Chapter 74: The Libationer’s Inspection
Princess Pingcheng originally thought that on the first day of school, the Libationer would come to see her.
But he did not.
“Ah, the Libationer is afraid of scaring you all, after all, you are all young girls, so adapt to reading first.” Father Emperor smiled and comforted her, “If the atmosphere is too nervous at the beginning, everyone won’t be able to read.”
This reasoning made sense, but Princess Pingcheng was still a bit disappointed.
She felt that the Libationer looked down on her.
She was truly here to read, so how could she be easily scared.
In any case, before the second round of class ended, the Libationer finally appeared, and Princess Pingcheng was very happy.
But the others, hearing the palace maid’s words, were nervous and afraid.
“The Libationer?”
“Oh my, is he going to test us?”
“Oh dear me, I forgot what was just taught.”
“A Rui, A Rui, lend me your notes quickly to copy.”
The hall became noisy, and even Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong, who had originally been showing off their lady-in-waitings, quieted down.
“He won’t really ask us something, will he.” Princess Nangong said timidly, “If we can’t answer, Older Sister Pingcheng will scold us.”
Princess Wuyang glared at her: “The one who can’t answer is you, I’m not that stupid.”
Though she said that, she was also a bit nervous, what if the Libationer asked tricky questions…
The face she had just gained in front of Father Emperor would be lost again.
“Everyone, no need to be nervous, please take your seats.”
It was still Princess Pingcheng who calmly soothed, making the chaotic young ladies quiet down.
The young ladies hurriedly returned to their seats, nervously flipping through their book scrolls.
Yang Hui, however, was not nervous; her expression instead became excited, her eyes flashing—was the Libationer coming so soon to give the exam?
That’s right, for such an absurd matter, the Libationer surely couldn’t tolerate it; even if the Emperor agreed, he wouldn’t, and would immediately drive out these two—no, three lowly maids from the National Academy!
“……Did you all rest well yesterday?”
“……I’m fine, and you all?”
“…….We’re fine too.”
“……Miss Liu, is everyone at home well?”
“……They’re fine, thank you Miss Yang.”
Whispers came to her ears; Yang Hui came back to her senses and saw the three lowly maids sitting to her left and right leaning over her to talk softly.
Earlier they had to pretend not to know each other in front of people and had no chance to talk; now with everyone nervous about the Libationer’s arrival and paying no attention to others, they finally had a chance to talk.
Facing death, they still had the mood to chat idly!
Yang Hui raised her hand and slapped the book scroll: “No talking!”
At this time the hall had already quieted down, and Yang Hui’s sudden shout startled everyone.
The joyful expression on Princess Pingcheng’s face stiffened slightly.
Everyone instinctively looked over and saw in the last row four people: Yang Hui full of anger, one Miss Yang frowning, while the other Miss Yang, following everyone’s gaze, lowered her head.
She was even hunching her shoulders…
Like a startled quail.
It was her lady-in-waiting; Princess Wuyang immediately glared.
Originally too lazy to remember this lady-in-waiting, but upon first meeting today, this Miss Yang was quick-witted and eloquent, which greatly satisfied her.
Now, seeing this lady-in-waiting so timid…
“Yang Hui!” Princess Wuyang said delightedly, “You’re all lady-in-waitings, mind yourself and stop relying on Princess Pingcheng to throw your weight around.”
After saying that, she provocatively glanced at Princess Pingcheng.
When sisters quarreled, Father Emperor protected the eldest daughter, but when lady-in-waitings quarreled, Father Emperor surely couldn’t protect the eldest daughter’s lady-in-waiting too, right?
Princess Pingcheng coldly glanced at Princess Wuyang.
Yang Hui over there was already aggrieved: “I didn’t.” Then looking at Princess Pingcheng, she hurriedly said, “Princess, it’s them talking that’s disturbing my studies.”
This fool; Princess Pingcheng clenched the hand on her knee.
Sure enough, someone snickered.
“Do your studies still need to be disturbed by others?” Yang Luo said with a half-smile beside her.
Yang Hui grew even angrier and was about to say something when Princess Pingcheng could no longer hold back and raised her voice: “Enough, stop arguing.”
Yang Hui didn’t dare speak again; Yang Luo paid respects to Princess Pingcheng, her expression respectful.
The lobby suddenly fell quiet again, but immediately the old man’s laughter rang out.
Everyone was startled.
Following the laughter, an old man walked in from the flower hall on the left.
Seeing this old man, Princess Pingcheng hurriedly stood up.
“Libationer.” She hurriedly said.
Although she hadn’t seen him at the National Academy yet, of course she recognized him.
Back then when Father Emperor invited Wang Zaitian to the imperial palace, she had been attending at the side.
