Giving a Gift to the Vice Director

After Shen Tingjue finished speaking, afraid Director Zhang might think him utterly useless, he hurriedly patched things up. "Though I am lacking in literary talent, I recently discovered that I possess deep and abundant inner force. If you do not believe me, I can show you a move or two."

Director Zhang watched him sink his qi into his dantian and raise his hand as though he were about to chop at the stone stele beside him. His eyelid twitched, and he hurriedly called out, "I believe you, I believe you!"

This Worthy Achievement Stele had been built at great expense by the late emperor. If it got smashed, they would be completely done for.

Denied his chance to show off, Shen Tingjue sighed regretfully. "Fine, then."

Director Zhang let out a breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. After some thought, he suggested, "If you enter Imperial Academy Hall, I fear you may not be able to keep up with the lessons. How about..."

"No matter. Imperial Academy Hall will do." Shen Tingjue was inexplicably confident. "I am exceptionally gifted. As for learning, I will surely grasp it the moment I am taught."

Director Zhang choked up, left speechless.

Fine. As long as you had confidence in yourself.

Come to think of it, Shen Tingjue was the first student in history who could barely read a few characters yet openly enter through connections.

Director Zhang could not help looking Shen Tingjue over a few more times. He was lean and slender, and at first glance looked so frail that a gust of wind might knock him over, yet he actually wanted to split a stele with his bare hand. Besides, Steward Feng had repeatedly warned him earlier that his young master had something wrong with his mind and must not be provoked. No matter what happened, they had to indulge him.

This was fatal.

The Emperor had clearly sent a living ancestor in here.

Imperial Academy Hall.

The old teacher had an excellent voice. He had lectured on Confucian teachings for over an hour, yet his voice remained crisp and resounding without the slightest hoarseness. The students below nodded along, sleepy to death but forced to prop their eyelids open.

The old teacher was named Tao Wenzhi. Born into a poor family, he had placed third in the imperial examinations at the age of twenty-three and shot to fame.

After Xiao Tingye began his studies, Tao had been the one to teach him from the start. Later, when Xiao Tingye personally petitioned to study at the Imperial College, he mentioned Tao Wenzhi in passing, saying that Tao was brimming with knowledge and well-read in both ancient and modern learning, and should not be monopolized by him alone. He expressed his willingness to share him with all the students, so they might together receive the instruction of a flourishing age.

Seeing how sensible the young Crown Prince was, the Chenghuan Emperor was deeply gratified. With a grand wave of his hand, he approved it and had Tao Wenzhi enter the Imperial College as Vice Director.

At the time, Imperial Academy Hall was full of little imperial princes and royal descendants who knew nothing but playing and fighting all day. Hardly a single one gave anyone peace of mind.

Every day, Tao Wenzhi was busy chasing after them with a ruler to beat them. One roar from him could stun more than half of them senseless. White hairs sprouted by the thousand yards; he practically hated the Crown Prince to death. Several times, he requested to "retire and spend his remaining years in peace," only to be rejected by the Chenghuan Emperor, who bestowed upon him the empty title of Grand Academician and forcibly kept him in Imperial Academy Hall.

Director Zhang led Shen Tingjue into Imperial Academy Hall and brought him before Tao Wenzhi. "This is Tao Wenzhi, Vice Director Tao."

Shen Tingjue stepped forward and bowed properly. "Student Shen Tingjue greets Vice Director Tao."

His attitude was respectful, without the slightest fault to pick at.

Tao Wenzhi narrowed his cloudy eyes and studied Shen Tingjue for a moment. Stroking his beard, he nodded and opened his mouth, about to speak, when Shen Tingjue pulled a bulging money pouch from his broad sleeve and expertly stuffed it into his arms. "A small gift, merely a token of my regard. I hope Vice Director Tao will look after me well in the future."

Director Zhang's gaze snapped toward Shen Tingjue.

Damn it!

Why did Old Tao get a small gift while he got nothing?

Was he not worthy?

Tao Wenzhi: "..."

Tao Wenzhi glanced at the students below and, unsurprisingly, met more than a dozen pairs of wide eyes filled with curiosity.

"..."

The air fell quiet for a moment.

