Chapter 142: Chapter 102: The Young Master_1
Translator: 549690339
Three months later, within North City County.
“Spring break has come again.”
“How does time pass so quickly?”
“A day apart feels like the autumn season, a month apart, wouldn’t that be a hundred years?”
“It’s been over a hundred years since I’ve seen Liuxian, couldn’t hear his poetry duels, couldn’t see his brilliant brush bring forth flowers, couldn’t accompany him with melodies as harmonious as mountains and flowing water, couldn’t eat the meals he painstakingly cooked for me, aaah, I’m going to die!”
“What are you, lovesick? You’re talking about going to school like it’s some kind of romance, and then ‘the meals he carefully cooked for you,’ that’s the cafeteria, the cafeteria, do you understand? Over ten thousand people from the academy, anyone can go eat there!”
“Also, ‘Liuxian’ is what you call him; you should call him ‘The Dean’ or ‘The Head of the Academy.’ As soon as you’re out of the academy gates, you little demon spirit have no manners. Be careful, lest the instructors hear you and you have to face the ruler when you return.”
“I’ll say it if I want, what’s it to you? Liuxian, Liuxian, my dear, my dear, husband, husband, if you’re not happy, bite me, blah blah blah!”
A group of youthful scholars with powdered faces and peach blossoms for cheeks, twittering like swallows, passed through the streets, drawing eyes.
Although such scenes had become common in North City County, the sight of these beautiful and elegant figures still garnered much attention.
In one tavern, from the second floor, covetous eyes looked down.
“Isn’t that Miss Caifeng?”
“And that one there, Miss Qingluan!”
“Qingluan and Caifeng, one of Jiangnan’s top ten Huakui!”
“They’ve actually entered the Guo Bei Academy?”
“Not just them. Out of Jiangnan’s top ten Huakui, six have entered the Guo Bei Academy, and the remaining four are probably considering it.”
“Damn it, aren’t those people running brothels interested in making money anymore? Just like that, they let their Huakui run off to the Guo Bei Academy?”
“Well, some escaped on their own, desperate for a chance, while others were obviously sent over with ulterior motives. But regardless, once they’ve entered the Guo Bei Academy, it’s done, and I’m afraid, from now on, they’ll no longer be attainable!”
“Curses!”
“Li Liuxian, I am at odds with you!”
“Keep your voice down. If people outside hear you, are we still going to drink here?”
On the second floor, a group of scholars watched the boisterous beauties on the street, their teeth gritted in resentment, yet they were powerless to do anything but drown their sorrows in alcohol and vent their frustrations.
Only one among them looked curious.
“Who are these people, to cause such gloom among the gentlemen here?”
The one who spoke was a young man, dressed in expensive clothes, with a handsome and extraordinary appearance.
The others looked up, and seeing that it was he who asked, promptly started to explain.
“Young Master Chu, you’re new to North City and unaware.”
“These individuals are the ‘female gentlemen’ of the Guo Bei Academy.”
“That Guo Bei Academy and that Li Liuxian, truly shameless and reprehensible to the extreme!”
A few scholars expressed their grievances with faces full of resentment.
Hearing this, Young Master Chu grew even more intrigued.
“Guo Bei Academy?”
“Li Liuxian?”
“Female gentlemen!”
Young Master Chu tapped his folding fan and asked the crowd, “What’s the story here?”
“This…”
The scholars exchanged glances, all somewhat surprised.
The name of Guo Bei Academy was now well-known throughout the region, if not throughout the entire world.
This Young Master Chu, generous and sophisticated, exquisitely attired, had, over several days of acquaintance, led them to conclude that he must come from a noble family.
To them, it was strange that he was unaware of the name of Guo Bei Academy.
Even though it was strange, the several scholars didn’t think too much of it and began to recount the story.
“This Guo Bei Academy was founded by that Li Liuxian, who spouts nonsense about teaching all with no discrimination, even accepting women as students, and barely charging any tuition. Accepting riffraff from all walks of life into the academy, truly a place full of turbulent smog, unbearable to witness!”
