Ye Chutang instructed the coachman to turn the carriage around and head to a restaurant closer to Huating Academy.
She then tossed the bundle of wet clothes to the guard trailing behind the carriage.
"Return to the estate first and inform my father that Anjun and I are fine. We’ll be back before dinner."
"Yes, Young Miss."
Only two guards had followed the carriage back.
The other two had taken shelter when the storm was still raging.
They had thought that if anything happened to Ye Chutang and Ye Anjun, they would simply disappear and never return.
But if the siblings were unharmed, they planned to return and play the victims.
Ye Chutang had no mind to deal with the guards. She left before the officials finished investigating Yunyin Lake.
The carriage swayed gently before coming to a stop shortly after.
"Young Miss Ye, we’ve arrived at the restaurant."
Ye Chutang stepped down and lifted Anjun out of the carriage before entering the establishment.
It was just past noon, and the lunch rush had ended, leaving the restaurant sparsely occupied.
From the patrons to the proprietor and the waiters, everyone carried an air of scholarly refinement.
It should have clashed with the restaurant’s lively atmosphere, yet somehow, it felt harmonious.
"Waiter, my younger brother is injured. Bring us two light meat dishes."
The waiter, a student of Huating Academy, immediately recognized Ye Chutang, who was renowned throughout the capital.
With respectful deference, he recommended several dishes suitable for someone recovering from illness.
Ye Chutang selected two. "Make sure the dishes are soft and easy to chew."
Anjun’s neck injury made vigorous chewing inadvisable.
The waiter nodded. "Young Miss Ye, please wait a moment. Your food will be ready shortly."
After acknowledging him, Ye Chutang asked, "Is there a clothing shop nearby?"
"Yes, about fifty paces east. But it mainly sells simple scholar’s robes."
"Thank you."
After accompanying Anjun through lunch, Ye Chutang visited the clothing shop.
She couldn’t visit Huating Academy looking shabby.
Though the spare clothes from Yunyin Lake’s restaurant were decent, they weren’t formal enough.
Once the siblings had changed into attire more befitting scholars, they headed to Huating Academy.
Huating Academy had strict entry policies, and not just anyone could enter.
But Ye Chutang’s reputation preceded her. When she stated her purpose, the gatekeeper didn’t dare refuse outright.
"Young Miss Ye, please wait a moment. This humble one will inform the headmaster."
Before long, Song Zhiyan himself came to greet her.
Seeing Ye Chutang’s attire, he assumed she had reconsidered his offer to teach at the women’s division of the academy.
"Young Miss Ye, please come in."
Ye Chutang led Anjun inside, following Song Zhiyan to the main hall.
Song Zhiyan instructed his attendant, Zigui, to serve tea.
"Young Miss Ye, may I ask the reason for your sudden visit today?"
Ye Chutang glanced at Anjun.
"My younger brother has a talent for learning. Once he recovers, I’d like him to study at Huating Academy. Would Headmaster Song be willing to accept him?"
When it came to admissions, Song Zhiyan treated everyone equally and never made exceptions.
"Young Miss Ye, I regret that I cannot decide this matter unilaterally. The academy must first assess Young Master Ye’s ability and character."
"What if I agreed to teach calligraphy classes twice a month?"
Song Zhiyan had never felt so torn.
He gave a wry smile. "Young Miss Ye certainly knows how to present me with a dilemma."
Anjun stepped down from his chair and bowed in the manner of a student.
"Headmaster Song, there’s no need for hesitation. I will pass the assessment and earn my place in the academy through my own merits."
After a moment of silence, Song Zhiyan looked at Ye Chutang and conceded.
"Young Miss Ye, how about this? Others only get one chance at the entrance exam, but I’ll grant Young Master Ye three attempts. Does that sound fair?"
Ye Chutang considered it a good bargain and nodded.
"Agreed. Could Headmaster Song arrange for someone to show Anjun around the academy first?"
Song Zhiyan understood she wished to speak with him privately.
"Of course."
He instructed his attendant, Zigui, to personally guide Anjun on a tour.
"Zigui, Young Master Ye is young and injured. Walk slowly and take good care of him."
"Young Master need not worry. Zigui understands."
Once Zigui and Anjun had left, Song Zhiyan dismissed the other servants.
When only he and Ye Chutang remained in the hall, he couldn’t contain his eagerness.
"Young Miss Ye, have you reconsidered teaching at the women’s division?"
Ye Chutang tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and shook her head.
"No. I came to discuss something else with Headmaster Song—a private matter."
The moment she said "private matter," Song Zhiyan knew what she meant.
Without beating around the bush, he asked directly,
"Young Miss Ye must have heard at the poetry pavilion that the Song family intends to propose a marriage alliance between you and my fifth brother?"
Seeing his forthrightness, Ye Chutang nodded.
"Headmaster Song, I have no intention of marrying into the Song family."
"May I ask why?"
"The Song family is a scholarly dynasty, standing for centuries with many rules and a large clan. I dislike constraints and unnecessary drama."
Song Zhiyan laughed at this.
"It seems Young Miss Ye holds many misconceptions about our family."
Though the Song family was indeed a scholarly dynasty, they were neither rigid nor unreasonable. Their rules were fewer than most noble houses, and they respected women.
Admittedly, the clan was large, but the main and branch families rarely interacted except during the annual ancestral rites.
Most importantly, the men of the main family upheld discipline and propriety. Barring extraordinary circumstances, they took only one wife in their lifetime.
After hearing this, Ye Chutang was stunned.
Had the Song ancestors, like her, traveled from a highly advanced civilization?
She was hearing about gender equality and monogamy!
Song Zhiyan continued, "Young Miss Ye, my fifth brother left to travel and study at a young age. He is worldly, open-minded, and unshackled by conventions. If you married him, you would have great freedom."
Ye Chutang had to admit that marrying Song Jingning sounded ideal.
He seemed like the perfect partner.
But she knew that no matter how progressive the Song family was, or how broad-minded Song Jingning might be, they would never accept a woman carrying another man’s child.
And for now, she had no intention of finding a stepfather for her child.
"Headmaster Song, the Song family is admirable, and Young Master Song sounds exceptional, but we are not suited. I apologize."
Seeing that he hadn’t convinced her, Song Zhiyan sighed regretfully.
He pressed on, "Young Miss Ye, I believe it’s premature to dismiss the match without meeting my fifth brother or learning more about him. He returns to the capital tomorrow—"
Before he could finish, Song Jingning’s voice suddenly rang out.
"Elder Brother, I’m back!"
