The teacher led Huangfu Ji to the Teaching Committee.
The moment he entered, Huangfu Ji saw a middle-aged man in his fifties waiting there.
The man was not particularly tall, but he was thin. Still, he looked exceptionally spirited, and there was an affable quality about him that made people instinctively feel close to him.
The teacher bowed.
"Teaching Committee Member Meng Shenji, Grand Duke Qingyang has arrived."
Meng Shenji nodded slightly, then gestured for the teacher to leave.
Once the teacher had gone, he rose and walked over to Huangfu Ji.
"Huangfu Ji greets Teaching Committee Member Meng Shenji." Huangfu Ji bowed respectfully. He understood well that status meant nothing here; he was merely a student.
Meng Shenji smiled and raised a hand in a token gesture to stop him.
"There is no need for such formality, Grand Duke."
"Please, sit."
After Huangfu Ji sat down, Meng Shenji poured him a cup of tea. After all, the other man was the ruler of a nation, and he did not dare show the slightest neglect.
To be honest, he had been at the academy for more than thirty years, yet this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. The ruler of an entire nation had actually come here to study—not as an heir, but in his capacity as the nation's ruler.
"To be honest, when we learned you were coming, the other two committee members and I were quite surprised."
Huangfu Ji said, "There is no need for the Teaching Committee Member to make things difficult. Just treat me as an ordinary student. I came here only to study in peace."
"You are also aware of the situation in the Duchy. I am afraid it would be difficult for me to cultivate peacefully there."
Meng Shenji nodded