for the princess, I noted that the chief priest had explained a passage of scripture using the word 'inquiry' in the interpretation, but the princess just looked at it and said it should be 'consultation'."

She said, looking at Princess Wuyang.

"Princess, why don't we all judge who is right and who is wrong?"

They're actually going to debate who's right and wrong about the position of the chief priest? All eyes were now on Princess Wuyang.

Brilliant! Arguing with the gentleman about right and wrong is much smarter than admitting you don't understand and asking for guidance!

Moreover, this wasn't an inquiry, it was a discussion, and Princess Heisei couldn't stop her!
Princess Wuyang felt lightheaded all over.

“That’s right,” she said loudly. “That’s what I think.”

She looked at the attendant beside her.

"Yang Luo, please explain our argument so that the teacher and everyone else can correct us."

The chief priest smiled and looked at Princess Wuyang... and the young lady beside her.

"Miss Yang," he said with a smile, extending his hand, "please tell me."

(End of this chapter)