“Accepting people from all backgrounds is one thing, but what they teach is a mixed bag of rubbish. Music, chess, calligraphy and painting are fine, although minor pursuits, they are still considered refined knowledge, but medicine, engineering, mathematics, martial arts, what are these? Is it an academy or a medical clinic, a school or a martial sect?”
“Exactly. It would be one thing if he were ignorant and unskilled, but running an academy and teaching such bizarre techniques, leading astray the youth, damaging the reputation of the scholarly community, utterly contemptible!”
“And yet he is so learned that his fame spreads far and wide, esteemed by the great scholars. He holds significant influence throughout Jiangzhe and even among all scholars of Jiangnan. Thus, despite the appalling nature of the Guo Bei Academy, everyone can only pinch their noses and let it be.”
“Who would have guessed, over the past few years, instead of showing restraint, he’s grown even more audacious, actually admitting courtesans from brothels, causing a collective exodus of Huakui from top establishments in Jiangnan, to become ‘students’ at his academy.”
“Bah, is this educating and nurturing talent, or plainly using the name of the academy to engage in vile and disorderly behavior, corrupting the holy path of poetry and prose taught by sages to such a degree?”
“Indeed, Brother Zhang, you know, right? His family runs a brothel. Recently, they weren’t cautious, and one of their Huakui mistresses ran off to the Guo Bei Academy. He hurried over to get her back, but guess what happened?”
“The ruffians from the Guo Bei Academy didn’t give a second thought before drawing their swords and killing Brother Zhang and all his family’s servants on the spot, blood flowing like rivers!”
“That Li Liuxian, tyrannical and unreasonable, has taught his students and disciples to be more brutal and venomous than the next. Brother Zhang was a candidate in the official examinations, with recognition for his scholarship, and they just killed him without hesitation.”
“Even if Brother Zhang did start a fight in their academy, hurt someone, they had no right to do such a thing. What regard do they have for the laws of the court, for justice, for the rule of law?”
The scholars became more and more agitated as they spoke, and in the end, they took a hefty drink and started pouring out their grievances to Young Master Chu.
“That detestable Li Liuxian, relying on the protection of the scholarly elders, covers the sky with one hand here in North City County, and even in Jinhua Mansion. When Brother Zhang’s family carried his corpse to the county office to file a complaint, the office refused to accept it, shirking responsibility. When they went to the mansion office, it was even worse; not only did they ignore the complaint, they beat them and threw them out, accusing them of slandering Li Liuxian and the Guo Bei Academy.”
“Brother Zhang is dead, and Li Liuxian didn’t stop there. He used his power to suppress the Zhang Family, destroying their household and swallowing their assets whole, heartless and vile to the extreme!”
“Not just the Zhang Family, over the years, how many in North City County and Jinhua Mansion have had their properties and lives taken by him?”
“There are those who say that in North City County, you can discuss state affairs, criticize the government, even curse the current Emperor, but you must never speak ill of Li Liuxian, never offend the Guo Bei Academy; otherwise, your family will be ruined and annihilated down to the ninth degree of kinship.”
The scholars, growing increasingly resentful, even broke down in tears as they spoke.
“Brother Chu, it’s only because this restaurant belongs to Brother Meng’s family that we dare speak to you about these matters here. Otherwise, walls have ears, and in North City County, we would no longer have a foothold!”
“When a nation is on the brink of collapse, demon spirits are sure to arise, and Li Liuxian is the demon among demons.”
“He… he bullies people too much!”
“No wonder he has been unwilling to go to the capital to take the exam all these years, as he had made up his mind to be the emperor of his own domain here.”
“Hmph, he abandons the books of the sages and devotes himself to the trivial arts of poetry and painting. Even if he went to the capital, what could he do? Could he possibly be the top scholar?”
“It’s exactly because I hope he doesn’t become the top scholar that I hate him. In recent years, there has been treacherous upheaval in the court, and the struggle for succession has intensified. Not to mention the top scholar, two great scholars have fallen. If Li Liuxian were to go to the capital, we could breathe a sigh of relief, but this crafty devil stubbornly refuses. He’s cunning as a ghost, deceitful as a fox, despicable!!”
