Lin Ruoli lowered her gaze and walked slowly into the Imperial Academy, her steps neither hurried nor delayed, her eyes filled with deep contemplation.
Although Yu Youniang was now unharmed, after what had just happened, she had thoroughly offended Zhai Heming and the Chengyi Marquis Estate.
Having just arrived at the Imperial Academy and already making enemies—if this news were to reach Yong'an Marquis Manor, Yu Youniang would surely face jiafa tonight!
And then there was Zhai Heming!
Zhai Heming had been pampered and spoiled since childhood, never having suffered any grievances.
Now, not only had he been beaten by Yu Youniang, but he was also punished by the Director with a hundred copies of writing, humiliated in front of so many people. He would definitely not let Yu Youniang off.
That little country girl was simply asking for trouble!
…
Everyone else had left, leaving only Li Chengming and Yu Youniang at the main entrance.
Yu Youniang looked up at Li Chengming with eager eyes, "You really are such a good person!"
He had spoken up for her and punished Zhai Heming—truly a great person!
Yu Youniang’s face was radiant with a bright smile, her crescent-shaped eyes sparkling like stars.
Li Chengming did not smile, his expression remaining unchanged. "Yu Youniang, now that you have come to study at the Imperial Academy, you are a student here. From now on, focus on your studies, avoid causing trouble, and get along well with your classmates."
Yu Youniang nodded earnestly, "I understand! I will!"
Her master had said, "If others do not provoke me, I will not provoke them." She would definitely get along well with her classmates.
Seeing her sweet and obedient smile, her soft voice, and her overall demeanor as soft as freshly steamed glutinous rice cakes, Li Chengming’s expression softened.
"As long as you understand. Come, I’ll take you inside."
"Thank you, Teacher."
"You should address me as Director."
"Okay, Director!"
Soon, they arrived outside the Suixing Hall beginner class.
The Imperial Academy was divided into six halls for teaching, each further divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels based on the stage of learning.
Inside the room were nine desks, each seating two students, accommodating a total of eighteen.
However, the desks were not fully occupied. Those present were around Yu Youniang’s age, with the oldest being about eight years old.
Seeing Li Chengming arrive, everyone stood up to greet him, "Greetings, Director."
Li Chengming nodded slightly, "Take your seats. Yu Youniang, since you are short, you may sit in the empty seat in the first row."
Yu Youniang looked over and saw that there was only one empty seat in the first row, right next to Lin Ruoli.
Yu Youniang immediately beamed, "Sitting with Li'er! Great!"
"Zhu Xue Zheng will be here shortly. In the meantime, review your books on your own," Li Chengming instructed before preparing to leave.
But just as he finished speaking, someone appeared at the door.
The newcomer was not tall, with delicate and refined features despite his youthful appearance.
Seeing him, Li Chengming’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded, "Crown Prince, you’ve arrived. Please come in."
Chu Huaixu nodded, "Student greets the Director."
With that, Chu Huaixu stepped inside but stopped at the first row, right beside Yu Youniang.
Lin Ruoli turned to look at Chu Huaixu, her eyes shining brightly as if emitting light.
She wanted to smile but feared it would be improper, so she struggled to hold it back, though the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.
After taking a deep breath, Lin Ruoli managed to calm herself somewhat and spoke in her most dignified tone, "Crown Prince, you’re here!"
"Hmm."
Chu Huaixu responded indifferently, yet his gaze fell upon Yu Youniang.
Standing beside this young girl, he actually felt a warmth spreading through his body—a sensation he had never experienced since he could remember, leaving him utterly astonished.
Back then, when his mother was pregnant with him, she had been poisoned. Although the master of Yaowang Valley was summoned, the poison could not be completely eradicated.
Consequently, he was born with an innate cold toxin, his body frail and weak, once teetering on the brink of death.
The Chief Astrologer of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau expended ten years of his lifespan to divine his fate, calculating that the "phoenix-fated woman born at the first quarter of the Chen hour on Grain Rain day in the Jiazi year" was his destined lucky star, capable of curing his congenital weakness and alleviating the cold toxin within him.
Three years after his birth, it happened to be the Jiazi year.
And on the Grain Rain day of that year, the eldest daughter of Yong'an Marquis Manor, Lin Siqiong, gave birth to a girl, precisely matching the words of the Chief Astrologer.
This matter was of great significance, known only to the Chief Astrologer, his father, and his mother, with no one else aware, so there should be no scheme involved.
Shortly after Lin Ruoli was born, he began frequently interacting with her, and indeed, his health showed signs of improvement.
Yet over the past five years, his condition had fluctuated between better and worse.
Even the Chief Astrologer could not explain why, speculating that it might be because Lin Ruoli was too young and their interactions were still limited.
Thus, last month, after Lin Ruoli turned five, she was sent to study at the Imperial Academy. He also moved from the Imperial Study to the Imperial Academy, sitting at the desk directly behind hers.
With daily interactions now longer, his health seemed to have improved slightly, but only relatively speaking.
At night, he still shivered uncontrollably from the cold; even a room full of charcoal fires could not warm him in the slightest.
But now, merely standing here, he felt warmth spreading through his body.
This sensation was like the first time he soaked in a hot spring medicinal bath—warmth enveloping him from head to toe, inside and out, leaving him feeling unprecedentedly relaxed.
Chu Huaixu’s expression remained unchanged, but shock flickered in his eyes.
What on earth was happening?
As he pondered this, Lin Ruoli’s voice reached him again.
“Crown Prince Brother, what’s wrong with you?”
Chu Huaixu’s eyes flickered briefly, but by the time he turned to look at Lin Ruoli, everything had returned to normal.
“It’s nothing.”
As he spoke, Chu Huaixu naturally walked to his desk and sat down, though his gaze remained fixed on the young girl.
Just as he was staring, the girl suddenly turned her head and looked back at him.
Yu Youniang’s eyes were large and round, with double eyelids, strikingly similar to a cat’s eyes.
Her skin was fair, and her features were exquisitely delicate, yet her cheeks were plump and chubby, making her appear both beautiful and adorable—like a lucky doll beside the God of Wealth, tempting one to reach out and pinch her cheeks.
Though Chu Huaixu did not act on the impulse, his fingers twitched slightly.
Unaware of what Chu Huaixu was thinking, Yu Youniang stared back at him, her large eyes filled with confusion. “Why are you staring at me?”
Before Chu Huaixu could respond to Yu Youniang’s question, Lin Ruoli coldly interjected, “Youning, do not be disrespectful. This is the Crown Prince. Besides, the Crown Prince is not looking at you.”
Yu Youniang was nothing but a little village girl—how could Crown Prince Brother possibly be staring at her?
Surely, she had learned of Crown Prince Brother’s identity and was trying to climb the social ladder, making up excuses to strike up a conversation and get closer to him.
She had truly underestimated this little village girl!
Lin Ruoli's gaze grew colder the more she thought about it. If possible, she wished she could make Yu Youniang vanish right then and there.
Yu Youniang tilted her head, her large, sparkling eyes blinking repeatedly. "But he did look! You tell me yourself—weren't you staring at me the whole time?"