Amidst Ge the Third’s joking complaints, Liu Si’er and the others didn’t argue with him about who would take Chen Yi to Guiyun Academy.

Chen Yi, naturally, didn’t specify who should be his driver, letting Ge the Third go to the stables to prepare.

While waiting, Chen Yi made some small talk with Liu Si’er and the others.

"Oh? So the tense atmosphere in the mansion a few days ago was because that disciple from the Jing State Liu Family died in Shu State?"

"Someone from the Wan Family killed him? How could that be?"

"Young Master, you might not understand the situation in Shu State. The Wan Family is also a major clan here, and they’ve always been in the Medicine Hall business."

"When our mansion opened its own Medicine Hall, the head of the Wan Family specifically came to request an audience with the Marquis. The seeds of disaster were likely sown back then."

Hearing Liu Si’er’s explanation, Chen Yi smiled and asked, "Are you saying the Wan Family deliberately killed someone to sow discord between the Xiao and Liu Families?"

"It’s hard to say. But for now, the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office and the Imprisonment Department have already convicted the murderer. He’ll be executed as soon as someone from the Liu Family arrives. They probably don’t want any more complications."

An Armored Warrior nearby, listening to their conversation, couldn’t help but chime in, "The way I see it, the Wan Family was behind it, but their plot was exposed."

"I think so too."

"If the Wan Family’s scheme had succeeded, even if we didn’t completely fall out with the Jing State Liu Family, it would have created a hidden danger."

"I heard that even the Lord Governor initially thought our mansion was responsible."

"Yeah, but luckily the misunderstanding has been cleared up."

Listening to their words, Chen Yi got a general idea of the Government Office’s investigation and felt a strange mix of emotions.

’Although he didn’t know the "murderer’s" situation or what arrangements the Old Master had made, this whole affair was ultimately because of him.’

’It was still a human life.’

’And it had dragged the Wan Family into it.’

Thinking about this, Chen Yi sighed inwardly. ’I might have to do something about this.’

’The Liu Family, the Liu Family, the Liu Family.’

Just as he was lost in thought, Ge the Third led the carriage over. "Young Master, let’s get going."

"This rain isn’t going to let up anytime soon. We should head out early to avoid any mishaps on the way."

Chen Yi came back to his senses, nodded a greeting to the surrounding Armored Warriors on guard, and then boarded the carriage, which made its way out of the Marquis’s Mansion.

He looked out the window. Under the onslaught of the downpour, most of the pedestrians on the road were hurrying past.

Occasionally, a few scholars or young ladies who enjoyed rainy days would be strolling among them, treating it as an elegant affair.

After watching for a moment, Chen Yi asked, "Old Third, I heard from Brother Si and the others that the murderer who killed Liu Jing is going to be executed soon?"

Ge the Third, who was carefully holding the reins and controlling the carriage’s speed, heard this and turned his head with a smile.

"Young Master, for a vicious killer like that, the fact that the Lord Prefect isn’t having him drawn and quartered is already a sign of mercy."

"If it weren’t for him this time, the Liu Family would have definitely clashed with us. The grain tax of the Three Towns is just one thing, and it’s just a small trick from the Governor of Shu State."

"If the Jing State Liu Family refused to let it go, the consequences would have been severe."

Chen Yi made a sound of understanding. "So, the Jing State Liu Family is quite powerful."

"You can say that again."

"Don’t be fooled by the fact that no one in the Liu Family’s main branch holds an official post. The second and third branches, as well as the side branches, all have capable people."

"For example, the third branch’s Chief Steward, Liu Hong, is our Left Governor of Shu State, in charge of the state’s finances, taxes, and civil affairs. And speaking of which, the Lord Prefect Liu Si is also related to the Jing State Liu Family."

"Then there’s Liu Zhen from the second branch. He’s the Jing State Imprisonment Department Governor. That man is a baleful star—I heard he ransacked the homes of several great clans in Jing State."

"And there’s another one: Consort Yi, Liu Xiangning, who currently holds the Holy Emperor’s favor. She’s another pillar of support for the Jing State Liu Family..."

Listening to Ge the Third list them off as if counting his family treasures, Chen Yi gained a clear understanding of the Jing State Liu Family.

’Their power might not necessarily be greater than the Xiao Family’s, but their network is extremely wide, with many entanglements behind the scenes.’

’If they were to truly have it out with the Xiao Family, it’s hard to say if both sides would be devastated, but it would definitely alarm the Holy Emperor.’

’Given the Xiao Family’s current situation, the Holy Emperor probably wouldn’t even be able to treat them equally.’

’No wonder the Xiao Family was so tense when Liu Jing died.’

Thinking about this, Chen Yi smiled and said, "Old Third, you seem to know a lot about these things. How do you know so much?"

Ge the Third chuckled. "It’s what’s been going around the mansion these past few days. I just picked up a little here and there."

"Is that so? I thought since you just got married, you’d be lost in the land of love."

"Young Master, please spare me! Don’t let a word of this reach the masters and misses."

"Haha, of course not..."

After a bit of idle chat, Ge the Third steered the conversation toward Chen Yi, praising him.

