Chapter 40: Old Grudges and New Sorrows

Jiang Yu hesitated, as if he wanted to say something. "I heard that... Master Zhang used to..."

"Used to what?" Qu Wanqing raised an eyebrow. She was not quite used to Jiang Yu's hesitant demeanor.

"Used to... once impeach me and cost me my official position." Jiang Yu finally blurted out, his voice low, as if harboring a dark secret.

Qu Wanqing was stunned. That was quite a bombshell! No wonder Master Zhang looked at Jiang Yu as if he wanted to devour him alive. It turned out these two were old adversaries!

"So, is he taking public office to settle a private score?"

Jiang Yu gave a bitter smile. "I'm afraid so. I'm worried he might take out his resentment toward me on you."

Qu Wanqing's heart sank, and a chill crept up from the soles of her feet. She knew things wouldn't be this simple. This wasn't time-travel; this was surviving a calamitous trial!

"Wanqing, don't worry, I will protect you." Jiang Yu squeezed her hand, his gaze resolute.

However, events unfolded even faster than they had imagined. By the next day, old grievances between Jiang Yu and Master Zhang were the talk of the academy. The rumors grew wings, flying to every corner of the institution.

"So Jiang Yu used to be a censor! No wonder he's so formidable."

"Of course! I heard he impeached Master Zhang and got him stripped of his office, which is why he ended up teaching here at the academy."

"Then doesn't that mean Qu Wanqing..."

Idle gossip crept like venomous snakes into Qu Wanqing's ears. She forced herself to remain calm, but her clenched fists betrayed her inner anxiety. The surrounding atmosphere also grew subtle. Classmates who had previously been friendly now looked at her with probing and distant eyes.

"Wanqing, don't worry," Jiang Yu's voice sounded beside her. "I'll handle this matter."

Contrary to everyone's expectations, Jiang Yu did not go to confront Master Zhang; instead, he kept a much lower profile. Aside from attending classes, he spent all his time reading in his study, as if everything in the outside world had nothing to do with him. Qu Wanqing was somewhat puzzled, but she chose to trust Jiang Yu anyway. She knew he must have his own plans.

"Madam, do not worry, the Master will surely find a way," the maid Liu comforted her.

Qu Wanqing nodded, forcing a faint smile. Yet, the unease in her heart grew increasingly intense. She had a lingering sensation that something momentous was about to happen...

"Wanqing," Jiang Yu suddenly put down the book in his hand, his eyes profound, "I need Student Zhao to help me look into something..."

Student Zhao discovered some crumpled and smoothed-out sheets of paper in the academy's old archives, faintly bearing handwriting from Qu Wanqing's thesis. He hurriedly reported this news to Jiang Yu. Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu's eyes hardened, a cold smirk played at the corner of his lips, and a plan formed in his mind.

Upon learning of the old feud between Jiang Yu and Master Zhang, Student Lin instantly felt emboldened once more. Fueled by adrenaline, he fanned the flames among his peers: "Did you know? Qu Wanqing's husband once deeply offended Master Zhang! We're in for a good show now!" He wiggled his brows, practically with the words "getting popcorn ready" written across his face.

Student Lin had hoped to make a laughingstock of Qu Wanqing, but to his surprise, she refused to play by the usual rules.

Qu Wanqing walked right into the center of the crowd and openly acknowledged the matter: "That's right, my husband did indeed impeach Master Zhang in the past. But that is all in the past now. I am simply here to study diligently at the academy, and I hope everyone will not be swayed by these idle rumors."

This unexpected move completely threw Student Lin off balance. He had anticipated that Qu Wanqing would swallow her pride and endure in silence as before, but he never expected her to be so unyielding!

Some of the students who had previously been incited by Student Lin began to reflect on their own behavior. After all, everyone was here to study, and no one wanted to be distracted by petty gossip.

Student Lin's plan fell through, leaving him standing awkwardly on the sidelines, looking like a deflated balloon.

Seeing Qu Wanqing remain so composed, Master Zhang felt even more aggrieved. He decided to give her a harsh reality check during class.

He posed an extremely complex academic question, clearly intending to humiliate Qu Wanqing in public.

Inside the classroom, the tension was as thick as a fully drawn bowstring. The students broke out in a cold sweat for Qu Wanqing, terrified that she wouldn't be able to answer.

Yet Qu Wanqing showed not a shred of panic. Taking a deep breath, she began to analyze the problem with cool rationality. Starting from the core essence of the question, she unraveled it step by step, applying complex theoretical knowledge to absolute perfection. The surrounding students listened in awe; what they thought would be a public execution had unexpectedly transformed into an academic feast.

As Qu Wanqing's explanation grew deeper and more profound, the students' gazes shifted from initial worry to deep admiration. Even the habitually rigid Master Zhang had to concede Qu Wanqing's remarkable talent.

When Qu Wanqing finally delivered a flawless answer to the question, the entire classroom erupted. The students burst into applause, cheering for Qu Wanqing's brilliant performance.

Meanwhile, hiding in the shadows to observe, Jiang Yu lifted the corners of his mouth in a gentle smile...

"It seems my wife is even more formidable than I imagined," he murmured softly, a hard-to-detect glint flashing in his eyes.

Watching Qu Wanqing discourse fluently and handle herself with ease amid the crowd, an inexpressible surge of pride swelled in Jiang Yu's chest. His Wanqing truly was a treasure of a girl!

After class, he quietly sought out Qu Wanqing and pulled her straight into his embrace.

"My Wanqing, you were simply amazing!" His tone was filled with utter doting, as if the entire world were shining brightly around them.

Qu Wanqing leaned against Jiang Yu's warm chest, her face radiant with a blissful smile.

At that moment, time stood still, and the world was peaceful and secure.

However, beneath the calm surface, undercurrents surged. Seeing how resilient Qu Wanqing was, the conservative faction within the academy not only refused to back down, but their fighting spirit was even more fiercely ignited.

They resolved to join forces and heap even greater pressure onto Jiang Yu and Qu Wanqing.

In the days that followed, Jiang Yu and Qu Wanqing encountered obstacles everywhere in the academy. Whether in class, studying, or daily life, people deliberately made things difficult for them, wearing them out with endless trouble.

"These stubborn old fogies really won't give up until they hit a brick wall!" Qu Wanqing gritted her teeth, though her eyes flashed with an unyielding spirit.

Jiang Yu squeezed her hand, his gaze resolute. "Don't be afraid, I am here." The greater the pressure, the stronger their bond grew, standing like two intertwined trees that weathered wind and rain yet remained unshaken.

Just as the two of them thought they could weather this wave of pressure, an unexpected event occurred.

A thesis on ancient literature that Qu Wanqing had previously written was maliciously altered and widely circulated throughout the academy. The altered paper not only contained absurd viewpoints but was also filled with disrespectful remarks directed at ancient sages, pushing Qu Wanqing straight into the eye of the storm.

"This... how is this possible?" Qu Wanqing stared at the paper in her hands, her face turning pale. She clearly remembered the original text had read quite differently.

Who? Who was playing tricks behind the scenes?

Jiang Yu took the paper, inspected it closely, and his expression turned grave as well.

"Don't panic," he said in a deep voice, "I will find out the truth." He clenched the altered paper tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white.

Before the crowd, Jiang Yu held up the evidence and exposed the conspiracy of the mastermind behind the scenes, while Qu Wanqing calmly stood beside him to provide supplementary explanations. Working in seamless coordination, they left those who sought to frame them utterly shamed and with nowhere to hide.