Chapter 34 She drank too much.

Lu Yuan was about to leave when Shen Ci'an stopped him with a hand. "Stop! Men and women shouldn't touch each other. What kind of behavior is this, holding her like that? Put her down right now!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a flash of cold light appeared, and Lu Yuan's Embroidered Spring Blade was firmly positioned in front of Shen Ci'an's neck.

"If you dare to obstruct me again, don't blame me for being ruthless with my blade."

"Wait!" Jiang Zhi struggled to get out of Lu Yuan's arms, but even with just one hand, Lu Yuan held her firmly in his embrace.

She was too weak to do anything but gasp and plead, “Lord Lu, please don’t be impulsive and put down your knife. This is my teacher who taught me calligraphy; he meant no harm.”

She wanted to pull Lu Yuan's arm that was holding the embroidered spring knife, but she was afraid that her movement would hurt Shen Ci'an, so she was caught in a dilemma.

"I'll say it one last time, get out of my way," Lu Yuan said without looking down at Jiang Zhi, his hawk-like gaze fixed on the person opposite him. "If you don't want to die, then don't block my way."

Lu Yuan realized that the person in front of him had a close relationship with Jiang Zhi. Just hearing Jiang Zhi call him "Master" so affectionately, and his strong reaction to Lu Yuan hugging Jiang Zhi, it was impossible for them to be just ordinary teacher and student.

A surge of anger rose within him for no apparent reason, and the embroidered spring knife in his hand moved even closer.

However, the scholar in front of him, who was so weak that he could not even kill a chicken, stood firmly in place without taking a step back. His expression was almost rigid and indifferent. He said, word by word, "A woman's reputation is as precious as jade. You, as an official of the court, knowingly violated this law by breaking into a private residence and holding a weak woman hostage. According to the laws of our dynasty, you should be punished with eighty strokes of the cane, dismissed from your post, and exiled to the army."

From the way the young lady addressed him and the embroidered spring knife in his hand, Shen Ci'an easily guessed Lu Yuan's identity.

He stepped closer, his back ramrod straight, letting the sharp blade press against his neck. "If you've got the guts, kill me now, or don't even think about leaving here with her."

A fierce glint appeared in Lu Yuan's eyes.

His narrow eyes narrowed dangerously, as if he were genuinely considering the possibility of killing him.

Jiang Zhi hadn't expected that the two would be on the verge of life and death in such a short encounter. She didn't care about anything else and grabbed Lu Yuan's hand, saying, "Lord Lu, the teacher has official rank and is not subject to punishment. You must not hurt him at will."

Seeing that the two were still deadlocked and unwilling to give in, she could only rub her temples and whisper, "I'm really dizzy, could you please take care of me, the patient?"

"Is the young lady ill?" Shen Ci'an's eyes trembled. He wanted to step forward to check on her condition, but Lu Yuan forced him back.

Lu Yuan had no intention of letting Shen Ci'an know about Jiang Zhi's situation. His eyes were frosty as he spoke, "She's drunk. Are you sure you want to waste your time here?"

Shen Ci'an was taken aback, then remembered that the Jiang family had held a banquet today, and it was understandable that the young lady had drunk some wine.

But why would a member of the Imperial Guard be entangled with him here?

Shen Ci'an finally took a step back, "I'm worried about you taking her away alone. You and the young lady should go to my courtyard first."

Lu Yuan felt that this person was extremely annoying.

But Jiang Zhi nudged him, "Lord Lu, I'm very thirsty, could you take me to the teacher's courtyard to ask for a cup of water?"

She looked up, her misty eyes, like distant green mountains, fixed on him with a pitiful, ingratiating expression.

Even though he knew she was only putting on this act to persuade him, Lu Yuan couldn't help but soften his expression. He sighed helplessly, finally sheathed his sword, and without even glancing at Shen Ci'an beside him, carried Jiang Zhi into Zhizhi Pavilion.

The furnishings inside Zhizhixuan were as usual.

There were still unfinished books on the stone table, the tea was not yet cold, the courtyard was clean and tidy, and the books on the desk under the corridor were turned gently by the wind.

Lu Yuan placed Jiang Zhi on a stool in the courtyard and sat her down. Shen Ci'an had already brought tea, and Jiang Zhi was indeed very thirsty. She finished it in a few gulps, and he poured her another cup.

Lu Yuan saw the calligraphy copybook and a few scattered pages on the table, which were densely covered with writing, which should be Jiang Zhi's handwriting, with some small annotations next to them.

The thought of the two of them practicing calligraphy and teaching each other under this corridor, a peaceful and idyllic scene, made Lu Yuan's face darken even more.

He took out a small brown pill and handed it to Jiang Zhi, saying, "This is a hangover cure. Take it."

Jiang Zhi took the tea and drank it. Sure enough, her mind became much clearer in no time.

Just then, Qingxing peeked out from the entrance of Zhizhixuan and, seeing Jiang Zhi there, immediately rushed in, panting, "Miss, Miss..."

She was about to tell Jiang Zhi that she had gone to the entrance of the Northern Garrison Command when she was stopped and told that Lord Lu had gone to a banquet at the Jiang residence and did not know when he would return.

She rushed back to tell the young lady about it.

Unexpectedly, when she looked up, she saw Lu Yuan standing beside her young lady, holding a sword, with an expression that said "keep away" and made her feel intimidated.

The words that were about to be spoken were immediately and tactfully cut off.

Shen Ci'an reprimanded, "Why didn't you accompany your young lady when she was drunk? What if she encountered a rude person while wandering around the manor alone?"

“I was the one who told her to leave,” Jiang Zhi naturally wouldn’t stand by and watch Qingxing be blamed. “I drank too much, it was my fault. If you want to scold me, then scold me.”

“If you’re wrong, then I naturally have to admonish and instruct you,” Shen Ci’an said without giving him any face. “Alcohol can confuse your temperament. Since you know you can’t hold your liquor, why did you still insist on doing it?”

Jiang Zhi hadn't expected that not only would she fail to achieve her purpose at Zhizhixuan, but she would also be scolded by Shen Ci'an. Embarrassed, she could only lower her head and beg for forgiveness, "I know I was wrong, teacher. I will never dare to do it again next time."

Lu Yuan watched in astonishment.

Although this Miss Jiang appears to be gentle and weak, she is actually a fierce and unyielding person at heart; otherwise, she wouldn't have slapped him twice in a row.

It's truly baffling that he's now obediently accepting a scolding and admitting his mistakes.

“Since you know you’re wrong, go back tonight and copy the ‘Wine Instructions’ three times, and hand it to me tomorrow,” Shen Ci’an said.

"Yes." Jiang Zhi was afraid that Shen Ci'an would scold her again, so she kept giving Qing Xing meaningful glances.

"Young Miss, when I came over just now, Madam was looking for you. Please come with me quickly." Qingxing immediately received Jiang Zhi's signal.

"Then I'll be going now," Jiang Zhi said, standing up. "Would Lord Lu like to come along?"

Lu Yuan nodded. Since Jiang Zhi was alright, he also needed to report to the Crown Prince.

*

"Kang'er, my poor Kang'er!"

"Wang Yuru, if you don't give me an explanation today, I'll have your Jiang residence torn down!!"

At this moment, the backyard of the Jiang residence was in complete chaos.

Wang Yuru never expected that after planning for so long and leading everyone to the small garden, she would not see Jiang Zhi being harassed and dragged by Yan Wenkang, her clothes disheveled and her face ruined, but would only see someone lying unconscious in a pool of blood.