My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 451 - 311 Ran Into the Gun Barrel? (Added - sponsored by the good brother ’98 Small Card’!)

Chapter 451: Chapter 311 Ran Into the Gun Barrel? (Added Chapter sponsored by the good brother ’98 Small Card’!)

"Someone definitely has a bias against our Justice Hall. What’s wrong with our academy having many students with special talents? It’s like they are children of a stepmother."

Zhao Rong heard this but remained noncommittal.

Gu Yiwu sighed and said, "Among the six halls of the academy, each hall organizes its own fixed set of entertainment and relaxation activities after class, Ziyu, you know that."

"Your Shuaixing Hall likes to organize students to go out together, to enjoy the autumn scenery and climb heights; next door at Cultivation Hall, they like to gather for literary collections and poetry meetings; and there’s also Guangye Hall..."

Zhao Rong nodded slightly.

He had heard quite a bit about these things, but the students of Shuaixing Hall had not invited him to any of their post-class activities so far.

However, Gu Yiwu often invited him to participate in Justice Hall activities.

But Zhao Rong usually refused, as he was too busy.

Gu Yiwu continued:

"In our Justice Hall, I organized a Cuju club, which is a popular recreational sport in the dynasties below the mountain."

"The academy is very supportive of these extracurricular activities. Everyone loves playing Cuju, so our Justice Hall also put on a vibrant and colorful show. I even went out of my way to ask the Sacrificial Officer for some empty space from the academy. It took a lot of trouble to turn it into a playing field, and I invited a few other halls to join..."

"But now, everything has been banned by Meng... well, by someone, as soon as she returned!"

Gu Yiwu said with a look of dissatisfaction:

"The most infuriating thing is that the activities of the other five halls are undisturbed, but she has made a point of targeting our Justice Hall. She says that Cuju is vulgar juggling from the secular world, detracting from public morals, unseemly and inappropriate... It’s clear she just dislikes Justice Hall. She even insinuated something about us. I argued with her... and ended up with a demerit."

Zhao Rong patted him on the shoulder, at a loss for words.

"By the way, Brother Gu, this is just one demerit. When was the other time?"

Gu Yiwu replied casually: "Oh, that was for not wearing the student uniform. A few days ago, they suddenly announced this new school regulation, and many of our classmates were caught off guard."

He was a burly figure, sweeping the floor with a thin broom, which looked quite out of place.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Rong’s expression showed a bit of embarrassment.

Just then, Gu Yiwu looked up and saw him, chuckling as he playfully punched his shoulder.

"Brother Zhao, you needn’t feel too guilty. It’s not all directed at you. Ever since Mochi Academy opened, Meng Xuezhen has always had a disagreement with the Sacrificial Officer about whether we should mandatorily wear the student uniform or not."

"Only, I didn’t expect that upon Meng Xuezhen’s return to the academy, she would still cause the Teacher to step back and change the school rules."

Zhao Rong smiled and began peacefully sweeping up the fallen leaves.

On an autumn morning, just after dawn, a cool breeze blew over Mochi Lake, bringing a touch of chilliness.

Gu Yiwu seemed to remember something and suddenly said, "Brother Zhao."

Zhao Rong, with his head lowered, replied, "Hmm."

"Speaking of which, you really should be careful about Meng Xuezhen; don’t give her another chance to demerit you."

Zhao Rong didn’t think much about it and responded without looking up, "Oh, Brother Gu as well. We both have had two demerits now, don’t let there be a third."

Gu Yiwu shook his head, his tone becoming serious:

"Of course, but Brother Zhao, you need to be even more cautious. I reckon, in the eyes of this Meng Xuezhen, you must be particularly offensive to her."

Zhao Rong looked up at him.

Gu Yiwu added, "And it’s not just because of your status as an inessential son-in-law."

Zhao Rong frowned slightly, feeling that something was indeed off.

His conflict with Meng Zhengjun wasn’t supposed to be that significant.

Yet the day after they met, she began targeting Zhao Rong subtly, starting with the announcement of the new school rules.

It was akin to being marked by the head of student affairs in his previous life, branded as a troublemaker.

Could it be that she really hates the idea of a son-in-law to the extent that she won’t rest until she drives me out of the academy?

Are young ladies that difficult to handle?

Zhao Rong was somewhat puzzled.

Gu Yiwu mused:

"About the incident between you and Meng Xuezhen that day, I’ve heard about it too. I think there might indeed be a serious clash of characters between you two."

