In the end, Chen Yi was stopped.

The one who stopped him was none other than Mr. Yue Ming, the headmaster of Guiyun Academy.

Moreover, Mr. Yue Ming hadn’t come from his own residence, but from the study hall right behind Chen Yi.

Seeing the "explain yourself, or I’m going home" look on Chen Yi’s face, Mr. Yue Ming gave a wry smile.

"Qingzhou, I’m afraid I’ve let you down on this matter."

"But ever since that day, people have been flocking to the academy, many of whom are old friends of mine."

"Besides, these people are already students of the academy. It was truly difficult for me to refuse them."

Chen Yi smiled noncommittally. "I thought the Headmaster was a man of great principle. I didn’t expect you to be swayed by worldly pressures."

He paused, then continued, "After all, you’ve never been particularly courteous to the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion."

Mr. Yue Ming froze, a touch of embarrassment on his face. "I’m not targeting the Xiao Family. It’s just... I have a disagreement with Marquis Xiao..."

"So, you also understand that you treat friends and strangers differently?"

"This..."

Seeing his troubled expression, looking as if he wished the ground would swallow him whole, Chen Yi shook his head and said:

"Headmaster, don’t blame me for being blunt."

"But when it comes to many things, if you make an exception once, you’ll make it twice."

"Today, you opened the door for fifty students. Tomorrow, there will be a hundred waiting for you."

"If people are allowed into that study hall every time, it’s not a good thing for me, for those students, or for Guiyun Academy."

That said, he also knew that letting this reach a stalemate would only embarrass Guiyun Academy and Mr. Yue Ming.

However, he didn’t plan to let it go so easily.

He was willing to offend some members of the Noble Families if he had to.

Hearing this, Mr. Yue Ming’s face flushed with shame. He cupped his hands in a bow and said:

"I was in the wrong this time, and I broke the academy’s rules. I hope you can forgive me, Qingzhou."

"But when I think about how the academy could rise to a new level because of this, and attract some truly talented young scholars, I just can’t give up on the opportunity."

’So it’s for student recruitment?’

’No wonder.’

If Guiyun Academy could produce a few more students who had achieved success in the Calligraphy Dao, it would cement the academy’s reputation as a place that could teach the Calligraphy Dao.

Then, in a very short time, it would gain immense prestige, possibly even surpassing higher-ranked institutions like Yuelu Academy and Jinling Academy.

Once word spread, it would attract students from all over the Great Wei Nine State and Three Prefectures.

Even some Confucian Scholars, members of great clans, and officials dedicated to the Calligraphy Dao would be drawn by the reputation.

Chen Yi understood Mr. Yue Ming’s intentions, but he still put on a troubled expression and said:

"My energy is limited. I can’t teach that many people."

Mr. Yue Ming hesitated for a moment. "Qingzhou, if you have any concerns or demands, please speak freely."

Chen Yi thought for a moment. "To avoid affecting the students’ progress in the Calligraphy Dao, I must set three conditions with you, Headmaster."

"If you agree to all of them, we can let today’s matter go. Otherwise, you should find someone more capable."

Hearing this, Mr. Yue Ming nodded solemnly. "I agree."

Chen Yi smiled and shook his head. "Headmaster, you should hear my conditions first. It’s not too late to agree then."

"Please, speak."

"First, the limit is one hundred students. If the academy wants to let someone else in, someone must leave."

"Fine."

"Second, anyone who wishes to study the Calligraphy Dao with me in the future must have my approval."

"That’s only natural. I was inconsiderate before. If anyone else comes to me, I will certainly have you review them first."

Seeing him agree to the first two conditions, Chen Yi nodded and calmly stated the last one:

"Third, every student who achieves success in the Calligraphy Dao must do one thing to benefit Shu State."

Mr. Yue Ming was taken aback. "This... Qingzhou, isn’t this condition a bit too harsh?"

"Many future students may not be from Shu State. If they pass the imperial examinations and earn an official post, they’ll be scattered throughout the Nine State and Three Prefectures. I’m afraid..."

Before he could finish, Chen Yi shook his head. "I’m not asking them to do anything major."

"Even just repairing a few houses, donating some silver coins, or doing anything within their power would be considered benefiting Shu State."

