March 11, Grain Rain.
The sky had been gloomy since morning, yet the rain refused to fall, casting a pall over the streets and alleys of Yanjing Capital City. They looked like stagnant water without a ripple.
At the Imperial Academy in the Eastern City, Ye Jingtang was still dressed as a guard, waiting outside the buildings with his saber in his arms for Qingzhi's classes to end.
Unlike the previous few days, Little Yunli had also dressed up as a demure maid. She stood obediently before him, peering into the School Dormitory.
"Brother Jingtang, did you ever attend a private school?"
"No. Did you?"
"Neither did I, but Guardian Zhang and the others taught me back on Southern Skies Mountain. I was naughty and couldn't sit still, so they complained to my master and mistress every day, and then my mistress would beat me... How much longer do we have to wait?"
"Shouldn't be long now..."
Once the sky darkened, Ye Jingtang had to wait outside the Imperial City for a signal, while Qinghe and Yunli would provide support outside. With little to do at the Imperial Academy, Yunli was clearly growing impatient.
After reassuring her, Ye Jingtang waited a little longer. The students in the School Dormitory began bowing to their teacher and taking their leave, and Hua Qingzhi, wearing her school uniform, was wheeled out by Green Pearl.
Ye Jingtang stepped forward to help push her outside. Only when they reached a secluded spot did he say,
"I have to go out in a little while. I can't say when I'll be back. If I don't return, just say something urgent came up at home and I went back to visit my family."
When Hua Qingzhi noticed that Qinghe and Yunli had both come along today, she