Chapter 92 Refusal of His Master's Admonition, Young Master Liuyin...
Behind the artificial hill, the octagonal pavilion is surrounded by green trees, full of the vitality of spring.
"It's been three years since we last met in private," Han Bingyue said, swaggering ahead.
Zhang Ting followed behind her.
"I am ashamed, as I have not paid my respects to my teacher for several days," she replied, a hint of shame on her face.
In fact, Zhang Ting did not want to come to the Han residence, but Han Bingyue sent her an invitation. Given that Han Bingyue was a favorite of the Emperor, and wanting to avoid offending anyone, Zhang Ting accepted the invitation.
Han Bingyue admired her gentlemanly character for not taking the opportunity to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy. He turned to her and took her hand, smiling kindly, "We are also destined to meet. Three years ago we were discussing academic matters, and three years later I have become your mentor." If an ordinary person were in such a situation, they would have already used every means to climb up to her.
Was she trying to take her on as a disciple? But she already had a renowned master. Zhang Ting smiled awkwardly, pretending not to understand the implication in her words.
Suddenly, Han Bingyue asked again, "Three years ago you suddenly wrote a letter saying you had important business to attend to. Has that matter been resolved?"
The matter was not resolved. She simply took Zong Suyi back to her hometown to avoid the storm. Now that she was no longer a nobody who could be crushed by anyone, she dared to go to the capital to participate in the imperial examination.
That's the truth, but how could Zhang Ting tell the truth directly?
"It was just a trivial matter at my country residence; I apologize for the embarrassment, Master." This means the problem was minor and had already been resolved.
Han Bingyue asked casually and didn't take it to heart. He led Zhang Ting to sit down in the octagonal pavilion.
Before long, a servant brought tea and snacks. Han Bingyue pointed to the tea on the table and said with a smile, "This is the tribute tea bestowed by His Majesty this year. Please try it."
Zhang Ting did as instructed, picked up the teacup, skimmed off the foam, took a small sip, and then raised her eyebrows in delight, saying, "As expected of His Majesty's gift, it is indeed excellent tea." She had perfectly imitated Zong Suyi's mannerisms, although in reality she couldn't distinguish between good and bad tea, but it was enough to fool others.
Han Bingyue nodded with a smile. Observing Zhang Ting's dignified demeanor, she sighed that it was rare to see a poor boy with such taste, and she liked him even more.
If she lets this disciple, who is so graceful, talented, and resourceful, slip away again, she will definitely regret it for the rest of her life!
At that moment, Han Bingyue said directly, "I am now the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, but I have no disciples. Since you have a deep connection with me, why don't you become my disciple?" He stared straight at Zhang Ting, a sudden tension rising in his heart, and he even began to wonder: Had he not clearly stated the conditions?
She was well-versed in classics and history, exceptionally skilled in music and chess, and the top scholar in the imperial examination of the first year of the Chengtai era. Furthermore, as a lecturer to the emperor, she enjoyed his great favor. If Zhang Ting were to become her disciple, he would become her last student, and all her resources would be directed towards him. While he might not immediately be granted a noble title or high-ranking position, as long as the emperor was alive, she was certain that no one would dare to bully her disciple.
Although the future depends on individual fortune, she has now been promoted to Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and will likely make many more progress. With her support, Zhang Ting will definitely not be limited to a fourth-rank official.
However, before Han Bingyue could utter these words, she saw Zhang Ting stand up and bow to her. Her heart skipped a beat. She heard Zhang Ting say, "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Han. However, I have already become your disciple. A teacher for a day is a mother for life. Please forgive me for not being able to change my allegiance."
Upon hearing this, Han Bingyue jumped to his feet, his voice filled with utter astonishment: "What did you say?!"
The student she had chosen already had a teacher?
Zhang Ting pursed his lips, not wanting to offend Han Bingyue. "I am too unfortunate to become your disciple, but there are countless talented people in the world, and many students with profound knowledge. You can choose another disciple you like."
