The Pingyang County School has been in turmoil these past few days, with fights breaking out among the children in each class. Especially the kids in Class D; for some reason, they just jump in and start brawls. Unfortunately, they were previously homeless, so they couldn't beat the other students in a fight, nor could they outnumber them. It's also difficult to expel the kids Wang Zheng sent over. The headmaster has been having a terrible headache these past few days, and he's called all the class teachers together to discuss the matter.
"I'm asking you why they're always fighting! You need a reason to fight, right? They just sit around doing nothing and start beating people up?"
"Maybe it's because he was used to being out and about in the wild..."
"Bullshit!" Mr. Feng Yuandao from Class A shouted as soon as he stepped forward. The most learned people often argue using the simplest and most unadorned words.
"I've heard several of your students gossiping about my class's 'Little Potato' behind her back—no, Huo Xiaolong—saying she only hangs out with rich and powerful people, is vain, and craves wealth and luxury. Was it your students who said that?"
"What my students said? Aren't what they said true?"
"Is it wrong for my students to be popular? Not to mention that the daughters of two successive prefects like to play with her, it's not surprising that even a princess would like to hang out with her, you know? Old dog Guo, if you don't manage your students properly, we'll have a serious talk!"
During this time, Feng Yuandao also learned why his junior brother couldn't teach Huo Xiaolong and insisted on bringing him over.
A young girl with excellent comprehension and memory, who always looks at you expectantly when she is punished.
If he hadn't promised his junior brother to make her scrawled handwriting neat and tidy, Feng Yuandao would have really wanted to give up. After all, she's already so amazing, so it doesn't matter if she has some flaws, right?
"Let's discuss it then, I'm not afraid of you!"
The person who clashed with Mr. Feng was his mortal enemy, Guo Fengnian. He came to Pingyang County to be a teacher for no other reason than because Feng Yuandao had come. He wanted to show the people of Beining who was better, Feng Yuandao or his students!
"You! You are utterly unreasonable! The Six Arts of a Gentleman! There's no point in arguing with you! I, too, am somewhat skilled in martial arts!"
Feng Yuandao stood up in anger, ready to hit someone, while the Grand Master next to him slammed his fist on the table.
"Alright, alright! I called you two here to resolve this matter, so please stop making things worse, you two!"
"Guo Fengnian, go back and shut your students' mouths! Stop talking nonsense! Talking nonsense will get you beaten, why don't you learn your lesson quickly!"
"Feng Yuandao, go back and tell your class's little potato! No, Huo Xiaolong, tell her to talk to her friend and tell her not to act so recklessly. What if someone gets killed?!"
"That's it, disband!"
The chief priest strode out of the room, ignoring the calls for him to walk slowly behind him.
The parties involved were unaware that she had caused such a huge uproar; however, Huo Panlijian had recently been getting new injuries on his face, and Huo Xiaolong had heard something about it.
"You don't need to speak up for me. I don't care about this stuff."
"That won't do, they say you're not good!"
"So what if it's bad? I don't depend on anyone else to live, why bother with them?"
The little girl lowered her head and murmured softly.
"I just can't stand them talking about you."
"You can't just hurt yourself like that, it'll hurt too much. It's a holiday tomorrow, so why don't you take your sister-in-law to my house tonight?"
"ah?"
"Hey, come to my house and get some medicine applied. Look at you, all covered in dirt and grime."
Looking at the little girl in front of him wiping his wounds with a handkerchief and some water, Huo Panlijian felt that everything was worth it. No wonder they all liked Huo Xiaolong; she was a good person! She deserved it!
Spring in Pingyang rarely rains; most of the time the sun shines brightly and the breeze is just right. Today, Madam Hua is also at the Fengyue Tower.
Seeing that Huo Xiaolong had brought a group of friends over to play, Cen's mother and He Yi went to help make arrangements. There wasn't much needed; they were all familiar faces, so they just needed to fill their mouths.
The little girl with the injury on her face caught Hua Luan's attention as she held a book next to her younger siblings and made them sit still. The way she pretended to be a mature adult and support the family, even though she was still young, reminded Hua Luan of her own past.
"Come here," the woman said.
"Did Madam call me?"
Huo Panli didn't know who she was, but everyone at the brothel was a lady.
"Um"
"What does Madam wish to do for me?"
Hua Luan smiled and said
"You're the little girl Long'er helped at the dilapidated temple?"
"Um!"
Does it have a name?
The woman spoke softly, making Li Jian feel a little embarrassed. She spoke so gently; would he... would he offend her? After all, the brothel frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles.
"Yes, Long'er, get it for me."
"Um?"
"The Sharp Sword of Huo Pan!"
The word "sharp sword" stirred Hua Luan's heart. Sharp sword, indeed. If that incident hadn't happened, she too would have wanted to be the sharp sword in the Crown Princess's hand. Alas, things had changed.
"What a lovely name." The woman placed a peach in her hand; it was a freshly harvested peach this year and had a slightly sour taste.
"Thank you for the compliment, Madam," the young girl said shyly.
How did you get the injury on your face?
Li Jian raised his hand, touched his wound, and replied apologetically.
"He got into a fight at school."
Hua Luan leaned back in her chair and continued to ask.
Why are fans fighting?
"Because...because they said Long'er was bad."
The woman raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the answer. Back then, when she and Cen Ang first came to the Crown Princess's side, they did the same thing, only the methods they used were different.
"So you fought with them?"
The little girl nodded without saying anything.
Hua Luan continued...
"Rumors are the most unsettling, and they stop with the wise, but there are few wise people in this world. But then again, Long'er doesn't seem like the kind of child who cares about rumors. Even so, are you still going to stand up for her?"
"I want it! As long as they don't say anything bad about Miss Huo, I'll take it!"
The young girl's eyes were resolute as she looked up at the woman for the first time and spoke those words. They had been talking for so long, yet she had kept her head down while replying, until they started talking about Huo Xiaolong…
"Do you know that taking action to stop rumors is the worst approach?"
"I...I don't know..."
"If we're going to take action, we have to beat them until they're scared and they come forward to clarify the rumors. Otherwise, it'll all be for nothing."
Huo Panli stood obediently listening to Hua Luan's words. She felt that every word the lady said resonated with her. Ever since the rumors started circulating in the county school, she had been extremely anxious, but she didn't know what to do, so she could only resort to violence.
"The only thing that can stop rumors is another kind of rumor: you..."
"Please teach me, sir!"
Before Hua Luan could finish speaking, the little girl knelt down and gave her a deep bow.
Sir, that sounds much more pleasant than Madam.
The woman straightened her hair and adjusted her collar, saying...
"When you are someone's apprentice, you are expected to serve them tea."
Huo Panli immediately picked up a teacup from the table and offered it to the woman, Hua Luan nodded.
"Okay, I'll teach you."
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