"On the Teacher," Part Two!

At Jiang Xiaobai's words, Li Zhiwei's face beneath her veil flushed again.

Especially with Jiang Xiaobai asking her such a question in all seriousness before so many people, even her usual composure could not quite withstand it.

For a moment, her clear eyes grew slightly evasive.

In the end, however, Li Zhiwei gently bit her red lip and answered softly, "Y... yes."

As those words fell, the atmosphere in the hall immediately grew delicate.

Shen Yun could barely suppress her smile.

Jiang Jingcheng sat at the head of the hall with a stern expression, yet the corners of his mouth still twitched almost imperceptibly.

If that really was the case, this would certainly be a happy occasion!

As for Li Bingzhang, he fell silent for a moment, then ultimately said nothing.

"Then it's settled!"

Jiang Xiaobai smiled, then seemed to suddenly remember something. Turning his gaze to Li Bingzhang, he said, "Oh, there's no need to provide another betrothal letter."

"After all, I already asked for one on the day of the Poetry Gathering."

"Huh?"

Li Bingzhang froze at those words, clear bewilderment appearing on his face. "That happened?"

At Li Bingzhang's question, everyone's gaze involuntarily turned toward Li Zhiwei.

Li Zhiwei visibly stiffened, and her already uneasy eyes filled with even more embarrassed indignation.

After a moment, she nevertheless nodded gently.

"Y... yes, it did."

Indeed, that so-called "betrothal letter" had been Jiang Xiaobai's doing that day: using calligraphy and an acrostic poem, he had half tricked and half coaxed her into his snare.

Before this, it naturally could not have counted.

But now that things had come this far, that piece of calligraphy could just about serve as grounds for it.

Jiang Xiaobai's smile grew even more natural. His gaze then fell on Lin Fengshuo, and he cupped his hands. "Teacher, then we'll leave the matchmaker's role to you!"

"Haha, gladly!"

Lin Fengshuo nodded with a smile.

He was genuinely happy to act as their matchmaker.

Even setting everything else aside, Jiang Xiaobai's "On the Teacher" alone was enough for him to lend this marriage his support.

With Lin Fengshuo's nod, the marriage arrangement was, in every real sense, firmly settled.

For the rest of their time together, everyone discussed the particulars.

For instance, when the betrothal gifts would be delivered, and when the wedding would formally take place.

These matters came one after another, minor yet important.

Jiang Xiaobai sat there listening quite attentively.

Occasionally, when something seemed unsuitable, he would interject with a cheerful smile, prompting Li Zhiwei to glare at him.

Time passed little by little.

By the time they had broadly settled all these matters, a full two hours had passed.

By then, Jiang Jingcheng had also specifically ordered a banquet to be laid out in the Marquis's Residence.

The group moved over, eating as they chatted.

Much of the earlier tension in the hall had faded, and the atmosphere was noticeably more harmonious.

Of course.

That harmony was only relative.

During the meal, Jiang Jingcheng and Li Bingzhang still exchanged occasional looks, then each gave a cold snort.

But snort as they might, the betrothal was settled after all.

Especially after Jiang Xiaobai's repeated urging, these two men, who usually met with guns loaded and spears leveled in every word, finally raised their cups and clinked them together.

Their expressions were somewhat awkward as their cups met.

Still, they drank that cup of wine in the end.

Watching from beside them, Shen Yun never once lost the smile on her face.

Li Zhiwei sat there, sometimes listening to Jiang Xiaobai speak, sometimes glancing at the awkward spectacle of her father and Jiang Jingcheng having no choice but to share a table. A faint smile involuntarily surfaced in her eyes as well.

After the meal.

Lin Fengshuo immediately turned his gaze to Jiang Xiaobai.

"You little rascal, we've had our wine and settled your betrothal. Isn't it time you brought out the second half of 'On the Teacher'?"

At Lin Fengshuo's words, Jiang Xiaobai smiled. "Don't be impatient, Teacher. Since your student promised you, I certainly won't go back on my word."

With that, Jiang Xiaobai turned directly to a servant and instructed him, "Go to my study and fetch the essay on the desk."

Last night, after sending off the first half of "On the Teacher," Jiang Xiaobai had written out the second half as well.

Now, naturally, it only needed to be fetched.

"Yes!"

The servant answered respectfully, then quickly withdrew.

In the brief interval after the servant left, Lin Fengshuo visibly grew restless.

He picked up his teacup and set it down again, glancing outside every so often.

There was not a trace of his usual poise as a venerable scholar and master.

Even Jiang Xiaobai could hardly keep from laughing at the sight.

As for Li Bingzhang and Li Zhiwei, both had clearly grown curious as well.

Especially Li Bingzhang.

Reading just the first half earlier had already left him astonished, as though he had encountered a celestial talent.

Naturally, he wanted to know whether this second half could sustain the grandeur of the first, or even raise it to greater heights.

Before long, the servant hurried back with the rolled-up essay in his hands.

But before the servant could approach, Lin Fengshuo rose directly to his feet and hurried over, almost unable to wait, snatching the second half of "On the Teacher" from his hands.

"Quick, let me see!"

After saying this, Lin Fengshuo could not even be bothered to return to his seat. Standing right there, he unfolded the sheet of rice paper and began reading.

Li Bingzhang and Li Zhiwei rose almost simultaneously and hurried over as well.

Jiang Jingcheng sat to one side, watching the three huddle together, his expression somewhat awkward.

Indeed.

Poetry was all right; he could understand at least a little of it.

But essays were truly not his forte.

He could only raise his teacup and sit there with feigned composure, though his gaze still involuntarily drifted toward them from time to time.

A moment later, voices of praise soon rang out again.

"Wonderful!"

Lin Fengshuo abruptly raised his head, his eyes blazing. "Wonderful!"

"The turn and conclusion connect everything from beginning to end, giving the argument of the first half an utterly firm foundation!"

"Indeed!"

Li Bingzhang could not resist joining in the praise. "Truly excellent! The first half establishes the way of the teacher, and the second refutes vulgar convention. How satisfying!"

"Especially this passage..."

At this point, Li Bingzhang's voice even began to tremble faintly. "'Long has the way of the teacher gone unpracticed! Hard indeed is it to wish that people might be free of doubt!' These lines capture the entire temper of our times!"

Standing beside them, Li Zhiwei's eyes likewise trembled slightly.

The first half had dazzled her.

But this second half made her truly realize that the essay would surely spread, that it would be passed from reader to reader, discussed, and acclaimed!

It would even make countless scholars remember a single name.

At that thought, Li Zhiwei's eyes involuntarily turned toward Jiang Xiaobai again.

At this moment, the radiance in her eyes was noticeably brighter than before.

A long while later.

When the three finally finished reading the second half of "On the Teacher," the admiration on their faces still had not faded.

Lin Fengshuo, in particular, held the essay in his hands, unwilling to set it down for a long time.

Finally, Lin Fengshuo took a deep breath and said slowly, "This essay..."

"I must recommend it to the Imperial College!"

At these words, neither Li Bingzhang nor Li Zhiwei seemed surprised, but Jiang Jingcheng was taken aback.

Even though he knew nothing of essays, he still knew what sort of place the Imperial College was.

It was a place of lofty prestige in the eyes of scholars throughout the realm!

If this essay truly reached the Imperial College, this would no longer be a trivial affair.

Was this essay... really that good?

Just as the thought occurred to him, Jiang Xiaobai's voice came from beside him. "Teacher, you may recommend it."

"But for now, leave my name off it..."