SEHE Chapter 75

Chancellor

The group of people barely stopped their attacks, standing to the side and lazily acknowledging his presence with a call.

“Chancellor Daren.”

Pei Yanci glanced at the only person who remained on the ground for a long while, unable to get up, and hurriedly helped him to his feet. “Vice Chancellor Fang, are you alright? These students are simply outrageous! To think they would dare lay such a heavy hand on you, someone who treats them like a teacher and father. Who knows what trouble they’ll cause in the future using the Imperial Academy’s name.”

“You!” Fang Qingdu’s entire face was mottled with bruises and swelling beyond recognition. The hairpin holding his topknot hung askew at the back of his head, and his blue robe was covered in dusty footprints. He pointed at Pei Yanci, too angry to speak.

If Pei Yanci hadn’t dragged him into this and prevented him from leaving, how would he have suffered such an undeserved calamity?

“What kind of behavior is this from you people!” The Imperial Academy’s Chancellor Qi Xiang burped from drinking, his eyes hazy. “Fighting so early in the morning—if you break your hands, how will you complete the day’s studies? Can’t you wait until after school is dismissed!”

Pei Yanci had been listening and thought it made some sense at first, but why would he say something like that at the end?

“Daren,” Fang Qingdu said with a righteous expression, “Pei Daren, as an instructor, had a conflict with students, and moreover…”

“New here?” Qi Xiang’s face was flushed red from alcohol as he struggled to open his bleary, clouded eyes to look at him.

“That’s correct, this official.” Pei Yanci quickly cupped his hands again.

“Come with me. Qingdu, take these troublemaking students to the Three Departments’ Disciplinary Hall to reflect for one hour.”

Before he could finish speaking, Pei Yanci saw Xu Du glance at several others, then sneer coldly and leave without looking back.

The others spat on the ground toward Pei Yanci and swaggered away after him.

Qiu Xiu gave an awkward laugh, but was called by Xu Du who had already walked far away. He quickly responded with “yes, yes” and jogged to catch up with them.

Pei Yanci nearly laughed out loud and deliberately said, “They’re quite self-aware, knowing to go to the Three Departments’ Disciplinary Hall themselves.”

Fang Qingdu’s face showed some embarrassment, but Qi Xiang patted him on the shoulder. “Follow them and watch, so they don’t skip class and cause trouble elsewhere.”

“Yes.”

In a moment, only two people remained here.

“Pei Daren has just arrived and hasn’t toured the Imperial Academy yet. I happen to be making rounds for class inspections—how about this old man accompany you for a walk?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Pei Yanci performed a bow and followed half a step behind him.

Qi Xiang held a wine gourd in his hand, swaying with every three steps as he walked up the winding corridor.

The Imperial Academy occupied half of a ward’s land, showing its vastness. The environment was serene and elegant. Under a small pavilion, young foreign students in white robes were composing poetry in pairs. Occasionally, the sound of reading aloud came from the study halls, filled with the scholarly atmosphere of books and ink.

Qi Xiang reeked of alcohol. He claimed to be introducing the situation, but actually just pointed wherever they walked, rambling incoherently without any organization. Pei Yanci didn’t mind and listened with interest, gaining more understanding of the Imperial Academy in his heart. Just as he was deep in thought, he was suddenly patted on the shoulder by an aged hand with such force it startled him.

“Do you know who can enter this place?”

Pei Yanci had naturally heard about it. “At least the children of officials of the seventh rank and above, or recommended candidates from prefectural and provincial official schools.”

Since they were recommended by prefectures, firstly their scholarship was naturally very good, and secondly they came from commoner backgrounds wearing plain clothes. Some of them continued to concentrate on their studies—since they were already recommended scholars, some would study diligently while also teaching, getting a half-official position here in advance, though most were unranked or ninth-rank positions like assistant instructors or lecturers, rarely reaching the level of erudite scholar.

“The others can be ignored—teach normally and punish according to the rules. But the people in the Imperial College, their fathers are at least third-rank border officials. Although there are only just over three hundred of them, each one is extremely precious.” Qi Xiang grinned with a smile. “Working here, the most important thing isn’t how much ability or learning you have, but knowing how to conduct yourself. Everyone in Anjing knows about your situation. I can see you’re also someone who knows the score—you understand what I mean, right?”

As he spoke, he yawned and rubbed his red nose.

“This official understands what Chancellor Daren means. Thank you for the guidance, Daren.” Pei Yanci said. “But Xu Du wanted to beat me today and failed. In the future, he will definitely continue to pester me endlessly. Must I really let him beat me once before I can continue working here peacefully?”

“Have you already forgotten what I just told you?” Qi Xiang shook his head, as if saying he couldn’t be taught, or perhaps muddled by drink. He held up one finger. “After school dismisses, outside, not here—that way you won’t be their teacher.”