"Young Master, your reputation has really exploded recently."

"A while ago, I heard you were going to be an Instructor at the academy. I thought you were just going there to relax. I never would have imagined you’d produce a student who achieved success in the Calligraphy Dao after just one lesson."

"You have no idea how much of a sensation it’s caused in the city these past few days. They say most of the Noble Families in all of Shu State have already heard about it."

Chen Yi asked noncommittally, "Who, for instance?"

’Ge the Third’s words just confirmed his suspicions. People really thought he was trying to make a name for himself through Guiyun Academy.’

"Oh, plenty! I’ve heard of at least ten myself recently. And some famous Calligraphy masters who’ve been renowned for a long time are even planning to come to Shu State..."

As Ge the Third continued, Chen Yi realized he had still underestimated the impact of Ma Guan achieving success in the Calligraphy Dao.

’After fermenting for a few days, the news has likely spread not just through the Prefecture City, but to all the scholars in Shu State.’

’Even the neighboring Jing State and You State have probably heard the news, thanks to those with a mind to spread it.’

’The direct impact, aside from the Noble Families who had been visiting the Marquis’s Mansion day after day, was that these people were now showing up at Guiyun Academy’s gates.’

’Mr. Yue Ming and the others must have talked themselves hoarse these past few days.’

’As for those so-called Calligraphy masters, most of them had fame that far outstripped their achievements in the Calligraphy Dao.’

’Just like Mr. Yue Ming. He’s a Calligraphy master, through and through.’

’But his Calligraphy Dao hasn’t even stabilized at the level of Minor Success.’

’It was predictable that for a long time to come, even more people would be drawn here by the reputation he’d gained.’

Before long, the carriage stopped outside Guiyun Academy.

Chen Yi told Ge the Third to head straight back to the mansion, then walked into the academy alone, holding an umbrella.

As soon as he approached, he saw the student guards at the gate bowing to him from a distance.

"Student greets Mr. Qingzhou."

"Morning."

Chen Yi casually said the word "morning," gave a nod by way of greeting, and walked straight into the academy.

Such behavior, which didn’t conform to etiquette and wasn’t befitting of a scholar, naturally surprised the students.

In the past, he would have likely been slapped with the label of "disrespectful."

But now, what were the students saying?

"Mr. Qingzhou is truly worthy of being a teacher who can produce a student successful in the Calligraphy Dao. So unconcerned with trivial formalities."

"Exactly. You can see it in Mr. Qingzhou’s characters—so free and easy, so nonchalant. Every stroke exudes an air of transcendent detachment."

"This must be what Mr. Qingzhou meant by ’the calligraphy and the person become one,’ right?"

Chen Yi heard the discussion behind him but paid it no mind, walking straight toward the study hall.

Just then, Ma Guan came running toward him.

"Student greets Teacher."

Chen Yi grunted in acknowledgment and kept walking forward without stopping.

But before he had taken two steps, he saw Ma Guan jog to a stop in front of him.

"What’s this? Now that you’ve achieved success in the Calligraphy Dao, you’re starting to disregard me?"

Who would have thought this one joking remark would scare Ma Guan so badly that sweat beaded on his forehead? He hurriedly bowed deeply in a grand salute.

"Teacher, please forgive me! This student would never dare!"

Chen Yi paused. Remembering Ma Guan’s upright and proper personality, he realized he had taken the joke too far.

"Alright, stand up and talk. It was just a joke. Look how scared you are."

Hearing this, Ma Guan cautiously raised his head and glanced at his face. Seeing no trace of anger, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Student thanks Teacher."

"So, what is it?"

"Student wanted to inform Teacher that today’s Calligraphy class has been moved to another location. The Dean ordered me to lead you there."

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow. "Moved where?"

Ma Guan wiped the sweat from his forehead and stammered, "It’s better if you see for yourself, Teacher. This student doesn’t dare say more."

Seeing this, how could Chen Yi not know that something had happened at the academy? And he guessed it probably wasn’t anything good.

Chen Yi thought for a moment, shook his head inwardly, and said, "Let’s go."

「A short while later.」

The two passed through a pavilion and arrived outside a study hall not far from Mr. Yue Ming’s residence.

Chen Yi froze for a second, looking at the largest study hall in Guiyun Academy. "Here?"

Ma Guan nodded with a bitter smile. "Yes, Teacher. This is the place."

Chen Yi confirmed it, and his steps halted.

He cocked his ear to listen for a moment, then gritted his teeth and couldn’t help but curse.

"Did the Dean take a bribe?"

"Why have the numbers increased so much?"

Inside the study hall, there were neither more nor less than exactly one hundred faint breaths.

Ma Guan shrank back, not daring to speak. He didn’t dare say a single word.

’He figured that besides Chen Yi, there were few people in the entire academy who would dare to curse Mr. Yue Ming like that.’

Chen Yi didn’t care what he was thinking. He turned and started walking toward the academy exit.

"Heming, go tell the Dean I need to take a leave of absence. Just say I suddenly remembered I haven’t brought the laundry in at home."

"On a cloudy, rainy day like this, I can’t let them get ruined."

"Huh?"