Han Bingyue felt a deep sense of regret, and it took her a long time to accept this helpless and regrettable fact. Upon hearing this, she thought to herself: Where could there be a more suitable disciple? In the past twenty years, she had only taken a liking to Zhang Ting.
She sighed. Although she was reluctant, she wasn't the kind of person who would force someone to become her disciple. She turned her head away and said in a stiff tone, "If that's the case, then you can leave."
Zhang Ting breathed a sigh of relief, bowed sincerely to her, and then slowly left.
Han Bingyue turned his head again, gazing at her departing figure, unable to let go for a long time, sighing repeatedly in his heart: "Destined to meet but not to be together..."
Which scoundrel stole such a promising talent?
Han Yunying emerged from the bushes behind her and called out softly, "Mother." Her gaze was fixed on Zhang Ting's back; it was her.
Three years ago, she was clearly just an unknown scholar, so how did she suddenly become the top scholar in the imperial examination, ranking more than ten places higher than me?
As Zhang Ting left the Han residence, one of the wheels of her carriage cracked in the middle of the road. The driver asked her to get out and have it repaired while he went to the horse market across the street to exchange it for a new one.
"Okay." Zhang Ting slowly got out of the car, walked around to inspect the back, and saw that an unfinished iron knife was deeply stuck in the right wheel. The front of the knife was even sharpened. This was the culprit that caused the wheel damage.
Who left an iron knife on the road? If a pedestrian accidentally walks by, wouldn't they be killed?
She looked around and saw a blacksmith shop to her left and behind, where a young apprentice was coming out. "Hey! Girl, come quick!"
Seeing her elegant attire, striking appearance, and the carriage parked beside her, the young waiter hurried over, "My lord, did you call me?"
Zhang Ting pointed to the iron knife on the wheel and asked her to identify it, "Is this from your shop?"
The young shop assistant took a closer look and realized that the shape and length were exactly the same as the knife she had just sold. However, since the knife had damaged the noble lady's carriage, she dared not admit it on her own. "Please wait a moment, sir, I will find a craftsman to take a look."
Zhang Ting nodded slightly, her expression authoritative without being angry. "Go."
At this time, the future was in full swing, so she went to find a shady place across the street to hide. With nothing to do, she looked at the sky and the ground. Just as she stood there, a commotion broke out in the clothing store next door, accompanied by the sound of wooden furniture being thrown to the ground.
Immediately afterwards, the two thin boys were kicked out of the shop and knelt on the ground, their frail bodies prostrate.
One of the ordinary-looking young men, who seemed to be a servant, patted his robes and angrily shouted inside, "We're all in business, why can't our young master buy anything? And why are you kicking us out?" As he spoke, he helped the young man behind him up with both hands.
The young man was dressed in gorgeous and elaborate clothes. His black hair was partially tied up with a wooden hairpin, while the rest cascaded down his back like a waterfall. There was a long cut on his snow-white palm, and bright red blood was dripping straight to the ground. Zhang Ting could not see his face clearly from behind, but he could see that the young man's body was trembling in pain.
After finishing his tirade, the servant turned around and saw the blood on the ground. He quickly took the young man's hand in his own, exclaiming with pity, "Oh dear! Young master, you're injured!"
"It's nothing." The voice seemed to come from the snow-capped peak, carrying extreme cold, yet it trembled involuntarily.
Passersby gathered around and began to criticize the clothing shop owner.
"Wow! Such a deep cut, won't it leave a scar?"
"That's too much. They didn't even bother her in any way."
At this moment, the shopkeeper stepped out from behind the threshold. She had three black pills in her hand and looked like a bully. She sneered, "Our shop is clean. We don't do business with filthy people."
She waved to the crowd, signaling them to calm down. "Everyone, please be the judge," she said, pointing at the two boys with malicious intent. "Do these male prostitutes, who are ridden by thousands and slept with by thousands, deserve to be in my shop?"