He held up a second finger. “Or, after knowing the other party’s status, learn to bow your head and conduct yourself properly.”

This person didn’t want to get involved at all and was telling him to resolve it himself.

Pei Yanci didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Daren, don’t you think this kind of topsy-turvy, terrible atmosphere should be properly dealt with?”

“Deal with what? They’re just a few unruly children.” He let out a long wine burp, filling the surroundings with the foul stench of alcohol from his mouth. “The remaining two thousand-plus people—there are always those whose families are of lower rank than yours. If you cultivate them well, they can still become great talents. Don’t lose the big for the small.”

“Chancellor Daren seems to have forgotten that this official is only sixth rank.” Pei Yanci said. “Daren only sees the Imperial College, but what about the other study halls? Today I’m merely being suppressed by one Xu Du, but in the future if other students follow his example, with hundreds or thousands of students refusing to obey discipline together, won’t it be complete chaos? The reason a nation is a nation, and a family is a family, is because there are laws and rules. Forgive me, but I cannot agree with Daren’s view.”

The teachers and students of the Imperial Academy had dual identities. First, they were the teachers of the students—since ancient times, students must respect their teachers as fathers. Second, they were also ranked officials in the court, while those students were without exception from noble families, arrogant since childhood, unruly and difficult to tame, their status far higher than these teachers who came from commoner backgrounds.

(TL: 國子學 = literally National Academy or Imperial Academy, referring to the highest state school where the sons of nobles and officials studied.

國子監 = literally Directorate of Education or Imperial College, which was the administrative institution overseeing 國子學 and other state schools.)

Here in Anjing, the second relationship clearly far outweighed the first.

“Yesterday Student Xu even declared he would strip Vice Chancellor Fang of his position. This is not the attitude a student should have.” Pei Yanci frowned slightly. “While only a few students are challenging our authority, we should restrain them in time.”

“Do you think it’s only Xu Du?”

Just as he raised his eyes, he saw Qi Xiang’s gaze was clear, watching him with thick scrutiny.

Meeting his gaze, Qi Xiang smiled slightly, the alcohol flush deepening into the creases of his skin.

“Vice Chancellor Fang was beaten today. What does Vice Chancellor Pei think? Do you want to go to the Grand General’s mansion to demand an explanation?”

“Does Chancellor Daren plan to go find the Xu family?” Pei Yanci had impulsively called over Fang Qingdu, who happened to pass by today, letting him take a beating for him because he actually had the idea of making this matter bigger.

Without making it a big issue, how could he attract attention from all sides so he could fish in troubled waters?

Qi Xiang laughed heartily. “They don’t beat this old man—is it because they’re giving face to my fourth-rank Chancellor status? Then let me give this position to Vice Chancellor Fang so he can avoid this beating.”

Pei Yanci pondered. Was this person just telling him that even if his scheme involved Vice Chancellor Fang, it actually couldn’t cause any ripples above?

Even as a fourth-rank Chancellor, if you got beaten, you got beaten. You could only consider yourself unlucky for provoking those young masters.

Qi Xiang was drowsy and unsteady, his whole person seeming to float as he walked. Pei Yanci escorted him to the teaching hall. Along the way, they passed through a willow grove, and from a distance he glimpsed a black-robed man who appeared particularly conspicuous among a group of white-robed students.

That person was Qi Lan.

This person was still here today?

An erudite scholar was leading that group of students under a massive banyan tree. He sat cross-legged on the cushion at the front and began his lecture.

Qi Lan had entered the Imperial Academy as a student?

Pei Yanci truly hadn’t expected this.

Thinking carefully, of course—he was only seventeen, at the age for diligent study. He was probably pushed in here by Princess Zhangping.

But didn’t he want to be an official?

His gaze carried speculation and inquiry, which the object of his attention couldn’t possibly fail to notice. Everyone present sat upright in proper posture, except for one person who had just sat down and was already lazily leaning against a nearby ginkgo tree, leisurely yawning.

Then, sharp eyes revealed themselves through his fingers, aimed directly at Pei Yanci not far away.

Pei Yanci felt a chill in his heart, but his face remained calm. He slowly revealed a smile and walked toward them.

“Erudite Scholar Wang.” He called to the person who was giving the lecture.

Yesterday he hadn’t had a chance to speak with these people, but he had already memorized all their names and positions.

Seeing it was the newly appointed Vice Chancellor, Erudite Scholar Wang quickly stood and performed a bow.

Pei Yanci raised his hand. His pale fingers pointed toward the most nonconformist person present and said, “This person’s conduct and manner don’t follow the rules and disgrace scholarly propriety. I’ll take him down for private discipline.”

Erudite Scholar Wang was being driven to distraction by Qi Lan’s attitude but couldn’t do anything about him. Hearing this, he quickly agreed.

