My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 403 - 288 Mr. Zhao is Really Busy_2

Chapter 403: Chapter 288 Mr. Zhao is Really Busy_2

It was indeed quite suitable.

However, Jia Tengying’s academic performance was good, but his peasant background caused some students to respect him from a distance.

After entering Shuaixing Hall, Zhao Rong became close to Fan Yushu and caused a stir in the Music Art class.

In the eyes of most students, his ’position in the hall’ had been declining.

If it had not been for the surprising impression he made in the Calligraphy class that reversed his image and the favor shown by a very popular woman in a Confucian robe...

However, even though Zhao Rong had become an assistant in the Shuaixing Hall Calligraphy class, the impression most students had of him had not changed much.

Instead, due to the sudden change in his ’position in the hall,’ some students felt slightly uncomfortable or rather annoyed, like Wu Peiliang.

Because academically, in Shuaixing Hall, there were not a few students like Zhao Rong who excelled exceptionally in a single Art Study.

Only, they differed in degree, for example, the hall’s favorite, Li Xueyou’s Chess Skill, was very impressive, not far behind Yu Huaijin.

But Zhao Rong’s skill in Calligraphy was somewhat over the top...

The simplest comparison was with the incomparable Yu Huaijin, who had always firmly held the top level in the seven arts.

But now, the top spot in Calligraphy was undoubtedly not secure anymore.

For someone as competitive as Yu Huaijin, this was unprecedented, even for Calligraphy, an art that was relatively new to everyone.

Only, this kind of ’unprecedented’ scenario, originally aimed for by Wu Peiliang and much desired by Han Wenfu from the Cultivation Hall.

But now... it had been snatched away by that seemingly harmless fellow on the podium.

This explains why Wu Peiliang always seemed to be annoyed with Zhao Rong, frequently opposing him outright.

That was the impression of Zhao Rong the students of Shuaixing Hall had before today.

Actually, this was also what Zhao Rong had been silently noticing and had summarized in two words over this period of time.

Prejudice.

And Zhao Rong felt he could pick another word that also fit.

Arrogance.

The arrogance of the mountain people.

But these, in the world—as Zhao Rong saw it, in this era, just like his status as an unwanted son-in-law—were inevitable.

However, what many in this world did not realize, was that some people are naturally meant to break these ’circles’ and ’rules’, to challenge arrogance and prejudice...

At this very moment, inside Shuaixing Hall at the Mochi Academy, the students thought the same.

They were now pondering the relationship between Teacher Yan and Zhao Rong.

Previously, they had thought it was just like with Fan Yushu, a matter of fortunate popularity that earned him a spot for students with special talents.

But what did Li Jinsu mean just now?

It seemed that Teacher Yan held Zhao Rong in high regard, hosting a private bass banquet, and the first person he mentioned was him?

Moreover, when Li Jinsu came over, he only invited Zhao Rong and did not call Fan Yushu.

Some students couldn’t help but cast sidelong glances, looking toward Fan Yushu seated at the very back, who looked normal, smiling broadly at an embarrassed ’Peiniang,’ not resentful of Teacher Yan’s differential treatment but rather seeming... perfectly entitled?

These introspective students were surprised.

If that was really the case, earning special favor from two teachers in the Academy, then at the master-apprenticeship ceremony a year later, even if his performance was not exceptional, let alone becoming an Inner Chamber Disciple, becoming an average Direct Disciple would still be effortless.

Although what Teacher Zhu taught about Calligraphy and Confucianism was somewhat unreliable and sparked considerable debate among the Academy scholars,

Teacher Yan taught the Classics and Confucianism, the truly Great Dao.

In the seven arts studies, only two are considered major art forms, and every master-apprenticeship ceremony, the seats for Direct Disciples under these teachers of Classics and Poetry were fiercely contested among students of Mochi Academy.

At this very moment, many eyes lingered on the face of the young Confucian Scholar on the podium.

Zhao Rong was alternately looking outside the door, then at Wu Peiliang.

His eyes blinked lightly, his expression filled with a bit of anticipation, not minding the complex gazes from other students.

In the center of Shuaixing Hall, Wu Peiliang’s smile remained stiff on his face.

It seemed he was attempting to bluster through.

No one spoke first to break the silence, and the air inside Shuaixing Hall grew heavy.

At that moment,

someone moved.

It was Sima Duyi, who had been quietly observing the commotion in the academy.

He simply nodded his head slightly.

Then he softly said to the tense Li Xueyou, "I’ll look for you after class to visit your uncle."

Li Xueyou nodded vigorously, tied her ponytail at the back of her head, and flicked it.

Suddenly, Sima Duyi turned his head, bowed to Zhao Rong at the lectern, and then twisted his body to walk towards the door, his movements still unhurried.

Zhao Rong raised an eyebrow.

"Brother Sima, class ends at the sixth mark of the hour of Si."

He reminded in a soft voice towards his sleeve.

Sima Duyi did not stop walking, but nodded lightly.

The tense atmosphere in Shuaixing Hall suddenly relaxed.

Many students changed their tone and exchanged glances.

Especially Wu Peiliang, whose stiff smile quickly faded away; he licked his lips and averted his eyes from the lectern, unwilling to face the young Confucian scholar with a seemingly mocking smile.

Zhao Rong actually felt a bit of pity.

He had been hoping to hear Wu Peiliang stubbornly insist a few more times, foretelling something else that even he himself didn’t know about.

But it seemed no one was foolish, especially not Wu Peiliang, who looked very shrewd. He said nothing further, and though it was awkward, it was better than being humiliated again... right?

Zhao Rong smiled and offered him an out.

"Brother Wu, is there anything else? If not, could you please take your seat on your small stool? We’ve delayed enough, and it’s time to start the class."

Wu Peiliang managed to squeeze out, "No, nothing more, thank you, Teacher Zhao."

Before he finished speaking, he was already hastily heading to his seat with his head bowed, facing various looks from his classmates along the way.

Zhao Rong let out a soft breath, shifting his gaze away from the retreating figure of Wu Peiliang.

He turned his head, his eyes moving past the figure of Sima Duyi, who was heading to the doorway, and looked outside to the sunlight.

The young Confucian scholar slightly furrowed his brows; the delay had been considerable, and the morning in autumn was already too short.

Zhao Rong shook his head and reached for the students’ assignments on the long table.

"Excuse me, is Zhao Ziyu from Shuaixing Hall here?"

Suddenly, a strange male voice came from outside.

It echoed within Shuaixing Hall.

The previously lively academy grew silent once again.

The students of Shuaixing Hall turned their heads towards the man on the lectern at once.

Li Xueyou’s mouth hung open slightly.

Teacher Zhao really is busy.

Wu Peiliang, who had just settled into his seat, nearly jumped up, inwardly exclaiming how close that had been!

By the doorway, Sima Duyi had already stopped in his tracks, and upon hearing those words, his eyes slightly widened as if he had awakened.

Sima Duyi did recognize this fellow; on the contrary, he saw him often, as they were of the same kind within the academy.

Meanwhile, on the academy’s platform, Zhao Rong’s hand motion had already stopped, and he lifted his eyelids.

That voice, clear yet slightly magnetic... he didn’t recognize it!

Zhao Rong withdrew his hand, straightened his back, and turned around.

Outside, under the autumn sun, was a refined young man with a smile tugging at his lips, approaching with the sunlight slanting in his direction.