As soon as he finished speaking, an uproar erupted in the crowd, and the two teenagers instantly became the targets of everyone's condemnation.
"Pah! You lowly piece of trash, coming out here to embarrass yourself!"
"Hehe, I wonder how much it costs per night?"
The servant looked terrified, like a rat everyone wanted to kill. Tears streamed down his face as he hugged his young master tightly. He roared, "My young master comes from a good family. It's just that his mother was wronged and he was forced to wander into the mortal world. But he is still a virgin. You must not insult him!"
Zhang Ting leaned against the pillar and glanced ahead. What was the blacksmith doing? Why wasn't he here yet?
Someone in the crowd recognized the boy in the servant's arms. "Wow, that's Young Master Liu Yin, the leader of the Drunken Wind Pavilion!"
"Are you talking about that Liu Yin Gongzi, whose musical skills are unparalleled and who can be called the best in the world?"
"That shopkeeper is really dishonest. She's a virtuous woman who only sells her art, not her body."
Upon hearing the familiar name, Zhang Ting instinctively glanced at the person, who had just turned to the side, revealing their face.
He was exceptionally handsome, the kind of beauty that one would never forget after just one glance. His skin was as white as snow, and his features were so exquisite that he seemed to be a figure from a painting. His cool face was covered with tear tracks, his brows were furrowed with sorrow, and the tip of his nose was slightly red, making him all the more pitiful.
He also saw Zhang Ting and seemed to recognize her. His eyes were fixed on the person who remained unmoved until now, his gaze filled with a hint of pleading, as if saying, "Please save me." When she did not react, he turned his head away on his own, his high nose bridge twitching slightly, which was quite pitiful.
After a while, seeing that she still didn't react, his lips tightened into a straight line, and he became very annoyed.
Young Master Liu Yin's appearance caused a stir among those around him. Many admired him and couldn't bear to see him being disliked and insulted, so they all cursed the shopkeeper.
Zhang Ting yawned boredly. She didn't help just anyone. Over the years, Zong Suyi was the only exception.
Just then, the blacksmith arrived, followed by his apprentice. Zhang Ting went over to him, and the blacksmith, wiping his sweat, bowed and apologized, "I'm so sorry, sir, I really couldn't leave earlier."
"It's nothing." Zhang Ting then started talking to the blacksmith over the iron knife.
It didn't take long to explain the reason: the iron knife had just been bought by someone and had been lost in the middle of the road for some unknown reason.
The man could not be found again, so the blacksmith gritted his teeth and said, "My lord, I will repair this wheel for you."
Zhang Ting waved his hand dismissively, saying it wasn't worth it for such a small amount of money. He simply handed the iron knife to her, saying, "Keep this. If that person comes back looking for you, return it to her and tell her to be careful not to lose it again."
The blacksmith admired her character and bowed, saying, "Yes."
As soon as she finished speaking, the coachman returned with a wheel, and Zhang Ting only needed to wait for her to put it on so they could go home.
Meanwhile, the predicament of Young Master Liuyin had been resolved, the crowd had dispersed, and he, with his eyes lowered, was slowly walking towards Zhang Ting with his servant.
Zhang Ting raised an eyebrow, judging others by their own standards: Does he want to hold her accountable for not standing up for him?
Liu Yin came before her, as if nothing had happened, and bowed gracefully, her voice clear and cold: "Zhang Huiyuan, Liu Yin greets you."
Seeing that they weren't here to settle scores with her, Zhang Ting breathed a sigh of relief.
"What does the young master want with me?"
Liu Yin slowly raised her head, her eyes slightly red. Her captivating eyes held deep affection, and her gaze was like the trembling wings of a cicada breaking free of its shell for the first time—transparent, fragile, yet carrying the most fervent roar of youth.
His cool and aloof features seemed to melt away like ice and snow, a smile spreading across his face as his lips parted slightly.
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