The other young ladies were seeing him for the first time; since arriving in the capital city, Wang Zaitian hardly left the National Academy.
Even in the National Academy, aside from the monthly grand lecture, Wang Zaitian stayed in the library and didn’t come out; it wasn’t easy for the students to see him once.
Everyone hurriedly followed with paying respects.
“Sit, sit.” Wang Zaitian said with a hearty laugh.
He wore a scholar’s robe, always had a smile on his face, and his demeanor was more like an ordinary old man from the marketplace.
Princess Pingcheng had thought the same when seeing him for the first time, almost thinking this old man whom Father Emperor treated as an honored guest was someone who had looked after Father Emperor in his rural childhood, invited back to repay kindness.
At that time, besides Wang Zaitian, there were over a dozen scholars; they sat together in lively discussion.
As they talked, they started arguing.
This Wang Zaitian argued the fiercest and in the end even pulled out a cane from beside him to hit someone.
She had been truly startled at the time.
Father Emperor dodged while looking at him with eyes full of admiration, saying something about “sage’s demeanor”.
Sage’s demeanor was just so fierce; Princess Pingcheng pursed her lips, didn’t sit down, and with an apologetic expression said: “We’ve made the Libationer laugh; it’s inevitable for people together to argue with words.”
Wang Zaitian waved his hand with a smile: “No harm, reading requires arguing with words; without arguing, there’s no clarity.”
The Libationer was amiable, treating them like girls to coax, not as true students; Princess Pingcheng paid respects again and sat down.
Seeing the princess sit, the other young ladies followed suit.
Wang Zaitian asked the instructors nearby what was taught today and what would be taught next, then walked among the seats.
Princess Pingcheng hurriedly handed him the characters and essay she had written.
Wang Zaitian looked, nodded with a smile, then continued walking.
Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong sitting beside Princess Pingcheng breathed a sigh of relief, joyful as if surviving a disaster—those not looked at couldn’t be said to be slacking.
Wang Zaitian walked through the hall one by one; he didn’t look at everyone, only one person per row, but this made people even more nervous.
Some feared being selected and were anxious, praying inwardly; those who couldn’t escape trembled with heads down, while those who escaped were elated.
The atmosphere in the hall was quiet yet with a bit more noise.
However, Wang Zaitian didn’t scold anyone; for those whose homework he checked, he nodded and said it was good.
When Jiang Rui was selected, though a bit nervous, she was mostly happy.
Being glanced at by the Libationer for her essay was an honor; though Wang Zaitian just nodded with a smile, neither saying good nor bad.
Jiang Rui respectfully thanked him.
But there was a difference between being happy and being proactive…
When Wang Zaitian reached the last row, someone abruptly stood up and eagerly offered the booklet in her hand to Wang Zaitian.
“Libationer.” Yang Luo said, “Please look at mine.”
Gazes followed Wang Zaitian; startled by the person who suddenly stood to proactively offer homework, the young ladies relaxed upon seeing who it was.
This Miss Liu was always brazen, openly clinging to Princess Pingcheng, so naturally she wouldn’t miss the chance for the Libationer to comment on essays.
But, she should also think, sitting in the last row, what was there in her homework worth showing off; quite a few people curled their lips inwardly.
Yang Hui sat up straighter, excitedly and expectantly watching Wang Zaitian.
This was delivered right to the door!
Libationer, quickly throw out her homework and make her get out too!
But the Libationer couldn’t hear her inner thoughts; he took Yang Luo’s homework, glanced at it, and nodded with a smile “good good good”.
That was good; Yang Luo breathed a sigh of relief—those who saw hers didn’t need to check the others in this row.
She wasn’t worried about Liu Chan; she was worried about A Sheng.
Though A Sheng should know characters, what if… moreover, this Libationer should already know their true identities.
Couldn’t give him a chance to flare up.
But just as she sat down, she saw this Wang Zaitian not leaving, but looking toward the young girl sitting beside Yang Hui.
“This young lady.” Wang Zaitian said with a hearty laugh, extending his hand, “Let me see yours.”
Yang Luo and Yang Hui both nearly stood up.
Of course, one nervous, one excited.
Since the Libationer entered, Mo Zheng hadn’t been hunching her shoulders pretending to be pitiful, but hadn’t lifted her head either.
Hearing Wang Zaitian’s words now, she seemed a bit embarrassed and slowly lifted her head.
“Libationer.” She said softly, “I’m a lady-in-waiting, just listening to copy lecture notes for the princess; no need to write homework.”
Wang Zaitian said “oh” and looked at her, nodding with a hearty laugh: “good good good.”
Ah, this is good too?! Yang Hui was stunned; could this old man say anything besides good good good?
