Chapter 833 - 835: Can You Outdo Chun in Nitpicking with a Sharp Tongue?_1
Young people are the most prone to righteous indignation, and as scholars, they are especially intolerant of such unjust acts of abusing power for personal gain.
Bai Ruozhu felt increasingly uncomfortable. If she let Dang Youshen continue like this, the situation would only get worse.
Just as she was pondering whether to deal with Dang Youshen, Wen Xize, the dean of the Beiyu Study Palace, suddenly came over and said loudly, "Recently, some unfavorable rumors have been spreading, but rumors stop with the wise. You are all one in a hundred talents in our Study Palace, and I believe that you all are wise."
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but mentally applaud the dean. This Jiang was truly as spicy as old ginger! If rumors stop with the wise, wouldn’t Dang Youshen continue talking, in essence admitting he was not wise?
Sure enough, Dang Youshen said displeasedly, "There’s no smoke without fire."
The dean looked at him with a chuckling smile, apparently not angry, and then said, "In the past few days, there has been heavy rain in the midway regions. You could not receive such information, but how could the Study Palace not know? Those who don’t believe may go and inquire for themselves. The heavy rain makes travel challenging; the roads are slippery and dangerous. The Study Palace did not want you all to suffer in the rain, yet here we are faced with idle gossip."
The students of the Beiyu Study Palace held the dean in high regard, so someone immediately agreed, "The dean is right. Rumors stop with the wise. We should think more and use our brains rather than easily believe what others say."
The dean, with a chuckling smile, stroked the beard on his chin and said with a satisfied look, "The children are teachable, indeed."
Bai Ruozhu also had great admiration for the dean. With just a few simple words, he had quelled the rumors, and his choice of words was careful. Indeed, if he had started by mentioning the heavy rains, the effect would certainly not be as good as it was now.
Of course, she was also very impressed that the dean had earlier knowledge of the weather conditions in the regions along their journey.
Soon, the messenger soldier shouted out the command, telling everyone to get back on the carriages. The procession was to continue moving forward.
Dang Youshen had a frustrated look, but since the dean had spoken, he did not dare to continue on the topic. However, by his expression, it was clear he did not believe it and intended to verify the truth during the journey.
The rest of the journey went smoothly, and by sunset, the group had arrived at a larger town. Jiang Yichun ordered everyone to station and rest, and arranged for two or three people from the Study Palace to share rooms in the town inn.
Dang Youshen, stifling his frustration, found an opportunity to speak up, "Aren’t we supposed to have ample funds? Why do several people have to cram into one room? Could it be that someone intends to save funds for other uses?"
As scholars often appreciate remonstration, his question wasn’t entirely out of line. Jiang Yichun gave him a cold glance and said, "The funds are ample, but there are only so many rooms in the small town’s inn. Do you expect to have a room to yourself, then let the dean and the masters sleep on the floor?"
He snorted coldly, "Master Dang rarely travels, doesn’t he? The soldiers protecting you are camping outdoors. Have you heard them complain?"
Many people, hearing this, began to persuade, "Brother Dang, we must of course give priority to our teachers’ accommodations. Let’s not be too picky when we’re away from home."
The two who were assigned to the same room as him also said, "We’ll give the bed to Master Dang. As the weather is warm now, it’s no bother for us to sleep on the floor."
Dang Youshen, enraged, glared at them and said, "When did I become picky? I was merely raising a question. There’s no need for your false kindness!"
After finishing, he stomped up to the inn’s upper floor with anger puffing up in his chest. The two he had shouted at felt their faces blush with embarrassment and were somewhat displeased, but since Dang Youshen was a senior member of the Beiyu Study Palace with a notable family background, they had no choice but to hold their grievances.
Bai Ruozhu watched with amusement. That Dang Youshen dared to provoke Jiang Yichun; he really did not understand his venomous tongue.
Master Dang rarely travels, does he...
Bai Ruozhu almost burst into laughter, but Dang Youshen had participated in the Study Palace’s Competition for the past two years and it wasn’t his first time going out, so why would he use such a childish question to needle Jiang Yichun?
Soon, she roughly guessed the reason. The officer leading the team before must have taken care of him because of his family background, so he took it for granted. Unfortunately, this time he encountered Jiang Yichun.
Bai Zepei and Tu Bai, Qin Kaichang were assigned to one room, which made things convenient. Bai Zepei came over to help hold Dengdeng and even chatted with Bai Ruozhu for a bit, showing no intention of avoiding any suspicion.
Suddenly, Bai Ruozhu thought of a phrase: "A gentleman is like gold and tin, like a ceremonial jade tablet and a jade disk."
My second brother is an upright gentleman, and precisely because of his openness, he doesn’t need to avoid suspicion. A gentleman does not avoid the public’s eyes and ears, simply doing as he wishes.
Others also noticed Bai Zepei’s actions, and some were even surprised. But because of his open and honest demeanor, no one could find fault, and some even showed looks of admiration. Everyone knew his sister was Lord Jiang’s wife. Since he didn’t misuse his connections, why should he avoid being close to his sister and nephew?
Once Bai Ruozhu understood this, she spoke openly with her second brother, telling him she would prepare medicine for him in the inn’s kitchen later that evening.
Since there was limited space for this trip, Bai Ruozhu hadn’t brought along a maid, so she had to take care of many things herself.
"Alright, thank you, little sister," Bai Zepei said before he returned Dengdeng to Bai Ruozhu and went back to the room with Tu Bai and Qin Kaichang.
Bai Ruozhu was arranged to stay in the same room with Tu Ying, while Jiang Yichun shared a room with a deputy officer and Wen Shu. Tu Ying felt somewhat awkward about this, saying, "It seems I’ll be playing third wheel on this journey."
Bai Ruozhu gave her a reproachful look. "You can’t always be concerned with romantic relationships during a military campaign. Achun arranged things correctly. What does it have to do with you? Just ignore Dengdeng if he cries at night. Continue sleeping, that’s all."
Tu Ying chuckled, "No problem, I sleep like a rock."
Bai Ruozhu also laughed. "That’s good. Good sleep leads to good health."
After a brief rest back in the room, Jiang Yichun came in from outside. Tu Ying, perceptively, said she was going to visit her older brother and would find Bai Ruozhu later to eat.
"Are you tired from the journey?" Jiang Yichun noticed a bit of cotton thread in her hair and couldn’t resist reaching out to pick it off, then gently tucked the loose hair behind her ear.
Bai Ruozhu, fearful that Tu Ying might suddenly return, shook her head with a hint of embarrassment, "How could such a short journey be tiring? Dengdeng wasn’t tired either. He slept for two hours in the carriage this afternoon, all thanks to Tu Ying holding him."
Jiang Yichun nodded. "That’s good to hear, so you weren’t too hard-pressed."
"But you still interrogated Tu Ying, clearly not trusting me." Bai Ruozhu was quite displeased with him. But because he had just put Dang Youshen in his place with his trademark "sharp tongue", her mood greatly improved and she decided not to stay cross with him.
Jiang Yichun was left incredulous by her question and flicked her forehead, retorting, "What are you thinking about? I was just worried Tu Ying’s carelessness could hurt you and the child, and wanted to remind her to be more attentive."
Bai Ruozhu covered her forehead and asked, "Is that so?"
"Don’t you trust me?" Jiang Yichun threw her question back at her.