With all eyes upon him, Tao Wenzhi silently recited that wealth was but an external possession. Struggling to maintain his image of spotless integrity and sleeves swept clean by the wind, he raised a hand and stuffed the bulging pouch back, his face brimming with righteous dignity. "This old man has never accepted gifts. You..."

Shen Tingjue blocked his hand and smiled. "It is only lotus seeds, longans, red dates, and the like—just for an auspicious meaning. Could it be that Vice Director Tao thought it was something else?"

Tao Wenzhi: "..."

"Even the humblest tuition gift may be accepted by the teacher without concern." Shen Tingjue paused, cleared his throat, and kindly explained, "That was overly refined. It means this little apprenticeship gift is not anything valuable, so Vice Director Tao may accept it without concern."

Tao Wenzhi's beard trembled, but he said nothing.

Director Zhang looked at Shen Tingjue, with complaints stuck in his throat and nowhere to vent them. You can barely read a few characters, yet you speak so damn elegantly. Rubbing his hands together, he gave a dry laugh and did his best to liven up the atmosphere.

"Young Master Shen is truly thoughtful. This is Vice Director Tao's first time receiving an auspicious gift. Look how delighted it has made him."

After speaking, he and Shen Tingjue looked at Tao Wenzhi at the same time.

Tao Wenzhi: "..."

Under Director Zhang's meaningful waggling brows, Tao Wenzhi tugged up the corners of his mouth in a forced smile and said without a shred of feeling, "Heh heh."

The princes and children of noble families in Imperial Academy Hall had all met Shen Tingjue at last night's palace banquet. Shen Tingjue smiled at them with particular warmth, as though greeting old friends, making everyone break out in inexplicable goosebumps.

The seats at the front had all been filled, leaving only two vacant spots against the wall at the very back.

The two servants who had accompanied Shen Tingjue walked over and moved those two desks and chairs to the very front, nearly half a step away from the lectern.

For a moment, everyone was dumbfounded, unable to fathom such a wild approach.

Tao Wenzhi did not understand. "What are you doing...?"

With his hands tucked into his sleeves, Shen Tingjue replied solemnly, "Vice Director Tao is learned and talented, steeped in the fragrance of books. This student wishes to receive your influence from up close."

Someone failed to hold it in and let out a snort of laughter.

"..."

At his age, Tao Wenzhi pressed a hand to his chest and shakily let out a breath. Only after a long while did he squeeze out a sentence. "Young Master Shen... possesses outstanding literary grace."

Shen Tingjue was a little embarrassed. "You flatter me."

The two servants moved quickly and efficiently. Before long, they had polished the desks and chairs until they gleamed. Then they opened the food box they had brought, took out fruit and pastries, and arranged them on one desk. From a woven tea basket, they took out a teapot and poured a cup of warm tea.

There was food and drink, every detail of his care meticulously attended to.

The situation was rather improper, but someone seemed to possess no such awareness. Smiling, Shen Tingjue gathered his robes and sat down. He lifted the teacup and took several sips, then looked up to find Tao Wenzhi staring straight at him.

Tao Wenzhi's gaze burned like torches. He clenched his ruler, eager to make a move.

Shen Tingjue stared back at him for a while, then made an inviting gesture. "Please continue the lecture. Do not mind me."

Tao Wenzhi blew his beard and glared.

You brat, why not go listen to storytellers in a teahouse instead?

Vice Director Tao had always possessed a fiery temper. He dared to pick up his ruler and beat even children of the imperial family, treating everyone equally.

He raised his ruler high, just about to make an example of Shen Tingjue, when Shen Tingjue lifted a hand to cover his lips and began coughing repeatedly. His voice carried a faint, sickly weakness, while the wrist revealed between his wide sleeves was thin and lonely, so fragile it stirred pity in anyone who saw it.

Holding the ruler, Tao Wenzhi was suddenly caught between advancing and retreating. He felt as though he held a blade in his hand, as if one strike might kill the boy.

Tao Wenzhi fell silent for a moment. Of two evils, he chose the lesser and slowly lowered the ruler.

Forget it. So long as Shen Tingjue could quietly drink his tea and quietly attend the lesson, it would not be a major problem.

In any case, not a single one of the students in Imperial Academy Hall ever gave anyone peace of mind.