Chapter 786: Chapter 475 Li Clan Has a Son Nad Wangque (5200)_2
“Brother Zhao, Elder Brother Gu asked to pick you up. He and the other classmates are still busy at the Ritual Departnt. There’s a lot going on today, so it’s just who has co. Please don’t mind.”
“It’s fine, Brother Qin. After I get settled later, I’ll head over to the Ritual Departnt to help in the afternoon.”
Zhao Rong smiled and shook his head.
Then, he told this Qin surnad student from the Justice Hall not to wait for him and to go back to the Ritual Departnt first.
The latter complied and left first.
Zhao Rong glanced around at everyone and led the way away from the ferry dock, heading down the mountain.
On the way, Su Qingdai looked at Zhao Rong with shining eyes. Turning her head this way and that, her gaze was fixed entirely on him.
Like a woman in the throes of love, reunited with her lover after a re two-day separation, she could not get enough of looking at him.
The spectacle of this stunning beauty in a black dress and long hair flowing like a waterfall drew many sideways glances.
However, Zhao Rong, the Confucian scholar, did not have the luxury to look at her. He kept his eyes on the ground, lost in thought as he walked on.
When they reached the base of the mountain, everyone said their farewells and departed.
Only Su Qingdai, and the entourage brought by the little Emperor, remained.
At that mont, Su Qingdai took a step forward. However, the next second, she was blocked by a petite body.
“Su Maid, step behind . Don’t block the way. Brother Rong’er has been traveling all day. Don’t start clinging to him the mont you see him, like a piece of sticky candy. It’s so annoying. You’re really clueless, we the Old Zhao Family don’t have such girls.”
The little girl lectured with an air of mature sternness, seemingly forgetting she hadn’t managed to do this herself.
Su Qingdai’s pretty face turned cold as she glared at her. She opened her mouth as if to respond but ultimately did not retort and closed her mouth.
With a bite of her lip, she said to Zhao Rong behind her:
“Ziyu, during the two days you were gone, I had nothing to do at night, so I knitted you a cape to stave off the cold.”
“Qingdai, thank you.”
“What kind of cape is that? It’s like a bedsheet; there’s no point in wearing it. It’s only you northern people from Great Li who fuss over such trivialities. Brother Rong’er and I are from the south, we don’t indulge in such delicate nonsense.”
“You…”
Zhao Rong shook his head without joining in the squabble between Qian’er and Qingdai.
He glanced at the little Emperor behind him, saying casually, “Qingdai, we can discuss whatever it is in the carriage later.”
“Alright.”
Su Qingdai bit her lip, her gaze tinged with a hint of sorrow as she looked at him. However, she quickly nodded obediently and moved to Zhao Rong’s rear.
The young Emperor behind them couldn’t help but take an extra glance at the two beautiful won competing for Teacher Zhao’s attention.
A hint of admiration and envy showed on his young face.
The young Emperor knew Su Qingdai; he had often heard his attendants speak of her. She was the proud daughter of the Ziwei Pavilion, known among the Mountain Immortals of the northern parts of Great Li as the aloof Fairy. Now it seed she too thawed before Teacher Zhao, her heart lost to him, vying with another beautiful sister at Teacher Zhao’s side…
The young Emperor thought to himself… it was Teacher Zhao after all who was impressive. Whoever he wished to hold hands with, he could, following his heart’s desire.
Zhao Rong had no idea he had, in so respects, suddenly beco an idol to the little Emperor.
Zhao Rong saluted the Emperor, “Your Majesty, your presence to receive the ferry deeply humbles your servant.”
Though it was only a temporary identity, at present, he indeed was an official of the Great Li Ritual Departnt.
“Teacher, please rise, there is no need for such formalities,” the handso young Emperor quickly supported him, saying with a smile:
“I too missed Teacher Zhao. Just yesterday, with great difficulty, I managed to get a day off from the Empress Dowager to visit you at your residence. However, I was disappointed to learn from Fairy Su that you had gone back to the mountain, so I had to return empty-handed.”
He scratched his head, “Last night, while reading in the Imperial Study, Teacher Zhang ntioned that you would be returning today. Therefore, I sneaked out early to et you myself.”
“Teacher Zhang?” Zhao Rong slightly furrowed his brows and looked back at Su Qingdai.
She shook her head, thought for a mont, and crisply said:
“Ziyu, last night an Imperial Censor surnad Zhang ca looking for you at our residence. It seems he was hosting a banquet and wanted to invite you. He ntioned that other Academy brothers would also be there, suggesting that you join them to beco better acquainted.”
Noticing Zhao Rong’s expression, she cautiously added, “But since you weren’t there at the ti, I didn’t engage in much conversation with him. After that, this Imperial Censor Zhang went to look for Teacher Gu and the others.”
Zhao Rong returned his gaze forward, nodding slightly.
The details of his return, including dates and routes, had only been shared with Gu Yiwu and Su Qingdai, among others. Considering this, it must have been them who inford Zhang Huizhi.
Thus, the latter knew early about Zhao Rong’s return today.
As for the various powers sending people to the dock today, Zhao Rong was not surprised.
The Cloud Sea Ferry did not only dock in Hanjing. By morning, it had already entered Great Li Territory, and news of Zhao Rong’s return could not have eluded those paying attention. At this mont, his every move was the focus of all in Great Li.
It could be said that the Empress Dowager of the Dugu clan might not rest each night without first hearing a detailed account of Zhao Rong’s daily activities from Xue Can and other Li won…
The young Confucian’s brow relaxed.
“I had thought Brother Zhang was a man of cool temperant and pure integrity. Now it seems he is quite the warm-hearted individual, so quick to invite for a drink…”
The young Emperor nodded in agreent, “Teacher Zhao, Teacher Zhang indeed has a cold exterior but a warm heart. Sotis he may be strict during lectures, but he is quite kind in private.”
The young Emperor lavished praise on his teacher.
Zhao Rong nodded in return.
He scrutinized the young Emperor’s expression.
The boy in yellow was all smiles, apparently in good spirits, with no trace of the emotional residue from the other day.
So, it was uncertain if he had internalized the words about killing soone from before, or if it had been just an impulsive outburst of a young mind.
Zhao Rong smiled without ntioning that day’s incident again.
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