446 Chalk, Powdered Ice, and Powdered Regrets (1/2)
Chapter 446: Chalk, Powdered Ice, and Powdered Regrets
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
Ning Que rarely visited the front courtyard since becoming a student of the Second floor of the Academy. It was awkward hanging out with his peers from the Academy back then. However, he was in a rush today to report about what had happened. Furthermore, it was late and the students at the front courtyard were still in class, so he did not take the secluded side doors but brought Sangsang to the meadows, across the stone tablet and through the main doors.
The rain had stopped and the weather was balmy. The sun shone down upon them as voices rang from the study room. There was a debate going on in the other study room. The Academy was filled with a peaceful classroom atmosphere.
An aged voice rang in Classroom Three. ”The basis and the origins are the most crucial. If you cannot understand the straight line, how will you understand more complex three-dimensional pictures? What is a straight line? A straight line is a straight infinite line. I will draw it for you...”
After a while, the female Academy professor in blue robes raised a chalk and walked out of Classroom Three with a solemn expression. She drew a straight line in the air.
There was no end to the straight line. The chalk in the professor's hand continued moving. Her steps were calm and composed and she left Classroom Three and walked towards the instructor's staffroom at the back of the Academy.
Ning Que watched on in a daze. He patted Sangsang's shoulders and they followed the instructor into the staffroom, having forgotten the reason for their visit to the Academy.
Cao Zhifeng, the etiquette assistant professor had used the change in Qi of Heaven and Earth as an excuse to skip class to visit Prince Long Qing in Chang'an. Ning Que had thought that the Academy's instructors were extremely ludicrous. However, the female professor who walked all the while holding the chalk had made him speechless.
Was this also a method of skiving off?
Walking outside the quiet study area, the female professor suddenly stopped and dropped her hand that had been stretched in the air. She carefully wrapped the chalk in paper and stuffed it into her sleeve.
She looked at Ning Que and said, ”You're here?”
Ning Que bowed and said, ”Greetings, professor.”
The female professor straightened her robes and said casually, ”Yiqing is already blind, so, let him return.”
Ning Que knew of the relationship between the professor and the Sword Garret of South Jin Kingdom. He was slightly startled when he heard that.
Since Chao Xiaoshu was alive and Liu Yiqing was blinded, a price had been paid. Under such circumstances, no matter how arrogant the Academy was, they no longer had reason to imprison Liu Yiqing. Would the Sage of Sword not retaliate if they continue keeping his brother imprisoned?
The female professor asked, ”Is there a problem?”
”There's no problem.” Ning Que said respectfully. ”I will go to the back of the mountain and ask teacher later.”
The female professor said, ”The Headmaster wanted me to ask for your opinion. Do you have any issues with this?”
Ning Que was shocked and he replied, ”I... have no issues with that.”
The female professor smiled. Her face creased up like a flower and said, ”Is this settled?”
Ning Que replied seriously, ”It's settled.”
...
...
Ning Que walked on the pebbled path and through the Cloud Gate array. He entered the back of the mountain of the Academy and around the mirror lake waterfall. He walked to the breezy grass cottage and bowed. He said, ”Ye Hongyu has come to Chang'an.”
He was greeted by silence and the wind blowing into the grass cottage from the valley.
There were people in the cottage, but they did not bother with Ning Que.
The Headmaster sat within the cottage and did not move even though he was assaulted by the wind from all four sides. His beard and hair flew around him and he was immersed in his own world. He looked like a deity, but what laid at his feet was not a Chinese zither, but a messy table.
Eldest Brother and Second Brother sat beside the Headmaster primly.
The news that the Tao Addict had left the West-Hill Divine Palace and come to Chang'an had not caused the three to express any surprise, much less shock.
Ning Que thought deeply. Looking at how they were behaving, it seemed that this problem could be resolved. However, it was troubling to find that this was but just a small issue to them.
He coughed twice and said even louder, ”Cough... She's staying at my place right now.”
Second Brother looked at him coldly and said unhappily, ”Can't you see that teacher is doing something important right now?”
Ning Que looked at the leftover food on the table and wondered what could be so important. ” Wasn't it just that the Headmaster wanted to show off his culinary skills and Eldest and Second Brother were both sucking up to him?”
The Headmaster waved towards the entrance of the cottage and said, ”Strawberry shaved ice is just about to melt and this is the best time to eat it. You are quite lucky, come and have a bowl.”
Ning Que was not in the mood to eat strawberry shaved ice, but he brought Sangsang with him into the straw cottage resignedly.
Second Brother looked at him.
He sighed to himself and walked to the table. He moved the leftovers to a side, squatted down and separated the strawberry shaved ice in the large ceramic bowl into portions.
He gave the first to their honorable teacher and the second to his great Eldest Brother. The third, he naturally gave to his great Second Brother. There wasn't much shaved ice left in the large ceramic bowl. Ning Que plated the shaved ice and was about to dig in. However, the Headmaster said, ”Give it to the girl.”
Ning Que paused, before passing the bowl to Sangsang bitterly.
Sangsang smiled shyly. Then, she picked up the bamboo spoon and scooped the ice into her mouth. She tasted it carefully and a blissful smile blossomed on her slightly tanned face.
Ning Que asked curiously, ”Is it that good?”