"Hiss, when I think about it, Brother Zhao, it seems like you’ve collided with all her points of contention; it’s not just about being a son-in-law."

"Brother Gu, what do you mean by that?"

"Ziyu joined Shuaixing Hall in the middle of her absence from the academy, so you might not know that Meng Xuezhen places great importance on Shuaixing Hall. If the old Sacrificial Officer considers all Mochi Academy students as future pillars of the Academy, then in the eyes of Meng Xuezhen, it’s probably only Shuaixing Hall, well, plus Cultivation Hall, that are truly breeding grounds for talents."

Speaking of this, Gu Yiwu and Zhao Rong tacitly curled their lips and shook their heads together.

Zhao Rong nodded, "So, as a student with special talent, and having joined the Shuaixing Hall halfway through, that irritated her?"

"Yes, and it’s not just that, you should be aware of the private conflict between Meng Xuezhen and Teacher Zhu, and how you, Ziyu, are highly favored by Teacher Zhu. On top of that, with your calligraphy skills, I guess you’re looked down upon by Meng Xuezhen."

"You also became an assistant teacher in Shuaixing Hall because of your superb handwriting, and who knows if that might affect Shuaixing Hall’s major exam results."

Gu Yiwu paused for a moment then continued to recapitulate for Zhao Rong, enumerating the details.

"I also heard that on that day, you were punishing Yu Huaijin by making him copy out texts, and she saw it. Yu Huaijin is probably the one she’s most fond of..."

This burly man shook his head.

"As for not wearing the student uniform, I won’t even mention that, many classmates have been caught, but it’s not enough for her to remember and hold on tightly."

"However, Brother Zhao is different, there’s one more thing in your case that she might find intolerable."

Gu Yiwu paused his speech and waved the little broom in his hand.

Zhao Rong, deep in thought, said, "Brother Gu, stop beating around the bush, just tell me."

"Well, Brother Zhao, what do you think about the relationship between Taiching Prefecture and our Academy?"

Zhao Rong felt slightly puzzled, why such a leap?

He pondered this.

"To say the relationship is extremely good would be an overstatement, but it’s not bad either. The Taiching Prefecture and our Academy are so close. When I previously accompanied Teacher Yan to lecture at Taiching Prefecture, I noticed that the exchanges between our two institutions’ disciples were quite frequent."

Gu Yiwu nodded.

"Brother Zhao speaks the truth, our Academy’s scholars and students enter Taiching Prefecture without any obstruction, however... if a resident student of Taiching Prefecture does not have a familiar guarantor within the Academy, it’s not so easy for them to enter."

Zhao Rong suddenly realized, "That’s right, the first time Qian’er came to the Academy to find me, she was stopped at the gate."

He frowned, "Brother Gu, why is that? The Academy imposes restrictions on the comings and goings of Taiching Prefecture’s resident students."

Gu Yiwu did not respond immediately, giving Zhao Rong a look that suggested he mull over it himself.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Rong spoke softly, "Her rules?"

Gu Yiwu looked around cautiously and nodded.

Zhao Rong smiled, "There’s a story there."

Gu Yiwu blinked, "It’s a long story."

"Give me the short version?"

"No wine, no talk."

Zhao Rong nodded.

He did not probe any further into the grudges and disputes between Meng Zhengjun and Taiching Prefecture.

Gu Yiwu coughed and changed the subject: "So, she probably resents the scholars and students of our Academy for being too closely involved with the resident students of Taiching Prefecture, especially those kinds of relationships."

"And now Ziyu, not only do you have a wife who is the pride of Tranquility Mansion, but you have also married into her family."

Zhao Rong’s mouth twitched.

Good heavens, all the accusation seemed to have collided with him.

The approval rating skyrocketed in the opposite direction.

Gu Yiwu put down the broom in his hand, and his expression grew solemn.

"So this time, the new academic rules, I guess this Dean has been brewing them for a long time already, ready to implement them once back at the Academy. As it happens, your arrival fits all the criteria... sigh, you must be extremely careful from now on."

Zhao Rong: "......"

He looked down at the autumn leaves on the ground.

Muted, he did not speak.

Then something else occurred to Gu Yiwu.

He glanced at the broom in his hand and sighed again.

"Our Justice Hall is not much better off than Ziyu. In the upcoming midterm examination of the month, other six kinds of art studies are still manageable, but the Ritual Skill assessment... I heard that some students are going to be sent outside for assessment, seems like they are going to the nearby Great Li."

"Great Li?"

Zhao Rong’s tone was curious.