Originally, he had wanted Mr. Yue Ming and the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion to reconcile, which would allow Guiyun Academy’s students to join the Dingyuan Army.

But upon further thought, he realized that if such a requirement became public, it would definitely cause trouble for him.

It could also very likely affect the Xiao Family, making their already difficult situation even worse.

Therefore, he proposed a compromise: to benefit Shu State.

Just as Mr. Yue Ming was about to speak, Ma Guan, who was standing beside them, bowed and said, "I am willing."

"Benefiting Shu State is the fundamental reason I chose to study. Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, sir, I would do it anyway."

Mr. Yue Ming thought for a moment and then agreed as well.

As far as he was concerned, none of Chen Yi’s three conditions were excessive.

Especially the third point. Not only would it earn Chen Yi a good reputation, but it would also elevate the prestige of Guiyun Academy, which was already established in Shu State.

Seeing this, Chen Yi smiled. "In that case, let’s go to class."

The three of them then returned to the study hall.

The students, who had been feeling anxious, all felt relieved.

But before they could be happy for long, Mr. Yue Ming publicly announced the three conditions Chen Yi had just proposed.

To be precise, he announced the first and third conditions.

These two involved all the students in the study hall, so it was only right that they knew.

"Benefiting Shu State is understandable. We study to benefit the people."

"But with a limit of one hundred, and someone having to leave for a new person to join, doesn’t that mean any of us could be kicked out of this study hall?"

"I don’t think so. The Headmaster and Mr. Qingzhou must have some specific rules."

"Like poor attitude, slow progress, or someone not performing well in certain areas."

"This is like an assessment? I don’t agree."

"What’s a newcomer like you got to complain about?"

Chen Yi ignored the students’ discussions.

’Whether they agree or not, my rules are set.’

After a sweeping glance around the room, he began today’s lesson.

Chen Yi didn’t slow down for the new students. He simply reviewed the content of the first lesson and then continued.

"Calligraphy, like Painting, is a way to directly express one’s heart..."

Having learned his lesson from last time, to prevent anyone from achieving success in the Calligraphy Dao during class again, Chen Yi simply left no time for practicing characters in the sand trays.

He lectured eloquently for an hour, then sent them back to practice their writing.

But even though Chen Yi had planned for this, something unexpected still happened.

It wasn’t the students, but Mr. Yue Ming and Mr. Zhuo Ying, who had returned to their residences after auditing the class.

Both of them were already famous calligraphers.

They had previously failed to achieve Minor Success in the Calligraphy Dao simply because they were on the wrong path.

They were either limited by the upright and proper nature of Wei Qing’s Style, or they had weaknesses in their fundamentals.

In short, after listening to Chen Yi’s lecture, they understood the root of their problems. As soon as they returned to their residences, they began to practice their writing.

A floral brilliance emerged from every character.

This situation left Chen Yi, who had just finished his class and come over to say goodbye before leaving, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

But seeing the excited expressions on Mr. Yue Ming’s and Mr. Zhuo Ying’s faces as they thanked him profusely, he could only reluctantly accept it.

However, Chen Yi had no intention of letting them off the hook.

"Headmaster, Mr. Zhuo Ying, although you two aren’t students in the study hall, you have, after all, achieved success in the Calligraphy Dao."

"Don’t forget to do one thing to benefit Shu State."

Mr. Yue Ming, still immersed in the joy of his achievement, nodded and said, "Never mind one, I’d do a hundred."

Chen Yi loved nothing more than helping others fulfill their promises. "Then you should do a hundred, Headmaster."

Mr. Yue Ming’s smile froze. He stared at him, speechless. "I was actually just joking."

"A gentleman’s word is his bond."

"Fine, fine. A hundred it is. I’ll just consider it setting an example for the students."

Compared to him, Mr. Zhuo Ying was a bit more cautious and reserved. "The Headmaster is a man of great principle. I... COUGH COUGH... I’ll just do two."

"..."

Whether he was a man of great principle or not, Chen Yi didn’t know.

But he did know that once word of Mr. Yue Ming’s and Mr. Zhuo Ying’s success in the Calligraphy Dao spread, Guiyun Academy and the Xiao Mansion would become even livelier.

Fortunately, he had already set the three conditions with Mr. Yue Ming.

’In the future, who stays in that study hall and who leaves will be a problem for the newcomers to figure out.’

