Mu Hongyue sat on the stool, holding a wine cup and laughing heartily.
"You have no idea what Qiming did at the academy today. Ding Weiyue's face was dark all day, like a rat scurrying across the street. He left before classes were even dismissed."
Ye Liangyu gazed at Mu Hongyue with deep, somber eyes.
He didn't find it funny; he only felt a pang of heartache.
It was precisely because the boy had lost his parents early, with no one to rely on and no one to stand up for him, that he had to resort to such methods to fight back.
While getting revenge might feel satisfying in the moment, he would undoubtedly become the subject of gossip and whispered criticism from everyone at the academy behind his back. Who knew how much idle talk there would be.
"I promise you, I will start teaching at the academy next month. I'll begin with the Inner Hall, and move to the Upper Hall once Qiming passes the exam to enter it."
The smile faded from Mu Hongyue's face.
"With your talent and status, if you teach in the Inner Hall, I won't be able to justify it to the Upper Hall students."
The best teacher should teach the best students.
Otherwise, people would think he, as the headmaster, was being unfair, favoring the Inner Hall.
Ye Liangyu took away the plate of braised pork intestines, preventing Mu Hongyue from eating more. "I don't care if you can justify it or not. If it weren't to ensure Qiming isn't bullied, I wouldn't be going to teach at Anyang Academy at all."
Mu Hongyue said, "Your concern is clouding your judgment. From Song Qiming's actions today, it's clear he's not someone easily bullied."
"Whether you teach in the Inner Hall or the Upper Hall, once people know Song Qiming is your disciple, they won't dare bully him again."
Although he knew Mu Hongyue spoke the truth, Ye Liangyu insisted on his original plan.
"In the capital, I was constantly constrained, wary of this prince and fearful of that one. Now that I've retired and returned to Anyang Prefecture, I'll do as I please."
"If you don't agree, I'll simply wait until Qiming enters the Upper Hall before I go. Tomorrow, I'll send invitations to every instructor at your academy, summon them all here, and have a firm word with them."
Hearing this, Mu Hongyue knew he was serious and quickly said, "Alright, alright, the Inner Hall it is. Anyway, the annual exams are in just three months. Time will pass quickly."
His friend had lived a lifetime without wife or children, a solitary man.
At this age, he had only taken Song Qiming as his disciple, protecting him as if he were his own son.
Song Qiming had just entered when he saw Mu Hongyue and Ye Liangyu sitting face-to-face, one drinking tea, the other wine.
It wasn't even dinner time yet, were they eating so early?
He approached and bowed respectfully to them. "Master, Headmaster Mu."
Mu Hongyue turned his head and teased, "Qiming, whenever I send someone to your family's shop to buy braised pork intestines, they come back empty-handed four out of five times. If it weren't for your master having some here, getting a taste would be difficult."
Song Qiming replied, "My elder sister has been considering expanding the supply recently. It should improve in a while."
As master and disciple were heading to the study, Mu Hongyue didn't stay long and left.
In the study, fragrant with sandalwood incense, Ye Liangyu spoke. "Next month, I will begin teaching at Anyang Academy. I'll start with the Inner Hall and move to the Upper Hall once you advance there."
Ink dripped from his brush tip onto the rice paper. Song Qiming looked up. "Master, you already know?"
Ye Liangyu said, "Your headmaster comes by every other day with gossip. How could I not know?"
"He had asked me before to become an instructor at Anyang Academy. Considering my limited mobility, I never agreed. Now, I think teaching might be quite nice."
Song Qiming had originally planned to wait until he got home that evening to write the deliberately terrible essay Ding Weiyue had demanded, just to hand something in and muddle through. It wouldn't be a big deal to just go through the motions.
But hearing Ye Liangyu's words now, his heart suddenly tightened with a bittersweet ache, feeling somewhat wronged.
He hadn't done anything wrong. Just because he studied hard and outperformed others, he became a target for bullying. The more he thought about it, the more infuriating it was.
He wished he could be like his elder sister dealing with the thugs who bullied her—beat them up and throw them in the river to drown, only then would his anger be vented.
But he couldn't do that. He could only endure and find fault with the other party.
"Master, your scholarship surpasses even Headmaster Mu's. Wouldn't it be a loss to just be an ordinary instructor? How about becoming deputy headmaster? With your learning and status, you are absolutely qualified."
Ye Liangyu looked at Song Qiming, his gaze as gentle as willow branches stirred by a spring breeze—three parts delight, three parts appreciation, four parts fondness.
"After my leg fully recovers, I might leave Anyang Prefecture. I won't stay at the academy for very long."
Song Qiming's pupils froze for a moment before flickering slightly. He asked with concern, "Master, are you returning to the capital?"
Ye Liangyu moved his hand from his knee, his gaze falling on his legs. "Yes."
"There are some matters I cannot accept. I want to go and seek an answer."
He reached out as if to pat Song Qiming's head, but withdrew his hand midway.
"But there's still plenty of time. Your elder sister says it will take at least another year for me to recover completely, perhaps even a year or two longer. By that time, you'll be taking the provincial examinations."
Song Qiming tightened his grip on the brush and vowed, "Master, I will pass."
Ye Liangyu lowered his gaze fondly, then raised it again, placing his complete trust in Song Qiming.
"Of course you will. How could a disciple of Ye Liangyu possibly fail to become a provincial graduate?"
