Chapter 94: I Heard Dean Wei’s Lectures Are Terrifying

Xi Sheng had no idea what had gone through his own disciple’s head to refuse to teach him himself and instead send him here. Were their dealings really so cordial that he would be asked to instruct the man’s pupil? Did Xi Sheng not worry that he might deliberately make things difficult for the boy?

Wei Shi'an walked in front, while Li Su trailed behind with a heavy burden, carrying his book chest and satchel. Quite a few people in the academy saw them, and all of them were quietly guessing at Li Su’s identity.

What kind of background, or what extraordinary talent, would merit Dean Wei personally bringing him here?

Wei Shi'an’s attitude toward Li Su was far from warm. Back when he studied, Xi Sheng’s master had been his rival, and every time, Wei Shi'an had only ever lost by a narrow margin.

Later, Xi Sheng entered official service, but he grew unaccustomed to the intrigues of court and resigned. He then founded this academy, and after that, the two of them had little further contact.

And now Xi Sheng had actually sent his disciple here.

Wei Shi'an said sourly, “I don’t care how talented you are. You missed the entrance examination earlier, so you can only go straight to the Yellow Hall. Wait patiently for the next exam, and then rely on your own ability to move into the other study halls.”

Li Su had no objection to this arrangement. “That’s fine. How should I address you?”

Wei Shi'an stopped and turned around, glaring at him. “Your master sent you to find me, and he didn’t tell you who I am?”

Li Su silently shook his head. He had not even known his master’s name at first; he had only asked just before leaving.

If he did not ask, his master would never volunteer anything.

Wei Shi'an was instantly so annoyed that his beard bristled. “Call me Dean Wei.”

Li Su repeated the name quietly under his breath. “So you are the dean? Dean Wei, did you and my master…”

“No!” Wei Shi'an cut him off before he could finish.

Li Su lowered his head slightly. So his master had clearly offended Dean Wei.

Wei Shi'an took Li Su to the quarters for students of the Yellow Hall. “You’ll stay here. Don’t come looking for me if there’s nothing wrong.” He had no intention of helping Xi Sheng take care of a disciple.

Li Su nodded. “All right. Thank you, Dean Wei.”

Wei Shi'an turned and left without giving Li Su another glance.

He had thought Xi Sheng would be living in discomfort after falling out with the current emperor, but unexpectedly, the man had even taken in a young disciple. It looked as though life was going rather well for him.

Still, since the disciple had been delivered right to his doorstep, there was no reason he should object to “instructing” the boy a little.

A sly smile tugged at Wei Shi'an’s lips. Since he had nothing better to do, he decided he might as well teach in the Yellow Hall for a while.

As academy dean, he did not actually need to teach personally. But if he wished to, he could give lectures in any study hall he pleased.

Li Su stepped into the room and found a student already inside. The young man seemed deeply absorbed in copying something and had not noticed any movement outside. When Li Su pushed open the door and came in, he startled with a jolt.

Hastily, the student covered what he had been writing and asked in confusion, “You are?”

Li Su set down his belongings. “Brother, greetings. My name is Li Su. I’ve just entered the academy today and have been assigned to stay here. It’s a pleasure to meet you, and I hope you will guide me.”

“I-I’m Song Sheng, courtesy name Qianhe. I just came of age this year,” Song Sheng said a little shyly.

The two of them were considered to have met properly. Li Su went to the empty bed and unpacked his books, arranging them neatly on the desk.

Song Sheng kept stealing glances at him. When he saw that Li Su’s attention was fixed entirely on the books, he finally relaxed. Then, carefully, he picked up his brush again and resumed writing furiously.

Li Su could not help admiring them inwardly. As expected, the students of Mingyue Academy really were more diligent.

After he had put everything in order, Li Su asked, “Brother Qianhe, could you tell me where the academy dining hall is?”

He had carried all that weight up from the foot of the mountain, and by now he was rather hungry.

Song Sheng pressed his lips together. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “I was just about to go as well. Let’s go together.”

“Great,” Li Su said at once.

He thought Song Sheng must be a rather shy person.

Li Su chatted with him as they walked, mostly about matters concerning the academy, since he had only just arrived and did not know its rules very well.

Through their casual conversation, Li Su learned that Song Sheng had come to Mingyue Academy the year before. As for the rest of Song Sheng’s affairs, he did not seem willing to speak about them. Li Su was not the sort to press the matter, so he naturally did not keep asking.

What Li Su most wanted to know about was Dean Wei. “Brother Qianhe, does Dean Wei give lectures to the students?”

Song Sheng shook his head, then nodded.

Li Su: “?”

Did that mean yes or no?

“At least during the time I’ve been here, Dean Wei has never given a lecture to the students. But I heard that he did teach here more than ten years ago.”

“It was because Dean Wei’s standards were too strict. That year, a great many students passed the provincial examinations, but whenever those who had been taught by him mentioned him, their faces would change.”

“They say he was very frightening,” Song Sheng added, shivering slightly.

Li Su nodded in understanding. In truth, he rather wanted to see how the Dean, who had struck fear into so many students, conducted his lessons.

After all, his master had said that his own requirements were already rather low. If Dean Wei could make the students tremble at the mere mention of him, then his standards must surely be quite high, mustn’t they?

No wonder his master had sent him to Mingyue Academy. He wanted him to witness for himself just how strong the outside world’s teaching standards were, and to recognize his own limits instead of growing arrogant and complacent.

Li Su felt he had understood his master’s painstaking intentions.

The two of them arrived at the place where the students ate. The academy’s meals were inexpensive, only two copper coins per serving, and all the dishes could be chosen freely. There was even a great deal of meat left over. Could it be that the students here did not like eating meat?

Li Su thought the food looked fairly decent. It surely could not be that bad, could it?

Perhaps the few students he had encountered earlier were just unusually picky.

“That student looks like the one who arrived today, the one Dean Wei personally led in!”

“Then it must be his first time eating here. Now that will be interesting.”

“And he even took so much meat…” Thinking of what would happen next made them want to laugh already.

The students had been in the academy for a long time, and they were especially fond of watching scenes like this. It always lifted their spirits.

Li Su put a piece of meat into his mouth and chewed.

Then he gagged.

Right there, in full view of everyone, he actually retched aloud.

Li Su: “…”

How mortifying. Was this cook trying to poison him?

The other students burst into laughter, and even Song Sheng, who had always seemed so shy, was shaking with silent amusement.

Li Su: “…”

Who said life did not have that many audiences? They were all laughing at him!

He could not understand how anyone could make meat taste this awful.

How should he describe it? It felt as though he had chewed on a filthy, stinking rag.

It seemed he had wrongly blamed those students before. The academy’s meals really were terrible.

No wonder so much meat was left over. It was not that the students here disliked meat; it was that this meat could kill a person.

Li Su struggled to keep his expression under control and force himself to look calm.

He tried another dish, avoiding the meat this time, only to discover that it was so salty it turned bitter.

“Is the academy’s food always like this?” Li Su asked Song Sheng, swallowing with difficulty.

Song Sheng nodded helplessly. “Yes.”