’I definitely won’t get involved.’

’Not even if the old master of the Xiao Family himself gave the order.’

’Unless my wife and Eldest Sister both...’

Not long after, Guiyun Academy was once again in an uproar because Mr. Yue Ming and Mr. Zhuo Ying had achieved success in the Calligraphy Dao.

"First Brother Heming, and now the two sirs have achieved success in the Calligraphy Dao. Mr. Qingzhou’s attainments in the Calligraphy Dao are truly frightening."

"Indeed. Throughout history, there have been many masters who’ve achieved Great Success in the Calligraphy Dao, but very few who could teach multiple students to achieve success themselves."

"Plus, besides Wei Qing’s Style, Mr. Qingzhou is also skilled in a new style. The two styles are different, yet his mastery of both is equivalent, which just shows how high his Realm in the Calligraphy Dao is."

"I regret not signing up at the beginning. Ai, it’s going to be so difficult to get into that study hall now."

"What’s so difficult about it?"

"If even Bai Yutang could get in, so can we."

"Heh, Bai Yutang had his father vouch for him. Who do you have in your family?"

"Besides, after today, there will be even more people with the same idea. The competition will be fierce. How can we from the Lower Class compete with them?"

"In the end, it all came down to a moment of hesitation. We doubted Mr. Qingzhou’s abilities before. We have no one to blame but ourselves..."

It wasn’t just the students who were filled with regret; even the other teachers were green with envy, beating their chests and stamping their feet, regretting that they hadn’t gone to audit the class.

After all, at their age, their knowledge was largely set, and it was difficult to make any further progress.

But the Calligraphy Dao was different.

Having a hand for good calligraphy was, at the end of the day, a fine skill worth showing off and talking about.

"Speaking of the three conditions Qingzhou proposed, the first two are nothing special, but this last one... I feel there’s more to it than meets the eye."

"Oh?"

Hearing an old man speak, Mr. Yue Ming calmed the joy of his recent breakthrough and asked, "Do tell."

"Think about it. Qingzhou taught them the Calligraphy Dao. In the future, when those students benefit Shu State, who among the beneficiaries won’t remember Qingzhou’s good deed?"

"One or two wouldn’t be a big deal, but if there are many students who achieve success in the Calligraphy Dao... tsk tsk tsk."

Hearing this, Mr. Yue Ming sighed in admiration. "It brings him many benefits, but it is also good for our Guiyun Academy."

Mr. Zhuo Ying nodded and said with a smile, "It’s a pity that Qingzhou is currently just a live-in son-in-law of the Xiao Family. Such a reputation will have a hard time helping him."

"If he were an official..."

His voice trailed off.

The teachers looked at each other, all understanding the hidden benefits.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that because of this, Chen Yi could build an untouchable reputation among the common people of Shu State.

...

Leaving aside the commotion at the academy.

After leaving Guiyun Academy, Chen Yi headed straight for the West Market Hundred Herbs Hall.

Fortunately, he had sent Ge the Third back to the Marquis’s Mansion earlier. Traveling to the Hundred Herbs Hall alone was a bit slower, but it was safe.

He didn’t linger. With just a look at Wang Ji, he had him take Zhang Erbao and head straight for a residence deep within the West Market.

After changing his appearance, Chen Yi sat in the main hall and ordered, "My meeting with the Eldest Miss is set for five days from now."

"By then, you need to have the account books ready, as well as the plans for expanding Hundred Herbs Hall into neighboring states and counties."

Wang Ji paused. "My lord, are you preparing to join forces with the Xiao Family?"

Chen Yi nodded, not hiding it from him. "Hundred Herbs Hall is doing well right now, but there are some hidden dangers."

"First, our foundation is weak. It’s just the two of us. We can manage in Shu State Prefecture City."

"But if we go to other states and counties, even if we win over the local noble families and gentry by sharing profits, there’s still a huge risk."

"Rather than being reactive later, it’s better to rely on the Xiao Family for support and grow Hundred Herbs Hall as quickly as possible."

Hearing this, Wang Ji nodded. "I will follow all of your orders, my lord."

Compared to this, the account books and plans were minor matters.

After discussing business, Chen Yi sent Wang Ji and the others away, telling them to leave a message for Liu Lang when they returned to the Hundred Herbs Hall.

"Tell him to come see me."