“Brother Chu, although you don’t mention it, we are all aware that you have the ability to manipulate affairs in the capital like turning your hand. Is there a way you can deal with this person or perhaps lodge a complaint against him in the capital?”
“Yes, yes, yes, lodge a complaint against him. We, the people of Jiangnan, have long suffered under him!”
As they spoke, all eyes fell on Young Master Chu, filled with hope.
“Hmm…!”
Confronted with everyone’s expectant gazes, Young Master Chu first pondered for a moment, and then gave a meaningful smile, “This scoundrel has become a malignant tumor. We scholars ought to eradicate it to feel at ease.”
Having said that, he clasped his hands together, “Rest assured, after I return to the capital, I will definitely find a way to present his wicked deeds before the Emperor and remove this tumor for the people of Jiangnan!”
“Good, good, good, that would be excellent!”
“Brother Chu truly rescues us from dire straits!”
“On behalf of the scholars and people of Jiangnan, we thank you profoundly for your great kindness and virtue, Brother Chu!”
“It’s fortunate that Brother Chu has come to clear the skies and bring forth the moonlight; otherwise…”
The scholars, upon hearing this, were all overjoyed and overcome with gratitude.
“No need to mention it.”
Young Master Chu chuckled lightly, his eyes glancing to the side, then suddenly, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes. He rose and hurried to the window, asking the others without looking back, “What’s the background of that woman?”
“Woman?”
The crowd was puzzled, then got up and joined him at the window, following his gaze.
They saw on the street, in front of a rouge shop, a group of girls emerged, all dressed as academy disciples, surrounding a stunningly beautiful girl in a red cape and white clothes.
“Her?”
“This…”
“Brother Chu, you mustn’t!”
Seeing this, the scholars’ faces all changed. They hurried to pull Young Master Chu back into the room, but he stood still as a statue, staring intently at the girl below, immovable.
Helpless, they could only say, “She is Li Liuxian’s maid, strictly off-limits. Brother Chu, you must not provoke her now, or Li Liuxian might draw his sword and come for you.”
“That’s right, that’s right, with your elegance, Brother Chu, why worry about a beautiful woman’s favor? You needn’t take this risk.”
“Absolutely, let’s drink instead!”
As they spoke, they tried to coax him back to the table.
“Li Liuxian?”
“Hehe.”
Young Master Chu ignored everyone and stood by the window, mumbling to himself, and then a smile appeared on his face.
But that smile, like a jackal’s, sent shivers down one’s spine.
At the same time, on the street below.
Miss Xin Shisi stopped in her tracks, looking up and frowning slightly.
“Shisi, what’s wrong?”
The group of girls around her also stopped and curiously looked around with her.
Miss Xin Shisi spoke with a frown, “It’s nothing really, I just felt… like someone was watching me.”
“Isn’t that very normal?”
A woman with a mature, alluring demeanor laughed and said, “Our Miss Shisi, a beauty that overshadows the Heavens, enchanting and gorgeous, even Young Master Liuxian can’t resist you, let alone those ordinary men. What’s so strange about them looking a few more times?”
“Big sister!”
Blushing at such words, Miss Xin Shisi retorted, “Don’t talk nonsense. The young master, he, he…”
“What about him?”
“Go on, tell us.”
“We are very curious.”
“Being in the mansion for nine years, practically an old husband and wife, yet you’re still so shy?”
“Do you need your sisters to teach you a few tricks, how to tightly bind a man’s heart?”
The women surrounded her, teasing and making risqué jokes, completely disregarding the presence of others.
There was no helping it; such was the nature of vixen spirits.
“I, I’m ignoring you all!”
Embarrassed by her sisters’ teasing, Miss Xin Shisi could no longer focus on the earlier odd sensation and quickly turned away to escape from the gaze of those around her.
“Hahaha!”
“She’s embarrassed, embarrassed!”
“This lass.”
The group of vixen spirits chuckled behind her, following her as they moved on.