“Qi Lan, come here.”

Qi Lan gave him an eye roll and turned his head to the side.

Under his repeated urging, he finally got up impatiently, stuck his finger in his ear, and walked over reluctantly.

The moment his palm touched something soft and warm, his fingers instinctively trembled, wanting to curl up.

Only then did Qi Lan realize that it was Pei Yanci’s hand placed in his palm. Those fingers were excessively pale against his sun-darkened skin, even dazzlingly translucent.

He looked disgusted and wanted to shake it off, but was gripped even tighter.

Pei Yanci pulled him along and left the lecture class under the banyan tree without further explanation, walking toward a secluded path.

“Are we that familiar?” The road was flanked by towering trees that provided rare coolness in midsummer. Qi Lan’s cold voice carried the irritation of cicada calls.

“We’ve already been on the field and competed together—how are we not familiar?”

Better not to mention it. The more it was mentioned, the more annoyed he became. He used his strength to shake off his hand, nearly knocking him to the ground.

“By rights, I should have won. That Vice Chancellor position should have been mine.”

Talking about this made him feel aggrieved. Not only did he lose the competition, but his imperial mother also arranged for him to come to the Imperial Academy as a student. After just two days, he was already fed up with those erudite scholars who only knew how to drone on endlessly—very sleep-inducing.

Thinking this, his eyes suddenly shot out sharp cold light. “Pei Yanci, from childhood to now, you’re the first person who dared to make me lose. I’ve remembered you. Just you wait.”

“I’m now a Vice Chancellor. In the Imperial Academy, aside from the Chancellor, I’m the highest. Tell me, if I wanted to mess with you, wouldn’t it be a piece of cake?”

“If you’ve got the guts, try it, you lowly slave! Ahh, hiss…”

Qi Lan clutched his lower body, pain causing the veins on his face to visibly throb. He looked at Pei Yanci in disbelief.

This person looked so gentle and weak—how could he be so violent, attacking without any warning?

“This beating pays you back for pointing your polo stick at me a month ago.” Pei Yanci crossed his arms. “Now we’re even.”

Qi Lan had just been caught off guard and schemed against. In the blink of an eye, he exploded in fury, his fist heading straight for Pei Yanci’s face.

Pei Yanci ducked down to avoid it, but couldn’t evade his foot. Within two moves, he was pinned to the ground.

Fortunately, there were fallen leaves all around, so when his back hit the ground it didn’t hurt. He was just pressed down by a body and couldn’t move, which was somewhat uncomfortable.

“Let go.”

Having gained the upper hand, how could Qi Lan possibly let go? His elbow pressed against Pei Yanci’s throat and slowly bore down. He watched with satisfaction as his prey’s breathing became rapid, starting to suffocate, his face reddening, his chest heaving violently.

“With your measly three-legged cat skills, you actually beat me!” The more he talked about it, the angrier he got.

(TL: 三腳貓功夫 literally means “three-legged cat skills,” an idiom for clumsy or mediocre ability.)

The polo match had very few rules. What was truly being tested was tactical planning ability and footwork. This person’s footwork was just average—what he fought with was that ruthless determination to cut off all retreat, and also…

He would never admit that this person’s tactical planning was better than his own.

“Let me negotiate a condition with you.” Pei Yanci spoke with difficulty. His eyes, from discomfort, couldn’t help but glisten with tears, moist and dewy. His eyelids and nose tip reddened as if he’d been wronged.

Qi Lan froze for a moment, unconsciously loosening the force in his hands.

The next instant, he was completely overturned onto the ground.

When facing this person, one truly couldn’t let their guard down for even a moment.

Qi Lan was just about to get up when his waist felt heavy—someone sat on him.

Pei Yanci straightened out his own clothes properly. Seeing he still wanted to fight, his crescent-moon eyes glared at him.

“Can’t you calm down a bit and let me say something?”

His throat had just been compressed, and now his voice was still somewhat hoarse, as if complaining yet also acting coquettish.

Seeing his pitiful expression as he arranged his collar, the legs wrapped around his waist hot and tight, Qi Lan was at that hot-blooded age. Not knowing what he thought of, his wheat-colored tanned skin couldn’t help but heat up.

“Let me negotiate a condition with you.” Pei Yanci cleared his throat. “You know Xu Du, right? The one who bumped into me at the Imperial Academy entrance yesterday.”

“What for?” He kept a straight face and spoke harshly.

“Beat him up, and while you’re at it, subdue those lackeys of his.” Facing these straightforward students, he couldn’t be bothered to waste mental effort.

Pei Yanci’s upper body slowly leaned down, his hands propped beside Qi Lan’s face, black hair that hadn’t been tied into the hairpin cascading down over his shoulder.

So close their breaths could be felt.

“This small matter—you can handle it, right?”